Day 5xTower-1F - The Army

"So this is where they were all hiding..."

With the help of the map and Bonnie's advice you and he enter the arcade. There was a (previously) blocked off tunnel that connected the two. Just like Monty's area and the daycare there were plenty of hidden paths all over the place.

Since the network was up you had asked Bonnie if he could ring any of the animatronics up. He tried all remaining band members stating that he couldn't reach any.

He couldn't even reach Chica, something that alarmed him slightly. You weren't sure why either but to distract from his anxiety you stated that in her restrained position she couldn't answer.

Stepping out of the brick-walled maintenance area you and Bonnie were in the West Arcade, bottom floor.

The place sounded like an underground rave was going on, hard techno and schranz being played throughout the arcade. No doubt the DJ's doing.

Now Playing...

Artist: DJ Muggs the Black Goat

Song: The Chosen One

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAXUX93GqP4

Though the lockdown had ended the place was still poorly lit, the neon pillars with swirls were only emitting so much light. Unlike the last time this place wasn't as bright. The DJ's tunnels, arcade machines, lit railings and some LEDs in the floor were all that were working. You paid careful attention to those holes, just in case the DJ showed up.

Though the DJ was absent your fears were still met as it was now evident where all the bots had gone. The arcade was abuzz with activity as it seemed like an army of S.T.A.F.F. bots had assembled here.

They were rolling around aimlessly. It would be impossible to avoid them and even more impossible to fight them.

You knew it wasn't going to be easy. Bots of all forms of professions were lurking about, not just security and janitorial. Amongst the crowd there were waiters, attendants and more.

The amount of bots around coupled with your paranoia meant no flashlight. Above all getting spotted would be a death wish.

"W-what do we do?" Bonnie asked. Even he knew fighting them would be futile. You hand him part of the golf club. "You walk through them, lead me. I'll wear the mask."

"A-are you sure that's gonna w-work?" You shrug. "We have no other options."

With the mask on, golf club in the left hand, tazer in the right you and Bonnie walked through, trying best not to alert them. He held the golf club and led you through. They were uttering out random catchphrases and sayings they had been programmed to say while working.

Some of the random uttering’s were coherent and unnerved you. It was if they were talking to someone.

"He's watching."

"You won't win."

"You'll become a follower."

"You don't know what you've awakened."

It was if they were talking directly to you. You felt Bonnie shake slightly in fear. You were watching through the eye holes carefully, watching if any bot's eyes met yours.

With this many, dealing with them would be impossible.

The security office was on the third floor of the tower-like arcade. You'd only been to the top briefly, yesterday when dealing with Monty.

"Why are they all here?" Bonnie whispered as he led you. Unfamiliar with the layout of the arcade you were putting 110% of your trust into Bonnie.

"I don't know. Maybe they're protecting the booth?" You respond. Your heart stops, realizing you may have blown your disguise. Could the bots detect voices? Judging by how the bots weren't trying to grab you, you guess it's alright.

"He's coming for you."

"You'll bring him back."

You also bump into some bots a few times but none seem the wiser. You knew once you reached the second floor, it should be bright enough to manoeuvre on your own. Your heart was racing as Bonnie led you through the horde.

"If she can't."

"Set him free."

"You sure they can't understand me?" You ask. The bot's conversation was starting to bother you.

"Maybe, but when you're wearing that mask to them it's just two Bonnies talking."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"And they don't see the error in that?"

"What error? It's not the first time there has been two Bonnies."

"What?"

"It's ah, long story. I'll explain some other time."

"Alright." There were two Bonnies? What did he mean by that?

Unsure of if the light from your tazer would set the horde off, you put it away.

The bot horde was moving around aimlessly. Some of them were following pre-programmed routines while others were rolling around, bumping into each other and wasting time. There were too many in the arcade.

Two bots however were not wandering aimlessly, nor were they following a pre-programmed pattern. They entered the arcade from outside, easily passing through the metal doors. They were two janitorial bots. They knew exactly where to go and where they going. They had one path and one task to do.

With the help of Bonnie you continued to follow semi-blindly. A bot stops in front of him, directly staring at him. Unlike the other bots this one's face was normal. He stretched its arms out, trying to block Bonnie. It was one of the janitorial bots, with a cap on.

"No. No. No." It said flatly. Bonnie stopped, unsure of the display in front of him. "Get out of the way." Bonnie said, annoyed and confused.

"What's the matter?"

"Stupid bot won't get out of my way. I said move!" Bonnie shouted.

"Too easy." A mechanical voice said behind you.

You recognize that voice. 3 days ago. Early morning, end of the night. You freeze.

"Come. To. Him." The bot in front of Bonnie said. He was getting annoyed now.

