"What do you mean you quit!" Gabriel's father, David, shouted with frustration saturated in his voice.
"I know it sounds hard to believe…!" Gabriel, sixteen at this point, struggled to respond as his father's overwhelming voice overpowered his. "But look, I just, I got a…a…gut feeling, that's all!"
The whole family was in the living room witnessing the whole confession happen, the mother, Suzan, and the siblings, Derek and Sophia, were all sitting on the couch while they watched the middle child get reprimanded. It had been but three days since Gabriel decided to quit Playtime.co but he kept it as a secret knowing how reliant they had become. But after a few days of staying home, he finally decided to come clean.
With the more darker details being left out.
David tried to avert his gaze so that his anger wouldn't seem to be directed at his son, however everyone knew that there was no point in hiding it. "Son, we are in dire straits right now." David said keeping his tone down.. "The crop yield isn't good and of course it just so happens that the produce market has gotten bad now! If we don't find a way to earn more money we may have to sell the equipment, or even the house!"
Suzan then interceded, trying to be the voice of reason. "What if we take a loan or something? Just enough to keep going?"
"Honey, we may have had made a profit here, but only enough to just pay off all the other expenses." David replied, his temper still hot. "We make only enough to get by, and if we take a loan, the debt would be impossible to pay back!"
"But if we pray and ask God what is happening I'm sure he'll provide." Gabriel said trying to appease his father David's worries. "After all it is what he said, right?"
David however wasn't convinced as he sharply rebutted. "Gabriel, I don't know if you had noticed, but this doesn't call for miracles! Faith isn't what we need now! We need money!"
Gabriel felt guilty for being yet another cause of his family's turmoil, although he couldn't bear the thought of going back to that factory. He knows there is something deeply wrong in that company, seeing that purple creature bleed, hearing the sound of its ear-piercing, distorted screams, it is all too much for him. But maybe he could have done something,…maybe…no, what is done is done. Even though the guilt may forever haunt his conscience, there will be comfort knowing that he has no part in it.
It is out of his hands now. Best to leave it.
But it has done little to curb David's anger issues. "Arg! I'm sorry but I need to get out of here and just not think of this at the moment!" And with that he stormed off into the kitchen, anything to get away from all the nonsense.
The rest of the family is also having to deal with this sudden change in other, less stressful ways. Derek has decided to turn on the TV just to pass the time while Sophia decided to just watch along with him. Suzan on the other hand was more concerned about as to why this has happened.
"What I don't understand is your reason why you would even leave the job in the first place?" Suzan said with a hint of panic. "I know you didn't like it too much but you we needed you to work there."
"But mom." Gabriel interjected. "Summer is almost over and school will soon start, I can't have a job and keep up with high school at the same time!"
"But we needed you!" Suzan yelled. "This isn't fair! Why would you do this to us? Are you selfish?"
"I-uh…I…". Gabriel stuttered, finding it hard to say what he wishes without offense or lies. Is he really selfish? Perhaps he is, given how he just left the factory and whatever wrongdoing is happening behind without second thought. Was it really fear, or was he truly just a scumbag coward?
"You know what? Never mind." Suzan said as she slumped into the sofa with some tears in her angry eyes. "Whatever it is doesn't change anything. Thanks to you, we are going broke!"
Sophia however wasn't happy with what she just said. "Mom, do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?" She said. "Just because Gabriel doesn't have a job right now doesn't mean it's the end of the world. In fact, we all could-"
"Now stop right there little miss!" Suzan snapped. "I don't need to be lectured on what to do and what not to do! All I know is that this young man." She said pointing a crooked finger at Gabriel. "Is that he just decided to leave when he was having a steady job!"
While Suzan fumes, Derek on the other hand didn't feel like bothering to get himself worked into this drama, he already has enough of it from high school. Personally he doesn't care that Gabriel decided to quit, if he felt like it then good for him then. However while he was flipping through the channels on the cable TV something caught his eye.
Maybe this would help clear things.
"Uh, hey guys." Derek spoke up. "Maybe it is actually a good thing he left that toy company."
All turned to the elder brother confused, even David, who just came back from the kitchen with a soda in his hands wondered what he meant.
"What are you talking about?" David asked.
They all turned towards the television and watched, it was a news channel and to everybody's surprise on the picture beside the news anchor was displayed with none other than the Playtime.co logo, but what really shocked them to their core was what was written in the bulletin below which read. "Thousands vanish, Toy company closed down for good."
Gabriel's curiosity flared, did someone actually find out what is going on there? He just had to know. "Turn it up Derek!" Gabriel said nudging his brother's shoulder.
With the volume turned up, they can all hear the news anchor clearly. "And so it was that the prolific and highly renowned toy company known as Playtime.co has officially closed its doors towards any and all outsiders. While the cause is unknown, a few days ago on August 8th, by 11 a.m., all communications within the factory suddenly fell silent and any attempted contact so far has been left with radio silence, thereby profiling all the factory employees as well as the dozens of tourists as missing."
