The Daycare Shift

The Fallen Pizzaplex

Moments later, Vanessa surfaced a few metres from Gregory. She looked pale and distressed, as if she had seen a ghost.
"Vanessa," Gregory called cautiously, "is it just me or does the Daycare look... different?" She didn't respond. She stood in shock, staring at the walls, covered in a red substance that looked almost like blood.
"Let's go, Gregory. We need to find a way out of here."
"Wait, Vanessa! Where are we?" Gregory asked. Vanessa didn't speak a word. She simply carried on marching through the Daycare to the big wooden doors. She gave them a mighty push, but they wouldn't budge.
"Damn it, they're locked." she muttered, "Hey kid, check that desk over there and see if there's any keys lying around."

It was clear that Vanessa had an agenda to stick to, and she wouldn't take any arguments, so Gregory silently started looking for the keys.
He searched on the desk. Nothing. The only thing that Gregory noticed was a calendar with "APRIL 2034" across the top. It was clear that whatever happened in that ball pit had taken them somewhere else. The future. Another version of the Pizzaplex, but this time, abandoned.
Gregory pulled the drawers open and rummaged around the piles of books, pens, and spare flashlight batteries, desperate to find a way out. The drawers were full of random crap, like keychains and Mr Hippo fridge magnets.
He pulled another drawer open. Inside lay numerous faded, chipped, plastic spikes. Each one the same size and colour.
"Aren't these the...", Gregory whispered to himself, "No. They can't be, that's just insane."
He slammed the drawer shut and looked under the desk.

The sight that awaited him made his soul leave his body as he jumped backwards. Under the security desk was the limp, lifeless body of the sun. His casing was all faded and cracked, and all his spikes had been violently snapped from his round head. In his stiff, closed hand were blood red crayons, the source of the disturbing drawings on the walls.
In his other hand lay a set of countless keys; all different shapes and sizes. Gregory carefully took them, being careful not to disturb the sun just in case it was still active.
"Vanessa, I think I found them!" Gregory exclaimed. He hurried over to Vanessa and she snatched the keys from his grasp. She fumbled with the lock for a minute, trying to find the right key before finally unlocking the doors. The lock turned with a loud click. With a mighty push, they flung the wooden doors open and stepped into the hall just beyond.

They hurried out of the hall and up the stairs towards the Atrium. Bursting dramatically through the doors, they saw the Main Stage, with all the party tables just in front. Except here, it was in ruin. The tables were on their sides, with some missing legs, and the stage was dilapidated.
"What happened here?" Gregory asked, "This place has really fallen apart, huh." Vanessa chuckled nervously.
"Gregory, I don't know what's going on." she explained, "We're still in the Pizzaplex, but it's... different. Abandoned, even." Gregory stood there, looking around him at the destruction that had fallen upon the building.
"Come on, Gregory." Vanessa continued, "Let's go to my office near FazerBlast. Maybe we can find something there."

The two made their way towards FazerBlast at the East of the Atrium, their hurried footsteps echoing around the hollow building that was once the Pizzaplex. They approached the rusty shutters and lifted them, making a loud screeching sound as they rose. Ducking under, they stepped in and walked down the corridor. Laying on a table just before the entrance were helmets and laser guns, ready for the attraction ahead. The equipment, once full of life, now sat there gathering dust. Gregory picked up a gun.
"Maybe this could help." He stood there flipping the gun over in his hands, inspecting it closely. Pointing it against a wall, he pulled the trigger. Nothing.
"This equipment, I think it's broken, Gregory. Come on. Let's go inside."

They wandered into the vast, neon maze, FazerBlast. It was seemingly untouched by all the destruction. The dramatic music continued to play and the neon lights flashed. Someone, or something, must still have been operating it all. Something bad. Something evil.