A Labyrinth With No Exit - A Maze With No Prize

CHAPTER ONE - NORMAL PEOPLE

With the weekend only just beginning now that school was out on a Friday afternoon, Henry drove to pick up his children as usual. Sammy, now a teenager, who looked a lot like his father with dirty blonde hair and slightly heavy build, stood in the parking lot with his little sister hand in hand. Charlotte waved to her father as he pulled up, a big smile across her face. Her traits were more like her mothers, short brown hair and light brown eyes, the little freckles on her face and shoulders were just like her mom's too. He parked and greeted his children, Charlotte eager to tell him about her day. Henry waited a moment as everyone settled in and buckled their seatbelts, before pulling out of the parking lot and driving them to where he worked with William during the week. It was easier on the weekends to come into work, and let the kids hang out and play at the diner while he and William helped run the place. Fredbear's Family Diner was a place where the kids grew used to hanging out with each other every weekend, Samuel enjoyed hanging out with Michael, and Charlotte especially enjoyed playing with Elizabeth, who was a year younger than her.

As Michael waited on the opposite side of the school's parking lot, he held Elizabeth in his arms supported on his hip, clearly bored of waiting any longer. If this town weren't so old fashioned he'd be on his way to high school but instead the only one here was a mixed grade school. He wasn't exactly thrilled to have to take care of his little siblings all the time, but even he recognized it was easier on his father, William, to not have to take everyone to separate schools. Even if he had a choice, William likely would've chosen to put them all in the same school anyway, he wasn't exactly a nurturing father- rather a single parent that almost entirely relied on supporting the family financially. Michael, only a year younger than Sam, found himself responsible for taking care of Elizabeth and Evan, a quiet child who was two years older than his sister, stood beside him. They usually waited in silence for their father to pick them up from school, if he did at all, otherwise they'd hitch a ride with Henry if William asked him to.

After another twenty minutes of waiting, eventually a slick purple car rolled into the parking lot. The color was vibrant enough to pick out from anywhere, though William waited long enough each time it was easy to spot his kids standing there because everyone else had gone home by then. He slowly pulled up, as Michael let down his little sister, her curly blonde hair brushing against his face as he spat it away from him. Michael helped her get inside into the backseat first before quickly hopping in second, closing the car door as Evan stood there with a tired expression. Sometimes it'd make William mad, or sometimes he'd laugh or drive off unaware any one of his kids was still standing there, but today he didn't seem to find it very funny. Michael rolled his eyes, and opened the door for his little brother, lending a hand to help him up into the car. He closed the car door, and put on his seatbelt as Michael helped Elizabeth with hers before doing his own, not that William cared as he drove out of the parking lot before ever ensuring everyone was buckled in. Other than the radio, their car rides were usually silent. Michael had the impression William didn't really care to ask anything of them anyway.

Eventually they arrived at Fredbear's Family Diner. William checked his watch, and smirked as he was late the usual amount of time. He left the car, and opened the left car door for Elizabeth, helping her out as Michael and Evan left through the other side. Holding Elizabeth's hand, he walked her inside the building as Michael opened one set of the double doors for himself and notably not his little brother, who opened the door on his own, trailing last.

Charlotte peeked her head over a diner booth, waving across the restaurant to her friend as Elizabeth smiled wide and rushed over as quickly as she could. The girls hugged, and sat together at the booth.

"It's about time! You should really come with us more often." Charlotte giggled, impatiently bouncing at the arrival of her best friend.

"What should we do today, Charlie?" Elizabeth asked, excitedly looking down at the table that was prepped with printer paper, crayons and markers. Charlotte picked up a green crayon and held it up to her.