Lassoing the Cresent Moon

14. A Favor

I stopped for a moment and my heart fell in realization.

...If Sam was alive, how much of him was left?

Would he be hungry and blood thirsty, with the same dilated eyes of a feral animal?

Would he be like Huggy and Mommy, excited for a chance to play or eat an intruder in the factory?

Would he hate me for leaving him?

Would he remember me at all?

My legs shook as my knees gave way. I fell on the ground on all fours. My palms resented the cold floor, but my body and lungs begged to stay there. I sniffled as I looked around and dragged my body to an empty room. I slowly rose and closed the door behind me. The first thing I did in my hidey hole was take out my backpack taking a long swig of water. Small drops dripped down my chin before I gasped for air before closing the bottle again.

Drinking clean water had never felt so good. It was a refreshing change to the musty, broken down building.

Tired, I looked around before hiding in a coat closet. It was unlikely with so much ground to cover, but if Mommy did pop her head in this room I hoped the extra door muffling my breath and scent could dissuade her from looking deeper.

Now in the dark, I shoved my water bottle back in my back pack and just stood there. I pressed my forehead to the closed door as I tried to catch my breath. It wasn't until now that I realized my heart was racing. My throat was still painfully dry. My legs throbbed, the pulse going up my body until I was forced to sit on the floor.

I brought my knees up closer to me as I pulled my bottle out for another drink. I couldn't hear anything outside, but I knew that at any moment that door would open. I finished my drink and wiped my lips to notice my cheeks were damp.

When had I started crying?

I sniffled again softly as I put my drink back in my pack and rested against the wall.

It wasn't fair...

What they had done to Marie wasn't fair at all.

To think that Huggy had once been a child... and I killed him.

PJ had once been a child... and time had made his face crack, and peel.

Mommy was right... I did leave them.

I closed my eyes tight. Poppy's last instructions rang back in my head.

"If you want to find what's left of Samuel Lee you'll need to use the train code to go down to play care."

I lowered my head in between my knees. Now I understood...

Maybe I was selfish to hope that he was alive after all this time, Maybe death would have been merciful. Who knew what these bastards had done to him?

He didn't deserve to die alone, as Mommy put it. He didn't deserve to be experimented on, abused, it should have been me. I tried to quiet down as my tears grew stronger. "It should have been me." I whispered.

"Be careful what you wish for..." came a smug whispered voice.

My eyes widened. That wasn't Mommy's voice. I reached into my pack and pulled out my phone, turning on the light and waving it around. I saw nothing but an empty rack and four walls. "Who's There?" I whispered. I waited for a moment but was met without a response. "Show yourself!"

"Shush... Mommy isn't far." What? I turned my head to the vents.

"Please" I begged in the quietest voice I could muster. "Please don't-"

"I'd never... not to you. Now I'll help you survive..." it whispered. "but just remember I expect a favor in return... When the time comes to kill Mommy... do it."

My eyes widened as I stared at the vent. My mysterious helper- he wanted me to kill Mommy? "Have you been following me this whole time?" I whispered.

I heard a thump on the vent as my ally left without another word. It was hard to tell who I could even trust in this place. I lowered my head. Killing Huggy was an accident- could I really kill Mommy Long Legs even after I knew who she had been before? I closed my eyes tight. I didn't want to...

I didn't want to kill anyone! I just wanted to live long enough to find my brother. Was that too much to ask?

I heard a giggle as the door of the room opened. "Are we playing hide and seek?"

I bit my lip hard. I hoped my invisible shadow would keep his word. Fine! If it came to me or her- I'd do it. I'd... kill her.

"You're good at this game." Mommy giggled, her voice now closer than before. "but I'm better~"

I leaned against the back wall, trying to put as much distance between her and I as I could when I heard a crash outside.

"You can't run from Mommy!" She squealed as she turned her head and immediately ran outside. "I'm coming!"

I gave a soft sigh as I heard her steps grow quieter. If I was on my own, I would have been dead. I huffed and wiped my face with my sleeves before stretching slightly. I had no idea how I was going to do this... but I would kill Mommy Long Legs.