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Chapter Text

In the courtyard of Hayesville Orphanage, many years ago ...

It was a warm, sunny day. A few clouds hung across the sky, barely hiding the sun ... as it shone down on the crowded orphanage courtyard.

There were kids playing playground games, kids chatting happily with each other etc.

A couple of bored staff members leaned against a nearby wall ... keeping a weary watch on the kids.

Under a slightly stunted tree at the upper left corner of the courtyard, a little boy of roughly six years sits alone (Jed).

He has short brown hair, brown eyes, yellow shirt and matching shorts.

The boy is currently playing with some twigs and stones on the ground ... and trying to make a tower out of them.

A few seconds later, a girl (Cammy) walks over and sits down beside the boy, putting an arm around him.

She looks 10 or 12 years old, and is dressed in green dungarees and a white shirt. The girl also has shoulder-length, corn-coloured hair ... and lots of freckles.

"Hi Jed!" the girl said, cheerfully. The little boy turned to smile a little at her.

"Hey Cammy", he replied. Said girl then fumbled in one of her pockets, and brought out a couple of crumbly biscuits.

"Here, these are for you", Cammy said, smiling as she handed them to her brother. "I, uh ... borrowed them from the orphanage fridge just now."

Jed metaphorically lit up like a lamp, as he grinned and snatched the biscuits from the girl's hand.

"Thanks, sis!" he said, guzzling the snacks ... like there was no tomorrow!

"Woah, take it easy, Jed!" Cammy chuckled, as she watched the guzzling. "So soon after lunch?"

The boy's grin instantly turned to a frown and he turned away from his sister.

"I didn't have lunch actually", Jed admitted quietly. "It got ... lost. It's okay, though."

Cammy's smile also quickly turned to a frown, as she puts her hands on her hips.

"Jed ..." the girl said, warningly. "Was it those bullies again?" The boy sighed, his gaze sinking to the ground.

"... Yeah", he whispered sadly. Cammy sighed too ... wrapping an arm around Jed, and patting him comfortingly.

The Love siblings had only ever known the orphanage; courtesy of their parents ... who'd dumped them there as a baby (Jed) and a toddler (Cammy).

Cammy and Jed had also never been accepted by foster families, due to 'reasons'.

This led to them being viewed as 'odd' and 'weirdos' by both the staff and the other children at the orphanage.

An unpleasant series of events ... but there was nothing really that the duo could do about it.

Cammy and Jed had each other, and at least ... that was something. Not that they didn't wish for acceptance from others though!

The aforementioned boy turned back to his sister, smiling in appreciation at her support.

Then Jed paused ... as he saw Cammy's right eye twitching slightly as her frown turned more troubled.

"Are you feeling okay, Cammy?" her brother asked in concern. "Any blowups starting?"

The girl quickly shook her head multiple times, looking slightly stressed.

"No! No blowups!" Cammy protested, smiling weakly. "Not since two days ago. I-I think that I can manage them now."

Jed raised an eyebrow questioningly at his sister.

Cammy's 'blowups' ... or turbulent mood swings ... had been happening for years, ever since they were abandoned.

She wasn't violent or anything really, just very scary when they happened!

The girl was working on recognising the triggers for the blowups, and quelling them before they got serious.

It was hard though ... which was why Cammy was blessed to have Jed helping her.

"If you need help, Cammy ..." said brother began, slowly and gingerly. "We could always ask the grownups—"

His sister shook her head emphatically again, folding her hands decisively.

"No ... the grownups wouldn't get it", Cammy said in a small, scared voice. "They'd be scared. They might ... take me away!"

Jed frowned deeply in confusion, cocking his head to one side.

"No, they won't! You're a kid! What for?" the boy protested.

"For being 'dangerous'."

Cammy's brother then looks sympathetic, and gives her a big, warm hug.

"You're not dangerous, Cammy!" Jed whispered, reassuringly. "You're a nice person who's just having a hard time at the moment. It's not your fault."

Said girl couldn't help smiling at her little brother's assurance.

"Love you, big sis!" There was nothing quite like having someone there for you, when you really needed it.

"Love you too, Jedediah", Cammy said, chuckling as they broke the hug. "Just wait here, okay?" she added, getting up.

"I'm just going to get some orange juice for us! Be back soon!"

Her brother nodded and waved at her.

"Oh, okay! See you, Cammy!" Jed said, as his sister walked off, whistling.

As soon as she did though ... some slightly younger kids with mean expressions strolled over to her brother.

———

10 mins later ...

Cammy weaved her way back through the courtyard, past various kids, carrying two cups of orange juice.

The girl arrived back at the place where she'd left her brother ... and froze in shock and horror!

The cups of juice slipped from Cammy's slack grasp, as she stared at the sight of Jed being beaten up by four other kids!

All four were older than their victim (two boys, two girls).

"Stay down there, dweeb! We ain't finished yet!" jeered one of the bullies: a girl with ginger hair.

The poor boy was trying unsuccessfully to defend himself ... as he continued to be stomped into the ground.

"Leave me alone, you jerks!" Jed said bravely, only to yelp at a punch to the tummy.

"Ooo, crybaby's trying to get a backbone!" another girl (one with black hair) cooed, mockingly. "Give him another kick, Hansel!"

Jed's second yelp instantly caused Cammy's shaking hands to clench tightly into fists!

Her horrified expression was slowly changing into one of pure anger ... and hatred.

By now, the adults in the courtyard had noticed Jed's predicament, and were (slowly) starting to respond to it.

One of them, rolling his eyes with an annoyed look, had already begun walking over to the scene.

But Cammy had had enough already.

Already distressed about the past bullying incident, and faced with yet another one, the girl ... just couldn't take any more!

Rushing up to the bullies, Cammy began roughly ripping them off her brother ... one by one.

"GET THE FRIGGING HELL off MY BROTHER, you HORRIBLE, MEAN, SNOTFACED TRASH!" she yelled, giving all of Jed's tormentors death glares.

"COME NEAR HIM AGAIN AND I'LL RIP YOU PUNY LITTLE SCUMBAGS TO PIECES AND FEED THEM TO THE RATS! GOT THAT?!!"

The pale-faced, would-be-bullies fell to the ground, and crawled away from Cammy in terror.

The rest of the kids had already fled ... some inside the orphanage, and the rest behind the adults.

Said adults had backed away too, hands held in front of the scared kids, as they looked at Cammy warily.

The girl herself, however, paid them absolutely no attention at all! She had already turned away, and was helping the battered Jed to his feet.

"Are you all right, Jed?" Cammy asked gently, taking several breaths to calm down.

The boy nodded, frowning for a moment at her twitching face.

"I'm fine, big sis ... thanks to you!" he said, smiling warmly.

Cammy smiled too, and the siblings went to hug again ... only to pause at the sound of sirens.

Chapter Text

Everyone turned as a white van and a police car suddenly drove into the courtyard, and parked.

The police car driver's door opened, and the grim-faced Sheriff of Hayesville got out. Some orderlies in blue outfits got out of from the white van.

Then the newcomers all headed in a group towards one of the adult staff members ... a woman with long, black hair.

"Excuse me, madam ... do you know where Camilla Love is?" Sheriff Hudson said, in a matter-of-fact voice. He then sent the female staffer a 'meaningful' look.

"We're here on official business." The woman sighed, smiling sadly.

"I see. Poor girl", she said softly ... and then pointed over at Jed and Cammy. "That's her over there, with her brother."

The Sheriff nodded silently, as the blue-clad people immediately headed over to the aforementioned girl.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Cammy protested in panic, as the orderlies quickly grabbed her. "Get off me!!"

Jed was in a similar state of stress, as the little boy desperately tried to pry the strangers off his sister!

"Yeah! Get off her! That's my big sister!" he yelled, as two staffers kindly but firmly restrained him.

Feeling sympathetic for the poor boy, Sheriff Hudson walks over to Jed as well.

"Sorry, son", he said, putting a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. "The adults here have reported your sister to us, as a 'dangerous person'."

Several mixed emotions flew across Jed's face in that moment. Bewilderment, anger, dismay, fear, and disbelief.

"She must be confined away from 'decent people' ... at least for a while", Hudson continued, as he turned to watch the screaming Cammy being gagged.

"But my sister isn't dangerous?!" her brother protested, earnestly. "She IS a decent person, sir!" he added, turning pleading eyes on the Sheriff.

Hudson just sighed, and rolled his eyes.

"Look, kid ... why don't you leave the decisions to us, and go back to playing conkers", the Sheriff said, slightly condescendingly.

"The adults will handle it from here."

Jed wiped away angry tears as he turned away from Hudson to look back at his sister.

A crying Cammy is quickly strapped into a straitjacket, and bundled into the white van.

She looks sorrowfully across at her little brother ... as the van's back doors close, hiding her from view.

"Cammy ..." Jed sobbed, breaking into heartbreaking tears. Hudson clears his throat awkwardly, as the Sheriff tried reassuring the sad child.

"Don't worry, little guy ... your sister won't be away for long!" he said, with forced joviality. "You'll be back together ... in next to no time at all!"

Cammy's brother only cried harder, as he ignored Hudson entirely.

The aforementioned Sheriff, now looking very uncomfortable, cleared his throat again as he turned away.

"Errr ... yes, well ... I'd better get back to the station", Hudson muttered, as he walked back to his police car. "Have a nice day, y'all."

The orderlies also quietly got back in their vehicle ... and followed the police car out of the courtyard.

The two staffers (a man with fluffy black hair, and a woman with curly blonde hair), who were holding the sobbing Jed ... finally release him.

They start patting the boy on the back comfortingly.

"There, there ..." the man said, in a soothing smile.

"It's for the best, Jed. Your sister needs help, and they're going to help her", the woman added, smiling reassuringly.

Unfortunately, Jed's bullies from before, start sing-songing quietly ... but loud enough for the boy to hear.

"Crazy Cammy's locked up in the madhouse!" they chanted. "Crazy Cammy's locked up in the madhouse!"

Anger suddenly blazed to life on Jed's face, and he deliberately shoves away the staffers' patting hands.

The depressed boy sighs as he looks mournfully at the courtyard entrance.

———

15 years later, in an old trailer home in Hayesville, in the morning ...

Three sharp 'rat-at-tat' knocks on the trailer's door cause the man (Jed) sleeping in the nearby to suddenly jerk awake!

Grumbling, a young adult Jed yawned and slowly got out of his bed ... with a sour expression on his face.

Probably someone asking for early maintenance on their car ... or something else tedious ...

Being the town mechanic for a small town like Hayesville meant that you had to be available 'on-the-clock' for any potential repairs.

Unfortunately, that included obscenely-early hours as well!

Still in pyjamas, Jed shuffled over to the door ... when an envelope was suddenly shoved underneath it!

Jed's eyes instantly widened, and he scrambled over to the envelope as fast as he could go!

It's another letter! From her! Cammy!

Once a month, every month, for the last 15 years ... Jed and Cammy Love had been allowed to send each other private messages in the mail.

The two siblings had never ever missed a month, with Cammy keeping her brother's spirits up ... and Jed in turn; telling her all the things that happened to him since then.

All of Cammy's correspondence to the mechanic was kept safe in a special chest-of-drawers in his trailer.

Shaking his head free of those thoughts, Jed quickly snatched the envelope up, tore it open eagerly, and read the letter!

As he expected, it was from Cammy ... but the contents were most strange!

——

Hi Jed!

Boy ... are you gonna be surprised when you hear what happened today!

I met a new acquaintance at the asylum ... an intimidating, but also charming and friendly man called Willis. Jeremy Robert Willis.

I'm not sure if you know this, but the guy has a bit of a reputation for 'stuff'.

He's actually working on a plan to get himself, me, and some others out of the asylum very soon!

So we can finally see each other again! Won't that be grand?

——

Jed's heart leapt in excitement and joy as he read on! It felt like real happiness was running through the mechanic's veins for the first time in years! Jed had often pleaded but had never been allowed to see his sister at the asylum for YEARS! Now, however ... the mechanic would! Very soon!

——

We're not sure exactly when we're breaking out yet, but it'll be soon ... according to Jerry.

He also asked me to ask you for help in getting us a place to lay low in ... until the hunt dies down.

Ample supplies too ... if that's okay with you?

Oh ... and Jerry also promised that he'd help us get some payback for our troubled past.

Sort of ... revenge? Jerry's good with things like that.

See you soon! Love Cammy!

——

Now Jed was only too willing to help this Jerry Willis with his escape plans ... for the goal of being with Cammy again!

Plus, the chance to have revenge on Hayesville for his and his sister's ruined childhood was one that Jed Love relished particularly!

Those morons never cared for ruining the lives of innocent kids ... let's see what it's like when THEIR lives are ruined instead!

I can hardly wait ...

Chapter Text

In a corridor, asylum wing 3, the asylum ...

... A week later in the past ...

It was nighttime now, and the asylum was shutting down for bedtime.

All of the security doors were being locked and barred, all patients were in their rooms, and more staff were patrolling the corridors.

One such staffer was walking through a corridor in Asylum Wing 3, with a pen and clipboard.

He was especially nervous, rightly so ... as that particular wing housed all of the worst patients in the establishment!

"Time for all my crazies to go night-night!" the man muttered, as he went from door to door.

"Take your pills and lights out, you little maniacs", the staffer said, as he glanced through the peek-hole in one door.

The sign over it said 'Room 3C'.

The 'pills' in question: were a little 'sleeping aid' that Dr Fine recommended to all of the patients at bedtime.

Plus ... it helped to lessen the chance of 'nighttime escapades'.

"Pleasant nightmares", the aforementioned chap added ... to the 'sleeping' form on the bed inside.

Then the staffer suddenly paused for a moment ... frowning in confusion.

Something about this 'sleeping patient' was ... giving him the wrong feeling?

Like ... something was wrong?

Shaking his head, the man decided to just check the lock and go ... but got a terrible shock!

The staffer gasped with shock when he gripped the doorknob, and felt the door abruptly swing open ... without any need for unlocking?!

"What the hell?!"

The door ... had already been unlocked.

EARLIER.

———

In Room 3C, seconds later ...

In rushed the man, as quick as a flash ... throwing the door wide open in his panic!

The staffer made his way to the covered form in the bed, and swiftly yanked the blankets away!

This revealed ... a roughly-crafted dummy dressed in a familiar orange shirt.

Gulping and turning very pale, the man staggered back and grabbed at his radio communicator.

"Yo, Jimmy! Max here," the staffer spoke hurriedly into said device.

"Yeah. What is it?" came the curt reply back.

"I think we have a problem ... with Room 3C. It's empty ... and the door was unlocked." There was silence, and then a quiet gulp.

"But that's—"

"Yeah, it's Willis's room", Max said grimly. "I'll be right with you!" The man then turned, and ran out of the room as fast as he could go!

———

In the nearby staffroom (two corridors away), a few mins later ...

"Willis is on the loose, Jimmy! Time to charge to the bang sticks!" Max yelled as he slammed open the staffroom door.

He was in such a tizzy that he dropped his clipboard without realising it!

"I'm not dealing with that ****** freak of the week without one again! You know what I'm saying?" the man continued, as he turned to the rack of 'bang sticks' on a nearby wall.

The staffer shuddered as he remembered the previous encounter with said serial killer.

~~~~~~~

(It was a couple of weeks ago ...)

(Max had caught Jerry Willis in this very staffroom! The criminal had been reading through various patient records, when the staffer abruptly walked in!

Max had called the patient out on his behaviour ... and quivered in his shoes when Jerry had turned to face him.

The serial killer had then given the other man a truly chilling smile ... full of malice and contempt ... and made Max realise that he was weaponless.

Good thing that Jimmy and a couple of other staffers had come in a second later ... armed with bang sticks!)

~~~~~~~

"Tut, tut", a familiar, polite but cold voice suddenly spoke behind Max. "And I thought we'd grown so close in the last several months."

Snapped abruptly out of his memories ... and recognising said voice ... Max turned white and gulped quietly.

He quickly whirled around to face the intruder ... which actually turned out to be plural.

"I fear this is really going to set back my progress", Jerry Willis drawled, grinning unnervingly as he stood nonchalantly in the middle of the staffroom.

"What do you think?"

Sara stood on their leader's left, and Arty on his right ... both with equally nonchalant airs and grins to Jerry.

At the trio's feet, lay Max's now dead, unfortunate friend: Jimmy ... with a knife-wielding Arty leaning over him.

"J-Jimmy?!" Max stammered in horror, glancing down at the dead body.

This caused Jerry, Sara, and Arty's grins to grow sadistically as they watched the living, now shaking staffer have a total meltdown.

Max struggled hard to calm his frantic nerves, while also trying to think of ways to escape with his life!

Unfortunately for him ... Jerry was an EXPERT of 'knowing when your prey's trying to escape from you'!

"Have fun, you two", said serial killer chief abruptly spoke ... with a nod in Max's direction.

Instantly, Arty and Sara sprang at the aforementioned staffer with nods and evil smirks on their faces.

Max's eyes widened in horror, and he quickly grabbed a bang stick from the set on the nearby wall.

"St-st-stay away from me, you crazy *****!" the staffer ordered desperately, jabbing his stick at his attackers.

"Swing batta, batta! Swing!" Sara just sing-songed back at Max, giggling as she easily evaded the bang stick.

The staffer then heard Arty chuckle darkly, and turned ... only to see said patient snatch a bang stuck too!

"You talk too much!" the tattooed man sneered, suddenly stabbing his bang stick into Max's mouth!

Before the staffer could react, Arty turned it on ... cackling insanely as poor Max was electrocuted to death!

"Sorry, but tonight's our night, zapper boy", Jerry said smugly, as Max's dead body crumpled to the ground at his feet.

Arty chuckled at his boss's black joke, while tossing his smoking bang stick away.

Tito abruptly stuck his head around the doorway, and sighed with relief when he saw his comrades in the room.

