A/N: So, first chapter to get rewritten. You probably won't see a lot of difference plot-wise, but things should be worded a bit better.

So, in case you're a new reader, hello! This is the first of a series of fanfics I'm writing based on the FNAF universe. I'm planning to stretch all the way to FNAF3, maybe even more, but with a new game on the way, I'm always trying to work things out!

But first, let's start simple: focusing on Mike as he works at Freddy's.


I started having the nightmares when I was eight.

My memories of them were always foggy, and things seemed change a little each time, but there were a few constants. Some kind of kids' restaurant. A man arguing with me. Someone telling me to get out of the way. Blood... Blood everywhere. A big toothy... thing glaring down at me.

Like I said, they tended to change from night to night, mostly in the ending. Sometimes I woke up before it could do anything. Sometimes I got pulled out of the way. And sometimes... Well, I'd rather not talk about it. Point is, the nightmares sucked. Every time, I'd wake up in a cold sweat. Once, not long after moving out, I'd curled up in a ball and started sobbing. I hadn't gotten a lot of help from my family, even when I lived with them, but waking up from what felt like near-death in an empty house? Not fun.

They were always bad, but not long ago, I suffered from the worst one yet. Fifteen years after they started, almost to the day. This time, it got me.

My vision went black. I could hear screaming. Then, I heard a girl's voice calling my name.

"Michael... Michael, you silly boy."

Was it one of my sisters? It didn't sound like them. It was smooth and high-pitched, with a very unchild-like tone. "Who... Who's there?" I called out. To my surprise, unlike any other time I spoke in these dreams, it was real-life, grown-up me talking, not dream, little-kid me. I felt myself grow weak, and I heard giggling.

"You shouldn't do this... You saw what they can do, and yet you go back?"

"W-what are you talking about?" Now I was freaking out. What was this kid (assuming it even was a kid) getting at?

"Why, Michael, I know it's been a long time, but you didn't really forget my friends?"

I tried to stand, but my legs crumbled beneath me. I couldn't stand, I couldn't see, and I had no clue what was going on. "Please... just let me wake up," I whimpered.

"Whatever do you mean, silly?" Another giggle.

"I know I'm dreaming. I know I'm dreaming!" I started yelling. "It got me, now let me wake up!"

"Oh, Michael," the voice said, fading out as I drifted back into consciousness. "Don't you get it? You nightmare's just beginning."

My eyes snapped open, my eyes scanning the room for demon children. Still, even as I sat there, fully awake, I heard the voice speak one last time, as my eyes fell on my new work uniform, draped over the foot of my bed and ready for my first night on the job.

"And this time, there's no waking up."


I can handle a midnight-to-six shift. The murder-bots? Not so much.

I closed the right door, knowing Chica was on the other side, and put my head in my hands. Wow, this desperate for a job, Schmidt? I caught myself thinking. Willing to work this job just to keep the old woman off your back?

Well, yeah. I couldn't get a job anywhere, and while my family was willing to give me some money, they wanted to know I was doing something with my time. And if this was the only place I could hold down a job? Well, I'd have to suck it up.

In my defense, there was also a bit of a moral reason for me to work at Freddy's. I didn't want to leave some other guy to deal with these metal scumbags. A newbie would get torn apart in a night without help. So, here I was, sealed in an office, fighting off animatronics who (for some reason) thought I was a metal endoskeleton. And that's if that was really the problem with them.

Yeah, great excuse. It didn't make sense-I mean, why wouldn't they fix it?

Because the lady running this train wreck has no regard for human life?

That I knew for sure, judging by her response to my question about the guy who worked here before me.

"Don't worry, Mr. Schmidt. If we deem it necessary, we'll file a missing persons report."

Bullshit, I thought, and sighed. Poor guy. He was just a guy like me, literally fighting to make a living. I bet he had a family, friends-people who missed him. Those messages he left were the only reason I lasted as long as I did. Even if I got through the first night solo, I never would've known what to do with Foxy.

Speaking of which, what are those buggers doing?

