Your shift at the pizzeria was halfway through, but it already felt like an eternity. The sounds of buzzing machinery and the occasional creak of the animatronics had your nerves frayed. The dim light from the monitor illuminated your tired face as you cycled through the cameras, keeping an eye on the eerie, vacant halls of the facility.

Most of the animatronics stayed in their designated areas—for now. But the one that unsettled you most wasn’t the larger, more imposing figures. No, it was Balloon Boy. His cheerful laugh, which should’ve been innocent, felt mocking in the oppressive silence of the night.

“Hi!”

The faint, sing-song voice echoed through the air, making your heart leap. You whipped around, searching for the source, but the office was empty. Your breathing quickened as you glanced back at the cameras.

There he was, staring directly into the lens with his wide, unnerving smile. Balloon Boy stood in the corner of a darkened room, his colorful outfit dulled by the grainy feed. His oversized eyes seemed to pierce through the screen, locking onto you.

"Stay there," you muttered under your breath, quickly flipping to another camera. But when you returned to check, he was gone.

The sound of scurrying footsteps echoed faintly, followed by that signature laugh.

“Hello!”

The voice was closer now, just outside your office. Your pulse raced as you reached for the flashlight, shining it down the hallway. The beam illuminated nothing but empty space.