forgotten wolf animatronic (creepypasta)

Chapter 5: Ghost in the Game Room

The next day dawned bright and unnervingly warm, sunlight streaming through the forest and casting patches of dappled light across the shadowed mansion. Saber had spent the early hours outside with Sally, her playful spirit coaxing him to join her in hide-and-seek through the woods. Yet the more he ran, the hotter his animatronic frame became, the metal beneath his fur heating until his joints felt sluggish. It was clear his body wasn't built for the relentless sun.

After a few more rounds of play, Saber excused himself and returned to his room, feeling the need to cool down and recharge. He sat on the edge of his bed, letting the room's dim light calm him. Carefully, he powered down the animatronic, watching as the glow in his eyes dimmed to black. Then, with a subtle shift, he slipped out of the shell and into his spectral form.

A faint blue light radiated from his spirit, casting a soft glow over the room as he floated above his still body. Saber's ghostly form felt light, untethered by the weight of metal and wires, and he drifted through the walls like a breeze.

The laughter of two familiar voices floated up from the living room below—Jeff and Ben, their usual banter laced with the sounds of frantic button-mashing and the distinctive clicks of controllers. Saber followed the sounds, slipping through walls until he reached the living room, where he found Jeff leaning forward on the couch, face scrunched in concentration, while Ben's wide, mischievous grin revealed his confidence in the game.

Floating invisibly at first, Saber took in the scene. Jeff sat with his tongue slightly sticking out, eyebrows drawn together as he tried to focus on his character's movements on the screen. Ben was leaning back, one arm casually draped over the back of the couch, as he expertly maneuvered through the game with an ease that clearly frustrated Jeff.

"Come on, Jeff," Ben taunted, not even glancing at the screen. "You can't beat me in Nightmare Clash. You've got the reaction time of a zombie."

"Shut up, Ben," Jeff growled, his fingers pounding furiously on the controller. "One more hit and I'll—"

Before Jeff could finish, his character on-screen suffered a brutal attack, his health bar plummeting to zero in seconds. The screen flashed with a dramatic "GAME OVER," and Ben broke into laughter, holding his controller high in triumph.

"Oh, you are so bad at this," Ben teased, giving Jeff a playful shove. "You'd think with all those knives you'd be better at a little pixelated combat."

Jeff shot him a glare but couldn't hide the smirk creeping onto his face. "Let's see you do better in a real fight, Ben. Your little video game magic won't save you then."

Saber, feeling amused, decided to let his presence be known. He focused slightly, making himself visible, his ghostly form flickering into view just behind the couch.

"Hey, what are you guys playing?" Saber asked, his voice carrying the curious tone of a 13-year-old who'd stumbled upon something new.

Jeff and Ben both jumped, Ben letting out a surprised laugh as he turned to see Saber floating nearby, his ghostly form bright against the dim light of the room.

"Saber!" Ben laughed, patting the empty spot on the couch beside him. "Want to join? Jeff could use all the help he can get."

Jeff scoffed, though a grin played at his lips. "You're lucky he's on your side, Ben, because I'm coming for you next round."

Saber floated over, settling himself between them in his spectral form. Though he couldn't hold a controller, he watched the game screen with fascination, eyes wide as the two characters clashed in pixelated battle. Jeff's character swung a massive sword, while Ben's agile fighter dodged and countered with graceful, lethal precision.

"Why don't you just... block?" Saber suggested as Jeff's character took another hit, his health bar plummeting.

Jeff huffed, glancing sideways at Saber. "Easier said than done. Ben plays like he's possessed."

Ben chuckled, glancing at Saber with a sly grin. "I am possessed—by the spirit of gaming excellence!"

Saber laughed, feeling the ease and warmth of the moment. He didn't often join the others like this, but being in his spectral form felt different. He wasn't bound by the weight of his animatronic body, and here, in the company of his strange family, he could simply be a kid.

After a few rounds of play, Ben paused the game, leaning back and stretching his arms. "Hey, Saber, do you ever miss actually playing games?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

Saber thought for a moment, looking down at his hands, transparent and glowing. "Sometimes," he admitted. "I remember playing games when I was alive... but it feels so long ago. Watching you guys is fun, though."

Jeff gave him a half-smile. "Maybe we can set up something so you can play, too. Even if you're... you know, ghosty."

Ben's eyes lit up. "Oh, we could totally rig something up! Maybe some kind of custom controller that you can manipulate even as a spirit. It'd be awesome!"

Saber's face lit up, excitement flashing in his ghostly eyes. "Really? That would be amazing!"

Just then, a soft rustling sound filled the room. Saber, Ben, and Jeff turned to see Slenderman standing silently in the doorway, his tall form blending with the shadows around him. Though his arrival would have sent chills down Saber's spine just a few months ago, now it was simply a familiar presence—a comfort, even.

"I see you're all... bonding," Slenderman's voice echoed in their minds, laced with a hint of amusement.

Jeff shrugged, leaning back on the couch with his usual nonchalance. "Saber's getting a crash course in Nightmare Clash. Not that he needs help dealing with nightmares, right, Saber?"

Saber grinned, giving Jeff a playful shove, his spectral form flickering slightly at the contact. "I think I'm starting to get it," he replied, glancing up at Slenderman. "Maybe one day, I'll even beat Ben."

Ben's eyes widened in mock horror. "In your dreams, ghost boy."

Slenderman watched them with a silent pride that seemed to radiate through the room. The others could sense it too—a feeling of warmth, of quiet acceptance, as if their unconventional family had somehow grown a little closer that day.

"Then I'll leave you to it," Slenderman intoned, his voice gentle. He turned and left them, fading back into the shadows with that silent, graceful stride.

The three boys resumed their gaming, Ben and Jeff taking turns trying to outdo one another, while Saber floated beside them, cheering on each move, his laughter echoing through the mansion. In that moment, he felt a kind of peace he hadn't known in years. There were no memories of the past, no burden of the life he'd lost—just the present, and the family that had found him.

And as the hours passed, Saber found himself thinking that maybe, just maybe, he was exactly where he was meant to be.