Five Nights At Howell's

Press "Start" To Play The Game

"Yes, boys? Have you figured it out?"

Jason laughed, not like the two of them had nearly figured out the plans to his game, but like a proud father watching his sons finally finish a challenge.

"Yes, sir, we have. At least, we believe we have. Can Dan explain it, or..."

"Sure, Mr. Lester. Daniel, go ahead and tell me what you believe you've figured out."

"Oh, ok. So, it's like FNAF, right?"

Dan questioned Jason carefully, as if he was scared the man might change his mind about allowing Dan to speak. Jason answered Dan reluctantly, but surely.

"Yes, it is. I assume you are both familiar with the game?"

"Yes, sir, Mr. Jason. We have briefly played the game."

Phil replied politely, not giving Jason any reason to decide he doesn't like them and- and really who knows what he could do.

Would do...

"Well that is good. So you might have an idea on how this will work. You must complete one night without dying, or harming yourselves, to go onto the next night, or level. If something happens to either of you during one of the nights, you will be automatically reset to the last level. Yes, I know, the game resets your level, but maybe if you relive the previous night, you can pass the next. That goes to say if one of you dies, you must do everything alone.

"I believe you both are capable of passing the first three night, maybe not the first time, but nonetheless. I'm surprised you cought on so fast. I didn't expect you to figure it out so soon. I'm sure you have also realized that the control room is Dan's room, correct?"

"Uh... Dan?"
"Yeah. I figured that out. It wasn't hard, there's literally a camera in every room, but in that room is a freaking tv setup."

"Congrats to you, don't get cocky, I'm still not pleased with you Daniel. I'll admit it, I was hoping this would be smooth. Shall we start day one?"

"Do we have a choice, Jason?"

"No Daniel, but I would recommend taking some lessons on manners from your... Friend."

"Ok, Dan? I think you've angered him a bit."
"I suppose I have, what of it?"
"Well, shouldn't we try not to make the person in control of our deaths angry?"
"Do you think so Phil? Tell me you want me to be nice to the spork and I will."

Dan faced Phil.
C'mon Phil. Answer me, go ahead. I'm not going to react badly.

"Just... Try not to make him angry, please?"
"I'll try, for you, Phil. I'll do it for you."
"Thank you."
"Mhm. Let's play the game."
"How?"
"By surviving, I would imagine."
"Oh. Ok."
"Phil, in the game, you look for the animatronics and make sure they don't jumpscare you. So, we need to look out for something and prevent it from "scaring," or in our case, killing us. We shouldn't split up... No, that would make it easier to get us, one by one. We do need to go and search for something. Kitchen?"
"Dan, I really don't like this. I... I don't know if this is all a good idea. Couldn't we wait here until it's over?"

Phil shifts uncomfortably and gives Dan a look filled with terror. Dan regrets everything, screaming and letting him come in the room, talking back to the spo- Jason. He even felt bad that Phil was such a sweet person. He sometimes wished that Phil wasn't such an innocent, childish- not like a temperamental and stressful toddler, but an awefilled and happy one- person. Dan hated to let Phil down, he would do anything for his friend.

My only friend...

"Phil, remember when we played FNAF? I know you were scared, and I screamed pretty much the entire time, but do remember how we played it?"

Phil thought this over, taking his time thinking about the video they shot. 

"Yes, vaguely. We used the cameras to look for them, when we clicked off them they hid again. So, we could stay here, but if we stay and we don't check enough they'll get us anyway. Yeah, let's check the kitchen."

Dan let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding when Phil remembered.

Maybe he isn't so much like a child.

They both went down to the kitchen and started to look through the room. Everything was like Dan's old house. Exactly alike, down to the pantry and the bug spray in the cupboard. Dan shuddered at the sight of the room. He nearly broke down when he exited the room and walked into the living room. Phil walked up behind him and Dan put his head on his shoulder. It was a bit awkward for Dan because he was a bit taller, but it was comforting to him and it made Phil feel like he was useful for something.

The pictures on the chimney reminded him of that day. The way his mother had been so chipper and his father came home from his job to see a table of leftovers on the table. Adrian had came home from school in a good mood and kept up the banter singlehandedly during supper.

Those pictures were from holidays and Church events when they were young. There was one of Dan with his brother on the couch together. Adrian was on top of Dan and from the looks of it Dan was wrestling with him. Dan was obviously bigger and could have easily flung him off, but he let his brother cling to him. They were both smiling in the photo, but Dan wasn't smiling now.

"You miss them don't you?"

Phil broke the silence and in a way, he also broke the small connection he had to them. Dan's voice came out weak and course, almost strained.

"Yes. I miss him the most."
"It's ok, Dan. It'll be ok. You will see them again, you know that, right?"
"Will I Phil, will I go to wherever they are? Heaven? The Afterlife? Will I see a God or will I go somewhere different? Will I go to the same place as you, what if we don't know each other there, if we just continue living as a new human?"
"Please don't get philosophical on me. This isn't the time for an existential crisis."

Dan chuckled at Phil's remark and in an attempt to keep himself in check he mocked Phil from an old video.

"'Oh it burns! It burns!'"
"'I ran into a crazy lady because I attract crazy people!'"

They both laughed together and soon Dan wasn't so sad anymore.

"What was that, PINOF 6?"
"Maybe, I can't remember."
"That's a shame, we should make another one."
"We will when we get back, Phil."

Smash...

"Oh please not again, come on Phil, let's see what we have to get past this night."

July 4, 2017