The Silver Hook (Sequel to That Crimson Animatronic) Book Three.

Chapter Twenty - 'Static in the Dark'

CHAPTER TWENTY - 'Static in the Dark'

"Sorry, Marionette." Gold apologizes in a fake-sweet voice. "No magic tonight, I'm afraid. Your little business here is well and truly over."

Marionette turns it's head and glares at the golden animatronic. Mike, still pressed against the sinks, grins, attempting to mask his complete terror. "Thanks, Gold. Someone's got to teach this puppet some manners, eh? Can't a dude take a toilet break anymore?"

"Not the time for jokes." Gold snaps and looks up above, at the creature dangling from the ceiling. "So this is where you got to? Wasn't expecting this, if I am to be honest."

Now that the immediate threat was over, Mike was able to finally get a look at the metallic fox-animatonic. Indeed, it had the features of a fox, excluding the obvious damage and parts that were tangled in curls of wire.

Mike then remembered Marionette. He winced and turned to the supernatural creature, shivering visibly. "Can't it escape or something? And why isn't it?"

It was Gold's turn to grin triumphantly. "I used a type of incantation - a trapping one. It'll keep Marionette in place until I say otherwise. But I also used an Invisible Binding incantation." When Mike raised his eyebrows, Gold said, "So that Marionette can't teleport, but will go wherever I go."

"Cool." Mike nodded, noting now how Marionette seemed frozen in place. Another thought came to mind. "What is she?" He asked, gesturing to the fox. Mike realized how he immediately said 'she' without checking.

Going a red colour, Mike whirled around to make sure that he was correct. He didn't want to get it wrong and be killed (after what had just happened, he wasn't exactly sure that he wanted to get that close to death again). The fox did look female. Pink lips and blushed cheeks, and long eyelashes. So he supposed it was female.

"This," Gold replied as if everyone ought to know who the fox was, "Is Mangle. From the previous establishment."

Mike was about to open his mouth, when there was a clatter of footsteps.

* * * ** ** **  * **  ** * *

You skid into the toilets, panting, to come face to face with what looked like a nightmare. Mike was pale and wide-eyed, Gold looking far calmer than he should have been and Marionette stuck in place in the middle of it all. It takes a second for you to steady your breathing.

"What's going on?" You manage to choke out. Did Gold have anything to do with this? "Gold can you explain. Please."

Gold's silent for a moment. "Took you a while. I'd thought you'd have been here the moment Marionette showed up. Normally you are, anyway."

"Did you do this?" Your voice rises unintentionally. "Are you part of some sort of plot? Does Freddy know? I swear that if you are-"

"I'm not." Gold growls, rolling his eyes. "I have no idea what makes you think so, but I am not. Mike knows this."

You sweep your attention to Mike, who freezes immediately. "Sorry, but he's telling the truth. Gold is on our side. He just stopped Marionette using incantations-"

"What?" You blink rapidly. "I'm lost. Did you just say incantations?"

Mike nods. "Yes, I did."

"That's it." You sniff, crossing your arms. "I want the truth. Gold, I'm not sure I can trust you to tell me all of it. That's why all of you and Freddy are going to tell me what the heck is happening!"

*  * * * * * * * * * * * ** * 

The basement is dark, chilling you to the bone. All in a circle, facing one another. But Marionette is in the middle, still held bound by Gold's incantations. Now you were finally going to get the truth. Everyone was there, all except Bonnie.

"Where is he?" Freddy narrowed his eyes, ears twitching. "I gave him easy instructions and he hasn't even arrived."

"He'll be here soon." Foxy said hurriedly. When Freddy glared at him, Foxy replied, "I'm sure he will. Maybe he just got caught up with something."

You hug your arms closer to your body. Everything about this place was creeping you out. Even more so was Mangle, the broken animatronic gripping the ceiling. "Alright. If Bonnie isn't coming, then it doesn't matter too much. All I need is answers, okay?"

Everyone nodded, excluding Mangle and Marionette, neither having said a word. After a few minutes of minor debate, Freddy decided to start. "Have you heard about the other establishment? The one before this?"

You nod and he continues.

"Both Mangle and Marionette came from this establishment. We were there too, as were the toys. Marionette behaved during daylight hours, but at night he became vengeful, looking for a way to recollect the souls that... dispersed."

"Mangle was torn apart by children. To this day, we're not sure why they targeted her. This damaged important wires and internal circuits. She suffered glitches and dangerous malfunctioning. Sometimes, the nights ended badly for all of us."

You blink, and look back up at Mangle, at the wires extending from her broken machinery. "That's terrible. Mangle? Would you like to say anything?"

For a long while, she didn't speak. Then a low rumbling sound came, followed by mumbling static. Words slowly formed and you struggled to make sense of the static. As you glanced at the others, it looked like Gold and Marionette had managed to decipher Mangle's message. And then it became clear for all.

"He's back." And then, "Springtrap has returned.."

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Yes, that is the last part of the story! Don't worry, there will be an epilogue. Cliffhangers are evil, eh? And so am I.

Anyway, I really hope that you enjoyed! This installment has been especially exciting to write, leading up to where the real danger begins. Look out for the epilogue and the next story XD

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Kisses xx