Five Nights Till Freedom

Let's Play A Game

BB was staring down at me, tears filling his eyes, "Where's Thomas Rachel?

Slowly I unwrapped my arms from around the little boy and shakily stood to my feet. What use was I going to be if I moped around? It was both of our duties to save the friends that we care about, and Thomas, he... he died for that cause. I had to make sure he didn't give up his life in vain.

I looked down at BB, opening my mouth to tell him, "Thomas, he...."

"Rachel! What are you doing here!"

I yelped in surprise as I looked up and saw Fred running towards us. The fury in his eyes was evident and I almost thought I could see steam coming out of his ears. I hadn't seen him this mad before, even with BB he wasn't this mad.

I began to shake in fear as Fred came straight up to me, hands clenched in tight fists at his sides. He stared straight at me, cocking his head. The more I looked straight back at him, the more I could see the tears filling his eyes and how bloodshot they had become.

"Rachel...." Fred said my name again, but this time his tone sounded more worried than angry. His gaze was starting to soften.

BB who was to Fred's right gently pulled on his white t-shirt, since BB was wearing his vest. Fred looked down at him in surprise at the little child as a tear rolled down his cheek and fell to the floor.

"BB?" Fred went down on his knees, looking at him with complete concern. The anger seemed to evaporate off his face, "BB, what's wrong?" He then looked back at me, then back to BB.

"I.... I..." BB began to shake, "I don't think Thomas is with us anymore..." That's when BB began to burst into tears.

Fred's eyes widened and he turned toward me quickly, standing up on his feet. He put two hands on me, one on each shoulder and stared at me straight in the eyes, "Rachel, what happened to Thomas?"

I averted my gaze from him, feeling the weight of guilt run through my body. After a few seconds I managed to speak quietly, "Thomas sacrificed himself to push me inside the pizzeria before we were both attacked by the Puppet." I slowly looked up at him and gasped in surprise as Fred hugged me so tight that I thought my back was cracking.

I felt a shudder and shaking from Fred before he pulled away from me. His eyes were clouded and one tear fell down his cheek before he quickly wiped his eyes, "Thomas..... He was always a noble guy. He wouldn't of saved himself no matter the situation." He looked up at me, giving me the saddest smile I had ever seen, "And you're safe. You weren't both taken by the Puppet."

"Is the Puppet here?" I heard the quivering in BB's voice and looked down to see the little boy shaking.

Fred nodded his head, "Don't worry BB, I'll always protect you, but we should get away from the doors." He looked back at me, "You realize that Foxy is probably going to be really mad at you right."

I bit my lip, nodding my head.

He was the one I was most afraid to face their disapproval. 

Fred nodded his head too, "Okay, everyone's back by the stage." He gripped my shoulder tightly before wrapping his arms around my shoulders, beginning to walk, dragging me along with him.

Slowly, I let my head fall onto Fred's shoulder and let my feet continue one foot in front of the other.

I was starting to realize that everything that has been going on, it's all happened in the span of five days. In five days I had fallen for these people and started to care enough about them that I was risking my life to get rid of the curse. In five days I had gotten to know these people and listen to their tragic story.

And in five days, I had seen two people die.

Tears began welling up in my eyes again.

Fred squeezed my shoulder reassuringly before he pressed his face close to my ear. He then whispered very softly, "I promise that I'll protect you Rachel, okay?" He then leaned back up, continuing to walk on as we rounded the corner that brought us to the stage.

The rest of the gang was there. Chika was sitting with her legs on top of one of the party tables while Bon sat beside her, spinning a polka dot party hat on his fingertips. Both of them looked up at me as I walked in with Fred, both their eyes gleaming with joy, but quickly their joy evaporated and a look of concern grew on their faces.

Chika got up from the table and began hurriedly walking towards us while Bon on the other hand remained in his seat, refusing to look at me but at the party hat in his hand, "Hey Foxy, guess who's back?"

My heartbeat sped up and I lifted my head off Fred's shoulder so I could see better. 

I saw Foxy sitting on the stage, looking straight at me with the most disapproving look on his face. There were dark bags under his eyes and like Fred his dark brown eyes were bloodshot. His scowl was deep on his face as he threw his feet off the stage and hopped to the ground.

His fox ears twitched on his head as began to walk towards me, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. He didn't look the least bit happy at my being here and that felt like a stab in the heart.

Seeing him this mad at me, started to bring the tears out and I couldn't hold them back anymore. I felt my hot tears streaming down my face and watched as Fred moved a step away from me. He looked at me with a pitiful gaze but he mouthed some words.

He's not going to hurt you.

I watched as Foxy stopped directly in front of me, seeming to tower over me so I felt so small.

I looked up at Foxy, my heart pounding louder.

Why was my heart beating so fast? Am I scared of Foxy?

"Foxy, I.... I'm so...." 

No..... I'm not scared of him

My words were cut short as Foxy put his hand under my chin and brought his face close to mine, his lips pressing against my own.

I'm in love with him.