Chapter Text
The first few minutes of his life were nothing but a blur. He needed to be somewhere but where? The being walked through the darkness silently. No thoughts. No questions. Just walking. His shoes made soft tapping with each step. Occasionally he would step on something that would cause a squish but it never gained his attention. Finally arriving at what seemed to be the end, the being made his way through the door and to the end of a stairway. A thought had finally come to mind. What's upstairs?
He blinked and turned around, scanning the room he was in. Trash. There was lots of it. He walked over to a pile of garbage and stared at it. Was there anything worth something? That thought is what led him to start digging through the pile. In just that pile, he found a used lighter and a box of candles. Those were quickly put to use as he lit up a few candles and placed them throughout the room. It was smaller than he noted. The trash took up a lot of space in the room but it didn't bother him. He could work around it.
Digging in the trash again, he found a box full of colorful unused paper. That could be useful. He pulled the box next to the candles. After digging some more, he collected a bunch of items. Rags, a first aid kit, markers, a piece of a broken mirror, and posters were just a handful of items. He sat in front of a candle and picked up the piece of mirror. He stared at his reflection for minutes, taking note of every detail about himself. Putting the mirror on the ground, he grabbed a paper and marker. Shakily, he began to write only zeros and ones. For him, he wrote:" Why is I."
He was pacing. Running. Jumping. Back to pacing. He even climbed a pile of trash but fell and hurt his knee. Never again would he do something like that. On his knee was a small scratch was began to fill with red. The red was unnerving. He grabbed the first aid kit and used a bandaid inside to cover his knee. That was much better. From there on he took it easy.
At some point he found himself sitting in front of the only candle that was lit. He didn't bother setting up new candles just yet. It was quite dark but it wasn't too bad. Having the room dimmed was comforting after all that moving around. But then he saw it. He whipped his head around, staring at the staircase. Something- someone was standing there. Or so he thought. No one was there. He was still alone. He grabbed a few candles out of the box along with the lighter he found. Just as he got up, a noise was heard above him followed by two voices. He gasped, dropping the items he had. The lit candle was knocked over leaving the room in darkness. He scurried behind a pile of trash with tears swelling his eyes.
"You guys keep extra tables and chairs here out of all places??" The first voice was of a loud young man. The walls down helped the voice bounce off the wall creating an echo. "I mean it reeks!"
"Well this IS where all the trash ends up," said the second voice which was a lot softer. "These are our older tables. Technically, they're supposed to be thrown out but we always need them."
Their shoes were loud as they descended the stairs. He shook in fear. In fear that they would find him. That they would yell at him for hiding. That THEY would drag him to the... party?
"These don't seem old," the first voice stated.
"Exactly why they are still here. You grab two, I'll grab the other two."
"Got it."
There were loud dragging noises and then some grunting. Their footsteps moved back up the stairs and past the door they came from. The child let out a breath he was holding. Quickly he ran to the candles and began lighting and spreading them out across the room. He sat in front of a candle to curl up and cry. When he stopped crying, the boy sat up and started at the staircase. There were people up there. Maybe that's where he needed to be. But he was scared! What if those people were bad? He grabbed a paper and marked and wrote again. The numbers translated to "Hide."
He spent a lot of his time writing over and over again. He began scribbling words on his colorful papers. "I can feel it." He feels it. These images would appear in his mind, he could feel strong emotions from them. "Happy," is the word he liked using. The images had to be memories. There were so many people but he could not recognize anyone. With a sigh, he sat down and leaned against one of the pillars with his arms crossed. He was about to close his eyes but heard and saw it! It was gone when he looked but it was there! And he heard it!
"Evan."
He closed his eyes. That name kept repeating in his mind on loop. There was something about that name that sent a shiver through his body. That's when his black vision was filled with light.
~~~
"Hurry up, Evan."
"I'm coming!" The child was stuck trying to tie his shoes. He teared up as he failed over and over again. Everyone was waiting on him just because he couldn't tie his shoe by himself.
