With a creaking stop, the mechanical lift meets its end at the top of the elevator shaft, jolting Gabriel up from where he is standing. With dry yet teary eyes he takes in his surroundings, he immediately notices that the room he has found himself in has been built with security in mind, no railings, no windows, nothing but concrete walls all around.
And much to Gabriel's chagrin, the Red Smoke is everywhere. Across the floors, in the ceiling above, even the air itself is tinged red like blood. How he has not fallen over and passed out even he doesn't know, but the drowsiness, the stinging in his eyes, the burning scent in his lungs, it's all still there.
It had been but a mere moment ago that he had barely escaped Catnap after he had transformed into that, thing. What even was that? How could the Red Smoke just, do that? Did Catnap somehow literally hijack his mind and altered his perception so he'll appear like that? Is that even a possibility? But then again given all that he has seen thus far, it doesn't seem to be an impossible assumption.
But if that is so, then what really is real about this place anymore?
There is no time for him to ponder however, Gabriel knows Catnap is on his tail, and it won't be long for him to catch up to him. After all, wherever their's Red Smoke, there is Catnap.
He then finally steps off the lift and ventures into the concrete corridors. And it seems he was right about earlier, this place was definitely designed for to keep any staff members safe, it almost feels like he's in a bomb shelter of sorts. This may actually be the best place he could have even find himself in, though the Red Smoke is still present here, he has at least grown a tolerance to it. This shelter may actually keep him safe from Catnap hunting him.
However as he closed in on an open clearing in the center of the shelter and set his sights around the room, any shred of security he may have felt was then sunk like the sinking of his gut.
The center room was not like anything he had seen thus far, there are dead carcasses of toys, yes, but everywhere he looked their bodies are impaled by sharp wooden spears or rusted rebar, pulled together into bunches like wheat bales till they stood upright with the tips pointed straight up. Any corpse that is not impaled was instead hanging from the ceiling with nooses around their necks.
He can see claw markings all around on the walls of written mantras phrases, and in the center of the room is a small cubic structure of black-painted cinder blocks laid on top of each other with critter plushies tied around it with barbed wire and their hands glues holding each others, and given the copious amounts of dried blood that has flowed from it's flat top, down its sides, and in all directions across the floor, Gabe knew what he is looking at is an altar.
Just then the phone on his side rings, and upon picking it up, he is surprised to hear more than just Ollie on the line.
"Gabe! Can you hear me?!" Poppy cried from the other side.
Gabriel on the other hand couldn't keep his eyes off the altar. "Y-Yeah, I'm here." He stuttered, still reeling by the gruesome display of occultism before him.
"Oh thank God! You had me so worried!" Poppy chastised but yet so happy to hear from him. "Why didn't you go find Dogday and Kissy?! They could have helped you! And what were you thinking facing Catnap alone!? Don't you know how dangerous he is?"
"Poppy, please." Said another, more feminine voice in the phone. "I'm sure Little Angel knows that by now." She said with a hint of sarcasm.
"That voice…" Gabriel said. "Is that…is that Mommy with you?"
"She is." Says Dogday begrudgingly alongside Poppy's groan. "And along with Bunzo, PJ, a whole crew of other toys, and even Huggy."
"Huggy?" Gabriel repeats almost astonished to hear about him again. "What are,…what are you all doing?"
"We can talk about that later." Ollie said through the phone. "Catnap is hunting you. Where are you now?"
Still not taking his eyes off of the grotesque setting before him, he personally has no idea what kind of room this is other than it must have been made to keep guards and workers safe. "I'm not sure, but, it looks like some sort of safe room. It is just near the production zone up from an elevator."
"Oh! That must be the panic room!" Poppy replied with relief. "Great idea Gabe!"
"NO! Bad idea! Very bad idea!" Ollie interjected with panic in his voice.
"What are you talking about? If it's a panic room, it should keep him safe in there." Poppy reasoned.
"It would've been, if Catnap had never used it!" Ollie explained. "The panic room is where Catnap performs his rituals, it is where he makes sacrifices to the Prototype!"
"…Oh shit…" Gabe muttered through his clinched teeth. He didn't know what had possessed him to make this decision, but finding himself up here while he has a gargantuan murder cat stalking him has got to be the dumbest thing he could have even done so far.
"So what can he do now?" Mommy said. "He can't just run away."
"Is there a way for us to reach him?!" Dogday asked practically panicking at this point.
"No." Ollie replied. "That room only has one way in and out which is that lift. And since he took it there is no way for us to reach him."
"Then I'll send it down then." Gabriel replied as he then ran back to the lift. He eyes the small control panel and presses the red button again, however nothing happens. He presses it over and over and over again rapidly, even so much as punching it, but nothing seems to work. It was then that he realized, from the indicator light being unlit, the lift has no power.
"Damn it!" Gabriel yelled. "That cat must have cut the power! I can't get out of here!"
"And we won't be able to get up there either!" Dogday exasperatedly yelled.
For Gabriel it has become hard to tell which would be worse, being stuck with no way out, or that his friends aren't able to reach him. Because the fact remains, he is stuck in a literal sacrificial chamber with a monstrous cat who just also happens to be a psychotic cultist.
He didn't know what he was thinking just simply listening to that small voice in his head just telling him what to do, because now he is good as dead, he even thought he mind as well throw himself on that bloodied altar and hope Catnap would make it quick.
"Wait!" Ollie exclaimed. "There might actually be a way out!"
Everyone paused, even Gabriel could help but feel dumbfounded that this kid said nothing about it until now. "Well tell us!" Everyone except Ollie yelled.
"U-Um, sure." Ollie replied a bit startled. "You see that door at the back? The really big strong one?"
Gabriel looked and sure enough there is such a door, a partition made of thick steel, practically bolted to the wall. He also takes note of the electrical inlet that uses the green Grabhand wired right next to it. "Yeah, I see it." He confirmed. "Is that the way out?"
"It is! It will lead you into the underground depot, tunnels they made for transporting resources." Ollie replied. "However, it requires some power to open. Now turn around, there should be the charger."
He did just as instructed and he can see it. On the other wall opposite to the door is a set of terminals with glowing, green slots designed into it, and in the center of the terminal is the electrical outlet for the Grabpack. From what he remembers is that is where he installs those comically large batteries inside. But much to his disappointment each of these slots are empty.
Ollie then explained further. "Only a Grabpack is able to open that door, so you need to enough batteries to charge the outlet. I don't know where they are, so they should be lying around the room somewhere."
"Ok good. I'll just go and look-"
However just before Gabriel could finish saying, a loud noise was heard nearby which sounded like a huge crash of metal on concrete. He dares to venture over to one of the various hallways and peeks around the corner. There he can see the grating from an overhead air conditioning vent fallen on the floor. And then for just the briefest moment, he caught sight of a long, skeletal tail disappearing around the corner.
He then heard it, purring.
"puuurrrr puuurrrr."
"He's here…" Gabriel whimpered as fear coursed through his veins. "Oh God he is in here!"
"Catnap already found another way in?!" Dogday exclaimed. "Gabe, you need to find those batteries. Now!"
Tried as he might however, he can practically feel his nerves trembling down to his very being. He could barely even move no matter how hard he wanted to. It truly felt like a nightmare, the ones where you are stuck, unable to move like every fiber of your being is weighted down with lead. A terrible feeling of being trapped under your own body.
But that pales in comparison to the fear of knowing there is something out there looking for you, hunting you, and approaching you from anywhere. You cannot run from it, you cannot hide from it, because you can't even move to begin with.
That is exactly what he is feeling right now.
And just then, he can feel it, there is something moving behind him. Followed by the rhythmic droning of deep purring. He turns around, and there in the vermilion smoke the distorted face of Catnap appears. Gabriel's breath got caught in his throat at the sight of the nigh-demonic creature, and yet the violent beatings of his heart pounded away so loudly in his ears he can hardly hear his friends on the phone screaming out for him to move.
