Sleep For The Beast

8

Part 2

Narrator pov

The ride in the cable car down to PlayCare was silent except for the Ludwig recording on the old tv,  making the atmosphere even more eerie than before.   All eyes turned to the PlayCare town square,  each and every detail being just as magnificent as when it was first built.   The five that were seated in the cable car exited the vehicle as soon as it came to full stop,  surveying the area before moving on.

"Do you think what we need will be in the offices?"  Amir's question left a quiet echo in the air,  stirring a bit of dust in the process.
Naomi's mind wandered while staring at the statued center piece of Smiling Critters,  vacantly answering;  "I believe so."
Harry felt goosebumps as he too gazed at the golden CatNap figure.  "Everything here feels more and more intimidating the further we dig,   it's almost as if we're being watched."   The others couldn't agree more.
Benjamin lead them into the Office building and began their search,  leaving no nook or cranny untouched.
Kareena plopped herself down into a chair and sighed in defeat.  "Let's face it,  any trace of the project was ruined in the accident and we've been at this for hours already."  She shook her head and took a deep breath,  coughing harshly as she tried to steady her breathing.

A soft red mist had begun to drift around their ankle and coat the floor in scented fog.
The old lights flickered,  revealing vicious white eyes that stared into their souls.
The owner of those eyes stepped into the room,  mouth releasing the very familiar gas.   "The Devil's pet..."  Benjamin muttered before CatNap shot out a heavy dose of Poppy gas,  stalking closer with a look of insanity dripping from his features.
The intruders felt reality slipping,  falling into a deep sleep.

Benjamin woke at the pain of a headache,  taking a moment to collect his bearings.
Long halls of green wallpaper indicated that he was somewhere in Home Sweet Home,  the massive home for the orphans the company would house.    It seemed as if he was the only one in sight,  as to where the other 4 were he didn't know.    Was it CatNap who moved him?
"Kareena!  Amir! Harry! Naomi!"
He called,  receiving no response.
Benjamin pressed on through the maze in an attempt to find his way out.  
Tape recorders and radios activated as he passed,  playing old news reports and updates on the 'booming Playtime Co business'.

"Playtime Co has done it again with the new line of toys,  The Smiling Critters!"

"Playtime Co once again tops the charts in toy production and sales another year in a row."

"Playtime Co's sudden shut down has brought an uproar to news outlets all over."

"Five Ex Staff members of Playtime Co are still missing after a week long search,  many presume them dead.  More on this story-"

'Why did I ever think it was a good idea to come back here? '  Benjamin thought as he quickened his pace through the many hallways and rooms.    He came upon a room that he never expected to come across.
Drawings of CatNap with a little girl and strewn about accessories lit Benjamin's curiosity.   Benjamin sifted through the different pictures and little diary entries,  finding a name at last.   Y/n.
His victory was cut short when a shrill scream rang in his ears.   There sat a CatNap doll,   screeching and twitching while blankly staring at Benjamin.
Little padding feet rushed up to the doorframe,  waddling up to the doll was none other than Y/n the Otter-Fox.
It seemed as if she hasn't noticed Benjamin since she focused on the mini CatNap.
This would be the perfect moment to take
Y/n and leave,   there may be a chance that the others are already out of the building and ready to help transport the creature.

Before Benjamin could grab Y/n she had already moved out of the way and rushed out the door.   Y/n's soft sobs were a give away that she knew an unknown man was there not far behind,  chasing her further into the building.

A wail of agony stopped Benjamin in his tracks,  it was Kareena.
So then this was a game of Cat and Mouse the whole time,  from the very moment they set foot into the facility.

The last breath they took was filled with the smell of poppies.