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If somebody asked William if he had any regrets, he would say no, without having to think twice.
Most people are going to turn away then, and if they do, they’re going to miss how his expression changes and his eyes seem slightly guilty.
Not that they would be able to see something like that in the first place given the fact that animatronics features aren’t able to change.
You see William Afton did have regrets, many of them in fact.
Not about killing those children, he would do that again in a heartbeat.
Not about the nightguards he killed for the fun of it.
Not about killing Henry’s daughter either.
He regrets programming Circus Baby like that, because he underestimated his daughter’s curiosity.
He regrets not seeing how his youngest son was bullied, regrets not seeing his fear, regrets not being there, stopping those children.
But his biggest regret is his eldest. Michael.
Oh, he really wasn’t fair to his son.
If he would have thought about it a little longer, instead of letting his anger take a hold of him, he would have known that it wasn’t Michael who put Evans head in Fredbear.
He would have known that Michael would have never thought about that in the first place.
Why did he listen to his wife? Why did he believe her?
Thoughts like that are flying through his head. Especially now, as he found a recording device.
He remembers that years ago he put it in a Fredbear plushie. He gifted it to one of his sons.
Only now, after the fire, after escaping hell, does he realise he never gave it to Evan. He gifted it Michael on his fifth birthday, for the case that Clara does something, so he had proof for child abuse.
He never checked it again and forgot its existence completely.
Only now that his century old anger releases its hold on him, does he realise how wrong he was all the time.
He clicks play.
Hi Mr. Fredbear. I’m Michael, I hope you and I can become great friends. You only have to keep quiet you know. Or else Mommy is going to get really mad and is going to take you away from me. And then I’m losing you before I have the chance to make at least one friend.
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You know sometimes I question if anyone ever wants me. But that is silly, I think. Dad is just busy. Mommy leaves me always alone as well. Having to catch up with a friend she says. But hey I have a friend now as well, right?
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When I’m bored, I follow Dad to work. He doesn’t know that I’m there though, or else he would send me home. But I don’t wanna be at home Mr. Fredbear, it’s so lonely there. I have a hiding place in the vents and I watch him work. Animatronics are really cool. Do you think he’s ever gonna teach me how to do that?
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I’m going to be honest with you. I know that you are recording me. It’s not very subtle you know, I was able to tell and I’m only five. Are you listening Dad? I… don’t think so. Or else you would have looked for me in the vents. Sometimes I imagine this is your way of keeping an eye on me. Of telling me that you are there. But you gave me a Fredbear plushie. My favourite is Foxy, you know?
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Mommy is round. That apparently means a baby is growing in her. But I don’t think she likes babies that much. Or she just doesn’t like me?
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The baby is loud. The poor thing is crying all the time and I can’t sleep because of it. Do babies cry so much? Is that why mommy hates me? Because I kept her awake at night?
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You spend way more time with Evan then you ever spent time with me Dad. Did I do something wrong?
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I think Clara isn’t helping Evan if she screams at him. Sometimes I’m glad I’m not the only person she screams at. But I’m seven and he is two. I can take it, he can’t. I don’t think Evan knows why he is crying all the time. Sometimes he seems frustrated, because of the tears. You have so much patience with him, Dad. If you would be here more often, then Evan wouldn’t have to cry so much because of the screaming.
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Clara is pregnant again. I feel sorry for the child. They aren’t going to have a happy life.
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The ghosts are getting restless. They have been fine before, as fine as someone dead can be. I think something bad is going to happen to the twins. Clara is due soon, after all. If you are listening, can you do something? You can do everything after all.
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I…. the ghosts were right. I can’t help thinking, if I would have just told you, you could have stopped it. But I don’t think you would have even believed me. Something is wrong Dad. Clara isn’t herself. She doesn’t come out of her room anymore and it stinks in there. Ev is crying a lot, more than usual. I think he is scared. He sleeps with me now. I put Eli’s crib in my room. Clara doesn’t hear her cry and you are at work. Honestly, you are scaring me as well Dad. Your eyes have a glint that wasn’t there before. I saw that before. In a very angry soul. Don’t do something stupid. Ev and Eli need you. (I need you)
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I stopped going to school. Don’t worry I’m way too smart for them anyway, I will manage to pass the school year. (Not as if you would ever notice...) But I tried calling you Dad. I called you many times and you never picked up. You told me if I don’t stop calling if it’s not an emergency, you are going to block me. And I can’t have that, what if the house is on fire?