I lifted the tablet, only to hear a thunk sound to my left. The door!

I spun around, thinking one of those things had snuck in and locked me in with them. But there was nothing.

...Except for banging on the other side of the door, that is. I jumped, and then checked the cameras. Sure enough, Pirate's Cove was empty.

Well. A door just saved my life. That... happened.

No, I thought, and shook my head. There was no way that door just acted on its own accord. Must have been a fluke in the wiring or something; made as much sense as anything in this place. I walked over and hit the button to open the door. Suddenly, it shut again.

"...The hell?" I said to no one in particular. Was the door broken?

"I don't need to waste power!" I yelled. It was then that realized that I was yelling at a door. I put a hand to my face. Great, now I'm going crazy. Must have had too much coffee. I went to open the door again.

Don't!

I froze. A voice-soft, almost inaudible, but still there. Was I hearing things now?

Mike, ch-check the light.

I stepped back. I didn't know if that was my own mind talking, if I really was crazy, or what. Still, I turned the light outside the door on, only to see Bonnie walking away.

I couldn't believe it. If the door didn't do-whatever the hell it just did, I would have died.

I wasn't even sure how it closed itself, or what the voice was, but I didn't care. If this was going to keep happening, I was going to abuse this power.

"So, let me get this straight," I said, "you can close yourself, so as long as I tell you when to do it, I don't need to go near the halls and risk them jumping me?"

The door, being a door, didn't respond.

I grinned. Oh, I was going to abuse the hell out of this power.


And that's how I started a partnership with a sentient door.

Man, when you say it out loud, it sounds kinda nuts.

"Freddy's in the right hall!" I yelled, and that door automatically closed.

I let out a sigh of relief. Not having to get near those doors was nice, but I couldn't help but worry the doors would stop doing whatever they were doing any minute now, and I'd be dead meat. Still, for the time being, I was fine. Had been for a few days now.

I checked the cameras, adjusting my glasses. Foxy had just made a run at me, so he was back behind the curtains in Pirate Cove. I heard noises from the kitchen, so that's probably where Chica was, and Bonnie was in the hallway, which might become a problem any second now.

Smiling, I put the tablet down and checked my watch. 4:50. About an hour left. Turning the tablet back on, I thought, Alright, Mike. you can do this. Nothing to worry about.

Right as I thought that, I remembered why people recommend against tempting fate.

M-Mike, watch out!

I whirled around, only to see Bonnie lunge at me with an ear-piercing screech. I hadn't closed the door, leaving myself open to attack on one side. The animatronic grabbed me by the arm, dragging me towards the door. I thrashed and screamed, trying desperately to get loose, but it wasn't working. Oh please no I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'm gonna die oh god oh god-

"Let him go, y-you monster!"

Now I knew I wasn't hearing things. The voice was clearer now, not just a faint whisper. I felt someone grab my free arm and pull. The desk fan went flying over my head and hit Bonnie in the face. He flinched away, letting go of my arm.

I fell forward, grabbing the desk to support myself. I stood there for a moment, trying to catch my breath. I heard the door slam next to me, and thought hazily, Oh, hey, that still works. Good to know.

"Agh, stupid rabbit... Are you alright?" Oh, yeah. I still had the voice in my head here, which just saved my hide. Either that or some poor schmuck that got locked in here after-hours. Or maybe a really friendly-and stupid-burglar...

"Mike! A-are you okay?" the voice repeated, sounding more panicked now. "P-p-please, answer me!"

"I'm fine, don't worry," I panted. I took a second more to regain my bearings, pushed my hair out of my face, and looked up, trying to see where the voice was coming from. The desk had been trashed, with things thrown everywhere, probably in search of a weapon. Gonna have to pick that up before leaving... My eyes wandered to the left door, and I froze, my jaw hanging open.

There was a man standing there, staring out the window. He was older-and taller- than me, mid-thirties if I were to guess.

The catch? I could see through him.

Oh, joy, I thought, now we have a ghost problem.

Then promptly fell on my face.


...I still can't write action scenes. Great.