Into the Shadows

~Chapter five - Was that the Bite of 87?!~

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-𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚎-
𝙷𝚎𝚢! 𝚂𝚘, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝.. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛? 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝙱𝙴𝙴𝙵𝚈. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚞𝚢𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚎.  𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐!

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So It's been a few hours of talking, researching, and planning, and now it's almost 6 am. We learned that some kids were kidnapped and two were killed by getting bitten by animatronics. That's what Nine called the bite of 83? Or was that the bite of 87? Either way, there are even rumors that the missing kid's bodies were stuffed into the animatronics and that's why the robots are like... possessed? Or... Sentient? Same difference. Anyway, Since Scarlett and Jamie go to work during the day and their shift starts at 9, we're all going to nap till 8:30. That way they don't have to go into work like zombies. We all head back to Scarlett's room to nap. Jamie and Scarlett take her bed. Me and Kyle take the air mattress. I lay down and pull the blanket all the way up to my chin. Kyle is downstairs in the kitchen getting a drink when Scarlett shuts her light off and crawls into her bed with Jamie. Which I expected her to do. However, what I didn't expect was the visceral reaction I got in my stomach when she shut the light off. I lay silent and keep my eyes glued shut. I can feel myself tensing up. I will myself to not cry or shake. 'What on earth is happening to me?' I think to myself. The bedroom door opens and the dim light from the hall spreads over the room. I flinch at the sound and squeeze my eyes tighter. I feel like I'm about to be chased, killed, hit, just- something bad is going to happen. A dip in the air mattress. This is it. I'm gonna die. I can't breathe-  Wait. A gentle pair of arms wrap around me before I hear Kyle's voice whisper. "Hey, it's alright. It's just me okay? ...You're safe here." I turn to cuddle him tighter and can't stop the way the silent sobs wrack my body.

I slowly peel my eyes open and adjust to the soft glow of the sun coming through the curtains. I look around before realizing I'm on the air mattress by myself. A momentary panic surges through me until It dawns on me where we are. Scarlett's house. Ah, they're probably downstairs eating breakfast. I reach over and check the time on my phone. It's 8:34. I shove my phone into my sweatpants pocket and throw my zip-up hoodie over the old band T I borrowed from Jonathan. I make my way downstairs and round the corner in the hallway to find everyone in the kitchen. Scarlett and Jamie are dressed for work and they're eating breakfast at the kitchen island. Kyle is on his phone while leaning against the wall and drinking OJ. Jonathan and Nine are sitting next to each other at the table and talking among themselves. I don't see Scarlett's parents so I assume they're already at work. As I shuffle on the tile floor it catches Nine's attention. "Heyyy~" He says with a wide grin, drawing out the Y sound. Everyone looks up at me from what they're doing. "Good morning sleeping beauty." He gives a wink and I roll my eyes. I take a breath, about to tell him he can't call me that but Kyle speaks up first. "Hey, I'm the only one who can call him stuff like that." He smirks like he's joking but I've known Kyle since second grade. He's definitely a little jealous. I can't help but giggle inside. He's so cute. Nine is quick with a witty response. "Calm down Captain Hook, I'm not touchin' your booty." He rolls his eyes and giggles to himself. Kyle rolls his eyes in return "Har har very funny." He flushes lightly before going back to his phone. I sit down at the table and put my head down. Scarlett speaks up. "So, Spencer.. Does this mean you and lover boy are finally together?" Kyle chokes on his OJ and coughs. I lift my head and look at her. I'm at a loss for words with my jaw dropped. Kyle responds first. He sounds completely taken aback. "What the fuck gave it away?" He wipes the OJ dribbling down his chin with his sleeve as Scarlett scoffs. "Uhm, I've known Spencer since he was in diapers. How would I not be able to tell when he has a boyfriend? Anyway, that's besides the point. You better treat him right. I will protect Spencer with my life and if he comes to me crying because of you I will actually kill you." She says it with a stone face and tone before finishing her food. Kyle looks just a little shaken by her harsh words. "I- uh.. Yes ma'am?" Jamie is giggling while Nine and Jonathan aren't even paying attention. I blink at her before speaking. "Scarlett. Did you actually just give Kyle the boyfriend talk that dads give their daughter's boyfriends?" I ask incredulously. Scarlett is the first to giggle this time. "Mayybe," She says drawing out the Y sound. "I just don't wanna see your feelings get absolutely crushed by some idiot." She grins at Kyle when she says 'idiot'. "But as long as he's good to you we won't have a problem kay?" I shake my head and pinch the bridge of my nose. Scarlett, you may have known me since we were in diapers but Kyle isn't far after that. I've known him since 2nd grade. I'm sure I'll be fine." I roll my eyes and before she can say anything else to embarrass me or Kyle I keep talking. "So are you guys leaving for your day shift soon? And do you have a ride? Or am I taking you?" I inquire. She shakes her head as she answers. "Nope, I'm driving today." She says with a slight grin. She taps Jamie on the shoulder and nods her head toward the door. "We probably should get on the road soon." Kyle looks up from his phone as he speaks. "So What all are me and Spence supposed to do today?" Scarlett perks up before answering. "Oh! You guys are gonna go buy supplies for our plans tonight. We don't have like-" She hesitates to think. "-practically anything we need. Johnny and Nine are gonna be the communicators and getaway drivers. So they aren't gonna be doing much besides that. And you guys will gather all the supplies. I left a list of things we need on the fridge... Have fun boys!" And with that, she and Jamie are out the door. "Well-" Jonathan pipes up. "Me and Nine are gonna go up to my room and chill. Let us know when you guys are back and we can help pack everyone's bags." Kyle Nods. "Yessir." He gives a dramatic salute as the two walk away. That leaves just me and Kyle in the kitchen. "So-" He starts. "-What store first?"

I'm practically power-walking through the iles of Walmart. I have a big cart full of stuff. From flashlights to knee pads, to matches and fireworks. Kyle is looking for snacks. He keeps calling it a 'Stakeout' even though I told him that's not what it actually is. He insists we need 'Snackies' for our brain fuel. I just let him have this. I didn't wanna crush his excitement. As I'm at the checkout the lady looks at me questioningly about what's in the cart but apparently, she doesn't get paid enough to question me. She says absolutely nothing other than telling me my total. Me and Kyle meet at the front of the store.

"So-" He starts. "-Do we got everything?" I nod in response. "I think so. Now all we have to do is wait for tonight to carry out our plan." He nods back. "I'll message Scarlett and tell her we're ready when she is." With that, me and Kyle head back to the car and load up the groceries before heading back to Scarlett's place.