The screen then displayed video footage of the factory itself from the outside, Gabriel can see that the factory truly was shut down, even the consistently puffing smoke stacks have ceased functioning. The news lady continues. "In light of these events, local authorities were dispatched to investigate within the factory for the reason of the sudden disappearances. However none of the twenty officers who entered the building ever came back out."
The news then showed the county chief talking with a reporter. "No matter how hard I tried to make contact with them there was no response. The whole team just simply went radio silent!"
"With losses dramatically escalating, the incident was then handed over to SWAT, whose team stormed the factory looking for any potential hostiles. Surprisingly there were no traces of any hostiles, however what they have reported was nothing short but unnerving."
The video then showed a SWAT captain addressing to the audience of new reporters from behind a pulpit. "When we entered the whole factory was dead quiet, and while unfortunately we have not found any perpetrators regarding the incident, we can confirm that there indeed was an attack taken place within the factory, but that's not the only thing.
He then continued. "We combed through every room and yet we have not found a single body anywhere. Not only that but there were no signs of any contemporary damage from gunfire to be found anywhere. It was as if everyone was either slashed and beaten to death and then dragged off to somewhere unseen. What is certain however is that there was human blood to be found everywhere. While we are very aware that there are lower levels of the factory that we have yet to explore, due to the strange and quite frankly disturbing evidence we found we will not risk the lives of any more men to investigate further."
Then as the voices in the crowd rused to an uproar of questions, the camera then cuts back to the anchor women. "With the investigation now on hold, the authorities have barricaded the entire premises of the Playtime.co factory off from the public, declaring it an illegal dead zone. However they admitted that they couldn't secure the entire perimeter fully, so local residents are advised to stay clear from anywhere near the factory. And, as a personal opinion, it is just simply not worth it. As for the potential of any survivors, well according to the authorities, as of right now, all the employees of the Playtime.co factory are declared dead. And with the law having no leads, everyone is left to wonder, who could be so evil as to be responsible for this heinous crime, and what do they plan to do next? Now for our next segment, we will cover the victims families gathering in Little Root to mourn for the loss of their loved ones right after our break."
David couldn't bear to watch it anymore so he took the remote from Derek's hand and turned the television off. The whole family gave glances at each other, dumbstruck by this development. How could something like this be possible?
"I…" Gabriel could barely bring himself to say it. "I'm the only survivor?"
"Yeah…" Sophia spoke with frightful breaths. "You are…"
The whole family could bring themselves to say anything, each of them were too stunned or frightened to speak. But David, mustering up his composure, gave one look towards Suzan his wife, and he gave her a firm nod. She knew what this meant, she dreaded it, but she knew this was for their own good.
"We're moving." David declared.
Hesitation was potent in the air, yet all of them gave unspoken agreement. This farm, this town, this life in rural America, it is simply not working. They will salvage their life and find a new one someplace else.
Later on that night, whilst everyone was still asleep, Gabriel, parched from thirst, went to the kitchen fridge and drank some water. His dreary mind was in a blaze of emotions. The factory, his friends, all that he had know in it, everything, everyone, they're all gone. And now all that remains are those to mourn for them.
How could this happen?
And his friends? What became of them? Are they all dead as the news declared them to be? How can they all be dead anyway? The authorities said that there weren't any trace of gunfire, so it wasn't a shooting. Is it some sort of unpredictable disaster? A catastrophic, freak accident?
Or is it…that, thing?
Gabe knew there is something in that factory, did that thing…?
No.
He can't think of such things now. He has a family to take care of.
His whole family is leaving anyway, so there is no reason for him to go back. Even the authorities and the News advised not to. He made his decision and there is no way to turn back from it now. What is done is done. The past is over, leave it.
And yet, why does he still feel so, guilty?
As Gabe ventured back up the stairs heading towards his bedroom, he can hear something coming from the master bedroom, the room his parents sleep in. The door is slightly open ajar, just enough to let a narrow golden light from the bedside lamp to shine through. He can hear a commotion going on from inside, are his parents still arguing after all this time?
He knew it will be rude, but he couldn't help but listen in.
Carefully he crept closer to the door, minding his steps softly as to not creak the hardwood floor. Leaning in, he places his ear flat on the wooden door, and from inside he can hear them talking.
"I can't believe it had to come to this." The voice of Suzan said, a hint of remorse laden in each word. "But I am glad that we came to an agreement with it."
Gabe can also hear some shuffling going on around in the room, the sounds of ruffling clothes and things being packed in boxes. Are they packing already? David said they will leave in a few weeks, why pack so suddenly now?
"It is your idea, honey." David said however without as so much remorse from his mother. "This is about us, remember? Once we leave, it will just be us, dear. We will no longer be chained to any one place anymore. We can do whatever we want, just as you always wanted to."
"Yes it will be." Suzan replied in hushed enthusiasm. "I…I can't believe I'm saying this but, I actually can't wait!"
Gabriel didn't understand why they were packing so quickly all of a sudden, but at the very least, they aren't too angry or anxious right now. And anyways, he feels that he has taken enough chances without being noticed. He mind as well head back to bed.
