Tales From The Pizzaplex #1: Lally's Game

Under Construction

Maya can't resist the temptation to explore an off-limits area of Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex.

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"THIS IS UNREAL!" MAYA LOOKED UP AND CAUGHT HER

REFLECTION IN THE NEON-BOUNDED, MIRROR-TILED

CEILING. HER EYES GLOWED RED IN THE BLAZING LIGHT.

FOR AN INSTANT, MAYA SHIVERED. THE WEIRD RADIANCE IN

HER EYES MADE HER LOOK LIKE ONE OF THE UNDEAD

FROM A ZOMBIE MOVIE. MAYA SHOOK HERSELF AND

QUICKLY SHIFTED HER GAZE.

"Didn't I tell you?" Jaxon shouted to be heard above the blaring '80s rock music that pulsed around them. He brushed back his locs, took a huge bite of pizza, and looked from Maya to their strawberry-blonde friend Noelle, who was gazing in awe at the bright yellow roller-coaster track that wove in and out of luminescent climbing tubes entwined like snakes throughout the vast expanse beyond the dining area.

Noelle, her freckles standing out in the bright lights, reached for her soda. "I have to admit I thought 'Mega Pizzaplex' was more hype than reality, but this is pretty cool." She sucked through her straw and bopped to the music's beat. Her ponytail swung back and forth.

"Pretty cool?!" Jaxon dropped his half-eaten pizza slice. "This is beyond cool. I can't wait to try a VR booth."

"AR booth first, Jax," Maya said. She looked past a string of zipping go-carts and focused on the glass enclosure near the pizza-themed Tilt-A-Whirl (every pod on the ride was shaped like a pizza topping). The large, bubble-like booth was the whole reason she'd wanted to come here tonight.

Jaxon rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, birthday girl. It's all about you." He flashed his signature mischievous grin and nudged Noelle, who gave Maya a goofy look.

Maya struck an exaggerated glam pose and checked herself in the overheard mirror again. In the psychedelic lights flashing around them, her long black hair looked like an oil slick reflecting a kaleidoscope. With her head tilted, her eyes no longer appeared red—they were their normal dark brown. She thought that between her dark skin and full features, her red

dress, and the red rose tucked behind her ear, she looked a little like a flamenco dancer.

Maya returned her attention to her friends. She threw a balled-up napkin at them. "Just because I got to sixteen before you two losers is no reason to hate on me."

They all laughed.

Maya noticed that the bark of their laughter barely made a dent in the clamor around them. The music, loud as it was, competed with so many sounds that it was hard to distinguish them all. Maya could, however, make out the clatter of the roller coaster on its tracks, the hum of the go-carts, the tinny music and pings and bleeps of the arcade games, the buzzing sounds of laser tag, and, overlaying it all, the sounds of happy screams and shouts and chatter. Maya's sister, Elena, would hate this place, Maya thought affectionately. Elena liked things quiet and peaceful. Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex was the exact opposite of quiet and peaceful.

Elena would have hated the bright-colored chaos in the Pizzaplex, too.

Whereas Maya loved vibrant jewel tones, her sister was all about white and gray and pastels. Maya looked down at her bloodred dress, then shifted her gaze to Jaxon's bright orange shirt and Noelle's hot pink blouse. She glanced around. Even their bright clothes were lost in the rainbow-scape of the Pizzaplex.