Not in The System

Not In The System is a horror story that blends mystery, suspense, and emotionally driven character storytelling. It follows Levi Jackson, a high school senior with a deep passion for robotics, engineering, and technology. Intelligent and curious, Levi spends much of his time working on machines and dreaming about a future shaped by innovation. Like many students his age, he takes a part-time job to earn money and gain experience, never imagining that this decision will completely alter the course of his life. That job is at Jingle's Circus Emporium, a massive indoor entertainment center packed with carnival rides, games, attractions, and many animatronics.

However, as Levi settles into his role, subtle details begin to unsettle him. The animatronics move in ways that feel too fluid, too aware, and too human. Their eyes seem to linger, their actions sometimes deviate from their programming, and strange malfunctions become increasingly common. Soon after, people around the city begin to go missing, and Levi can't ignore the disturbing connection between the disappearances and his workplace.

As the story unfolds, Levi uncovers the dark history behind the Emporium and its creator, Ezra, a man consumed by grief after the death of his wife. Unable to accept her loss, Ezra used forbidden technology and rituals to trap her soul inside an animatronic body. In his obsession to keep her "alive," he began performing ritual sacrifices, turning the Emporium into a machine fueled by death. What once appeared colorful and harmless now hides a violent and corrupted core.

Levi is not alone. He is aided by Astro, his closest friend and one of the only animatronics untouched by possession. Vixen, a formerly possessed animatronic struggling with guilt and seeking redemption, while Fidget, a failed new vessel for the demons who stands as a haunting reminder of Ezra's cruelty. Together, they form an unlikely alliance built on trust, survival, and shared trauma.