Remember, you can't solve a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces. The picture formed will morph and shift. Embrace the mystery. That's the philosophy of a good theorist.
May 18th 2022
"Ok, so, this is going to be a lot to take in." Ciaran warned, his brow set in a serious expression.
"Hasn't it been so already?"
"Trust me, this is on another level," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You see, there's another factor in all of this. Something big."
"Ok?" Dysis said, "That sounds ominous."
"It is," Ciaran said, "Put plainly, Dad and I have been spreading word about the true origin of Five Nights At Freddy's for years."
"Right…?" Dysis said, not really grasping his concern.
"Ok, so this is going to be difficult to believe but… Mike was sort of a whispered legend in the fandom. Rumors stipulated that the real Afton family would one day reveal the real Mike, to the world and to 'himself'. As a result, the fandom sort of know you. The real you. They know all about our lives and about how amazing you are. I told them all about how kind and loving you are."
Dysis' felt as if the world had glitched around her. She could hardly believe what she was hearing.
"I… I'm a whispered legend?" She said quietly. "What the frig?"
She didn't know whether to be honored or horrified. On one hand, it was nice to be in this unique and flattering situation. To know a number of strangers out there cared about her was overwhelming. However, the implications were so earth-shattering, she couldn't help but feel terrified by the idea of so much attention. What does this mean for my life?
Dysis found her breathing getting faster. There was a look of sympathy and guilt on her brother's face. However, he didn't pause, clearly needing to lay everything bare.
"It impacts… a lot." Ciaran continued, "A lot has been deliberately kept from you. And there is no easy way to say this but knowledge keepers selected were mainly people you came into contact with, in real life or online. Your friends and acquaintances, mainly. However, there were lots of strangers too. Fazbear Entertainment targeted them personally."
Dysis felt her stomach flip. To know her friends and acquaintances had been manipulated so totally behind the scenes was staggering. She could barely process the concept, let alone the consequences. She was too stunned to feel and she found herself trembling.
"Wait… so you've been stalking me? And my friends have been sucked into this nonsense?"
"Yes, I'm sorry to say," Ciaran said, clearly burdened by the admittance. "We spoke to them behind your back - out of care and necessity. It was part of a wider plan. Dad's plan. The goal was to tell others the true story behind the games, Fazbear Entertainment and your personal links to both. We needed these people to help create the materials for your future ARG. It was a secret operation, carefully orchestrated to create what is happening now."
Dysis blinked, blown away by what she was hearing. As daunted as she felt, she couldn't help but respect the work that must have been done to keep all this secret. And the massive creative efforts that had gone into such a long term plan. If it was true, anyway.
"Blimey," she chuckled nervously. "I'm impressed. And touched. It sounds incredible."
Far from looking pleased, Ciaran's expression didn't shift. There was a far off, pained expression in his eyes.
"In some ways it was," he said delicately, "but it's… complicated. The original goals were pure but… a lot happened. Sacrifices - big sacrifices - were forced. The biggest issue was that Fazbear got wind of it and the whole thing got skewed for their own ends."
"What do you mean?" Dysis said, breath catching in her throat.
"We lost control of the process," Ciaran said meaningfully, shooting her a look. "The company had their own ulterior motives. Even more than I knew at the time."
He trailed off, looking thoughtful. Then, he let out a sigh, shaking his head as if to clear it.
"All you need to know is that becoming a knowledge keeper was a poisoned chalice. Or a bad cupcake, as the fandom likes to say. The process was grueling and uncomfortable but in return, Fazbear Entertainment helped those who pushed through achieve their dreams. All under the condition they hide that knowledge - and the process of learning it - forever. Even from close family. It was a heavy burden to carry."
"What the frick?! That's bonkers."
"We liked to joke that you were a lighthouse or a siren," Ciaran said quietly, "You shone a spotlight on people and then metaphorically guided them on to the rocks. Dad - Springtrap - found them and led them down a rabbit hole, never to return. Knowledge itself can be a heavy burden sometimes."
"What is my life?" Dysis asked, not sure what else to say. "This is just… what."
"On the flipside," Ciaran said lightly, clearly trying to highlight the best side of the situation. "Those people you haven't met think you're cool. They've heard a lot about you and can't wait to meet you for real, actually. They've all been watching you from afar."
Despite Ciaran's smile, Dysis felt a shiver of nerves. She'd always been an internet lurker, too anxious to reach out and interact. To know that some of them knew her life story… it gave her a lump in her throat. She didn't even know how to feel.
"H-how long has this been going on?" she asked, already scared to hear the answer.
"Formally, since just before Sister Location."
"That's what… seven years ago?!" Dysis said, shaken to the core.
Ciaran nodded: "Dad put both Solana and I through our own personal ARGs before that."
"You went through it too?!" Dysis said, eyes widening.
