Treasures of The Damned

16. Restless Wraith

"Kill you?!" Briar sat up with a wide, scared look in her eyes. "No-...no I can't do that..you're my uncles...and my dad-..."

Seonghwa blinked. "I get it, Briar...you want more time with us...you were so young when we all died. But that's the only way. It'll get rid of both sides."

"And there's no way to hang out with you all? When you're not evil?" She asked softly.

"Only during the daytime. But the theme park is open almost every day. I'm sorry, Briar."

Briar stood up slowly, testing her leg carefully. It felt better now, but it still hurt if she put her entire weight on it, so she leaned to one side a little bit.

Seonghwa stood up from where he was crouching, and he paused for a few moments before very gently hugging her. He held onto her gently before pressing his lips together. "I'm sorry, Briar...that's the only way we'd be able to interact with you without trying to kill you."

Briar didn't move for a few moments, staying as still as she possibly could before taking a small deep breath and slowly pulling away from Seonghwa. She didn't say anything for a few moments, but her breathing started to quicken, and she started to hyperventilate. "I don't-...I uh..." She took a few moments to take quick, harsh breaths.

Seonghwa looked worried, but he didn't say anything, just very gently kept his arms around her, not letting her go. He didn't know what to do to help her.

"I can't even spend time with you...? You died when I was 5! I never got to spend time with you! I missed everything!" Her breathing was sporadic and quick, as she tried to make out what was happening. "I can't even spend time with you?"

Her hands were shaking so much that she moved them to her sides, making fists and digging her fingernails into her skin as harshly as she could, to try and ground herself.

"Well hey- I did say a way for us to be together, dear Briar Rose..." Seonghwa tried to speak to her in a gentle and calm voice, but it didn't help her like it usually would have. She was panicking too much and trying to make sense of everything that was happening.

Briar paused and slowly took a deep breath, but he didn't say anything, just calmed down the best she could. "I know-...but the only way for me to get your eodum side out of inhabiting the animatronics is to kill you...I don't think that I can do that." She muttered quickly, looking up at Seonghwa. "What do I do? What can I do?" She whispered and muttered something, but after a few moments said nothing, and just stared blankly at the wall behind Seonghwa.

Seonghwa didn't say anything else, just watching her with a worried look on his face. "I'm sorry, Briar. I don't know how else to help you." He said softly, pressing his lips together and slowly stepping away. He didn't know what to do. What could he do? He was merely metal and fake skin, he couldn't do anything to help her.

Briar shook her head softly. "It's-...it's okay Uncle Hwa...it'll be okay..." she muttered softly and pressed her lips together. "I'm just...panicking...I don't know what to do..."

Seonghwa simply nodded his head, giving Briar a gentle little smile. Briar looked over at Seonghwa when she noticed a small little glitch in his hand. "Uncle Hwa...? Is everything alright...?"

Seonghwa didn't say anything for a few moments, looking down at his hand as he watched the glitch in his hand silently with a confused look. "Yeah-...yeah I think..." He then paused a bit. "Run, Briar Rose. He's trying to take over again. You've gotta get out of here, please."

"Wh-who's trying to take over, Uncle?" Briar asked quickly, pausing for a moment to gently wrap Seonghwa up in a hug.

"My-...my eodum side-...our eodum sides. Briar, please. You've gotta run!" Seonghwa pushed her away, causing her to trip and stumble into the desk, a hiss of pain as her leg hit the desk.

She watched with wide, scared eyes as he pulled himself away from her, stepping into the corner of the room. "Go, Briar!"

Briar slowly took a deep breath, before nodding her head and looking at him as she limped to the door. "I'll find a way to free you, Uncle Hwa! I promise!"

"I know you will! Now go! Please! I don't want to hurt you!" Seonghwa called, waving to her and watching as she rushed out of the room.

Briar hissed softly as she tried not to panic. She rushed as far away as she could. Soon, she found herself back in the main building of the room.

She gasped softly as she looked around, holding her leg and pressing her lips together. She looked around and listened for a few moments. She could hear a few people walking around her, and she took a small little breath.

"Shit...what do I do...?" She asked herself, not knowing what to do. What could she do? She was trapped in the theme park, she couldn't do anything, There were eight, no, nine, animatronics coming for her and trying to kill her. And the only way she could get away was if she killed them?

She knew there was no way she could do that. As she looked around, she slowly settled down in one of the plush velvet seats that were facing the stage.

She stayed there, just staring blankly at the stage, where, just hours ago, she was watching her father and uncles perform. And now, she knew they were murderous animatronics.

She didn't move, didn't pay attention to anything around her, but she looked up when she felt something sit beside her. They never said anything, and when she looked over, she was met with the silver hair and gentle smile of her papa. "Daddy..." She whispered something she hadn't called him in years, even when she was a kid.

"Hey, Songbird..."