Chapter Text
Sometime in June.
I don’t even know what day it is anymore. All I know is that I’ve been staying at Fredbear’s for three days now, with the other survivors. It’s weird, being back here without Father. They let me have his office, so I have a place to go where people won’t bother me. I found his old journal in the drawer, so I figured I could use it. There wasn’t much in it, just a few of his notes. I kept those pages, as a reminder.
Day 4
They look at me with pity. Father’s name is was well known enough for them to know who I am. At least they don’t know what I can do. Some secrets should be kept close.
There’s about thirty of us in here. The diner has room for fifty, but it never got that crowded. There’re too many people here. It’s unnatural. This place is supposed to be quiet. Empty. Father only really brought me here after hours, when Clara couldn’t watch me. I wonder if she’s still alive.
There’s a few kids my age here. I recognize one from school. I think his name is Gabriel. He seems to be in charge. Or at least willing enough to command. None of the adults are stepping up. Idiots, making a kid do all the work.
Day 5
They sent out a scavenge team to the nearby houses. About ten volunteers. Most of them kids. Apparently, all the adults are too slow to be of use. Why are they even here, then? How did they survive the first outbreak? Clearly, they were fast enough to get to safety. Regardless, the team brought back a few things. More blankets and pillows, a few cans of food, stuff like that. They gave me enough blankets to make a bed. I still slept in Father’s chair, though. It’s familiar.
Day 6
There was a fight this morning. About some girl. They said she was dangerous. That her touch burned. Gabriel protected her. I think. He stopped the arguing, at least. I asked him about it when he was alone. He didn’t tell me much, but he did say that it was his sister.
Day 7
He got fed up with all the slackers. Gabriel called a meeting, in the main hall. Made everyone unwilling to help leave. We’re down to 17 people. 12 kids, five adults. I hope they die out there.
Day 8
I went outside. I told Gabriel I wanted to try to get to my house. He didn’t want me to go alone, so he sent that sister he mentioned with me. Her name is Cassidy.
Her touch really does burn. She avoids the grass, but I still saw it with the weeds growing out of the cracks in the pavement. They shrivel up almost instantly, even through her clothes. Father told me that there were opposites to me. I guess she’s one of them.
We couldn’t reach my house. Ran into a swarm of…Whatever those things are. We ducked into a different house before they noticed us. Cassidy didn’t seem scared, though. Neither did I, but I have a reason not to. Maybe she does too.
The sun’s going down, and we’re still trapped here. I wonder if they can smell us. We boarded up the door a few hours ago, and we haven’t been making much noise, but they still haven’t moved on. Cassidy hasn’t spoken much, but she did ask about the journal. I told her it was my Father’s, and she asked what happened to him. I didn’t answer. Maybe I should’ve.
She’s asleep now. I told her I’d keep watch. The carpet didn’t burn when she laid down. Maybe it’s only organic material. That’s probably why they wanted to kick her out. I’m curious how her touch would react to skin.
Day 9
The sun rose a few hours ago, and those things left. So, we started heading back. It wasn’t all for nothing, though. We grabbed more blankets, and even found a bat. I let Cassidy have it. She keeps trying to see what I’m writing. She seems impressed that I can write while walking. I thought everyone could do this.
We made it back. Gabriel almost passed out with relief. He seems to really care about his sister. I wonder if she was born with that burning trait. She doesn’t seem too open about talking about it, so I didn’t ask.
Day 10
Day 11
They found the old animatronics. One of the others wanted to destroy them. Gabriel had to find a med kit, and now I have two giant robots in my room. Where did Marion go? I haven’t found his box yet. Maybe father hid it. I don’t think they trust me anymore. I didn’t mean to start a fight, but they should’ve had more respect. The robots are more important then a few pieces of scrap.
It’s dark outside, and quiet in here. It must be late, but I can’t sleep. Not even in the chair. I was never scared of them, not even as a kid. But they’re just more eerie at night. I considered blindfolding them, but something kept me from doing it. They’re light, due to the springlock endo, but I have trouble moving them alone. I’ll find another place for them tomorrow.
I know Father rebuilt Spring Bonnie, but he never told me why. Maybe it was because of William. He disappeared a year before he started rebuilding. Bonnie always was William’s favorite. Maybe it was because of bad memories. I have a lot of those, now.
