Recovery: A prologue to Fazbear & Co

Chapter 3

According to his watch, Freddy had arrived home at around half past five. Thoughts of the purple rabbit still lingered in his mind, despite trying to think about his life plans. Why was he so fascinated with her? Shaking his head and putting his mind on the street in front of him, Freddy proceeded. Eventually, he arrived at his welcoming destination.

40 Cedar Green was a cosy terraced house near the end of the street. With distinguishing green-grey tiles making up its roof and red bricks completing its exterior, it was certainly a refuge to Freddy. The brown bear pushed the door key into its corresponding lock and turned it. A satisfying click was heard and he stepped in.

Instantly, an appetizing scent greeted his nostrils and they flared, inhaling the all too familiar smell of raspberry tart. He smiled, remembering that his mother Amanda stayed at home, and was likely to be found baking the family's favourite treats. Slipping off his black trainers and depositing his satchel on the stairs, he greeted the hidden baker.
"Mum, I'm home!"

Almost instantly, a blur of beige fur dashed from the kitchen and engulfed Freddy in a fruit and pastry scented hug.
"Oh, honey! How was your last day? Did it go well?" Amanda energetically queried, pleased that her son was home.
Freddy laughed and stepped back to give himself room to speak. "Hey, whoa, mum! I've only just got in!" Smiling up at her, he continued, "It was great...though I'm gonna miss my college friends. Hopefully I can still keep in contact with Goldie.
I can't wait to start looking for jobs, though!"
Amanda suddenly gained a panicked look, and swiftly tried to persuade her son to relax and stay home for a while before trying to look for means of work. She went on to reassure him that Goldie was one of the best friends that Freddy had met, and that she was sure he would keep in contact. Nodding and telling his mum that he was going to work some things out in his room, he headed upstairs (she'd promised him some of that delicious raspberry tart later).

Now, as the brown bear lay on his bed, it was nine 'o clock in the evening. Freddy had already devoured his tea (this wasn't to say that he was at all a messy eater; it was merely because he loved his mother's cooking) and was, yet again, mulling over the rabbit. He wondered once more why she would live out on the streets. Perhaps he was just assuming. She might already have a home to go to. But then... why would she need food?
He thought about her image. She was certainly thin, there was no doubt about that; you could clearly see her ribs under the clothing she wore. Freddy didn't really want to think about that...instead, he mentally studied her face. The bear found that part of her strangely intriguing – that piercing glare, those red eyes. Something about the look she gave him the first time they met was, quite frankly, striking.

More and more time ticked by, and Freddy remembered that his father would be at work for one more night. He was staying at a work-paid hotel in western Louisiana on a business trip.
Eddie received his earnings by being an architect. With several state famous buildings constructed in Texas already, he really was a successful bear – the job was extremely well paid. This was why he was able to afford an equally excellent education for his son.
These thoughts filled Freddy's head until; at last, he fell asleep.

Vibration filled the groggy bear's ears as his alarm clock went off. It was 6:45; Freddy recalled setting it to this time the night before. The female rabbit had instructed him to meet her by the tree at precisely seven, so he thought he'd better wake up earlier to gather the necessary food and get to their meeting place.

The bear gingerly placed his brown foot onto the carpet, sliding the rest of his body out of the bedcovers when he heard no creaks. Slowly, he snuck out of the door and onto the landing. Before proceeding downstairs to the kitchen, he listened for any sounds of his mother stirring.
Nothing.
Freddy checked once more.
Still nothing.

Being ever careful, the bear inched down the stairs, clinging to the banister as if it were a lifeline. Step by step, he grew closer to the bottom, closer to being more carefree.
He reached the last step.
Glancing back the way he'd come, Freddy prudently placed his foot onto the cold wooden flooring. His other one followed, and at last he was standing in the hallway. Relaxing a little, he continued into his goal – the kitchen, straight ahead.

Instantly, the lock in the front door clicked and the bear whipped his head around to face the source of the noise. He panicked, and observed the outside light's yellow glare, and a broad-shouldered figure silhouetted against it.
The door began to open inwardly.
Freddy bolted for the kitchen and flung himself under one of the worktops bordering the doorway, breathing heavily. Not a moment later, his father Eddie stepped into the hallway.
The adult male took off his thick coat and sighed, walking around quietly before advancing upstairs, still letting out tired breaths.

Freddy was left startled under the worktop, utterly confused. Why was Eddie back so early? Wasn't he supposed to be on the work trip for one more night?
Oh well. At least he didn't see me, the bear thought. That was a close call, though!
After he was satisfied that his father had cleared the downstairs level of the house, Freddy slid out from his temporary refuge and tiptoed over to the fridge. Cringing when he opened it (rather noisily in fact, but that was the nature of all fridges after all), he scanned its contents. Something vegetarian, of course, as she was a herbivore. He spotted a bag of spinach in the fridge door. Perfect, the bear thought, and bagged it (he'd remembered to bring his rucksack down).

However, spinach on its own did not provide a good meal, and certainly wasn't substantial enough. Freddy rummaged around, looking for anything else that might be to the rabbit's taste. Luckily, he discovered the remains of a packet of cheese near the back of the fridge and checked the date, just to be careful. He didn't want to poison her; she appeared to be in a bad state already.
Thankfully, the cheese expired three days from now. The brown bear added it to his rucksack.

It was getting to 6:50 when Freddy had packed all the food. He'd chosen a small punnet of raspberries, the leftovers of a bok choy (which he'd heard rabbits liked) and half of a romaine lettuce. Hopefully the rabbit would appreciate his offerings.
Carefully manoeuvring back into the hallway, the bear grabbed his coat from its hanger near the doorway. It was of a waterproof kind and, like his shorts, was navy blue. Complete with a large, brown, fluffy hood trim, it was evidently good at keeping him cosy in the winter months.
Freddy took one last look behind him (making sure he'd turned off all the lights) and quietly opened the front door. His parents were still fast asleep when he slipped out into the early morning street.