Chapter Text
Cassidy sat on the lawn, half-heartedly playing with her new Catnap toy. He was the newest of the Smiling Critters, and Cassidy liked him the most. Cassidy looked around at the children playing, looking for her friend, Theodore Grambell. He was nowhere to be found. The Caretakers said he left. “He was adopted!” They had said, patting her head in a condescending adult way. Cassidy, even though she was only 8, didn’t believe them. Theodore wouldn’t leave without telling her…right? Cassidy was too deep in her own thoughts, she didn’t notice the Big Body version of Catnap looming over her. She sat there, picking at the artificial grass, when she saw the shadow. Cassdiy slowly looked up. Catnap had always been her least favorite, and Cassidy was pretty sure the hate was mutual. A raspy, broken sound came from Catnaps mouth. It soudned…human. “CASSIDY…” Catnap rumbled. He sounded like he was in pain. More than that though… It sounded like…Theodore? Cassidy gasped. “Theodore…? “ Cassidy whispered. Catnaps eyes gained the black pupil. That only happened when the smiling critters were upset. “I AM CATNAP.” The suit said, before pouncing on Cassidy. She hit her head on the pavement. She felt blood on the back of her head. She bit her tongue as she hit the ground, filling her mouth with the bitter, metallic taste of blood. She screamed. Catnap exhaled so much Sleep Gas, that everything around Cassidy went red. Her senses were overwhelmed with lavender, as well as the overly sweet scent of the gas. She coughed, gagging. According to the other kids, it took a total of 10 Playcare workers to get Catnap off of her. Weirdly, Cassidy suffered little injury. Her friend, Mary Payne, asked her all about it all day. Finally, It was time for bed. Cassidy was just about to go to sleep, when Mary shook her awake. “Do you wanna go to the surface?” She asked excitedly. Cassidy just groaned. “Marryyyy…” Cassidy grumbled. “Please? I don’t wanna go alone…” Mary gave Cassidy puppy dog eyes. Soon, they were slipping through the grounds of Playcare. Weirdly, the Sleeping Gas from Catnap was turned off. They made it to the control room. Cassidy failed to notice it at first, but when she looked down, she saw “Uh…Mary…?” Cassidy mumbled. “We should…we should go back.” Mary whispered. “Cassidy…” A voice rasped. This time, it didn’t sound like Theodore. It sounded like… “Catnap…” Cassdiy and Mary said at the same time. Catnap stopped out of a hallway. “Shouldn’t he…be in containment…?” Mary whispered, her voice high. Cassidy didn’t respond. She was petrified. Red gas surrounded Catnap. When he stepped out of it…his skin looked bleached. His eyes were white with black pupils. His ribs looked snapped open underneath his skin, stretching it and making him look hollow. And his mouth…the jaw looked broken. With Red Gas spewing out of it. Mary screamed. Cassidy stood, rooted with fear. She couldn't run. He would catch them. He would- “Jesus christ, Cassidy, lets GO!” Mary grabbed Cassidy’s hand, and they started sprinting. Somewhere along the way, Cassidy fell. “MARY, DON’T LEAVE ME!!” Cassidy sobbed. Mary was nowhere to be seen. Cassidy rolled over to get up, when she saw him. Just like he had done at Playcare, he was right over her. “CASSIDY…” Catnap growled. His face got closer and closer to hers. He smiled wider, revealing rows of wickedly sharp teeth. Cassidy screamed. “GET AWAY!” Mary yelled, throwing a pipe at Catnap. It cut him, and he started to…bleed.? Cassidy started to pass out. All she remembered was Catnap walking away, and Mary slumping over beside Cassidy.
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