Animatronics Awaken

A Necessary Sacrifice

Cheyanne's POV

"Golden Freddy!" Justin repeated his name the moment after I did. Letting out a cry of utter disbelief, I shot up from the couch and jumped on him ecstatically. Golden Freddy took a step back from the force I caused shooting into his arms. My arms instinctively wrapped around him, pulling him closer to me in a tight embrace. He was still for a moment, processing this sudden affection. His eyes went from an aspect of emptiness to one of warmth. "Hey, kiddo," he said, scruffing my hair. I'm sure that he was happy that we were safe and to be reunited. I was confused as to why he was here and how, and why he was by himself, but my relief and euphoria pushed those questions aside. Golden Freddy kneeled to my height and acclaimed, "You kids played his game well."

I backed away from him and blinked, puzzled. "Game?"

"Take a seat," Golden Freddy suggested, gesturing to the couch at the spot I was just previously sitting. Bewildered, I did as I was told, noticing Justin and Ellie staring ahead, captivated by what he had to say. Justin's leg bounced impatiently and he had his elbows dug into his thighs with his chin resting in his hands. Ellie was in a more relaxed position; she was leaning against the couch with her legs crossed but her eyes gleamed with interest all the same. I sat down and slouched over, my forearms resting on my legs as the three of us waited for Golden Freddy's explanation.

"The game," Golden Freddy began. "Gabe's game. The one where you had to make that decision. It's just all a game." He was leaning against the wall in front of us. He grew more frustrated as he continued clarifying, "There was no real meaning to that. It was to mess with you kids' heads; make you feel insane. It's his way of torturing his victims."

Ellie, Justin, and I remained silent, unsure what to say or how to react. Golden Freddy went on. "The fact that you didn't give him an answer when faced with that 'choice' right away proves how strong you all are and how you don't give in to pressure." He fixated his gaze on the floor. "And that scares Gabe."

"Why are you telling us this?" I didn't understand what was going on, or what Golden Freddy's point was with all of this. It confused my head more, having met Gabe only this morning. The confusion led to a headache and more stress, which was something I didn't need right now. The fact that Golden Freddy has returned relieved some of that stress since we were no longer on our own in this but the question remains of how he escaped. And why he was alone.

"His goal," Golden Freddy answered me. "Well, more like the Nightmares. As you know, Gabe teamed up with them, for reasons I do not know." He shook his head, disappointed at that fact.

"What goal?" Justin inquired. He stopped bouncing his leg, not even realizing it. He was too focused on the conversation.

Golden Freddy hesitated. "The Nightmares...they don't want us. We were just the bait. They want you four." His voice came out cold like he didn't want to share this information but figured he had to.

"Us?" Ellie echoed. "Why?"

"The Nightmares need your souls to enforce their power. Children's souls make them stronger. Their main goal is to destroy us animatronics but they're too weak in their current state, so the plan starts with you. I have a feeling that they want to go beyond that even, and threaten or take over the people in the city, but we're stopping them. And if they do destroy us, I don't even know what happens after that. Now the problem is they already have three. All they need is you, Cheyanne, Justin, and Raymon."

Gizzmo, May, and Rachell...

"They want..." I paused. "our souls for their benefit?" Golden Freddy nodded. I leaned back, unable to process what he just said. I felt like a helpless kid that was being hunted down. Vulnerable. It made me terrified. I didn't want to die or have my soul used for any evil purpose...let alone everyone else in this room. "I don't understand," I continued. "Then why is Gabe with them? What purpose does he serve?"