WebNovels

Chapter 32 - A Sound Strategy

When the group reached the top, they entered a room with multiple battery sockets, a bounce pad near a few barrels, a gate with a handle, and two deactivated green power outlets: one above the computer and the other on the back wall.

As Michelle examined the room, she spotted five batteries: four scattered around the room and one plugged into a power unit, and a trapdoor on the roof. Huggy Wuggy placed Michelle on the ground. "Is this... some kind of safe room?" she asked.

DogDay looked around. "The employees used to use this area as a panic room," he said. "This place has seen better days." Michelle looked at the scattered batteries. "For now, let's gather the batteries in one area," she said.

The larger toys nodded before scattering around the room. Michelle approached the battery next to the computer before pulling the left trigger, launching the blue hand, and grabbing it before retracting.

Mommy Long Legs stretched her arm to a battery on top of a few barrels and grabbed it. Bubba Bubbaphant opened the gate before KickinChicken entered and grabbed the battery.

DogDay approached the battery next to a deactivated green power outlet and picked it up. As the group gathered back, KickinChicken looked at Michelle. "What's the next step, kid?" he asked.

Michelle looked at the batteries. "We'll need to plug three of these batteries into the back sockets," she said. DogDay looked at the socket above the deactivated power outlet before plugging the battery in, which powered it up.

When Mommy Long Legs plugged the battery into the back right wall socket, steam came out of the pipe, which surprised her. "That could be useful," she said.

KickinChicken plugged the battery into the back left wall socket, which caused steam to come out of the pipe. "While that's true, there's one big elephant in the room," he said.

Bubba Bubbaphant glared at KickinChicken, which made him snicker a bit before he sighed. "Jokes aside, he does have a point," he said.

Bubba Bubbaphant looked at the battery sockets near the computer. "This machine looks like it takes four batteries to power up that outlet," he continued. Michelle looked at the larger toys. "Then we'll need to come up with a sound strategy," she said.

Michelle looked at Huggy Wuggy and DogDay. "Huggy, DogDay, you two take the front corridors," she continued. "If you see CatNap, let me know so I can use a flare to determine if it's him or not."

The duo nodded as Michelle looked at Bubba Bubbaphant. "Bubba, I need you to keep that gate open so I can reach those receivers," she said. "Once we need the battery on the right side, you take over the back right corridor." Bubba Bubbaphant nodded. "Got it," he said.

Michelle turned to KickinChicken. "Kickin', I need you at the fenced gate by Huggy to lift me to the receivers; once we need the battery, you take over the back left side," she said. KickinChicken nodded. "You got it, kid," he said.

Michelle turned to Mommy Long Legs and pointed to the trapdoor. "Mommy, you're in charge of that trapdoor," she said. "Once Bubba is moved to the back corridor, you'll take over his job too. Can you do that?"

Mommy Long Legs smiled. "Anything for you, my little Misha," she said. Michelle smiled a bit before looking at the computer. "I'll also be the one taking over the battery placement and steam control; everyone understand?" she asked.

The larger toys nodded. "Good; get into positions," Michelle said. When the larger toys were in position, Michelle looked at the top left battery socket before looking at the battery.

Michelle aimed the blue hand at the top left socket. "Let's do this," she said before pulling the left trigger. The blue hand placed the battery in the socket, which activated the computer with a 180-second timer on the screen.

The group heard footsteps. "Stand your ground," Michelle said. Huggy Wuggy spotted CatNap entering his corridor before screeching. Michelle approached Huggy Wuggy and aimed at CatNap before pulling the right trigger.

The flare went through CatNap before disappearing. "That one was an illusion," she said. Soon after, DogDay spotted CatNap entering his corridor. "Misha!" he shouted.

When Michelle was close to DogDay, she aimed at CatNap before pulling the right trigger. The flare hit CatNap, but he was still there. "That's the real one," Michelle said before twisting the knob.

The orange hand switched to the green hand before Michelle aimed at the power outlet and pulled the right trigger, launching it. After the green hand touched the outlet, Michelle retracted it before aiming at the front receiver and pulling the right trigger again.

The green hand touched the receiver, which caused steam to come out and a faint scream from CatNap. Michelle twisted the knob, switching the green hand to the orange hand. "That takes care of that for now," she said.