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Things are going well? I don’t know. I’m not their parent. I wish you would be here more often. What if I mess it up? Ev cries less so I guess I am doing a better job than Clara ever did. How is work? Can you come home earlier? Please?
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I removed the recording system from Fredbear and gave him Ev. He needs him more than I do. I don’t know why I’m just not getting rid of this. It has been 5 years since you gave me this plushie. I bet you won’t even notice if it’s changing owner.
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I don’t even know what to say Dad. I tried to tell you that Clara is doing drugs. I tried. It’s not my fault the school had to mark me as absent for you to finally notice how fucked our home life is. Sometimes I’m angry. Why do you believe her lies? Shouldn’t you know me better than that? You hate her. You never shared a room with her. But you believe her over me? I.... it’s better for Ev and Eli, I guess. At least I have time to draw more of your animatronics. I have a feeling that none of you found my hiding place in the vents. Why am even talking to this stupid thing? It’s not like you ever listened at all. I should just stop.
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I said I would stop. I haven’t as you can tell. Not that you will, you never listen anyway. I made my peace with that. Haha... Eli is dead, Dad. I know it’s your fault. And mine, I guess. I saw it happen; you know. But more importantly Ev saw. He had to see his sister getting killed. You know your children Dad. Why did you think she would listen? I tried to keep an eye on her, but Ev had a panic attack and then she slipped away and.... she’s dead. And her soul is stuck in that damn animatronic now. She is suffering. Why did you do that?
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Ev has nightmares. He sleeps with me now. He dreams that animatronics are hunting him. Animatronics Dad. I wake him up every time, but it’s wearing on both of us. Can we do his birthday in another place?
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Hi, it’s me again. Micheal. Your son. You know the one who is still alive? Sometimes I’m not sure if you even remember that I’m still here. It’s okay, I would rather be dead as well. You think I did that. I don’t even have tears left. Clara told you I would do such a thing and you believe her. You always do. Did you ever know me at all? Or were you just like ‘Ähhh, baby I don’t know how to handle being a parent, oh yeah I know I just ignore it all my life and blame it for everything that will go wrong!’. If I had just been faster, than my siblings would still be alive. If I would have tried to appease those bullies more, maybe they would have left my brother alone. You aren’t here Dad, are you now? Not really, not mentally. I’m worried about you Dad, you’re the only thing I have left.
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To the surprise of absolutely no one Clara killed herself. Haha… She did it right in front of me, you know. Looked me dead in the eye and said it’s all my fault before she hung herself. And she’s right, isn’t she?
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You killed those kids, didn’t you. Why am I not surprised? You were off for a while. Is it bad that I don’t care? Bad that I’m happy, that at least Ev isn’t alone anymore? Happy isn’t the right word for my feelings. I just don’t feel anything anymore. Uncle Henry says I’m depressed, but he can’t talk, he hasn’t left the house since Charlie’s death. That was you as well.
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I started to see them everywhere Dad. I know those are just hallucinations, because souls don’t look like that, but it feels so real. They just say out loud what I already know. That it’s my fault. That I should have tried to stop you for killing more children. That I don’t deserve to live. They don’t need to say that, I already know this. No, the worst ones are the ones where they don’t say anything truthful. The moments I wake up and see Ev and Eli next to me, smiling, alive, asking me to make breakfast. And in the first moment I don’t realise that it can’t be real. And I’m in the kitchen and making pancakes and they come in and want to help. They look so happy to see me, Dad. And then I see the state of our house and realise that it isn’t real. And it gets painful, because I still see them standing there, tasting the pancake batter, even though they know it doesn’t taste good. And I stand there and cry and the pancake in the pan begins to burn, and they still smile. I see them right now Dad. They are drawing something. And I don’t want to take the medication because I’m selfish and want to keep living in this moment. I want it to be real so bad. You don’t even look at me these days. Do you even realise I’m still here? Is it bad that I still love you, even though you killed so many innocent people? Am I a worse person then you ever will be, because I want you to come through this door and hug me and tell me that everything will be alright? I miss them, Dad. I miss Uncle Henry. I miss the things we never had.
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Ha… I’m really the only one left now, aren’t I? You deserved it, oh you deserved a so much more painful death than you got. And I still miss you. Even though you were never there in the first place. I’m going to live with Uncle Henry, Dad. I love you, still, after everything you’ve done, even when you clearly never loved me. Goodbye, Dad.