The Next Reminder

Chapter XI || Regret

*Henry's POV*

The night air hits my face as I exit the house, and I find Micheal on the porch smoking a cigarette. "Where are you going?" He asks me, his British accent strong, stomping on the cigarette.

"Freddy's, I need to figure something out." I state, and his eyebrows raise in shock.

"Well, let me come with you, then. One person cannot handle William Afton alone, you know. Going alone is asking for a death wish." He points out, and I nod, leading him to my car.

*.•*.•*

It's still pitch black outside, so I grab a flashlight for both Micheal and I. He asks me why it's so heavy. "It can double as a weapon," I say smiling, "Jen found them for me in a store when I was 18 and moving out, and I've had them since..but nevermind that, let's go." Micheal nods, understanding the task at hand.

We manage to get inside the pizzeria, and I look up to the stage, filled with nerves. "What are you planning to do, Uncle Henry?" Micheal asks, and I don't answer his question.

"Go fetch me a screwdriver, backstage, will you?" I throw myself onto the stage while Micheal just walks up using the steps. He listens, opening a secret door to go backstage while I stand up, glancing over at the animatronics.

"Are you completely sure about this?" Micheal asks, and I take the screwdriver from him, popping off Bonnie's back.

I have to step back because of the foul smell, and Micheal takes a look inside. "I think I'm going to throw up..." I flash my light inside of the animatronic suit, and I cover my mouth at the sight. Turning my flashlight off, I hold back my vomit.

"Oh my god...all those years.. and I knew!" Regret washes over me, and I put a hand on my head. Micheal grabs my wrist, pulling me away.

"We need to go." He speaks, urgency in his voice. Micheal climbs up into the vent, and grabs my hand to help me inside as well. I sigh of relief as we both make it to the other side of the vent. "...Slight problem." Micheal's voice trembles.

"What is it, Mike?" I ask, looking behind us.

"The vent is screwed on tight..." He swallows, trying to kick the vent out of place. "Open, dumb thing!" He curses under his breath.

I pull out my phone 8:30 AM. How long had we spent in there? I wonder, and I hover my finger over Clay's contact. He should be awake by now, I think, so I press the call button and hope he responds.

"Henry, you could've just came to get me..." He says, groggy.
"Problem is, I'm not home..." I admit.
Clay sighs, "Where the hell are you now, Henry?"
"Freddy's...the vent that we came is screwed back on or blocked or something... " My voice trembles as I watch Micheal struggle, "please come."
I hear Clay in the background grab his keys, "I'm on my way, with a screwdriver just in case." Clay pauses, "I'll see you soon, darling."

I hang up on him, and Micheal looks back at me as if I had just told him that William Afton was right on our asses. "Darling? What?" Micheal repeats what Clay said, absolutely baffled.

"Ah...it's nothing." I say nervously, looking back the way we came.

Eventually, after what seems like forever, we hear shuffling on the other side of vent, and Micheal peeks out. "Clay! Over here!" Micheal calls.

Clay works on the vent, and it descends to the floor, making a clanking noise. "Let's get out of here." Clay holds out his hand for Micheal, and then for me. He squeezes my hand once, and I sadly smile. I quickly let go, running to catch up to Micheal since he was already halfway up the way we came. I hauled myself out of the window, and we waited for Clay to appear as well.

"What's going on down there, Clay?" I look down, and he's climbing up the wall.

"Just go, you don't have to wait for me," he says, and I help him up, shaking my head, telling him that no one is being left behind at a place like Freddy's.

"Stop flirting, you two. Let's get out of here!" Micheal complains, already halfway to the cars.