Chapter Text
The television on, illuminating the dark living room. Dead silence and only the words that the reporter on the news utters.
A fire.
You cover your mouth. Your expression of fear, anguish.
Repentance.
Something grows in your chest, and it hurts. Burns.
Tears fall down your face when you leave that house that, after so many months having their company at work, no longer felt like home.
You start the car and drive fast. It doesn't matter. It's late. You must arrive soon.
The burning building gives you… a cruel welcome. Police, firemen, flames being put out.
You get out of the car and your hands are shaking. You run, and you try to go under the yellow tapes, but they stop you. They hold your arms, your torso.
You scream. You cry. You squirm.
You have to go. You have to go see them.
You have to apologize, you have to hug them, you have to make sure they are safe.
You weaken and fall to your knees, cover your face and sob. And you remember, you remember with pain.
You had taken a few days off after the argument, making excuses for getting sick. And today… today you receive this.
You couldn't say goodbye. You couldn't apologize.
You couldn't tell them you love them.
You hug your own body, and swear you hear the sound of jingling bells nearby. You swear you feel their hugs. That you hear their voices.
And when you look up… Men carry the inert figure of the animatronics, almost melted, destroyed. Without a trace of… life.