Five Nights At Howell's

A Fox

Dan was awake first, his eyelashes fluttered. He took a good moment to look around him. Dark, stone walls surrounded him and there were cracks in the black marble floor beneath him. The only light shining through was a few torch lanterns and a single window up in the far corner of the room, although that didn't shine very much. It was nearly night fall but that didn't make a difference to Dan. He tried to stand up but instead found it hard to even lift up his neck without a sharp pull and a slight tear in his flesh. Dan didn't know what had happened to him, but he knew he wasn't at his flat. If he wasn't at his flat...

Phil!

"Ph-"

Dan couldn't get his full name out before his voice cut out and he started coughing, not uncontrollably, but loud enough to wake whoever was near him. Whoever it was stirred for a bit before waking, but sat up and looked towards Dan.

"Dan, you're awake, wh- what are you doing?"

Phil saw Dan attempt to back away but since he couldn't move his legs, or arms, he just fell back a bit. Phil stepped over to Dan and couldn't help see the realization in his eyes when he saw Phil. "Dan, hey, you're ok."

"Where..."

"We're in your cellar, Dan."

"No, it's g... Gone."

"Quiet, don't put so much effort into speaking, don't stretch your voice. I... I have paper and a pen!"

Phil grabbed the small notepad and pen from Dan's jacket, for once Dan would be happy Phil stole his hoodie. He handed the objects to Dan and let him write.

Where are we?

"Your cellar."

No, it's gone. I know it is.

"We're in the rebuilt part of your house... Are you ok?"

I don't know where we are, Phil. I can't speak, lift my arms or legs, I don't remember, Phil.

"Y- you don't remember...? How much don't you remember?"

I can't tell you what I don't remember... But I can tell you what I do remember. We were watching a movie and I had complained about dripping noises. We went to our rooms and that's it.

"That's two days ago, you truly have no idea where you are and what has been happening?"

I haven't the slightest clue.

"Hell... I have some explaining to do haven't I?"

Get started.

Phil explained everything to Dan. From the beginning two nights ago, to today. The only part he left out was the brutal hours Dan shares with Jason. He couldn't explain exactly what happened because Dan never told him, but he told Dan that Jason was not pleased with his temper and gestured to the now healing stabs on him. Dan's face sunk when he heard it was his fault that caused all of the trauma, not just to himself but also to Phil. They wouldn't be in this cellar if he had kept his mouth shut and they certainly wouldn't be here together if he hadn't screamed. It was all his fault, and he couldn't find a way not to pin it on him.

It was even his father.

My father... Phil, tell me about that.

"Oh! I must have forgotten, your mom and Jason... Yea and Jason being your dad's brother, produced a child that looked like them both. No one knew except him and your mom. I'm sorry..."

It's fine.
Let's just, get through night two.

"And I'll try not to say anything." He thought to himself.

"If you're up to it, sure. I saw the fox upstairs earlier, we can find him on the camera in your room. Well... I can, I don't think you should be moving right now."

Go, be careful and try not to get nearly skewered alive...
Dan gave a sad smile and nodded.

"Not funny, I'll be back. If I can, I can get him in the room above and I can find a way to finish the night."

Phil turned but paused, skeptical about leaving Dan again, but figured he was safe and climbed up the ladder and steps to Dan's room. Phil still felt like he was betraying Dan by being in his room, but the job needed to be done. He switched through the cameras until he found the outline of Foxy in the doorway of the living room. He stood there knocking. Once, three times, and then six times. The anamatronics head spun around as if he was looking for something and stopped at the still open hatch to the cellar. 
Phil mentally sheilded himself and ran down stairs just as Foxy hopped down. He heard Dan say, "bloody hell, Phil" ever so quietly to himself. He knew if he jumped as the robot did, he would break his legs, so he climbed down the first few rails and used the side pole to slide down.

Dan knew he was going to die. He remembered what Foxy does to his victims and he was prepared for it. Everything seemed to spin around him and when the spinning stopped, so did time. Dan saw what was walking towards him. The robot had red fur and was only wearing shredded corduroy pants and it's eye patch over it's right eye. The patch wasn't even on his eye, it was above the right . One hand was replaced with a sharp hook that shimmered in the little light in the room, the other hand was skinned down to the endoskeleton. That hand was inside a tear on it's torso, pulling out fluff.

He kills his victims by pulling out their inside and stuffing them, Dan was aware of that. Dan was starting to get dizzy once again, this time when he blinked, he saw Phil behind Foxy trying to pull out the cords from one of the tears. Again he blinked, and the anamatronic was shut down, cords hung out of it's back.

Phil had done it, he saved the night.
But where was Jason and his smart ass congratulations?
Where had he been the entire night? Phil said he hasn't spoken since he found Dan, but where did he go?

Dan found himself actually worrying for the man for a split second, then he didn't care. He just wanted to go home.

Good job Philly.

"Thanks, Danny boy."

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling. From glen to glen and down the mountain side
The summer's gone and all the flowers dying
'Tis you 'tis you must go and I must bide

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy oh Danny boy I love you so...

Such a sad song.

August 27, 2017