Yet as he laid down and tucked himself in his bed, his thoughts about the factory never left him. He knew that there is something within that factory, deep down in his soul he just knew. And he knows that whatever that thing is that haunts his mind is the very reason why everybody disappeared. He just knows that that thing's existence alone is just plain wrong.
So why didn't he speak up about it?
How could he let his moment of weakness overrule him?
He is better than that, he is supposed to be better.
Well it doesn't matter now, everyone he knew in that factory is dead, and it is all his fault.
His friends are all dead, and it is all his fault.
Guilt haunted him.
<<<<<<<<<<~>>>>>>>>>>
Instantly Gabriel took in a massive gasp of air as he lurched upwards, his eyes wide and his chest heaving in bated breaths. With his hand clutched over his heart, he brings his quickened pulse back to a steady rhythm, adrenaline still fresh in his veins. He then begins pushing himself till he is then sitting on his knees, his gaze then lifted to the iron shutter door in front of him.
It was then that the memories of his most recent near-death experience returned to him in full effect. He just had yet another encounter with Catnap, and yet again has somehow miraculously survived. He does not know how long he had been out, but if there is one thing for certain, he'll never let his guard down like that again.
Wait.
His friends, they're still in there!
The realization hitting him harder than even the train wreak from earlier. Dogday and Kissy, they are still in there with that monster!
Rising quickly onto his feet, nearly tripping due to how numb they felt at the moment, he lunged himself face first into the iron door with the full force of his weight. Punching, kicking, shoving, nothing seemed to work to get the door open, there isn't even a hand scanner nearby so he couldn't open it with his Grabpack. All his labor in a fruitless attempt to break it down.
He internally curses to himself that he just had to stuck here when he could have been in there with them. He doesn't even know how he got here. Was it one of his friends that pulled him out of there before Catnap could kill him? I so why? Why did they had to throw him out and leave themselves with that merciless creature?! Why couldn't he just for once do something right for someone?! Just WHY!?
And then as his pummeling slowed to a pitiful halt, he knew it was pointless to push on further. He isn't strong enough to break the door down, not like the others on the other side. He wished he was though, it would have made their lives easier. He felt he would have made everyone's lives easier if he had just been stronger, more willing. If only.
"Rrrrrrrriiinnggg!!"
He hears the phone ringing, it must be Ollie. Maybe he could tell him what happened, or even better tell him how to get through. Picking it up he brings the phone to his ear and sure enough Ollie is frantically begging to know if he is okay.
"Gabriel! Are you okay!? I tried to warn you all but there was interference in the signal and then Catnap appeared and I had to warn you all but-!"
"Ollie slow down for a second!" Gabe tried to assure. "You sound like you're about to have a heart attack."
Ollie however isn't calming down, at least willingly. "It doesn't matter now! You need to move!"
"Why? My friends are stuck on the other side and-"
"You don't understand!" Ollie cried, seemingly begging. "Catnap is onto you! You need to go, now!"
"But my friends!" Gabe pleaded.
"They'll be okay, I'll explain everything just go!"
Gabe felt conflicted, how could he just decide to leave his friends behind? He already did it once, why the hell would he ever want to do it again?! It's not fair for anyone, even for him. But Poppy entrusted him to fulfill their mission, and if he wishes to continue he needs to push on.
Then with deliberate steps, each of them carrying a weight that feels like wading through mud, he pulls himself away from the shutter door and begins to walk away. He looking around he sees that he has found himself within yet another corridor, though this one is a bit unfamiliar, this was not the way he came from.
"I can see you in the cameras." Ollie said. "Just keep running and I'll guide you back to the Playcare statue."
Picking up the pace, Gabe then switches from walking to jogging. He still feels tired however with the effects of the Red Smoke still lingering in his lungs, he can even still taste the pungent metallic taste on his lips, but whatever has gotten Ollie so spooked must be for a good reason, he can't waste time.
"If you're still worried about your friends. Don't worry, they are actually alright!" Ollie chirped happily. "Also take a left up here."
That's one thing to be relived about, then after following Ollie's instruction he asked another question. "But Catnap was there. How did they make it out alive?"
"That's the thing." Ollie replied worryingly. "He actually left them alone."
Now Gabriel is really confused. "Wait what!? Why?"
From the other side of the phone line, Gabe could hear Ollie's tremble. "Because I think Catnap isn't messing around anymore. He is done playing his game. Gabe, he is finally going to kill you."
While this statement sent chills down his spine, Gabe surprisingly didn't feel that intimidated. "Well, what else is new?"
"Gabe, you don't understand. That whole game of cat and mouse he usually does? He. Is. Done. He wants you dead, dead right now!"
It was at that moment, he decided that running is a better option. By now, now he is terrified for his life. "Okay…" Gabe softly spoke with a terrified tremble. "What about Dogday, Kissy, and Poppy? Can they help? You know, help defeat Catnap?"
