A New Guard

Chapter Sixteen: Substitute

"Where are we going? I thought you were headed to school," Mangle says on the drive from Freddy's.

"Forgot my lunch at home. I guess it's a good thing I have a free period at the start of the day," I say. Pulling into the driveway, I have an odd feeling that something is as it shouldn't. Climbing out of the car, I see a light on inside the house.

"Everything o-" Mangle starts.

"Shh," I say, holding up my hand, silencing Mangle.

"Everything okay?" Mangle whispers. I shake my head, worried.

"Mom shouldn't be home," I say. I feel a wave of confusion from Mangle.

"What do you mean?" Mangle says. I sigh lightly.

"Mom should still be at work. And all the lights were off when I left, and you know this," I say.

"True. So you're saying someone's here that shouldn't be?" Mangle says.

"Yeah," I say. I cautiously push open the door and peek inside, to see no signs of any person here.

"Looks like nobody's home," Mangle whispers.

"Never know," I say, silently walking around. I walk into the living room and see a shadowed figure sitting down on our couch. "Hello?" I say, cautiously.

"I didn't expect you to be home this earl-" The figure starts, but stops as soon as he looks up at me. Nostalgia courses through my veins, but I don't know why, though.

"E-" I cut Mangle off before she can continue speaking and I feel a pang of Mangle's guilt.

"Who are you?" I say. The figure sighs before speaking softly.

"I'm not surprised you don't remember me. I mean, I have been-" The person is cut off as Mom's car pulls in the driveway. The door soon opens and Mom walks in the house and sees me and the person.

"What? Matthew? Aren't you supposed to be at school? And who are you?" Mom says. The man and I sigh at the same time before I speak up.

"Well, I was going to stop by here and grab my lunch, which I forgot to take with me, until I saw this guy here," I say, gesturing towards the man, who sighs again.

"Please don't be mad at me, Melissa," The man says. Mom's face of confusion and anger are immediately replaced with shock. Wait, how does this guy know Mom? I check the time on my phone and see first period is almost over!

"Sorry to break this, but I've got to go to school. See you after school, Mom!" I say, snatching my lunch and rushing out the door. I hop into my car and take off for school.

[???'s POV]

I look at Melissa as my son, Matthew, I think, runs out the door in a hurry.

"What are you doing here?" Melissa says.

"I got a vacation from my job so I could spend a bit here with you and Matthew," I say. Melissa sighs lightly before sitting down. I sit down beside her and put my hand across her back onto her shoulder. "Everything okay?" I say, caressing her.

"Yeah. It's just, you've been gone so long," Melissa says. I gently pat her shoulder.

"I know, but you should know that I'd always find time to visit family," I say. I barely see Melissa smile in the darkness.

"Yeah. You'd never leave us," Melissa says.

"Yeah. I've just got one question. Do you know why Matthew had that cloth over his eve?" I ask. Melissa tenses up a bit before sighing into relaxation.