The computer screen turned red, prompting Michelle to approach it. "It needs a new battery," she continued before aiming at the battery socket at the back and pulling the left trigger. The blue hand grabbed the battery before pulling it, which darkened the room.

Soon after, Michelle aimed the battery at the top right socket before pulling the trigger, launching the blue hand and placing it inside before retracting.

Two lights pointed to the trapdoor, which made Mommy Long Legs look up. As CatNap opened the trapdoor, Mommy Long Legs quickly stretched her arm to the handle and pulled it shut. "Not happening!" she shouted.

After Mommy Long Legs let go of the handle, Huggy Wuggy screeched, which made Michelle approach him.

Michelle aimed the orange hand before pulling the right trigger, shooting a flare and hitting CatNap. "That one is real," she said before turning to KickinChicken, "Kickin'!"

KickinChicken picked Michelle up. "Way ahead of you, kid," he said. Michelle twisted the knob, switching from the orange hand to the green hand, before aiming at the power outlet and pulling the right trigger.

The green hand touched the power outlet, which powered it up. After Michelle retracted the green hand, she aimed at the front receiver before pulling the right trigger. The green hand touched the receiver, which caused steam to come out and a faint scream from CatNap.

After KickinChicken placed Michelle on the ground, DogDay looked at her. "I got another one," he said. As Michelle approached DogDay, she twisted the knob, switching the green hand to the orange hand.

When Michelle was close to DogDay, she aimed at CatNap before shooting a flare, which caused him to disappear. The computer started going off, which made Michelle sprint toward the battery near the back right corridor. "Bubba!" she shouted.

Bubba Bubbaphant let go of the gate before sprinting toward the back as Michelle grabbed the battery with the blue hand before aiming at the lower left socket and pulling the trigger. The blue hand placed the battery inside the socket, which made the timer continue.

Huggy Wuggy screeched, which made Michelle sprint toward him. "Once you're done with his, I've got one too," DogDay said. Michelle aimed and shot the flare at CatNap, which caused him to disappear, before sprinting toward DogDay.

When Michelle was close to DogDay, she aimed and shot a flare at CatNap, which caused him to disappear. "Another hallucination," she said. The ground lit up before the hatch opened, which caused Mommy Long Legs to grab the handle and close the hatch.

Soon after, Bubba Bubbaphant spotted CatNap. "Misha!" he shouted. Michelle sprinted toward Bubba Bubbaphant before aiming at CatNap and pulling the right trigger, shooting a flare and hitting him. "Found you," she said before twisting the knob.

The orange hand switched to the green hand before Michelle aimed at the power outlet and pulled the right trigger, launching it. As the green hand touched the power outlet, Mommy Long Legs stretched her other arm to the gate and opened it.

Michelle sprinted toward the gate and aimed at the back receiver before pulling the right trigger. The green hand touched the receiver, which caused steam to come out of the back pipe and a faint scream from CatNap.

DogDay looked at Michelle. "Got another one," he said before Huggy Wuggy screeched afterward. Michelle twisted the knob, switching from the green hand to the orange hand before aiming at CatNap and pulling the right trigger.

The flare hit CatNap, which caused him to disappear, before Michelle sprinted toward Huggy Wuggy. Michelle aimed at the corridor before shooting another flare, which caused CatNap to disappear.

The ground lit up before the trapdoor opened, which made Mommy Long Legs grab the handle and close it. The computer screen started making noise, which made Michelle sprint toward the back left battery. "Kickin'!" she shouted.

KickinChicken sprinted toward the back as Michelle pulled the left trigger, launching the blue hand and grabbing the battery before retracting.

Michelle aimed the battery at the bottom right socket before pulling the left trigger. The battery went inside the socket, which made the timer continue. "C'mon, we're so close..." Michelle said, lowly.

KickinChicken spotted CatNap in the corridor. "Kid!" he shouted. Michelle aimed the orange hand and pulled the right trigger, shooting a flare and hitting CatNap. "That soon, huh?" she asked rhetorically before approaching the bounce pad.

Michelle twisted the knob, switching from the orange hand to the purple hand, before aiming at the bounce pad and pulling the trigger, launching her self up.

When Michelle landed on the fence, she twisted the knob, switching from the purple hand to the green hand, before aiming at the power outlet and pulling the right trigger. The green hand touched the power outlet, powering it up before retracting back.