But he can't. He can't move, can't do anything.
"̴̣̀Ī̸̳T̵̫̈́ ̵̹͋Ī̴̳S̵̜͂ ̸̩̾T̸̯̕Í̸̟M̸͕̂E̶̮͝,̴͙̊ ̴͈̇T̵̝̀O̶̳̍ ̸̋͜Ả̵̱T̶̥̉Ö̶̰́N̶̲̒E̴͈͋.̴̛̳"̷̒ͅ
Catnap went closer.
And closer.
And closer.
"The Flarehand." Said a stilled, familiar voice. "Use your flares."
He didn't know, but something within his suddenly spurred him on, an inner strength that he has felt, but has never felt it of such magnitude. Surpassing even the numbing sensations of the Red Smoke's effects.
Then like fire burning through flax, adrenaline pumping into his veins, he then whipped out the Flarehand and aimed. And as for Catnap, surprised by yet another sudden move, stared blankly at what is in front of him. Only until he realized, he is staring directly into the a flare gun's barrel.
And then with a pull of a trigger, a burning ball of scalding hot fire shot out, landing directly onto Catnap's face. The monstrosity then screeched and flailed about trying to get the flare off himself, though did not so out of terrible pain, but in sheer and utter fear of the small ball of fire.
Then just as quickly as his lanky legs could carry him, he disappeared into the red fog. Leaving the human to just stand there, wondering what just happened.
"WOW! Great job figuring that out!" Ollie congratulated. "I didn't even think about it that sooner!"
"Why…What?" Gabriel stuttered out, completely flabbergasted. What was that voice just now?
However, it seemed even Poppy realized how much of a good idea it was. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!" She exclaimed. "Listen Gabriel, the Red Smoke is more than just a sleeping gas, it's a highly potent hallucinogenic. The part that gives kids nightmares. Playtime gave it to Catnap to weaponize it, but it has a glaring weakness. It is incredibly flammable."
They can then hear Catnap roar in the distance. Wherever he is, he is obviously furious about what had just happened.
Poppy then urged him. "Catnap will be much more cautious knowing you have flares on you, but don't think twice! Find the batteries, charge the hand, open the door and get out. We'll all try to come look for you! Just please, please survive!"
With that the phone then hung up, he is finally left alone. No, not truly alone, because now he is still stuck in the same room with a giant, murderous cultist. And given that flare he just shot into Catnap's face, even he shuddered to think what inhuman thoughts are running through that sadistic head of his.
He knows he can't falter now, but then why is it that he can still barely find the courage to even move? Some man he is, he can't even pull himself away from the fear wracking his heart, it's black strings fastening like a noose. Whether it's the Red Smoke or not it doesn't matter, he is faltering. Failing.
Just like how he failed to keep his family together.
Just like how he failed and abandoned his friends.
The pain, the guilt, after all these years it never left. It feels like he is sinking further into darkness. Catnap, the Prototype, they are right about him He truly is a failure. A coward. A disgrace.
He is nothing.
"Stop that."
The still, small voice interrupted. It almost sounded urgent.
"Stop cursing yourself. How could you say such things about yourself, when you know it is not true?"
Within the inner reaches of his mind a whirlwind of emotions ensued. If it is true he is lying to himself, then how is it that he can't move, can't think? How can he be the one to fix what is broken when he has never fixed anything at all to begin with? He pretends he is helping the world he knows yet it doesn't hide the truth that he is just simply tossing and turning through life's troubles like a leaf in the wind.
How can he help these toys when he isn't strong enough to do it?
"What are you talking about? We are strong, strong enough to fix this broken place."
His friends might believe that, Poppy might have believed that. But what of the others? Huggy, Mommy, even Catnap, and every single other living creature here, how can he get them to believe he can help them?
"You already know how to. Show them."
And then in the distance he catches a glimpse of something green and glowing, and there just thirty feet away just sitting there haphazardly on the ground he can see one of the keys to escape this nightmare, he could even make out the rectangular, neon outline in of the battery's edges.
Despite the conflicting turmoil of emotions wracking his fear-induced brain, there was a small sense of trepidation among the madness of it all. Like a rope tugging him forward while there is still much weight holding him behind. The reality of what is happening came crashing down on him. This isn't just about survival, or him and Catnap. Poppy really was right, what is happening down here is bigger than he had ever realized. The amount of lives at stake, the amount of pain and suffering they went through.
Gabriel never thought of himself as anybody above that of an average man, yet for some reason he now has hundreds, if not a thousand lives bearing upon his shoulders. Is it arrogant to believe that he is anybody special, is it foolish to think he can even pull through this far? Whatever reason it may be, he has only one thought on his mind. One singular bright thought that burned amidst the chaos.
He must escape, and win.
"God help me." He said through bated breaths, his gaze furrowed into a determined glare. "Cause it's time to do or die!"
He then took a step, followed by another step, then another, then another. And then sure enough, he started walking towards the battery. Then by the corner of his eye he catches movement. Snapping his head around, he sees the shadowy apparition of Catnap peeking in down one of the hallways. Remembering his flare gun, he fires a handful of burning pellets at him, to which he immediately screeched and fled out of sight.
Gabriel could practically feel the weight of every step he took, past the bloody altar, and past the bundles of skewered toy bodies, he then just uses the Grabpack to reach the rest of the way and snatch up the battery, to which he then lumbered over to the power terminal, and installed it to it's slot. With one battery in, that leaves three more to go.
However he doesn't see any more batteries in this room, which means the others must be hidden somewhere within these halls away from the terminal. But he knows that Catnap is lurking within there, sure sitting still here in the central room will leave him trapped, but with access to the other hallways he can effectively use the flares to fend him off. In there Catnap can ambush him at any given moment, but if he stays here then that beast will most certainly find a way to kill him. He needed to figure out where Catnap could be before he'll strike, and it isn't like Catnap would just tell him where.
Yet as soon as that thought crossed his mind, an idea popped into his head. Sure Catnap won't tell him where he is, but his voice will most certainly can.
"I know you are there, Catnap." Gabriel said as he lumbered a random hallway, his voice dry from all the red gas. "You may hate me, and I can understand why. I also understand why you and the others did what you did in the Hour of Joy. But there is one thing I can't understand. Why would you serve, let alone worship something so awful as the Prototype?"
No answer, he'll have to pry even further.
"Huggy, Mommy, everyone else, they all follow the Prototype out of desperation, for self-preservation. But you don't follow him because you have to, you actually adore him. So tell me, what the hell did that filthy monster do to earn such love?"
"̸D̴O̵ ̷N̴O̵T̴ ̶S̶P̵E̶A̸K̷…̶O̵F̷ ̵H̵I̴M̵ ̷L̸I̸K̸E̴ ̷T̸H̷A̶T̸!̶"̵ Catnap bellowed. Good, which means he can now listen in. "̵T̸H̶E̷ ̶P̴R̷O̵T̶O̴T̶Y̴P̶E̴…̶S̶U̸F̴F̶E̸R̵E̶D̶ ̷W̶I̶T̸H̸ ̵U̴S̶…̴B̸U̸R̸N̸E̶D̷,̷ ̶B̸E̷A̶T̶E̴N̷,̵ ̸C̷U̷T̷ ̷O̴P̷E̵N̵…̷H̴E̷ ̴S̷A̶W̸ ̵O̵U̷R̴ ̶S̸U̷F̴F̷E̷R̸I̵N̸G̷…̷A̸N̸D̵ ̴G̴A̶V̶E̴ ̴U̶S̵ ̴S̸A̶L̵V̷A̸T̸I̶O̶N̴.̵ ̵ ̶H̴E̵ ̵F̶R̴E̷E̸D̵ ̸U̶S̶.̵"̸
"True, but then what about everything else?" Gabriel jabbed as he peeked around a corner, nobody there, and so he made his way through. "He may have freed you, but he left you with no food, no means of growing or finding more. Hell, he doesn't even let anyone leave to find a better chance of finding food in the fricking wilderness."
