Alone With Them

Chapter 12

Can you tell I'm bad at sticking to my schedule? At this point, I might as well consider getting rid of it...but who knows, maybe one day I'll post on time XD

"I can do this, I can do this," Cathryn muttered under her breath as she approached the glass doors. They were cold to the touch and the creaking sounds they made when they swung open made Cathryn flinch.

She couldn't do this; she really couldn't.

The restaurant appeared empty, minus the freaks on the stage. She couldn't see them from her position next to the front doors, but she could picture their unnerving grins as they heard her footsteps echo in the dark building.

"What are you doing here?" a voice rang out.

Cathryn couldn't help but yelp. An image of Freddy's face – his mouth wide open, full of hard metal teeth – appeared in her mind and she swung her arms frantically in defense.

"You shouldn't be here."

Her cheeks burned when she noticed a person emerge from the closest dark hallway. "It's nice to see you, too, Sam," she mumbled.

A deep frown sunk into his handsome features, and his eyes looked cold. "Why are you here?"

"Because who's going to believe my reason for quitting?" she snapped. Cathryn wasn't sure why his words bothered her so much, they just did. It was like he was looking down at her, and although she knew he might've just been trying to be nice and save her from getting torn apart, his insistence for her to leave only felt like an insult. "Not my mom, that's for sure. I'm working here tonight, Sam, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Sam seemed a little taken back, but he still scowled at her. "Why would you risk your life over something so stupid. Just tell her you'll find another job."

Cathryn wanted to argue more but forced herself to swallow back her annoyance. "I don't need to explain myself to you," she said, trying to keep her tone of voice calm. She took a deep breath. "All you need to know is that this week, I'm working."

Her mom would never let her quit so soon. If she would, Cathryn would be in her warm house snuggled in bed. Instead, she was roaming around a creepy restaurant with demonic robots.

"Actually, you do, because I don't feel comfortable leaving a little girl somewhere like here."

"You act like I'm a child, I'm almost an adult."

"And I am an adult. Do you think that makes me qualified to work here? I'm giving you a chance to get out, Cathryn." Despite his harsh tone, Cathryn thought she could see some sincerity in his gaze.

"Look, you don't understand. I need this money, okay? A lot is riding on me keeping this job–"

"Your pride?"

"Sure! Is that what you want to hear?" Cathryn's breaths were agitated. No, it wasn't just something like pride. It was her mom. And all the time Cathryn had spent watching her almost work herself to death. Maybe after Cathryn got at least one paycheck, she could hide away from Fazbear's forever, but she had to prove that she wasn't a quitter to her mom. That she could work hard, too. "It's none of your business, okay?"

Sam looked at her, almost like he could see through her, and the sharpness of his eyes faded away. He stared in silence, and Cathryn did her best to keep from nervously tugging at her hair. She had pulled it up into a ponytail before she left, but that hadn't kept a few short strands from falling out and dangling on her forehead.

"Are you really willing to risk your life for something so...?" He didn't bother finishing.

Cathryn held her breath. Was she? Was she really going to go through with this when she could easily back out now? "Yes," she nodded certainly. "I have to." A strong conviction in her gut told her she did, even if the prospect of working at Fazbear's was horrifying.