Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza

Ryan hurried out of the Kids’ Cove before anyone noticed him in there. It was late enough that Jeremy had already left to get an hour or two of sleep before he would be needed on the day shift and it was still too early for Noah to show up to open the place, but Ryan didn’t have much time left and so he hastily made his way to the front door, slipping out and locking it behind him. He pocketed his keys, rubbing his eyes with one hand as he tried - unsuccessfully - to force down a yawn.

He’d gotten little to no sleep for the past several days, and the deprivation was taking a toll on his already worn body. He just hoped he’d be able to stay conscious throughout the shift he was about to go on with the other two security guards. How disappointing it would be if he were to fall asleep before his shift was over.

Ryan looked around, scanning the open, empty lot around the pizzeria behind him before heading off. No need for anyone to know he had been here so early. He quickly walked across and off the property, heading towards where he lived. He didn’t expect to get there in time to do anything besides change into his uniform, but it wasn’t like he cared. At least this would be the last time he’d ever have to wear that dumb outfit. Then he could be rid of this place. He didn’t know what he’d do after that, but he’d worry about that later.

Ryan had to practically bite down on his tongue to not snap at the sixth dumb brat that had come up to him asking why he looked so funny. He knew he didn’t look normal – too-pale skin, pale red eyes, and purple hair didn’t exactly make for a normal appearance. He didn’t need a bunch of children reminding him about it, though.

Glancing down at the watch on his wrist, he noted the time, mentally counting down how much longer he would need to be here. His attention shifted over to the Kids’ Cove where he could see a familiar shock of blonde hair walking in. Jeremy, checking in on the really young kids where they were spending their time playing with the mess called the Mangle – though all the kids knew her as Fun-Time Foxy. Even if the pink-and-white fox was barely recognizable anymore, the company insisted she still be referred to by her original name.

Suddenly, the guard’s view of the Cove was blocked by a large, dark brown shape. He tensed up as Toy Freddy stopped in front of him, its head turning to stare at him. He met its gaze for a minute before he asked, “Shouldn’t you be busying yourself with these kids?” That seemed to spur it into motion again and, its gaze turning away from Ryan, it continued on the way it had been going. He couldn’t help but add, “Fazfuck,” as it walked off. He didn’t realize anyone had heard the words until he heard an “Ahem” from behind him, causing him to jump slightly.

Glancing to the side, his eyes met with, thankfully, his co-worker’s. Noah had a stern look on his face as he told him, “Ryan, you know the rules,” but he knew the other man wasn’t too upset. The two had worked together for years, and even before that they had been friends. Or at least, the closest thing Ryan could consider a friend, so Noah was used to the constant muttered cursing. Anyways, it was obvious no one else had heard the cuss, so it was all good. The place was too loud to hear anything, kids running around everywhere screaming. Even Noah, who was usually a bit quieter when he spoke, had to raise his voice to be heard over the sound.

“So, how’s your last shift going so far?” the brunette asked, leaning against the wall next to Ryan. The shorter of the two looked off away from him as he said, “As good as any other shift. Which means it’s pretty sh-“ He cut himself off as he saw Noah narrow his eyes from his peripheral and quickly amended, “Lousy. God, Noah, you act as if half of these kids won’t be cussing as bad as I do in a few years.”

“This is a family-friendly restaurant, Ryan,” was all the other guard responded with.

“Ya, ya, I know. And we’re supposed to be happy, peppy security guards. Remind me again why I ever started working for this place.”

“We both needed a job, and Fredbear’s was the only place who would hire both of us.”

He rolled his eyes. “Right. Because of my ‘history’. I barely even remember it happening, but no, I can’t be trusted at any…”

The end of his comment was cut off by a shrill scream coming from across the pizzeria. Every head in the place turned towards the Kids’ Cove where the blood-curdling sound had come from, and for a chilling moment there was no sound other than the quiet creaking of the animatronics, still moving around the pizzeria. Then the screaming started again, several people running out with panicked expressions on their faces as they carried their children out, one or two spotted with specks of blood, and the noise returned, twice as loud. Several people began heading towards the Cove, driven by morbid curiosity, while the rest scrambled around in a panic, parents and children seeking out the other before quickly making their way out of the pizzeria, following those that had beelined for the exit from the Cove.

