Gabe never thought it would ever come to this, it happened so fast that everything was a blur from then to now. In the span of a few days he was once weeping in his own home, the next he is in the courtroom facing the final sentencing. He remembers it was a winters evening.
He didn't even look up to see the judge make his appearance even though he stood with reverence with all the rest in the court, he just kept his head low while staring at the wooden desk in front of him. The lawyer beside him put a comforting hand on his shoulder, prompting Gabe to glance up to see the lawman smile at him. 'There was nothing to worry about' he told him, the trial was over before it even started.
After everyone was then seated back down, the judge finally speaks. "Has the jury reached its verdict?" He said.
"We have your honor."
Even Gabe knew what their decision was going to be.
"We find the defendant, Gabriel Gibbions, not guilty. For the count of self defense against an armed assailant."
Gabe sighed, relived. But yet, he couldn't feel victory being ever more shallow.
"Very well." The judge declared. "Gabriel you are hereby innocent of all charges and are free to leave. I am terribly sorry for your loss." He then smacked his gavel, ending the trial.
A few days later, the funeral was well into procession. The ground open for two caskets, one for a woman, and another for a man. They were both siblings, Gabe's siblings. And despite the biting cold weather of midwinter, everyone still kept the tradition of wearing black clothing. Their dark coats and umbrellas contrasting starkly against the bright white snow both on the ground and falling around them.
There wasn't much people to begin with, only some relatives and mostly a handful of friends. And standing amidst of them, Gabe kept his eyes on the caskets as he watched them being lowered into the ground, his face unchanging from his somber, downcast expression.
"None of it was your fault, you know." Said a gruff voice beside him. "Besides, that trial was just to clear some air."
Turning to the voice in question. He is a big, burly man pushing past his late fifties, signs of grey becoming evident in his black hair and beard. Gabe knew this guy well, he was his friend Tyler's father, Issac.
Gabe didn't want to talk, but he knew it will be rude not to. "And yet here they both are. Buried six feet under the snow."
"Don't be unfair like that." Issac replied. "I couldn't think of any other way to stop him."
Gabe finally turned to look at him fully. "Issac, you do know what happened, right?" He said, his voice nearly faltering. "My brother and sister are gone. And it all could've been avoided if I-"
"If you what, helped him?" Issac interrupted. "You've already helped him. You warned him. You tried to reason with him and yet he still went for those damn pills anyway."
Gabe then replied. "I should've stopped him while I had the chance. Maybe even dumped them!"
"And what good would that do? He'll just go buy more." Issac then placed a hand on his shoulder. "If you really want to put the blame on yourself, then what you should've done Gabe was called the police. Granted they'd definitely arrest him, but he'll find better help eventually."
"…"
Issac looked down at the young man with a mixture of concern and worry. Ever since what his parents had done he had worked with the kid to get back on his feet. He worked with him, taught him, even did some farm work for him when he came down sick. A favor in return for helping his son through high school when he was on tour in Iran.
"Kid. You did everything you could to help your brother so he wouldn't have to face the consequences. But that man, ruined his own life, not you."
"Then why did he have to drag my sister down with him?"
Issac paused for a moment and then sighed. "Because some people are selfish that way. He nearly went for you too if you hadn't pulled the trigger. And I know the reason he fell off hard was because of what your parents did to you both, but that makes no excuse for what he did."
"…But I thought..." Gabe groaned within himself, unable to find words.
A lot of people in attendance to the funeral have left already, save for a few stragglers, leaving just Gabe and Issac before the graves. Choosing his words carefully, he gave Gabe advice he could have best given to him.
"Listen, I know forgiveness and compassion is part of your religion and everything. But sometimes, there are some people out there who no matter how much love you give them, or how much mercy, they'll won't change for the better. And the worst ones, are the ones that take advantage of that mercy. Thankfully such people out there are few, and I have been on tour once."
