A Child Smile - FNaF Fanfic [+14]

Chapter 7

  Suddenly, Michael let out a few tears, which soon took shape and turned into a real cry. A cry so horrible that not even the boy himself knew he had all of it inside him, but he knew he should have gotten it out a long time ago.

  – Mike?! – Charlie became more worried than before, her eyebrows furrowing tightly as she positioned herself face to face with her friend. – Mike, keep a hold of yourself, please! He'll find us.

  But her attempts were unsuccessful. The young man remained crying as if that were the last day of his life.
  Last day. That's what was making Michael so frightened. He didn't think he was going to get out of this alive, if he was going to get out of this at all.

  – This kind of thing always happens when I'm around! First it was Gary, then Izzy, now us! This is it, I'm paying for everything I've done! – As he finished speaking, he felt his legs weaken, so he began to cry harder. – I'm tired of this, Charlie! I can't run anymore! We're not going to survive!

  Charlie opened her mouth, thinking about what would be the most appropriate thing to say now. Before she could get the words out, the quick footsteps of two people were heard down the hallway, as well as a voice, Lamar's voice, shouting to his own partner.

  – Fuck, Marla! Wait for me! You can't handle a two meter robot by yourself!

  – Mike! Mike, no need to cry! Let's get out of here before it's too late.
  – And leave the other two to die here?! No, Charlie! I don't want to be the one to blame for two more deaths!
  – Michael, please! – the girl's voice began to distinctly express her anguish. – You know they both can take care of themselves! And Fredbear hasn't found them yet!

  The boy shook his head. Even though Charlie had suggested the idea, she knew Michael was right. If the roles were reversed, she would have said the same thing as Michael. The problem was that Charlie didn't know how to prove to the other that they would survive, perhaps because she herself didn't believe it.

  – Then at least come with me! Let's help them and the four of us will get out together!

  Charlie smiled at Michael when she saw him nod, then she took his hand and ran off in the opposite direction Marla and Lamar went.

  A few minutes had passed.
  The pair had yet to find the other two. It was difficult to locate them when the entire quartet was in constant movement.
  Eventually, Charlie and Michael stopped running. Their lungs felt like they were burning from the run and they both staggered until they inevitably sat down on the ground.

  – How's your arm?
  – Hurting like hell. This heat does not help with the pain – he replied, running his hand over his face to dry the sweat. – What time is it?
  – Ahm... – Charlie took her cell phone out of her pocket to check the time and then put it back in place. – Four thirty.
  – This is a complete disaster. I'm probably going to have to get stitches in my arm, there are maniacal robots after us, we have no idea where Marla and Lamar are, Freddy killed the night guard... – Michael began to list everything that had happened that night, starting to hyperventilate and becoming more hysterical with each event he mentioned.

  Mike was already so consumed with fear that he couldn't even continue speaking. His heart had never beaten as hard as it did at that moment and his head seemed to be throbbing with pain. The boy simply cut off his own speech and put both hands on his head, gripping it tightly as he watched with wide eyes his tears hit the ground.

  Lamar had finally caught up to Marla, so he grabbed her by the shoulders to stop her from running off again. He couldn't run anymore, at least not without having a good few minutes to calm down.

  – Marlene! You can't go after Fredbear without a plan! That's a reckless thing to do! – Lamar struggled to speak, as he was short of breath.
  – We don't have time to think of a plan, Lamar! – Marla responded, panting as much as the boy.
  – I already have a plan! I had enough time to think about it while I was trying to reach you.
  – Okay, what is it?
  – I don't have time to explain! Just try to lure Fredbear and lead him to the storage hallway.
  – For me to be cornered by him?!
  – Just trust me!

 

 

  As soon as Charlie and Michael got up, the boy received a notification. He took his phone out of his pocket and saw what it was: a message.

  – Lamar said that he and Marla managed to distract Fredbear and that they already left the pizzeria.
  – Okay, so let's go. What time is it, by the way?
  – Five ten.
  – WHAT?! No, no, no! The employees get here at six o'clock!
  – Calm down! If we leave soon, we won't get caught!

  Michael, knowing that the robots would still be looking for them, began crawling across the floor, slipping along the walls on his way to the front door. Charlie simply did the same as his friend.

 

  Twenty minutes had already passed and they had only just arrived at the Pirate Cove, which meant they still had to get through the other half of the hall in less than half an hour, besides continuing to need to crawl like serpents to avoid being noticed.
  A weak beam of light, coming from a car passing by that same street, illuminated Foxy's yellow pupil, leaving him with a lively and penetrating gaze. Tenebrous, even. Just like his eyes, the pirate's teeth also shone, making his features even more frightening.
  Michael felt his neck tingle, as if someone was just a few millimeters above him. Turning his gaze in the direction, his vision fell on the attraction on the small stage. Michael looked at Foxy, vice-versa, and his body hair stood on end as if he had just been shocked.
  Charlie, confused, looked in the same direction as the boy. Soon her eyes widened, then she began to slowly back away while pulling Mickey. However, after a few seconds, she got up and started running, and thus Mike did the same thing.
  They heard the curtain open abruptly, but they couldn't stop running now. Michael refrained from looking back, he didn't want to see the metallic beast that was hunting him and that, with all the certainty that was possible to have, was on his tail.
  Suddenly he fell, just a few steps before the door and many before Charlie, who was already outside. He had taken a false step and was now lying on the floor, sitting with an aching ankle, a cut arm, his face wet with sweat and tears, his hair more unkempt than ever, his lungs that seemed to be on fire with the air he was breathing and his heart that wanted to jump out of his chest.
  Mike stared at Foxy. Foxy stared back. Time seemed to stop around the two of them.
  The teen tried to crawl backwards with the support of his hands, whilst the robot approached with the same slowness as it extended its hand.
  Suddenly, there was a loud bang. The fox fell hard to the ground, its head twitching as faint sparks flew from its face. Now the prey was free to escape.

  – Mike! Are you alright?! – said the girl, extending a hand to her partner while letting go of the metal pipe that was in the other.
  – Y-yeah, I just didn't watch my step – he replied, accepting Charlie's help and being able to get up.

  As the two walked away, a single thing could be heard being emitted from the defective robot, between noises and static.
  Michael...
  Foxy said his name. But had the machine really called for the boy? Charlie didn't seem to have heard, but the way he got goosebumps again led Mike to believe that really had just happened.
  Regardless of what had happened, they would all now return home, with adrenaline coursing through their bodies and with nothing but more questions on their minds.