The Things I Can't Take Back [Michael Afton x F! Reader]

Chapter 1 ~ Help Wanted

WARNING: mentions of blood and gore

...

"Michael, what are you doing?"

"Hey! Guys, knock it off! This isn't funny, put him down!"

"Mike! Seriously, stop it! You're gonna hurt him!"

"Mike! Stop-"

The sound of your panicked shouts were suddenly silenced by the sickening sound of the loud crunch that came from the direction of Fredbear. Everything went silent, everyone froze. It was as if time had stopped.

The only sounds that remained were the whirrs and creaks of the animatronics' joints as they moved, the glitching voices that emitted from the speakers of their voice boxes, and the faint dripping of blood as it seeped from the bear's mouth and landed on the wooden stage.

The blood-curdling screams that cut through the silence were enough to break you out of your dazed state. Children began to scream and cry at the sight of their beloved Fredbear biting down on the now crushed skull of a child. Parents scrambled to grab their kids; scooping up the younger children into their arms, and grabbing the older children by the wrists as they quickly rushed them towards the front entrance.

Even as parents, children, and even your fellow coworkers pushed passed you in a panicked frenzy, you couldn't bring yourself to follow them.

You stared with wide eyes at the body of the crying child, his head crushed between the jaws of the animatronic bear, the blood gushing out and falling to the floor. You could hear your heart pounding in your ears, beginning to block out all other sounds. Your quick breaths were shallow, making your chest rise and fall in a rapid motion. Your gaze grew cloudy as hot tears welled up in your eyes, and you made no effort to wipe them away as they poured down your cheeks. Your face was splattered with blood, as was the boy's next to you.

You didn't want to look at him. How could you gaze upon the face of the boy who you had grown to love so dearly, now covered with the blood of his younger brother.

His group of friends were long gone, their own animal masks discarded on the floor, along with his own Fox mask. The mask he had used to torment his younger brother for so long. Now he watched his brother hang lifeless from the jaws of his father's creation.

You opened your mouth to speak, but your throat was dry. It felt as if it was being held shut, like someone was strangling you. Your voice croaked out in a tiny, shaky whisper. "Michael..."

The boy didn't seem to acknowledge you for a long moment. His body trembled as he stared up at the gruesome scene, tears beginning to spill from his own wide eyes. He finally forced himself to look away, turning his horrified gaze towards you. You had never seen him in such a state, it made your stomach twist and turn, and you had to fight the urge to vomit.

Your mouth opened and closed a few times, trying to find the words to say. Anything to say.

"... What have you done..?"

~~~ (whenever it's divided like this, that means we're switching between past and present time. Just wanted to throw that out there so no one was confused!)

The gasp that tore from your throat was enough to make your chest ache. You coughed harshly as you quickly sat up, pressing a hand against your chest as you struggled to catch your breath. This wasn't the first time you had been awoken by that nightmare, and this surely wasn't the first time you had had a panic attack because of it. But no matter how many times you went through this same routine, it never got easier.