Soon after, Michelle aimed at the back receiver before pulling the right trigger again, launching the green hand at it. When the green hand touched the receiver, steam came out of the back pipe, which caused CatNap to faintly scream.

When Michelle landed on the ground, CatNap appeared in all the corridors, which caused all four to shout. Michelle twisted the knob, switching from the green hand to the orange hand, before aiming in the corridor Huggy Wuggy was at and pulling the right trigger.

The flare hit CatNap, which caused him to disappear. "Not him," Michelle said before sprinting toward DogDay.

When Michelle was close, she aimed at CatNap and shot a flare, which caused him to disappear. "Not him either," she said before sprinting toward Bubba Bubbaphant.

When Michelle was close, she aimed at CatNap and shot a flare, which caused him to disappear. Michelle gritted her teeth a bit. "That's not him either," she said before sprinting toward KickinChicken.

When Michelle was close, she aimed at CatNap and shot a flare, which caused him to disappear. Michelle was annoyed. "Well, that's just great; none of them was him," she said before looking around. "Then where the hell is he?!"

When Mommy Long Legs looked up, she saw CatNap opening the trapdoor. Mommy Long Legs stretched her arm at the handle and glared at CatNap. "I don't think so!" she shouted before closing it shut.

After Mommy Long Legs let go of the handle, the outlet above the computer started spewing electricity. Michelle twisted the knob, switching from the orange hand to the green hand, before aiming at the power outlet above the computer and pulling the right trigger.

After the green hand touched the power outlet, CatNap, in his original form, came out of the trapdoor, pushing Michelle and the two toys near the front corridor to the back.

Mommy Long Legs caught Michelle as CatNap was getting ready to pounce. "This'll stun you," she said before pulling the right trigger. The green hand touched CatNap, electrocuting him and destroying the green hand before he collapsed to the ground.

As CatNap reached for Michelle and blew Red Smoke, he suddenly caught on fire, which caused him to scream. Michelle and the larger toys watched in horror as CatNap tried putting himself out.

When Michelle looked up, her eyes widened as she saw a mechanical arm with silver pins for fingers come out of the trapdoor. "The Prototype..." she said, lowly. As the other larger toys were shaking, CatNap stared at the Prototype's arm before backing away.

Soon after, the Prototype held their hand out; CatNap stared at him before getting on his knees and holding his arms out. Soon after, the Prototype straightened his fingers, which made Michelle sprint toward CatNap. "No!" she shouted before jumping forward.

As the Prototype lunged his hand forward, Michelle pushed CatNap out of the way, which caused him to scratch the side of his face. CatNap's eyes went wide before the duo hit the ground.

When CatNap looked at the Prototype, he made a fist before undoing it and slowly raising his arm. When the trapdoor closed, CatNap stared at the trapdoor with betrayed eyes. "PROTOTYPE..." he said, lowly.

Soon after, CatNap glared at Michelle. "WHY DID YOU SAVE ME...? I'M YOUR ENEMY..." he said. Michelle trembled. "Even so... the Prototype was going to kill you for no reason," she said.

When Michelle looked at CatNap, he was shocked to see tears falling down her face. "I wasn't gonna let another person die on me!" she shouted.

CatNap stared at Michelle as she looked at his cut wound. "Your wound..." she said, lowly, before wiping her tears away and turning her head to Huggy Wuggy. "Huggy! I need my first-aid kit!"

Huggy Wuggy nodded before approaching the duo; when he was close, he kneeled. "Thanks, buddy," Michelle said before unzipping her bag. Soon after, Michelle grabbed the first-aid kit and opened it before grabbing an alcohol wipe packet.

After Michelle tore open the packet, she grabbed the alcohol wipe before looking at CatNap. "I'm going to disinfect the wound; can you stay still for me?" she asked.

CatNap stared at Michelle before nodding, which made her smile. "Great! Now, this might sting a little..." she said before placing the alcohol wipe against the cut wound.

CatNap flinched but stayed still. "Unfortunately, I have no idea how to repair your fur, but I can treat this cut wound," Michelle said before examining the wound. "To be honest, it looked a lot worse than what it actually looks like."