"Again I don't know why." Ollie replied a bit frustrated. "Poppy must still be in the vents bringing that dumb tape back. And as for Dogday and Kissy, while they should be with you, now suddenly decided to head for the Playhouse instead. Also take the door on your right."
"The Playhouse?" Gabe remembered. "You mean where Catnap kept the other Smiling Critters?"
"Wait, you mean the bigger ones? They're still alive?!"
Gabriel felt a painful pit in his gut when he remembers just the thought of how awfully abused they were. Tortured to the brink of death and yet being denied it. It almost made him hate Catnap for doing such a thing.
"Yeah…" He said, his voice churned with so many emotions that it was hard to hear if it was either sadness, disgust, or anger. "Yeah, alive, but barely."
"Oooohhh! That explains it then!" Ollie replied. "Catnap must have told them that he'll be coming for the Critters first when really he is after you!"
Realization then hits Gabriel. "So Catnap lied, to distract Dogday and Kissy…"
"…So he can have you for himself." Ollie finished.
His blood ran ice cold, goosebumps running along his skin like the very air around him has suddenly become as freezing as the Ward. He knew that Catnap from before wanted him dead but it was all a game to him, just like Mommy, he was going to be his plaything for his sick little games. But now, his patience has run out. But his time is not yet up. And his friends, he needs to think about them too. If he finds them, Catnap will find them too. But if he takes a different path.
And lo and behold, just when he turned around the next corner there is a door with the Playcare sign just above it showing the way out. Perfect.
Ollie then continued speaking, thinking of a way to help him. "Okay, Catnap doesn't know that we know he's onto us, so if I just lead you back to Dogday and Kissy they'll keep you safe and-"
"There is one more generator." Gabriel says cutting Ollie off.
"…What?"
"There's one more generator I need to turn on to get the Gas Production Zone running again, right? Well where is it?"
Gabriel can't see Ollie face to face, yet from the stunned silence he instinctively knew that whoever, or whatever, they are on the other side has made a shocked face. "You can't be serious?" Ollie said boarder lined horrified.
"You heard me." He said opening the door leading back out to the central area of Playcare. "Dogday and Kissy are out to rescue the other Critters, if I head over to them, I lead Catnap straight to them. He can't be in two places at once, and if he wants to keep his 'god' safe, then he's going have to deal with me first."
"But the last generator is in the Councilor's Office! And it's one of Catnap's favorite places to hunt!" Ollie urgently warned. "He'll find you before you even find the generator!"
Gabriel can see the office in the distance, just across the from the statue. A large, white building, sitting atop a fake hill in the design of some sort of museum or judicial courthouse. That must be his target, and where Catnap will most likely meet him. And yet somehow, he almost didn't care.
"I'll take my chances." He said with certain determination in his voice, even as he is walking straight towards the office he feels resolve pushing him with each step. "I've faced Huggy and Mommy before, and I'll do the same with Catnap if I have to."
"But Catnap is not like Huggy or Mommy." Ollie explained. "He is much worse than that. You see before Catnap turned into, well Catnap, there was this really bad accident that happened. But the Prototype for some weird reason saved him. Since then he thinks the Prototype is like some superhero, who saved everybody here , he worships the Prototype like a god, and kills anyone who doesn't believe him. Even Huggy and Mommy had a hard time with him."
Gabriel simply shrugs his shoulders, still undeterred even with his gaze fixated on the office ahead of him. "So he's a fanatic, so what?"
"So what is because he doesn't follow the Prototype like the other toys, or even the Bigger Bodies." Ollie urged further. "Catnap likes to make people feel the same fear that the Prototype does to others. Every shadow, every flickering light is a spot for him to hide in. First he stalks his prey, and next he'll take everything you have to defend yourself, and when you're most vulnerable…he'll kill you. Catnap lives for the hunt."
Gabriel was silent for a moment, letting it all sink in. It is one thing to know that Catnap is ruthless, but to hear it from someone else is a whole other thing entirely. But even still he can't be deterred, he need to keep Catnap away from the others. Him activating the last generator is more than enough to distract the monstrous cat from hurting them.
"Then, looks like I'll just have to make a prayer, and get the job done." He said as he begins walking up the stone steps leading up to the office.
Ollie was dead silent for a moment, contemplating his answer. "Look Gabe, you're a good guy and everything, but I don't think a prayer is good enough to keep a giant murder cat away. We need to think practical here."
By now Gabriel has had enough of all this talking, he mind as well tell him how he thinks. "Well how is it practical then that I'm still alive then, hmm?!" He nearly yelled, not even caring if Catnap could hear him. "Look I don't know if it occurred to you, but I am not special. There is literally nothing remarkable about me and yet for some reason, after everything that has happened, I still don't know how the hell I'm even breathing right now. With my only explanation is that it's literally God-him-freaking-self who is basically feeding me plot armor that'll make Frodo Baggins jealous."
It was then just as he finished, that he now stood in front of the doorway to the Councilor's Office. The doors wide inviting him inside. "And besides, I'm done being a coward. This time, I'm gonna finally do something right for once in my life."
