forgotten wolf animatronic (creepypasta)

Chapter 7: Flames in the Shadows

The air was cool as the sun set over the mansion, the forest around it thickening with shadows. Inside, laughter and banter filled the halls as the family gathered in the living room. Tonight, Sally had coaxed everyone into a game of hide-and-seek throughout the mansion, an idea that excited both the young spirits like Ben and Sally and the older members who found themselves oddly nostalgic.

Saber was in his animatronic body, hiding in the corner of the darkened parlor, watching the flickering glow of candles on the walls. The light cast long, dancing shadows, and Saber was so focused on them that he didn't hear Jeff until he was right behind him.

"Gotcha, ghost boy!" Jeff's voice rang out, and Saber jumped, letting out a startled laugh.

"Jeff!" Saber scowled but couldn't stop himself from smiling as Jeff cackled and walked back toward the others, another victory added to his tally.

As Saber began making his way back to the living room to rejoin the others, something caught his eye—a faint glow in the hallway. It was a small candle Sally had forgotten to extinguish, its single flame flickering in the dim hallway. He could see the faint orange light glowing off the walls, casting a surreal pattern of light and shadow. The sight was oddly mesmerizing, and Saber found himself staring, unable to look away. But something about the glow stirred a strange, twisted sensation in his chest, as if a long-buried fear were trying to surface.

The flickering light brought with it flashes of memory—of crumbling walls, broken machinery, and the smell of something metallic burning. He felt an echo of pain in his chest, right over the scar that never fully healed.

The faint memory of flames seared through his mind, and he stumbled back, hands gripping the wall as he tried to steady himself. His breathing, though unnecessary in this form, came faster as if he were reliving something he couldn't understand.

"Hey, Saber!" Ben's voice snapped him out of his daze as he bounded into the hallway. "You coming or what?"

Saber blinked, trying to shake off the hazy fear that had taken hold of him. He quickly nodded, hoping to brush it off, and followed Ben back to the others, the fear receding but leaving a strange, unsettled feeling in his chest.

Later that evening, the family gathered in the living room for a round of stories, everyone swapping tales and sharing in laughter and spooky banter. The atmosphere was warm and easy, even as the night wore on.

But as they sat, someone—likely Jeff, though Saber wasn't sure—brought up a rumor about a nearby campsite. The rumor claimed that a group of hikers had been building bonfires, leaving scorched patches in the forest.

Saber's heart felt heavy at the thought, his body tensing involuntarily. He looked down, forcing himself to listen to the others without letting his nerves show.

"I say we go and give them a nice scare, teach them some respect for our woods," Hoodie suggested, his tone filled with a subtle menace that made the others chuckle in agreement.

"Yeah, nothing says 'stay away' like a little jump scare in the dark!" Ben laughed, his grin widening.

Sally, seated beside Saber, noticed his silence and glanced at him with curious eyes. "Saber, you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Saber nodded quickly, forcing a small smile. "I'm... fine," he said, though he knew his voice didn't carry the confidence he'd hoped for. His mind was still on the thought of flames—flames surrounding him, devouring him, tearing at the edges of his consciousness.

But Sally's innocent question had drawn the attention of the others, and soon everyone's eyes were on him. Jeff leaned in, a playful smirk on his face. "Wait, Saber... are you afraid of fire?"

Saber hesitated, glancing away, his silence speaking louder than any answer.

"Oh, man," Ben said, leaning back with a grin. "Didn't expect that from you. A ghostly animatronic with a fear of a little fire?"

"It's not... just fire," Saber mumbled, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep over him. "I... don't know. It's like it's... burned into my memories. Something happened. Something I can't forget."

The laughter and teasing faded as the others sensed the seriousness in his voice. They exchanged quiet glances, the humor gone as they realized Saber's fear went far deeper than they had guessed.

Slenderman, who had been watching quietly from the corner of the room, finally spoke, his voice resonating in Saber's mind. "The past holds scars, Saber. And fire has a way of etching itself into the spirit, marking it in ways that are not easily forgotten."

Saber looked up at Slenderman, a faint ache in his chest. "I don't remember everything," he admitted, his voice small. "But I remember... flames. Flames tearing through everything around me. There was this... metallic smell, and the heat..." He shuddered, unable to continue.

Sally reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Saber," she said softly. "Sometimes memories hurt. They don't have to define you."

Hoodie and Masky exchanged a glance, their faces more serious than Saber had ever seen. Though they were each haunted in their own ways, they could understand the lingering effect of trauma.

"I mean, we don't have to mess with fire or anything," Jeff mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's not like... you know... a big deal or anything."

Saber looked around, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Despite their dark natures, despite their eerie lives and haunted pasts, they were still a family. A family that accepted his fears, no matter how out of place they seemed.

Slenderman's voice echoed gently, steadying him. "Your fear does not make you weak, Saber. It reminds you that you are still connected to what you once were. And here, in this family, you will always be safe."

The others nodded, each offering their quiet support in their own ways. Ben gave him a nudge, Sally stayed close by, and even Jeff threw him a reassuring smirk, as if to say, We've all got our own ghosts.

As the evening wore on, Saber's fear of fire still lingered, but he felt a little lighter, a little stronger. He wasn't alone with his fear; he had a family willing to face it with him.

And in that moment, surrounded by his unconventional family, Saber realized that his past, no matter how haunting, didn't have to rule him. He was more than the memories of flames, more than the scars he carried.

He was Saber—part of a family of shadows, one that embraced his fears as part of who he was, and would stand by him, no matter what memories the fire brought back.