(NIGHT 4)
*The clock struck midnight, signaling the start of night four. The pizzeria was eerily quiet, save for the low humming of the electronics and the soft clanking of moving animatronics. Michael was back in the office, trying to keep an eye on the security cameras and monitor the activities of the animatronics.*
*There was a slight shuffling noise from the hall, and Michael's heart began to beat faster. He couldn't see anything on the cameras, but he knew the animatronics were on the move. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm and alert. He had gotten used to the routine night shift, but the fear of what could happen still weighed heavily on his mind.*
*Michael scanned the cameras, his eyes darting between each screen, trying to spot any sign of movement or anomalies. But the halls were empty, and the animatronics were nowhere to be seen. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes, when suddenly a soft static crackle came through his headphones.*
*Michael's heart skipped a beat as he heard the static. It was a sound he had grown all too familiar with, a sign that an animatronic was close. He listened intently, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. It seemed to be coming from right outside the office door.*
*Michael felt a wave of dread wash over him as he realized how vulnerable he was in the office. The only thing between him and the animatronics was a flimsy metal door. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever was on the other side. Holding out his taser, he slowly approached the door.*
*With a trembling hand, Michael reached for the door handle. Every instinct inside him urged him not to open it, to stay safe in the office. But he knew he had to face whatever was on the other side. He took another breath and, with a final burst of courage, pulled open the door.* *As the door opened, Michael found himself face to face with Bonnie. The animatronic stood before him, his empty eyes staring directly into Michael's. He was in even worse state than last night. His movements were jerky and uncoordinated, and his voice box was making distorted and glitched sounds.* *Michael's heart dropped as he took in Bonnie's appearance. The usually confident and composed guitarist looked...destroyed. He didn't look like the Bonnie he knew. He took a step back, his grip on the taser tightening. Bonnie stumbled forward, taking a slow, stumbling step towards Michael.*
*Michael felt a mixture of fear and sympathy as he held his ground against Bonnie. He knew the animatronic wasn't in control, his programming was clearly malfunctioning. "Bonnie," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "It's me, it's Michael. Do you recognize me?"*
*Bonnie's eyes flickered, as if trying to focus on Michael. There was a flicker of recognition in his gaze, but it was faint and overwhelmed by the malfunction. Instead of responding, Bonnie let out a low, guttural noise from his speech box, almost like a pained moan.*
*Michael's heart ached to see Bonnie struggling like this. It was clear the animatronic was in great distress. But he knew he had to stay focused and keep his guard up. He held up the taser, a clear warning to Bonnie. "I don't want to hurt you," he said, his voice strained. "But I will if I have to."*
*Bonnie continued to advance, his movements now uncoordinated and spastic. His eyes were blank, and his voice box kept spitting out an array of unintelligible noises, a mix of glitched sounds and pained moans. It was a horrific sight to see the normally confident and lively animatronic reduced to this state.*
*Michael tried his best to maintain his composure, ignoring the fear that was threatening to overpower him. He took a step backwards, his taser held out in front of him. "Bonnie," he repeated, his voice firm. "Stop. Please. You're not yourself."*
*Bonnie staggered forward again, his movements growing more erratic and uncontrolled. His voice box was now making a continuous, static-filled noise, punctuated by occasional bursts of glitched words and sentences. "Hur...ry...up..." his voice box stuttered. But Michael wasn't sure if it was really Bonnie saying those words or just a malfunction.*
*Michael felt a chill go down his spine as he heard those words. He wasn't sure if Bonnie was trying to say something or if it was just a glitched-out phrase. But he couldn't take any chances. He took another step back, his taser still held out in front of him, ready to defend himself if necessary. "Bonnie," he said quietly, "what do you mean? Hurry up with what?"*
*But Bonnie didn't answer. He simply continued to shamble forward, the glitched sounds from his voice box growing louder and more distorted. Michael could see the desperation in his movements, the struggle against his own inner turmoil. It was a harrowing sight to behold, watching the usually confident and charming animatronic reduced to this broken and confused state.*
*Bonnie stalked forward, his movements uncoordinated and erratic. The glitched sounds from his voice box were growing louder, now accompanied by static-filled fragments of words and phrases. "I'm...sorry..." the voice box stuttered, the glitch making it hard to discern. "Help...me..."* *Michael felt a pang of sympathy at those words. In between the glitches and distorted sounds, he could hear the plea for help. Bonnie was still in there somewhere, struggling against the glitches and malfunctions. But he couldn't afford to drop his guard. He held out the taser even more firmly.* *As Bonnie closed the distance between them, the atmosphere in the room grew tense. The glitched sounds from his voice box continued to fill the air, mixed with the occasional clear words. It was a chilling and eerie sight to see the once-proud guitarist reduced to this shell of his former self. Michael gritted his teeth, his finger hovering over the taser's trigger.* *Bonnie's eyes were glassy and unfocused, his movements growing more erratic. As he reached out towards Michael, the glitched sounds from his voice box turned into an almost pleading tone. "Don't...hurt...me..." the voice box stuttered, fragmented words trying to break through the interference.* *Bonnie was now only inches away from Michael, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. The glitched sounds from his voice box were now constant, punctuated by occasional words and phrases. "Help...me..." he repeated, his eyes holding a hint of desperation. But even in this state, he was still an unpredictable and potentially dangerous force.*
*Michael took another step back, his back bumping against the wall. Bonnie followed after him, getting even closer. The glitched sounds from his voice box were now a chorus of static and nonsense, but every so often, Michael could hear the plea for help cutting through. It was a bizarre and unsettling sight, to see the confident and suave guitarist reduced to this broken and scared creature.*
*Michael slowly lowered the taser, his eyes never leaving Bonnie. The animatronic stood before him, his movements still jerky and uncoordinated. But there was a hint of recognition in his eyes, a glimmer of understanding in the midst of the glitched sounds.*
*Michael's heart nearly leaped out of his chest as Bonnie leaned against him. He gently wrapped an arm around the animatronic, trying to keep him standing upright. "Bonnie?" he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can you hear me?"*
*Bonnie's voice box remained silent for a moment. Then, in a low, pained tone, he managed to utter a single word.*
*"Hurts..."*
*Michael's heart ached as he heard the single word come through Bonnie's voice box. He held the animatronic tighter, trying to provide some comfort even if he didn't know the source of the pain. "I know, buddy," he said gently. "Just...hold on, okay?"*
*Bonnie made a low, pained noise, his voice box glitching and stuttering. He leaned more heavily on Michael, clearly struggling with the malfunction. The pain was clearly getting worse, the glitch tearing into him like a virus.*