"̷Y̵O̶U̷ ̷M̴I̶S̴U̵N̶D̷E̴R̵S̷T̶A̵N̸D̵…̶H̶E̸ ̷H̵A̴S̵ ̶F̵E̸D̶ ̴U̸S̴…̷H̸E̴ ̸H̷A̵S̷ ̶K̶E̵P̵T̴ ̷U̷S̶ ̷S̶A̸F̸E̵.̶"
This actually surprised him. "Fed you? F-Fed you with what?!" He incredulously asked as he was just upon the second battery.
Just then he hears distorted chuckling, leaving yet another secret for Gabriel to uncover. However in learning of this, for the briefest moment, he ended up letting his guard down. Suddenly out from the shadows, Catnap leapt in front of him, swiping his razor sharp claws across Gabriel's chest, the very tips just grazing his rib cage.
Gabriel was then flung backwards, landing on his rear with a resounding thud, to which then Catnap shoved him to the floor. His bony white paw putting so much force on his chest that it threatened to break him. The monstrous cat leered down at the human, though his face frozen in that maddening expression there is traces of amusement within those black eyes of his.
But just as Catnap was about to land the killing blow, Gabriel acted quickly and shot flares into the giant's eye. Catnap made an unholy shriek as he clutched his face as he flailed this way and that, trying to pull the burning hot embers out of his fake eye socket. His powerful thrashing was so violent that he ended up slamming into one of the pipes next to him, causing it to buckle and allow a trickle of steam to flow out.
Seeing the opportunity, he lunches the Grabpack hand and it latches on the pipe, and with his hardest pulled on the pipe till it burst open, releasing a torrent of steam out onto Catnap. Gabriel himself had to shield his face from the steam, turns out it was more than just hot, it was scalding. This combined with the flares became too painful for Catnap, so again he retreated back down the hall.
With him gone, Gabriel then picked himself back up and quickly grabbed the battery and ran back to the terminal in the opposite direction. Soon enough he installs it in its slot, two batteries down, two more to go.
Once again Gabriel started talking. "Okay then, well if the Prototype is giving you food, then he'd done a crap job with it." He spat as he then entered another hallway. "Because as far as I see, everybody's killing each other for scraps, if not for each other's skin."
"̶T̴H̵E̴ ̸F̸O̵O̵D̶…̸R̷A̷N̷ ̵O̵U̸T̶.̷"
"Ah! And he didn't do anything about it?" He spat. "Some god he is."
But it didn't seem to phase Catnap. "̵B̸U̶T̸ ̴T̴H̷A̴T̷…̸I̵S̴ ̴T̴H̴E̴ ̶N̶A̴T̶U̶R̵E̷ ̷O̵F̶ ̴T̴H̸I̷S̴ ̴W̴O̸R̴L̶D̵…̶B̸O̸T̴H̴ ̵H̶E̶R̷E̷…̸A̸N̶D̸ ̶O̸U̷T̷ ̴T̵H̸E̸R̸E̸…̷I̸N̶ ̸T̸H̷I̴S̷ ̴W̵O̴R̷L̸D̵…̴I̴T̵'̵S̵ ̷K̴I̶L̶L̶ ̸O̷R̸ ̸B̵E̶ ̶K̶I̷L̵L̴E̷D̵.̶"
"And who told you that, the Prototype?" Gabriel rasped as he spotted an alcove in the wall bared by a grated fence, a familiar green glow seen inside it. "I bet he did. Because I'm pretty sure the new pairs of scars on your back weren't from some bastard scientist."
He then pushed the grated gate aside and then went in, and sure enough he finds the third battery lying there amongst a torn cardboard boxes. But when he picked it up he heard some noise behind him, and when he looked, there Catnap was, starring at him with those dreadful eyes. In the instant Catnap knew he had been spotted, he pounced, claws raised high ready to crush Gabriel into red paste.
With no way of stopping Catnap, Gabriel then threw himself back into the alcove, and then kicked the fenced gate shut with his foot while on the ground. The concrete beneath cracked from the force of Catnap's paw, and when he saw his prey wasn't under there, he then turned back to the gate, and began clawing on it. The razor-like claws cutting through the fencing like paper.
Gabriel had seconds to think of some way to escape. He then spots another pipe above Catnap, similar to the one that had hot steam flowing through, and this one had a faucet wheel on it. With no time left to spare, he fires the Grabpack at the wheel, and turns it. Instantly a stream of pipping hot vapor spouts a downpour onto Catnap's back. The monster screamed an unnatural roar as he then ran off as fast as possible.
With Catnap out of sight and no longer in the way, Gabriel then hastily grabbed the battery, shoved what's left of the gate away, and takes off down the other way Catnap took.
However as soon as he entered into the terminal room again, he froze in place as his gaze was met with the red, ghostly visage of Catnap amidst a billowing cloud of Red Smoke. Just standing there by the terminal, with dead, black eyes staring down at him. On reaction Gabriel fired a flare at Catnap's billowing form, only for it to dissipate into wisps of smoke as soon and burning hot ball touched it. He blinked a few times wondering what just happened, he knew he saw Catnap there, did his eyes play a trick on him?
It was then a horrible realization hit him. He thought he saw Catnap there, but it was just merely a few puffs of the smoke. He's beginning to hallucinate. He may have developed immunity to the gases sleeping effects, but he is still inflicted by everything else. Every breath he took, the thin line between clear reality and his darkest nightmares blurs and fades.
He knew he needs to get out of here, and fast.
He makes his way down yet another hallway, by this point he is just wandering around hoping the battery will show itself. Foolish, yes, but he isn't keen on staying around and waiting for Catnap to do something, or the Red Smoke to choke the life out of him.
"̶I̸T̷ ̴I̶S̶ ̴A̷L̴L̵…̶B̷E̷C̸A̷U̵S̸E̸ ̵O̵F̵ ̸Y̵O̴U̵…̵" Catnap snarled. "̸Y̶E̶S̴ ̴T̵H̶E̵…̴P̴R̵O̷T̵O̵T̷Y̶P̴E̴ ̶H̸U̶R̴T̶ ̷M̷E̶…̷B̸E̶C̵A̸U̸S̷E̷ ̴I̶ ̵M̶A̸D̶E̵ ̸A̷N̶ ̴E̵R̶R̸O̵R̶.̷ ̶ ̸I̸ ̵F̵A̶I̸L̵E̷D̶ ̷H̵I̵M̸…̵A̶N̵D̶ ̵H̴E̵ ̶P̵U̴N̶I̵S̷H̸E̴D̸ ̶M̷E̶…̵J̷U̷S̵T̶ ̴A̴S̴ ̷H̷E̸ ̸H̶A̶S̴ ̶D̸O̴N̵E̵ ̵B̶E̸F̵O̴R̴E̶.̸"
"Done before?" Gabriel asked angrily. "What the hell does that mean? Did the Prototype do this to you before?!"
"̷Y̶E̶S̷…̵"̶ Catnap rasped. "̸A̷N̵D̴ ̸I̵ ̸G̷L̸A̶D̴L̸Y̸…̴T̷A̸K̷E̴ ̶T̴H̷E̵ ̵P̷A̷I̶N̴…̷I̴T̶ ̶T̸U̴R̸N̷S̵ ̷M̸Y̸ ̷F̴E̷A̵R̷…̶I̶N̴T̷O̶ ̵M̴Y̶ ̵L̸O̵Y̵A̸L̷T̶Y̷.̴"
"That…" Gabriel said through clinched teeth. "That son of a bitch!!"
Gabriel then spots another shadow towards the end of the hallway, whether it could be Catnap or his hallucinations doesn't matter, he shoots a flare, and it immediately dissipates. Just as soon as this happens though, a bright light then shined from above. When he looked, the bright glare blinded his vision for a brief second before it adjusted, for his to see Catnap inside an overhead vent peering down on him.
