As Carissa descended the stairs, preparing to embark on her second shift, her gaze fell upon a photograph resting on the shelf. The image captured a moment shared between herself, Henry, Emilie, and Charlie. A pang of loneliness washed over her as she fixated on the frozen smiles. Determined to push these feelings aside, she shook off the melancholy and departed from her home, making her way swiftly to the familiar embrace of the pizzeria.
When she reached the pizzeria, Carissa slipped seamlessly into her well-practiced routine. Retrieving the keys, she unlocked the gate and entered the establishment. Methodically, she set about tidying up the space, ensuring everything was in order. Finally, she made her way to the security office, flicking on the surveillance cameras.
However, as the minutes ticked by, a wave of exhaustion engulfed her. Fatigue crept into her bones, leaving her unable to resist the allure of the desk before her. Succumbing to the weariness, Carissa found herself surrendering to a deep slumber, her head gently resting on the desk's surface.
Like always, she found herself back at the park. She watched as Charlie was taken away in that same purple car. The sight of it sent a wave of numbness through her body, as if she had become accustomed to this heart-wrenching scene. But then, she felt a pair of eyes on her, piercing through her thoughts. Turning her body around, she came face to face with the same five kids, their angry gazes fixed upon her.
"Please, please don't run," Carissa pleaded desperately to the children, her voice filled with a mix of fear and determination.
"I just want to know who took my sister," she muttered, her words barely audible. A heavy silence hung in the air, as the children remained silent, refusing to offer any answers. Frustration began to build within Carissa, fueling her anger.
"Who took Charlie!" Carissa's voice echoed through the park, causing the children to scatter in different directions, fleeing from her wrath.
Carissa's heart raced as she chased after a red-haired boy, his hand appearing to be replaced by a menacing hook. Assurance fueled her every step, desperate to confront him. Finally catching up to him, she grabbed his shoulder. In a swift, unexpected motion, he turned around and slashed her arm with his hook, sending shockwaves of pain through her body. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked down at her bleeding arm, the vivid reality of the situation sinking in.
As Carissa tried to comprehend the pain, her gaze shifted back to the boy. To her horror, his eyes turned pitch black, as if consumed by darkness. Tears of ink streamed down his face, creating an eerie and unsettling sight. The boy's anguished screams pierced the air, assaulting Carissa's ears with their intensity. The sound reverberated within her mind, jolting her awake from the haunting nightmare.
The office was engulfed in an unsettling ambiance as the lights flickered intermittently. Suddenly, an intrusive burst of music erupted from the speakers, grating Carissa's ears. Instinctively, she shielded her ears, desperately seeking refuge from the jarring melody. Determined to restore tranquility, she made her way towards the breaker, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit room.
With a flick of the switch, the music abruptly ceased, bringing a momentary respite. However, her relief was short-lived as a persistent buzzing sound filled the air, capturing her attention. She shifted her focus to the monitors and her eyes widened at the sight of a mysterious figure standing outside, continuously pressing the buzzer. Adding to the urgency, a police car appeared on one of the other screens.
"What the hell are the police doing here?" Carissa questioned out loud to herself.
Her mind raced with possibilities, but without hesitation, she knew she had to address the situation head-on. Carissa swiftly approached the front door, her hand firmly grasping the handle. With a deep breath, Carissa swung open the door, greeting the officer with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"Can I help you, officer?" Carissa called out to the police officer. The officer, a young woman with silky blonde hair that seemed to be slightly older than Carissa, smiled and commented, "You must be the new security guard." Her attention then shifted to Carissa's arm, which was bleeding profusely.
"You're bleeding," the officer pointed out, sounding both disgusted and concerned.
Carissa's eyes followed the officer's gaze, and a sense of unease washed over her. That's where she had been attacked in her dream. How was it possible that the same spot was now bleeding in reality?
A mix of confusion and embarrassment settled within Carissa as she realized the officer's reaction to her injury. She tried to shake off the uneasy feeling and mustered a weak smile.
"Come on, I know where they have the first aid kit," the officer muttered, letting herself into the pizzeria.
When they reached the security office, the police officer promptly grabbed the first aid kit and skillfully began to bandage up Carissa's arm.
"Well, you certainly know your way around here," Carissa remarked, attempting to make small talk.
"I like to stay well-informed," the officer muttered in response. "Plus, I used to love this place as a kid," she added with a sigh.