"Seriously?" A figure stood at his door. "Again with the shoelaces? Didn't father buy you slip-ons?" The figure moved closer. It was a teenager, his older brother.
"They don't fit me," he mumbled and looked down.
His brother sighed. He sat down and tied the shoes for him. "I'll talk to mother then." He took the child's hand after they both got up and led him to the living room. "He's ready now."
A tall figure loomed over the two of them. "Good. Let's go. Henry is waiting for me."
"Father, will Charlie be there?" A little girl gazed up at the tall man.
"Yes, she's already there. Michael, go tell your mother that we are leaving."
Michael nodded and wandered off. The tall man looked at the child and stuck his hand out. "Come on, Evan." He stuck his other hand out. "Elizabeth."
"Yes, father!" Elizabeth was overjoyed and quickly took his hand. Evan took his father's hand who led them to the car and buckled them in. Once Michael caught up and hopped in the front passenger, they drove off.
~~~
He opened his eyes with a flutter. That was a memory! It was so clear and vivid. It felt as if he was just going through it himself. The child, Evan, pushed himself to his feet and ran over to his supplies. As always, Evan grabbed a peer and marker this time he wrote "You are Afton family."
Drawing became an entertaining hobby to do. With more memories flooding in, Evan had so many things to draw. He remembered his family, his friends, and his father's work. Evan needed to go home. That's where he needed to go. The main question was how? He had no idea where he was. Obviously the dumpster. How did he end up down here anyways? Why did he wake up down here?
Evan huffed and laid down. He started at the ceiling. He was lonely. Really lonely. He missed his family so much.
~~~
Father was mad. Evan knew it. Michael and Elizabeth knew it too. None of the Afton kids said anything as their father walked through the living room to the kitchen. All three of them had one thought. Their mother did not return with their father. Almost half an hour later their father walked into the living room. He stood in front of the television the kids were focused on and clicked the off button. Elizabeth pouted, Evan whined, and Michael crossed his arms.
" Your mother left us." All three children's eyes widened."That cun-... That woman made her choice to leave all of us. She won't return."
Evan immediately began to ball his eyes out.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth's voice was so soft but close to breaking." Mother was just
here this morning."
"She has abandoned us. I tried to convince her everything was fine but she made her choice."
Michael stood up. Tears were filling his eyes daring to spill down his face. His face turned red from anger." You're lying! What did you do!?"
"Lower your tone!" Their father snapped, glaring at Micheal. His bruised hands trembled as he clenched them into fists. Michael glared back
before booking it to his room." Michael-!"
~~~
Oh. That's right. Mother was gone. She was never seen again after that night. Not by family or friends. That's also the night father changed.
Evan didn't spend too much time drawing anymore. He didn't spend too much time doing anything other than keeping a flame on the candles. He had another major memory recently. Evan remembered the disappearances of children around Fredbear's diner. He remembered Charlie's murder right outside the diner. He wished he didn't remember Uncle Henry's chilling scream when he found her. And lastly, he remembered Elizabeth's disappearance. It wasn't fair. These memories were only getting worse. Where was he supposed to go if there was
no family to return to? Michael was... mean and their father was distant. But Evan's most recent memory didn't explain how he ended up in the trash.
The party was all for you.
Evan turned his head towards the figure in his peripheral vision. It was gone again. It was always gone when he tried to look. He groaned in annoyance and Flopped on his back. Evan turned to his side and stared at the small flame next to him. The party... was for him?
~~~
Evan was crying. He was on his knees, banging on the door. "Michael! Please let me out!" His older brother, being the bully he was, had locked him in his room. When there was no response, Evan curled up and sobbed. He was alone in his room. He was scared of being alone.
'Tomorrow is another day."
Five days until the party.
...
No matter where Evan went, he always brought Freddy along. The Golden Fredbear was his friend and made him feel safe. The bear would talk. It would warn him.
