To Seek Answers (Mike Schmidt X Reader: Book 2)

The Thing's I've done

Blood-curdling screams tore through Jeremy's throat as he writhed underneath the animatronic, trying desperately to free himself. Mangle's jaws were clamped like a vice on Jeremy's head, its teeth penetrating his skull. Every time the robot moved, the front of Jeremy's head became more and more detached from the rest of him.

     For a moment you were frozen, your mouth agape and your eyes wide.

     Jeremy.

     Sweet, sweet Jeremy. He'd jumped in to protect you. Even after you'd snapped at him last night. How could he be so selfless, when all lately you'd been nothing but selfish?

     Another scream seemed to snap you from your trance, and you leapt to your feet. You pulled your torch from your belt and began to hit Mangle over the head with it in a mad panic. Unfortunately, the gun and taser you carried, were fake and simply used to scare troublemakers.

     Your hits didn't seem to be doing anything, and so you knew you'd have to attempt to pry Mangle's jaws off instead. Jeremy screamed again, and you leapt onto Mangle's back. Mike was by your side in an instance, and Henry was already on the phone to an ambulance. Kylie, Fritz and William were busy ushering people out of the building.

     "We need to make it let go," you ordered, wrapping your legs around Mangle's wiry metallic back. "Grab its bottom jaw."

     Mike complied, prying his fingers between Mangle's jaws. You did the same, grabbing ahold of the top jaw. Together, you attempted to pry the animatronics mouth apart. "It's not working," Mike grunted, "Hold on Jere, we've got you."

     You were growing more desperate, tightening your legs in an attempt to stop Mangle from moving so much. Your hand slipped, and you let out a hiss as your palm sliced against one of the teeth, but you quickly repositioned and continued to pull. "Try and force your torch in its mouth," you suggested.

     Mike began to forcefully shove his torch between the mutilated flesh of Jeremy's head, and the back of Mangle's throat. This caused Mangle to loosen its grip slightly. Jeremy's body jolted suddenly, blood gurgling from his wound. Somehow, he was still alive, but he wouldn't be for much longer if you couldn't get Mangle off.

     "Hold on dude, hold on. I can't lose you, you're one of my best buds," Mike begged. He planted his heels into the ground, his muscles flexing as he pulled with all his strength. Your heart broke, even more, seeing Mike's distress. You didn't want him to hurt.

     A lightbulb suddenly went off in your head as an idea surfaced. "Mike, I'm going to let go for a moment."

     Mike's eyes widened, "No! Mangle's jaw will clamp down again as soon as you let go!"

     "I have a plan! Just trust me ok!"

     Mike looked hesitant, but after a moment he reluctantly nodded. Gritting your teeth, you lifted your already screwed up leg, jamming your knee between Mangle's teeth, before removing your hands. You bit your lip as teeth pierced into your flesh, but you had to push past your pain. For Jeremy's sake. With shaking hands, you began to undo your belt. You pulled it through the loops with a slight struggle, before jamming one end between Mangle's jaws and pulling it tight.

     Once it was secure, you began to force all your weight backwards, tugging at the end of your belt. With the sound of metal and bones breaking, Mangle finally dislodged from Jeremy's head, taking a large chunk of him with it.

     You flew backwards, tumbling to the ground at the force of the impact, Mangle landing not too far away from you. The animatronic turned to you with hate-filled eyes, beginning to run towards you. "You will never know what it's like!" it screamed in a glitchy voice. "You and everyone else must pay for our suffering!"