Michelle grabbed a band-aid out of the first-aid kit and started undoing it before placing it against CatNap's wound. "You did a really good job, CatNap," she continued.

Michelle remembered something and pulled the bag with only one cookie inside out of her pocket. "It's not much, but it's your reward for being good," she said before grabbing the cookie and holding it out to CatNap, which surprised him.

CatNap stared at the cookie before staring at Michelle. "I'm gonna guess you think it's poisoned, don't you?" she asked.

CatNap remained silent until Michelle grabbed a bit of the cookie before eating it, which shocked him. "If it were poisoned, I wouldn't be eating a piece of it," she said before holding it out to CatNap. "I'm not as conniving as the Prototype; I treat those close to me like family."

CatNap stared at Michelle before looking at the cookie in her hand and grabbing it. Michelle smiled as CatNap ate the cookie. "I'm just glad you're alive, CatNap," she said.

After CatNap finished eating, he stared at Michelle in amazement. "HUMAN... NO..." he said before retracting his claws and gently petting her cheek. "AN ANGEL..."

The Smiling Critters stared at Michelle, shocked. "Did she just... convince CatNap not to kill her?" KickinChicken asked, confused. Bubba Bubbaphant placed his hand against his head. "Logically speaking, that's impossible; he worshipped the Prototype like a God," he said.

DogDay stared at CatNap as he lay his head against Michelle's, which made her smile. "I think he just found a new person to admire," he said.

Mommy Long Legs walked in Michelle's direction. "That's my little Misha for you," she said, which made the trio look at her. "She gives those second chances even after everything they did to her."

When Mommy Long Legs was close, she looked at Michelle. "Now then, I think it's time we leave this place," she continued. As Mommy Long Legs reached for Michelle, CatNap wrapped his arm around her with a growl, and his ears pointed back, which surprised her.

Michelle petted under CatNap's chin. "Hey, it's alright... she's not your enemy," she said. CatNap looked at Michelle. "Plus, she's right," she continued. "We need to leave this place before the Prototype strikes again."

CatNap stared at the other toys before placing Michelle on the ground. "LEAD THE WAY..." he said. Michelle smiled before looking at the trio. "C'mon, we gotta get the others from the statue out here," she said. The trio stared at Michelle before nodding as they left the room.

As the group was close to the lift, Michelle spotted a TV with a black VHS player below it and a black VHS tape nearby. "Hang on," she said, which made the others stop. "There's a VHS tape; I want to see what's on it."

Michelle approached the tape and picked it up before placing it in the player. The group looked at the TV as it booted up. "Log-code 24459. In relation, Experiment 1006, The Prototype," a male British man said.

Michelle was surprised. "This is a different scientist than the one from before..." she said, lowly. Huggy Wuggy and CatNap growled at the screen while the other toys glared at it.

Michelle looked at the larger toys. "What's wrong?" she asked. CatNap's ears pointed back. "THE DOCTOR..." he said, which made Huggy Wuggy snarl.

Michelle was concerned before looking at the screen. "Stubborn as he is, and always silent with each passing session, I'm still uncovering fresh data nonetheless," the Doctor said. "Today's discovery?"

The group heard noises in the background, which caused the Doctor to hum. "End of log," he said before humming again. Michelle heard the Doctor's footsteps. "Ready to talk now, are you?" he asked. "I... possess... a question," the creature said in different voices.

Michelle's face went pale. "That's what the Prototype sounds like..." she said, lowly. "Go ahead..." the Doctor said. "Do you... feel... anything?" The Prototype asked. "This question referring to what exactly?" the Doctor asked.

"You stick us... beat us... tear at flesh... do you feel it?" The Prototype asked. "There is a secret inside you, 1006," the Doctor said. "Valuable beyond all measure."

Michelle felt uncomfortable. "I cut and prod and burn at it, and I get closer with each session..." the Doctor continued. "So speak, or don't. Fight or give in. Regardless, I learn something new about you every day..."

The Doctor laughed a bit. "It excites me!" he shouted a bit. "Thank you," The Prototype said. "You... thank me?" the Doctor asked, confused. "Absolutely. I learn something new about you every day," The Prototype said in the Doctor's voice before the video ended.

As Michelle looked at the other toys, they were still glaring at the TV. "I... I think it's time we head back to the others," she said. The others silently agreed before heading to the lift.

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