Five Nights at Freddy's: Springlocked

Epilogue

Michael woke, he looked around... He recognized this place, even without the bright color scheme, being replaced with the monochrome feel...

Fredbear's Family Diner.

He looked at the pale children, all sitting, rigid in their chairs, something about them seemed so familiar, as if he'd seen these children before. They all wore cheap plastic masks, some of characters he'd never seen before. A hippo, an elephant, an alligator, and a wolf. In the distance, he saw the dim glow of what he thought was a pond, with a single person out at it, fishing.

Michael would walk past the kids and over to the man, who would turn around and urge Michael to sit down with him.

Michael hesitantly sat down next to the old man, who was sitting quietly, staring at the red pond. He could hear something in the distance.... A deep, yet audible mumble. His mind couldn't make it out fully, but he could swear it was... screaming. He couldn't make out the voice, but before he could try to, the man spoke next to him.

"You know... it's been a long few years for you, hasn't it?"

Michael wasn't sure what to say, he just fiddled with his fingers, but he knew the old man was right.

The old man chuckled, and wiggled the fishing line a bit, "I have one last task for you, to end this once and for all."

Michael stared curiously at the old man.

"Burn it down."

Michael had made his exit shortly after... He had said goodbye to the old man and walked away from the pond.

He knew what the old man meant. But-

The distant cries of happy children pierced the air from inside the pizzeria... except for one... it sounded scared.

Michael was curious, and walked back inside Fredbear's, only to be confronted by something as he did. Michael had been intercepted by a lanky black and white creature with a joyful grin on its white plastic face, and green eyes that seemed to stare into his very being.

"Do you have a wristband?"

Michael just blinked in confusion. The Puppet wouldn't stick around, and continue walking off, Michael deciding it was best to follow. These were like previous dreams, only... he could be seen this time.

Michael tailed behind, and looked at the pizzeria. First, at the stage with two yellow bots performing for a crowd, then the slightly larger stage with... some robots on it, and then the stage with the recent robots he had put up before he was arrested. Michael continued to wander, the children with masks and happy smiles were everywhere, some playing games, others eating pizza, or some just chatting.

He noticed The Puppet walk up to a certain child, one at a huge table with four other kids. Michael hesitantly got closer, and...

Michael's heart stopped.

He knew that striped shirt from anywhere.

But... no... it couldn't be him...

The Puppet motioned for the child's mask, wanting him to take it off. The child, shivering and frightened, removed the mask of the animatronic that had taken his life, and held it off to his side, before staring up at The Puppet.

Michael felt his heart stop beating for the second time that singular minute...

Evan stared up at The Puppet, holding back tears.

Michael didn't know what to say. It didn't seem Evan had noticed him, and frankly, he didn't want the child to. He'd been here for many long, lonely years, Michael surely wouldn't be a welcome face. It was his fault he was here, trapped with the things he hated so much.

A silly prank gone wrong.

Evan then looked up to The Puppet as the latter set the cake down on the table, and spoke, "I-Is... that f-for... me?"

The Puppet gave a gentle nod, and stepped back.

Evan looked at the cake, then back at the Puppet, then his eyes darted toward...

"M-M....M-Mikey...?"

Evan was sure he was hallucinating. But then again, he also wasn't sure what was real or fake anymore.

Michael paused, and then nodded. Evan was surprised, and tears streamed down his face... It seemed he remembered what Michael had done to him all those decades ago.

Michael looked at the floor, in shame.

He heard footsteps walk closer to him, and when he looked up, he saw Evan right in front of him. Evan didn't look any different from the day he died. He still looked like a child.

Evan then smiled, tears running down his face, as he suddenly gave Michael a tight, warm hug. Michael couldn't help but start to cry himself... it'd been so long... and it wouldn't last. As Evan let go and walked away, Michael's perspective started to change, as he watched the spirits of the masked children fade away, and then Evan, who gave Michael one last smile as Michael's vision slowly faded out to black.

He had finally got the birthday he never received...

*

Michael woke up with a start, he turned to the clock, nearly 4 AM. He knew what he had to do.

He grabbed a half full pack of matches, and a full can of gasoline from the closet he stored them in. This nightmare was dying right here, right now...