Issac then gave Gabe one more pat on the back. "You did what you did because you loved him, and I'll respect that. But this is his fault, not yours."
And with that he began walking away, leaving Gabe to his lonesome. He didn't turn to look as he could hear the sound of crunching snow recede into the background noise of the whispering wind. How could it ever have come to this? First his parents, and now his siblings. Why is he being left alone so? Did he do something wrong? This can't be God punishing him. Was it because he left Playtime.co? Is it because he saw an injustice and ran away?
Or is it really just because Issac was right? Is the reason his life is what it is now because it has always been because of what other people did? Is it really because no matter what he did, or what he believes in, that the reason he is left like this now is because everyone doesn't care about him? Did they really just want to hurt him?
Whatever the reason may be. He is still standing out here, grey skies sending down blankets of snow, staring at the graves of the last of his family.
"It's so cold…"
<<<<<<<<<<~>>>>>>>>>>
Gabe felt like he had just ran a nonstop marathon, even while half asleep he can still feel the burning aches reach to his very bones. His felt brain pulse and throb to the point he can't tell if it is expanding or contracting. He didn't even bother to open his eyes since even his eyes felt like they have aches of their own, and that doesn't even count the pain going on in his organs. It's like he had just been punched in every direction at once both inside out and outside in.
Memories of the past still surging through his skull like electricity. He remembered Issac well, he was a good friend of his along with his son Freddy, he and him would spend talks together after what had happened on that fateful day when everything went wrong.
But that was years ago, and now it has been two years since the last time he heard from Issac. He remembered that one morning when he heard from Issac's wife that he was no longer with her, not that he divorced her and left, but rather he was just that, gone, without a trace. Everybody wondered what could have happened to him, kidnapped, lost in the woods, murdered, nobody knows for certain. He just disappeared without a trace.
Another sorrowful memory to add to his list.
All Gabe wanted to do is simply fall back asleep, and wake up to a better day.
But then he hears noises somewhere nearby. "Did you find it?" A soft spoken voice a young woman is heard followed by a series of groans and hisses from another. "Oh good! We'll give it to him once he wakes up."
While he had wanted to lie back asleep again, the fact that there are people near him and talking about him is concern enough to rouse him fully from dozing off. Shifting around, his sore muscles kicking back into work. He ends up pushing himself to his side, feeling the surface he is laying on, he finds out that he is on some sort of hospital bed. There is also a blanket on top of him, while rising to a sitting position he ends up shifting it off of him and crumpling to the floor. The noise drawing the attention of his hosts.
"Oh! You're awake!" Adjusting his vision, Gabe can see two people with him. Poppy and Kissy. Poppy standing on top of a medical dresser cabinet holding a flashlight, the only thing illuminating the near pitch black room, and Kissy sitting against the wall along side her. While Kissy's face was a bit indiscernible due to her ever smiling face, Poppy's expression was vividly relived.
"Poppy? And Kissy?" Gabe said groaning in pain. "What are you both doing here?"
"I was just coming to meet you. But Kissy-" The said monster then shied her face away while curling a paw on her other arm. "She's sorry for what she nearly did to you. She almost thought you were one of the doctors for a second. This place,.. this place is hard on her."
That last sentence made Gabe grip the bed frame like a vice. The sudden surge of memories flooding back. "I know. And I know why."
Upon saying, Kissy turned sharply to face him, as if surprised. She then looked up to Poppy, who then nodded, confirming her suspicions.
"Oh Gabe." Poppy replied sorrowfully. She knew the truth would hurt him, but she didn't think it would affect him this much. And seeing him just sitting there, staring intensely at the floor in shame, it actually hurt her in turn.
Poppy then took something in both of her hands and gestured to Kissy to pick her up. The pink creature then set her partner down right beside Gabe, whose gaze is still set to the floor. Poppy then brought what is in her hands up to to the human. It is an old ceramic cup. Filled with, water?
"Here, you must be so thirsty." She said as she offered the drink to him.