Ignoring the bodies on the floor, the turtle-lover cleared his throat ... looking straight at Jerry.

"Okay, I gave Gus the key to let himself, Ozzie, and Cammy out of their rooms in the other wing at dinnertime, boss", Tito began.

"They should be out by now ... but there's one problem." The former pickpocket gulped nervously, before continuing.

"They've still got this wing's reinforced security door to get past ... and I don't know if even Gus's strength can bust through it!"

"Tito's right!" Sara muttered, her eyes widening with realisation!

"Also, how on earth are we going to get through the MAIN security door, Jerry?! It's between us, and the loading bay!" the former dancer said, instinctively looking to her boss.

Tito did exactly the same. Jerry Willis just looked as calm and composed as ever, smirking slightly at the apparent panic of his teammates.

"Not unsolvable problems", the serial killer chief stated, confidently. "Take this, and pick the lock on that security door."

Jerry then tossed the turtle-lover the paperclip he'd pinched months earlier ... only it was heavily modified now.

"A man of your talents will have absolutely no problem dealing with that, as well as any security staff in the way."

Looking up from the homemade lockpick, Tito grinned confidently and nodded at Jerry.

"Si, boss! I got it!" he said.

Raised voices, and the clatter of approaching footsteps in the distance immediately caused Sara, Arty to tense up even more!

"Someone's coming, Jerry!" the former dancer spoke, looking worriedly at her crewmates.

"Si ... probably staffers armed with more of those infernal zappers!" muttered Tito, flinching at the very thought.

Arty and Jerry though ... didn't look quite as ruffled. The only signs were slightly furrowed eyebrows.

"Right!" the serial killer chief's voice snapped out, as hard and as fast as a whip! It made his lackeys instantly stand to attention!

"Sara, Arty, you deal with these incoming idiots! Tito, get that security door open fast!" Jerry ordered.

"Leave the main security door to me", he added ... with a fiendish smirk. "Also, I've got a little unfinished business to deal with."

"Don't worry, I'll meet you all in the loading bay! Tell the others to go there too!"

That said, Jerry Willis turned and strode out of the staffroom, followed quietly by Tito.

Arty and Sara glanced at each other, and then at the door ... preparing themselves for the incoming fight.

"Prepare yourself, my dear ... this ain't gonna be easy!" the tattooed patient said, tightening his grip on his knife.

Chapter Text

In the dining hall, Willy's Wonderland, half an hour later ...

"ARABIA DAISY WILLIS, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!!!" Willy Weasel snapped angrily, trying to keep his temper in check.

The big animatronic weasel was frowning down at the confused Willimeena Weasel on the floor.

His robotic colleagues were in a circle around them, all with anxious expressions as they watched the hoo-hah.

The group had only got back from the 'gatecrashed' sports game, and were now in a sticky situation!

"I specifically told you to STAY in that office, Bia ... not to go wandering off!" Willy continued, taking a deep breath to try and calm down.

"You could have been killed! Again!"

The weasel pup then took a deep breath herself, ready to answer back.

Willimeena didn't understand why her daddy seemed so mad? She was only trying to save her family?

"I was worried about you, Daddy!" the weasel doll protested, in puzzlement. "Then I saw Uncle Arty get shot! I had to do something!"

"YOU COULD HAVE DIED, BIA!!"

Willimeena squeaked in fright, and backed away a little from her dad ... who instantly regretted the shout!

Self-loathing welled up in a huge wave in Willy's mind, as it started shouting how Jerry ... was exactly like his own horrible dad.

Seeing that both Willises were having trouble expressing themselves, Siren Sara and Tito Turtle immediately sprang to the rescue!

"Dulce angelito (Sweet little angel), listen to me", Tito murmured soothingly as he stepped forward. "Your dad is not mad at you, trust me."

The turtle robot glanced at his boss for permission ... and received a grateful nod from the weasel.

"He loves you dearly, chica ... and always will", Tito continued, as he looks down at his niece. "He just got very scared, that's all."

Willimeena frowned in confusion, cocking her head to one side.

"Scared?" she questioned. "Why is Daddy scared? He's not scared of anything!"

The weasel doll had always thought of her dad Jerry as someone who could take anything the world could throw at him ... and not flinch!

The animatronic turtle sighed deeply, and shook his head ... as he leaned down to stroke Willimeena's fur gently.

"Everyone's scared of something, Arabia", Tito whispered, softly. "Whether it's the lightning, strange people, whatever ... everyone has fears."

He then held up a single claw.

"Your dad is scared of only one thing: losing you, chica."

The weasel doll's eyes widened as her turtle uncle's raised claw then pointed straight at her!

"Think of it this way ... our robot bodies are very tough, can take more than several gun shots, and still be fine!"

Listening to Tito's reassuring explanation so far, Willy Weasel was pleasantly surprised and proud that the turtle was so good at this.

Tito's skills clearly went beyond ambushing, slaying people, and pickpocketing!

"Yours, on the other hand ..." the former thief continued, and then sighed again.

"Arabia, Willimeena Weasel may be a tough doll, but she is only a soft toy ... and a vulnerable one too!"

Said girl's eyes slowly turned downcast and remorseful, as realisation dawned on her face.

"One good shot could blow her to pieces, and where would you be then?"

It was Willimeena's turn to sigh now, as she nodded glumly.

"Oh ... I didn't think of that. I'm so sorry, Uncle Tito", she replied, with sincere regrets.

The aforementioned turtle merely smiled warmly, and scooped her up in a comforting hug.

"It's okay, pequeño (little one) ... we all make mistakes."

———

Meanwhile, Willy Weasel was on the end of a similar lecture from Siren Sara.

"Boss ... I know that you're very caring and very protective of Arabia. We all are!" the fairy began, with folded arms.

"But it's useful sometimes to see the other side of things", she added.

Siren Sara knew that both Willy and Willimeena were very stubborn ... passed from father to daughter.

"She grew extremely worried about you during the game, and wanted assurances that you were all right."

The big weasel thought for a while. Sara did have a point ... maybe he shouldn't have left Bia in the office alone after all?

"That's why Arabia left the office", the blue fairy explained. She subtly noted Willy's growing realisation with approval, and smiled.

"Arabia tried to defend Arty because he's one of her beloved uncles, her family!" Siren Sara finished, while glancing at the alligator.

She then turned back to Willy Weasel, raising an eyebrow.

"Didn't you tell me about her trying to rescue you from the police?" Her boss chuckled at the memory, with a fond smile.

"Yeah ... she wouldn't back down that today", Willy murmured. "What a girl! Chip off the old block!"

The big weasel exchanged a smile and nod of thanks with the blue fairy, and then turned back to his daughter.

"Bia?" Willy called gently, causing a nervous Willimeena to look at him. Tito Turtle smiled reassuringly, and put the doll down on the ground.

"Daddy?" she murmured, walking slowly over to the serial killer chief.

"Bia, I'm so, so sorry!" Willy's apology rushed out in a ragged voice, uncaring of letting his true emotions show in public.

"I didn't mean to scare you, and I'm certainly not mad at you!" the bigger weasel pleaded, as he swept Willimeena up in a loving hug.

"I just ... I just don't want to lose you, sweetie", Willy confessed, honestly. "I lost you for months when the police took you away from me years ago."

The big weasel then winced, and lowered his gaze.

"It almost happened again; during the ritual night. I'm NOT losing the ONLY good thing in my life, Bia!" he stated, emphatically.

Willimeena's anxiety vanished as she smiled happily at her dad's caring words.

"You make my life worth living ... just being you. I love you, Bia", Willy said.

Chapter Text

Willy Weasel then planted a little platonic kiss on Willimeena's head, making the weasel pup giggle and cheekily pull on his ear.

"Love you too, Daddy", she said beaming, and then frowned. "I'm sorry that I scared you", the doll added.

"I should have just stayed in the office, and not gone to try and look for you." Willimeena shot her dad an apologetic look, as her ears flattened.

"Much less attack people."

Willy Weasel just smiled and ruffled his daughter's ears.

"It's okay, Bia!" he replied, as she giggled happily. "You were just trying to protect us: your family!"

The big weasel then bent down to press his forehead against his daughter's ... like they did when they were human.

"You're as brave as a lion ... a brave little lioness who is worth a hundred of us all!"

The rest of the animatronics all nodded, smiled, and murmured in agreement.

"A kitten that I am proud to call MINE", Willy purred affectionately. The weasel purred lovingly back, her ears pricking back up!

Siren Sara and Tito Turtle exchanged a grin and a wink as they watched the happy ending of the previously tense situation.

The sweet moment is suddenly interrupted by a lot of angry shouting and yelled insults!

They were coming from outside ... much to the two weasels' annoyance.

———

In front of Willy's Wonderland, back in the present ...

An angry crowd of townsfolk from Hayesville was steadily gathering at the doors of the now notorious restaurant.

Parking their cars in the nearby carpark, the rioters took out what makeshift weapons they had ... before walking to Willy's Wonderland itself.

"This ******** of a place is finally going to get what it deserves!" a balding, middle-aged man with grey hair growled.

He was wearing a dull green sweater, blue jeans, and was wielding a broken wooden post as a weapon.

"I'm going to shove this hammer up that weasel's *****!" agreed a nearby woman, who was wielding a large sledgehammer.

She had long blond hair, red lipstick, and a purple shirt on. Sheriff Hobson and Deputy Lund stood at the forefront of the crowd, facing all of the tense, wannabe-heroes.

The police deputy bit her lip anxiously as she watched a nearby man test his chainsaw out on the closest garbage bin lid.

He was a dark haired man, with a blue shirt ... and a cold, angry look. Hobson glanced across at Lund, and saw that she had an unsure, troubled look on her face.

"We gotta end this tonight, Lund", the Sheriff said firmly, but gently. He knew that the events of earlier at the sports game had hit her hard.

The events had also hit him pretty hard too, not mention everyone else.

Hearing her boss's words, Lund turned to look at him ... a haunted look on the deputy's face.

"I know that this place is nothing but evil, Sheriff", she said, quietly. "But I don't like this."

Hudson said nothing, but furrowed his brow and sighed as he turned away from Lund.

The deputy blinked, and then frowned in confusion as her boss abruptly proceeded to clamber onto his vehicle!

"Sheriff! Get down from there before you hurt yourself!" Lund called to Hudson, who just ignored her.

The Sheriff then cleared his throat loudly, and raised his hands for attention.

"Hush now!" Hudson ordered gruffly, instantly silencing the angry crowd. "Alright! We're all here for the same reason!" he added, his gaze moving over the rioters.

"Our whole town has been terrorised by this weasel and his goddarn puppets from hell ... and it's time we took our home back!"

Sheriff Hudson then punched the air emphatically with a determined look on his face.

"Who's with me?"

The entire crowd of townsfolk practically roared their agreement, and raised all of their weapons into the air!

"Yeah! They killed Hank and Mr Winston right in their shops!" a brown-haired, young man yelled defiantly!

He had a dark grey shirt on, and was brandishing a wooden pole.

"I heard they shoved a waffle cone up Old Man Winston's **********, if you know what I mean", a bald man added angrily.

He had a beige shirt on, and was wielding a cricket bat.

"And that's not even mentioning what they did to that poor contractor and his family!" shouted the blonde woman next to him.

She had a dark pink shirt on, and was brandishing a lead pipe. Sheriff Hudson nodded grimly at all of the vindictive statements given!

"They got plenty to pay for in there ..." the top law officer declared, hopping off his car.

"You tell 'em, Sheriff!" a rioter yelled, fully caught up in the thrill of the moment.

Hudson and Lund strode to the restaurant's front doors, their respective guns cocked and held ready.

"And it's time to collect!" the Sheriff shouted boldly, as he kicked the doors open awesomely. "Get some!"

A terrifyingly familiar voice unexpectedly answered him from out of the darkness inside the restaurant.

"Oh yeah, you'll get some all right!" jeered Willy Weasel, before cackling nightmarishly.

The entire crowd were instantly silenced, many of them pale and shaking in fear.

Hudson and Lund, much to their consternation ... were two of that number.

"My god, what was that?!" the Sheriff said, his hands clenching hard on his rifle.

"I think ... I think that was Willy Weasel, sir", Lund said, stammering a little.

The deputy quickly composed herself though, fixing a calm, yet thoughtful look on her face.

"Although ..." Lund said slowly, frowning in concentration. "I could swear that I've heard that voice before somewhere—"

"LUND!"

Said deputy jumped a little as her boss's voice quickly turned harsh and annoyed.

"We're on a mission to save our town ... not to talk about the past!" Hudson said disapprovingly, causing Lund to nod in shame.

"Sorry, sir," she said, quietly.

The Sheriff nodded back in satisfaction, then turned and strode into the restaurant.

Lund was right behind him ... and followed by the nervous, but recklessly determined crowd of rioters.

As they entered Willy's Wonderland, the lights unexpectedly came on ... revealing it oddly empty.

Well, THAT'S not ominous! Lund sarcastically thought!

Chapter Text

In an easternmost staffroom (at the entrance of Wing 2), the asylum, back in the past ...

It was 'panic-stations' at the moment!

Staff members were rushing in and out through the main door of the staffroom, with mostly stressed expressions.

Among them was a balding, black-haired man who was leaving ... and a mousy-haired one with a beard entering with a clipboard.

There was only one other door in the room ... the heavily-barred security door entrance for Wing 2 of the asylum.

It stood next to a closet, some filing cabinets, and a blaring, red siren light on the ceiling.

"Willis is out!" a black-haired staffer barked as he snatched up a torch from the nearby desk.

"We already found two dead in the westernmost staffroom. We need more manpower to search the facility!"

"It's more than just Willis!" another staffer interjected, scowling deeply. "It's him and his whole demented gang!"

Said staffer had caramel brown hair, a fu manchu moustache, and was frantically dialling a number on a phone on the desk.

No response. He dialled it twice more, before slamming the reducer down in disgust!

The brown-haired staffer scoffed, and then threw a derisive glance at a row of 'bang sticks' on the nearest wall.

"Screw this!" he snapped, turned, and walked over to the cabinets.

"I'm not banking on a stupid bang stick to stop those sick *******!" the brown-haired staffer stated, as he took a handgun out of one of the cabinets.

The aforementioned man then loaded and cocked the gun, relishing the conflict to come!

His black-haired partner nodded and hefted his torch up ... ready for combat.

"We need to lock this whole place down and call the cops", said staffer said, turning and walking towards the main door.

"I heard that. We don't get paid enough for this *****!" grumbled the black-haired staffer, following him with the gun raised.

"Hey, buddy!" the brown-haired staffer called, stopping as he spotted another staffer nearby. His black-haired partner stopped as well.

"You see any signs of those freaks?"

Said staffer was a dark-haired, lean young man, and was standing in front of the 'Wing 2' security door.

"Somebody saw them heading towards the front gate", the dark-haired staffer replied promptly, with his back to the other two.

"I'm just making sure this area is locked down first."

"Good thinking! We'll meet you there!" the brown-haired staffer called, as he turned his attention away.

The dark-haired man watched him and the black-haired staffer quickly run out of the room, their minds on other things.

He then waited until EVERY staffer had left the room (and were out of hearing range) ... before chuckling darkly.

"You do that ... pendejo (idiot)", the dark-haired man whispered, as he turned around.

It was Tito ... Tito Tortuga himself. Said chap smirked as he reviewed his current situation.

Tampering with the phone here had been child's play ... just as easy as it had been to steal a staffer's shirt to wear.

And these cabezas de hueso (boneheads) call themselves 'security'?! HAH! Tito thought to himself.

The former pickpocket then took Jerry's improvised lockpick out of his pocket, and used it to unlock the door.

Said door then swung open ... and Gus, Ozzie, and Cammy entered the staffroom.

"Har! Har! Har! Nice one, Tito!" Gus congratulated the former pickpocket. "I could have handled those ***** though!" he added, smirking a little.

Tito smiled disarmingly as he divested himself of the stolen shirt, and turned to his comrades.

"There's value in subtlety, mi amigo", the former thief replied. "Anyway, the boss said he wants us to meet back in the loading bay."

Tito then flashed his signature charming smile at them, and jerked a thumb towards the other door.

"We don't want to miss our ride, do we?"

A collection of smiles and murmurs of agreement were the turtle-lover's answer!

"This is fun! It's like we're playing tag or something!" Cammy giggled, rubbing her hands gleefully. "Where's Mr Willis?"

Tito frowned, deep in thought for a moment.

"He said something about a little 'unfinished business' and then he'd meet us there", the former pickpocket said.

"By the way, have you rung your brother yet, chica?" he asked, while turning and walking to the other door.

"Yes!" Cammy said immediately, nodding as she and the others followed behind Tito.

"Just did it on the way here! Jed said that he'd be all ready for us when we get there!"

———

In Dr Fine's private office, the asylum, at the same time ...

The phone on Dr Fine's desk abruptly started ringing ... and continued to ring for several seconds before she picked it up.

"Yes, yes", the psychologist muttered. "I realise that some of the patients have escaped."

She was only half-listening to the frantic voice on the phone though.

Most of Dr Fine's concentration was on the computer in front of her, as was evident from her fevered typing.

"I realise we need to evacuate. I'm leaving right now", the doctor said testily, as the voice on the phone got more and more frantic!

"I just needed to get some of my files", she added, eying the open suitcase on her right.

It was sitting on her desk, and stuffed to the brim with handwritten notes.

"I've already got three major publishers bidding on my Jerry Willis tell-all novel. I'm not losing those notes now!" Dr Fine yelled into the phone, before slamming it down angrily.

The doctor grumbled under her breath as she picked up a paper, then tossed it into the bookcase, and resumed typing.

Dr Fine was, however, unaware of the silent figure standing directly behind her.

Jerry Willis took a casual glance around the psychologist's office in curiosity and feigned nonchalance.

It was tidy, dust-free, and extremely boring ... a lot like its owner. The serial killer chief's gaze lingered for a while on the papers in the suitcase.

