Overdue Check-Up (Poppy Playtime)

(Chapter 4) Part 7: The Prison Ep. 3

Ol' Cole is Reassigned

Cole Vaughn

Reassignment. Ol' Cole isn't a "Resource Extraction Specialist" anymore, he's a "Shelf Keeper" (basically a prison guard).

I don't know how I should feel about that. The letter they sent me seemed nice enough, commending me for fixing their mistakes. I should be grateful, I suppose. But I know I'll wake up tomorrow, and the reality will hit me as it has every morning since the Incident. My friends are gone.

Dozens went to clean up their mess, but only a handful came back. That guilt at eme up. Probably always will.

Those of us left got a pat on the back for doing what was expected of us. Me, they put down here with them: the things that killed my friends, that would kill me too if they had their way.

I've sat alone in my apartment for countless nights now, thinking it all through. The faces of my friends and my co-workers, their families, they all come to me. And in the morning, I'm there with the monsters who killed them.

Maybe I'm exactly where I need to be. I can make sure they stay down here in the deepest darkest hole imaginable. Right where they belong.

Catnap growls angrily from behind the door, "That son of a bitch, does he think we're monsters? We didn't deserve this!"

"Uncle, calm down." Nearic pleaded calmly, "He probably didn't know, it doesn't even sound like he knew."

Dan nodded, "Agreed, or else he probably would've mentioned it, something like, 'I don't care if they were kids, they're not human anymore,' or something like, 'No matter what they used to be, what they've done now is enough to be kept here for as long as they live,' but he doesn't. Almost like he's not aware."

Catnap glares at Dan, "That doesn't mean we deserve this!"

Dan raised in hands in surrender as he steps back, "I agree with you, but you saw a bunch of giant toys kill your friends for seemingly no reason, what would you think?"

"And as Poppy has said before, some people were confused on what exactly you are, just because they see giant walking toys, doesn't mean they knew how you were made. You can't be mad at them," Nearic added, an apologetic look in his eye.

Catnap purses his lips in thought before sighing, "I... guess you have a point."

Dogday rolls his eye, "Surprise you backed down so quickly, thought you would've fought harder."

The feline gives him a look, "I'm trying to change, so forgive me for not being perfect."

The canine's smile wavers immensely, showing he was 'baring his teeth', "You will never be perfect."

Dan groans, "Will you too stop fighting for 10 seconds!"

Catnap shies back while Dogday huffs and looks away, the older brother shakes his head and sighs, "Children," he mutters.

Nearic coughs into his hand, "How about we record the next tape and move on?"

Dan nods in agreement, "Alright, let's do it. Let me put this entry away first," the older brother folds the paper and stuffs it in the bag before stepping back.

Nearic steps in front of the TV and picks up the VHS while Dan pulls out his phone, "Okay, tell me when."

Nearic nods and Dan starts recording, turning on the flashlight to see his brother, who then starts speaking, "We're found the next tape within one of the security wings inside the prison," he holds it up for the camera to see, "We'll begin playing it now."