Ollie was just about the say something, anything to get through Gabriel's thick skull about the danger he is putting himself through, but yet the one part where he called himself a coward threw them off. "C-Coward? Who said you're a coward?"
But Gabriel isn't willing to explain. "Tell Poppy and the other's I'll be alright."
"But wai-!!" Before Ollie could finish Gabriel then cut the phone line, now leaving him alone as he ascended the final step up to the office.
The front door was left open, he knew danger lurked inside, the dark hallway inside seemingly taunting him to enter. A certain pain shot through Gabriel's heart, an aching pain of familiar origin. Memories of distant moments when all was simple and pleasant. Oh how the tables have turned on him, as the whole world he had ever known spiraled into the abyss. Now all that remains is the darkness ahead of him, malevolent madness that saturated this place in its cold, black coils.
All Gabriel could do now is take a breath, and then plunge into it.
<<<<<<<<<<~>>>>>>>>>>
It was hard to say that the mahogany hallways of the Councilors Office were a welcoming change compared to the redundant concrete corridors of the rest of the factory. The wooden floorboards creaked and cracked as years of long forgotten human footsteps made their first visit in years. Worn out furniture and chairs either broken or lying in decrepit condition, and the Playtime.co themed posters faded into tatters. It isn't much, but it is at least a change of scenery.
Though as Gabriel made way past the billboards of child drawings and the piled corpses of long dead toys he wondered why Catnap would ever find this place an appealing hunting ground for a giant predator like him. The plain yellow walls and suspended ceiling tiles felt too claustrophobic for his size and wood floorboards would creak so loudly he could be heard a whole building away.
But for whatever reason, he could hardly care less, he has a job to do.
Once he made another turn around a corner Gabriel sees a small room ahead of him with a desk, a computer, and many filing cabinets with their paper contents scattered across the blood stained floor. He picks up some of the papers and sees schedules and appointments for foster parents and adoptees written there on, this room must have functioned as a small lobby. There is actually a monitor hanging by the corner of the ceiling, still on through there is nothing but static to be seen. There is nothing good of useful to be seen here so he decided to move on.
Once he did however, the monitor screens suddenly flashed to life. Gabriel turned just in time to see the screen flash to red as with the emergency siren blaring in the audio. How did that turn on? Was it always like that?
Or did someone turn it on themselves?
He reads the white text, it is some sort of emergency broadcast, and displayed on it is the date where the emergency issue was in effect. "August 8th, 1995, 11 A.M."
His blood ran cold as the vivid memory set in, that was the same date as when the factory was shut down, when everybody disappeared. He remembered it all those years ago with the memory still fresh in his head as he watched the news with his family. It is still painful to even think about, almost to the point he didn't even want to look at it.
Pushing the memories to the side he decided it is best to keep going. Pulling a door open at the end of the lobby he finds himself in yet another hallway with many more doors leading to office spaces on each side. The alarm from the emergency alert recording was still buzzing in here as he finds out that there are actually plenty more monitors to be found hanging in here, all of them stringed together by wires and cables.
As he silently makes his way through the corridor he sees something stirring in each of the offices to his sides. The windows in the doors allowed him to briefly peer in and see, and within each and every office is the ever malignant mist of Red Smoke. There is no doubt about it, Catnap must be near. He then pulls the gas mask he kept latched to his belt and brings it close to him, just in case the worst happens.
Suddenly the alarms stopped, and following it is an audio message. "The following message is for all Playtime.co employees." The speaker said. "At 11:01 Eastern Standard Time, an unknown hostile force was declared present within the Playtime.co facility."
Oh what the authorities would give to hear this ten years ago. "Personal are to begin enacting emergency evacuation protocols immediately. Leave all personal belongings. Do not engage with any hostile entity. If no exit is available, seek shelter in a hidden location. Use blankets or pillows to cover your body and remain silent."
As Gabriel waded cautiously through the corridor, keeping his footfalls light as to ensure no sound was heard. All while still listening to the audio message whilst keeping his eyes out for any movement. "Do not look through any windows. Do not open doors for any individuals. Do not make eye contact wit-"
But then the audio is cut out, and replacing it, is a voice that made him freeze in place.
"Open the doors. The Hour of Joy has arrived."
That voice, so dark and twisted it sounded, like an amalgamation between the static buzz of electric audio and a chorus of vicious gurgling and growls. A voice that is every bit as unnatural as it is monstrous.This one did not sound like anyone he had ever came across before, not even Catnap's broken voice box could sound like that. But then why does it sound familiar? Had he heard it before?
But before he could question it any further the office doors then slowly begin to swing open, allowing the Red Smoke to enter the corridor. Realizing this, he quickly whipped the gas mask around his head and then straps it on, taking deep breaths the get the air to flow and filtrate through the masks' inhibitors. A sense of confidence briefly heightens, he will not be tricked and fall asleep here, especially here of all places.
He nears the end of the corridor and sees an office space just on the other side of a damaged door. Gabriel pulls the handle but it wouldn't budge, he even tries shoving it yet it won't break. Despite its decrepit state it seems that a good bit of the office remains intact. Mostlyintact.
