Safe Haven
How could his name just go in one ear and out the other? Catnap said it so casually that I didn't think twice about who he was talking about. My head shot up and I wanted to laugh at his flinch and his hair prickling up in surprise at my sudden action.
"Doeys alive?"
"Yes, heis. He's actuallytheonewhorunsSafeHaven, ifyouwanttocountPoppyyoucanbutshe'sbeenmissingforaw—"
"Can you take me to them—"
"WILLYOUSTOPINTERRUPTINGME." He shouted, the hair on his tail and body simultaneously poofing up while his smile dropped to a reasonably sized frown.
I froze in shock. I knew it was my fault cause I was pushing his limits, but damn did I forget he could still be threatening.
"Sorry, sorry." I threw my hands up and gave him an apologetic smile.
His tail whipped behind him a few times before he relented.
"No— I'msorry, Ilosemytempertoomuch— I'mstressed." He tried to explain, turning his head away from me while scratching the fur on his neck.
I nodded, my hands lowering to my side.
"It's fine, but.." I paused, staring at him, waiting for him to look back at me, once he noticed my silence and looked at me, I continued, "Can you take me to them?"
"Catnap,"
"Hm?"
"Explain to me why we need to travel through the vents when every hallway is empty, please?" I asked, trying to keep my movements as quiet as Catnaps, who obviously had plenty of practice.
He didn't respond right away, his body moving slowly, carefully through the large vents that barely had enough room for him.
"TV's.." He said slowly, making another quick turn around the corner that I had to strain myself to keep up while staying silent.
I hummed, he mentioned that before. I wanted to say that but he didn't know I was awake when he said that, so I'll pretend I just learned this information.
"Ok.. Now what else are we hiding from?" I asked, my smile out of his line of sight yet he still shivered.
He mumbled something and after I asked for clarification, he started to crawl faster.
'He's always avoided hard conversations, and is a horrible liar..' I thought, sighing as I continued to struggle to keep up with him.
After about five minutes of pure crawling through these small uncomfortable vents, we made it to an end.
I was in my own head, not paying attention until I ran right into Catnaps back.
"Ow— Shit!"
"Youok?" He asked, concern lacing his voice even though I couldn't properly see his face in this new darkness.
I nodded, trying to make out his expression, but had no luck.
"Good, causewe'rehere." He said, I couldn't see but I could hear, and it sound like he knocked.
One.
Two.
Three.
Scratch.
I stared at what I assumed was him with judging eyes as he did it once more, this time with an extra knock.
"Stopjudgingme, thisistoensureit'smeandnot—"
He was interrupted—how ironic— by the pipe opening quickly and with great force. The light from outside the pipe blinded me, and it only stopped once a familiar figure covered it.
"Theo! Thank god.. I was about to come get you myself. I thought the Prototype did—" That once concerned and panicked voice came to a stop once his eyes landed on me.
He stared at me for some time, as did I, and it only stopped once Catnap began to explain.
"Doey," He called, and unfamiliar hitch in his tone, like the name was unfamiliar to him.
Doey looked just as confused, giving him a quick side eye before his eyes widened and they landed back on me.
"Oh.. um.. does the effectiveness of your smoke wear off overtime..?" He chuckled, a meek attempt at humor that only got silence back.
I wanted to cry, it was really him. The four colors that defined him, the little black hat, his usual chubby figure that always comforted me with a hug, it was really Doey. Even before the plan to take out the scientists and everyone else inside it, it had been three months since I had seen him. He was going to be a helping hand in stopping the Prototype, but he could only stop by for a short amount of time, and we used that time for him to converse with DogDay and Bubba.
We should have seen the signs. We should have seen just how isolated the Prototype was keeping all us toys in our respective areas.
"Th— Catnap," Doey called, turning away from me to look at the purple feline.
I raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything about how awkward they seemed calling each other by name.
Catnaps right ear perked up, "Oh. Thishappenedlikeanhouragoandshe.. wantedtoseeyouandHoppy." He explained, his paw scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Ah.." Doey sighed with understanding and finally looked at me with a smile.
"We have a lot to explain, don't we?" He laughed, holding out his arms to me as Catnap left the pipe and stood next to him.
Catnaps height was always intimidating to me before, he always stood straight up, always stiff, he never relaxed unless DogDay was around, or when we were in the clear we'd be alone for few hours or days. Now he still has some stiffness, but he seemed relaxed next to Doey.
I felt tears well up in my eyes. I practically leeped from that god awful pipe and into his arms. He let out a surprised grunt but laughed right after.
I missed that laugh.
"I'm happy to see you too, Bobby!" He exclaimed, patting my back as I giggled in his shoulder.
I wanted to ask questions, but I also just wanted to live in this moment, I wanted to be happy. I clung to him for what felt like only a few minutes before he asked me softly to release him, as I was choking him..
"Oh! I'm sorry!" I shouted, letting him go free with an embarrassed laugh.
He gave me a warm smile before clearing his throat.
"It's fine.. Does she.. Know at least some information?" He asked, giving Catnap a look.
Catnap side eyes him before huffing, "Itoldherwhatsheasked.." He answered, gesturing to me.