In a second, Catnap's claws then came down straight towards Gabriel like lightning, and in a half of that second it took for Gabriel to jump out of the way, but too late enough for Catnap's claw to slice through his back, leaving a triple pair of red streaks of glistening wounds. Gabriel cried out in pain, and shot a dozen or so flares into the open vent. A handful of them must have surly landed on Catnap, because what followed is a series of painful screams. He was thrashing around in the vents so violently, that it sounded almost like thunder as the bolts holding the ducts up snapped loose, causing the whole vent to come crashing down.
And as Catnap tumbled out, both parties fled away from each other, disappearing into the smoke and the fray.
Gabriel found himself running. Even though every step he landed felt like pulling on heavy lead, he still pushed himself forward. Propelling himself forward with reckless abandon. Even more phantoms of Catnap emerged, from the ceiling, the walls, the floor, and Gabriel shot flares at all of them.
Then suddenly to his utter shock, the Red Smoke started to behave…strangely. The wisps of smoke began to congeal and create darker more twisted shadows. Trailing along the floor and up the walls like creeping vines or twisted dead trees. The ceiling suddenly disappeared, as if it just faded out of existence. And in its place an expanse formed, an open black sky filled with red clouds. A starless night with a blood red moon hanging above.
Gabriel knew this is a hallucination, but the Red Smoke, he could practically feel it encroach in on his weary mind. Blackened red tendrils engulfing all his senses and every part of his body.
He couldn't even tell what is real anymore.
And still he kept running. And running, running, running, running.
Till finally, his stinging, bloodshot eyes caught the small glint of green light just around the corner he was about to pass. He immediately turns to look, and sees the last battery, sitting in the clutches of a long dead human skeleton. Gabriel makes a run for it, scared that any second the Red Smoke will finally overcome him, or worse that Catnap would reappear.
Once the battery was in his clutches however, he hears noises coming from all directions. He looks around everywhere, and he spots not one, not two, but three shadowy figures of Catnap slowly approaching him. Turns out he is in some junction of hallways, splitting off in three directions, but now, Gabriel can't tell which direction is the one where Catnap is coming from, or is just another hallucination.
"̸D̷O̴N̵'̷T̶ ̷P̵R̶E̴T̸E̷N̵D̶…̷A̶S̵ ̵I̵F̷ ̶Y̴O̴U̷ ̶K̷N̸O̷W̶ ̴H̵I̸M̷…̴L̷I̵K̶E̸ ̷I̸ ̶D̴O̷!̴" Catnap bellowed. "̵Y̴O̵U̶ ̷K̷N̷O̸W̵ ̶N̶O̴T̶H̶I̷N̷G̵…̸O̷F̴ ̸W̴H̶A̸T̶ ̶H̷E̴ ̶H̵A̵S̵ ̸D̸O̸N̷E̸…̷W̴H̴A̵T̷ ̶H̴E̴ ̵H̶A̴S̷ ̶B̶L̷E̵S̷S̶E̸D̶ ̴U̶S̷!̸"
Gabriel had to act fast, he can't remain trapped like this. But when he checked his flare count, he finds to his dread that there is only one left in there, he doesn't have enough to even tell which of the three is the real Catnap. There doesn't seem to be any way out of this one. However as he backed against the wall, he felt something poke against his blood soaked back. While he winced in pain, he turned, and to his amazement found yet another faucet wheel. He knows what he has to do now.
Just as the trio of Catnaps were then striking distance away, he then begins turning the faucet at breakneck speed. But he may have turned it a little too much, because when he turned it all the way, the faucet wheel suddenly popped off, sending dozens of gallons worth of hot steam pouting out of the gapping hole. Not only knocking Gabriel to the floor, but also spraying all over Catnap, while also sending away any remnants of Red Smoke copycats.
Gabriel didn't know where Catnap could be at the moment due to all the steam, but he didn't care, he just simply threw himself up and then sprinted off with the battery as fast as his legs carried him. He could've even brushed right by Catnap and didn't even know it. And still he yet carried on, he now has the last thing he needed in order to finally escape.
The anticipation burns in his chest almost as much as the Red Smoke in his lungs. But yet there is but one thing plaguing his mind and heart, a singular question that Catnap seemed to avoid answering.
"I just don't get it." Gabriel said, knowing Catnap could be listening anywhere. "What did the Prototype do to deserve such love from you? Yes he saved your life while you young, but what about everything else?"
Catnap was actually surprised to hear those words. "̶H̶O̷W̵ ̴D̴I̷D̴ ̶Y̵O̵U̵ ̷K̴N̷O̴W̸?̵!̴
"The Prototype may have saved your life but look around you!" Gabriel said, practically pleading. "You are all still trapped here. Hurting, hungry, starving, for God's sake he is making you torture your friends! Don't be an idiot and look around! The Prototype is a monster!"
There was a long pause that followed. This was something that struck a cord with Catnap, something he felt personal about, Gabriel was sure of it. But he didn't seem to like sharing it. It may have very well been one of his most kept guarded secrets.
But now, that secret is broken.
"Y̷O̴U̶ ̴A̵R̴E̷ ̵R̸I̶G̴H̵T̸…̴T̵H̸E̶R̶E̶ ̴I̴S̵ ̷A̵L̷M̴O̷S̷T̶ ̴N̵O̵T̴H̵I̶N̷G̵ ̴H̴E̸R̶E̴…̴…̷B̶U̵T̶ ̵Y̵O̶U̶ ̷K̴N̴O̶W̵ ̴N̶O̸T̷H̸I̴N̷G̷ ̶O̴F̷ ̷W̷H̵A̵T̴ ̴T̵H̶E̵ ̶P̶R̷O̷T̵O̶T̴Y̷P̸E̸ ̸D̴I̸D̴ ̴F̶O̵R̷ ̴M̸E̴.̴" Catnap said, almost hesitantly. "̸Y̴E̵A̶R̴S̴ ̵A̵G̷O̵…̸W̵H̶E̷N̷ ̷I̸ ̴W̴A̷S̶ ̵S̵T̵I̷L̶L̵ ̸A̶ ̸C̷H̷I̵L̸D̶…̴T̷H̴E̴ ̸P̴R̴O̵T̸O̶T̷Y̴P̸E̸ ̸C̶A̵M̷E̷ ̸T̶O̷ ̶M̸E̸…̷I̸N̴ ̸M̶Y̶ ̷S̶L̸E̸E̶P̸…̵M̸Y̸ ̶D̸R̵E̵A̶M̴S̷…̶…̶H̶E̷ ̴W̶O̴U̴L̴D̵ ̵S̵I̴N̶G̴ ̴M̷E̵ ̴L̵U̸L̶L̷A̷B̵I̶E̵S̵…̸T̶O̶ ̵S̶O̶O̶T̸H̸ ̶M̵Y̴ ̸H̷E̶A̶R̵T̴.̷"
"A̴N̷D̷ ̷T̵H̷E̶N̴ ̷O̶N̴E̶ ̷D̵A̷Y̷ ̶H̷E̷ ̶…̵H̶E̵ ̵W̴A̵N̵T̶E̶D̶ ̶T̴O̶ ̶E̶S̸C̸A̶P̸E̴…̸A̷N̸D̷ ̷H̷E̴ ̴W̷A̵N̵T̸E̶D̵ ̵M̶Y̷ ̵H̶E̵L̶P̷.̷ ̸ ̸ ̶B̸U̵T̶ ̵J̸U̵S̸T̷ ̴A̵S̸ ̶H̴I̶S̶ ̷F̶R̴E̷E̶D̴O̵M̶ ̴I̵S̶ ̵I̶N̷ ̸S̷I̵G̵H̶T̶…̵I̷ ̷M̶A̴D̵E̴ ̷A̵ ̸M̵I̷S̵T̷A̷K̷E̶.̵ ̴ ̸ ̴I̵ ̵R̵E̶M̷E̸M̷B̶E̵R̷ ̴L̴Y̸I̸N̷G̶ ̴O̶N̸ ̴T̶H̸E̶ ̷F̶L̷O̷O̵R̵…̸D̶E̴A̶T̸H̷ ̵G̷R̶I̷P̸P̶I̵N̶G̴ ̵M̴E̶.̶ ̸ ̷ ̶T̸H̷E̸ ̸P̸R̷O̴T̶O̶T̴Y̴P̶E̷ ̸S̷A̶W̸…̴A̸N̷D̴ ̴I̵ ̴B̵E̷G̸G̵E̷D̵ ̸H̸I̷M̸ ̵T̵O̵ ̷F̶L̵E̸E̸.̸ ̸ ̸B̶U̴T̶ ̴I̵N̴S̵T̴E̴A̶D̶…̶H̵E̷ ̴T̶O̵O̶K̸ ̵M̵E̵ ̸B̵A̸C̶K̶…̴A̵N̷D̵ ̶A̷S̴ ̶T̷H̴E̵Y̸ ̷T̶U̵R̶M̴E̵ ̶I̷N̶T̵O̸ ̸T̸H̵I̷S̶…T̷̺͝H̶̭͠Í̸̻S̶̳̅ ̵̲̾Ṭ̴̉H̷̱̾I̶̖̓N̸̰͐G̶̺̀…̵M̸Y̶ ̸L̶O̴R̵D̴ ̴W̸E̶N̶T̴ ̸B̷A̸C̸K̴ ̷T̵O̷ ̶H̸I̷S̴ ̶C̷E̶L̶L̶.̵"
"M̵Y̷ ̷G̵O̷D̶…̸S̵A̷C̵R̶I̸F̵I̸C̸E̵D̴ ̸H̵I̶S̴ ̴F̵R̸E̸E̸D̶O̸M̶…̸F̸O̷R̷ ̷A̴ ̸L̶I̷T̷T̵L̶E̷ ̷W̶R̵E̴T̴C̸H̷ ̶L̶I̵K̵E̴ ̷M̵E̷.̸"
So there really is more to Catnap than just some blind devotion, he could practically hear it in each distorted word he uttered from his contorted mouth. And the more he pondered on it the more it made sense. The Prototype sacrificed his freedom to save Catnap, and later he orchestrated the Hour of Joy to free them all and kill their tormentors. He doesn't live for the Prototype out of loyalty, there is admiration involved.