Gabe was actually surprised. "You, got me water?"
"Yeah. There aren't my faucets that offer clean water down here. But Kissy has found some for you."
Gabe then took the cup from her hands, he actually didn't realize just how parched he was until his eyes met with the clear fluid inside. He was just about to chug the whole drink down until he forced himself to stop, wondering if Poppy or Kissy would need some.
"Say, aren't any of you thirsty too?" Gabe asked. "I can share."
"Oh Gabe!" Poppy exclaims humorously. "I already had my share and Kissy drunk from the faucet there. So please, don't think about us for the moment."
That was basically all he needed to hear. For as soon as she'd finished saying, Gabe instantly chugged the glassful of water down like it would suddenly disappear in any second. After finally taking a breath after guzzling the whole drink down he took in his surroundings. Though he is sure that he is in some sort of medical ward given all the stretchers and medical supplies and equipment strewn around the place.
"Where are we?" Gabe asked.
"The Ward." Poppy replied, a hint of foreboding within those words. "This is where they took sick kids for treatment. It is also where they study the effects of the Red Smoke had on children. This,..this is also the last place most children see before being taken to the labs down the lower levels. Before they are turned into toys."
Gabe honestly wished he didn't hear those words, the truth he had just learned mere hours ago are still weighing heavily on his shoulders.
"And how long was I out?" He then asked.
"I don't know, I wasn't keeping the time." Poppy answered. "My guess is a few hours. You were already unconscious by the time the Red Smoke came out of your system, so we had no choice but to keep you safe here. You're not hurt anywhere else, are you?"
Gabe then got up from his seat and examined himself, pulling up his shirt he can see numerous bruises and scrapes from all the times he bashed against the wall while swinging or running. But most of these wounds were from the train crash he had earlier, to think he managed to survive that when he could have came out much worse.
"Hurt, but still kicking." Gabe replied.
Poppy then went closer and gazed at the wounds herself, placing a tiny hand tentatively onto his side. She looked so worried, and sorry. "That train crash has hurt us both. I am so sorry, I couldn't control the train as it started going downhill and-"
"Hey." Gabe softly said placing is hand on top of her head. "Ollie told me everything, and I just thank God you survived that. Given that you are, well, a porcelain doll."
"Actually, I'm not really porcelain." Poppy corrected. "I'm much more sturdier than I seem."
He smiled knowingly, but before taking another step further he nearly ended up tripping over on something, he would have fell on his face were it not for Kissy to grab him. He cursed himself for not paying attention to the fact that he is in a pitch black environment. "Why is it so dark in here?!"
"We didn't turn the power on yet." Poppy explained. "We were going to, but, given your condition we wanted to take care of you first."
"Oh, right, I remember. Well, let's get the power back on!"
"Do you feel up to it?" Poppy asked concerned. "We can wait a little while longer for you to rest."
Gabe however shrugged it off. "I'll rather take my chances having a run in with Huggy than sit in the dark for next few hours."
At the mention of the name, Huggy, Kissy suddenly hissed with heated hostility. Though this anger wasn't directed towards anyone in particular, it still sent Gabe aback thinking it was for him.
"Kissy!" Poppy sternly scolds. "Don't just act up so angry! Gabe thought it was he that you are yelling at."
The pink monster nervously scooted back away feeling ashamed. However seeing her distress Gabe went closer to her, got on his knees, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Thankfully even though she is practically a giant compared to the human, Gabe still managed to sit evenly with her while their sitting.
"I guess there's bad blood between them?" Gabe asked still gently rubbing Kissy's back.
"Yeah…" Poppy then gestured Gabe to get closer to her. He then crouched down on the floor while she leaned in and whispered in his ear. "When they were human, they were both close friends. But everything changed when The H-,… an event happened." She seemed strangely hesitant about that last sentence. "Kissy had a human friend who she wanted to keep safe. But Huggy found them and, well."