Just before he thought of looking for another way however, he hears something coming from inside the locked room. Quickly he moves to the side to avoid being seen. The noise didn't sound like Catnap, but it was definitely another toy, a soft squeaking sound followed by, coughing?
With as much care he could, he slowly begins to peer in through the door's window, taking a peek inside. There is something moving in there, small, but noticeable. It is a toy, one of the smaller Bunzo toys to be exact. Scattered all throughout the room are piles upon piles of toy corpses, all of them decayed into a colorful bloody mess, and every corner of the room was filled to the brim with the Red Smoke.
Gabriel felt pity wrench his gut as he watched the smaller Bunzo walk along coughing up a storm. The sight reminding him of how terrible it is to even breathe the gas, the smoke burning his lungs and stinging his eyes all while drifting in and out of a dreamless nightmare.
He continued watching as the tiny toy then trip over itself and fall face first into the wood floor, motionless, not a whimper or cough to be heard as if it had suddenly fallen dead. Gabriel then reached out to try once again to jiggle the handle to get the door open, but before he can so much as touch the handle, another door inside the office suddenly flew open.
And as quick as a shadow Catnap lunged through the office space picking up the fainted Bunzo in his gaping maw.
Gabriel's heart skipped a beat as he then pulled himself away from the window and nearly threw himself to the bottom of the door, one hand pressed firmly on the door for support while the other clenched over his rapidly beating heart.
How long had Catnap been there? Has he been there hiding the whole time? And when did he get here so quickly? And more importantly why was he after that Bunzo toy? There is no doubt that he ate the toy, bless its soul, but didn't Ollie say that Catnap was done playing their game, that he is finally out for his blood? He knew that the giant cat knows that he is hiding here, but for being so single-minded how could he be quick to do something else?
Unless, did he know that he was just behind that door when that Bunzo was walking around in there?
And did he do all that just to scare him, all just to instill just a little more fear and terror in him? To make him feel small and weak even when he is actually hunting him?
If so then his sadistic acts that this cat performs is boundless in its intricacies.
He knew he needed to keep moving and find the generator as fast as possible, but where can he find it? Looking down the hallway from whence he came he saw another door at the far end, and sees through the window that it leads to yet another corridor. But it seemed to be locked with one of the large green battery slots attached to it. Now where can he find one?
Finally shacking himself free from his terrified stupor he lifts himself off the threshold and takes one last peek into the room from which Catnap attacked, Gabriel caught sight of a glint of green light somewhere in the pile of corpses, looking closer he can see a green battery laying there, lodged in the gore and filth. Then with a shot of his Grabpack he shot a hand and grabbed the battery, all the while praying the Catnap wasn't still nearby to see it.
Once he finally grabbed it he then went across the hall and slotted the battery in its place, unlocking the door. Even in these terrifying moments Gabriel still can't help but gripe on how stupid of an idea it is to use such large batteries when a simple key would do nicely.
Upon opening it, the interior of this hallway is even more decrepit than the rest of the office. Ruin was everywhere, even a part of the ceiling fell in with cables and busted pipes hanging through the twisted rebar. But through this hole Gabriel saw a ventilation duct above, just big enough for him to crawl through, and if he is right, then it will take him to the rest of this office.
Using the Grabpack he hoists himself up and into the ducts. Then begins crawling through the metal passages with up most care not to cause too much noise. Though he doesn't know where to look, Gabriel felt that the generator should be somewhere in one of the maintenance rooms.
After a few minutes of crawling, Gabriel sees his path inside the duck at an end. But thankfully there is a grate from which he can hop down from. Pulling the grate open, he then falls to the floor beneath him, another corridor, and this one is just as filled with Red Smoke as the last. Catnap must have been busy saturating the Councilors Office from roof to basement with this malevolent mist.
Taking a quick look around, he finds to his surprise a door with the sign saying "maintenance" written above it. That must be where the backup generator is. He went inside and sure enough, the massive generator is there, its hulking form a sight to behold. The power that this could yield is more than enough to jumpstart the Gas Production Zone into diverting the gas.
There was however one problem, the only thing standing between him and turning the generator on, is yet another one of Leith Pierre's stupid electrical tower puzzles.
Great, this will take a minute.
<<<<<<<<<<~>>>>>>>>>>
The deed was done, through trial and error, the generator is finally on. Breathing a sigh of relief, Gabriel inwardly celebrated his latest triumph over yet another pointless puzzle. But he knows he can't stay here, with how loud the machine is humming, there is no doubt Catnap hears it, and it will not take him long to find him.
Leaving the maintenance room behind, Gabriel wondered what he should do next however once he made it back out, should he attempt to meet up with the others and then formulate some sort of plan? If they really are going to go through with fighting the Prototype, then how are they going to deal with Catnap? He is his most loyal follower, his disciple, the priest of his own personal cult. Huggy and Mommy are one thing, they seemed to only follow the Prototype out of necessity or because of the ever looming threat of Catnap's smoke sending them to sleep forever.
