Gallant (REWRITING)

019

"Gallant"

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I smiled at the birthday girl. "That cake isn't going anywhere." I said, laughing trying to throw out any negative feeling I had, which, unfortunately was quite hard.

The girl grinned. "I know! It's so good though!" She responded, eagerly taking another a fork full of her cake and placing it in her mouth. I looked back to Jacob and his little cousin. They had dug into their cake too.

I looked down at my plate, at the slice of cake. The cake didn't look all to appealing. I had no appetite, but even so, my stomach growled like I hadn't eaten in days.

I quietly sighed, picking up the fork and forked up some of the cake slice. The fork hovered over my mouth, and I hesitantly took the bite. A gag almost left me, but I swallowed.

I noticed Jacob give me a questionable and worried look. I smiled lightly indicating that I was alright, but I was sure he didn't buy it... just like all the other times he asked me. My eyes wandered to the animatronics, suddenly thinking about Mike. My stomach turned.

"...Hey, Jacob?" I said almost quietly as I continued to stare at the animatronics. "Yeah?" He responded.

"This was fun and all but I think it's time for me to head out." I said as I looked over to his direction. I noticed a frown before he covered it up with a smile and nodded. "Oh and I won't forget to text or call you this time!" I added before laughing drly.

"Good." He responded awkwardly, making me feel somewhat awkward also. I cleared my throat before standing. "Well..uh bye!" I said not only to Jacob, but also to the two kids.

They grinned and waved farewell before going right back to eating their cake. I smiled lightly before picking up my trash and walking to the trashcan and throwing it away.

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. "Going home?" I heard a familiar voice say from behind me. I froze.

"Oh, uh Will, hi again!" I quickly turned around and moved back to create space between us, making sure not to hit the trashcan behind me. "Yeah, I'm gonna go, it's a bit late, y'know?" I forced a smile.

"I see. I was hoping we could talk a bit, but I won't keep you." He replied. The way he spoke those last few words made me want to just walk off right then. "Yeah, sorry! Maybe next time, haha." I let out a forced laugh, but I was sure he could tell.

I cleared my throat. "Ah well, see ya!" He smiled and I hesitantly smiled in return and walked off and out of the cursed building, Avery following along. I didn't forget she was there, but she was silent for a while, so I didn't say anything to her. Even if I had said something, people'd think I was crazy, which.. I might be. I laughed dryly at the thought.

"You're coming back to find Mike, aren't you?" Avery's words caught me off guard, I stopped in my tracks, directly in front of my car. "You aren't just going to forget about all this right? Or are you?" She continued. I let out a shaky breath beginning to reply, but she interrupted. "Are you going to burn those journal pages you wrote? Just ignore me until I somehow disappear? Because that won't happen, sissy."

"I'm not going anywhere. I come from your own guilt, y'know, and the good thing is, maybe Mike isn't dead? If he was, you might just see him too while no one else can." Avery giggled. I stared at the front veiw glass of my car intensely, her words sinking in. I somehow felt a little more hopeful, but not by much.

What could I do anyway? Maybe it was time for me to get actual help? Not doing that in the first place was dumb, and it tore me up inside because I have no idea why I haven't in the first place.

Maybe they wouldn't help though. Afterall, there has been so many missing persons, but they haven't done anything.

No. I was just making excuses. Maybe they'd open the case up if I tell them everything.

Go to the police. Tell them. Tell them. Tell them..

"Or don't. You know you won't, you're too scared. You're scared that something terrible, even more so than before will happen." Avery stood in front of me, and I hadn't even noticed. She stood on her tippy-toes and grinned. "Stop thinking about telling the police! You have to hurry up and think about a better way to find Mike, silly. You were right, they most likely won't help."

There, avoiding the police again, huh?

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I know I took a long time to publish. I am terribly sorry, but I had to take a break. I couldn't write with all this writers-block and other things that have been happening in my boring life, haha. I just haven't been mentally well lately, so I needed to chill. I've been thinking about completely deleting this book, but I know people actually enjoy it, so I won't! Don't worry, I just don't really think this book is good, lol. Anywho, I hope this chapter was okay even though it was a little forced. ♡