It didn't take two guesses to understand. "Oh, Christ."
"I know, she's wanted nothing to do with him ever since. That and among other reasons."
"What other reasons?"
Poppy hesitated to speak for a second, before she then gestured for Kissy to come get her. "I think it's time you start learning more of the truth." She was then picked up by Kissy and was then placed on one of her shoulders. "You have been through so much, so I'll tell you. But we need to get the power back on in order to continue further. Go grab your Grabpack, it's over by the wall, and meet us outside."
Kissy then began to walk off with Poppy in tow, crouching down while exiting the the double sided doors. Gabe did as instructed and went for the Grabpack, which turned out still had its lamp on so it wasn't too hard to find in the dark. After a minute of strapping it on, becoming once again familiar with gripping the gadget's handles firmly, he then leaves The Ward behind and ventures outside and into a large corridor. There both Poppy and Kissy were waiting for him, Poppy comforting the pink giant while rubbing her hands over her fur.
"It's okay. You're gonna be okay." She gently spoke.
Then upon seeing the human coming out to meet them, both Poppy and Gabe nodded to each other, and the trio then began their trek back to the Playcare. Passing by dozens of double sided doors leading into more looted hospital rooms.
"So what is it about this 'full truth' you want to tell me about?" Gabe asked walking beside Kissy.
"Because what you already know, the experiments, the orphans, the Bigger Bodies Initiative, it's all just part of the story." Poppy explained before then asking. "You see all these toy corpses around you? You would've thought they were prey, right?"
"Yeah, hunted and killed by the bigger toys. Like Mommy, Catnap, Hu-… the blue one." He said trying to avoid saying Huggy's name around Kissy.
But Poppy shook her head. "No Gabe, not all of them." She then took a deep breath and continued. "After we were freed, we had a, food supply, that kept most of us fed. But when it ran out, we were all left with two choices. One, we leave and find other means of getting food. Or two, we stay right where we are, hiding ourselves away in the dark, and instead consume each other. And the Prototype, chose the later for us."
"Now why the hell would he do that!?" Gabe questioned incredulously upset.
"No one knows, Gabe." Poppy answered angrily. "And to be honest. What ever the reason is, I don't care."
She then continued. "I just couldn't stand by and let such a horrible thing happen. So I and many others took a stand against him, against the Prototype. However, I was shortsighted." He can tell that Poppy is feeling even more reluctant to explain further, her expression distraught. "I was so sure that we'll have a chance against him that I forgot about his only true ally. His priest, Catnap."
"Priest?" Gabe pondered out loud. "Like a disciple or something?"
"Uh huh." Poppy confirmed. "Catnap, he views the Prototype as his savior, his god, to the point that if anyone else were to disagree, he'll kill without second thought. The Prototype knew this, which is how he used him against us. For when Catnap was created, he was imbued with a dangerous ability. He can breathe the Red Smoke just like the other Smiling Critters could with their scented breaths. The doctors gave him that ability so he could spray it onto the children in the orphanage while they slept. Just like what he did to you in Home Sweet Home."
"So then what happened?" Gabe asked as they exited the halls and return to the main area of the Playcare. They are now walking through the streets filled with toy corpses.
"First, the Prototype made it very clear what his priest was capable of. Catnap could stalk and kill anyone, even the Bigger Bodies, by just simply forcing the Red Smoke on them, and easily kill them while passed out. Because of this, many of the Bigger Bodies joined the Prototype out of fear. Mommy, Bunzo, PJ, Huggy. Only Kissy managed to get away because she stayed out of it."
She then continued. "But I was determined. I thought with all of the littler toys combined could defeat them all. I thought we had a chance." She then deeply sighed, even shuddered a little. "Gabe, so many died on that day. So many killed, and on my watch. All these toys you see, all the corpses you've seen so far, that's them. The victims of the Prototype's madness."