"There, all done," the officer declared, satisfied with her bandaging job. She then extended her hand towards Carissa and introduced herself. "Ava Miller."
"Carissa Emily," Carissa muttered in return, her voice barely audible. The small grin on Ava's face reminded her of the one she had received from her career counselor. Before she could collect her thoughts, Ava broke the silence, asking, "You doing alright this evening, Carissa?"
Carissa snapped out of her thoughts, her mind racing to catch up. "What?" she blurted out, her voice filled with confusion.
Ava studied Carissa's expression and inquired, "Are you good? Are you okay?" Carissa stood back up, feeling defensive. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" she replied, crossing her arms.
Ava locked eyes with Carissa, sensing something deeper beneath her guarded demeanor. Carissa looked down and muttered, "Look, it's been a weird night."
Ava nodded understandingly, her tone sympathetic. "Sounds like Freddy's," she quickly remarked. "This place, it gets to people. I mean, it's one of the reasons why you're going to quit."
Carissa felt a surge of offense. "I'm sorry?" she responded, her voice laced with disbelief.
Ava leaned closer, her voice lowered. "Oh yeah. You security hires, you never last," she stated matter-of-factly. They both paused for a moment, the weight of Ava's words hanging in the air. Then, Ava broke the silence, a mischievous smile forming on her face. "Have you met them yet?"
Carissa furrowed her brow, confusion evident in her voice. "Met who?"
As Ava guided Carissa towards the main show stage area, Carissa couldn't help but voice her curiosity. "So, what are the other reasons?" she called out, her tone laced with intrigue.
"Huh?" Ava turned back abruptly, momentarily taken aback by Carissa's question, before resuming her stride towards the stage.
Carissa's annoyance seeped into her voice as she replied, "Why do you think I'm going to quit my job?"
Ava paused, contemplating her response. "Well," she began, a hint of sarcasm in her tone, "is this really somewhere you see yourself ten, twenty years from now?" She scoffed. "I mean, what do I know? Maybe the benefits are great."
Carissa scoffed in response, her eyes rolling involuntarily.
Ava muttered under her breath, "I didn't think so," as she approached a bright red button with the word "Showtime" written above it.
"Add to that the thing with those kids going missing," she whispered quietly, her words barely audible.
Carissa's voice quivered with a mix of fear and confusion. "Wh- What did you say?" she stuttered, her steps faltering as she continued to follow Ava. Sensing Carissa's unease, Ava turned around, her hand resting on the red button, and declared, "Prepare to have your mind blown."
The curtains opened, revealing the three main animatronics, accompanied by a Fox animatronic that was on a side stage. She looked around, perplexed by the unexpected sight.
"So, this is what you wanted to show me?" Carissa asked, her tone tinged with boredom.
Ava scoffed, dismissing Carissa's lack of enthusiasm, and walked back towards the showtime button, deactivating the performance. "What? Are you allergic to fun or something?" Ava retorted, rolling her eyes.
Carissa seized the opportunity to inquire further. "You mentioned something about some kids going missing?"
"Sure, back in the '80s," Ava replied, sounding eager to change the subject.
Curiosity piqued, Carissa pressed on. "What happened to them?"
Ava responded with an air of assumption, as if everyone should already be aware of the information. "I mean, it was big news. That's why the place shut down."
*
As Carissa closed up the establishment, Ava drove past her and rolled down her window, offering some friendly advice. "Don't let this place get to you. Just do your job, and you'll be fine."
Carissa nodded, bidding Ava farewell as she drove off. Just as Carissa was about to enter her vehicle, she heard a noise emanating from behind the pizzeria. Intrigued, she made her way to the back of the building and spotted a man attempting to tamper with one of the vents.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Carissa confronted the man, her voice laced with anger. He let out an exasperated sigh, reluctantly straightening himself up. His face transformed from annoyance to shock, as if a sudden spark of recognition ignited within him. Carissa's brows furrowed in confusion and curiosity as she observed his unexpected change in demeanor.
Collecting his composure, he mustered the words, "And who, may I ask, do you think you are? The new guard? Or perhaps, the next victim," he sneered, attempting to assert his dominance.
Carissa couldn't help but roll her eyes at his feeble attempt to intimidate her. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she demanded, crossing her arms in defiance.
"You'll see," the man stated cryptically, walking away with heavy footsteps.