Fnaf DarkSide: Beyond the Neon

Chapter 10: tricks of the mind

Saturday, July 14th 1986

9:22am

Donnie's heart sank. William had said there was no one else on site besides them, so how was the kitchen area being used by someone other than Donnie or William. Donnie moved to run towards where William had gone but realized that William would most likely not take kindly to an interruption on a call as important as the one he was on. Donnie turned back and began to slowly make his way through the maze of tables to the kitchen. Donnie tried to walk straight and keep a neutral expression but he couldn't help but begin to shiver.

"Come on, don't be a pussy. It isn't that scary right?" Donnie weakly tried to reassure himself as he slowly approached the set of doors. Once Donnie was close to the doors, he heard what sounded like muffled talking from inside. He couldn't make out the words but he knew something was definitely being discussed. Donnie closed his eyes and considered walking away altogether. But what realistically could Donnie do about this besides risk his new job by interrupting his boss on an important phone call? And if Donnie left whoever was in that kitchen alone, who knows what they might do should they choose to leave. Mustering up whatever strength he had, Donnie faced the door and slowly reached out and pushed it open.

Donnie expected to walk in on some kind of conversation, but instead he heard the sound of slightly distant music. The music was upbeat and jazzy and seemed to have a female singer who was going on about how it was a good day to pay bills and cure ills and many other things. It was certainly not music from his or his mother's time, more like something from his grandmother's teenage years. Donnie slowly and quietly made his way along the tiled wall that lined the entrance. He soon reached the corner of the wall and took a deep breath before turning it to face what had been inside.

He found himself staring at the back of a person who seemed to be at one of the stoves. They were dressed in the standard employee outfit he had seen last night. Donnie immediately calmed down and began to walk towards the person. "Hello? I Don't think you're supposed to be in here right now dude." the person sat silent and continued what they were doing as if Donnie had never spoken. Donnie walked closer and tried to get their attention once more. "Did you hear me? This place isn't open yet. You're like, two hours early dude." Seeing the person ignore him once more, Donnie marched right up to them and grabbed their shoulder. Donnie turned the person around to finally get their attention but was met with a strange sight.

The person was no person at all, but instead a smiling female mannequin. "What the hell-" before Donnie could continue the lights inside the kitchen clicked off. The room had been plunged into darkness once more, this time with Donnie trapped inside. Donnie stood still to make sure he wouldn't bump into the many appliances around the room but began to panic when he heard a noise. From in front of Donnie he heard what sounded like creaks of moving plastic followed by footsteps." H-hello?! Is anyone here? If this is some kind of fucking prank it ain't funny!" Donnie pathetically cried out to no avail. The footsteps moved fast to his right and then to his left, but soon stopped at what sounded like the far side of the wall. Donnie began to slowly move towards the wall hoping to find the light switch. He began to trace his hands along the tile but stopped when heard the steps again. The steps stopped right behind Donnie. It wasn't until the steps had gotten closer that Donnie realized the steps also made clicking sounds. Donnie froze and tried to remain still and quiet, hoping the thing behind him would leave. But suddenly the lights flickered on and the unseen radio that had been playing music turned off. Donnie's breaths slowed and he sighed in relief. He looked back and forth quickly making sure that he was clear on both sides. Donnie turned around to leave but was surprised by a familiar face. Looming over him stood the waitress animatronic herself, Baby.

Donnie screamed in surprise and fell backwards but was suddenly stopped before he fully hit the ground. Donnie shakily glanced upwards and noticed that Baby had caught him by the wrist. "Hi pal! I told you I'd see you again!" The robot yanked Donnie's arm and pulled him all the way into a standing position. "How'd you like my little trick? Pretty neat huh?" Donnie was silent and shaking, staring at the thing inches from his face. He hadn't forgotten what had happened last time and this new mannequin trick wasn't making him feel any better. The robot cocked her head to the side and leaned a bit closer. "Hey, are you okay?"

