Alone With Them

Chapter 37

I know I technically didn't stick to my schedule since I didn't post last week...but let's just forget about that :)

"Lass, ye make a better door than a window," came from over Cathryn's shoulder, and she tugged a strand of hair as she moved away from the curtain.

"Sorry," she mumbled. After talking to Foxy, there'd been nothing else to do but stare through the thinner spots in the star curtains and hope to spot Chica and Bonnie. They needed to get this whole thing over with. After waiting anxiously for this long, her nerves had cooled to form a small wiggle of confidence in her gut. Maybe they could all get through this in one piece.

"I thought you said they'd be back soon," she complained under her breath. Cathryn moved to a spot further left at the curtain so they could both watch the empty performance room.

"I said I 'oped they'd be, but knowin' them, they be causin' as much trouble as possible."

"Well maybe Bonnie should listen better." The words described how Cathryn felt about the rabbit probably more than they did his and Chica's tense relationship.

Foxy shook his head in her peripheral. "It be not all the lad's fault."

She scoffed doubtfully.

"'E's young, or at least 'e acts it," the fox whispered. "Doesn't 'elp that messin' around gets on Chica's nerves."

"I thought she likes kids?"

"Eh, she 'as a soft spot fer most o' them. But she's not a fan o' goofin' off. 'Specially if she wants to be taken seriously."

Cathryn was thinking over how contradictory Chica sounded when she swore there was a flash of movement through the curtain. Beyond their darkness was just more darkness, but for a minute–

Foxy's fingers hovered the wrinkled fabric of her sleeve, the rest of his body somehow going stiller than before. The sight was unnerving, but not as much as the proof that something was nearby when Cathryn noticed another flash of color outside Pirate's Cove. It blended with the dark, but the blur was there.

Dull heavy footsteps accompanied it. They were surprisingly difficult to make out, but maybe it was due to the thick curtain.

Cathryn watched with bated breath as the robotic form she hoped wasn't Freddy crept near their hiding place. Her heart was loud enough in her ears that when she noticed the reflection of fake, spherical eyes turn in their direction, she worried she'd given them away. The planet stopped spinning. Then the figure stalked off.

Any bravery she thought she'd gained in the past few minutes was immediately shredded.

Their silent pause continued until the room felt dead and Cathryn forgot where they were. All she could focus on was the soreness in her muscles as she peered through the curtain wide-eyed. And the musty stench of the starry fabric, which did not mix well with her anxious mind. She moved to tug on her ponytail, only to find her hands trembling uncontrollably.

"Ye okay?" the pirate fox asked her, but even the softness of his volume made her flinch like she was worried Freddy would re-emerge and pounce on her.

Cathryn nodded, not trusting her voice.

Foxy noticeably looked at her hands. "Ye need to relax, lass."

Easy for him to say. He wasn't the little human girl who could be snapped in half. He was an imposing, tall, metal skeleton decorated like a fox with the strength of a boxer – though even that was probably an understatement!

"I can't," she rasped, struggling to gulp down air. She desperately needed to get a grip if she wanted any chance against Freddy. All three of the animatronics talked like he was the most imposing figure yet.