But as for Catnap, he is by every meaning of the word aware of what the Prototype is doing, and he enforces it willingly.
Can it be possible to even scratch into this delusion holding the giant cat? Perhaps nothing less than an intervention with God himself could he change.
Perhaps God will provide a way for him to change.
Perhaps…
"purrrrrr purrrrr."
He was so engrossed in his thoughts Gabriel didn't notice the distinct sound of deep purring just in front of him. And when he mindlessly turned around the corner, there meeting him face to face, was the burning white eyes of Catnap. His jaws dripping with fresh blood.
Before Gabriel could so much as yelp, he was then grabbed around the throat and was then slammed into the floor right back into another office behind them, with the monster's claws wrapped around his windpipe with a vice like grip. The human tried to speak, say anything to plead with the giant cat, but the more he tried to speak the more Catnap's claws dug into his throat, earning him a new pair of puncture wounds. Catnap is not here to hear the human's words, nor is he here to talk.
No words are needed, Catnap just wanted Gabriel to die.
Catnap then reached for the gas mask, his purple pars gripping it firmly, and then with one swift motion ripped the mask right off of the human's face. Gabriel tried to hold his breath but the sudden jolt made him gasp in a whiff of the Red Smoke into his lungs, he can already feel it burning within him. Catnap then gazes at his prize, this mask has definitely been a rather annoying tool to work around of.
He took no second thought to smash the gas mask into the floor, leaving nothing but pieces.
By then Gabriel was teetering between the pain of consciousness and the depths of eternal sleep, all with Catnap looming above him with killer intent. This time, there truly was no escape. No allies to rely on, no more tools, no more tricks, no more ideas, all that awaits him now is Catnap's wrath.
In Gabriel's mind, there truly was no hope.
He closed his eyes to accept the inevitable.
Catnap wasn't satisfied however, he wanted to see blood. He doesn't care if either the Interloper's head is sitting on a pike or if he is hanging by his own entrails. He wants him dead, and dead now.
Raising a claw up, anticipation building up to a crescendo of awaiting death, Catnap prepares to strike with the fury of the Prototype behind it. Aimed perfectly dead center towards his throat, he will not miss this one chance to finally prove himself yet again to his master, to his god, that he is his one true disciple.
But just when he was about to bring it down, something touched his shoulder, it felt like...feathers.
No. No no no no it can't be.
Not here. Not when he finally has the enemy in his grasp.
Slowly, Catnap turned around, his heart in his throat for the anticipation of what could be behind him. But when he finally turned full circle, there was no one there. He isn't satisfied though, he needs to know if that thing is not there. He then takes a peek into the hallway, leaving the unconscious human on the floor. He looked here, there, and everywhere, and yet, there is not a sign of the enemy anywhere.
Good, Catnap thought as he turned back around towards his prey. With that false angel nowhere he can finally kill the…
Just as soon as Catnap turned back around, he finds it. His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat, for there standing before him, just mere feet away, was the demon watching over the Interloper. The angelic visage the false angel held appeared so pure, heavenly, and yet so alien at the same time. And there it was, leaning down over the sleeping human, watching over him with dutiful intent.
For a second he thought the false angel doesn't know he's there, until its "face" turned and looked at him. Everything about this feathered creature is so alien yet understandable, there was no malice nor care in the entities' gaze. No eyes and yet it sees him, and no ears yet it hears. All that is seen is but a small, soft, white light hanging in the void underneath the cloak of wings.
Catnap was stunned, speechless, he couldn't even bring himself to move. All he could do is simply stand there as he and the false angel lock gazes with each other. But the thoughts of his master spurred him on. He must complete what he has set out to do. He must please his god. It is his purpose, his design, the reason he exists.
And in that one moment with as much strength he could mentally and physically muster, Catnap broke his gaze with the false angel, raised a claw up, and threw it down with the intent to rip the entity in two.
But then, angel lifted its feathered hand up, and then suddenly Catnap froze in his place, his claws just a hair's breadth away from the angel's head. Tried as he might, he couldn't bring himself to go all the way and strike the entity down. Was it because of the command it gave, is the creature using some sort of witchcraft on him, or is frozen still by his own volition to the authority this being held?
The angel leaned in towards the giant feline's face, its own mere inches from his own. It was at this moment that Catnap realized the full extent of the angel's massive size, twice bigger than him, and is as imposing in stature as the Prototype himself. Wings enveloping every part of the enormous being, similar to a cloak or robe, the feathers soft as silk yet the metallic sheen would have mistaken them for blades of purest silver.
They both kept their gazes locked, the angel leering in on Catnap with an indiscernible expression, almost as if it was judging him.
Till at last, from out of that mouthless face, it spoke.
"You're afraid." The Angel said. A voice neither male nor female, soft like morning wind, yet with gravitas that shook his whole being.
Of what? Catnap thought.
"Of Him." The Angel replied, knowing what he thought. "The abomination in hiding here."