Jerry's lip curled derisively as he sneered at the unsuspecting Dr Fine.

Pathetic. The wretched woman cares more for her future fortune, than her own pitiful life!

Well, the latter, methinks ... will shortly be at its end.

"Ohhh. I love a good story, Dr Fine ... as you already know," the serial killer chief began ... in his usual calm drawl.

"I was SO hoping you had time for one last ... session."

Dr Fine's irritated look instantly changed to a horrified and sweaty one, as a rough hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder!

Said hand then abruptly switched its grip to the psychologist's neck, and forced her to turn around.

Jerry Willis grinned a toothy grin down at Dr Fine ... a grin as sharp as a shark's!

"I insist."

Chapter Text

In the dining hall, Willy's Wonderland, in the present, 5 mins later ...

"Ok! We're inside. Now what?" a balding, mousy-haired, stocky man said nervously.

He was gripping a metal golf club, and looking warily from side to side; keeping close to three other people.

They were: a young, brown-haired man in light blue ... with a wooden cricket bat. A young, black-haired woman in a purple shirt, with knuckledusters ...

And finally, a young woman with a blonde ponytail, in dull green ... wielding a wrench.

On arrival in Willy's Wonderland, and finding the main hall completely empty ... the Sheriff had made a new plan.

The would-be-heroes would split up into three groups and search through the other rooms of the closed restaurant.

Hudson and Lund would be in one group, and the others ... well, you get the idea.

So far, this particular group had seen neither hide, nor hair of the robots they were hunting down.

It was like Willy & Co had simply vanished into thin air! But then ...

"What was that?" the brown-haired man suddenly cried, turning to the right.

He'd caught a flicker of movement over in that direction ... though now ... there was nothing there?

The other people quickly turned and looked rightwards ... only to see nothing as well.

This only added to the ever-growing sense of paranoia in the group!

They could feel the menace, and underlying malice in the air around them ... which was definitely aimed at them!

"I-I don't think that this was such a good idea!" the blonde woman abruptly blurted out, quivering all over.

"That's an understatement", Siren Sara's child-like voice said behind them.

The group whirled around, but there was no sign of the fairy mascot ... apart from her eerie giggling ...

... And a faint sound of grating metal behind them ...

"Holy ******!" the balding man cried in shock, as a huge longsword suddenly swung into existence! The same sword that belonged to Knighty Knight.

It hit the brown-haired man before he had a chance to react, killing him ... and then disappeared in a flicker of movement.

"Where did THAT come from?!" squeaked the black-haired woman, completely caught off guard!

"ME."

The deep, tinny voice echoed around the hall, making the remaining people all jump in fright!

"**** this!" gasped the balding man, suddenly breaking away from the group.

The two women gaped at him in incredulity and shock as he headed for the exit door.

"I'm oughtta he—!" the balding man's words suddenly died in a ghastly shriek!

Knighty Knight's longsword had abruptly appeared again, and impaled the man before he could escape!

The sword was, of course, held by its owner ... who turned to give the survivors a cold stare.

"Where do you think you're going?" Siren Sara hissed, abruptly appearing to their left.

Before the women could react, the blue fairy savagely kicked the blonde girl down ... smirking at the cry from her victim.

The aforementioned woman scooted back desperately as Siren Sara loomed over her menacingly, raising two sharp carving knives!

Pure fear clouding her senses, the black-haired woman quickly backed away, and turned to flee ...

... Only to run slap back into Gus Gorilla, with one massive hand outstretched to catch her. By the FACE.

"Not so fast, little lady!" the animatronic gorilla said smugly.

He watched amused as said girl struggled and squirmed in a wasted effort to escape his grip.

"Let me go, you big, dumb ape!" she spat, in pitiful bravado.

The weak insult sparked a faint, past memory in Gus's mind. A very unwelcome one, at that.

"You know, you remind me of someone I used to know", the animatronic gorilla snarled, tightening his grip.

"Too bad for you!" Gus spat, as he then slammed the woman's head fatally into the nearby wall.

———

In the janitor's closet, Willy's Wonderland, at the same time ...

"I can't see **** in here!" a light brown-haired man groaned loudly. "Where's the light switch?"

His eyes narrowed as he squinted across at some paper rolls, which were on a bookcase in front of him.

"I tried it already", grunted his partner-in-heroics. A wiry man with darker brown hair, fierce scowl, and a hammer in his hands.

"Must be faulty ... the blasted thing keeps flickering!" he continued, lifting his gaze to the light above.

It was blinking and flickering like it was about to go out ... which was very odd.

The dark-haired man suddenly tensed, spun around to the right, and narrowed his eyes at back of the closet.

"Hold on ... I heard something back there", he whispered to the aforementioned partner.

The other man nodded, while subconsciously taking a paper roll away from the bookshelf ... without looking.

A quiet giggle instantly caused the two men to freeze up, and turn to face the source.

Their jaws both dropped as they saw the smiling face of Cammy Chameleon — now revealed behind the paper rolls.

"Surprise! You found me!" sing-songed the pink lizard, in a very childish voice. "Here's your prize!"

The 'prize', as it turned out ... to be bodily-slammed by the now-falling bookcase, pushed by the giggling Cammy.

The light brown-haired man yelled in pain as he crashed to the ground, half-pinned under the bookcase.

"You're a cheater! I didn't tell you to bleed yet!" the pink chameleon snapped, her mood rapidly swinging! "Where are your manners?"

Groaning where he lay, the aforementioned man heard a burst of raspy laughter from the other side of the room.

"He's a yokel, he doesn't have any!" jeered Ozzie's voice as a set of mechanical footsteps approached.

The two animatronics sniggered together, as the humans in the room both grimaced at the clear insult!

The light brown-haired man scowled and raised his head to refute it ... only to see Cammy walking over to him!

"You need a timeout!" she spat, pulling back one leg.

The poor chap didn't have a chance to scream ... before the chameleon delivered a vicious, fatal stomp to his head!

Now ... the dark-haired man, who'd been watching the goings-on with pure horror, quickly backed away from Cammy.

"I don't want any trouble!" the poor guy sobbed in fear, unaware of Ozzie creeping up on him from behind.

"Just let me find the exit, and you'll never see me again! I—"

The man's voice died literally in a choked gasp as the robot ostrich killed him with a snap of his beak!

Cammy, however, was concerned with another matter entirely ... concerning her foot apparel.

"Ewwww! I think I got something on my shoe!" the chameleon whined, earning an eye-roll from Ozzie.

Chapter Text

In the left side corridor, Willy's Wonderland, a few mins later ...

"Do you still think that this was a good idea, Sheriff?" Deputy Lund said dryly, as she threw her boss a cynical glance.

Hudson just glared at her, having little to zero patience for Lund's sarcasm.

"Shaddup, Lund!" the Sheriff snapped, his hands tightening on his gun. "Just find us a way out of this damned, evil place!"

The two police officers were currently sneaking through the left side corridor, guns raised, and were also very, VERY tense!

The corridor's lights weren't working properly, and kept randomly turning on and off ... casting deep shadows around the pair.

It hadn't helped that they'd been attacked within SECONDS of entering said corridor either! Well ... strictly speaking; it was Lund who'd been attacked ... by Siren Sara!

The giggling fairy had abruptly appeared before them ... as if from nowhere ... and immediately tried to take a bite out of Lund's gun arm!

The deputy's training and good instincts had helped her to avoid the majority of the bite ... but Lund was still left with a lacerated arm!

Good thing that she was still able to shoot with it though!

Sheriff Hudson had quickly improvised a bandage out of Lund's torn sleeve, openly relieved that it wasn't a serious injury!

If they were getting out of this hellhole at all, Hudson needed his deputy to carry on as much as possible!

Despite gritting her teeth in pain, said woman was indeed carrying on ... holding her gun in her uninjured hand.

The two police officers had quickly fired off a fusillade of shots at Siren Sara; ripping a few holes in her sparkly blue wings.

The animatronic fairy had merely scoffed and dodged the majority of the bullets; vanishing as mysteriously as she'd appeared.

Said encounter has deeply unnerved the officers ... and nearly terrified them to death!

With no signs of their townsfolk colleagues, increasingly ominous silence around them, and Lund's injury ... Hudson was actually thinking that maybe she was right?

Maybe ... this hadn't been a good idea, after all?

"What was up with you earlier, Lund?" the Sheriff abruptly asked, trying to steer his mind away from their bad situation.

His deputy's tense gaze immediately flicked to him, while pressing a hand down on her injured arm.

"Hmmmm?"

"After the sports game attack?" Hudson reminded Lund, turning to look at her full-on. "You were acting kind of strange?"

The deputy's eyes widened as she remembered the huge attack that had taken place earlier.

"Oh yeah. Well ... it was just because I recognised the doll who attacked you, sir", Lund explained.

"Willimeena Weasel." She then bit her lip for a second, looking a bit depressed.

"A weasel doll that previously belonged to a certain Arabia Daisy Willis." The Sheriff's eyes widened with realisation and recognition at the name.

"Arabia Daisy ... hey, I remember that kid!" Hudson said thoughtfully ... and then grimaced. "Wasn't her dad that infamous serial killer who poisoned himself?"

Lund scowled deeply and spat at her boss's words; anger, disgust, and sorrow in her expression.

"Yeah. Jeremy Robert Willis", she said, sourly. "The one who died with his accomplices in that occult ritual."

Hudson frowned in confusion, causing Lund to raise an eyebrow at him.

"That death circle we found them in, remember?" she said, pointedly.

The Sheriff grimaced again, as the awful memories quickly flooded back to him. He'd tried his best to forget that gruesome scene, on that raid.

"How could I forget?!"Hudson muttered. "Gave me the real collywobbles, that did! Didn't the kid die too?"

His deputy sighed deeply at the question, nodding sadly.

"Yes. Poor Arabia", Lund murmured, looking depressed. "Killed by the father she so loved. She deserved better ... way better."

Sheriff Hudson nodded sombrely in agreement, both sorrowful over the innocent child's tragic fate.

Lund then cleared her throat loudly, trying to dispel the gloom she'd unintentionally caused.

"One thing was odd though?" the deputy mused aloud. "Willimeena Weasel wasn't found with Arabia's body."

Hudson blinked in confusion at this sudden chance of subject, and gave her a puzzled frown.

"Huh?"

"Arabia and her doll were found in separate places in the restaurant, sir", Lund stated, thoughtfully.

"It just seems off to me ... that kid always refused to be parted from her toy for ANY reason!"

She remembered way back when Arabia was (forcibly) taken into protective custody.

The little girl had been fiercely determined to keep her toy by her at all times! The Sheriff just rolled his eyes in annoyance and exasperation.

Eloise Lund was always a good police officer ... except when she occasionally meandered off into 'conspiracy theories'.

"I'm TRYING to find a way out of here right now, Lund!" Hudson said testily, as he turned back to the corridor ahead.

"I'm not interested in your conspiracy theories! It was just a coincidence ... nothing more!" His deputy frowned, then sighed, and nodded reluctantly.

"I know that, sir ... but that doesn't explain how Willimeena was alive and moving back there at the game?!" she muttered quietly.

CLANG!

The sound of something hitting metal behind them caused the two officers to instantly whirl around!

"There!" the Sheriff called sharply as they fired off a round of shots at a barely-noticeable figure looming out of the shadows.

"Hey! Hey! What in the ****?!" said figure protested in panic, while dodging the bullets.

"Quit shooting!"

"TEX?!!" Hudson and Lund both exclaimed in shock, as the restaurant owner stumbled into view.

Neither of them had expected MACADOO of all people to come to Willy's Wonderland tonight!

"What in the hell are you doing here?!" the deputy demanded ... to which Tex gave a sheepish smile.

"I saw everyone in town and followed you all up here", he admitted quietly. "I just felt like I should be here."

"Fool!" a child's voice hissed coldly, causing all three adults to jump in fright.

"Willimeena?" Tex blurted out, scanning the shadows around him for a sign of her.

Lund instantly whirled to face him, an expression of suspicion and incredulity on her face!

"What did you say?" the deputy demanded, only to pale in horror and raise her gun up!

Hudson was equally terrified too, shaking all over as he raised his gun too!

The sinisterly-smirking face of Willy Weasel had suddenly loomed out of the shadows behind Tex!

"Look out!" Lund screamed, as the big weasel took a clawed swing at the businessman.

Tex, luckily, just managed to dodge in time ... turning and gasping as the blow WHOOSHED over his head!

"It's him! It's that ***** devil weasel!" Sheriff Hudson cried, eyes wide as they met Willy's gaze full-on!

Paralysed with terror, neither of the police officers fired at him … their hands slack around their guns.

The robot weasel smirked wickedly, before disappearing back into the shadows with an evil laugh.

Chapter Text

Ironically, that laugh was the last straw for the Sheriff!

"That's it! I've had enough of this ******!" Hudson yelled in panic, as he whirled back around and started sprinting down the corridor!

"We're leaving!"

Lund and Tex immediately followed him, while glancing anxiously at each other.

"But what about all the other people we brought up here, sir?" the now frowning deputy shouted back at him.

"**** them! They can find their own way out!" the Sheriff replied tersely, not wanting to discuss it further.

Inwardly, Hudson hated himself for the decision ... but there really was no other option.

What he'd just seen ... was way beyond his capabilities, and what was natural!

Dark, hissing laughter rang around the running trio, as Willy's voice taunted them menacingly!

"Run, RUN, little rabbits! Run ... broken little rabbit!"

There was a deep sniff behind them, and Deputy Lund suddenly had a nasty suspicion that Willy Weasel was talking about her!

"The hunt just fuels my HUNNNGGEEERRR ..."

The big weasel's voice died away into feral growls ... which promised nothing but death for his incoming victims!

———

In Cammy's Party Room, Willy's Wonderland, seconds later ...

Sheriff Hudson, Deputy Lund, and Tex Macadoo all nipped inside the next room they came to ... and slammed the door shut!

Turning around, they stopped ... and gasped for breath, looking momentarily relieved to have escaped from Willy!

Then ... the trio saw what was in front of them, as the lights abruptly turned on!

"Okay, which one of you ****** is next?" Gus Gorilla growled, cracking his mechanical knuckles.

"Good Lord, it's another one!" Hudson cried in shock, while pointing his gun at Gus.

Lund immediately did the same, while Ted quickly hid behind her. There was a hollow click from said gun ... and the animatronic gorilla smirked.

"And I'm fresh outta ammo!" he stated, despairingly.

"Me too, Sheriff!" Lund said bleakly, as her gun clicked uselessly too. "Watch out!" the deputy cried, as Gus Gorilla abruptly roared and charged towards them!

"Looks like this is the end!" Tex wailed in terror, behind the equally frightened officers.

None of them heard the door opening quietly behind them, but they DID see Gus being shot several times!

Snarling in frustration, the gorilla robot fell back ... causing his would-be victims to turn and face their rescuer. Actually ... make that RESCUERS!

A determined, triumphant Chip and Dommie stood there, both holding rifles and sharing glares with the angry Gus.

"That's not going to hold him off for long!" Dommie stated grimly, reloading her gun. "We need to get moving!"

"She's right!" Chip agreed. He looked around, and then narrowed his eyes at the sight of another door ... in the far right corner of the room.

"Come on! I think I've found a way out!" the blue-shirted man called to the others, while pointing to said door.

They all nodded and quickly followed Chip to the door, while keeping wary eyes on the damaged gorilla.

"Chip?" Tex mumbled. "Remind me to give you a raise if we get out of this alive!"

Said man looked back and shot a little smile at his former boss. Hudson and Lund just rolled their eyes, while sharing a wry look.

This was hardly the place to talk about employee wage increases, but it was nice of Tex to offer that to Chip!

You could tell that Chip liked the consideration too!

———

In the secret corridors, Willy's Wonderland, seconds later ...

The new door ended up leading to a tangle of twisty-turny corridors, which the little group crept through ... quickly and quietly.

"Stay together!" Dommie whispered. "I think I can get us outside, but these passages are tricky."

She was using her personal lighter to lead the way, as she was now in front.

"They're the only reason that we're still alive!"

———

In a corridor near the main security door, the asylum, back in the past ...

"I could do this all day!" Gus boasted, laughing deeply as he slammed two orderlies' heads together!

Next to him, Tito looked around at their surroundings with a wary glance ... while brandishing a razor blade.

The duo were ankle deep in orderly bodies, slain by the aforementioned cultists in various horrific ways.

"I agree, amigo", Tito said, nodding to his colleague's words.

"But Señor Willis told us to meet him at the loading docks. We don't want to be late!" he added pointedly, turning to walk further along the corridor.

Gus dropped the orderlies that he was holding, and made to follow ... but then hesitated.

"Do you think we've got time to grab a snack?" the big man asked, causing Tito to stop and look back. "All this smashing has made me hungry!"

The turtle-lover just shook his head and turned back.

"Vamanos (Let's go)!" Tito said authoritatively, making Gus sigh ... and follow him along.

———

In a separate corridor nearby, the asylum, at the same time ...

"This may be my favourite piece yet!" Arty spoke, as he stepped back from his latest 'artwork'.

It was of a bunch of stick figures under a sun, 'painted' on a corridor wall.

"I call it - 'Homeward Bound'", he declared, while grinning his infamous 'alligator smile'.

"Love it, Arty!" Sara chimed from behind the killer artist. "But we need to keep moving, or we're going to miss our ride!"

The ex-instructor was using various dance techniques to fight off the few staff survivors of Arty's 'art attack'.

The others ... well, they littered the floor around the duo, and also were slumped against the walls.

Arty beamed again with pride at his masterpiece, only his smile to turn to a frown at a sudden thought!

"But this whole place is on lockdown! How are we getting out?" the former art teacher asked Sara worriedly.

The blonde woman shot him a wink, just as she turned to face the last staffer.

"Hey! You remind me of my ex-fiancé!" Sara jeered, felling the man with vicious kick to the neck.