Ryan reacted before Noah did, his small frame allowing him to squeeze past the people. Usually something like this wouldn’t cause such madness, but that scream definitely meant something bad. Really bad. Many people were probably thinking about the dark stories surrounding the place – ghosts and missing children and dead employees.

Ryan jammed his elbows into several people, growling, “Get out of the way,” feeling no sympathy as the people he jabbed protested. They moved out of the way regardless, not wanting to block the guard’s path.

Eventually he reached the Cove where a thicker ring of people surrounded the entrance. Even from here, he could smell the thick, metallic stench of blood and he yelled, “If you’re not doing anything, then move the fuck out of the way!” Most of the small crowd heeded his words with a few glares here and there, but he still needed to push a few away from the Cove before he could see inside.

Now he could see where the screaming was coming from. There was a small boy, mouth wide open as he crouched by the wall with both scratch-covered arms over his head. That wasn’t what the smell was from, though. In front of the kid, the uniformed teenager still stood ridged, the lanky, torn up animatronic clinging on stubbornly to his head. Jeremy had blood streaming down his face and arm, the Mangle digging a claw into the kid’s shoulder. Ryan couldn’t hold back the flash of frustration, though he quickly covered it up with well-rehearsed fear and concern.

He immediately went to the younger guard’s side, grabbing at the Mangle’s jaws and trying to wrench it off. Over his shoulder he called, “Someone call 911,” while at the same moment he heard a cry of alarm from Noah who must’ve just reached the Cove himself.

Finally, Ryan pulled the thing off of Jeremy and he dragged it to the other side of the room. The lights that usually glowed behind the Mangle’s eyes was shut off, but he didn’t want to risk it lashing out again, so he dropped it in the corner and then went back to Jeremy, keeping half an eye on it the whole time. Noah was there, trying in vain to comfort the little kid. Jeremy kept on staring straight ahead, shaking with eyes wide. Or… eye. His left eye was nothing but a bloody hole, the socket torn to shreds by the Mangle’s teeth.

"Dammit, kid," he growled, even as Jeremy suddenly collapsed, his eye rolling to the back of his head. Ryan grabbed him before he could crack his head open, asking, "What the hell did you do?"

The pizzeria had gone almost quiet again, only a couple of stragglers hanging around. Ryan stood up from where he was crouched next to Jeremy, telling everyone to leave, though one woman hung around as the rest of the small crowd made their way out. "My son's in there," she claimed when Ryan questioned why she didn’t go. He didn't say anything else to her, just turning back towards the Cove.

"Noah, that kid's mom is hanging around in the main room waiting for him." He waved a hand at the child his co-worker had finally managed to calm down and lead away from Jeremy's prone form. Noah looked up at him and nodded a bit before whispering something to the kid, who nodded once in response. Getting to his feet, Noah led the child out of the Cove.

Ryan watched the two, waiting until Noah reached the kid's mom before heading over to where Jeremy was bleeding all over the floor. He looked him over and then shot a glance at the Mangle, the broken machine's teeth stained bright red, skin and hair caught between a few. “Those teeth weren't meant for you, fucking idiot,” he muttered under his breath, frustration slipping back into his expression.

He heard footsteps behind him and wiped the look off his face, looking back over his shoulder at Noah. “That thing tore him up pretty bad,” he noted, tilting his head to indicate Jeremy. Noah just nodded, avoiding looking over at the downed teenager. Ryan opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of sirens outside, the question he was about to ask already being answered. Out loud he muttered, “Huh, they were quick.” Shifting his attention back to the unconscious guard, though, something bordering on worry flashed in his eyes. He didn’t need the kid recovering from this, and with emergency services arriving so quickly…