First attempt at a story directly after Secret of the Mimic

The robot settled on the small bed, clutching the white tiger plushie Arnold had found. The blue eyes flickered off, power seemingly draining from the thing that had previously tried killing Arnold about every five minutes through the facility. Arnold carefully tiptoed around the bedtime story podium, eyeing the door but more sure about the vent he came in through. 

He slid in sideways, making sure he could see both ends of the vent. His head in a permanent swivel, he managed to get through safely. Cautiously opening the door, Arnold peered out with his eyes landing on it—a strange amalgamation of animatronics he recognized to be Fazbear characters. Bonnie ears, yes, but Chica’s face on the side like a mask poorly worn. And yet, those once yellow eyes that searched for him were powered down. The animatronic stood in place, arms down at its sides, and its head hung. Off. 

Arnold felt his adrenaline finally getting to him. His whole body started to shake as he collapsed to the ground. There was a mix of relief and pain going through his system. 

But then a jolt ran through his body as he heard a distinctive THUMP. Muffled, but he heard it. Arnold stood, heart pounding. He jogged quickly past the endoskeleton and down the stairs to the first floor. He reached the landing right as a well-dressed man opened the door. 

The man seemed shocked to see Arnold, but then his expression softened.

“Will!” he called over his shoulder, “I found him!” He smiled with a chuckle, “You had us quite worried, friend!” he told Arnold. 

Arnold couldn’t speak. He didn’t know what to say. 

“See, Henry,” a new man said as he entered the house, “I told you there was nothing to worry about.” Will turned his attention to Arnold. “Say, lad, are you alright?”

Arnold shook his head before he consciously thought about doing it. 

Henry nodded, “I’ll get the others, redirect them up here.” He took off out the door. 

“I don’t know if we’ve introduced ourselves properly,” Will said. “That was Henry Emily, and I am William Afton. I believe you are Arnold, yes?”

Arnold’s head bobbed quickly, understanding his boss’s boss’s bosses were speaking to him. 

William put a hand on Arnold’s shoulder. “You are safe now, lad.”

He couldn’t help himself. He looked back up the stairs, hoping he wouldn’t see the animatronic racing down to kill him. William followed the young man’s gaze. 

“What’s up there?” he asked. 

Arnold faced the executive again and swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m not exactly sure, sir,” he replied. “But I think it’s the MIMIC program I was sent to collect. At least, the endoskeleton runs on the… it.”

Before Arnold could process his movements, William bounded up the stairs, two at a time. Arnold quickly followed him. Really, he didn’t want to be the last one with the CEO if he ended up dead. 

He watched William tap his chin thoughtfully as he paced around the animatronic. “Doesn’t seem motion activated,” he muttered. “Are you sure?” he snapped at Arnold. 

“Well… I… I did something…” Arnold stuttered. 

“What, boy!” William barked. 

“There was a program Mr Murray created. I was told to put it in the animatronic.”

William didn’t interrupt him. He stared angrily, but didn’t speak over Arnold. 

“It was called The Cradle. It powered them all down.”

“All?” William inquired. 

“At least the two in this house.”

William’s mouth quirked. “Two?”

“This one and the one in the bedroom. David Murray’s bedroom, down that hall. I think there are more in the factory. Could be more in the house…” Arnold trailed off shakily. 

“He made… multiple?” William asked with a giddy smile.

“Will? Arnold?” Henry’s voice called from the first floor. 

“Go,” William told Arnold, “Get patched up. Fazbear will cover the costs. You’ve done an amazing job.”