Ciaran nodded, wincing. "Yeah, in a major way. It wasn't just online. It was in person too. All our worst nightmares happened one after another. It was not a fun time. Sister Location was the game created based on my experiences. Solana's was FNAF 4. The stories were heavily abstract and metaphorical of course but… the narrative is there if you know where to look."
Dysis could barely grasp what she was hearing, she was so stunned. Evidently sensing this, Ciaran continued.
"Solana had it worse. She was the first. And then Raya - i.e Chica - went through the same before going to work on the games with Dad. We were inducted into the club in the order shown in the FNAF 3 'Follow Me' minigame. Foxy is the last and has yet to happen, obviously."
"Right," Dysis said, sounding more confident than she felt. "I see. Well… that… sucks. This is just… what even?!"
"It was toxic. For you and them." Ciaran said decisively.
"For them?" Dysis said, blinking with surprise. "Really? How bad could it be?"
Ciaran winced, his face wrinkling with pain.
"Bad," he said. "The process was a nightmare by design, constructed in such a way as to-
"What the actual fruck?" Dysis said, "That almost sounds like torture."
Ciaran gave her a pointed look.
"That's awful!" Dysis said, "Those poor people. Why on earth did Fazbear Entertainment do that?"
Ciaran sighed: "We're going to have to talk about that next time. I don't want to overload you. All you need to know right now is that it was to help save you. From an individual point of view, it was also preparing people for public life and scrutiny. It was there to help people to build a following or reputation so they were too hot to handle. So for some people, it actually helped them get out of trouble."
"Ok, that does make a little more sense," Dysis said. "Why, though? This is insane. What did people have to do as part of this process?"
"Two things - firstly, they had to learn the true lore of Five Nights At Freddy's. Then they had to help tell the story through fan-works or create their own content and build a following. That way Fazbear Entertainment had influencers in all sorts of industries they could use to spread their messages. Although, of course, targets could choose not to continue and fade into obscurity instead."
"I see," Dysis said, trying to take it all in. "And what was your involvement in all of this?"
"I was blackmailed into going along with it," Ciaran said, clearly torn up about it. "I'm not proud of that. It's weighed on my conscience all these years. I know how private a person you are, it pained me to deceive you and share your secrets. And to know my actions would impact and hurt you down the line."
"Yeah…" Dysis mumbled, "It's… yeah. It's a lot. It's gonna take me a bit to process my feelings about that."
"Understood," Ciaran said warmly. "You're well within your rights to hate me. I'm really sorry."
"I could never hate you, please don't worry about that," Dysis corrected firmly. "You were put in a hard situation."
Dysis meant it. Her brother had been one of her best friends growing up. They'd watched each other's backs with their parents and the rest of the world. She loved him hugely.
"I'll feel guilty for as long as I live, though," Ciaran said, voice cracking with emotions. "You deserved better. Deserve better. But… well, Dad."
"It's ok," Dysis said, understanding what her brother was implying intuitively. "I can only imagine. When he decides on something..."
She trailed off, shaking her head.
"I can't imagine how overwhelming this must be," Ciaran said, putting a comforting arm on her shoulder. "And again I'm sorry. Truly. I wouldn't have done it if my choices had been better. It cost me too. A lot."
"We're all victims in this," Dysis said resolutely. "It does kind of unnerve me that this was Dad's long term plan, though. It feels like revenge."
"I bet," Ciaran said sympathetically, "but I don't think so. He's changed a lot. He says he was hoping to present you with a job you'd enjoy to make up for the past. A celebration of your talents and creativity. He told me he always loved the storytelling you did, even if he never expressed it to you. He feels you're the progeny that will walk in his footsteps."
"Maybe. I want to believe you but... My instincts tell me to be vary. It feels like he's gone and done the opposite of what I'd have asked for myself," Dysis said, feeling a pang of resentment. "Yes, I love FNAF. However, I hate the spotlight, I've always been open about that. I'm a behind-the-scenes guy. He knows that. But he's forcing me into the limelight with this ARG. He must know how much of a nightmare this will be for me. And it feels like maybe he's just… employed other people to help him in his elaborate manipulative plans. That's so messed up."
Ciaran sighed: "We used to joke that our lives are a horror story. Now they actually are one. On multiple levels."
He paused for a second before looking her in the eye. "I think Dad had his heart in the right place, though. Seriously. He's just… really bad at expressing it."
"It doesn't feel much like that right now," Dysis said, "Maybe it will some day but… it's my life he's manipulated, whatever his reasons were for doing so. I know you. I know you wouldn't have gone along with it without good reason but… well, it still hurts. Like… why didn't you just tell me about the games?"
Dysis felt a flash of hurt. Why had her family excluded her like this?
