Broken Record

[5]

When Gregory had left the Mega Pizzaplex with Vanessa everything had changed. Something was off. The Plex was shut down for a while for "maintenance" and was reopened to the public a few weeks later. The animatronics seemed different now, they were still their same selves, but there was something else they seemed more lively.

It was a slight change, really unnoticeable. Gregory had noticed of course, especially since every animatronic in there had wanted to kill him. Even after that he still felt uneasy about being there. He had forgiven them, but it felt like there was something still lurking there.

Gregory was walking around the Pizza Plex investigating. He held the flashlight tightly in his hand as he crawled into the vents going to the kitchen. Technically he could've just walked there instead going through the vents, but it felt like a more familiar path. Once there he began looking around.

'Crash!'

He jumped as he saw a figure rummaging through the trash.

"Chica!" He yelled as he shined the flashlight at the animatronic bird.

She turned and her eyes lit upon seeing the boy. "Gregory!" She exclaimed happily, going over to him. "What are you doing here? Did you want some Pizza?"

Gregory grimaced, "Yeah, no thanks." Knowing Chica it was probably from the trash.

"Did you lose something too?" She asked, making the boy furrow his brows.

"What do you mean?" He asked as she went back to rummaging through the garbage.

"Vanessa asked me to find something, what was it again?" She stopped, tapping her finger against her chin as she tried to remember. "Oh! A screwdriver!" Having that aha! Moment before returning back to searching.

"Who throws away a screwdriver?" Gregory inquired as he watched.

"It must have been by accident." Chica shrugged.

The boy looked around for a bit as she continued her mission. He looked under the metal shelves, that's when he heard the sound of scuttling which made him turn the flashlight on to see if something was there. He scowled when he saw nothing.

"Hehehehe..." a distorted voice chortled out.

"Huh?" He leaned closer till his head was underneath the shelf.

"Aha!" Chica yelled out, startling Gregory.

'thud!'

"Ow!" He cried out as he fell back on his butt, clutching his head. His face scrunched up in pain, hissing quietly as he waited for the pain to go away.

"I found it! I found it! I-Gregory?" Chica went over to Gregory.

"Gregory, are you okay?" She worriedly scanned him.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." He let go of his head, grunting as he stood to feet.

"Are you sure?" He nodded before turning to her. "So you found the screwdriver?" He asked, trying to change the topic, which seemed to work.

"Yep! But are you sure you're okay?"

Gregory sighed, " I'm fine, let's just get that to Vanessa."

They both headed out of the kitchen, but Gregory lingered back for a second taking a quick glance before catching up with Chica. There was something there, but what is it?
Is there someone else lurking here?