Gabe was visibly astounded, looking all around him at the remnants of toy parts and blood smears everywhere. The trio then soon approached a structure that is just past Home Sweet Home. An elevating platform that leads up to another platform above most of Playcare.
But before entering the elevator both Kissy and Poppy went towards the wall off to the left. There imbedded in the blue sky wallpaper is a fuse box, to which Kissy then held Poppy up by her palm near the box. It took less than a minute for Poppy to open the box, pull a switch, and activating the elevator. Gabe followed both toys as they boarded on the platform and were then slowly lifted up. The view below showing the Playcare in its entirety, giving him a birds eye view of all the dead and decaying toys scattered abroad.
And then with a sinking heart, he asked. "So, all the smaller toys are killed off?"
"No." This answer brought great relief to the human's soul. "Not all of them. The fight was practically over before it ever started. Right now everyone is in hiding, within the walls, the floors, vents, even the pipes, anywhere his followers won't reach. Sleeping, hibernating, waiting for the time they will no longer need to live in fear anymore."
"They've all slept for the past ten years?" Gabe said astonished. "How is that possible?"
"It's how they made us, it's also the reason how I've survived being stuck in that case for so long. Which is why we called out to you. I need you, we need you. So we can get revenge on those monsters who tortured you. Who tortured us!"
She continued. "The Prototype, he's the reason for all of this, all this suffering. You have no idea the things he has done! Keeping me stuck in that God awful case for so long was just the tip of the iceberg compared to the things he did to the others."
They all soon reached the top of the platform overlooking the Playcare. It seemed that this is some kind of control platform for the electricity in the Playcare, if the fuse box is anything to hint by. "Care to do the honors?" Poppy gestured to the control panel off to the side.
It didn't take Gabe two guesses which button he had to push given the giant red button in the middle. He pressed it, and sure enough the Playcare lights back up to its former light. The artificial sunlight sending cascades of its fake golden glow. But it was all a welcoming sight none the less. He then returned to the elevator with the two girls and the platform descends once more to the ground.
But there was one question that was burning in his mind. "But why me though? What makes me so special?" Gabe asked Poppy. "Heck, how did you even find out about me in the first place? I'm a nobody here!"
Poppy then lowered her head as if she regretted something. "Believe me, I…didn't really think much about you when you first entered the factory. I did think you were just a random nobody. But Ollie, he told me that you are special. That you are the key to bringing all of this to an end. I didn't believe him at first, but look what you did! We all have seen what you are capable of, you've beaten Huggy, you defeated Mommy, you freed me! And I see how right Ollie is now, you are perfect, you are the answer we've been waiting for. Our Angel."
"Poppy I hate to be such a downer, but, you kinda put a little too much faith in me." Gabe replied. "Hell, the only reason I'm alive right now is either sheer dumb luck or direct intervention by God himself. Because there is no way these legs have carried me this far."
"Well, whatever you believe in, just know you won't be alone down here. And when the time is right, we'll all rally to you." The platform elevator then touched ground. "The Prototype knows we're coming, and so does Catnap. That cat is the last obstacle between us and him. Me and Kissy can't stay here. Ollie will call you and help you get rid of the rest of the smoke."
He was just about to step off when he asked. "But what about you guys?"
"We have to spread the news of what's happening." Poppy replied determined. "I'm the only one small enough to fit in all the nooks and crevices the smaller toys are hiding. But don't worry about me, if anything happens Kissy will help."
And then with that, Gabe stepped off the elevator, letting it rise and take the red-haired doll and pink furred monster up with it. Gabe took a moment to watch them leave, but just when he was about to turn and leave Poppy calls out to him.
"Wait! I almost forgot!" Poppy yelled from over the railing catching Gabe's attention. "Kissy wanted to give you something!"
Kissy then held out something in her yellow paw, Gabe couldn't tell due to being so far over head. "Catch!" Poppy called while Kissy let go of said item.