"Next time I'm here, I'll give you the jigsaw piece that explains why," Ciaran said gently, reading her thoughts, "I wish there was something I could say to make things better. I hope it helps to know that being part of it was not a fun experience for any of us. It may have seemed so from the outside but… well, we were all incredibly conflicted. And struggling with our own unique battles. None of us wanted this but we were helpless to fate."
"I don't envy your position," Dysis said, shaking her head. "It sounds seriously tough."
"It had its good moments," Ciaran added more lightly. "It bound people together forever, lives changed by the experience. The club were such a big element of the fandom, they even got their own character. Ennard initially, then Molten Freddy and finally The Blob."
"Wow," Dysis said, intrigued despite her conflict. "The series left even more of a mark on people than I knew. Probably more than anyone knew."
"Yeah, it was… something," Ciaran said, "And it doesn't look like it's going to get easier anytime soon. However, this was all done with a purpose - to save you."
He paused, trailing off as if deep in thought.
"Which reminds me… on a different note, we're going to need you to fix things up with Dad."
Shocked by the bold statement, Dysis felt her blood run cold. The prospect filled her with fear.
"How come?"
"We need it for the ARG," Ciaran said plainly, "He's funding it and - by extension - you. He's promised to put everything aside for the greater good. I know that working with him will be hard for you but he's going to do his best to make amends. We will make sure he's on his best behaviour. All he wants is to spend the time he has left with his kids and to reveal how much of a masterpiece FNAF really is."
Dysis grimaced but she understood. She was still wary of her dad but she supposed he'd behaved himself in recent years. Perhaps it would be fine?
"But in order to do this, we need to make a sacrifice." Ciaran said ominously.
"Riiight?" Dysis muttered, already dreading where he was going.
"We'll have to let him play the good guy. The poor, estranged father whose son callously froze him out. Because that's how he's been portraying the you-cutting-him-off debacle to the fandom all these years. That you are the difficult one."
Dysis flinched. To hear she might have to let Dad pretend to be the wronged father while she took the blame made her instincts scream. He was perfectly capable of being friendly but behind closed doors his anger had kept the family on eggshells when she was growing up. She couldn't help but feel that her dad was twisting the narrative for his own ends.
"He's been making out all this time that Five Nights at Freddy's was always a present for you," Ciaran said, as if hearing her thoughts. "He left Mike undeveloped so you could take the franchise on after he retired. He's making you the showrunner. Although he's going to pretend that it's a competition between the three of us kids to start with. You know what Dad is like, he can't resist making a game out of things."
"Well shoot," Dysis said, floored. "I don't know whether to be touched, horrified or very confused. So he wants to give me the game series that is based on people's trauma? I'm not sure how much of a blessing that is."
"Dad never was very good at gifts."
"No kidding."
"There are benefits though," Ciaran said, "If you do agree to do this exclusive ARG made just for you, he's going to organize private healthcare and fund anything you might want. He'll also make sure to get those powerful people off your back. Basically, he'll offer protection in return for letting go of your misgivings."
"So I get some mild benefits by surrendering to his incredible mind games?" Dysis said, unable to resist sarcasm. "Excuse me for not finding that appealing."
Tw: Horror, body horror, needles, insects
"Well, you always loved escape rooms and puzzles," Ciaran said. "This will just be like an immersive one of those. If nothing else, it'll be an experience no one else will ever live. It'll be the ultimate horror experience."
Dysis looked down at the floor. She couldn't help but feel torn. On one hand, the theoretical prospect sounded incredible. However, she resented the massive level of manipulation that had led to this point.
"I don't really have much of a choice, do I?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"Whether I want to or not, what is done is done. I'm here now."
"Look, it's for the greater good," Ciaran said gently. "I know that doesn't make the pain any less but together we can make something good out of this. Through FNAF, we can help make sure the thing that happened to us doesn't happen to future children. And that's what all involved want. So your sacrifice won't be in vain."
"I see…" Dysis said, beginning to see where Ciaran was coming from. In an instant, she had made up her mind. "I suppose I can play along in that case. Especially if he has changed like you said. Although I still want to know what this ARG is going to involve."
"Of course," Ciaran said, sounding a little brighter. "I'll give you a detailed set of instructions next time but I'll give you a summary in the mean time. Ok so, you know the Freddy's video games? During the ARG, you'll metaphorically play out the plot of each of them. You'll act as the Security guard, doing night shifts where we'll deliver you content to watch that will help you understand FNAF. By following my - Baby's - instructions, you'll eventually be guided into the metaphorical scooping room - like in Sister Location - and you will help everyone escape. You'll lend your body and life to the cause. By doing so, you'll give the animatronics their happiest day - where all involved can drop their masks and put the series behind them."
"Seems simple enough," Dysis said, confused by how straightforward it seemed. "It might even be fun."