She then turned back to Arty, a sunny smile on her face.

“Don’t worry! Mr Willis has a plan!” the woman said confidently, as she opened the nearby door with another kick.

“He always has a plan!”

Chapter Text

In front of the main security door, the asylum, 5 mins later ...

"Sorry, Doc. You know the rules," a blonde-haired male staffer spoke apologetically. "No one gets in or out when we're on Code Red!"

He was standing on the 'safe side' of the main security door, and looking through its circular window.

Red lights flashed on and off; heightening the danger and tension of the situation.

Dr Fine was on the other side of the window; giving the staffer a pleading look!

To be honest, it rather confused the man ... because, surely she would have evacuated earlier?

"I ... realise that, Trevor", Dr Fine said, apologetically. "But these are ... special circumstances?" she pleaded, to Trevor's unsure, frowning face.

The psychologist then gasped as a razor blade poked sharply into the back of her neck ... a WARNING, IMPATIENT poke!

Either the door opened quickly, or ... Dr Fine didn't want to consider the possible, darker alternatives!

"Please! I need your help!" the doctor begged the other staffer desperately, her voice turning to a heartbreaking sob!

"I don't want to die in here! I'm begging you!!!"

Trevor chewed his lip anxiously, his heart going out to the clearly terrified Dr Fine on the other side of the door.

"Okay. Okay", the staffer said, finally. "I can't just leave you in there with all them crazies running loose."

Trevor quickly brought out a set of keys, and began to fumble with the lock.

"I'll let you in ... but then I'm locking it back down and no one else gets a pass. Got it?"

The relieved psychologist nodded many times, visibly relaxing at the good news!

"Oh, thank you, Trevor! Thank you!" Dr Fine cried, tears forming in her eyes. "I won't tell anyone! I promise!"

The lock finally clicked, and the main security door swung open! As it did, Dr Fine was suddenly shoved forward in a harsh manner ... catching her off guard.

With a cry of shock, the psychologist lost her balance and fell ... right into Trevor's waiting arms.

This ... unfortunately ... gave him entirely the wrong idea!

"Dr Fine! I never knew you felt this way!" the staffer said charmingly, waggling his eyebrows at the psychologist.

Unfortunately for Trevor, Dr Fine wasn't exactly in a flirty mood ... more of a shaking and crying one.

"I'm sorry, Trevor", she whispered in genuine remorse. "I didn't want to ... He made ..."

"Shhhh. It's okay. I've got you", the staffer said soothingly, patting her on the back.

Trevor's entire attention was on comforting his crush; unfortunately oblivious to the figure currently stepping through the doorway.

"I've always felt the same way about—" Trevor's words died away in a gasp, as he was struck down by a razor blade to the back of his head.

"You're a monster! I can't believe I ever tried to help you!" an anguished Dr Fine choked out, as a smirking Jerry shoved the falling body aside.

"Ahhh. But who really was the monster, my dear?" the serial killer chief quipped, rolling his eyes.

If Jerry had a dollar for EVERY time he'd been called that ...

"The creature? Or the doctor who created him?"

The orange-shirted man then caught hold of Dr Fine's left arm, and pulled the struggling doctor along.

"Come along now! Your 'date' with Trevor here has put us behind schedule."

———

In the garage, the asylum, 5 mins later ...

As soon as Jerry and Dr Fine reached the garage, the serial killer chief dropped the doctor on the floor ... and settled down to wait for his crew.

It was a pretty basic setup for a garage: repair tools, a few vehicles parked inside, and room to manoeuvre around in etc.

The terrified Dr Fine lay on the floor, breathing heavily in shock and panic ... as she looked up at her captor.

For a second, the doctor half-thought to scramble up and run away ... but a sudden icy look from Jerry instantly put an end to the notion!

It's like he knows what I'm thinking?!! she thought frantically, much to the serial killer's amusement.

Though Jerry could not actually read minds; he'd always had the knack of reading people's body language and emotions.

And Dr Fine's were like an 'open book'.

A clatter of fast-approaching footsteps along the corridor to the garage instantly caught the duo's attention, and they both turned to look at the nearby door.

The psychologist had a look of anxiety and sincere hope on her face; desperately wishing that it were some people who could rescue her!

Jerry Willis, on the other hand, was confident that it was his crew who were coming towards the garage, judging from the sheer number of feet!

But, just in case ...

The ever-wary orange-shirted man put a hand to the hidden knife under said shirt, ready to draw it if he needed to!

The door abruptly opened ... and the familiar tattooed, sharp-toothed features of 'Arty' Allen came into view.

Dr Fine's heart instantly sank into despair, along with her expression ... as Jerry grins and takes his hand away.

"Right on time, guys!" the serial killer chief called over cheerily, as the others appeared behind Arty.

Jerry then turned and gestured to a large, grey laundry van in the centre of the garage, with a broad grin.

"Here's our ride!" he said proudly, glad that the plan he'd spent months in making was now being enacted!

Arty grinned toothily, and gave his boss a grateful nod!

"Awesome!" the killer artist exclaimed, as he and the others walked into the garage ... and turned to see their ride.

It took less than a second for Arty's grin to quickly turn to a grimace.

"Wait ... a laundry van?" the killer artist said in disappointment, while frowning and folding his arms.

Jerry, and the rest of Arty's colleagues; all rolled their eyes in disbelief and slight frustration at his pickiness.

Sara, in particular ... had an extra, more physical reaction to it! Namely: whacking the artist over the head in one hard slap!

"Stop moaning, Arty!" the former dancer snapped, as Arty yelped loudly and glowered at her. “It’s the only ride we’ll get, for goodness’s sake!”

Their fellow grinning crewmates fought back sniggers at Arty’s outraged expression … even Jerry was trying to hide a smirk!

Chapter Text

The serial killer chief then cleared his throat, and resumed his leadership of the current situation.

"All right, all right! As much as I like a good brouhaha ..." Jerry said, smirking at the two 'brawlers'.

"Let me remind you that we're on a very tight schedule at the moment!" he continued, suddenly grasping Dr Fine by the neck again.

The suddenness of the serial killer chief's action made the doctor instinctively yelp and flinch under his grip!

This also caused Jerry's crew to immediately notice, and all turn to look at Dr Fine with wary and puzzled faces.

"Uh ... boss, what's SHE doing here?" Ozzie asked, looking at the doctor with clear disfavour.

"I was wondering that too?" Cammy murmured, while automatically looking at her boss.

The aforementioned Jerry Willis just shrugged in answer, but with a crafty grin on his face though.

"Well, I just thought that the 'good doctor' might come in useful", the serial killer chief quipped ... and then abruptly shoved Dr Fine to the floor.

"Tie the doc up and stow her in the back!" Jerry quickly ordered, his grin changing to a contemptuous look.

He sneered down at the groaning woman at his feet; his derisive expression deepening as another idea came to mind.

"Oh, and gag her too!"

The poor Dr Fine really didn't have a chance at all; cowering back as multiple pairs of hands grabbed her from directions.

"Wait, stop! Stop!" the doctor cried out in panic to her 'former' patients. "Why are you listening to him? Let me go!"

But the newly-formed gang took absolutely no notice of Dr Fine, as they roughly dragged her to one side ... and began to tie her up.

"You monster, what did you do to them?" the doctor yelled at Jerry in a half-accusatory, half-sobbing voice.

Her incoming rant was abruptly cut short as a now-annoyed Sara promptly stuffed a sock in Dr Fine's mouth to act as an impromptu 'gag'.

The doctor's frantic response DID manage to get some reaction out of the contemptuous cult leader though!

Namely ... a VERY dark, and sinister chuckle.

"'Do to them?" Jerry Willis echoed, in a rhetorical manner.

"My dear Doctor Fine ..." the serial killer continued, as he walked over to the gang's new hostage.

"Believe me, I only followed the rules here ... YOUR rules", Jerry emphasised in a gloating tone. "What did I do?"

The serial killer chief then leaned right down to the doctor's face; so close that they were almost nose-to-nose!

"I SOCIALISED ..." he whispered, his eyes glinting with glee and wickedness ... as Dr Fine's filled with tears.

Leaning back up from the newly-traumatised doctor ... as she was then bundled into the back of the van, Jerry turned to face his crew.

"Now ... everyone, hop sticks and into the van!" the serial killer chief declared, clapping his hands loudly. "We haven't time to waste!"

Whistling jauntily, Jerry Willis walked towards the driver's door ... while most of his crew piled into the back of the van.

Karl, on the other hand ... followed his boss with a pleading expression on his face.

"Who's riding shotgun, boss? Can it be me?" the wannabe knight asked, eagerly. "Please?"

Jerry resisted the sudden urge to roll his eyes, as he nodded in answer to Karl.

"If you want to ... sure", the serial killer chief replied, not really caring about who rode shotgun right now.

Karl, though, was ecstatic ... and punched the air with one fist as he got in!

"Woohoo!" the cosplayer whooped, as Jerry then did the same, and started the van up ... as quietly as he could.

"But Jerry ..." Sarah suddenly spoke, leaning towards Jerry's seat.

"There's a heavy steel door in the way! How will we get through that?" she continued, pointing at the garage door.

The serial killer chief merely chuckled and tapped the wheel in front of him pointedly.

"Elementary, my dear Sara", Jerry explained, grinning toothily. "As you can see ... we're in a van."

———

Outside the asylum's loading bay door, Nevada, seconds later ...

Two men in thick, snug clothes shivered and grimaced as they stood by a shuttered garage door.

The first man was bald, stocky, clad in a brown hoodie, and smoking a cigarette.

The second man was gangly, had short brown hair, and wore a dark grey hoodie.

"This weather sucks!" the bald chap spat, and shuddered a little. "How did we draw the short straw, and get perimeter duty on a ***** night like this?!"

The aforementioned night was rather chilly, true ... chilly to the point of a little frost forming on the walls and ground around them.

His guard colleague merely sighed, and rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"I'll take this over being locked in there with those nut jobs any day!" the second man said, giving the other chap a pointed stare.

The first man sighed as well, pulled a lighter out of his pocket, and held it out to the second.

"They got the whole joint on lockdown at the moment!" the second chap added, while pulling out a cigarette and lighting it on the lighter.

"Ain't no one coming in or out of there anytime soon—"

"You hear something?" the first man interrupted, causing the second to raise an eyebrow.

The former frowned in confusion, as he turned slowly to look at the garage door.

"Sounds like an engine revving?"

The first man listened more as the sound grew louder ... and then his eyes suddenly widened in shock!

"Look out! MOVE!" the aforementioned chap yelled, as the garage door suddenly crumpled outwards into pieces!

The first man just managed to pull his colleague to safety as the laundry van smashed its way through ... and past them!

The van's rear doors were wide open, revealing its occupants ... much to the guards' shock and horror!

The aforementioned people in the van ... merely laughed, and taunted their former captors!

"Don't wait up, guys!" Sara called to them, as she waved mockingly. "We're probably gonna be late! Dinner's in the oven!"

"Arrivederci, *******!" Arty jeered as he waved too ... and then pulled the van's doors shut!

In the driver's seat, Jerry just chuckled and grinned wolfishly ... as did Karl, next to him.

Scrambling to their feet, the guards hastily fumbled in their pockets for their walkie-talkies!

"This is Harris, down near the loading docks!" the first chap yelled in panic! "They're out! All of them! Willis AND his gang!"

"They just stole a laundry van, and they're probably heading for the highway!" the second man added into his device.

"Better tell the Sheriff that they'll be coming this way!”

But the asylum guards were wrong … at least for now.

Once the van passed through the asylum’s gates, Jerry turned it onto a quiet little side road.

Chapter Text

Along a side road, on route to Hayesville, 5 mins later ...

The side road that Jerry had chosen was really rather nice, in his gang's opinion.

Peaceful and tranquil, with no other vehicles driving along it ... almost like a lovely drive in the countryside.

Well, at least it WOULD be ... if it wasn't for their doctor hostage's present racket.

"You won't get away with this, Willis!" Dr Fine hissed, despite repeated cuffs around the head by her captors. "Someone will stop you!"

"Shut your mouth!" Ozzie snapped back, only just resisting the urge to strangle her.

The doctor's valiant, but foolish words were also answered with groans of annoyance and glares from the rest of Jerry's crew.

When you're on a fairly long trip ... the most annoying thing that can happen to you ... is to be stuck with a person who just won't shut up!

So it was with Willy's Wonders ... who were rapidly reaching their breaking point with Dr Fine's repeated attempts at intimidation.

Even Jerry Willis was struggling to hold back his extremely explosive temper ... and having to remind himself the potential usefulness of their hostage.

"My dear Dr Fine", the serial killer chief said, through a clenched-teeth smile. "I have ... how did you put it ... been 'getting away with it' for YEARS!"

Jerry's smile became more natural, and derisive ... as he turned to briefly glance at the doctor.

"And as for stopping me ..."

The serial killer chief let out a barking laugh, and turned back to the road ... with a sneer.

"It'd take someone and something more than YOU to have even the slightest chance!"

Jerry's crew all nodded with smirks on their faces; as some echoed his bold statements!

"Yeah, like such an idiot exists!" Ozzie snickered, flicking a pencil around in one hand.

"You said it, Ozzie!" Cammy agreed, promptly sharing a high-five with said gangly man.

"Exactly!" Arty agreed too, as he then fished a switchblade out of his pocket.

"Shut up, Doc!" the killer artist then ordered, turning to show Dr Fine said weapon.

Sensing the literal threat in the switchblade, and Arty's sudden glare ... the doctor gulped and shut up. Much to the relief of everyone else in the van!

Seeing his leader's expression slowly return to a calm smile, Karl took a deep breath ... and cleared his throat loudly.

There was something on the former cosplayer's mind, something he needed to ask ... but hadn't dared before.

"Um, boss ... not to be impertinent, but ... where are we going?" Karl asked Jerry quietly, his voice laden with confusion.

"I thought that we were going to your kid's orphanage?"

The serial killer chief shot a quick, raised-eyebrow glance at the wannabe knight ... before returning his eyes to the road.

"We are ... but we're using a back way at the moment", Jerry explained, matter-of-factly.

"The authorities will assume that we've immediately gone to the highway ... which we will do eventually."

The hint of a smirk then appeared on the orange-shirted man's face.

"But not now, not yet."

Now Jerry Robert Willis wasn't really one to boast ... much ... but over the years he'd come to know all of Nevada very well!

The serial killer chief was both cocky and confident that he could reach the orphanage without the police getting in the way!

———

Outside the orphanage, Hayesville, half an hour later ...

As it turned out ... the van and its occupants were undisturbed all the way to the orphanage! Much to Jerry's satisfaction and pride!

The aforementioned building seemed pretty much dark and sleep-ridden as it loomed into sight before the escapees' vehicle.

The serial killer chief abruptly slowed the vehicle, and then quietly parked it just around the corner from the orphanage's main gate.

Jerry's eyes narrowed at the building, as he slowly gathered himself together, breathed deeply ... and prepared for the mission.

Keep it together, Jeremy. Your little angel is safe ... she's fine.

It's just going to be a quick trip in, quick trip out ... and then Arabia will be back in your arms!

Where she belongs ...

The serial killer chief's calm expression then changed to a serious one, as he took another breath ... and turned to look at his crew.

"Now ... we have to remember to be as quiet as possible", Jerry stated, in a stern voice.

"We don't want to disturb the other occupants of the orphanage ... as much as SOME might want to."

He sent a hard stare at said would-be malefactors ... Arty and Ozzie. The aforementioned men flinched under their boss's gaze, and gave Jerry sheepish grins back.

"It may draw the cops' attention, which is the LAST thing we want to do at right now!"

Tito nodded slowly and reflectively at the serial killer chief's words ... and then cleared his throat.

"The boss is right, amigos", the turtle-lover said pointedly, glancing around at his comrades. "We're on a rescue mission, not an assassination."

Arty and Ozzie's grins faded to serious looks, as they nodded and looked solemn ... as did all of the others too.

"Thank you, Tito", Jerry said, nodding in quiet gratitude for the other's support. "Right ..."

The serial killer chief then turned away, and started pointing at various people in his crew.

"Arty ... Sara ... Cammy ... you three come with me", Jerry murmured, his gaze resting on the last one.

"Cammy, I'll need you to lead the way since you were there in the past." The aforementioned woman nodded, giving her boss a reassuring smile.

"Uhh, boss ... just one thing?" Ozzie's raspy, husky voice interrupted his leader's instructions ... causing Jerry to roll his eyes.

"What shall we do if the Doc here starts kicking up a ruckus?"

The aforementioned, skinny chap then jerked a thumb at the squirming Dr Fine near him.

The doctor flinched as Jerry's gaze lingered on her momentarily ... and tried not to catch his eye.

The orange-shirted man sighed deeply, and rolled his eyes again. Jerry REALLY didn't have time to deal with idiots and idiotic matters like this!

"Whatever you like, as long as it's not deadly, and LOUD", he said, shortly. "Keep it down too."

With these words, the serial killer chief swiftly opened his door and left the van ... without further ado.

Jerry’s chosen trio also left the van, via the rear doors … with no fuss either.

However, scarcely five seconds after the departures … Jerry and the others appeared together at the open rear doors!

Chapter Text

"Oh, and just one thing!" the serial killer chief drawled, as he leaned against one of said doors.

Jerry's serious expression then changed to a truly deranged grin ... one that sent chills to his crew's very bones.

"My little Bia is the most precious thing in my life", the orange-shirted chap said in an eerily-serene voice.

"She's my angel, sweet little rainbow, and the best person I've ever known. You all WILL accept her, and treat Arabia like one of our family."

Jerry's grin flickered momentarily to a sincere one.

"Our ninth member."

Then the madness was back in his smile again.

"She's not to be mistreated, shouted at, or hurt in any way ... do you understand?" the serial killer chief stated, or rather ... ordered.

