Work Text:
The Puppet’s creators did not give it eyes. Just a pair of empty eye sockets and the pulsing white light of endoskeleton eyes. The endoskeleton eyes did not see, after all. There was no need. It was controlled by wires and string, no need for movement, no need for sensors. It wasn’t supposed to go anywhere.
That may have stopped it, but it could not stop her. It may not have been able to see, but she could.
The box was propped open slightly, just enough for her to peek through, not enough for anyone to notice. It was hardly a good field of view, yet it would have to work for now.
The pizzeria was crowded today. Something about three birthdays. She hadn’t listened well to the employees about it. Whatever it was, it made it hard to find him.
She tilted her head to get a better view of the Prize Corner. Two children (Twins? Siblings? Friends?) were browsing the shelves of plushies. The girl took one of Bonnie. The boy took one of Freddy. She turned away.
Toy Freddy was singing “Happy Birthday” to one of the kids. A crowd had formed near the stage, singing along. Away from them, a woman holding a young child talked with a guard. What was his name again? Jacob? No, no. Jason? No. Jeremy? Jeremy. Yes, his name was Jeremy. She turned away.
She found him near the carousel, talking to a young boy. A growl rose in her throat. She forced it down.
He gave the child a balloon and patted his head before walking on, that same grin she had seen so many times before plastered on his face.
She lowered the lid of her box slightly, just in case, and watched.
He was nearby. She could feel it. She could feel his heart beating and his hands shaking and his teeth chattering. She could feel his fear.
He had let the music box run out. That was his mistake. Her mistake, on the other hand, was taking too long to reach the office. He was not sitting at his desk when she had arrived. But he was near. She could feel it.
The tablet had been abandoned on the desk, switched to Cam 07. The Main Hall. Mangle and the older Bonnie waited there, staring into the camera as if they could see through it. Despite their unchanging expressions, she could see Mangle’s excitement and Bonnie’s annoyance at said animatronic’s excitement. She flipped to Cam 11.
It was empty of course. Mangle, after all, was in the Main Hall and she herself was in the office. Her box was open and empty.
He was nearby. She heard his breathing, ragged and panicked.
He was under the desk.
She bent down to meet his eyes, ragged and panicked to match his breathing. If she could have changed the expression of her mask, she would have smiled even wider. He felt now what she had felt then, back when he had cornered her outside.
Instead of killing him, she just watched.
She had never heard these voices before. Two men, late twenties, early thirties most likely. One had an accent of some sort. The other talked like one of those surfers that had visited the old restaurant, back in the 80s.
From what they were saying, they were here to collect or find something for their new attraction. Attraction? Like those at the theme park Dad used to take her to as a child?
There were footsteps approaching. She stayed still, the ground beneath her cold and dirty.
There were shouts when they found her. Excitement. Joy.
They only took her mask.
She watched as they left.