Five Nights at Freddy's: The Silver Eyes(79)

“What is it?” Charlie said, and he cast his eyes in Carlton’s direction. Carlton was huddled on the floor, his knees drawn up tight to his chest, and his arms were wrapped oddly around his head. Charlie knelt down beside him.

“Carlton?” She said, and he made a small whimper. She put a hand on his shoulder, and he leaned into her a little.

“Charlie? Sorry about all this,” he whispered.

“Shhh. Tell me what’s going on,” she said. She had a sick feeling of dread. Something really was wrong, and she did not know how much was his injury, and how much was just exhaustion, pain, and terror. “You’re going to be okay,” she said, stroking his back and hoping it was true.

After a long moment, he pushed at her, and she drew back, slightly hurt, until she saw him pitch forward over the cardboard box, retching again. She looked up at John.

“He needs a doctor,” he said in a low voice, and she nodded. Carlton sat up again and wiped his face with his sleeve.

“It’s not that bad, I’m just so tired.”

“You can’t go to sleep,” Charlie said.

“I know, I won’t. But I didn’t sleep last night, and I haven’t eaten since yesterday—it just makes everything worse. I had a bad moment, but I’m okay.” Charlie looked at him dubiously, but did not argue.

“Now what?” Jessica said. Charlie didn’t answer right away, even though she knew the question was for her. She was picturing the guard, his eyes rolling back in his head as he collapsed, his thin face going slack as he fell. They needed answers, and he was the one who had them.

“Now let’s hope I didn’t accidentally kill that guard,” Charlie said.

“I don’t want to go back out there,” Jessica said.

“We have to go back to where I found Carlton.”

“Hang on,” said John, and pulled out the radio again. “Hey, Marla are you there?” There was a blip of static, then Marla’s voice.

“Yeah, we’re here.”

“We need to get to the supply room, it’s off the main dining room, past the stage. Can you see the area?”

There was a pause as Marla searched her screens.

“I can see most of it. Where are you? I can’t see you.”

“We’re in an office. It’s—” John looked at Charlie for help, and she took the radio.

“Marla, do you see another hall leading from the main room? Sort of the same direction as the closet, but next to it?”

“What? There are too many hallways!”

“Hang on. Can you see this?” Over the protests of the others, Charlie opened the office door and poked her head out cautiously. When she saw that the space was clear—or at least she was fairly sure it was clear—she stepped out into the open, looked up, and waved. There was nothing but a quiet, steady static from the walkie-talkie, then Marla’s voice came through, excited.

“I see you! Charlie, I can see you.”

Charlie ducked back into the little room, and Jessica caught the door and shut it behind her, double and triple-checking the lock.

“Okay, Marla,” Charlie said. “Follow the cameras. You can see that hall, can you see the main dining room?”

“Yes,” she said instantly, “most of it. I can see the stage and the area around it, and I can see the second hallway, the one parallel to yours.”

“Can you see the door at the end?”

“Yes, but Charlie, I can’t see into the supply room.”

“We’ll just have to take our chances with what’s in there,” Charlie answered. “Marla,” she said into the receiver, “are we clear to get to the dining room?”

“Yes,” Marla said after a moment. “I think so.”

Charlie took the lead, and all four of them made their way slowly down the hall; Jessica hung back a little with Carlton, staying so close to him he almost tripped over her feet.

“Jessica, I’m fine,” he said.

“I know,” she said quietly, but she did not move away, and he did not protest again.

When they reached the end of the hallway they stopped.

“Marla?” Charlie said into the radio.

“Go ahead—no, stop!” She cried, and they froze, pressing their bodies up against the walls as if it might make them invisible. Marla whispered over the walkie-talkie, her hushed tones distorting her voice even more.

“Something—stay quiet—” She said something else, but it was unintelligible. Charlie craned her neck to see out into the room and what might be lurking there, some murky form, lumbering heavily in the shadows, poised to attack— There was a long rumble outside, and the panels on the ceiling rattled as if they were about to fall.

“Marla, I don’t see anything,” Charlie said into the walkie-talkie. She looked at the stage, where all of the animatronics were still in position, staring sightless into the distance.

“Me either,” John whispered.

“Sorry,” Marla said. “Not to overstate the obvious, but it’s creepy in here, it feels like it’s been midnight for hours. Does anyone know what time it is?”

Charlie checked her watch, squinting to see the little hand. “It’s almost four,” she said.

“AM or PM?” Marla said. She didn’t sound like she was joking.