Chapter Text
“Lizzie-“ Michael called to his sister, attempting to grab her shoulder but she swerved past him. He sighed and glanced at his brother who just shrugged from where he was sat, coloring.
“Elizabeth,” Michael sighed as he caught her shoulder, “father warned you not to go in there, especially alone. He doesn’t want you seeing her,” Michael spoke warily. He really didn’t wish to upset his father.
“Then just come with me! That way I’m not alone… I just want to see her, daddy built her for me… I wanna see her,” the young girl moved to lean against her brother’s arm, doing her best begging eyes. Michael felt his chest tighten but he knew better. His father may have adored the twins but he didn’t have that love, he didn’t get second chances with their father.
“I can’t, Liz,” he whispered.
“Why not?” she asked, frowning.
“I have to keep an eye on you and Evan. Father would kill me if I brought not only you, but him too… wait until he’s back and then you can go see her with him,” Michael moved to ruffle her hair a bit, receiving a soft glare as he sister pouted, looking down.
“It’s not fair…” she whispered.
“I know… but maybe later, father won’t be gone for too much longer, I’m sure…” Michael rubbed her shoulder before leading her back to her seat. Evan smiled at his twin and although she smiled at him, she returned to sulking rather quickly.
“Hey Michael?” Evan asked a bit later, still coloring. Michael was working on homework so he simply replied with a hum before sighing.
“What’s up bud?” He asked and Evan seemed hesitant before he spoke.
“Where’s Lizzie?” He asked quietly and Michael’s head shot up in a second, his eyes darting to Evan, who was now sitting alone.
“What do you mean? She was right next to you-“
“She got up a little bit ago. She said she’d be right back but she hasn’t. Did she tell you where she was going?” Evan asked softly. Michael stood but before he could say anything else, a blood-curdling, ear-piercing scream echoed from nearby. All it took was one look to understand. It was coming from circus baby’s gallery and that scream was heartbreakingly familiar.
“Lizzie!?” Evan screamed shrilly, running towards the room. Michael grabbed his brothers hand and ran towards the scream as well. His grip on Evan was nearly bruising but he was panicked.
“No… no… come on! Come on! Lizzie please… she didn’t, she didn’t!” Michael panicked. He threw open the door and felt his heart stop. Blood covered Circus baby and the ground around her. Elizabeth Afton’s hairbow was on the ground in front offered animatronic, covered in blood.
“Lizzie?” Evan croaked out through tears and Michael turned, hiding Evan’s face against his chest and he practically covered his brothers body with his.
“Father! Father!” Michael screamed. She was gone, his baby sister was really gone.
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“Father-“
“Michael, why must you always pester me?” William’s sharp tone made him question what he was about to do.
“Father, it’s Evan’s birthday next week…” Michael whispered. He stood barely within his fathers office, hovering in front of the door.
“I know, and?” William snarled. Michael bit his lip. His father had always been awful to him but Lizzie’s death had made him even worse.
“He lost his twin sister just last year…. Can’t we bring him somewhere other than the dinner? Animatronics took his sister, he needs a party far away from them,” Michael felt ridiculous. He shouldn’t even need to make this argument but he knew William wouldn’t drop it otherwise.
“You’re the one who’s supposed to be working on making him fear them, maybe if he was truly scared of them and asked me, I’d change it,” it was a backhanded comment from William but Michael was used to them. Michael also knew that Evan would never ask for the change.
“Only because you said that if I didn’t make him scared if animatronics, you would. I don’t wanna know your methods and I’d rather not lose my last living sibling to the things you made, just like I lost my sister!” Michael snapped and quickly turned to leave. He hated making his brother scared all the time, he hated his father. As Michael stormed out, he caught sight of Evan curled up, hiding in a corner down the hall. His chest aches. HE did this to his brother. It may have been his fathers orders but he still was the one who did this.
“Hey Evan,” he whispered as he moved to sit next to his brother. Evan whimpered and stared at him before quickly curling against his brothers side once he recognized that Michael wouldn’t try and scare him anymore.
“I know… I’m sorry… it’ll all be done after your party,” Michael leaned his head against his brothers. Sometimes he felt like he was the one raising his brother and not their father.
“Why do you have to do that?” Evan whispered. “Why are you so mean and scary sometimes?”
“I wish I could tell you… I wish I could… I love you so much Evan. I swear it’s only a week more,” he knew that it wouldn’t just end with Evan’s party. His father would always make him his puppet. Evan was six, he didn’t deserve to be treated like this. He’d be seven soon and maybe then it would be better, but Michael knew better than to hope as much. Michael just wished he was older. When he turned eighteen, in five years, he’d run with Evan and they’d celebrate his little brother's twelfth birthday in style. They’d be safe in a little under five years.
Michael tucked Evan into bed and sighed, rubbing his eyes. Only a week until he didn’t have to do this to his brother anymore. He left the room quietly and froze as he passed his fathers office, hearing a conversation.
“Please, they’re just paranoid parents because their kid stuck their arm in Fredbear's mouth and got a bruise! His jaw can’t do anymore than that, it doesn’t have enough pressure as it is. We have it set up according to the legal recommendations. Unless someone took out the pressure sensors and safety precautions, which obviously didn’t happen as the kid still has its arm, Fredbear is harmless and the kid is more than a bit dumb,” William laughed and Michael sighed. Only his father could laugh while talking about people getting hurt. Uncle Henry hadn’t ever heard it but William had made jokes about Charlie’s death. Michael had cried then too.
“Oi! Michael! I have an idea!” William called and Michael realized he couldn’t get out of this.
“Yes father?” He whispered.
“I just came up with the perfect idea to scare your little brat of a brother! You overheard me talking about Fredbear right. His jaw can’t bite down, the spring locks, can’t active like that when he’s in show mode. I want you, during Evan’s birthday party, to put his head in Fredbear's mouth!” William laughed.
“What!? No! No way! That’s too dangerous! You said it was over after his birthday!” Michael snapped.
“Exactly. AFTER his birthday. And at worst, Fredbear will give him a concussion. Evan will be scared once and for all… and then you’ll be done,” William’s tone was suddenly dark and Michael shivered.
“Father-“
“Do it or I will.” William stood up and Michael felt dread fill his gut.
“I could tell someone, uncle Henry-“
“And who would believe you, Michael? We’ve talked about this, no one is going to believe you over me, no one. Go to sleep and think through my suggestion. Do it by noon on his birthday or I’ll take it into my own hands,” William hummed and Michael ran away quickly, knowing better than to risk staying there.
“Shit! Shit shit shit!” Michael, only thirteen, muffling his cries as he ran to his room.