Day 12
I saw Cassidy again today. She was helping Gabriel clear out the freezer room. She’s strong. I need to find a pencil. I hate not being able to erase things. I know there’s some in my house. Maybe I’ll try to go there again.
Got the animatronics moved into the backstage storage. It needs a key, and I found it in the office. So, only I can get in. Gabriel didn’t love the idea of having a room only one person could get in to, but I reminded him about the fight I caused last time someone tried to do something to the animatronics.
Day 13
I have a plan to reach my home. I would leave just before sunrise. Those things don’t seem to like the sun that much, so by the time I get going, it would be fairly light out. I asked Cassidy if she wanted to come along, and she agreed. I think she was surprised I was talking to her.
Day 14
Everything has gone to plan so far. We’re about half way there, and we haven’t seen a single one of those things. It was peaceful. Felt like Summer for the first time in a while. Nice and warm. Cassidy loves it. She’s like a lizard.
We made it. Sort of. We’re in the neighborhood, and I can see my old home, but one of those things is in the street. Cassidy went to go distract it, so I’m waiting for her big plan.
Her plan worked. The fire alarms still work, and now one of the houses across the street is on fire. We met up in my living room. She was grinning like she just had the best time of her life.
Seeing my room again reminded me of how much I left behind. It was exactly the same, as if nothing was wrong. I told Cassidy to go search the kitchen. The time alone gave me a moment to grieve. I hadn’t cried in a while. I packed a bag to take with me. Some clothes, a blanket, and a few mementos. My sketchbook, some pencils, my old music box, and Theodore. Cassidy asked about him when I came back down. She thought he was cute. Others probably would’ve teased me about a stuffed toy, but she didn’t. I told her the truth. He was a gift from my father, same with the music box. He was always making stuff for me.
I stopped by his room before we left. I grabbed an old photo of us, and one of his shirts. Again, Cassidy didn’t tease. She’s different. It’s weird. We headed out with my backpack, a bag of canned food, and a case of water. Father always was a little paranoid, so I wasn’t surprised to find it.
It's night now. More of those things forced us to hide again. We were close enough to my home to be able to return there. I let Cassidy explore more, and she asked me a few questions about the photos on the wall. She asked if I was adopted, and was surprised when I told her I wasn't. Father and I look different, I knew that already, but I still had his eyes. The rest I got from my Mother. Cassidy asked about her, and I told her what I knew. She was someone Father met back in college. They had me, and then she left. Father didn't tell me much more then that.
Cassidy seems easy to surprise. She almost jumped out of her skin when I turned the generator on. Of course Father had back up power. Fredbear's had solar power, and he wanted to add that to the house as well. He never had the time, but we had a gas generator.
We talked for a bit. It was nice. She told me how she and Gabriel became family. She was in the foster system since she was a kid. Gabriel's family took her in a few weeks before the outbreak, so they stuck together. She told me that she kept in touch with a few of her other foster siblings, even after leaving their families. She was worried about them. Everyone has someone to worry about but me. The only person I really knew is gone now, and my other family were never related by blood. I don't think they ever liked me. I wonder about them, but I don't feel anything more then that.
I can't sleep again. Cassidy asked if we could keep the lights on while we slept. That's probably why I'm still awake. I could go up to my old room, or even Father's room. But I'm scared to. Scared that if I stay in either of them, I'll break the peace they still hold to me. Cassidy made camp in the living room, so that's where we stayed. She's sleeping on the floor, even though we have couches. Does she think she'll burn the furniture? Her touch doesn't affect the carpet, so I don't see why she would think that. I settled in Father's armchair to write. The leather isn't super comfy, but it smells like him more then the office does. My time in there had caused the familiar scent to fade.
Day 15
Cassidy was up before me. I don't even remember falling asleep, but I found her in the kitchen, prying open a can of beans with a knife. We had a can opener. I don't know why she did that. But, I don't know why she does a lot of things. Father always told me I was smarter then most kids my age. Maybe she thinks differently.
She made fun of how I write so I stole her beans. I don't write too formally, she just writes too sloppily.
We headed out again. Her stupid little arson plan make the sky smokey, so some of those things were still out. I drew one of them. Weird gooey rabbit things. Cassidy seems as curious about them as I am.
Gabriel banned us from going out together. We got back to the diner, and he scolded us for being gone overnight for the second time. I don't blame him. He appreciated the food and water, though.