Jerry's terrified crew all nodded immediately, none of them willing to do anything else.

The serial killer chief's toothy grin widened at this ... as he decided to offer his 'new family' ... a little incentive, just to be sure.

"In fact, I'll even offer you guys a compromise!" Jerry purred, adopting an air of faux affability.

"If you accept and treat Arabia as family ... then I won't rip off all your heads, and turn you into rats' breakfasts!"

Now, the other escapees had all known Jerry Willis for different periods of time ... but they knew enough to know one thing!

The orange-shirted man was not in the habit to EVER make idle threats ... nor threats that he didn't intend to carry out, if provoked.

Unfortunately, a certain Oswald in the group was ... reckless, or stupid enough ... to voice his thoughts on the matter.

"That's a COMPROMISE?!" Ozzie spluttered in disbelief, frowning a little.

That frown instantly changed to a look of panic as a sudden, icy, direct stare from Jerry made the skinny man cringe.

"Well ... compared to what I WOULD do, yeah?" the serial killer chief replied, looking condescendingly at the visibly crumpling Ozzie.

"I think that's a compromise, Oswald. Clear?"

"... crystal", whimpered the skinny man ... who was very much regretting speaking up.

Everyone else, on the other hand ... were just relieved that Jerry's anger hadn't been aimed at them!

The rest of the aforementioned chap's crew quickly affirmed their agreement with their boss ... when his gaze then turned to them.

"Oh, yeah!"

"Crystal too!"

"Absolutely!"

"Definitely can do that!"

"Si, boss!"

"You can rely on us, Jerry!"

Luckily, for them; it did the trick!

Satisfied with his frightened team's assurances, Jerry nodded and turned to leave once more.

"I hope so ..." he murmured pointedly, as his chosen picks followed him quietly.

The rest of the Jerry's crew watched their boss and the others make their way over to the orphanage building ... as inconspicuously as possible.

Ozzie let out his breath in a humungous sigh of fear and relief, as he slumped against a van wall.

"Jeez, the boss is REAL scary sometimes!" the skinny man muttered, grimacing as he mopped his sweaty forehead.

"And the grass is green, Captain Obvious?!" Karl quipped sarcastically, looking equally uneasy.

—————

In a corridor, inside the orphanage, a few mins later ...

Much to the admiration of his team, Jerry managed to get them all into said building ... through the orphanage's back door.

Which the chap had managed to pick with a paperclip he'd picked up.

The serial killer chief seemed to have the 'luck of the devil' ... in Sara, Arty, and Cammy's opinions.

The latter was out at the head of the group; leading them all through the building ... as Jerry trusted her too.

It honestly felt a lot like 'deja vu' to Cammy ... lead the way through the building, since she was there as a child.

The mousy-haired woman was leading her comrades towards the girls' dormitory ... which was located in the left side of the orphanage.

Seemingly easy ... but still fraught with problems! How on earth were they going to get one little girl out of the dormitory without waking the others?!

Cammy was suddenly broken from her anxious thoughts by a murmur of voices ... causing her to instantly halt in her tracks.

"What is it?" Sara asked from behind, frowning in confusion. Jerry and Arty, on the other hand; shared a wary look ... both men immediately tensing up.

All three had no idea why the mousy-haired woman had suddenly frozen to the spot ... but it clearly wasn't nothing!

"Cammy, what's the matter?" the serial killer chief asked firmly, wanting a clear answer.

In reply, the mousy-haired woman promptly held a finger against her lips ... as she turned to look at Jerry.

"Shhhh ... I hear voices, in there", Cammy explained in a whisper ... inclining her head to a nearby door.

"Adults talking."

It was just in front of the group; a partially-closed door ... with quiet voices coming from behind it.

"What will we do, boss?" Arty asked cautiously, shooting a curious look at their leader.

Jerry Willis's expression was still wary, but now a thoughtful look had intermingled with it.

The serial killer chief beckoned to his crewmates, as he crept up close to the partially-open door.

Arty, Sara, and Cammy all gather around Jerry, as he stops just before the door. All four could now hear the voices quite clearly!

The voices (who were obviously orphanage staff) were talking casually about the day ...

... And also Arabia!

——

"Fancy another cup of coffee, Joey?" a man's voice asked, in a jolly fashion.

"Please, Christ, yes!" another man's voice ... harsher and deeper ... snapped.

"God, I feel like drinking a MILLION gallons of coffee after dealing with the Willis brat earlier!"

"That was quite an incident, wasn't it, Joey?" agreed the first chap, his voice still amiable.

"Not exactly the family-friendly fair visit that we all were expecting, eh?"

"I'll say! Beating up another kid with that raggedy doll of hers ..." the second man muttered ... and then snorted in humour.

"Anyway ... it's the first time that I've seen a 5 year old take down a 10 year old!"

“To be fair though … that boy was being very nasty to Arabia”, the first one pointed out, sounding more serious now.

“Taunting the poor girl about her father’s incoming execution … how horrible is that?!”

Chapter Text

Outside the door, the four escapees all exchanged flabbergasted and wry looks. This was certainly news to them ... and especially Jerry!

The serial killer chief had seen Arabia whack the police officers with Willimeena, but this event ...

This was on another level of surprise entirely!

The orange-shirted man was also proud that his little girl had bravely defended him and his 'good name'!

Jerry inwardly wished that he'd been there to witness the whole thing; be able to see Bia's sudden, unchecked fury.

How beautiful it must have been ... Sara and Cammy, in their own turns; were rather surprised by the ferocity and daring of the five year old girl.

Cammy admired Arabia for standing up to a bully much older than her ... while Sara was impressed, but also concerned for the girl's wellbeing.

Secretly, the two women had been loathe to believe Jerry's claim of Arabia's hidden temper in the past.

But now ... they believed their boss. Not that Sara and Cammy would ever admit their earlier disbelief to Jerry though!

Arty, on the other hand ... had never doubted the serial killer chief for an instant on the topic of Arabia.

But, true to his murderous, tricksy, nature ... Arthur could not resist a cheeky quip or two.

"I must say I'm beginning to like this kid of yours, Jerry!" the killer artist remarked with a chuckle, impressed at Arabia's fierceness.

That quip quickly got Arty a stern, eyebrow-raising look from Jerry!

Realising that he may have just got into 'potential, boiling water' with that remark ... the killer artist thought quickly!

"I-I mean ... I've always looked forward to meeting your sweet little girl, boss!" Arty hastily corrected himself, his toothy smile growing slightly shaky.

"Always!" Jerry then raised the other eyebrow; smirking as he turned back to listen at the door ... while Arty flushed in embarrassment.

In the background, Sara and Cammy quietly shared a wry grin and giggle ... before turning back to listen too.

A chastened Arty meekly copies them, without further cheekiness.

——

"True, but she shouldn't have reacted like that, Sam!" the second chap insisted, loudly.

"That brat behaves more like an animal than a human being!"

"Joey! She's not an animal, she's just distressed!" the first staffer snapped, clearly upset with his colleagues' choice of words.

"Anyway, maybe her being in the detention room for a bit might help to calm her down."

"Best place for the Willis kid really!" the second man retorted, obviously not caring at all.

"Brats like that are always trouble in my opinion! Especially when they have a total whackjob for a dad!"

———

"That's it!" Jerry snarled under his breath, now beyond mad!

The serial killer chief's temper had been rapidly rising with every insensitive word about Arabia ... and now he'd had enough!

Jerry scowled and started to walk towards the door, intent on tearing the 'impudent' staffers to pieces!

I'm gonna teach you brainless fools what it means to peeve ME off ... I'm gonna rip your smarmy heads off and stick them up your—

Sara's eyes widen in shock, and she quickly steps forward to block her boss's route to the door.

"Woah, wait a moment!" she exclaimed ... as quietly as she could. "Stop, boss, STOP!"

Jerry's eyes narrowed as he frowned down at his usually-obedient deputy.

Behind Sara, Arty and Cammy exchanged worried looks at their comrade's sudden boldness ... hoping their boss wouldn't be too mad.

The former dancer, on the other hand ... honestly couldn't care less if Jerry was mad!

They were on a mission to save his daughter ... and she wasn't going to have it ruined by Jerry's blowups of anger and pride!

"Jeremy ..." Sara said pointedly, trying to stay calm. "You cannot just go bursting in there and beating up those guys!"

The serial killer chief's frown slowly changed to a look of irritation and disbelief, as he raised an eyebrow at Sara.

The aforementioned woman then sighed, her calm expression turning sympathetic.

She could understand Jerry's paternal need to protect his beloved daughter ... but he needed to focus on what was truly important.

"Yes, I'll admit ... they're brainless morons who are totally useless at their jobs, but this is not the place for a fight!" Sara stated, giving her boss a pleading look.

The serial killer chief's annoyed look started to change to a thoughtful expression, as the former dancer's plea went on.

"The purpose of this whole mission is to get Arabia safely out of this place with as minimal attention as possible!" Sara continued, trying to frame it in a logical way.

"Like you told us before? This is for your daughter's sake, sir!" she finished, hoping that the message got through to Jerry.

As it happened ... it had! Even though Jerry Willis had a strong urge to ignore her and punish the staffers ... he had to admit that she was right.

The serial killer chief closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them again ... with the fury gone.

It had just changed to a look of resignation, and an underlying 'something else'.

Before Sara could ask what the latter was ... Jerry's usual expression of implacable calmness had settled over his face again.

"You're right, Sara", the orange-shirted man said quietly. "Bia's our top priority. We must rescue her."

Jerry then turned to look at a presently-awed Cammy.

"Where's the detention room?" he ordered in a firm, no-nonsense voice. Cammy blinked, and then quickly shook herself back into action.

"A little way back", she replied gesturing behind them. "Follow me, guys."

The trio then quietly made their way back along the corridor, following Cammy ... each with their own private thoughts.

Jerry's mind was filled with thoughts of his beloved daughter.

Arty and Cammy were both full of awe and admiration for Sara's bravery and boldness in standing up to their boss.

Especially after that terrifying speech Jerry had just given outside!

As for the former dancer herself ... she was just curious and keen to meet Jerry's little kitten at long last.

Chapter Text

On the way to the 'detention' room, a few minutes later ...

Through a side door, two right turns, and down another corridor ... the trio went, led by a now-grimacing Cammy.

The detention room had never really been one of her favourite places ... due to spending a lot of time in there as a child.

Most of that was due to the mousy-haired woman's mood swings. But they had to rescue the boss's little girl ...

Cammy inwardly sighed, as the aforementioned door loomed into view in front of them, at the end of the corridor.

It looked just as it did before ... except it was unusually wide open. All three of the escapees could hear childish sobs and voices coming from within.

"It's okay ... it's okay ..." a man's voice spoke soothingly from inside the room.

"Dada, where is dada ..." a little girl's voice cried, laden with sadness and despair.

"Bia!" Jerry muttered with hope, as he immediately strode forward and into the room.

A wary Arty and Cammy followed him, tensing themselves for a possible confrontation past the door.

———

Inside the 'detention' room, seconds later ...

The detention room was a starkly-bare place with not much furniture ... apart from a chair, a lamp, and a single cot in the far left corner.

Luckily, for Jerry & Co ... the owners of the voices weren't paying attention to their entrance.

Slowing their stride to a tiptoeing walk, the trio saw a young male staffer with blonde hair bending over the aforementioned cot.

Jerry Willis's heart simultaneously swelled with joy as he saw Arabia in the bed ... and sank in worry as he saw her clear misery.

The five-year-old girl was all hunched up in sadness; crying quietly into Willimeena Weasel's soft fur, as she hugged the doll tightly to her chest.

Arabia was also dressed in a set of ill-fitting clothes; which looked dirty, brownish, and shapeless on her.

In Jerry's eyes ... it was like they were ugly weeds trying to stifle a beautiful, growing flower.

"Listen, I know that you've had a hard day, Arabia", the staffer spoke again. "But you can't just go whacking other kids—"

"Don't care! I want my dada!" the aforementioned child retorted, too upset to really talk to the staffer.

Arabia lifted her head from Willimeena's fur to scowl at the aforementioned chap, her cheeks streaked with tears.

All of a sudden, the little girl's expression changed completely ... much to the staffer's surprise!

It first changed to a look of dawning hope, and then a mix of pure ecstasy and happiness!

"Daddy!" Arabia squealed in joy, holding her arms up ... seemingly at the staffer.

The aforementioned man was not surprisingly bemused at the sudden change of behaviour, but also ... happy?

Maybe Arabia was starting to warm up to the orphanage at last? The little girl had been nothing but depressed ever since she'd arrived.

"Do you ... do you want me to be your new daddy, Bia?" the staffer asked, in an effort to encourage the girl's new-found happiness.

The next second though ... he was instantly knocked unconscious by Jerry's fists connecting with his head from behind!

"That will NEVER happen", the serial killer chief growled angrily. "Not in a billion, zillion years!"

He then watched the other man collapse to the floor like a heavy sack of oatmeal.

"And only I ... can call my little darling: 'Bia'!" Jerry declared, a genuine smile now on his face as he turned to face his daughter.

"Bia—"

"DADDY!!!"

The serial killer chief had to quickly open his arms, as the little girl practically FLEW into them ... and hugged him tightly and desperately.

The two didn't separate for several minutes, truth be told!

A relieved Arabia was sobbing out all of the stress and misery she'd endured since her ruined birthday.

Jerry, on the other hand ... patiently listened to every bit of Arabia's grief, while quietly soothing her.

——

"They hurt you!"

"Shhhh ... it's okay, Bia."

"Meanies take me away ..."

"It's all over now."

"Meanies take YOU away! All alone, so alone ..."

"That will not happen again, Bia. I'm back now."

"..."

"I promise ... no, I swear on my soul that no one will EVER part us again!"

——

Behind the father-daughter duo, Arty and Cammy stood in silence ... and shared occasional wry smiles.

Both crewmates knew better than to interrupt Jerry and Arabia's reunion ... since this was something the latter really needed.

Besides ... it was a bit on the funny side to see Jerry Willis this 'sweet' and 'heartfelt'.

The serial killer chief wasn't really known for stuff like this ... so seeing it happen was a real humdinger!

Eventually, Arabia's crying came to an end ... but she continued to hug her dad, in silence.

Then ...

"Daddy?" the little girl suddenly spoke, face muffled by Jerry's shirt.

"Yes, Bia?" the serial killer chief asked, ruffling his daughter's hair affectionately.

"I wanna go home."

That simple, but highly emotional statement from Arabia really drove home for the three listening adults just how young she was.

Also ... how much the little girl had been through in the past. Jerry sighed, and his smile became a tad sadder.

"I'm afraid, Bia ... that we can't go home to Bainbridge anymore", the serial killer chief replied with sincere regret.

"Too tricky there now, for us."

Arabia lifted her head to look at her dad, confusion and sadness on her face.

Jerry Willis then smiled reassuringly down at the girl in his arms, and started to brush away her tears.

"But there's a new home for us ... out there. A happy, safe one ... and we're going to go there now."

A little smile started to grow on Arabia's face, as the child's mind filled with happy thoughts.

Thoughts of her and her daddy going to a happy place away from trouble.

Then Arabia's smile swiftly turned to a slightly scared and wary look, as she spotted Arty and Cammy behind Jerry.

"Dada ... who are they?" the little girl asked, tensing and tightening her grip on Willimeena.

The two crewmates' reaction to this ... was to immediately look at Jerry; unsure of whether to introduce themselves or not.

The serial killer chief merely turned to face his comrades; smiling reassuringly again to put all (including Arabia) at their ease.

"Not to worry, Bia ... they won't hurt you", Jerry said, soothingly. "They're my new friends, actually ... and your new, adopted family."

The aforementioned child looked rather confused with this information ... which her dad quickly took note of!

"Don't worry, I'll explain it properly once we're outside", Jerry assured Arabia ... while readjusting his hold on her to be more secure.

"And now let's go." The little girl smiled happily in her father's embrace, cuddling Willimeena in HER arms ... and then suddenly tensed.

"Wait, wait! My prize!" Arabia cried, just as Jerry turned to walk away ... making him stop in his tracks.

Chapter Text

Arty and Cammy exchanged confused and curious looks.

Her prize?

The serial killer chief slowly turned back, as his daughter pointed to the cot that she'd been lying on before.

On said cot, previously hidden by Arabia's body ... was a bright, multi-coloured helicopter beanie.

It was indeed a very nice hat, but unfortunately one too big for Jerry's little girl.

"I won it!" Arabia stated proudly, smiling as her dad picked up said beanie.

Jerry looked it over with a keen gaze, remembering from the staffers' conversation how Arabia had been to a fair earlier that day.

The serial killer chief then looked down at his little girl, smiled broadly, and gave her a proud nod.

"That you did, darling. Well done, Bia", he said with a broad smile.

Jerry Robert Willis then turned once more; and with his crewmates following ... finally left the room.

At long last ... the Willis family was whole again. Arabia was safe, and with the father she loved most.

———

In the dining hall, Willy's Wonderland, 5 minutes later ...

The passageways abruptly ended for Chip and the others ... as they were confronted by a curtain of shiny, sparkly long green plastic strings!

Pushing through it, the group found themselves on the empty stage in the lot, but seemingly empty dining hall.

The Sheriff and his deputy briefly shared a wry look at the cunningness of the hidden passages ... and then resumed following Chip!

Said chap and the others breathed multiple sighs of relief as they saw the open exit doors ... promising an end to the nightmare!

"We're saved!" Tex cheered, his old, cocky grin returning to his face.

Instantly ... as if in rebuke to Tex's words ... the restaurant's doors suddenly swung shut with a thunderous crash!

The doors slamming shut also caused the flame on Dommie's lighter to die!

Not only that, but all of the lights in the hall instantly went out ... plunging the group into darkness!

The suddenness of these things made Chip and his group flinch and jump in terror, realising that it was not over yet!