Before you could realize what was going on, the mask was plucked right off your head. Being too big it easily came off, exposing your face to the horde. Bonnie lets go of the golf club as he forcibly moves the bot out of the way. You turn to face the bot that stole your mask but it just whirrs away, carrying it victoriously. In the dim light you could easily tell it was the same bot that intimidated you those days ago.

Now Playing...

Artist: Reef Frequent

Song: Peripherals

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nypb0E0w4QI

Almost instantly, all the bots around you froze, slowly turning to you. "You came." "Give up." "Come to him." Those were among some of the many sayings the bots began to say as they noticed your appearance. Some with hands outstretched and some carrying items, they started to descend upon you.

You had no time to think.

Strong mechanical hands grabbed your sides and lifted you up. Thinking on his feet, Bonnie grabbed you and placed you upon his head like one would carry a child.

"Hold on!" Bonnie shouted as he started to run through the crowd, knocking over bots. He was swinging left and right, trying to get away.

"C-c-can you jump?" You tried to shout to Bonnie. With a free hand you hold his neck, trying to keep balanced. You swat with the club at the bots, keeping a few at bay.

"I can't! There's too many of them!" He shouted back.

Bonnie was starting to slow down, there was just too many bots. Even he was having trouble creating a path, they were bunching together, creating a barrier. He would have gone into a rage then and there but with you so close he couldn't risk it.

At this rate he would be overwhelmed. You had to do something. Putting your free hand on Bonnie's head you stand up on his shoulders, trying to keep balance.

Bonnie had stopped, too many bots in front and back keeping him in place. They were starting to try to climb upon him, all to reach you.

You had an idea and prayed it would work. Using Bonnie's shoulders as a platform you leap to the arcade machines by the wall. You land perfectly on them, silently thanking the stars you didn't fall through the machine.

You’re against the wall now as the mob charges the arcade machines, trying to reach you. They were shouting random gibberish at you. All you could see in the arcade was a legion of those same corrupted faces.

This diverts the horde's attention from Bonnie to you as they start to try and swarm the arcade machines.

Bonnie, now freed, looks at you, then looks up. He gasps.

"Just wait right there! I have an idea!" Bonnie shouts as he runs off, the path having now been emptied.

You swing for your life, swatting at the many bots now trying to climb the arcade machines. With the wall behind you any chance of them tipping them over was gone. At least you had that going for you.

Your heart was racing, the experience now feeling like the last one alive facing a zombie horde. Even though your swinging was working at keep the immediate ones away, some others nearby manage to scale other connecting arcade machine. Now atop the machines they start charging for you.

"NO! NO!"

You were losing your 'safe space'. Looking up behind you. There was one other way up.

The DJ's tunnels. There was no time to think of the repercussions from going in. It was either do or die.

You throw the golf club up into the tunnel then grab the ledge and pull yourself up, just narrowly missing a waiter bot try to stab you with a spoon.

Desperately the bots were trying to scale up to the tunnel, having much more difficulty with it than the arcade machines.

The tunnel was an infinitely repeating bunch of pink swirls and rings leading into darkness behind the arcade. You hoped, nay prayed that this wouldn't alert the DJ.

"BONNIE HURRY UP!" You scream in fear.

The music stops.

Momentarily, only to resume again a few seconds later. You feel as if your heart had stopped for those seconds as well. You pick up the golf club again, ready to strike any bots from the front. Ready to strike any DJ's from the back.

From above you, you hear glass shattering. A few shards raining down on the upending horde.

"(Y/N)! Gimme your club!" Bonnie shouted from above.

You look up, out of the tunnel to see Bonnie on the next floor, reaching as best as he could through the railings to you. There was still too much distance for you to grab with your hands, let alone jump.

You understood what he meant. With both hands on the club, holding as tightly as you possibly could you raise the club to Bonnie's open hand.

Squeezing tighter than a vice you close your eyes as Bonnie grabs a hold of the club and lifts you up. Your whole world goes blank as your lifted out of the tunnel, hoping to ANYTHING this works.

As carefully as he could Bonnie pulls the golf club and you onto the second floor, dropping you onto a couch. You open your eyes, heart going crazy as you now see Bonnie looking at you with a worried but slightly proud face.

“Wow!”

"Oh my god." You whisper, stretching out on the couch. "Thankyouthankyou." You spit out, taking deep breaths to calm yourself.

"Aw, don't mention it. You would’ve done the same thing for me." Bonnie said cheerily. He was back to his perky demeanour, no less than a minute after nearly facing death. You would have found it annoying but his relaxed demeanour helped you chill out.

You don't even think of the horde below, their wheels wouldn't allow them onto this floor.

You peer below. The horde was still trying to get you. You follow them with your eyes to the stairs as they try to get up. Their wheel-based movement does not allow them to scale the stairs. Despite the inability to do so they begin pushing each other up the stairs. You couldn't remain here for long.

Welcome to the second floor.