Gabe held out his hands and caught it. Now he already knew that Kissy had been most helpful earlier, but now this just proves she's just as well resourceful too. For in his hands is a dark red gas mask, like the ones used for dealing with thick dust or poisonous fog.
"Aw gee, thanks!" Gabe shouted up to Kissy, who is waving one of her long arms at him. He can hear Poppy giving a final farewell to him.
"Be safe, Gabriel! We'll meet you soon!"
He then watched as both toys then disappear from sight up above. Gabe was once again left alone to himself, but not for long, his phone then suddenly rings.
"Ollie?" Gabe said through the licensed Playtime phone.
"Hey! It's me again!" The little kid said eagerly. "I guess Poppy has told you a lot about what's happened, and even better she turned the dome's lights back on!"
"Yeah. So what's next?"
"Oh! We just continue what you were doing before. I can see you're by Home Sweet Home, good! Now see that outlet in the orphanage's balcony?"
Gabe looked and sure enough there is an open fuse box off the the side by the front door. "There is a very long cable in it, use it and connect it to the main generator under the statue."
"On it." Gabe then hung the phone up and latched it onto his side along with the new gas mask Kissy had given him. He then unlatched the cable from the socket it was slotted in and pulled on it, carrying the end plug with him. He didn't expect the cable to be this long however, by the time he reached the statue he must have pulled at least a few hundred feet of wiring. It may be because the engineers designing this place must thought of this as a way to provide more power to the Gas Production Zone in case something wrong were to happen.
He has a hard time believing it might be Leith Pierre who designed this.
Gabe then pulled the cable around the statue's base, then down the stairs within it, and then finally towards the destroyed generator. He spots some plug ins off to the side, that must be where he plugs the generator in. He does just that and suddenly a monitor above it displays a series of other activated generators, one of them being Home Sweet Home.
The phone then rings again. "Awesome! You see that? The power from Home Sweet Home is being rerouted from there to here. And look at that, we're already halfway done! But we just need a few more generators, and there should be one in each building."
"Then the question is which one is next?" Gabe said. "Got any ideas?"
"Well, everywhere is pretty dangerous down here. That Playhouse especially, YUCK! Buuuut Catnap usually leaves the school alone, so there might be your best bet!"
A school? Gabe hadn't thought there would be a school down here. However though, it does make sense. In a school, children can be more easily monitored during the day hours, as well as track their potential to become experiments. As sickening as that sounds.
"Alright, I'll be on my way there." He then hung the phone up and then made his way out of the statue. He felt sure that since Catnap just simply ignores the school, finding the generator would be a much easier task, especially compared to his whole ordeal in Home Sweet Home.
What's the worst that could happen?
<<<<<<<<<<~>>>>>>>>>>
Catnap watched with glee as the Interloper made his way inside the Schoolhouse. The way the human acted so gullible as he confidently made his way in through the front doors was just too humorous. He would laugh were it not for his failing voice box, or the fact it would give away his position.
He was no stranger to the Schoolhouse, though he never really took interest in the place. Nothing worth noting, nothing worth learning. At least not anymore. Then came the day a few years after their glorious hour that he decided to take a quick endeavor in there. That was where he found her, the only living resident of the Schoolhouse.
From what he understood she used to have many 'sisters' living with her, that is until they ousted her under the false pretense that she was hoarding food to herself. The Schoolhouse was already isolated enough to begin with, so after being stuck alone in there for so long, it changed her. To the point she didn't see her sisters as 'sisters', but instead as food.
To this day there has never been a doubt in Catnap's mind that she is insane. Hurt and broken, but still yet violently insane. So much so that she considers her makeshift weapon she wields as an actual living person. But she is however intelligent enough to know her place under him. So the two would go on in a mutual partnership. As long as she reports to him, and swears total fidelity to the lord Prototype, she'll keep the school to herself.
She hasn't done anything in defiance ever since.
Oh what great joy it would give to her that a new student has come for one of her little anatomy lessons.
Catnap can already hear the Interloper's screams.