A nervous, quivering Dommie frantically clicked her lighter to bring another flame up ... only for it to be swiftly BLOWN out!

The now SCARIFIED group quickly huddled together for protection, as wicked laughter came from all around them.

It was VERY obvious that they were NOT ... ALONE ...

"I can't take this anymore, I just can't!" Tex sobbed, finally breaking down.

The traumatised white-suited businessman received quite a few sympathetic glances from his employees, and the officers.

"Please someone, ANYONE ... find the blooming light switch! I don't want to die in the dark!"

Tex's wishful pleas were immediately granted as the lights came back on ... lighting up the entire hall!

"Is this better?" purred Siren Sara, flashing a bloody-toothed grin at a horrified Tex in front of her!

"...no", whimpered the businessman, as he quickly backed away from the smirking, murderous siren!

Hudson, Lund, Chip, and Dommie weren't much better either! The whole group was SURROUNDED on all side by the entire gang of Willy's Wonders!

All of the animatronics bear smug grins on their faces, and their sharp teeth and claws on full display!

At the head of the robotic marauders was the infamous Willy Weasel, his smirk full of menace and outright contempt.

An angry Willimeena Weasel herself was riding on the top of her dad's head (like an oddly-shaped crown), her eyes glowing green ... and her fur all bottlebrushed!

Gus Gorilla, on Willy's left ... sneered at the humans and pointed at his damaged chest.

"This is where that bad lady shot me! And all I was trying to do ... was play with them!" he said to Willy, in mock-self-pity.

"My poor Gussy-Wussy", Cammy said soothingly on Gus's respective left.

She patted the gorilla consolingly, while giving the other group a distasteful look.

Dommie just sneered back, and pointed her rifle at Gus again ... but it was hastily pushed aside by an anxious Tex.

Willimeena raised an eyebrow at this, and smiled approvingly. Maybe ... maybe the weasel pup was wrong, and Tex could learn ... after all?

"Nice of you to drop in, Sheriff!" Willy Weasel spoke acidly, directing his words straight to Hudson.

"It's a pity that you didn't give us more notice of your arrival though. We would have given you a bigger welcome otherwise!"

The big weasel then gestured with both arms around at their surroundings.

"We're always very welcoming here to visitors at Willy's Wonderland ... but NOT to trespassers and vandals!"

Willy's grin then turned colder as he looked over the group, and at their held guns.

"I assume that you guys aren't with those rude, dirty yokels, that were loitering outside earlier?"

Most of the humans shared anxious and frightened looks, as they realised the gravity of situation ... again ... to the amusement of the robots.

Chip, though, had something more important to think about ... to start RANTING about!

"You killed Lexie! You ******!" the aggrieved, young man shouted at the animatronic leader.

Willy turned his gaze from the Sheriff to the blue-shirted chap, his expression changing to one of boredom.

"Your point?" the big weasel asked in a deadpan voice.

He had better things to do ... than to try to remember a specific victim off his kill list.

Predictably, Chip was not at all pleased with this question!

"My POINT?!" the male employee erupted, stepping forward angrily. "She was my GIRLFRIEND!! I LOVED her, you ... you ... you DANCING RAT!!!"

Instant silence fell in that second ... a quiet, and terrifying silence.

The bored look on Willy's face has quickly changed to an ominously calm one ... while his aura thrummed with barely-contained rage.

"I beg your pardon?" the weasel robot finally spoke ... in an overly-polite voice.

"Terribly sorry, I must have misheard your words, my good sir!" He gave Chip a toothy smile ... that was more like a SNARL.

"Could you please repeat it, if you would be so kind?"

Tex, who was quite perceptive for the coward he was ... quickly noticed the other robots nervously edging away from their boss!

The white-suited businessman shared a wary look with the two officers, and then reached out to lay a hand on Chip's shoulders.

But the angry chap just shook it off; too full of hatred and fury to notice the danger signs around and in front of him!

"I SAID—"

"Chip, don't!" Tex pleaded frantically, his arms outstretched in front of the others.

The other humans in the group hastily backed away from Chip as he continued his fateful rant!

"... that you're a dancing ra—"

The blue-shirted man's insult was ultimately cut off as Willy Weasel stuck his claws through Chip's chest, slaying him instantly!

"CHIP!" Dommie cried out in anguish, as her friend's body thudded lifeless to the ground.

Chapter Text

Grief quickly turned to rage, as Dommie pushed one of Tex's arms aside ... and rushed at Willy!

"That was my friend, you *******!" Dommie yelled, as she vengefully kicked the big weasel in the unmentionables!

Willy grunted in some pain, but recovered quickly and snarled at the green-shirted woman.

Before he could act though ... all the girls of the gang (Sara, Cammy, and Willimeena) promptly launched themselves at Dommie with furious shrieks!

The big weasel managed to restrain Willimeena though ... by grabbing her by the chest, just as she jumped off his head.

As for Cammy and Sara ...

"No one hurts Willy!" Siren Sara hissed angrily, as she grabbed Dommie's head and arms.

"Die, ******!" Cammy Chameleon spat, as she grabbed the woman's legs ... at the same time.

With one tug by both animatronics, Dommie was swiftly 'dispatched' ... and dropped to the ground with Chip!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Dommie's body hit the ground, the killer animatronics' aggression instantly cooled ... turning back to their prior sinister calmness.

Sara and Cammy quickly stepped back into place with their fellow robots; smug, satisfied looks on all of their faces.

As for Willimeena, her fur was bottlebrushed again, eyes glowing green, and she was hissing unhappily as she struggled in her dad's tight grasp.

Willy, on the other hand; merely cooed at the angry weasel doll in his paws, and patted her softly until the hissing turned to purring.

Happy that Willimeena was calmer now, Willy placed her back on his head ... while keeping an eye on the humans before him.

Said humans, on the other hand ... were mostly baffled by what they'd just seen!

First ... the huge, infamous weasel openly threatened them and attacked aggressively ... and now he was acting like a 'mother hen'?

Only Tex knew why ... but he wasn't going to let himself blather anything that might upset the vicious robots!

That was the reason why the businessman was now physically holding his own mouth shut ... much to the amusement of Willy & Co.

Taking advantage of the now distracted humans, Arty and Ozzie quickly and carefully slid every gun they could see from their slackened grasps.

A simple precaution, but one thought up by the boss after that 'incident' involving Tito's arm.

"Now, as I was saying ... before the HELP interrupted ..." the big weasel said sarcastically, seemingly none the worse for what happened.

"Somehow, it doesn't feel seemly at all for an UPSTANDING Sheriff such as yourself ... to be in league with a bunch of beer-swilling, mud-brained, wannabe homewreckers!" Willy continued, with a contemptuous snort.

The insult and snark promptly jolted Tex, Lund, and Hobson out of their state of shock ... and the officers immediately went to aim at the robots!

Only to discover a teeny, tiny ... but blatantly obvious problem: their guns were now gone!

Lund whirled around in a panic to find the weapons; only to see them on a table, behind a VERY smug Arty and Ozzie.

Willy Weasel snickered as Lund grimaced, and then scowled angrily at the alligator and ostrich; who promptly high-fived each other!

"Yeah! I always thought that the cops were there to ENFORCE the law ... not link up with brigands to vandalise people's property?" Arty Alligator then quipped with a sneer on his face.

"Si, Señor Arty!" Tito Turtle joined in, while shaking his head disapprovingly at the trio. "So improper of them ..."

"So vulgar ..." Cammy Chameleon murmured, disdainfully.

"Especially that deputy over there!" Gus Gorilla growled, gesturing straight at Lund. "Crooked as the day is long, I wouldn't wonder!"

Deputy Lund flinched at this, looking both hurt and outraged by the accusation.

She suddenly felt a hand pat her on the back in a comforting manner, and turned to see Hobson give her a wink and reassuring smile.

"Not to worry, Sheriff!" Siren Sara drawled once again, drawing everyone's attention to her. "We took care of the problem for you!"

Dangerous, predatory grins appeared on all of the animatronics' faces ... as the humans' faces simultaneously filled with horror!

"Indeed!" Knighty Knight declared, confirming the latter's worst fears.

The knight robot then abruptly whipped his sword out, and around in a flourish ... causing both humans and the other robots to duck hastily!

"Those scurvy curs will never darken the doors of our kingdom again!"

Tex, Hobson, and Lund all bowed their heads in grief at the revelation ... especially the police officers!

The Sheriff and his deputy also felt shame and regret for having accidentally led the angry yet innocent mob of townsfolk to their deaths.

But to tell the truth, who on earth could have expected this?! It was like something out of a horror movie ... except it was real.

Horrifyingly, blood-curdlingly ... REAL.

Deputy Lund blinked, and then shook her head vigorously to chase the bad thoughts away!

This was no time for regrets! She had questions that needed to be answered!

Questions that had been rolling around in her head ever since this whole 'circus of chaos' had started!

"B-But ... what ... why are you ... HOW on earth are all of you alive in the first place?!" Lund spluttered, turning to fix her gaze on Willy himself.

"WHY are you doing this to Hayesville? To the families and kids who loved you?!"

It just didn't make sense to the female officer? Why would the lovable, friendly restaurant monsters change into vicious monsters ... seemingly overnight?!

The big weasel's evil grin swiftly turned to a contemptuous look ... and his crew all rolled their eyes, and groaned in exasperation.

"You know, guys ..." Willy said, in a VERY annoyed voice!

"I've always thought that the people around here were dimwitted country bumpkins who couldn't even find their own noses ... but somehow they always manage to surprise me!"

The animatronic leader suddenly took a couple of rapid steps forward ... catching everyone off guard!

Before anyone could react, Willy Weasel was looming over a now terrified Lund ... obviously relishing her apparent fear of him.

"Seriously though ... you can't guess?" Willy muttered, sounding frustrated. "Don't realise who I really am?! Oh, Eloise ..."

The big weasel's voice softened and lowered in pitch to sound almost 'kind' ... at least to the humans' ears.

Somehow this was even scarier to them than Willy's anger!

"Eloise, Eloise ... Deputy Eloise Lund", said weasel purred in a discomforting way.

"I'm beginning to wonder if gallivanting around with these hicks all this time has dulled your 'perfect' police instincts?"

Willy shook his head in mock sadness and sympathy, as the big weasel gestured around to the surrounding restaurant again.

"You seriously can't remember a specific case? Right here in this restaurant?" Willy hinted, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"A name? A face? A SMILE ..."

The animatronic weasel's face abruptly cracked into his old 'signature smile' ... one full of mischief, smugness ... and malice.

One that suddenly sparked a distant memory at the back of Deputy Lund's mind ...

Chapter Text

Flashback:

In Jerry's office, Willy's Wonderland, decades earlier ...

The office was well-lit, and painted in cheerful colours.

Plushies of Willy Weasel and his friends crowded the various shelves in the room; lending a friendly, warm atmosphere to it.

A smiling Jerry Robert Willis, in his restaurant uniform; sat at his desk ... facing the serious-faced Sheriff Hobson and Deputy Lund.

Their contrasting moods clashed somewhat with the atmosphere ... as did their topic of conversation.

"You see, Mr Willis ..." the Sheriff began. "Maisie Bones, a promising student at Hayesville High School, and her parents disappeared from Hayesville a week ago ... and nothing has been heard or seen since!"

Hobson grimaced as he spoke, stress clear in his voice. The Sheriff never liked it when missing cases involved kids ... he always got too emotionally involved in those cases.

"No trace of them at all has been found in the town, or in any the surrounding areas—"

"That's why we're here", interrupted Deputy Lund briskly ... who was clearly less emotional about it. "We came because this was the last place that they were seen."

The female police officer then plucked a notebook from her belt, and started to ruffle through the pages.

"The investigating report, so far, says that the Bones family booked the 'Super Happy Fun Room' for a birthday party ... and vanished."

Lund then lifted her shrewd gaze from her notebook, until it met Jerry's nonchalant one.

"I don't suppose that you know anything more ... Mr Willis?" she asked, dryly.

The aforementioned man sighed, and then skilfully adopted a 'sincere' tone ... laced with seriousness.

"Sadly not, my dear", Jerry said, his voice dripping with appropriate sympathy. "I wish that I did though ..." he added.

"Maisie and her folks are some of my best customers, and I'd truly hate to lose them!"

The restaurant owner then leaned forward in his chair, folding his arms as he smiled charismatically at Hobson and Lund.

"We here always do my very best for our customers!" Jerry laid a hand on his heart in a 'sincere' gesture, as he spoke.

"But I swear to you two, I personally saw them leave the Super Happy Fun Room at the end of the party!"

(... Jerry means that he saw their dead bodies being carried out, and stuffed into bags by his crew ...)

The restaurant owner then shrugged, his expression quickly changing to one of indifference.

"Wherever they went after that ... well, it wasn't any of my business!" Jerry quipped, nonchalantly.

Deputy Lund narrowed her eyes, however, at the restaurant owner ... feeling suspicious over his apparent unconcern.

"For someone so focused on customer welfare ... you sure don't seem that concerned about Maisie and her family's whereabouts?" the female officer pointed out.

For a second, Jerry's eyes narrowed as well ... piercing Lund with a scrutinising look!

Then, in a flash; it was gone ... and the restaurant owner's 'sincere' smile was back!

"Well ... my dear. The staff and I are completely focused on entertaining the families currently here", he explained, while gesturing with his hands around at his office.

"With our rising rate of incoming customers, I can't be running after everyone who leaves after visiting our little joy-place!"

Jerry sighed deeply, and then leaned forward again ... fixing the Sheriff's deputy with a warm-ish smile.

"Of course, I'm concerned about little Maisie and co, dearie ... but I'm sure that they'll turn up sooner or later!" he said, winking at Lund.

"I always try to look on the positive side of everything ... a thing that everybody should try!"

A hint of mischief and cheekiness suddenly appeared in the restaurant owner's smile.

"Maybe you as well?" he quipped ... and then chuckled as the deputy's face turned red with outrage!

Lund always seemed to have a habit of getting on Jerry's nerves, whenever they met ... so this felt GOOD!

"As I said before, I do hope that Maisie comes back to Willy's Wonderland in the future!" the restaurant owner drawled, feeling on top of things again!

"Such a hopeful, cheerful little thing ... friendly to everyone, and ever so kind!"

Sheriff Hobson nodded in agreement, perking up as the conversation became lighter and slightly happier.

"Yeah, I second that", the senior officer said, grinning. "Met that girl and her parents at an ice cream place some months back. Maisie is such a sweetie!"

"Yes, she w-is!" Jerry agreed, catching himself at the last second! "Maisie is definitely one of my most adorable kids here! Not as adorable as my little angel though!"

A hint of slyness then appeared in the restaurant owner's smile, as his gaze narrowed in on the Sheriff.

"You know, I hope that the Bones family's disappearance won't create too much bother for Willy's Wonderland ..." Jerry murmured, as he slowly took a dollar note out of his nearest pocket.

"All of this investigating makes folks nervous and fidgety, the business will suffer, and poor old Hayesville will be deprived of fun, family-friendly entertainment!" the restaurant owner continued, while putting the note on the table just as slowly.

"We don't want that now ... do we?" Jerry asked pointedly, his gaze still fixed on Hudson as he slid the note over.

"No ... no, you're right, Mr Willis", the Sheriff murmured, then blinked and coughed loudly.

"We certainly wouldn't want to deprive Hayesville of good business, nor its folk of their fun!" Hobson said hastily, nodding and quickly pocketing the note.

"Rest assured, it won't be a bother."

Eyes widening at the obvious bribe, a still outraged Lund opened her mouth to protest ... only to be interrupted by the office door suddenly opening!

"Um ... Daddy?" Arabia's voice asked nervously from the direction of the door.

Everyone in the room immediately turned to look at the little girl (holding Willimeena as usual) who was standing in the open doorway, looking rather shy.

Standing next to her, and holding the door open ... was Tito, who gave a wink and respectful nod to Jerry.

"Yes? What is it, Bia?" the latter asked ... after nodding back at Tito.

Arabia took a big breath, hugged her doll tightly in her arms, and then began speaking.

"Um ... Auntie Sara says it's Willy's turn at the next party?" she said, while eying the officers warily. Especially Deputy Lund!

"In 10 mins, boss!" Tito added, giving Jerry a pointed look. Birthday parties were not something to be missed after all!

Ironically, the turtle-lover was one of the few people in the world who could get away with giving Jerry pointed looks!

"Thanks, Bia! Thanks, Tito!" Jerry said, giving Tito and Arabia a thankful smile each.

"Go and tell Sara that I'll be there as soon as I can!" he then added, pausing to give Tito a look and grateful nod!

The turtle-lover nodded in response, and quickly closed the door ... with Arabia waving at the trio just before it closed!

Hobson smiled and waved back at the cute child, while turning to his deputy.

"Awwww, now there's another sweet little girl ... eh, Lund?" the Sheriff quipped, nudging Lund in the ribs gently.

His deputy, however was frowning pensively at the closed door.

"Yeah ... she is ..." Lund murmured, thoughtfully. Jerry then cleared his throat loudly, and stood up ... nodding politely to the officers.

"Well! It's certainly been a pleasure meeting you, sir ... and you, ma'am ..." Jerry's smile turned supercilious as he meets Lund's wary gaze.

"But I'm afraid that I sadly have to take my leave now", he explained. "The kids are calling, and it's time for dear old Willy the Weasel to play!"

Hobson nodded in understanding, as the restaurant owner walked over to a nearby cupboard.

Jerry then opened it, and ruffled through for a few moments ... eventually taking out an enormous 'Willy Weasel' costume.

With practiced efficiency, the restaurant owner slipped the costume on ... and then lowered the huge weasel mask onto his head.

The Sheriff nodded with admiration as he took in the extensive details of said weasel costume.

"Woah, that weasel costume of yours really is something, Mr Willis!" Hobson said sincerely ... causing Jerry to grin inside the mask.

