I lost my job a month ago. Last night, I signed the strangest contract of my life. | Day 2
A loud, bass-heavy impact violently echoed throughout the entire room, unleashing a horrific, resonating sound.
I stood there paralyzed, staring at the door and praying it would withstand the force coming from outside.
Another series of powerful blows made the door bend on its hinges.
My heart jumped into my throat, and fear completely paralyzed my body.
The beast was furious and wanted to get in here at any cost.
I pressed myself against the wall and slowly slid down.
If it breaks through the door, I have nowhere to run.
If it gets in here, I’m done for.
I closed my eyes.
Images of Susan and the kids filled my mind, and tears rolled down my cheek one after another.
I wanted to see them, at least one last time.
To hold them and tell them how much I love them.
The impacts grew faster and more violent.
I was certain that monster was about to get in here.
I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter and…
suddenly everything went silent.
I didn’t open my eyes, I sat there motionless, trembling all over.
“ The door probably didn’t hold... “ - I thought, holding my breath.
I waited… I waited for that thing to get me.
But nothing happened. Absolute silence surrounded me.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
Sweat was running down my forehead, and my hair was soaked like I had just stepped out of a shower.
Slowly, I got to my feet and walked toward the monitors on trembling legs.
I swallowed hard, barely forcing the saliva down my tight throat.
I glanced at Camera 2A and froze.
A massive fox stood in the hallway, wearing an eyepatch, and instead of a hand, it had a hook, sinisterly reflecting the neon lights.
It was staring straight into the camera.
A chill ran through my body, and I instinctively stepped away from the desk.
The monster turned around and walked away as if nothing had happened.
I dropped to my knees, overwhelmed with relief.
In a panic, I grabbed the crumpled piece of paper and read “ Rule Three. Never ignore Rusty for longer than ten minutes. He doesn’t like it. It makes him nervous. “
I stared blankly at the monitors, feeling my blood pressure rise.
Where the hell is he?
What does don’t ignore mean? Do I seriously have to stare at that damn fox at least once every ten minutes?! - I shouted, slamming my fist against the desk.
Pain shot through my hand, but I ignored it.
I looked back at the paper and read the rest of the rules of this damn game.
“ Rule One. Do not let the battery level drop below 5% ”
I got up and rushed to the desk.
I glanced at the digital bracelet on my wrist and felt my guts twist into a knot.
The small screen displayed “ Battery Level: 66% “
I quickly ran over to the space heater and unplugged it.
The device went silent, and freezing air began filling the room.
I felt chills spread all over my body.
“ Damn... seriously? It didn’t warm up in here at all? That little heater has been running for a good twenty minutes. “ - I thought, rubbing my hands together.
I need to cover that hole immediately.
I started looking around the room.
I couldn’t find anything that would work.
A thick cloud of vapor escaped my mouth.
If I don’t do something, I’m going to freeze to death - I thought, opening the desk drawers one by one and dumping their contents onto the floor.
There were only pens, some reports, and blank sheets of paper.
I started frantically crumpling them up and stuffing them into the air vent.
The effect was practically nonexistent.
I managed to reduce the airflow, but cold air was still getting inside.
Suddenly, the room filled with the sound of an old telephone ringing.
A violent jolt shot down my spine, and I froze.
Behind the monitors, against the wall, stood an old telephone.
I hadn’t noticed it before…
I quickly ran over and picked up the receiver. “ Hello?! “
After a brief pause, a familiar voice came through the phone “ Hey. Mikey! How’s your shift going? Having fun? “
I was speechless, and a wave of heat flooded my face.
“ Haaalo… Mikey? You alive, buddy? “ he said again, with a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
I tightened my grip on the receiver “ Get me out of here, you sick bastard! You’re coming here right now and getting me away from those monsters! “
“ Mike. The game has started and you’re not leaving before it’s over... And from what I can see, it doesn’t look like you’re getting out of there at all. “ Affron said, amused.