Donnie jumped back and pointed at her. "Y-you stay away from me you creep!" He looked over to the side and spotted a full knife holder next to a cutting board. He quickly reached out and drew a medium length kitchen knife from the holder and shakily pointed it at the robot. "D-Don't f-fuck with me!" Baby quickly put her hands up as if she was bracing for an attack. "Hey now! Put the knife down buddy! You're gonna hurt yourself!" She slightly peeked out from behind her hands. "Look, I'm sorry I scared you buddy, really I am! Please just put that down and hear me out!"

Donnie clumsily thrusted the knife forward before speaking once again."You want me to h-hear you out!? After that creepy shit last t-time!?" He pointed the knife at Baby's nose. "Not to mention you've suddenly j-just shown up here! How?! This whole t-thing is freaking me the fuck out!" Baby made a yelp in response to Donnie pointing the knife at her nose. "Eep! You're scaring me Donnie! I thought we were friends!" Donnie pointed once again at Baby. "Friends don't scare the living s-shit out of each other and make ominous statements!" Baby held out her hands in surrender and began to plead. "Okay! I'm sorry! I just like playing games and occasionally spooking my friends. Just let me explain things please!" Donnie narrowed his eyes and shakily put the knife down on the counter before backing into the corner again. "Fine, talk."

The animatronic girl lowered her hands slowly and looked to the side before looking at Donnie. "Well to start I was already in here, my free roam mode was accidentally left on last night so I kinda wandered into the kitchen. I saw you show up earlier so I thought I'd play a little practical joke on you using a prop from the storage closet nearby which I grabbed on my way into the kitchen." As she spoke she tapped her fingers together as if she was admitting to something embarrassing. Donnie raised an eyebrow. "Free roam mode? I knew you were kinda advanced but not that advanced." Baby nodded. "My head is outfitted with programmed obstacle navigation tech which allows me to map this location and all it's obstacles so I know where to avoid while I'm on my merry way! Neat huh?"

Donnie nodded a little. "Okay, but the real question is how no one has seen you yet." He motioned around. "There's no way this place doesn't have cameras. Plus, you're massive-" Baby crossed her arms and turned away dramatically. "Massive? You think I'm massive? That's not a very nice thing to say!" Donnie faceplalmed and responded in a tired tone. "I meant massive in height, not width Baby." She turned back and gave an answer to Donnie's statement. "The cameras don't seem to work right starting at around 8:00am. I don't know for sure but I haven't had any checks on me after I had been out around that time."

Donnie had to double take. "Wait, you've been out before!?" Baby's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oopsie..hehe did I say that?" Before she could continue Donnie heard the familiar sound of William's shoes approaching. Before Donnie could react the doors to the kitchen swung open and William stepped in. "Donovan? What are you doing in here? I heard all matters of commotion while I was on call and I thought I'd-" William glanced over at the animatronic sized elephant in the room. "Did you have something to do with this Donovan?" William's tone had gotten drastically more serious and deep as he spoke. Donnie began to panic and he quickly answered. "W-well I heard some weird noises and I-I thought I'd check it out and I found her in here." Donnie pointed at her. "S-she even spoke to me! She said her free roam was acting up or something, right Baby?" Donnie heard nothing and looked over at the robot. But she was now still and silent. Her eyelids rested halfway and her face was inexpressive. "Baby?" The robot sat silent and only continued to stare off blankly into space in response.

William walked over and looked at Donnie before looking at Baby. William shook his head back and forth slowly before putting a hand on Donnie's shoulder. "I think that's enough for today, I'm sure this was all the work of the handlers last night forgetting to return her back to the maintenance bay." William looked at Donnie. "She appears to have been shut off long ago Donovan, I have no clue how she could have spoken to you but I'm sure it's a combination of me waking you up early and your imagination playing tricks on you." Donnie went to speak but put his head down and let William guide him out of the kitchen.

William had been saying something but Donnie wasn't paying attention. Donnie's eyes and attention were fixed on the kitchen. The double doors swung open and close from Donnie and William going through them, and between each movement of the door opening and closing he saw Baby, now standing in the door.