Dog Toy: A Poppy Playtime Fanfic

Chapter 7: To the Counsellor's Office

You both enter the counsellor's office, and it's just as decrepit as the rest of the establishment, yet its ruined state hits you harder than you had expected, just like the sight of the school.

Children used to live here, learn here, grow up here. Now, there's blood smeared on every wall, vain messages scrawled in red and black, and the ever-growing sinking feeling in your stomach.

"Hey, Dogday?" You speak to your only companion and he responds with a positive hum. You needed a distraction from the depressing scene. "You have any idea why they would build an orphanage underground in the first place?"

"Angel, I am just as clueless as you are. All I know is that only the children were safe when... it happened."

"What, what do you mean? What is "it"?"

"That was when- Hey, what's that?"

Dogday points to a VHS tape lying inconspicuously on the desk. You pick it up to have a better look, and notice a date written on the front: 8/8/95.

1995. The year Playtime Co. shut down. The day you lost your job.

"Watch it, Angel. There might be something important on it."

You have a bad feeling about what could be on the tape, but not watching it wouldn't do you any favours, so you slide it into the VCR.

When it loads up, a blaring beeping sounds from the screen display on the ceiling. You cover your ears instinctively, feeling your buddy shirk away from the unpleasant alarm as he clings to your back. The screen is black as it displays text, the last words "WORK FORCE DANGER ALERT" standing out to you.

You continue watching the tape and it feels like a pit is in your stomach as the screen flickers off, then shows a red background in its place. The horrid alarm ceases and a voice message starts playing.

"The following is for all Playtime Co. employees: At 11:01am, Eastern Standard Time, an unknown hostile force was declared present in the Playtime. Co facility."

The hair on the back of your neck raises. A hostile force?

"All personnel are to begin enacting emergency evacuation protocols immediately. Leave all personal belongings, Do not engage with any hostile individuals, If no exit path is available, seek shelter in a hidden location. Use blankets or pillows to cover your body, and remain silent. Do not look through any windows. Do not open doors for any individuals. Do not make eye contact with-"

You flinch as the audio and screen cuts out suddenly. After a moment, the screen is on again, chilling words adorning the display:

OPEN THE DOORS NOW. THE HOUR OF JOY HAS ARRIVED.

This is followed by three disturbing beeps, then the tape ends.

Neither one of you says anything for what feels like eternity. Eventually, Dogday speaks up, voice small.

"That was "it". I remember seeing that tape."

"You... did?"

"Yes, Angel. It was so terrible I can't even comprehend it even now."

The most intense feeling of dread fills you until you firmly decide that you would be getting answers not later, but right now. Screw waiting for Poppy, you would hear the truth from Dogday instead.

"Buddy, can we talk for a minute? Like, face to face?"

"Sure, Angel. It would be nice to have a break."

It would be nice to get a straight answer too.

You set him onto the floor carefully against the wall and sit yourself next to him. He looks at you expectantly, waiting for you to talk.