I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head.
“ What do you mean? “ - I asked, my voice trembling.
“ What do I mean? Mikey... Did you even read the damn list of rules? In just a few hours, you’ve burned through almost half your power. Your office door is still locked. There’s a light above the door that keeps drawing extra power the entire time it’s locked, you pissed off Rusty, turned on the heater for no reason, and best of all... “
A sinister chuckle came through the phone “ And best of all, you idiot, you swiped that keycard on the door five times. You’ve only got 64% battery left, and this is just the first night “
I looked down at my bracelet in panic, he was right.
The battery was draining like crazy.
Breathing heavily, I threw myself at the door and unlocked it.
The red light above the door went dark.
I felt my voice cracking “ Please, I want out of here. I want to quit. I won’t take a single dollar for this, I won’t tell anyone anything. Please... let me out, plea... “
Affron cut me off, almost shouting “ I don’t think we understand each other. I thought you were smarter than that. Better step it up, Mikey... Those monsters, as you called them, aren’t just ordinary little animals. If you fail this game, our friends are going to pay your home a visit, so... give it everything you’ve got! “.
My heart slammed so hard my ribs started hurting, and the world around me began spinning.
“ My home? I’ll find you, you sick bastard. I’m getting out of here and I’m coming for you! “ I screamed into the receiver, spitting as I spoke.
A series of mechanical beeps came through the phone.
I stood there like an idiot, holding the cold plastic receiver to my ear and staring blankly at the wall.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught movement on the cameras.
I looked closer and noticed the curtain moving on Camera 1C.
A sharp hook was sticking out from behind the curtain, then disappeared again a moment later.
I raised my hand and looked at my watch, surrounded by the vapor escaping from my mouth.
Exactly nine minutes had passed. One more minute and that insane fox would come after me again.
I need to cover that damn hole or I’m going to freeze to death, I need to get out there - I thought, turning toward the door.
I grabbed the handle, felt the freezing steel, and froze.
I knew I had to do it, but my body refused to obey me.
It felt like I was standing on the edge of a ten-story building, about to take a step forward.
I turned my head toward the screens and bit my lip.
All the metal monsters were back in their places.
I’ve got ten minutes before that thing comes after me.
Every instinct in my body was telling me that leaving this room could mean instant death.
“ Damn it, if I stay here, I’m dead anyway “ - I shouted, pulled the handle down, and pushed through the door.
I stumbled into the hallway, barely keeping my balance.
I stood in the middle of the long, dark corridor, staring into the distance.
I held my breath and listened, feeling my stomach tighten as my slightly bent knees knocked against each other.
The silence surrounding me was thick and suffocating.
I took a few uncertain steps forward and my heart jumped into my throat.
Behind me, I heard that familiar broken melody.
I felt an instant rush of adrenaline, and my legs reacted faster than I did.
Running down the hallway, I turned back.
A damn seven-foot bear in a top hat stood there, piercing me with its stare.
I ran into the dining area, frantically looking around.
I rushed to one of the tables and yanked a long fabric tablecloth off it.
“ I can’t hear anything, why isn’t it chasing me? How am I supposed to get back to the office if that thing is standing there? “ - I thought in panic, lifting the tablecloth up and trying to fold it as quickly as possible.
I was afraid it might get caught on something while I was running, or worse, that I might trip over it.
That piece of fabric was my only hope of plugging that damn vent.
When I lowered my hands, my heart stopped, and a sheet of brown metal filled my entire view. The intense smell of grease filled the air.
Right in front of me. Inches away from me… Stood a massive steel bear.
Standing at the level of its chest, I slowly looked up.
The bear pierced me with its dead, glowing stare.
I was completely paralyzed. I couldn’t move.
The monster slowly raised its enormous paw.
I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth.
“ Susan, I’m sorry, I love you all so much “ - I thought, waiting for the final blow.
I suddenly felt a gentle tap on my nose.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and… it was empty.
