#aftonsinferno

It shouldn't make as much sense as it does. The timing of the disappearances, the fact that the security cameras just happened not to catch anything, every single time... honestly, if it's not William, Steven himself would be the next best suspect. There are only so many people who would know exactly how to maneuver around the building without being seen.

Steve really, really wishes he were wrong. He's good at talking himself out of things (or into them, as the case may be). But this isn't the kind of thing someone can just forget about. It's kids, for god's sake, and even though Bell doesn't buy into the whole corporate shtick of Freddy's being a haven of "magic and fun" as much as he likes to pretend he does, he can't just sit by while this place is used to lure kids to their doom.

...and yet. What exactly is someone like him supposed to do about this? Go to the police? Bell's not stupid; he knows William is exceptionally charismatic, and he knows that he himself is... not. Who will the police believe? The kind of guy who dedicates himself to building family-friendly entertainment from the ground up, or the kind of guy who spends his days and nights stalking people through a camera system because he never figured out how to interact with others like a regular human being?

Steven lets his head fall forward into his palms, pushing up his glasses so he can rub aggressively at his closed eyes. He's not an ideas guy. He can't just come up with a plan on the spot to outsmart a (highly successful) serial killer and come out a hero. He's not--

Bell lets out a yelp at the feeling of a hand on his shoulder, whirling around in his chair to face the very object of his panicked thoughts.

"M-Mister-- Mister Afton!" Steven's eyes are huge behind his glasses and his face goes pale, as though he had accidentally summoned the other man by thinking about him too much. "What--What are you, uh, doing... here..." at your own restaurant. Real smooth, Steve.

Henry shoved his hands into his pockets, leaning in the doorway of William's office with a quiet sort of ease. He only lightly rapped at the door frame to announce his presence. Once he had gained William's attention, he finally spoke. "Just finished the books. We're doing well for ourselves, with no signs of slowing down." Five months of business together and things only seemed to be getting better and better. Still, Henry's expression was muted. "I'm afraid we might be getting much busier in the near future."

"Even adversity can become your partner. The trick is learning how it betters one as they strive to come out on top of it all!"

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