"You know he is hiding again."
Evan knew. That's why he checked every inch of his room. He checked under his bed, behind the dresser, and the pile of toys he had. Micheal wasn't in his room and the door was open this time. He could make it out safely, right? Quietly Evan snuck out of his room, tears spilling down his face. He glanced at the clock and then at the pictures hung on the wall. Father had removed all the pictures of mother. Thankfully Elizabeth still had a place on the wall.
Evan moved to the living room. He glanced around the room. There was no sign of Michael. The front door was right there. He could get out finally. Just before he could get halfway through the living room, a figure jumped out from behind the television. It screamed out at Evan which led the crying child to drop to the floor and curl up.
"Tomorrow is another day."
Four days until the party.
...
" He left without you."
"He knows that you hate it here."
" You are right beside the exit. If you run, you can make it."
Father brought him and Michael to the diner. Their father knew how terrified Evan was of the place. Despite his protest, Evan was still brought over. Instantly, Michael ditched Evan to play with some friends.
Evan found himself curled up under a table. He cried in fear, hugging his Freddy. Those animatronics scared him. He knows what happens when they catch children. Evan witnessed the Golden Bonnie with a child. That child ended up missing. He didn't want to go missing. Not like Elizabeth.
Finally, Evan got the courage to get to his feet. He had to hurry out of the exit. Just before he could, Freddy stepped in the way. Evan almost let out a scream. He listened to the Freddy in his arms and ran away.
"Evan!" The giant Freddy called out. It knew his name. The animatronic was after him. He was a goner. The only thing Evan could do was curl up under another table and cry.
"Tomorrow is another day."
Three days until the party.
...
Evan was back at the diner crying under another table. The reason he kept coming back was that Evan had to help set up his birthday. But he was too scared so Uncle Henry and Michael had to do it. Father was working at the new location for the day.
"He hates you."
"You have to get up."
"You can get out this time, but you have to hurry."
Freddy was his only friend. He was the only thing that helped Evan. Still crying, Evan got to his feet. He had to get out this time. He ran out the door and made it! He was finally free! Evan looked up at the sky, happy to see it. Evan walked past the parking lot and to a child. He recognized the kid from the diner. Before Evan could say anything, the child spoke first. "Where is your plush toy? Mine is Spring Bonnie." Evan gasped when he realized he had left Freddy in the diner. It was too late to go back for him. "My daddy says I have to be careful with him or I will pinch my finger. He is a finger trap," he says." That's right, the kid's father works at the Diner too.
Not wanting to hear anymore, Evan ran off. He needed to get home. On the sidewalk, Evan came across a girl he didn't like. She grinned," you better watch out! I hear they come to life at night. And if you die, they hide your body and never tell anyone." More tears fell down his face as his lips quivered." Why do you look so worried? See you at the party! Ha haha!"
Evan sobbed and ran off. He didn't want to die! He didn't want the animatronics to take his body! Is that what happened to Elizabeth? He didn't even notice the teenager sitting on the sidewalk until he heard the laughter. Everyone hated him." Aren't you the kid who always hides under the table and cries? Hahaha! No one else is scared! Why are you? Stop being such a baby!" Evan wiped some tears off his face but more fell. No one would believe Evan even if he told them what he saw.
Evan went back to running. He wanted to go straight home but a boy with a balloon stopped him. "Are you going to the party? Everyone is going to the party. Oh wait, you have to go! It's YOUR birthday! Haha!" It was his birthday party but he didn't want to go. He was too scared.
This time Evan ran without stopping. He didn't want to hear another thing about his birthday or the Diner. He made it home and looked around. Freddy was on the couch! With joy, Evan picked him up.
"Be careful."
Evan didn't bother listening. He was home and safe. The crying child walked to his room hugging his bear. Not even a few steps in, a figure slides out from under the bed with a scream. Evan fell to the floor and cried in fear.
The figure laughed as he got up. "That's what you get for leaving without permission. Come on, get up, Evan."