Ciaran gave her a conflicted look. "I wouldn't count on that. Mine pushed me over the edge. It was the worst time in my life."
Dysis felt any sense of calm she'd regained disappear.
"Also," Ciaran continued, "it will be quite isolating. To run the game, we'll need you to let us control your phone. We'll put you in a bubble, an 'augmented' reality so to speak. We'll control who and what you see. And, as a commentary on privacy, we'll be watching you through your phone the whole time."
"You what?" Dysis said, taken aback. "But I hate being on camera!"
"You've been secretly recorded your whole life, remember," Ciaran said gently, "By agreeing to take part in this, you'll be the perfect commentator on human rights and privacy. You fundamentally lived without the latter. You'll have the power to influence lots of people, guide them to important truths. You could really change the world. And, if you do decide to bring up the past, Dad won't be able to do anything to you, even if he wanted to. We can keep you safe while you decipher the real story behind FNAF."
"We?" Dysis said, picking up on the word.
"Yeah, that's the thing," Ciaran said, "I'll be the one running it. It's been planned for years."
"How? Why?" Dysis said, stunned.
"It was always the plan that I would guide you in helping the fandom solve the lore," he said matter-of-factly. "Only someone with our memories will be able to decipher the true story. So we planned for the day. The lore goes beyond the games and books. Music, animation, fan-games… a portion of them are actually canon. They're based on knowledge of the true story. We creatively seeded and commissioned a lot of them, actually. All so that you could one day go back and consume them."
"Well crap!" Dysis exclaimed, "I've got to give it to you, that's really smart."
"Yes, we worked hard on it," Ciaran said with a touch of pride. "We built an entire collaborative extended universe - even beyond FNAF - to help you understand what happened in the years leading up to now. In fact, the Help Wanted mini games were designed with Mike - and you - in mind. Like, all the answers in Pizza Party were preferences you stated. Same with the DLC, actually. It's why you build a mangle and you trick-or-treat at a door with a Foxy knocker. Originally, the DLC was going to be your introduction to the ARG but we had to change our plans for... Various reasons."
"Oh my gosh," Dysis said, impressed despite how daunted she felt. "I'll have to go check that but wow! You were planning this - what - four years ago?"
"Yup. Speaking of, I can even give you the first clue. Dark blue and red - the colours of Balloon Boy - are a sign that something relates to you. We started it back in the Help Wanted DLC - like in the Dreadbear level. And in Security Breach, your journey is expressed through metaphor in Balloon World. You're floating along innocently unless you hit a glitch and the whole world goes awry. And the Princess Quest machine has buttons of those colours too. Oh! Speaking of which, you're the princess too."
"You're kidding!" Dysis said, letting out a chuckle despite how unsettled she felt.
"I'm not. I know you've never been keen on princesses but the game is a metaphor. You'll travel through the darkness, lighting it up with knowledge and receiving love in return."
"Well blimey." Dysis said hesitantly. If Ciaran picked up on her doubt, he didn't show it.
"Speaking of actually, I should let you know you can also be represented by Chica, Vanny and Sun and Moon in Security Breach. Everything can be read from multiple perspectives. Who you are in any given content will vary. Speaking of actually, Vanessa and Vanny were created in case you didn't want the history that comes with Mike. A blank slate."
Dysis thought for a moment and then let out a chuckle. "Nah, I'll own my past."
"I thought you'd say that," Ciaran said, sounding impressed all the same. "Mike it is. Either way, Vanny will still be there to represent your journey in the wider universe. Or she could fit with my or Solana's, depending on how things pan out. We left it open. Same with Gregory, actually. So you focus on living and we'll figure out the story after."
"Genius!" Dysis said. "I'm impressed. This may be the biggest ARG ever created. You guys have put a lot of thought into this."
Ciaran smiled weakly. "We have. But it's a double edged sword because it means lots of people know your story. It's been harder and harder to keep that from you, given the footprint FNAF has on the internet. A bunch of people outside your bubble already know we're the Afton family. And they've solved the lore already. We need you to stay uninfluenced. That's why we need to keep you in the bubble for just a while longer. Or the social experiment won't work."
"Social experiment?" Dysis said, surprised by the term.
"The term is appropriate. You will be the first to experience anything like this. You'll be in a state of unreality. Real life and fiction will blur. It'll be intense and lonely but it will give you the ideal environment in which to theorise. You'll be able to focus on your job of leading the fandom in figuring out the lore. Taking on Dad's role of being the bunny that leads people down the rabbithole."
"Right," Dysis said, eyes widening. "And how am I meant to do that? I'm not even the same gender as Michael for cripes sake. And how am I meant to tell people 'I'm a character from a video game' and get them to take me seriously?"
"I'm not saying it will be easy," Ciaran said. "But you're going to do it by telling your story - however you decide to do that."
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