Year 1987
Markiplier(Mark)'s POV
Mark arrived at Freddy's Pizzeria for his night shift, and took a deep breath preparing himself for a long night of monitoring security cameras. The pizzeria looked calm and quiet from the outside, bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights.
Mark settled into the dimly lit security office, the soft hum of old machinery filling the silence. The desk fan buzzed, the sound more annoying than not being able to get past level one-wait no that's more annoying.
The monitors flickered as he cycled through each camera feed, observing the still and silent animatronics.
"So far, so good," Mark muttered to himself, flipping through the camera views. The cameras showed the stage area with Toy Freddy, Toy Chica, and Toy Bonnie standing still, the Kids' Cove with Mangle still laying on the floor, and the prize corner with the Marionette's box closed and playing music.
Mark stared at the prize corner camera for a moment, nodding to the music.
The phone began ringing. Mark stared at the phone for a moment before he picked it up.
"Uh, hello?"
"Hello?"
"Oh...it's you..." Said the voice on the other end.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't... uh... The Disembodied Phone Gremlin." said Mark.
"I have a name!" Said the voice on the other end.
"Right...what was it again?" Mark asked.
"Lixian. It's Lixian!" Lixian barked.
"Anyways, I'm here to talk you through some of the things you can expect to see during your first week here and to help you get started down this new and exciting career path," Lixian started.
"Yeah! Exciting!" Mark said sarcastically.
Lixian sighed. "Now listen, apparently, the animatronics are all tied into some kind of criminal database, so they can detect a predator a mile away. Heck, we should be paying them to guard you."
Mark scoffed. "Right?"
"The first guy finished his week but complained about... conditions. We switched him over to the day shift. He said something about certain characters that seemed to move around at night and even attempted to get into his office. And the, uh, fan... was making him uncomfortable. But from what we know, that should be impossible. That restaurant should be the safest place on Earth." said Lixian.
Mark spun around in his chair. "Uh-huh."
"Anyways there's a music box over by the Prize Counter, and it has to be wound up remotely. So just, every once in a while, switch over to the Prize Counter video feed and wind it up for a few seconds. It doesn't seem to affect all of the animatronics, but it does affect one of them."
Mark couldn't help but tease. "So, if I understand this correctly, my job is basically to play babysitter with some creepy animatronics?"
Lixian's exasperation was almost audible. "Mark, just focus, okay? I'm trying to help you here. If you keep the music box wound up and use the mask when needed, you'll be fine. It's only a few nights."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," Mark replied, spinning around in his chair again. "I'll be just fine. Besides, I've got you on the other end of the line, right? You'll keep me company when things get spooky."
Lixian sighed again. "I'll call you again tomorrow night to check in. Just... don't do anything stupid, alright?"
"No promises," Mark said with a grin.
"Goodnight, Mark," said Lixian
With the call over, Mark returned his focus to the monitors. The pizzeria was still quiet, the animatronics unmoving on the stage. He exhaled slowly, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. This might not be the most glamorous job, but it sure was interesting.
Mark turned his attention to the monitors. The Show Stage was normal with Toy Freddy, Toy Chica, and Toy Bonnie standing still. The Prize Corner camera showed the Puppet's box closed and playing its usual calming music. Although the lack of doors and the open vents kept him on edge.
As he flipped between the camera feeds, he noticed something peculiar. The camera in the Game Area flickered briefly, a momentary distortion that quickly corrected itself. Mark frowned and switched to the feed for the left vent, checking for any signs of movement. Nothing seemed out of place.
Mark's eyes shifted from the camera feed to the left vent. "Why do we even need cameras for the vents? It's not like anyone is going to crawl through those dusty things!"
A soft, almost inaudible creak echoed through the security office, causing Mark to glance around nervously.
He took a deep breath and refocused on the monitors. The night was still young, and Mark needed to stay alert. He checked the Prize Corner camera again, and wound up Puppet's box.
"Someone remind me again why I have to keep this thing wound up?"
After a few hours of absolutely nothing happening, Mark spun in his chair, more bored than he was before.