The bear had suddenly disappeared…
My legs went weak.
“ I still have a chance “ - I thought, and with the last of my strength, I quickly ran toward the office, rushed to the door, and shut it behind me.
I dropped to my knees. “What the hell was that? “.
I quickly looked at the monitors. All four of them were back on their stages.
I crawled over to the air vent and started stuffing the tablecloth inside.
It worked. I completely cut off the freezing air from outside.
I walked over to the desk and touched the top edge of the old monitors.
They were slightly warm. I placed my hands on them, then without lifting them away, I leaned forward, sat down, and watched.
I fought heavy eyelids all night, not taking my eyes off the screens for even a moment.
I looked at my watch. 6:14 AM. If I wasn’t trapped in this damn nightmare, I would’ve been on my way home for fifteen minutes already…
A dull crushing sensation around my head was tearing through my temples.
My eyes burned, and every time I blinked, it felt like they were filled with sand.
My stomach growled.
“ Damn, I haven’t eaten or had anything to drink all night “ - I thought, slowly getting up from the desk.
I could feel that my body was much heavier than usual.
I yawned as I walked over to the metal locker.
I pulled out the bag Susan had packed for me.
I ate a sandwich and greedily drank half the bottle of water.
After pulling it away from my lips, I took a deep breath.
As I took another sip, a thought shot through my mind “ Damn... I can’t leave this place for five days. These were my last supplies. “
I jumped up from the chair.
“ Where the hell am I supposed to get food and water?! “ - I shouted toward the door.
And then it hit me.
I picked up the sheet with the rules and read Rule Five “ At 12:00 PM our friends serve pizza beneath the stage. Be kind to them, and between 12:05 PM and 12:07 PM, there is a chance Molly will offer you one slice.”
I stared blankly at the monitor as a cold, painful shiver ran through my body.
“ You’re telling me I’m supposed to just walk out there and ask them for a slice of pizza? “ - I thought, sinking into the chair.
Fighting heavy eyelids, the cold, and hunger, I waited.
It was 11:53 AM.
I slowly closed my eyes and suddenly my whole body jolted violently.
The phone rang.
I quickly pressed the receiver to my ear.
“ Mikey, brother. How’s it going? I see you’re learning, since our last conversation, your battery level has only dropped by 3%. “
“ I’m not giving up. You hear me, Affron?! I’m getting out of here, and I’m coming for you, do you understand me? “ I growled through clenched teeth.
“ Mikey... I’m holding you to that. I’ll even say more, I’m rooting for you with all my heart. “ he said in a theatrically friendly tone, then added “ I’ve even got a little tip for you. At noon our friends have their little picnic, as you already know. Until 1:00 PM they’ll be completely focused on each other. “
I slammed my fist against the desk and shouted into the receiver “ And how the hell is that supposed to help me? I’m supposed to walk up to those monsters and ask them for pizza? You’re a damn psychopath. What the hell are those things?! “
“ Let’s not call them monsters, they simply don’t like adults. What are they? If you really want to know, you’ll find clues around the restaurant, and now... I’ve given you my advice, Mikey. Think about it, and I’m done, I need to get some sleep. “ - he said, dragging out a yawn.
He hung up.
What good does it do me that those metal dolls are having a picnic for an hour?
What kind of clue is “Until 1:00 PM they’ll be completely focused on each other.”
And then it hit me.
That’s the only hour in the entire day when I can probably get some sleep, find food, or look for clues on how to get out of here.
I looked at the cameras and noticed that three of them were gone.
Only Rusty was still standing in his spot, but a moment later, even he stepped out from behind the curtain and walked toward the main stage.
From behind the office door, I heard the sound of pots and kitchen equipment.
I looked at the door, then back at the cameras.
Suddenly, the bear appeared beneath the stage.
A moment later, Molly and Hopper joined him, carrying pizza and soda.
“This is my chance.” - I thought, getting up from the chair and walking toward the door.