And Catnap wasn't finished, his hoarse voice screaming out like static noise in his ears.
"̵A̶L̸L̸ ̷T̷H̷O̶S̶E̶ ̸H̸E̵R̵E̵T̷I̶C̷S̵…̴H̷U̶G̸G̸Y̸,̴ ̸M̵O̵M̸M̸Y̶,̶ ̷D̷O̵G̵D̴A̸Y̸…̴T̶H̶E̴Y̸ ̷D̶O̵N̶'̶T̸ ̵U̸N̷D̷E̶R̵S̴T̶A̵N̸D̴ ̶T̷H̷E̴ ̶F̵R̵E̷E̸D̵O̵M̶ ̴T̷H̵E̷ ̷P̴R̷O̵T̸O̷T̷Y̷P̸E̴ ̷G̵A̶V̸E̶ ̵T̵H̷E̶M̴.̸ ̴ ̷ ̶T̸H̸E̶Y̶ ̵K̵E̶E̵P̸ ̴M̵I̶S̴S̴I̷N̸G̴ ̵T̴H̶E̸ ̷P̸O̷I̵N̷T̷…̴ ̷O̴F̴ ̶W̶H̷Y̵ ̶W̴E̷ ̶C̷A̷N̷'̶T̶ ̴L̶E̴A̷V̴E̶!̴ ̶ ̷ ̸T̶H̶E̴Y̶ ̶O̷N̵L̷Y̴ ̷S̶E̵R̴V̴E̷ ̶H̶I̷M̴…̴B̸E̷C̵A̸U̷S̷E̸ ̷I ̸M̶A̶K̸E̸ ̸S̴U̵R̶E̵ ̵O̸F̵ ̸I̶T̶!̵"
"̸A̶F̵T̸E̴R̵ ̵E̷V̸E̷R̵Y̴T̴H̷I̸N̴G̶ ̴T̵H̵E̸ ̵P̶R̸O̷T̴O̵T̷Y̷P̸E̷ ̷D̴I̸D̶…̵T̴H̴E̴Y̴ ̵W̶O̴U̴L̷D̷ ̸S̴P̶I̸T̵ ̶O̶N̵ ̷H̴I̶S̵ ̴F̷A̵C̷E̸ ̶F̸O̴R̵ ̵I̶T̴!̴ ̷ ̴ ̸A̴N̸D̴ ̸T̶H̸E̵N̸ ̵T̴H̴E̵I̸R̵'̴S̵ ̸H̸E̸R̷…̸T̷H̸E̵ ̴H̷E̷R̶E̷T̴I̶C̶ ̸P̵O̵P̶P̴Y̷ ̵W̴H̴O̸ ̴F̴O̵R̴C̴E̵ ̵F̷E̸E̴D̶S̴ ̴E̵V̸E̸R̷Y̷O̷N̸E̵ ̷H̷E̸R̴ ̶L̷I̶E̵S̷!̶ ̴ ̶ ̷T̷H̷E̷Y̸ ̶S̵I̵C̷K̴E̶N̸ ̴M̷E̸…̴A̶L̷L̸ ̸O̴F̴ ̷T̷H̶E̸M̷!̶!̴"̸
Gabriel could hardly take it much longer, the smoke burning in his chest and eyes are becoming nigh unbearable. The hallucinations driving all his senses into oblivion, almost everywhere he looked he thought he could see Catnap's maddening face within the these twisted trees or malignant smoke, even that bloody moon above seemed to have his smile, glaring down as if to mock him.
His pace was literally at a crawl, his legs barely able to hold his own weight, like his legs have become dead weight. He knows he is close to the terminal, but with his strength waning it is almost becoming too much for him.
"̸A̵N̵D̴ ̵Y̴O̴U̵…̶Y̴O̵U̶,̶ ̴G̶A̸B̶R̴I̶E̸L̶…̵Y̸O̴U̶ ̶N̵O̵T̵ ̴O̵N̴L̶Y̶ ̸B̸E̶L̸I̷E̸V̴E̶ ̵T̷H̴I̵S̵ ̷L̷I̵E̶…̸Y̷O̵U̴ ̷T̸R̵U̵S̷T̶ ̷I̶N̴ ̴I̸T̵…̵H̵A̸V̶E̸ ̶F̸A̴I̵T̸H̵ ̵I̶N̵ ̴I̷T̴.̵ ̴ ̸ ̶T̸H̶E̷ ̵P̴R̷O̷T̸O̷T̶Y̶P̵E̸ ̵C̶L̶A̶I̸M̸E̵D̷…̶Y̷O̴U̴ ̷S̶E̵R̷V̸E̶ ̸A̵ ̸D̴I̴F̷F̵E̶R̴E̵N̷T̴ ̵G̸O̵D̸.̴ ̷ ̴ ̶T̶E̸L̸L̷ ̷M̴E̶…̶H̴O̵W̷ ̵I̷S̴ ̵H̷E̷ ̶D̶I̶F̶F̸E̷R̵E̴N̴T̵ ̵T̵H̴A̷N̶ ̷H̶I̷M̴?̸ ̸ ̵ ̵Y̵O̴U̷'̶D̸ ̸S̷A̶Y̷ ̶H̴E̸'̴S̷ ̷L̸O̷V̴I̸N̵G̸…̷K̶I̵N̶D̵…̴A̷N̴D̴ ̴Y̴E̶T̸ ̷Y̷O̶U̵ ̷A̵R̷E̶ ̸H̸E̵R̶E̸…̶S̶U̶F̸F̵E̷R̷I̷N̴G̷…̶A̷L̴O̴N̴E̵.̵"̸
"Well…" Gabriel bitterly laughed as he was practically stumbling around, the battery he is carrying swaying in his limp arms. "Can't expect his work to be…be easy, huh? And this isn't just,..because I serve him. Sometimes,..it takes pain to be a good person."