"Tomorrow is another day."
Two days until the party-.
~~~
Evan cried out and sat up. Tears were streaming down his face. He glanced around the room setting the same old trash. He... Evan brought his knees to his chest. "T-the party..," he said softly, "was all for me." With a deep breath, Evan snatched a paper and marker. He drew a present in the corner before writing: All for me.
Evan got back into drawing again. He tried putting the memory of his upcoming birthday in a brighter point of view. He drew balloons, party hats, presents, his old home, and cake. Then small phrases like:" Happy, Birthday time, Family, Pizzatime, and friends forever' Honestly, it was probably better being trapped in the Diner than being in the dump.
Though Michael was a bully, he would be thrilled to see his brother again. He wanted to hug his father. He wanted Elizabeth and his mother. Evan sniffed and wiped away a tear that fell down his face. why was he here and all alone? Why did he find himself here? Was anyone even looking for him? What happened on his birthday?
~~~
"Please let me out," Evan cried. He wiggled the doorknob but it was locked. He was terrified to look behind him. It was heads, endo skeletons, and body parts of the animatronics. If he died in here, no one would find his body."PLEASE!" Evan screamed. When there was no answer, the child curled up on the floor and cried, "... please let me out..."
One day left until the party.
...
Zero days left until the party.
Evan was left crying on the floor. Michael and his three friends surround him, laughing. All four of them had those petrifying masks on. Their eyes seem to glow behind the masks. He recognized that one teenager in the green shirt. It was the same one making fun of him on the sidewalk. The teenager wearing the Chica mask placed his hands on his hips. "Now, your brother is kind of a baby isn't he?"
"It's hilarious," laughed Michael. He was always extra mean around his friends. Micheal squatted down getting close to Evan's face. "Why don't we help him get a closer look! He will love it!"
Evan scooted back and wiped his falling tears to look at Michael better. "No! Please!" He pleaded with the teens but they only laughed more.
"Come on guys, let's give this little man a lift." Michael tightly grasped Evan's arm." He wants to get up close and personal!" The teenager under the Bonnie mask grasped his other arm. All four of them began moving to the main stage.
"No! I don't want to go!" Evan thrashed around. His feet were nowhere close to touching the ground. The hands around his arms got tighter.
"You heard the little man! He wants to get even closer! Ha ha ha!"
Evan cried out, pleading for them to stop. He looked at the giant animatronic bear in horror." Get him closer," one of Michael's friends laughed.
Michael grinned under the mask and looked directly at Evan." Hey guys, I think the little man said he wants to give Fredbear a big kiss!"
The teenagers all grabbed Evan. They chanted kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Evan screamed in fear and chanted no! no! no!
"On THREE! One...Two..." The next thing Evan knew, he was in Fredbear's mouth. He kicked his legs wildly and pushed his hands against the animatronic. Evan could hear their laughter. He could see the lights flashing red, blue, yellow, and green. He could feel the metal around his head getting tight. There was loud cracking and liquid other than Evan's tears. Everything was so overwhelming until it wasn't.
~~~
Evan jumped to his feet and squeezed his head. It hurt so much. He yelled in pain and stumbled forward. Faintly, he could hear the beeps of a heart monitor.
"Can you hear me?"
Evan sobbed. He sounded so far away.
" I don't know if you can hear me."
Evan's head hurt so much.
"... I'm sorry."
He didn't want to leave Michael.
" You're broken."
An image of his Fredbear flashed in his mind. The small yellow bear with a purple hat and bowtie sat next to him on a dark floor.
"We are still your friend."
It wasn't how normal Fredbear sounded or spoke.
"Do you still believe that?"
The beeps of the heart monitor got slower.
Evan fell to his knees.
"I'm still here."
The heart monitor flatlined. Tears were flowing down his face like a stream.
"I will put you back together."
Evan hugged his knees to his chest and cried.
He finally had all his memories.