Lund, on the other hand; merely scoffed ... and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Oh yeah ... it's SOMETHING all right!" the deputy muttered, sarcastically.

Choosing to ignore the derision, the costumed Jerry turned around to face Lund ... with the 'Willy' mask smirking down at her.

The female deputy instinctively took a step back, feeling very unnerved at said smirk.

"Okay, now that's just creepy!" Lund stated, bluntly. "I'll never get why the kids like it!"

Willy Weasel laughed in mocking amusement at that ... the mask's mouth 'laughing' with Jerry!

Chapter Text

Outside the orphanage, Hayesville, 5 mins later ...

Getting back through the orphanage had been surprisingly easy ... considering the multitude of occupants, but Jerry and the others managed it!

Arabia, for her part, had been thankfully ... snuggled contentedly in her dad's arms.

Jerry Willis had carried his little daughter all the way back, unwilling to let go of her ... even for a second!

Behind the duo's backs, Sara, Arty, and Cammy all exchanged wry glances ... amused by their boss's newly-revealed 'softer' side.

"We'll need to take a little trip to our new home, but don't worry, Bia!" Jerry said soothingly, as the group left quietly through the back door.

"It won't be too long."

Looking furtively to left and right, the serial killer chief and his team snuck back to their parked van ... and opened the back doors.

"We're back!"

The remainder of Jerry's crew in the van immediately turned their heads; bored looks changing into relieved smiles.

Dr Fine, on the other hand ... was pale-faced and trembling; with one eye on Jerry, and one eye on the many knives at her throat.

"Oh, hi, boss! I see you got your kid back!" Ozzie said, smiling nervously ... while casually putting his knife away.

The other crewmates hurriedly did the same, at a meaningful look from Jerry Willis.

Arabia looked up at her dad, and then at the new strangers with a wary but VERY curious look on her face.

Seeing this, the serial killer chief decided to satisfy his daughter's curiosity.

"Arabia, these people are more of our newfound friends", Jerry explained, gesturing to the crew members inside the van.

"Newfound family, like I said back there in the orphanage." He then addressed his crew, with a bit of a stern look.

"Guys ... say hello to Arabia here, my darling angel."

None of said compatriots dared to do otherwise, so they all politely greeted the little girl ... some warmer than others.

"Hello there!" Sara said, smiling.

"Hi", Ozzie mumbled awkwardly.

"Hey there, kid", Gus said, in a friendly manner.

"Nice to meet ya", Karl spoke cordially.

"Um ... good day?" Arty grunted, raising an eyebrow down at the child.

"Hiya!" Cammy said, just happy to meet someone new.

And as for Tito ...

"Hola, little one", the turtle-lover said heartily, smiling across at Arabia. "My name is Alberto ... but you can call me 'Tito' for short."

A little smile appeared on the aforementioned girl's face, as Tito winked reassuringly at her.

"Tito?" she asked, receiving a nod from said man. "Yes, that's right! It's a real honour to meet you, Arabia!" he said, and then nodded across at Jerry.

"Your dad here has told us so much about you ... mostly how you're such a cutie-pie!"

Said child giggled, as Tito (somewhat cautiously) reached across to ruffle her hair a little.

"And this must be the famous Willimeena Weasel, hmmm?" the turtle-lover then asked, turning his attention to Arabia's doll.

Jerry's little daughter nodded enthusiastically in response, showing the weasel pup to Tito.

"Yes! She's my best friend!" Arabia stated happily, as the aforementioned, smiling man inspected the toy carefully.

Jerry then cleared his throat loudly, instantly drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"Right! Now that introductions are over, it's time to get this show on the road!" the serial killer chief declared.

"Bia, you and me are sitting in the front!" he added, turning and walking around the van to its front.

"Yay!" the little girl sang, hugging her dad happily ... as if they were going on a picnic.

———

On the highway, 5 mins later ...

In next to no time at all, Jerry had buckled Arabia securely into the front passenger seat, and got into the van himself.

The serial killer chief wasted no time in driving the van away from the orphanage quickly, and onto the highway in minutes.

Jerry whistled jauntily to himself, his crew idling and relaxing in the back, while Arabia looked curiously at all the passing cars outside.

The mood in the vehicle itself was jubilant, but also a little tense.

After all, Jerry & Co had rescued Arabia from the orphanage unseen ... but the authorities were still looking for them! They weren't out of trouble yet!

This was a big worry to everyone in the van, apart from two people: Arabia ... and Dr Fine.

Arabia was blissfully unaware of the real gravity and drama of the situation, and as for Dr Fine ... she had an inkling of a possible plan!

Slowly ... very slowly, so to not alert the criminals around her; the psychologist leaned her head towards the little girl.

"Pssssst! Arabia!" Dr Fine whispered, looking desperately. "Listen, you've got to scream for help! For both of our sakes!"

Unfortunately for the doctor, Arabia just turned around to look at her ... with a look of confusion.

"Um ... who are you?" the child asked, cocking her head a little.

Slightly taken aback by Arabia's response, Dr Fine opened her mouth to reply ... only to be bluntly interrupted!

"This woman, Bia ..." Jerry Willis began acidly, his eyes narrowing in a fierce scowl at the psychologist.

"This woman is one of those meanies who tore the two of us apart ... all those months back. Who locked us both up in prisons", the serial killer chief ended, the anger clear in his voice.

Arabia, predictably; scowled at Dr Fine, hugging Willimeena tightly to her chest for comfort.

The psychologist, however ... wasn't the kind of person to back down so easily! Especially since she'd just seen a final chance of escape!

"That's a lie!" Dr Fine yelled, only to be swiftly muffled by Arty's hand over her mouth!

A second later, the aforementioned man also yelled (but in pain!), and let go ... nursing his now-bitten hand.

"Arabia, please! You don't understand ... your father's a bad man!" the psychologist pleaded, while cringing away from the menacing glares directed at her.

"Do you know what he's done?! What he's done to innocent families?! Kids like you?!!!"

"Yes. The other meanies told me."

The response metaphorically cut like a dagger through all of the tension in the air; causing Jerry and his crew to all freeze, and then turn to look at Arabia.

The serial killer chief's heart sank, as his mind immediately started to fill with dark and depressing thoughts.

She knows ... she knows ... Bia's gonna hate me ... Bia won't love me anymore—

"Then why don't you scream?!"

Dr Fine's voice temporarily snapped Jerry out of his self-loathing; blinking as he tried to regain his composure.

The psychologist was looking with confusion at the oddly-calm Arabia; the child looking back at her with a soft smile.

"Daddy loves me. I love him", the innocent little girl stated simply, putting a little hand on Jerry's arm.

Chapter Text

The sincere words instantly shattered the dark thoughts and self-loathing in her dad's head; shock and love welling up in their places.

Speaking frankly ... Jerry Robert Willis had never ever experienced this kind of thing before!

Acceptance and love, even with knowledge of his bad actions ... felt like a dream. But one that was real ... very, VERY real!

The serial killer chief had truly expected to be abandoned ... one day ... when Arabia had eventually found out the truth.

The fact that his little angel still loved him, and still considered him her daddy ...

Once again in his life ... Jerry Willis felt truly touched by little Arabia's sincere affection for him.

The serial killer chief's crew were also touched by this development; staring at the child in utter amazement.

Dr Fine was in a similar state; but of disbelief and befuddlement.

Jerry smiled, satisfied in the knowledge that those around him now realised why Arabia is special.

The moment was suddenly broken by the sudden harsh screams of police sirens ... in the distance, but closing rapidly!

Jerry's head instantly snaps around to look in his left side mirror ... and sees several police cars appear behind them!

They were in the distance, but closing rapidly all the same!

"Damn it! The cops have found us!" the serial killer chief cursed under his breath, looking uneasy.

"STOP THE VAN! LET US HAVE DR FINE!"

Said psychologist looked both potentially hopeful at the possibility of being saved ... but also uneasy about whether it would work?

Jerry's crew looked similarly nervous as well; flinching and putting hands to their makeshift weapons.

"Oh no!" Ozzie muttered, his eyes zipping from the van's rear doors to his colleagues.

"¡Maldita sea, maldita sea, maldita sea! (Damn it, damn it, damn it!)" Tito hissed, pulling another razor blade out of a pocket to join his other one.

"Looks like we've got us some company, Mr Willis!" Gus said worriedly, while cracking his knuckles.

"What do you want us to do?"

"Yeah! What do we do, boss?" Karl added, looking desperately at his leader.

All of the other escapees did exactly the same ... seeking a way out of this new trouble!

Jerry, on the other hand, didn't really look that perturbed ... at least not outwardly. The only sign of tension in his face was a slightly furrowed brow.

"Daddy?" Arabia asked, looking a little nervous herself ... and hugging Willimeena tightly.

Her dad immediately looked over, and his expression quickly softened into a reassuring smile.

Jerry patted her comfortingly on the back with a hand, and then returned it to the wheel.

"You'll be fine, Bia", he said, soothingly.

"We ALL will be fine!" the serial killer chief added, turning to give his crew a reassuring wink.

"The police have yet to catch a vehicle with ME behind the wheel! Hold on tight, everyone!"

Jerry then pressed down hard on the accelerator ... making the van scoot ahead of the other vehicles on the road!

Drivers swerved and swore as the cultists' van shot past them, followed by the pursuing police cars!

———

A few miles on ...

While Jerry & Co had managed to stay ahead of the police so far ... they hadn't managed to lose them yet. That was very annoying!

What was even more infuriating than that ... was the repeated demand on police loudspeakers to release Dr Fine!

The serial killer chief rolled his eyes, Arabia grimaced, and the others all groaned as the order was repeated yet again! For the umpteenth time!

"Actually, guys ..." Jerry finally spoke, through gritted teeth. "Let's do as they say!"

The serial killer chief abruptly turned in his seat to give Gus a meaningful look!

"Give them what they want, Gus!" Jerry ordered, with a toothy smirk!

"My pleasure, boss!" the aforementioned man replied, with a deep chuckle.

"Say goodbye to the 'nice doctor', Bia", Jerry added to his daughter. "She's leaving."

Arabia promptly turned in her seat, and gave a hesitant, little wave to Dr Fine.

The psychologist gave the little girl a little smile, but then yelped in alarm as Gus suddenly grabbed her!

Dr Fine flinched and whimpered in fear, as Gus promptly hoisted her high above his head.

Ozzie and Sara share a sly smile, and then open the rear doors simultaneously ... just as the police issued another demand!

"STOP THE VEHICLE AND LET THE DOCTOR GO! REPEAT! LET US HAVE DR FINE!"

"Whatever you say, fellas!" Gus called ... and then threw Dr Fine clean out of the back of the van!

"Look out!" a police officer in the first police car yelled as he saw what was happening!

The psychologist screamed as she flew through the air ... and fatally smashed through the aforementioned police car's windscreen!

"Those sick ******!" another officer in the same car muttered, as he grimaced at the horrific sight! "Hold on!"

Jerry smirked as he saw the pursuing police cars slow to a halt, to deal with the fallen doctor.

Other cars blared their horns in annoyance as they stopped in a massive traffic jam around the police!

All of this was a big help to the escapees, who all cheered as they finally pulled away from the police!

"Woohoo!" Karl yelled, punching the air with both fists!

"Yeah! High-five, buddy!" Arty declared, slapping hands with Gus in a hearty way.

Sara too high-fived the big man, and then shut the rear van doors with Arty.

Arabia was hugging Willimeena in relief, to the equal relief of her beloved dad.

"Well done, Gus!" Jerry said, giving said man a nod of approval in the rear view mirror.

Ozzie gives Cammy a quick hug, and then walks over to Jerry's seat.

"That was bloody brilliant, boss!" the gangly chap said admiringly.

The serial killer chief, basking in Ozzie's adoration ... smirked, but kept his eyes on the road ahead.

"Well, I did say ... didn't I ... that the 'good doctor' might come in useful?" Jerry quipped, with a chuckle.

Ozzie laughed wheezily with his boss, but his smile abruptly vanished ... as he saw something in the incoming distance!

Chapter Text

"Uh ... Mr Willis, we may be in trouble again!" the thin man said worriedly, pointing to what was obviously a roadblock ahead.

A roadblock of four police cars, six officers, and a LOT of guns! Jerry saw it too, and his brow furrowed once more.

The serial killer chief's other colleagues looked over his shoulders, and their faces fell too!

Jerry inwardly sighed deeply at the sight, knowing that he had only one option ... if they were to escape.

It was a risky option though; one that could endanger them all? But if Jerry wanted to save his little angel, and crew ...

"I see it, my friend," the aforementioned chap replied to Ozzie statement.

Jerry then looked over at Arabia, and gave her a serious look.

"Hold on tight, Bia." The little girl nodded and took hold of Willimeena with one hand, and her seatbelt with the other.

"Everybody, brace yourselves!" her dad raised his voice, after taking a deep breath. "Things are about to get a bit bumpy!"

Jerry then pressed the accelerator down even more; hurtling towards the blockade with all speed!

"They're not stopping! Look out!" cried one of the police officers, in shock!

Just before the van hit it, the serial killer chief sent the vehicle into a VERY dangerous spin!

This turned the van into a whirling 'wrecking ball', which SMASHED into the police cars with tremendous force!

Cars exploded and were tossed about hither and dither, officers ducked and yelled in panic as they fired their guns at the van!

Due to the spinning though, the bullets just ricocheted off the vehicle, and back at the officers ... causing them to dodge more!

Inside the van, Jerry's crew all screamed in panic and fear as they desperately clung to the stable parts of it!

The Willises though, were not panicking in the slightest! Arabia was whooping with childish excitement, and as for Jerry ...

The orange-shirted man was cackling like a maniac ... or a mad weasel!

A random bullet abruptly broke the lock on the van's rear doors, just as Jerry stopped the chaotic swerve of the vehicle!

The van bounced unsteadily, as it slowly balanced out again ... the bounce causing the rear doors to open.

Gus was then directly revealed, as the closest to the doors ... and couldn't resist a final taunt!

"Better luck next time, flatfoots!" Gus called sassily to the police, making rude gestures at them with both hands!

Just then a second, random (lucky) gun shot managed to puncture one of the van's back tyres!

Gus's smug grin instantly changed to a horrified look, as the van started to swerve uncontrollably off the road!

"Hold on!" the big man called to his comrades, as he clung to the doors for support!

EVERYONE immediately grabbed hold of something stable again, as the van careered leftwards off the highway!

It finally came to a stop ... by ramming straight into a tree, in a ditch under a low bridge.

———

In the wrecked van, the ditch under the bridge, 1 min later ...

The front of the van crumpled under the impact of the tree, busting the engine ... and giving the occupants a hard jolt!

Luckily though, since they weren't travelling at a super fast speed anymore ... everyone in the van was alive!

Generally, a bit dazed, to be sure ... but ALIVE!

Jerry's crew groaned and blinked woozily as they all slowly sat up from their fallen, sprawled positions.

"A BIT bumpy!" Sara murmured incredulously, as she touched her head ... and winced. "A BIT?!!"

"Oh, shush, Sara!" Ozzie retorted, though he was holding his head too. "We're alive, aren't we? Thanks to the boss?"

The aforementioned man was shaking his head, and blinking as Jerry Willis pulled himself back together.

"Bia? Bia, are you okay?" the serial killer chief asked with a tinge of worry in his voice ... as he turned to look at his daughter.

Arabia just smiled happily at him, still strapped securely in her seat ... and oddly not dazed at all!

"Yes, Daddy! I'm okay!" the little girl said, and patted the doll next to her. "Willimeena is too! That was really fun, Daddy! Can we do it again?"

Jerry's slightly worried expression instantly relaxed at his daughter's normal happy state.

"Maybe some other time, darling", the serial killer chief said warmly ... and then turned to look back at his crew.

"Are you guys all right too?" he asked, and was promptly answered with a lot of "Yeahs" ... and some "Maybes".

One of the latter was from Cammy, who was being helped to her feet by Karl ... her 'faithful knight'.

"Mr Willis, can you please WARN us WAY before doing that in the future?!" the aforementioned girl murmured, with a pleading look at Jerry.

The serial killer chief only chuckled, and shot her a devious smirk.

"Ah, but my dear Cammy ... what would be the fun in that?" Jerry replied with a devilish look in his eyes.

His grin then faded, as his tone and expression grew more serious.

"The police won't be far behind. We need to keep moving", the serial killer chief stated, and jerked a thumb out of the window. "Everyone out!"

All of Jerry's crew nodded simultaneously, and clambered slowly ... one by one ... out of the wrecked van.

Cammy was the last one out, helped by Gus on the way.

"Come on, Cammy! Gus has got ya!" the big man said comfortingly, and was rewarded with a warm smile. Much to Karl's displeasure!

In the meantime, Jerry had retrieved his little angel from the seat next to him ... and was now carrying her in his arms.

Arabia and Willimeena, of course.

"Our destination's only a short walk from here", the serial killer chief spoke, as he stepped out of the van himself.

"This way!" Jerry Willis then led the way, with his crew following ... as they made their way towards their Hayesville destination ... on foot.

Chapter Text

In the woodland, near Hayesville, 5 mins later ...

Jerry and his gang creep slowly through the woodland surrounding Hayesville, looking warily around them.

They had to be very careful to avoid all signs of roads, because of the manhunt they'd experienced earlier.

Jerry & Co didn't know whether it was still going on or not; but they were pretty certain of the former!

It was better to stay out of the notice of other people, until the group got to their destination.

Even so, the mood of the aforementioned people was beginning to droop.

They hadn't reached their destination yet, they'd been walking for an hour, and to cap it all off ... it'd started to rain. A light rain, but still ... an inconvenience.

"Mr Willis, we've been walking these woods for over an hour!" Sara finally spoke up, while panting a little. "I think we're lost?"

Jerry, meanwhile, was striding ahead of her and the others ... still carrying a now-half-dozy Arabia in his arms.

Her dad was holding her as closely as possible, in order to shield her from the rain.

