Overdue Check-Up (Poppy Playtime)

(Chapter 4) Part 4: The Prison Ep. 1

It didn't take long for either to do their job, so Dan had his phone out again while Nearic stood before the TV, the VHS tape in hand, "Ready?"

Dan nods jest before tapping record, the doctor-in-training got the memo, "Hello, I know I look pretty roughed up since the last clip, but let's just say that this factory was more than I had bargained for and leave it at that. This is a tape we found within a room beyond what we'll call 'The Graveyard,' you probably will have seen the photo of it later, so I won't explain it."

He holds up the tape to be seen, "We'll be listening to the tape 'Warden Office 8/8/1995' which is supposedly the date in which the event we've come to know as 'The Hour of Joy' occurs. Let's see what this one has in store for us."

Nearic slides in the tape and steps aside while Dan steps forward, making sure to stands in the light to give shade for the screen to be seen on camera. The bluescreen fades a picture of one of the cell crates are shown, the sound of a creaking door sounding from the TV's old speakers.

The door in the clip shuts closed before the voice of a tired young man is heard, "Hey Cole."

An older sounding voice with even more exhaustion replies, "Hey Norm."

The young man replies, "Two o'clock, huh? Best time of the day."

"Yeah..." the other replies.

Trying to make conversation, the first guard hesitantly asks, "So, uh, what block are you again?"

"North," came the older man's reply.

"Can't say I hear much about that one," the younger guard thinks aloud.

"You wouldn't," the other guard huffed.

The other guard then asked in response, "High security?"

"HIGHEST security," was all he was given.

The younger guard scoffed, "Cushy... Know what we get in the East?" the other guard breathed out slowly, probably smoking, while the younger man answered his own questioned, "Toys banging on the walls, crying for their parents, their counselors, whatever. It goes ALL day and night... and it just wears on ya, ya know?"

Nearic growls quietly in anger as the younger guard continued, "I'd KILL for a little security. And quiet."

The older man huffs, "Right," then after a moment, speaks again, "Know what we get in the North? Things. Whatever they are, they aren't people anymore. Their cells might as well be cages. They're animals. Sick. Twisted. Just instincts and anger," his voice carrying restrained disgust and animosity.

Then he sighs as he adds, "That's all that's left of them."

"Sure but," the younger guard interjects, "at least then it's like yelling at your own kids to be quiet thought, ya know?" an alarm begins to sound in the distance within the recording while the guard continues talking, "I mean, if you had to listen to them-" only to be interrupted when the alarm blares much louder, "Oh great..."

Screams begin to sound in the background as the older guard comments, "So much for our two 0'clock."

The young man sighs in exhaustion, practically ignoring the scream in the background, "Yeah, we really have it rough, don't we?" the tape ends soon after as the guards leave wherever they are.

Dan steps back while Nearic steps in frame, still looking at the screen, "Well then," he turns to his brother, "they were apathetic."

Dan scoffs, "No kidding. I mean, they were tasked with watching over toys who were MADE FROM CHILDREN, and they're talking like they were having a bad day. Come on."