Chapter Text
I stood in the middle of the reception area. Dusty and decrepit with years of love and admiration now lost to time. The reds, blues, and yellows faded with dirt and daylight...
The place was quiet.
So very quiet.
I see a blue handprint on the door overhead.
I looked at the letter my neighbor had given me and thought about yesterday.
He said it was meant for him but he wanted me to tell them no.
He tried to hide his fear but I knew him well enough to know better...whatever was here, he didn't wanna face.
He may not be ready to face his past, but I'm ready for mine....My leg ached as the memories floated in my mind.
I shake my head and walk past the green VHS that was left on the counter.
Looking around and trying to find out a way to get past the colored keypad, which I was shocked it still had power.
Same with the train in the gift shop....
"No..." I say outloud. As I go to try the keypad.
Same Colors…
It opened up a staff room.
"Stars, anybody with two braincells to pinch together could've figured that out." I mumbled as I walked in.
I was, and still am, a curious child at heart. So being able to look around the staff room was kinda cool.
Nobody's here.
I see the tape for the GrabPack and watch it to make learn how to use it.
"Simple enough." I nodded to myself.
I remembered seeing the staff with these as a kid.
I always thought they were so cool.
*Shck*
The hand launches and is scanned by the panel.
I can't stop the grin from growing on my face.
I was right.
It's just as fun as I hoped it would be.
A lot lighter than I expected, too.
The door opens and I see him for the first time in years.
"Hi Huggy...remember me?" | say outloud with a nostalgic gentleness.
I always talked to my toys. I have a habit of speaking to objects in general.
But he's so big and grand...my inner child can't help but be excited.
I walk over and stand on the platform where Huggy stood.
"I'm surprised you're still standing... maybe once l'm done here I'll pop you in my truck and take you home." I chuckled at the idea.
Just picturing his gangly limbs wrapping around his little pea body as I drive carefully back to my meager, little apartment.
I already know exactly where I'd put him once I cleaned him up and checked for any repairs he might need.
"I bet you'd like to sit down." I say to the giant display,"You've been standing here for years." I hug his legs.
Huh.
Surprisingly sturdy.
Warm, too.
My best guess is that there's some kind of wood or metal in there, and it's been pretty hot today.
"I'll be back, Buddy." I say before using the GrabPack to give him a high five.
I chuckled to myself,"We'll watch cartoons after a nice, hot bath."
I turn and see another scanner and shoot to scan…...only for the door to short out,"Aw, Crap."
A little noise caught my attention and I look behind me.
A key in Huggy's hand...was that there before?
"Huh....Thanks Buddy." I say as I shoot again and grab it. Something in my gut was telling me to leave....but l just couldn't.
I head into the power room to see if l could fix it and, honestly, I feel like there are much easier ways to do this than using an OPEN POWER LINE to reconnect the power and-
The lights came back on and my stomach dropped.
"Where did you go?" I whispered as I hurried out.
Huggy Wuggy wasn't on the platform, and there was no sign that there was anything holding him up.
No supports, no cables, NOTHING.
Ok, I'm just gonna scan this thing and go a little deeper in.
I have to find this person and tell them....tell them Mr. Manny died.
So I do,
I go in further and find a warehouse that has the other hand.
I notice that there's a vhs player but I don't think I have time to hunt for one right now.
Especially since this feeling of unease just won't go away.
Questioning this place's security weird measures as l....make the really dumb choice to go inside the conveyor belt...and find yet another convoluted security measure.
"This is such a dumb setup. Someone definitely got hurt doing this." | say as I'm knocked to my ass when it jolts forward. Sending me to the Make-a-Friend machine.
glance at the poster on the wall, encouraging employees to adopt.
I smile sadly.
I was adopted by this program.
I was raised as a baby here.
I grew up here up until my accident.
Despite the chronic pain, that was the best thing that happened to me. Since it introduced me to the workers who would become my adoptive parents.
I see I need a toy to move on, another dumb security thing.
But I work to restore power and...I see something.
A tape?
Despite my nerves...I'm curious....
The recording of an interview of a woman named Stella...
She talked about wishing she were a child again..the way she talked about getting older...it creeped me out.
"I think you need therapy, lady." I say with a shudder.
I started the machine and it made a little CatBee. I couldn't help but smile at it," C'mon, let's get out of here."
I set it in the scanner and the door opened. I was about to grab it when a shadow shifting made my blood freeze.
Huggy Wuggy emerged from the shadows, slowly lumbering toward me with a mouth of sharp, jagged teeth and drool dripping from his red lips.
"H-Huggy?" | barely managed to squeak out before my legs started moving for me.
Pure instinct pushed me into the conveyor belt to MOVE.
I barely registered the writing on the walls as pain started shooting through my core and my bad leg.
The injury from so long ago flaring up as I forced myself to hurry through, because my gut knew that he would kill me.
Flashes of the Game Station in my brain.
That day in the Wack a Wuggy game.
The little thing attached to a powerful cable that sent electricity through my body.
I just wanted to love that Red Huggy. Why did....
I tumbled out and I only had a few seconds to plan.
I saw the platform below.
I saw the box.
Maybe I could buy some time, and as I pulled a massive box with the GrabPack, Huggy busted the door and lunged at me.
I didn't even have time to warn him before the box fell on him and broke the conveyor belt.
I landed somewhat safely, but he hit the edge and fell into the abyss.
"HUGGY!"
I leaned over the edge and reached to save him but he was already gone....
I cried...
I'm not ashamed to admit.
I looked around to get my bearings and it's just...bizarre.
I see the massive poppy flower on the wall, matching the one from the letter, and I start limping forward.
Slowly.
I noticed another vhs on the walkway and a nearby tv.
"Why is this here?"
I play it anyway. I need a moment to breathe.
It explained that something called "The Prototype" had done...something.
And from the sounds of it, it was nothing good.
I limped into the door, despite the written warnings to run.
Even if I could leave, I wouldn't know where to go from here.
lentered...a dollhouse?
Quite lovely, honestly.
"Hello?" I called out. I gripped the triggers for the GrabPack," Mr. Manny got your letter...l'm sorry....but he's gone.." My legs ached and my butt hurt from the landing.
"He....He definitely knew what was going to happen if he showed up... I think that's why he sent me in his stead... I think..." I hesitated,"I'm so sorry...but he..."
I can still hear the echoes of the gunshot.
I can still see the ambulance wheeling him away...no sirens, no lights...
I get to the end of the stupidly long hallway.
And I find a room with a pristine Poppy doll in a glass box.
I was in awe.
"Hello Beautiful." I say softly, I had always wanted a Poppy doll, but they were so expensive!
Especially if they were in decent condition.
This one looked like she had never been touched.
I opened the case and the doll's eyes flung open.
"You opened my case.." The little voice said in surprise.
The last thing I remember was the feeling in my legs giving out, and then Darkness.