CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - 'An Old Friend'

"I swear that tracking Marionette was easier in the old days." Gold sighs, poking the pocket watch with frustration. "He's put a whole lot of Dark Magic on this."

"Dark Magic?" Freddy grabs the pocket watch from Gold. "What sort and why is it messing with the Tracker?"

Gold regards the symbol carefully before replying. "The sort that stops him being Tracked, that's what."

"We need to find him." Freddy pressed the watch into Gold's hand. "Can you get it to work? This seriously needs to be sorted."

"I can try." Gold jokes and then stops. "Sorry. I can - Marionette's magic has been weakened by being shut down for so long."

"How long will it take?" Freddy pulls at his tie impatiently.

"An hour, give or take." Gold shakes his head at the look of a plan on Freddy's face. "I am not doing it in ten minutes. Things like this take a while and can be really dangerous."

"Get on with it then." Freddy grimaces. "I'll see if Foxy or the others have any clue."

* * ** * * * * ** *** * *

"What are you saying?" Your eyes stretch wide. "That the puppet wants to kill us?"

"Technically speaking, you and Mike." Drusilla corrects, frowning. "Speaking of the devil, where is Mike?"

"Heh, about that..." You trail off, scratching your neck nervously. "Mike kind of wandered off. To go to the loo or whatever."

"Cheese." Drusilla sighs. "Why didn't you stop him? Marionette is about and trying to kill whatever human he can find!"

You cross you arms defensively. "Well, if I had known then I wouldn't have let him!"

"Okay, okay... okay." Drusilla begins pacing the room, and then pauses. "I'll find Bonnie and then we can search together. Do not, and I mean, do not, leave this room. Because if you do, someone will kill you, whether it be Marionette of Freddy. Got it?"

You blink and nod. "Fine. I'll try not to be a hero."

"Good." Drusilla heads towards the door, throwing words over her shoulder. "I'll go find Bonnie, possibly Chica or Foxy to stay with you. Just don't leave this room."

* * ** * * * * ** * * *

"Marionette's on the loose." Bonnie grimaces, his arms crossed and leaning against the wall of Pirate's Cove. Foxy's eyes are narrowed, worry slowly feeling the golden depths.

"So he's going to kill whichever human he finds." He paused. "Dammit. Why is Mike and (your name) always put in danger because of me?"

Bonnie places a reassuring hand on Foxy's shoulder. "It's not just you. It's all of us. Maybe we should be more honest. Less people would get hurt that way."

"People already are hurt!" Foxy snaps, blinking rapidly and shaking. "We've killed so many without even the shadow of a doubt! Think about all of their family's!"

"What's done is done, Foxy." Bonnie breathes, bowing his head. "None of us could stop, and we can't blame ourselves now. Our friends are in danger, so let's find them, okay?"

Foxy looks up with a slight smile. "That sounds like a good idea for once. Well done, Bonnie."

** * * * ** * ** * * * * * *
"Tick tock goes the clock," Mike sang off-tune, rinsing his hands under the water of the taps. "The clock strikes one, a mouse falls down and.... never gets back up? Oh, whatever."

Rolling his eyes, Mike turns and finds himself in darkness. It was pitch black all except the dim lights flickering above. He sniffs and slowly turns back to the taps, pressing down on them. But they don't work.

"Oh, don't give me that crap." Mike groans. "All I want is to get back to that stupid office to finish this stupid night-"

And then the taps turn on. Not just the one that Mike had been consistently pressing, but all of them. It starts as a soft trickle, but the arches up in a crescendo of water, hitting Mike square in the abdomen.

Trying to block the aggressive water, Mike tilts his head back and forth, his mind whirling. What the Hell was happening? Why? What was up with this pizzeria and constant supernatural habits?

I could answer that one, A voice said hauntingly. Mike glared around the bathroom as the water died down. But I won't.

"Who said that?" Mike growled, his clothes soaked and dripping. He hugged his arms close to his body, hoping that his alter-ego will keep him safe. "Show yourself! I'm not scared, you know!"

Really? The voice questioned with interest. Is that really a safe thing to say?

"Yeah." Mike forced a hint of challenge into his voice. "If you think you're all high-and-mighty, come and face me. Like a man. Come on. Not afraid, are you?"

"Well, you should be." A new voice spoke, one much closer. One less distant. A voice in a thin hiss of a whisper, like breath on a stormy night. It sent a shiver up Mike's spine. This was a new speaker; someone in the same room.

Mike gulps. "Who are you?"

The speaker is silent. "Mortals. So oblivious some times. Do you really not know who I am?"

"No." Mike closes his eyes, feeling like a piece of prey. A piece of prey about to be killed. "If I did, then I won't be saying no."

"Just look behind you." The voice instructs. Mike hesitates, torn between fear and curiosity. "Do it, human. I told you, turn around."

So Mike did.

* ** * * * ** * * * * *
Everyone; RUN AND HIDE. Ahhhh. It's a cliffhanger! Oh no, why must I be so mean?! But, at least I managed to update. And it has been immensely hectic these last few days *cough*weeks*cough*.
Anyway, please comment nice things and follow! It really supports me and I might try to update quicker. Maybe - if I can.
Thanks and kisses,

Nat xx