Cherreads

Chapter 32 - A Sound Strategy

When the group reached the top, they entered a room with multiple battery sockets, a jump 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 group 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 with his trunk 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 into it, 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 before looking at Michelle. "CatNap could attack us at any given moment."

Michelle looked at the group. "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," she said. "Once we need the battery on the left side, you take over the back left corridor."

KickinChicken nodded. "You got it, kid," he said.

Michelle turned to Mommy Long Legs and pointed at 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; does everyone understand?" she asked.

The group nodded, which made Michelle nod. "Good; get into positions," she said.

When the group was in their positions, Michelle looked at the top left battery socket before looking at the battery. Michelle took a deep breath and exhaled before aiming the blue hand at the top left socket. "Let's do this," she said before pulling the left trigger.

The blue hand shot forward and 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 shot toward CatNap before it went through him, which made him disappear. "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 shot forward and 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 shot forward and touched the receiver, which made steam come out of the pipes and caused CatNap to faintly scream. Michelle twisted the knob, switching from the green hand to the orange hand. "That takes care of him 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 shot forward and 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, which made the timer continue.

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.

When Michelle was close to the corridor, she aimed at CatNap before shooting a flare, which hit him. "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 shot forward and 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 shot forward and touched the receiver, which made steam come out of the pipes and caused CatNap to faintly scream. 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 from 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 before aiming and pulling the left trigger.

Bubba Bubbaphant let go of the gate before sprinting toward the back as the blue hand shot forward and grabbed the battery. After the blue hand retracted back to Michelle, she aimed at the lower left socket before pulling the left trigger.

The blue hand shot forward and 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 side, I've got one too," DogDay said.

When Michelle was close to the corridor near Huggy Wuggy, she aimed at CatNap and shot a flare, which caused him to disappear, before sprinting toward DogDay.

When Michelle was close to DogDay, she aimed at CatNap and shot a flare, 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 in the corridor and shooting a flare, which hit 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 shot forward and touched the receiver, which made steam come out of the back pipes and caused CatNap to faintly scream. 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 approaching DogDay. When Michelle was close to the corridor, she aimed at CatNap and shot a flare, which caused him to disappear, before she sprinted toward Huggy Wuggy.

When Michelle was close to Huggy Wuggy, she aimed at CatNap before shooting a flare, which caused him 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 blue hand shot forward and placed the battery 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 approached KickinChicken and aimed at CatNap before shooting a flare, which hit him. "That soon, huh?" she asked rhetorically before approaching the jump pad.

Michelle twisted the knob, switching from the orange hand to the purple hand, before aiming at the jump pad and pulling the trigger, launching herself 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 shot forward and touched the power outlet, which powered it up before retracting back. Soon after, Michelle aimed at the back receiver before pulling the right trigger again.

The green hand shot forward and touched the receiver, which made steam come out of the back pipes and 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 approaching Huggy Wuggy.

When Michelle was close to Huggy Wuggy, she aimed at CatNap before shooting a flare, which caused him to disappear. "Not him," Michelle said before sprinting toward DogDay.

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

When Michelle was close to Bubba Bubbaphant, she aimed at CatNap before shooting 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 to KickinChicken, she aimed at CatNap before shooting 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 shot toward 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.

The group watched in horror as CatNap tried to put himself out. When Michelle looked up, her eyes widened as she saw a mechanical arm with silver pins for fingers coming out of the trapdoor before standing up. "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 its hand out; CatNap stared at it 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 widened before the duo hit the ground.

When CatNap sat up, with Michelle holding his side, and looked at the Prototype, he made a fist before undoing it and slowly raising his arm back up. When the trapdoor closed, CatNap stared at it with hollow eyes. "PROTOTYPE..." he said, lowly.

Soon after, CatNap glared at Michelle with his ears pointed back, which made the group stand and take fighting stances. "WHY DID YOU SAVE ME...? I'M YOUR ENEMY..." he said.

Michelle trembled and carefully clenched onto CatNap. "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 from her eyes. "I wasn't gonna let another person die on me!" she shouted.

CatNap stared at Michelle before looking down with his ears drooping; she looked at the bleeding cut on his cheek. "Your wound..." she said, lowly, before quickly getting off him.

After Michelle wiped her tears away, she turned 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 beside Michelle. "Thanks, buddy," she said before unzipping her bag.

Soon after, Michelle grabbed the first-aid kit and placed it on the ground before opening it and 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 and lying on the ground, which made her smile. "Great! Now, this might sting a little..." she said before approaching him and 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 wound," Michelle said before pulling the wipe away and examining the cut wound. "To be honest, it looked a lot worse than what it actually looks like."

After Michelle tossed the dirty wipe on the ground, she grabbed a large band-aid out of the first-aid kit before undoing the cover and placing it against CatNap's cut wound. "You did a really good job, CatNap," she continued before closing it.

After Michelle placed her first-aid kit back in her bag and zipped it, she 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.

Michelle grabbed the cookie inside the bag before tossing the empty bag away 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 him with a gentle smile. "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. As CatNap ate the cookie, Michelle smiled at him. "I'm just glad you're alive, CatNap," she said.

After CatNap finished eating, he stared at Michelle in amazement, and his ears perked up. "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, baffled. "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 the trio's direction. "That's my little Misha for you," she said, which made the larger Smiling Critters look at her. "She gives those second chances even after they made bad choices or bad decisions against her."

When Mommy Long Legs was close to the trio, she looked at Michelle. "Now then, I think it's time we leave this place," she continued, which made Huggy Wuggy nod and stand up.

Before Mommy Long Legs and Huggy Wuggy got too close to Michelle, CatNap placed his front paws in front of her and growled at the duo with his ears pointed back, which surprised her and made him growl a bit. Michelle petted under CatNap's chin. "Hey, it's alright... they're 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 group before nodding and placing his front paws on the ground. "LEAD THE WAY..." he said before standing properly.

Michelle smiled before looking at the larger Smiling Critters. "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 others glared at it, which made Michelle look at them. "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 made the Doctor 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.

When Michelle looked at the group, they were still glaring at the TV. "I... I think it's time we head back to the others," she said, which made them nod before heading to the lift.

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