how count they was should have gone

chapter one fear

Mille stepped into the cold, dimly lit garage, her heart heavy with frustration. She was tired—tired of her family, tired of her life, tired of everything. Just when she thought things might be getting better, it all spiraled downward. She needed to get away, to hide someplace where no one could find her—especially not her family.

As her eyes scanned the cluttered space, she wandered deeper into her grandfather's old garage, hoping to find a spot, any spot, to disappear. That's when something in the far corner caught her eye—a hunk of metal, partially obscured by old boxes and tools. She moved closer, squinting at it. At first glance, it looked like one of those old animatronics from Freddy Fazbear's, the pizzeria that had closed years ago due to health concerns or something. But this one was different.

The animatronic bear was a pale, light gray, though Mille guessed it might have once been white. Its design was accented with faded pink highlights along its muzzle, ears, and a patch on its stomach. It looked worn and beat up, with one of its hands missing, leaving a mess of tangled wires where the hand should have been. What really caught her attention, though, was the bear's stomach. It had a small, metal hatch—just big enough for her to crawl into.

Mille's heart raced as an idea flickered in her mind. Her family would never think to look for her in there. She hesitated for only a moment before she carefully opened the hatch. It creaked slightly, but it revealed enough space for her to slip inside. Without thinking too much, she crawled in. It was snug, but oddly comforting—at least, at first.

Finally, she could get away from her stupid family, her stupid school, her stupid problems. She sighed, closing the hatch behind her, plunging herself into complete darkness. The silence enveloped her, and for a few minutes, she simply sat there, feeling a strange sense of peace.

But the longer she stayed, the more the tight space began to close in on her. Her breath quickened as the walls seemed to press against her, and she reached out, pushing against the hatch to get out. But it didn't budge.

Panic flickered in her chest. She pushed harder, but it stayed shut.

"Ah ah ah, my dear," a voice suddenly whispered, floating into her ears. Mille's heart stopped. She jumped, hitting her head against the cramped metal above her. The voice had come from nowhere, or rather... from the bear.

Silence filled the small space as Mille pressed herself against the sides, trembling. Then, in a barely audible voice, she whispered, "H-Hello?"

"Why, hello, my dear Mille!" the voice replied, its tone unnervingly cheerful, yet chilling. "I was simply waiting for you to try and crawl out of my stomach so I could speak to you. It seemed you needed some time to reflect on how awful your life is. I didn't want to intrude, of course."

The voice was so casual, so jolly, but Mille felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

"Are... are you the bear?" she whispered, her voice shaking with fear.

"Why, yes I am, chilly Mille!" the voice said with a playful edge. "My name is Freddy, but I'm sure you already knew that. Fazbear's was quite popular, wasn't it?"

"You... you don't look like the Freddy from Fazbear's..." Mille stammered, unsure of what else to say. She was terrified, but what other choice did she have but to keep talking?

Ah, yes," Freddy chuckled, "I am the new and improved! Well, not so new anymore, I suppose. You could call me the Funtime variant. And I wasn't from Fazbear's, my dear. I came from Circus Baby's Pizzeria! You remember that place, don't you? My friends Funtime Foxy, Ballora, Circus Baby, and Bo—" He paused, the playful tone faltering for just a moment. "... and others."