"̴T̸H̶E̵N̴ ̷A̸N̶S̶W̴E̷R̸ ̵M̷E̶!̵!̸"̷ Catnap roared, and strangely, Gabriel thought he could hear the voice of a child underneath his already hideous one. ""̸W̵H̶Y̶ ̷W̸O̸N̶'̶T̷ ̸Y̵O̶U̶ ̵T̷E̴L̸L̵ ̸T̶H̵E̷M̷?̶ ̸ ̶ ̶W̵H̷Y̴ ̷N̸O̴T̷ ̴T̷E̶L̸L̶ ̴T̶H̵E̵M̶…̴Y̵O̷U̸ ̷K̵N̶E̸W̷ ̴T̵H̷E̴R̶E̶ ̵I̵S̴ ̵S̶O̴M̵E̶T̷H̸I̴N̷G̷ ̵H̶E̸R̴E̷?̵!̴ ̷ ̷ ̷W̸H̸Y̵ ̴K̵E̵E̸P̸ ̷I̴T̸ ̷A̶ ̶S̷E̶C̵R̶E̴T̸!̸?̵"̴
Gabriel then finally reached the altar room, with the terminal and the last battery slot, just a few yards away. A few step is all he needs to insert the battery, and his escape is his. Every footfall felt like agony twisting in his muscles. Step, by step, by step, all in pain, all in anguish. The battery in his hands felt like metric tons in his weakening grip, but its long awaited slot is just within reach.
"̸̙̑T̴̹͒Ẻ̴͈L̶̡͑L̷̬̔ ̷͙̑M̵̛̦Ẻ̴͔!̴̘͠!̴̩̓!̸̭̅"̶̟͆
He lifts the battery up, slowly, agonizingly. Then as soon as the battery is hinged on the slots' inner lip, he shoved it forward, literally hurling himself over till his face met the wall. The terminal then came alive, bursting with energy. So much so that even the receptacle for the Grabpack is bristling with sparks of electricity.
But then he stumbled.
And fell.
"I…I am" Gabriel breathlessly heaved as his bloodshot eyes gazed at the black expanse above him. "Afraid."
"̵O̸F̶ ̴W̶H̶A̷T̶?̴ ̴ ̴ ̸P̴U̷N̴I̶S̷H̷M̴E̵N̷T̵?̷ ̵ ̴ ̷O̷F̶ ̶T̴H̷E̷ ̶O̶T̶H̷E̴R̸S̴?̸"̸
"No…" He said. "Losing…them...I don't…want…to lose…my friends…"
Catnap contemplated this. This is a rather strange reason for enduring this much pain and keeping such a secret tight within his lips. Because what he said next, cut through the weary human like a cold knife through flesh.
"̷T̸H̸E̶Y̸ ̷A̸R̸E̴ ̶N̴O̷T̷ ̶Y̵O̷U̴R̵ ̸F̷R̸I̶E̵N̵D̷S̶…̴"̷ Catnap hissed. "̵I̸F̸ ̴T̸H̵E̶Y̸ ̷W̷E̸R̶E̷…̵T̴H̸E̸Y̸ ̷W̸O̶U̴L̶D̷ ̵H̷A̸V̴E̷ ̴K̷E̷P̶T̶ ̵Y̴O̴U̵…̵A̵S̷ ̵F̴A̷R̶ ̸A̴W̸A̷Y̵ ̶F̷R̸O̴M̶ ̵T̶H̵I̸S̶ ̵P̸L̶A̶C̸E̸ ̷A̵S̷ ̴P̸O̵S̴S̴I̵B̸L̶E̸.̴ ̸ ̴ ̴I̶N̴S̶T̸E̸A̷D̸…̷T̷H̵E̴Y̴ ̸L̴I̵E̷D̵ ̶T̸O̵ ̷Y̸O̷U̶…̷ ̴T̸H̴E̴Y̴ ̵H̵U̴R̶T̴ ̷Y̷O̷U̷…̸A̴N̶D̴ ̸L̴E̴F̴T̶ ̸Y̶O̵U̵ ̷T̵O̵ ̸D̵O̷ ̴T̴H̶E̵I̴R̸ ̶W̴O̵R̸K̵ ̸F̸O̴R̴ ̶T̸H̸E̴M̶.̵"̶
Gabriel's vision is spinning and blurring, darkening on the very edges of his eyes. The Red Smoke building up so much in his chest he nearly choked on the buildup of bile that was meant to protect his throat. There was no sound except Catnap's voice and the ringing in his ears. Lethargy gripping every muscle and tendon in his limbs.
But even through all this, he still find strength in whatever pit he draws from, turns himself over on his belly, and crawl himself forward.
"̷Y̵O̷U̵ ̸A̴R̴E̵ ̴B̷E̵I̸N̶G̴ ̷U̸S̸E̴D̶…̴A̷ ̸M̵E̵A̴N̷S̵ ̵T̸O̴ ̶A̶N̷ ̶E̵N̸D̶.̸ ̷ ̴ ̷W̸H̴Y̷ ̵E̴L̶S̵E̸ ̵W̶O̶U̸L̴D̶ ̷P̸O̶P̴P̵Y̸ ̶L̷I̷E̵ ̶T̸O̶ ̴Y̵O̸U̵?̷ ̸ ̷A̵N̷D̶ ̷W̵H̶E̵N̴ ̴S̷H̸E̶ ̷S̶E̶E̸S̴ ̵ ̴YOUR U̸S̵E̷F̸U̵L̶N̴E̸S̴S̸ ̵S̷P̸E̸N̴T̶…̵S̵H̷E̶ ̶W̶I̴L̴L̵ ̷W̸E̸I̵G̴H̸ ̷T̵H̸E̸ ̷V̷A̷L̴U̸E̶ ̶O̷F̷ ̷Y̷O̴U̷R̸ ̶L̴I̴F̸E̵…̵A̷N̵D̸ ̵F̸I̴N̸D̸ ̵I̸T̵ ̷W̸O̴R̸T̷H̴ N̵̳̋Ó̶̧T̷̻͋H̵͇̊I̶̫̒N̶̦͂G̵̻̓!̴̝͒"̸̟̄
"̵W̴H̵Y̴ ̸C̸O̴N̸T̴I̵N̶U̵E̴…̶W̷H̷E̴N̶ ̴T̴H̶E̵R̵E̸ ̶I̷S̶ ̷N̵O̴T̴H̶I̵N̴G̴ ̸W̴O̷R̵T̶H̸ ̴S̶A̵V̶I̸N̶G̴?̵"̸
Gabriel touched the ground with his forehead, he just felt tired, so so tired. Atrophy reigning in on every fiber of his being.
"I…I don't…" He then smiled. "I don't care…and I won't stop…I made a promise…" He continued on crawling, his very flesh felt like it is burning through the pins and needles. "And you're right…I will tell them…I will tell them everything…"
He then pushed himself straight up, and aimed the green Grabpack hand at the electrified receptacle. "But for now…they need me…and I…I will not leave them…until the job is done."
There was a short pause, Catnap pondering deeply about what this human had just declared. And despite all that he feels about him, the hate, misery, malice, he was honestly…surprised. He had thrown everything he had at him. The moment this human set foot in Playcare he had orchestrated everything in such a way that he'll end up full of nothing but despair. Home Sweet Home, the School, the Playhouse, all the nightmares and near-deaths that happened within there were all planned to either kill him, or leave him broken beyond measure.
But in the end, after all this, this lowly man still finds whatever little bit left of himself that remains and kept on going. He behaves so soft, and yet hardened like steel.
Just where did this resolve come from?
