Lilly

Part 1

"Can you feel it?"

"Who are you?"

"..."

------

Lilly was descending in the elevator with her family. Her dads were taking her and her brother Max to meet some friends of theirs.

"Okay," Her dad Bonnie began. "You know the rules. No running, no climbing on the wood, be careful around Foxy's hook, and please, Max, be nice to your sister."

"Bonnie, they'll be fine." Her other dad, Freddy, chuckled as he looked over at her with a warm smile.

Lilly and Max had certain names for their parents so that they didn't get mixed up. They always called Bonnie "Dad" and Freddy "Papa". It just made things easier for them.

Max, his curiosity piqued by the mention of a new friend, couldn't help but ask, "Who're we meeting?" His eyes shone with excitement, his red hair bobbing slightly with each movement of his head. His rabbit-like feet tapped the floor impatiently as he leaned against the elevator wall.

The elevator's smooth ascent was accompanied by the faint whirring of gears, a sound that never failed to comfort Lilly. Freddy looked at Max with a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "We're meeting an old friend of your dad and I's, someone very special," he said, his tone a blend of warmth and caution. "They're our original models, and they have a son your age, Lilly."

Her heart raced at the thought of meeting another animatronic kid. The secret whispers of the adults had painted a picture of a tragic past, but she had never allowed herself to think about it too deeply. Now, the reality was just moments away. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "I hope he's nice," she murmured, her eyes darting to the elevator doors, willing them to open faster.

The elevator's ding echoed through the shaft as the doors slid open, revealing a burnt down pizzeria.

"They live..... here?" Max's eyes grew wide as he took in the dilapidated surroundings.

"It's not what it seems, buddy," Bonnie said, placing a reassuring hand on Max's shoulder. "Follow us."

They stepped into the eerily quiet pizzeria, the smell of old pizza and burnt wires thick in the air. The lights flickered erratically, casting dancing shadows across the chipped tiles and worn-out arcade machines. The walls were adorned with faded, peeling posters of the original animatronic band, their eyes following the group as they moved deeper into the abandoned building.

"Hey, Papa?" Lilly whispered, tugging at Freddy's paw. "Where is everyone? You said you had friends down here."

Freddy's smile remained, though his eyes searched the room with a hint of sadness. "They're around, Lilly," he assured her, his voice a gentle rumble.

Suddenly a crashing sound echoed from the back of the pizzeria, causing Freddy's ears to perk up. He recognized the noise immediately.

"Oop! Sorry, didn't mean to startle you guys." A voice said. The voice was high pitched and a bit staticy, but it had an angelic tone to it.

"It's alright, Mangle," Bonnie said with a chuckle. "We're just here to visit."

Mangle?

Mangle emerged from the shadows, a tangled mess of wires and metal limbs, her once bright and cheerful exterior now dulled by years of neglect. She stepped into the flickering light, her single eye glowing a soft yellow. "Hi! I'm Mangle!" she exclaimed with a tinkle of metal against the floorboards. Despite her disheveled state, she had an infectious energy that made Lilly's curiosity bloom. "I'm so happy to see you again!" she added, her voice a delightful mix of enthusiasm and the occasional electronic glitch. She looked over at the new faces, her head tilting inquisitively. "Who are these two?" she asked, gesturing towards Lilly and Max with a springy arm.