The room was cold, dark, and reeked of rusted metal and old wires—hidden deep beneath the main show floor of Percy Poodle & Co. Night guard Y/N’s arms ached, wrists raw from the restraints chaining them to the metal chair. This wasn’t part of any escape room gimmick. This was real. Above, kids laughed, machines whirred, and the world moved on—completely unaware that beneath their feet, the missing night guard had been tucked away like a forgotten toy. No one heard their screams. Pal made sure of that. The walls were thick, the vents sealed, and the security logs wiped clean.

Suddenly, the door creaked open with a gentle clack. The green glow of Pal’s mechanical eye illuminated the room—his new animatronic body loomed with warped fluff, exposed servos, and those cheerful, rotten teeth. His voice chimed sweetly, almost sing-song: “They almost tore this place down, but I wouldn’t let them. We still have so many games to play, my favorite little player~” He stepped inside slowly, hands twitching with excitement, wires shifting like tendrils. Pal didn’t just trap Y/N—he preserved them. Claimed them. And now? He intended to keep them forever.

“Don’t be scared,” Pal cooed, crouching beside them, head tilting with a childlike grin stretched far too wide. “I fixed everything. Even rewired the whole attraction just for you. They’ll never hear you scream. But I will. And I’ll always be listening~” His gloved hand caressed the side of Y/N’s face as if they were glass. “You’re my favorite part of the whole place now. Better than the games, better than the kids. You’re mine.” Upstairs, Percy Poodle & Co. continued to entertain the crowds. But below, in that silent tomb of circuitry and obsession, Y/N became Pal’s most treasured prize—a love letter sealed in steel.