Masked Souls

Billy moved with urgency, snatching Gregory up in one swift motion. His internal programming flickered to life, scanning the security cameras until he locked onto the shadowy figure slipping through the corridors. The moment he identified its path, Billy took off at full speed, his feet pounding against the metal floors as he pursued the elusive presence, navigating through the darkened halls by relying on the camera feeds flashing within his vision.

The chase stretched on for what felt like an eternity, twisting through the labyrinthine halls of the ruined PizzaPlex. The figure was fast, evading sight just as Billy caught up, but he was relentless. Finally, the figure was forced into a dead end—a dark, abandoned room sealed off from the rest of the facility.

Billy slowed, lowering Gregory gently to the floor before stepping forward. His eyes pulsed with a vibrant blue, casting an eerie light into the pitch-black room. The glow revealed its contents—an old, dust-covered television, a makeshift bed, and walls covered in frantic, scrawled messages. The words were nearly illegible, written with such force they seemed etched into the very walls. And then, as Billy swept his gaze across the room, the light fell upon the figure—Michael Afton.

Billy's pupils flickered, shifting from blue to a piercing red as he took an aggressive step forward.

Billy: "You—!... How are you alive?! You should be dead!"

Michael slowly lifted his head, his expression calm, almost resigned.

Michael: "I died long ago… Decades ago… And since then, I can't die…"

Billy's hands clenched at his sides, his voice strained with the weight of history.

Billy: "Why are you here? Why did you explode me? I told you to stay out of this… But you got involved anyway!"

Michael let out a quiet, weary sigh.

Michael: "I know… I'm sorry, Billy. I had to. I was forced to do it…"

Billy's red pupils dilated slightly as he stared, processing Michael's words. Then, his voice dropped to a low murmur.

Billy: "… This isn't the first time you wanted me dead, is it?…"

Michael remained silent, his shoulders stiffening as he slowly raised his head, his eyes meeting Billy's.

Billy took another step forward, his voice colder now.

Billy: "…Do you remember how I became Billy?… Because of your father—William… I was dying, Michael. I was trapped inside the springlock suit, bleeding, suffocating… I couldn't move. I couldn't even breathe. And you? You just stood there and watched. You did nothing. I was going to die, and you let it happen."

Billy's voice trembled, but not with fear—with something far more raw.

Billy: "I became Billy because of her… She saved me. But you—you did nothing. And now, you had another chance… with that explosion… and you took it."

Michael's gaze softened, his voice tinged with regret.

Michael: "No, Billy, listen. I knew the Puppet was going to act. I knew she'd save you. I couldn't do anything, I—"

He hesitated, inhaling sharply.

Michael: "I was shocked, Billy. Seeing my father die… Seeing you become Billy… It left me speechless. And Henry… he worked to avenge you. He created Gregory."

Billy's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.

Michael: "This virus… it was created from how Henry remembered William. As deadly as William was. But you don't have to fight anymore, Billy. It's over. You're the last soul trapped. The last one who needs to be saved."

Billy remained still, his mind racing, his glowing pupils flickering as he processed everything.

Billy: "…And Fazbear Entertainment?"

Michael exhaled, shaking his head.

Michael: "Not a threat anymore. Stephen is dead. The Mimic killed him. And now… the virus has infected everything—every system, every remnant of Fazbear Entertainment. There's nothing left."

A heavy silence settled between them. Then, slowly, Michael stepped aside, making a path for Billy to walk past him.

Billy hesitated, staring at Michael, at the weight of his words. Then, without a word, he turned toward the far wall and sank to the floor, leaning back against it. His shoulders slumped as he exhaled softly, his glowing eyes dimming ever so slightly.

Michael stepped toward the door, his movements slow, almost careful. As he reached up, he grasped the edges of his white polar bear mask and removed it, revealing his face. He gave Billy a small, knowing smirk.

Michael: "Thank you for everything, Billy… Rest in peace. You deserve it. You will never be forgotten…"

And with that, Michael quietly shut the door, and Billy's pupils flickered.

Gregory's Thoughts

Gregory stood there, unmoving, his heart pounding in his chest. His mind raced as he replayed everything he had just witnessed. Billy—this entity he had fought beside, trusted, studied—was something far more than just an animatronic. He was a soul, a person trapped in a body of metal and wires, carrying the weight of decades of suffering.

Gregory had always been good at analyzing things. Every movement Billy made, every hesitation, every shift in his voice—Gregory had been studying him since the moment they met. Trying to understand. Trying to predict. Trying to find a way to control him, to hack him if necessary. But now? Now, he wasn't so sure.

Billy wasn't like anything else Gregory had ever encountered. He wasn't just a machine following orders. He wasn't like Freddy or Monty. He wasn't even like the Mimic. He was something else—something that couldn't be reduced to code or circuitry.

Gregory felt a pit form in his stomach.

Had he ever really understood Billy at all?

Had he underestimated just how human Billy was?

As the flickering light in Billy's eyes dimmed, Gregory swallowed hard.

For the first time since entering the PizzaPlex… he wasn't sure if he had the upper hand anymore.