Doey hummed then turned back to me, "Bobby, how much did he tell you?" He asked, his eyes half open.
I giggled once I noticed Catnaps sour face, "He told me about the time, how his smoke now works, his.. situation kind of, Safe Haven, the other critters, and.." I paused, feeling a bit awkward at the last part, "and DogDay." I finished, feeling the automatic shift in the atmosphere around us.
Doey seemed to be thinking before continuing, "Huh, I didn't think he'd actually say it all.."
"Rude." Catnap spat.
Doey responsed with a chuckle while Catnap looked away in annoyance. He seemed upset, yet his tail had wrapped itself firmly around Doeys leg.
I smiled at the sight, if we can't always read Catnaps face, then his body will tell us all we need to know.
"Oh! Where's Hoppy?" I asked, looking around the completely empty room.
Doey and Catnap went quiet at my question, glancing at each other before at me.
"What?" I asked, my eyes flicking to Doey then to Catnap.
"Maybe it would be best if you didn't see her Bobby—"
"Why?" I interrupted, noticing Catnaps small growl after I did so.
He took a deep sigh, "Hoppy doesn't know Catnaps on our side. She doesn't even know you're all alive. She thinks Catnaps is still under the Prototypes control." He explained, looking towards Catnap who didn't meet his gaze.
I stared at the both of them for some time before asking, "Why can't we just tell her? Explain everything to her and get her help, wouldn't that make things easier?" I admit I was being desperate, I knew exactly why she wasn't involved their plan.
I just missed her..
"That would make things easier, but she.." he paused, he didn't want to say it completely but he gestured at Catnap.
Catnap grumbled, "Shewon'tlisten. ThefewtimesI'veseenhershe'striedtokillme. It'sanormalreactiongiventhecircumstances." He said, his eyes trained to the floor.
I felt my face drop, Hoppy was sometimes unreasonable, but she wasn't feral. She wouldn't be mindless, she's smart, strong, and capable, but, I knew she and Kickin were the most dense when it came to Catnap. They could never guess what he was feeling, what he was thinking, even if it was obvious. Plus, DogDay. If her and DogDay survived together, she had to know what happened. And if DogDay believes Catnap did it, then she most likely believes it too.
"Yeah, I know I get—"
"She'salsoimpatient," He continued, "evenifImanagedtogetthroughtoherIdidn'twantthisshe'dtrytospeeduptheplanandIcanalreadyseeusgettingcaughtbytheDoctor—"
Doey quickly covered his mouth with a stretched arm, but it was too late, I already heard him.
"Sawyer is still alive?!" I exclaimed, anger flowed through me faster than I expected.
Out of all the people I wanted to die, he didn't.
Doey sighed again before answering me, "Sadly. He manages all cameras—
"'To avoid his cameras' I know! I know!"
—all screens—
"TV's.."
—and he watches them religiously. The only reason Catnap can come and go is because Sawyer has a truce with the Prototype, so he doesn't question when he goes somewhere." He explained, scratching the fur on Catnaps head as Catnap nibbled on the hand covering his mouth.
"Oh.. then—"
I was interrupted by a door swinging open. My head whipped around expecting another big body toy, but was met with nothing until I looked down. What I saw was the same toy as earlier—Miles— but this time he had a friend, a small version of Catnap, who followed close behind.
"Doey! There's an—!" He exclaimed, his smile prominent before he noticed Catnap.
He gasped before his smile widened, "Kit! You're here!" He exclaimed, running towards Catnap before crashing into his leg and clinging to it, the smaller Catnap followed shyly, only coming a few feet closer.
Doey released Catnap with a laugh, holding out his hand to Miles—who was now halfway up Catnaps leg—. Catnap just let it happen, not assisting the smaller critter but not stopping him either. I stared in awe. Catnap hated the smaller critters, well, hate is strong word, he just found them annoying.
Catnap sighed, "It'sCatnap, notKit—"
"What were you trying to say, Miles?" Doey asked, casually interrupting the cat, he seemingly expected Miles to say something random.
"Oh!" He shouted, jumping off Catnaps leg and ignoring Doeys hand.
They and I looked at him confused.
"There's an Angel in Playtime! A person!"
I stepped into the familiar building I once called my 'summer' job. I worked here for a lot longer than I thought I was going to, but what did I expect?
Medical school is expensive.
I took a look around, noticing the dirty, dusty, and.. is that blood?
I flinched at a sudden noise. I took one last look at that corner before jogging toward the noise. It sounded like a toy, or a machine, and once I entered the room, I could see it was a toy train.
"This place still has electricity..?" I muttered, looking back out to the front.
I walked back to the front, remembering the shiver I felt outside, the letter that was sent to me, my dear colleagues who's bodies were never found.. I've always been curious, I've always been scared. I felt happy my colleague offered to take my shift, yet felt so gross for being happy I lived and she didn't.
Getting that letter gave me hope for answers. Hope to finally know what happened.
I noticed a green tape lying haphazardly on the desk. I stared at it before looking towards the TV. It didn't take long before I slid in the VHS tape into the VCR. It went in with a click, before the TV flickered on.
"Hi! My name is Leith Pierre.."