"̸T̴H̵E̸N̵ ̴I̷T̴ ̸S̵E̷E̶M̵S̴…̵I̸ ̸H̴A̵D̵ ̴M̶I̶S̷U̶N̴D̴E̷R̸S̵T̴O̴O̵D̵ ̸Y̵O̶U̵…̸Y̵O̶U̸ ̷A̵R̴E̴ ̵D̴I̸F̶F̷E̷R̴E̵N̷T̶…̶"̵ Catnap admitted. "̴A̴ ̸P̵I̷T̸Y̷…̶I̶N̶ ̸A̷N̸O̴T̵H̶E̸R̷ ̸L̶I̵F̶E̶…̷W̸E̶ ̵M̶A̵Y̴ ̸H̴A̷V̴E̷ ̷B̴E̷E̷N̶ ̷A̸L̸L̸I̸E̸S̴…̷O̸R̵ ̷E̴V̸E̴N̷ ̴F̸R̷I̵E̴N̷D̸S̷…̷"̵
But then he hissed bitterly. "̸B̶U̵T̸ ̴T̷H̷E̸N̵ ̶A̸G̷A̴I̵N̶…̷Y̵O̸U̷ ̵S̵T̸I̵L̸L̷ ̷W̶O̸U̴L̶D̴N̵'̶T̸ ̵S̷E̶R̸V̶E̸ ̷T̴H̸E̶ ̷P̵R̸O̵T̶O̵T̷Y̸P̸E̸…̷W̷O̵U̴L̷D̸ ̶Y̷O̴U̷?̶"̸
Gabriel sat silently for a moment, and then fired the green hand.
"No." He bluntly replied.
And just as the green hand was pulled back to its' place, Catnap himself appeared. Like a phantom rising from the dead, he appeared through the bloodied smoke. His dead eyes glaring down on him.
But Gabriel didn't relent, on instinct he held the electrified green hand up, straight at Catnap. The monstrous cat reeled back, knowing well enough how much energy such a device is giving off. From both experience and memory. But he didn't move, he has a purpose to fulfill just like this human now does, and he will see it through.
"Don't…make…me…" Gabriel begged, barely breathing. "…Please…!"
The two continued their stare down, both glaring with fire in each other's eyes, waiting for one or the other to make the first move. Seconds felt like hours, each tick it time with their beating hearts. They were both at a complete standstill.
Until Catnap raised his paw.
And Gabriel fired.
The Grabpack's green hand struck true onto Catnap's shoulder, gripping tightly as the searing lightning scorched his fur on contact. His demonic form suddenly evaporated, showing his former purple self again. He scream in pain as the electricity coursed through his every cell, both natural and artificial. He then fell to the floor with a loud thud, paralyzed in almost every sense of the word.
But he wouldn't be brought low so easily, with as much strength he has yet to muster he reaches forward, claws extended. He even breathed out more smoke in an effort to subdue his enemy. Anything to get to the crumpled human lying helplessly before him. However when the tips of his blades were but mere inches from Gabriel's throat, a stray spark of electricity contacted a whiff of Red Smoke, setting the gas ablaze.
And Catnap with it.
In a brilliant flash of light and heat, the Red Smoke exploded around Catnap's body, wreathing him in burning flames. The force of the blast was so tremendous that Gabriel had to shield himself from the eruption, the heat already burning some parts of his skin. But when his eyes were then lifted up from the covering of his arms, he can only sit and watch in horror of what he had done.
Catnap roared and screamed, tossing and turning all over the place in the futile effort to smother the flames searing through his polyester furred skin. The pain becoming more immeasurable by the second as his fur peeled in some places revealing flesh being burnt raw. Sparks erupted from his gaping mouth, the Red Smoke he breathed only adding fuel to the fire.
And so he burned, and cried, and burned, and writhed.
Until what felt like eternity, when there is no more gas left to burn, the flames were finally doused, and all that laid there is Catnap, his purple fur now charred to charcoal black.
Gabriel looked on at the pitiful sight before him. Bitter memories crawling its way from the depths of his mind. In the place of Catnap, he then saw like a faded film, his late brother, lying there in his own blood with a hole in his chest. The man's heart, or what is left that he can feel, shattered into a thousand pieces. So many kinds of thoughts flooded his being, guilt, shame, anger, pity, sorrow, all of it crashing down onto him like heaping coals on his head.
He tried to get up. Do something, anything. But however as soon as he finally right himself upon his trembling feet, the hatch above the makeshift altar opens, and down it came like a shadow of a fallen light. An arm, mechanical, unnatural, made of black metal and abnormally large human bones, with veins and wires running like vines over it. And on the very end is a hand, skeletal, with fingers long and sharp like oversized sowing needles.
Gabriel was petrified, not knowing what this thing is. But when Catnap saw it, the expression of his eyes and body became one of terrible fear and submission. But it was when this strange being spoke, a familiar conglomeration of voices, that it finally clicked within his worn out brain.
This is the Prototype.
"You failed, again." The Prototype said alternating between voices. "How disappointing, even with so much opportunities in your favor you still can't even defeat a single human. It would seem you really are just as useless as the others."
Catnap said nothing, even Gabriel can see just how hurt he is within those eyes. It was then he spotted something leaking out of said eyes, tears. Gabriel could hardly contain his pity.
It turns out Catnap can cry.
"Tell me." The Prototype prodded with his mixture of human and robotic voices. "Does it hurt, Catnap?"
But what truly made Gabriel's heart ache, is what he hears next.
"PLEase…" There is another voice interlaced with his monstrous own. It was the trembling voice of sad little boy. "…It HURts…it hurts sO mUCh."
"There there, Catnap." The Prototype falsely soothed with an older woman's voice. "I know it must hurt. Come up here."
And so with shaking legs, Catnap then begins to pull himself off the concrete floor. His gaze then setting up towards the Prototype, his arms lifted up in worship.
"What would you give me, Catnap?" The monster asked.
And then with nothing but true submission in his double-sided voice, he said. "EVeryTHing."
"Good."
The Prototype then began to straighten his needle-like fingers out till they all pointed forward in a shape like a blade. Catnap looked at this, and he knew what was coming. But he would gladly accept it none the less. He wished he could have done more, done more to ensure the Prototype's will to done. But though in the end he still failed, it does him great relief for him to know his sacrifice to him will not be in vain.
He may have failed his god in life, then at least he will succeeded for him in death.
Catnap then closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
The hand then shot straight towards his mouth.
But death didn't come. Instead replaced by that same mechanical whiling sound of a Grabpack launching a hand. Catnap opened is eyes, wondering why the sweet bliss of death hadn't come. Only to see his god's hand now right beside his face, the needles just barely nicked his burnt skin. Something has interfered the Prototype's mercy killing. Catnap half expectingly knew what could have, but he had doubts.
He looked, and sure enough, a plastic blue hand gripped onto the Prototype's own like a vice. His gaze following the cord connected to it down, and sees Gabriel there, barely standing on his own two shaking legs with fury in his gaze.
"What…" Gabriel rasped through gritted teeth, though now with the Red Smoke cleared he can more freely speak and breathe. "What the hell are you doing?!" He angrily yelled.
The Prototype made a strange noise that sounded like a sigh laced with static. "Isn't it obvious?" The many voices said as one. "He failed me, I am giving him what he deserves."
"Deserves?" Gabriel scowled, his anger growing by the second. "That is Catnap! He's your only real follower down in this hell you made! He has done more for you than anyone else ever could you son of a bitch! And you are just going to kill him!?"
"And why shouldn't I?" The Prototype replied. "He is mine, his life is mine, all that he is, is mine. Along with everyone else here. And if I feel he has outlived his usefulness, what point is there to prolong his survival?"
The more the Prototype talked, the more Gabriel's blood began to boil even hotter, overpowering the pins and needles whacking his body. This thing, like those bastard suits and med-coats of Playtime.co, has done nothing more than cause yet more suffering. He trapped them all down here, starved them, tortured them, he killed all his friends, he even desecrated their bodies.
