Moving On

Chapter 2

Caleb sipped the straw of a small apple juice box. He was eleven, but he didn't care that he was drinking a "kid's juice box". With his other hand, he held Michael's long tail against himself, holding it tightly. Michael smiled and wrapped it tighter around him, like a kid and their pet snake. Both brothers smiled, then frowned. They knew what they had to tell each other.

The two brothers stared in their eyes. In Caleb's, Michael saw hope, a young boy with a future, he just had to realize it. Caleb saw two white pupils in an ocean of black filling the eye sockets of the robot. Michael tilted his head and hugged Caleb close.

They came to a conclusion. Caleb would tell his side of the story first, what he remembered, like a testimony. Michael will continue once he's finished, and Caleb will listen, like the jury. Michael stared once again at the boy. If he was the jury, then Michael was guilty. He wanted to lie, tell him something fake, keep the truth from him. However, just like in court, he was under oath. And it was time for both of them to stop lying.

The morning sun was rising over the horizon. Dew dripped down from the grass. A butterfly erupted from its cocoon and flew through a large grey and purple house. It smelled fruit, nectar, honey. It flew in through an open window and into a small room. In it was a small nightstand, a closed closet, four plushies, each of a different animal, sitting in a row holding hands and smiling, except for the fox who had no head. And there was a bed with a light blue blanket with yellow stars on it. In it slept a small pale boy, his eyes shut tight and a small smile subtly creased along his lips.

The orange butterfly landed on the boy's nose and flapped her wings gently. The boy didn't move. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the butterfly. He giggled like a small school-girl and held his hand up to his face. The butterfly looked at the finger with interest, before floating gently off of his face and onto his finger. The boy slowly swiveled out of bed, trying to have his finger stay as still as possible. His pajamas matched his sheets, most likely coming in a set as a present.

The kid walked over to the window and held his finger out into the brisk summer air. The butterfly looked back at him before flying off to find more moments to make inspiring. The boy sighed and walked back over to his bed and spread across it. He looked around and saw between the wall and bed was his golden bear plush, it's fur brushed nicely, washed often, and a permanent smile upon its face. The boy reached down and grabbed it and held it close, giggling. "There you are, silly Fredbear! I love you!"

Fredbear's white pupils floated in a sea of darkness in his eyes. He looked up at the boy and smiled, then wrapped his hands around him, as best as he could. He let out a small, high-pitched giggle as his scent of birthday cake wafted into the air. Seeing Caleb each day made his "life" feel better.

The pale boy dangled his legs over the side of his bed, not tall enough to touch the floor. He hopped off of the bed, barely managing to maintain his balance. He took the light, fluffy blue comforter and pulled it over his bed, tucking it under the mattress. He smiled at Fredbear as he did this. He put his pillow on the top of the bed, giggling. He grabbed Fredbear and sat down next to the four other stuffed animals.

Caleb laughed softly as he hugged them and started talking to them. After a discussion about the efficiency of cupcakes vs brownies in Fun-World from the cartoon show, he looked over at the crème-colored door as a tall, pale man opened the door and walked in. Caleb stood up and smiled at him. "Daddy!" He ran towards the man and hugged his leg, giggling all the way.

The man laughed and held the boy up in his arms. His face was well shaven, with combed hair, and a purple bowtie on, with a yellow badge that has a cartoon bear on it, with the word "Fredbear's" engraved on it. His laugh was deep, yet hollow inside. He hugged the boy tightly. "Today's your seventh birthday, Caleb. My little pumpkin is growing up."