"Map Bot, stay right there- no I don't need a map right now. Just stay here and be quiet please. We can not be spotted," Freddy whispered softly to the map offering robot. Thankfully the robot did keep quiet. But they were still holding a map out towards the bear animatronic. Taking it just to be kind, Freddy turned to Gregory and asked, "You okay superstar?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. It's just..." Gregory's voice faltered slightly. A shudder passed through him. Looking up at Freddy, the small boy mumbled, "Would they really take me away from you?" Sighing softly, Freddy sat down by the child. "I'm afraid they would Gregory. I am not exactly a human so they would never let you stay with me," he answered truthfully. Hugging the bear animatronic, Gregory murmured, "I don't want to leave you."

"I will never leave you Gregory," Freddy rumbled softly. Stroking the messy brown hair on the boy's head, he went on, "I will keep you safe superstar." Gazing into the robot's eyes, Gregory asked, "Promise?" Meeting the child's gaze, Freddy replied, "I promise." Eyes glistening with tears, the young boy hugged the bear animatronic again. Returning the embrace, the robot could feel teardrops falling onto his chest plate. "It's okay superstar," he whispered softly, "I'm here. I will always be here."

Music starts.

"Come stop your crying, it'll be alright," Freddy sang softly in a gentle tone. Gregory looked up at the robot. Wiping away the tears, the bear animatronic went on singing, "Just take my hand, hold it tight." While the boy took his hand, Freddy went to the next lyric, "I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry." Police sirens could be heard getting closer. Flinching, Gregory whimpered, "Freddy..."

"I know. Come on superstar," Freddy spoke calmly. Picking up the child in his arms, the bear animatronic went deeper into the woods with Map Bot on their heels. Still carrying Gregory, the robot continued his song, "For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can't be broken. I will be here, don't you cry."

At this point, Gregory was getting pretty sleepy. He yawned and rested his head against Freddy's shoulder. The bear animatronic sat down beside a sturdy oak tree. He was running on low power by now. Both he and Gregory had a very long night. Cradling the child in his arms as his power slowly drained, he sang quietly, "Cuz you'll be in my heart. Yes you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever more." He hummed the song's tune before the darkness finally overtook him...

———

"Vanessa! You better have a very good reason for this!" Jerry shouted angrily, slamming the car door shut. A chill ran up Vanessa's spine. The boss was here. And he was not happy. She didn't want to deal with him right now but it was best to get this interaction over with now rather than later. Sighing softly, she approached her boss. His hands on his hips, Jerry demanded, "Well?! What the heck happened here?!"

"Sir, I'm not entirely sure myself. It was nearing the end of my shift when I smelled smoke. The next thing I know, there's a fire burning out of control. I'm sorry," Vanessa answered calmly. Jerry was terrifying to deal with sometimes but she was not about to let him intimidate her. She flinched slightly as the balding man spat in her face, "Sorry doesn't fix everything Vanessa! The whole building is gone! Everything is gone!"

"Not everything sir. I believe I saw Sundrop moving amongst the rubble over there. There's a chance the other animatronics survived as well," Vanessa replied with a hint of optimism. She didn't have to lie right there thankfully. The security guard had seen movement while waiting for the authorities to arrive and even heard what she believed was Sundrop crying. She'd investigate that later. Right now, she still had Jerry to deal with.

"One stupid animatronic is not enough. At this rate we'll have to rebuild everything! The building, the animatronics! Right from scratch! And honestly I should fire you!" Jerry yelled. This was the first time during this whole conversation that Vanessa let panic show on her face. She knew it. She knew she was going to be fired. "Sir, please!" she begged, "Don't do this! I need this job!"

"Then give me one good reason why I shouldn't fire you," Jerry almost snarled like a wild animal. Relaxing once more, Vanessa murmured, "Follow me sir." Leading him towards the center of the rubble, she explained, "I don't know how the fire started sir. There was no one in the building but me and the animatronics. But once everything burned down and the fire dissipated, I found this." She stopped just yards away from the sinkhole. Shock written on his face, Jerry mumbled, "Is that what I think it is?"

"I don't think this was recent either sir. I think the Pizzaplex was built right over this sinkhole," Vanessa pointed out. Gesturing towards the sinkhole, she went on, "And I think the fire started down there and worked its way up to the Pizzaplex." Scratching his chin thoughtfully, Jerry muttered, "You might be right Vanessa. I don't understand why the construction company chose this exact spot for the Pizzaplex to begin with. Keep your job, get some rest. I'm gonna have the building built somewhere else entirely and have the blasted hole investigated. I want to know what's down there."

"Yes sir," Vanessa replied. A sigh of relief escaped from her. She could keep her job. Plus, she was going to get some rest. The security guard was about to walk away when Jerry added, "Those other animatronics better be found before tomorrow morning. I don't want to waste money on new ones but if I have to I will! They're the only things that kept us from digging our own graves!"

"Understood sir," Vanessa responded, knowing someone was not going to like the news.