Gabriel may have been angry with many people in his life, sometimes leading him to regret it. But now, he never thought he would ever feel sheer, unadulterated wrath against someone.
"Who…" Gabriel shouted through gritting, exposed teeth. "Who the hell do you think you are!?!"
The Prototype then uttered a singular word in the darkest voice possible.
"God."
Somehow, whether it was intentional by the Prototype or not, that singular word struck a cord deep in him. Even without fully revealing himself, Gabriel can't stand to look at his mere arm. The thoughts and ideas that are swirling within his head, heaping with dark imaginations, wondering how many ways he can end him. Crush his skull, burn his flesh, hang him by his own wires, tear out his black heart and rip that smug god-complex right off with the rest of his face.
Burn him, destroy him, kill him.
He begins to stumble forward, heading towards the metallic arm still hanging there. So many viscous thoughts so visceral that he suddenly grew nervous. Why is he thinking like this? He is supposed to be better. But every waking moment he stared at the Prototype he is reminded again and again of what he did to his friends, both old and new. This thing's existence embodying the bitter reality that he has felt for the past ten years of his life.
He saw his parents abandonment, leaving him and his siblings to fend for themselves. He saw their deathbeds, when the police showed their mangled bodies when they made a road accident while trying to escape. He saw his older brother Derek's shattered faith, as he descended into vile addiction. He saw his insanity when he finally gave in to despair and overdosed. He saw sweet Sophia's blood pooled under her lifeless body, with Derek above in the throes of madness, and the hole in his chest he gave him when he came at him with the knife stained by his sister's blood.
He then saw Poppy's sadness, Huggy's hunger, Mommy's hatred, Kissy's fear, Dogday's despair, Delight's loneliness, and Catnap's abuse.
Then all of that pain, all of that suffering, it then congealed into one thing, one singular being that he can see, feel, fight, hate.
And he is right in front of him.
But the Prototype, even when looking at the face that screamed unadulterated hatred, he was however, unamused. Gazing down on him as in knowingly what he is thinking. "Hmm, how annoying."
The arm then turned to Catnap, who's for the whole time has been cowering away, yet gazing up expectantly waiting for something, anything that to help smooth his troubled soul. The Prototype did respond however, but it cut Catnap down to the bone. Two simple words that he has dreaded all his life to hear from his idol.
"Goodby, Catnap."
Catnap's eyes widened. "No…NO! PLEASE!" He reached for the metallic hand as the Prototype then began to ascend back up from whence he came, longing for even just to briefly touch the simple tip of his cold fingers. He sounded like a child, watching their parent leave them. "PLEASE! I WILL…DO ANYTHING! PLEase…Don't leave me!"
And just as slow and deliberate as he came, the Prototype ascended back up the ventilation shaft, leaving his most loyal servant behind, to wallow in his own tears.
The Prototype may be gone for now, but Gabriel's heart raced with adrenaline. Even after all he had endured from Catnap, he still finds some strength to stand. Perhaps with the Red Smoke gone, whatever energy was being sapped from him is slowly returning. And just in time, for when Catnap's sniffling ceased, and his sense of his surroundings returned, he remembered who he is in the room with.
"YOU…" Catnap menacingly growled as he turned towards the human, eyes screaming with murderous intent and wet with tears. "HOW DARE YOU!!!" He screamed through his damaged voice box. "YOU CAN'T EVEN GIVE ME…THE ONE WAY I CAN REDEEM MYSELF!! AND NOW…AND NOW HE IS GONE!!"
Even when looking at the one creature that earlier has wanted nothing more than to skin him alive, he can't help but feel heart wrenching pity for the giant cat.
"I'm, I'm sorry." It was a pitiful apology and he knew it, but what it did was only infuriate Catnap even more.
"SORRY? SORRY!?" He shouted. "YOU ARE SORRY!? DO YOU THINK SORRY WILL FIX ANYTHING!? THE PROTOTYPE WAS MORE THAN MY GOD…HE WAS MY PURPOSE! MY REASON TO EXIST! AND NOW BECAUSE OF YOU…I HAVE NOTHING NOW! I AM NOTHING!! AND IT IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!!!"
The giant feline then leapt onto the weak human, sending them tumbling over each other till they then hit the wall with himself on top of Gabriel. He then raised a paw up and brought it down as hard as he could, and started wailing on the human's face like a childish temper tantrum.
"DO YOU THINK "SORRY" WILL FIX ALL THEY HAD DONE TO US? ALL THE LIVES THEY DESTROYED…ALL THE TORMENT THEY PUT US THROUGH!!"
Pounding over and over and over again, till the Gabriel's face became a bloody mess. And all the while fresh tears kept cascading down Catnap's cheeks.
"SORRY WON'T GIVE OUR LIVES BACK! SORRY WON'T LET US LEAVE THIS PLACE! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?! WE ARE EXPERIMENTS! MONSTERS! THINGS! WE WE'RE CHILDREN, AND THEY TOOK EVERYTHING FROM US!! THIS IS OUR HELL, AND WE DID NOTHING WRONG!!!"
The giant cat then roared so loud that the entire room shook to its foundations.
"TELL ME HOW SORRY YOU ARE, ANGEL! TELL ME!!"
And then once Catnap's onslaught has died down to nothing more but pitiful taps, the purple giant then gazed down at Gabriel. In all his time being here, it was at this moment he truly looked at his absolute lowest and worst. His face bruised and bloodied, cuts decorating all over his body past within the tattered and dirty clothes. He looked pitiful, pathetic in Catnap's eyes. It would be so simple to jus kill him, just a quick slash across the throat and this worthless human will finally be dead.
His claws soon reached towards his throat, the tips grazing along the soft skin. Just one swipe, just one cut, and this little life will truly be snuffed out.
But when his gaze met with Gabriel's own, there was something he saw in them. Even when blackened and bruised, he can see the soul within them. And in it he saw, familiarity. A soul that was cut to the heart before, just like his own. There is no malice, no fear, all he could see within those deep brown eyes is nothing short but guilt.
Gabriel truly is sorry.
And in that moment, Catnap finally understood, that killing him just isn't worth it anymore.
He gives up.
Just then he hears commotion coming from the escape hatch leading out into the underground depot, familiar voices. It must be Poppy and the rest of Gabriel's friends.
"There's a latch but it won't budge!" Dogday said. "I must open from the inside!"
"But Gabe hasn't opened it yet!" Mommy Long Legs replied just as anxious.
"Huggy, Kissy, do whatever it takes to rip this door open!" The little, determined voice of Poppy commanded.
Soon enough the heavy iron door began to rattle and groan, even some cracks in the concrete began forming along the outer edges. With the combined might of two bigger Bodies such as them, there will be no doubt the door will be ripped open soon.
Catnap's gaze then went back to the human below him. Gabriel however did not notice that his friends are here, for he has passed out and finally fallen asleep. It was best to just leave, and allow the other heretics to take him away. Sure he can gas them to unconscious and kill them all at once, but what good will that do? The Prototype has left him, he has no reason to continue with his mission anymore.
And so, he then got up from where he's been, and then proceeds to hide behind one of the corners leading into the hallways. From behind the wall Catnap listened to the loud explosion of metal tearing from metal, and along with a flood of footsteps invading the altar room. He could hear every one of them gasp and cried, obviously seeing their Angel's unconscious form lying bloodied on the ground.
A myriad of arguments and pleadings were heard, until they all finally agreed that they should take Gabriel away and rest while they can.
The commotions then soon fade away.
Leaving Catnap, the Prototype's former priest, to wallow in his lonesome.
More tears streamed from his tired eyes, all he could do now is but pick a random corner and curl himself up there.
Though burned and electrocuted, he knew he'll heal from all his injuries soon, much faster when asleep.
And so he closes his eyes, and drifts to the land of sleep. Where there, even in the briefest moment of bliss, he can dream he lives not as Catnap anymore.
But as the child Theo.