The sequel to my other Poppy Playtime story, it continues to follow Huggy Wuggy as we dive deeper into the Playtime Co. factory. Inspired by the video game Poppy Playtime Chapter 3, Huggy and the Player team up to tackle their biggest challenge yet:...
"Welcome to PlayCare! ....or at least the one corner of it that's safe." Kissy Missy announced as we approached a dilapidated looking building. Can you imagine? There was a whole town inside the Playtime Co. factory. Six buildings stood around a large center piece. Eight statues stood atop the center pedestal. My vision was going blurry, but I was able to make out that they were supposed to represent the eight Smiling Critters that called PlayCare their home. One of the statues had been pulled down from its pedestal. It had been split in two - the head separated from the body. An artificial light poured in from above, illuminating the fake clouds, each of the buildings, and the fake grass that surrounded them. I can only imagine that the children that used to live here would think that light was real. That it was really coming from the sun. The employees would even shift the artificial light to a shimmering portrait of the night sky when it was time for the orphans to go to bed. They all played and learned here, day in and day out. Oblivious to Playtime Co.'s true intentions behind the daycare. Individuals would get plucked away...one by one....and turned into toys.....or worse: monsters like me.
I still lie on the back of the dog-caterpillar as we approached the building that looked like a dilapidated hospital. There was even a red cross above the doors. The light did not work anymore, of course. My vision faded in and out as the mini Huggy Wuggys worked away at patching my wounds using some spare materials they still had from their last toy repair kit. Kissy knocked on the seemingly barricaded door. Was it just me or did her pink fur seem to shine from the light pouring down onto us? Her long arm gently rolled back down to her side. A board over the door slid to the side as someone addressed her from the inside.
"Glad you could make it back, Kissy. How many we got?" A gruff, male voice asked. I knew that voice. It belonged to the often belligerent and very territorial Boxy Boo. A monstrous jack-in-the-box that was proud of his strength and eager to show it off every chance he got.
Kissy Missy turned around to do a quick scan of the numbers.
"At least 10. Some wounded pretty bad. Do we have plenty of kits inside?"
"They'll be better in no time, sweet cheeks." Boxy tried to assure her. The female huffed a bit at the nickname. I guess she doesn't like to be called things like that? Good to know. I won't make that mistake when talking to her.
The doors opened and Boxy stepped out, holding the door open with his furry red hand. His faded blue box still had that yellow star on it. Springs came out from the box that made up his limbs and neck. At the end of each spring was either a three-clawed foot, four-clawed hand, or his rectangular shaped head with black eyes and sharp teeth lining his jaws.
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"Come on in, there's room for everyone."
"You heard him, friends. Welcome in. This is a place of truce and peace." Kissy Missy elaborated. Everyone began to shuffle in. I wasn't sure if my ride was going to fit in the building at first, but PJ sagged his body closer to the ground to avoid scraping me on the ceiling. I was just about to pass under the doorway when the jack-in-the-box interrupted the process.