"That day shift guy should get himself checked for schizophrenia," Mark muttered. "I have been here for three hours and nothing has happened!" Mark shouted.
Mark dropped his head on his desk with a deep sigh. The hum of the old fan was the only thing breaking the silence. "This place is dead," he grumbled, rubbing his temples.
He sat back up, giving the monitors a half-hearted glance. Everything was still in place: Toy Freddy and the others were standing stiff on the stage and the cameras were showing the usual empty hallways and rooms. He checked Prize Corner and wound up the music box. It was so routine, it was almost painfully dull.
He spun around in his chair again, trying to shake off the boredom. The minutes dragged on, and even the caffeine from his energy drink was starting to wear off.
Mark was about to close his eyes for just a minute when something caught his attention. On one of the cameras-the one pointed at the stage-Toy Bonnie's head was tilted slightly. Almost as if it were staring at the camera.
"Huh." Mark muttered.
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The boredom crept back in just as quickly as it had left. Mark found himself back to spinning in his chair, his mind wandering aimlessly. He thought about what he'd eat for breakfast after this shift, maybe hitting the drive-thru on the way home. Anything to break the monotony.
"Maybe I'll help myself to something in the kitchen. Ya know. Make my own pizza."
A faint click echoed in the room, and Mark paused mid-spin. He squinted at the monitors, but everything looked the same as before. "Probably just the vents settling," he muttered, shaking off the slight unease.
Mark flipped back to the cameras. He noticed something he hadn't seen before. Toy Chica was now missing from the stage. Mark stared at the screen, his heart rate picking up.
"That's strange..."
He leaned in closer, focusing on the dimly lit feed. Was it just his imagination, or had Toy Chica actually moved?
Mark's eyes narrowed as he studied the screen. He stood up, peaking out into the dark hallway.
"Lixian? LIXIAN!"
He turns his flashlight on. Nothing.
"LIXIAN! I SWEAR, IF YOU'RE SUMMONING DEMONS IN HERE, I'M GONNA KICK YOUR A-"
Clang.
Mark flailed back into the office, slamming the mask on his face. The night was only halfway through, and something was already making his skin crawl. Mark shuddered, trying to push the thoughts out of his head. He needed to stay focused, to keep watching the cameras, and to make it through the night.
He leaned forward, hands still slightly trembling, and checked the monitors again. Mark's eyes widened as he scanned the monitors, his pulse quickening again. The stage was completely empty now-Toy Freddy, Toy Bonnie, and Toy Chica were all gone. It was like they had vanished into thin air.
Mark turned on his flashlight, pointing it at the hallway. Nothing.
Mangle was still in Kids' Cove, thankfully, but that was small comfort. He quickly checked the Game Area, the party rooms, and even the hallway in front of the office, but there was no sign of the missing animatronics. The eerie emptiness of the screens sent chills down his spine.
How could they all just disappear? he thought, his mind racing. He didn't know where they were or where they might be headed and that uncertainty gnawed at his nerves. If they were all on the move, it meant they could be anywhere by now-maybe even right outside his office.
Mark turned his flashlight on again, illuminating the hallway. Still nothing. He cautiously took off the Freddy mask. But only because it was hard to see the monitors with that thing over his face.
"Where are you...?" he whispered, his eyes darting between the screens, searching for any sign of movement. The minutes felt like hours as he waited, the tension building with every passing second.
But just as he was about to check the vents again, a sudden flicker caught his eye on the Game Area camera. Toy Freddy's face, just barely visible in the shadows, staring directly at the camera.
Mark cursed quietly, his hands shaking as he quickly switched to the other Party Room cameras. Toy Bonnie was in Party Room 2, standing still in the corner of the room.
The left vent feed flickered again, and this time, Toy Chica's face was right in front of the camera, eyes shimmering eerily in the dark. Mark screamed in panic, dropping the Freddy mask. He reached down for it, hitting his head on the desk as he bent down. "Ow."
Seconds felt like hours as he listened to the sounds of movement in the vent. The scraping grew louder, and he could almost feel the cold, artificial presence nearby. His pulse thudded in his ears as he waited, hoping the mask would do its job.
Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the sound stopped. The vent went silent. Mark held his breath, listening intently. Toy Chica walked in front of Mark, staring at him, her head tilted as if to be curious.
Mark's heartbeat quickened. "Toy Chica, listen to me, I'm Freddy! I'm like you! See?" Mark stammered as he pointed at the Freddy mask on his face.
Toy Chica's eyes locked onto Mark's, her face inches away from his. Her expression was unnervingly curious, as if trying to determine if Mark was really one of them. Mark tried to keep his breathing steady, knowing that one wrong move could give him away.
She tilted her head slowly to the other side as she continued to inspect the mask. Stay calm... Stay calm... he thought. She's buying it... right? His fingers tightened around the edge of the desk, his knuckles white under the strain.
Toy Chica leaned in closer. Her fingers reached out, gently tapping the mask as if testing it. Mark forced himself not to flinch, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it. The seconds dragged on like hours as she stared, her gaze searching for something-anything- that might be out of place.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Toy Chica seemed to accept the disguise. She straightened up, her eyes losing their intensity, and with a clunky turn, she slowly walked back toward the left vent, disappearing into the darkness.
Mark let out a deep breath....
"Wait..."
He quickly cycled through the camera feed until he landed on Prize Corner. The puppet was just peeking out of its box. He quickly wound up the box.
Suddenly, a soft, scraping sound came from the right vent. Mark's heart jumped, and he quickly switched to the right vent camera, hoping it wasn't Toy Chica or one of the other animatronics trying to sneak in. The right vent camera showed Toy Bonnie's face.
"Why? Why? I just got rid of one of you guys and now you show up?" Mark complained.
The minutes felt like hours as Mark cycled through the cameras, keeping a close watch on Toy Bonnie. The scraping sound grew louder, and he could almost feel the presence of Toy Bonnie just beyond the vent.
"Go away!" Mark yelled. "GO AWAY!"
It felt like an eternity. The scraping sound finally stopped, and Mark glanced at the right vent camera. The feed showed nothing but empty darkness.
Mark huffed. "That's what I thought."
He then checked the other cameras. Toy Freddy was still in the Game Area, Toy Chica was nowhere to be seen, and Toy Bonnie had moved away from the right vent. For now, at least. Mark looked at the clock. 5:58am. Just a couple more minutes.
"Am I forgetting something?" Mark muttered to himself.
Suddenly, the familiar music of jack-in-the-box that now echoed through the pizzeria. Mark looked through the camera feed. Toy Chica was still in Party Room 2, Mangle was still in Kids' Cove, Toy Freddy had moved to the hallway in front of him and was standing there, staring, the halls were empty and Toy Bonnie was back in the vent.
Mark looked at the Prize Corner camera. The box was open. He tried to wind up the box. But Marionette would not return. He looked up from the monitors, staring back at the hallway. The clock ticked closer to 6:00 AM.
Mark flashed his flashlight at Toy Freddy. But as he did, he noticed something in the distance. He turned his flashlight on once again. Marionette was floating towards him at an alarming speed.
Mark quickly put on the Freddy mask. Hoping Marionette would fall for it, like all the other animatronics have. His eyes darted between Marionette and the clock. "6:00am 6:00am. Come on, 6:00am!" His heart pounded in his chest as he held the Freddy mask tightly to his face, praying it would somehow protect him.
Mark glanced anxiously at the clock, hoping for that magical moment when the shift would end. The second hand seemed to crawl along, each tick a reminder of the threat closing in on him. And just as he thought his life was going to end, the clock struck 6:00 AM.
However, Marionette did not retreat immediately. It hovered there for a moment longer, its gaze fixed on Mark with an unnerving intensity. Then, as if recognizing the shift's end, Marionette slowly began to retreat, fading into the shadows.
Mark pulled the mask off and took a deep breath, his body still trembling from the intense fear. He stared at the cameras, waiting for any final signs of movement, but the pizzeria was eerily quiet. The animatronics seemed to have returned to their designated spots, and the sense of impending doom had lifted-at least for now.
He slumped back in his chair, exhausted and shaken, as the clock's minute hand finally ticked over to a new hour. The ordeal had come to an end, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
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