Abomination? What did it meant by that? They are all abominations, their oppressors made them so. Their original flesh was stripped away from their skin and remolded into colorful fabric and plastic. There is nothing pure here, only the Prototype. Only the Prototype, can save them, just as he did before.
"And yet, here you remain in bondage."
Wait, bondage? Is.., is this false angel, calling his god, his one and only savior, an abomination?! Who does this demon think it is, to dare call his only god a monster!? It is because of the Prototype that he is no longer suffering in torment, he is free! Through him there is nothing to fear for, no reason to hide in shadows. The Prototype has saved us all!
The only reason he is ever afraid is because of the heretics, his so called friends who betrayed the Prototype, who betrayed him! Had they accepted the truth of their god's words they would have all still be happy, they would all still be friends! Friendship was broken, because of them.
"It is through fear that your relationships remain broken." The Angel again answered, its gaze never leaving Catnap's. "When you were traded with one oppressor to another, the same fear as before was instilled. Your friends knew this, and rejected this fear. You however, accepted it. That acceptance, is why you remain broken."
Broken? He is not broken, he is whole. The Prototype has made his existence fulfilled. He is happy.
"Are you at peace?" The Angel questioned.
The Prototype has made all their lives fulfilled.
"Are you at peace, Theo?"
"..."
It was then that Catnap realizes, that even though he had not even spoken a word to the false angel, it not only knew what he was thinking, but knew much about him in general. Was this being watching him? For how long? How much does it know?
Though for now, it seems the Angel is done talking with him.
"Remember these words." The Angel practically commanded. "Consider it, and acknowledge it."
The Angel then lifted its feathered hand up to Catnap's head, and gently pressed into him.
"Leave."
And just like that, Catnap suddenly found himself standing by the center statue just in front of the Councilor's Office. When his senses finally caught up to what just had happened, he immediately looked around everywhere wondering how he got there. He didn't even blink, how the hell did that creature bring him out here?!
He gazes back up at the office building, there was little doubt that the Interloper and the demon are still inside there. Anger blazed once again in Catnap's eyes, he had him right then and there! Cursing unholy words inside himself, he wanted nothing more than to barrel his way through that building, find his quarry and tear him apart into so many pieces that even the Mini-Critters would not find them.
But yet, why does he feel so apprehensive about it? Is it because of the false angel's power? No, it's not it. An aching feeling begins rising in his chest, an emotion that he has trained so hard through the years to remove from his life. A feeling that maybe, just maybe. Has he been living in a lie? Is it because of what it said? His friendships, his dreams, his life, are still yet broken? Could it be that this feeling is..,
…Guilt?
No, how could he let his moment of weakness overrule him?
He is better than that, he is supposed to be better.
And it doesn't matter now, everyone that has ever hurt him is dead now, and it is all their fault.
His friends are all good as dead, and it is all their fault.
There is yet one last obstacle remaining between him and peace, the human, the Interloper, the last survivor of Playtime.co. He will wait until the moment is right, Wait until that blasted demon is nowhere to be found, and when that time comes, and it will.
The human will finally die.
<<<<<<<<<<~>>>>>>>>>>
Back inside the Councilor's Office, the Angel is still yet standing over the sleeping form of Gabriel, watching over him as he has always done. It was honestly cathartic to protect the human in such a way as to send that tortured victim away. Many mortals thought angels use force just like this in order to protect, this is not always true. It is very rare that an angel would even appear like this, much less act.
But it matters not, they is on a mission and it performed as needed. A mission of high importance was for this human's life, and they had been assigned to watch over this mortal ever since he had been born. They watched him, and never interfered. Watched him grow, achieve, overcome, burdened, and suffered, and suffer did this human did. And yet much more terror awaits him.
Though they is grateful now that it has finally reached him, now that they are with him again they can watch over him until he awakens and then…Wait, something's wrong.
There is another presence approaching. Cold, bitter, vengeful, a malice so potent that they could nearly taste it. They suddenly feel themselves as if they are being pushed away, the sheer weight of hatred this presence is putting off brings such pressure that it nearly tears them to shreds.
No! They can't be pushed away now! It took so much effort just to even get back with him after the incident in the Playhouse earlier! They could feel their strength waning, the Abomination is bringing too much pain.
Until at last, with the last of the Angel's strength spent, they were sent away into the depths of darkness, into the space behind reality.
With the Angel gone, it was just Gabriel, laying unconscious on the floor, but yet not alone. For out of the darkness behind him, creaking and clicking of mechanical and bio-mechanical parts, comes a long made of steel, bone, wire, and flesh, and ending in a massive metal hand with spindly fingers, long and sharp as needles.
The hand reaches out towards Gabriel, and gingerly places the tips of its needle-like fingers on his head. A voice then speaks, dark and unnatural, a near perfect contrast compared to the Angel.
"Rest now, little angel. I will be waiting for you, in your dreams." The Prototype mused humorously as a pair of red eyes gaze down at the human with cruel intensity. "I cannot wait to show you just what you missed out on…Heheheheheh, Ahhahahaha!!"