Broken Smiles

Chapter 1.

I can hear them. Their footsteps become louder every second I wait. I have no choice. I hit the button on the door and run down the corridors, making my turns as erratic as possible. Left, left, right, left. It's a good thing that I know this pizzeria like the back of my hand. But it's not good enough. No matter how fast I run, they always catch me. I can't hide either. I tried that. Once.

They enjoy tormenting me. They like to scrape their fingers against the wall. I hate that sound. The sound of metal grinding against brick. And the dripping. It's always there, in the corner of my mind. Like the ticking of an unseen clock. My clock. My life.

They've started wailing now. Their shrill screams used to feel like they were piercing my skull. But I'm used to them now. They're like old friends. I sicken myself sometimes. I can still remember the hot, stickiness on my hands. The coppery smell. Part of me wants to stop, like inside I know I deserve this, but I keep on running.

My legs burn. My heart races. I feel a scream rising in my throat. They're even closer now. I can almost feel their hot breath on the back of my neck, but it's in my head. These things aren't alive. I lunge for the door handle, steps away from escaping this nightmare. My heart stops. It won't budge. I turn around, knowing that it's too late, and see a huge figure launch through the air, heading for my face. Gears and servos click. I see rows upon rows of teeth glinting in the dark. I cry out....

I'm sitting bolt upright in my bed, drenched in sweat. I'm shaking all over and barely have the strength to sit up. I take a deep, shaky breath, realising where I am. I'm home. I'm safe. I sink back into the covers, relived. It was only a dream. Well, *the* dream. There's only one.

I stretch and yawn. I'm used to this now. Almost every night, I fall asleep, just to wake up back in Freddy's. I'm not superstitious, I'm not religious, I don't belive in ghosts, but these demons must have come from somewhere. I hear the thumping of feet outside my door. My heart starts racing again. They've followed me out of my nightmares....They've found me...They...."Daddy, come on! It's morning!" I let out a long breath that I hadn't realised I'd been holding in.

My door flies open and a girl of seven jumps onto the bed. My daughter, Elizabeth.  She stands up and starts jumping up and down, calling my name. Well, my name to her.  "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" I lean against the bed frame and play dead. The next thing I felt was a cushion slamming into the side of my face. I sit up and roar playfully, Elizabeth screams and runs out the room. I smile and haul myself out of bed.

I pull on a shirt, preferably purple; it's the only colour that suits me. I glance at the shirt pocket. Two small holes were carefully placed in the center, marking where a badge had been worn. It seemed like decades sine Freddy's closed, but really it was only a couple of years. Sometimes, it's like I can still smell the grease from the pizza kitchens. Hear the ping of arcade machines. Hear the laughter of the children... See the... No. I built a wall around those memories. And I'm not one to live in the past.

I head downstairs, calling out Elizabeth's name as I enter the kitchen. For a second I'm genuinely worried, but when I catch sight of her trying to hide behind the refrigerator I relax. "Oh no, I guess she's gone." I say loud enough for her to hear me. As turn to leave, I see her looking around the corner and run back towards the fridge. She screams again as I pick her up and carry her towards the lounge. The sound of her laughter eases my mind.

I inhale deeply. The smell of bacon and eggs fills the kitchen. It reminded me of the first diner. Before everything changed. Before *I* changed. I remember wearing the rabbit suit, dancing arm in arm with Henry. Three young children applauding from the side of the room. Three children. Three. My eyes glisten for a second. I felt Elizabeth tug on my sleeve. "Daddy, the bacon is burning."