Chapter 1
Thom Yorke blinked his eyes open to a strange sight. He wasn't in the hotel room he'd been sharing with Ed O'Brien, his bandmate from Radiohead. Instead, he was in a small, well-kept apartment, in a bed that was definitely not his own. Panic set in as he sat up and looked around, trying to make sense of what was happening.
It was then that he realized his phone was missing from its usual spot on the bedside table. Thom's heart raced as he pushed aside the covers, looking for any sign of his device. Across the room, he heard a rustle and a groan as Ed woke up in a similar state of confusion.
When they met each other's eyes, Thom knew something was terribly wrong. They were both in their 25-year-old bodies, not their current middle-aged selves. And it was November of 1993, not July of 2024.
As they stumbled around the unfamiliar apartment, searching for answers, they found a newspaper at the door. On the cover was an article about the mysterious disappearance of one William Afton, co-owner of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza and a highly respected member of the community. Thom and Ed froze as they read on, realizing that they were in Hurricane, Utah. This was the town where the Five Nights at Freddy's games that their children loved took place.
Thom's hands trembled as he turned to face Ed, fear gripping his heart. "We're stuck here," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're trapped in some kind of alternate universe. And the only way out is to take those jobs."
Ed's eyes widened as he saw the ad for two open positions at the infamous Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. One for a daytime security guard, and one for a nighttime guard. Despite Thom's warning that the night shift would be dangerous, Ed made up his mind. "We have to do this," he said firmly. "We have to find a way back to our own reality."
As they walked towards the pizza joint, Thom couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. This was a world that they knew nothing about, and the implications of what they were doing were terrifying. But they didn't have a choice. If they wanted to survive and find a way back home, they would have to take the risk.
Chapter 2
The metronomic tick-tock of the pizzeria's old wooden wall clock echoed through the vacant room. Thom and Ed sat across from Henry Emily, the surviving owner and manager of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. He was a man of considerable age, his hair grizzled and eyes weary, but a warmth radiated from him even in the era of despair he encapsulated.
Henry examined Thom with a creased brow, his gaze fixed as if trying to unravel a puzzle. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You remind me of a friend," he said, his voice a deep rumble, "William. He looked a lot like you, minus your drooping left eyelid. Though, he was closer to your mate's height," he added, gesturing towards Ed.
Thom met his gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. He knew of William's sins, of the tragic and gruesome demise of Charlie, Henry's daughter. His knowledge stemmed from his own universe, where William's atrocities were just part of a game. A pang of sorrow filled Thom, understanding the grief Henry must feel yet be unaware of the true depth of the tragedy. His lips pursed tightly, he chose to keep silent, knowing divulgence would further scar the man before him.
Ed's lanky form stretched from his chair, a yawn escaping him. "I reckon I should be heading back to the apartment," he announced, rubbing his temples, "I've got the graveyard shift tonight from midnight to six."
Thom nodded in agreement, watching as his friend left the room. He then turned his attention to his surroundings. A large wooden table filled the room, old pizza boxes scattered across its surface. The plastered walls were adorned with framed pictures, each capturing a memory frozen in time. His gaze fell on a photo of a young girl, no older than eight. Her vibrant smile was infectious, and her eyes sparkled with innocent happiness. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing her fate.
