Trapped

Chapter 10

I sat on the bar stool staring at Jackson as he dialed the number we know off by heart, I studied his face as he did it. His expression was completely unreadable. I honestly had no idea what he was planning on doing.
He hit the button for speaker and after a few rings Mike picked up.
"Hello? What do you need me for?" He sounded like he had just woken up, probably enjoying a day sleeping in...lucky guy.
Jackson's eyes flicked to me then back at the phone. "I need you to get one of your friends to apply for night-guard at that new fazbear's fright place." Jackson said without missing a beat. I stared at him with a mild horror on where he was going with this.
There was a silence on Mike's side of the line then a groan. "What the hell are you planning kid?"
Jackson's fingers drummed on the counter, "Me and Jane are going nowhere near that place but I need you to do this for me. I want to know if the night-guard notices anything off.... like if any of the animatronics are alive."
I felt a slight relief over what Jackson had said. He obviously was thinking practical and wanted neither of us anywhere near the place. We wouldn't be risking our lives this time.
I hope.
There was a long pause again, I could practically hear the sound of gears clicking together in Mike's head.
"I uh...have his buddy named Jeremy, he'd be down to do it. He's done this before back in the 90's when they originally tried to re-open that stupid restaurant, he was a teen doing a summer job. Y'know."
Jackson nodded as if he was hoping for that. I reached over and squeezed his hand.
"Alright, get him to apply for the job would you? I need to make sure there's nothing wrong with that place. It's for my sainty."
Mike's short laugh sounded through the speaker. "I thought you lost that long ago."
Jackson rolled his eyes and shook his head at the humour. He looked over at me, squeezing my hand back.
"Thanks Mike, Call me for updates."
He hung up before Mike could answer.
"So.." I said slowly, "We're not going anywhere near there are we?"
Jackson's mouth curled up in a half smile, "If we have to it's only to burn that place down and have this be over once and for all."

I stared at him in disbelief, "First we're suspected of murder and now the thought of arson? That doesn't look to good on your 'Adjusting back to humanity'" I layered on the sarcasm thicker than needed and Jackson snorted.
"Good to see the old you shine through for a moment there. Even if it's to be sarcastic with me."
"No problem." I let go of his hand and swatted his shoulder. "Why arson though?"

"Well, I rather us all be free of this curse verses probably having more people die unexplained."

I nodded before turning on my heel and heading for the shower.
___________________________

Jackson hadn't taken the day off work to strategize with Mike. He took it off to distract me. Hoping my mind wouldn't wander too much on the thought of this new possible threat to the lives of people we left back home.
He took me to the park, it was a nice cool Autumn day. The kind of days that I used to love to spend outside with a good book when I was a teenager.

I loved October, It was always my favourite month.

Jackson looked down at me as we were passing a swing set full of children excitedly playing before winter hits. I know what he was thinking about, when we were kids.
We had been friends since childhood and met Xavier in Middle School. Toby had just moved to our town when we started grade 9 and we all instantly became friends. I remember the jealous look on Jackson's face when I told him that Toby had asked me out.
It soon disappeared and was replaced by happiness when he realized how happy Toby had made me feel.
It's weird to think about the past now, realizing that my friends are not with me now in adulthood. All because of a stupid choice we made when we were 17.
I regret it fully, but I know someday, somehow me and Jackson would forgive ourselves.
But only when we had full closure on this situation.
I feel in my heart that's what Jackson is trying to do, and why he suggested setting the haunted house on fire.
To finally destroy those animatronics and have closure on what happened those years ago.

I smiled at Jackson as we continued to walk past the jungle gym and swing sets.
He smiled back and that smile gave me more hope than I could imagine.
I did have hope already... that this would finally be over soon and we could get on with our lives.
I knew we could finally get passed this, and I could finally let my heart move on.
I hurt for so long that maybe when this was done with....
I could fully give my heart to Jackson, my best friend since childhood.
It was an idea that even I could smile about. I knew Toby would be happy.