"Sometimes, one must become lost before they are truly found, my dear", Jerry murmured rhetorically.

The serial killer chief then turned his head and gave his crew a reassuring wink and grin.

"Don't worry, guys. Just up this hill. We're almost there", he said.

———

A few mins later ...

After more walking, the trees finally ended ... and the group of escapees blinked in surprise, as they saw what was now before them.

An abandoned-looking building, that strongly resembled a laundrette stood in a cleared patch of ground, next to a road.

It had boarded-up windows, but looked to be still in good shape! Jerry grinned broadly as he took in the sight of their destination.

"This is it, my friends! We've found it! We're finally home!" the serial killer chief declared loudly.

If Jerry wasn't currently carrying Arabia in his arms; he would have punched the air in delight!

"Gus! Get us inside!" he ordered, nodding to the double doors as they walked over.

"On it!" the aforementioned big man answered immediately!

Gus instantly banged the doors open with one shove of a shoulder ... and the whole group entered the building together.

———

In the main hall, the abandoned laundrette, seconds later ...

Inside the abandoned laundrette, things were unfortunately shabbier than the outside of it!

Dust lay on everything; inches thick ... not to mention all of the rubbish on the floor!

Broken wooden furniture, scrunched up pieces of paper, and mouldering cardboard boxes etc.

Jerry's crew gingerly poked at various objects in the disused hall, their expressions a mixture of confusion and disgust.

The man himself, however, merely smiled and hummed pleasantly as he carried Arabia over to a pile of boxes.

"It's perfect", Jerry said in satisfaction, as he set his daughter down on the boxes. Arabia smiled up at her dad, as he ruffled her hair affectionately.

"I don't understand, Mr Willis?" Sara protested quietly, looking bemused. "How can we stay here?"

"Yeah! The authorities are sure to find us!" Ozzie added in his usual wheezy voice, sounding quite nervous.

The serial killer chief merely chuckled as he turned around to face his puzzled crew; a cunning smile on his face.

"Not to worry, my dears", Jerry drawled. "I have a plan."

For indeed, he had. Jerry Willis had a very, very, VERY cunning plan.

One that involved the empty laundrette, his 'pet project' with the drawings, and ... children. LOTS and LOTS of the little brats.

"Cammy told me you always did!" A strange man's voice suddenly spoke, heavy with wit and sarcasm.

The cultists instantly spun around; most of them automatically reaching for their weapons!

Jerry, in particular ... had a knife in one hand, and the other wrapped protectively around a startled Arabia.

The little girl was hugging both Willimeena and her father's arm at the same time.

Cammy, on the other hand ... was staring at the speaker (a plump, young but slightly grizzled man with brown hair and cowboy hat) with surprise and absolute joy!

"JEDIDIAH!!" the human chameleon exclaimed loudly, tears starting to flow down her face. She abruptly started running towards the man.

Said chap smiled warmly, and stepped forward from where he was standing (by a doorway, next to a large stack of boxes) ... just as Cammy crashed into him!

"Hey ... Cammy ..." Jed Love whispered, in a slightly breathless voice ... due to his sister's very tight hug.

"I thought I would never see you again ..." Cammy whispered back, happily unaware that Jed was slowly running out of air!

The rest of the group of escapees slowly un-tensed and began to put away their weapons, as they realised who it was.

The no-longer-nervous Arabia was now silently awwwwing as she watched Jed gently free himself from Cammy's tight embrace.

Shooting the others a reassuring wink and smile, the jubilant brother led his rejoicing sister over to a quiet corner.

"I sent you letters, you know, Cammy? Every month ..." Jed said softly, while reaching into a jacket pocket.

He pulled out a bunch of creased letters with Cammy's handwriting on them ... ranging from yellowed and old ... to fairly fresh.

"Yeah ... I got them", the human chameleon replied quietly, still crying with joy. "I sent ones too."

Cammy then pulled a similar wodge of letters out of a pocket ... but with Jed's handwriting.

Her brother's weathered face crinkled into a happy grin at the sight of the letters, as he started to cry too.

Cammy then hugged her brother tightly again; the siblings embracing and murmuring to each other.

"Missed you ..."

"Me too ..."

"So long ..."

"I know, I know ..."

Chapter Text

7 minutes later ...

After several minutes of murmurs, hugs, and even more tears ... Cammy and Jed eventually parted, and turned to face the others.

"Everyone, this is my brother: Jed Love. He's the one who's been helping the boss organise our escape plan", the human chameleon said, proudly.

The aforementioned mechanic tipped his hat to the other crew members, receiving a chorus of casual hellos, and non-committal heys.

"And this, Jed ..." Cammy continued, as she led her brother over Jerry and Arabia. "This ... is Jerry Willis himself!"

The mechanic smiled wryly, and held his hand out ... wincing slightly as Jerry took it in a firm handshake.

"Mr Willis, I presume?" Jed said suavely, as he let go ... subtly massaging said hand afterwards.

"Pleasure to meet you. I heard a lot about you on the news." Jerry chuckled wryly, waving a hand airily at the building's doors.

"Well, you know how it is with one's 'fans' ... they follow you everywhere!" he quipped. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you too! It's good to have you on board, Jed!"

The serial killer chief then looked down at Arabia, who was now shyly trying to hide behind his legs.

"And this little darling down here is my daughter: Arabia Daisy Willis", Jerry said, reaching down to give her a reassuring pat on the back.

This seemed to encourage the little girl, who came out from behind her dad ... but didn't go too near Jed.

The aforementioned mechanic quickly decided to use a charm offensive, in light of Arabia's dad's sensitive temper.

"Glad to make your acquaintance, little lady", Jed said charmingly, taking off his hat and bowing to the little girl. "My regards to your little furry friend too!

"What's her name?" he added, pointing to the weasel doll in Arabia's arms. The little girl smiled and held her toy out for inspection.

"Willimeena ... Willimeena Weasel ..." Arabia whispered, as Jed 'solemnly' shook one of the doll's paws.

"Quite a cute name! I see she's taking after her old man then?" the mechanic drawled, giving Jerry a knowing wink.

Said serial killer chief chuckled wryly, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Oh, absolutely. By the way ... how's that 'project' going?" Jerry asked, casually. "The one I commissioned from you?"

Jed's smile instantly faded a little, knowing exactly what the other man was referring to.

The mechanic chose his next words VERY carefully ... given what Cammy had told him of Jerry's temper.

"Going well, but unfortunately ... it'll take another month to complete, Mr Willis", Jed said, apologetically.

He hastened to explain, seeing a tic of annoyance appear under one of the other man's eyes.

"Being the mechanic of this poxy little town pays more than peanuts ... but it sure doesn't give me much time for other things."

The mechanic sighed, and then put a big smile on his face, as he walked over to the stack of boxes.

"I hope that this can make up for it though!" Jed quipped, starting to unpack the boxes.

Jerry, his crew, and Arabia all began to crowd around in interest, as each box was opened and unpacked.

Some of the boxes contained food (which was instantly appreciated by Gus!), while others contained various makeover products, and new clothes.

"I brought these clothes for y'all, and stuff to help you blend in", the mechanic explained, holding up a shirt for inspection.

"Sorry if they're a bit random. I only brought what I could find at short notice."

Jed smirked a little, as he saw some of the crew (Arty and Karl) gingerly inspecting the items.

"After all, you guys are all fugitives, aren't ya?" he said, pointedly. "You're gonna need them!"

With grateful looks, the escapees ate and drank ... and then set about changing their appearances!

Jed watched in amusement; as the visitors ducked into the nearby bathroom, and other rooms ... wondering how the makeovers would turn out!

———

Two hours later ...

In a matter of hours, Jerry & Co returned to the main hall, in ones and twos ... to show off their makeovers to Jed, and each other.

Gus ... had turned his black hair grey (with the use of white hair dye), shaved off his sideburns, and put on a pair of blue denim overalls.

Tito ... had chosen a multicoloured jacket and a straw sombrero for a new outfit, and seemed well pleased with it!

Cammy ... had decided to try out a new personal style. This included putting her mousy hair in ringlets, and wearing a leg-length pink skirt.

Sara ... had chosen a blue fairy-like outfit; which mimicked the one she'd worn in the past as a dance instructor.

The former teacher had also dyed her hair blue in streaks, which contrasted nicely with the blonde parts of it.

"Some people just can't leave the past behind, huh?"

The 'rather pointed' remark made Sara bridle with fury, as she whirled around to confront the perpetrator: Karl.

Karl, for the most part; had done a very basic makeover: cleaning himself up, putting on casual clothes, getting a simple shave etc.

Apart from the cosplay outfit though ... over the casual clothes. A KNIGHT cosplay outfit ... again.

It was more basic and smaller than the cosplayer's last one though ... just being a metal helmet with a red plume, and a belt with a plastic sword and scabbard.

"Can't leave the past behi—YOU'RE one to talk!" the former dancer retorted, glaring at Karl.

"Oh, I don't know ..." Ozzie drawls, as he walks over to the arguing duo.

The skinny man had done exactly the same makeover as Karl ... except wearing a red cap ... instead of armour.

"I think it rather suits her", Ozzie remarked, turning to look at the nearby pickpocket. "Don't you, Tito?"

Said man instantly grins and nods in agreement, looking Sara up and down.

"Si, Señorita Sarah looks divine ... just like a real fairy!" Tito said charmingly, his words having their desired effect on Sara.

"Yeah ... or a siren!" Ozzie agreed, watching the former dancer preen smugly in front of a put-off Karl.

Before the cosplayer could retort, Jerry Robert Willis made his appearance ... calmly walking out of the bathroom, with Arabia in tow.

Decades of being a professional photographer had made a big impression on Jerry ... that looking immaculate is the first step to success!

And so it was with his ... 'very thorough' makeover.

Jerry had trimmed and applied dark brown hair dye to his grey hair, shaved his moustache right down (with the greatest reluctance), and slipped on a casual, but fairly smart outfit.

The serial killer chief had also put on suspenders, and asked Arabia if he could wear her helicopter beanie.

Since it was too big for the child herself; Arabia had willingly agreed to the request.

The aforementioned little girl had changed her outfit too ... to a cute pink dress and two red hair bows.

Willimeena Weasel had gone through a similar change too.

Arty, though ... managed to outdo EVERYONE there with HIS makeover!

The toothy man had nipped outside at the beginning, with a bag of candles and a couple of paintbrushes.

After 10 mins, Tito and Ozzie went out to check on Arty ... only to find that the latter had completely vanished!

However ... just after Jerry and Arabia's new appearances were revealed; the doors suddenly opened ... and a strange man walked in!

Before the other escapees could say or do anything, the man held his hands up in a defensive, 'calm down' manner.

"Wait! Stop! It's me!" he spoke ... in a very familiar voice.

Dead silence fell, as Jerry and the rest of his crew's jaws all dropped in shock. Arabia just looked very curious.

"No way!" Cammy said in disbelief ... and was given an all-too-recognisable, toothy smile.

"YES WAY!" the man replied, smirking arrogantly at the others.

"A-ARTY?!!!" Everyone shouted, their expressions full of astonishment!

"But how—" Cammy protested.

"What—" Karl spluttered.

"Am I dreaming?" Tito mumbled, pinching himself a few times.

"Impossible ..." Sara breathed.

"Must be seeing things ..." Gus muttered.

"WHAT?!!!"

Ozzie's incoming yell perfectly described the all-in-all confusion in the room at present.

The new Arty nodded, turning around on the spot slowly ... as if he was a model at a show.

"Yeah!" the artist said, and then smiled sheepishly. "To tell the truth ... I kind of needed more than just a casual makeover."

Arty pointed down at his form as he spoke.

"You see, my previous body wasn't exactly inconspicuous ... with the tattoos, sharp teeth, and all."

The other members of Jerry's crew exchanged wry smiles, acknowledging the hard truth in that.

"So I figured that it was time for a change! This way, I have a whole new look ... and no one will be any wiser!"

Arty twisted the fabric of his newly-gotten sleeve, a flicker of distaste suddenly appearing on his stolen face.

"Found this homeless guy sleeping under a tree a couple of miles from this place. Looked like a real loser to me", the artist added. "Won't be missed, I'm sure."

Slowly getting over their surprise, Jerry & Co began to approach Arty, and look him over in wonder!

This was like something out of the cinema ... but REAL ... very, VERY real indeed!!

"Some 'makeover' I must say!" Ozzie remarked, in quiet awe.

"Yeah! It's so cool, Arty!" the slightly-egotistical Karl admitted.

"How on earth do you manage to do something as brilliant as that?" Sara inquired, and Cammy nodded with equal curiosity!

Gus and Arabia also looked intrigued to know the answer!

"Ah well, that's where the practice comes in, my dear!" Arty declared, turning to face Sara.

"I've had plenty of practice with this particular ritual, I assure you! Could do it with my eyes closed now!" he boasted, slipping an arm around Sara's shoulders.

Excited murmurs filled the air around them ... but Jerry remained oddly quiet. The serial killer chief was looking thoughtful, as well as smiling ... in a 'sneaky' way.

"Interesting ..." Jerry murmured, and then spoke louder.

"Arthur,  could I please have a word with you in private?" he said, gesturing towards the bathroom.

"Sure thing, boss!" Arty replied, removing his arm from Sara's shoulders.

The two then stepped into the bathroom; one curious and interested, and the other one ... secretly scheming.

Chapter Text

Back to the dining hall, Willy's Wonderland, seconds later ...

A mixture of disbelief, realisation, and horror quickly filled Eloise Lund's eyes ... as Willy's smirk widened.

The big weasel's grin became outright malicious as the deputy sheriff stumbled back ... as did the smirks on his crew's faces too.

"Oh no ..." Lund muttered, her right eye twitching with stress.

"Oh yes."

"It's not possible ..."

"I can assure you that it is", Willy retorted again ... openly enjoying the deputy's stress and denial.

"You can't be—"

"Yessss."

Sheriff Hudson was looking from one to the other; slow comprehension and dread crossing his expression.

Tex, like the pathetic coward he was ... tried his best to be quiet and unnoticed.

"Jeremy—"

"Go on ..."

Willy's voice lowered to an unnervingly soft, almost kind tone.

It freaked everyone else (apart from Willimeena) out.

"Robert—"

"Almost there ..."

Lund gulped, tensing up ... before saying the final part ... the surname.

"Willis?"

"YES!"

Willy Weasel cackled, as his toothy grin widened to reveal more sharp fangs than previously seen!

"EXACTLY!" Gus Gorilla abruptly roared in triumph, clapping his hands together in deep satisfaction.

"Finally, they get it!"

The sudden shouts spook a lot of people (humans and robots alike), making them jump, flinch, and turn to scowl at the gorilla!

"You owe me 20 bucks by the way, Ozzie!" Gus continued, giving said ostrich a friendly elbow in the nearest wing.

"Shut up!" Ozzie squawked angrily, not happy at all about the lost bet.

The three humans quickly backed away as much as they could ... now completely terrified!

Willimeena just rolled her eyes at the massive drama king her dad was being.

He always did this when he was gloating.

Lund, however, was not so nonchalant.

"But-but that's impossible!" the deputy spluttered in disbelief.

"You DIED, Willis! I saw you dead!" she repeated, her mind trying to work out how the infamous serial killer was alive in front of her.

"You, your ... daughter, and all of your crew!"

Lund remembered the night of the raid only too well, and the grisly aftermath she and the other officers found.

"Yeah", Sheriff Hudson murmured, feeling equally curious.

The big weasel's smug grin faded a little, as he sighed.

Clearly, Deputy Lund needed more hints ... since she obviously wasn't working it out at this pace.

God, these hicks are really dumb ... Willy thought to himself.

"We died, Deputy Lund ... but we didn't LEAVE, thanks to a little ritual" Willy Weasel explained, with a little nod at Arty.

The alligator animatronic returned the nod, and added a wink as well.

"Just moved ... right over there."

As he spoke, the big weasel raised a paw ... and pointed over to the stage.

The implication was clear, as the full realisation ... hard and blunt ... finally dawned on the police officers!

"Good God ... they possessed the animatronic mascots", Hudson breathed in shock, and some awe as he looked around at the robots.

Lund huffed, despite of her fear, and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah. ALL of them", she muttered ... trying to put on a show of confidence.

But Willy wasn't fooled, neither was Willimeena ... and their assorted crew members.

The sheriff's deputy then proceeded to take long looks at all of the animatronics, one by one.

"All of the mascots ..." Lund spoke quietly to herself. "Then that means ..."

She abruptly turned back to Willy Weasel, and looked up at his daughter on his head.

"Bia Willis, is that YOU?!" Lund asked, in a quivering, sad, but hope-laden voice.

The weasel doll nodded, a little smile on her face ... as she waved at the deputy.

"Hey!" Siren Sara snapped across at Deputy Lund, her blackened fangs showing.

"It's Arabia or Willimeena to you ... you old crab."

The sheriff's deputy automatically flinched away from the murderous fairy robot, her injured shoulder twinging again.

"But I still don't understand ..." she murmured, turning back to Willy Weasel.

"Just HOW you did it, Willis? Reincarnation as ..."

Lund waved an arm around at the robotic gang as she spoke.

"These 'things'. It's not exactly a routine occurrence, you know!"

Willy Weasel merely chuckled, as he gazed down at the confused deputy with wry amusement.

Messing with Lund was quickly becoming a fun pastime for him!

"Elementary, my dear Eloise", the big weasel replied airily ... as if he didn't want to boast.

Newsflash ... he did, of course.

Jerry Willis was the sort of person who never minded explaining just how clever they were ... more than once.

"We just used a handy, little-known ritual ... as well as a handy expert on the matter."

Willy's gaze drifted over to Arty again, as the former gave the latter a grateful smile.

Arty Alligator, for his part, just yawned and gave smug glances to Tex, Lund, and Hudson when they glanced curiously at him.

"I guess that that explains a lot of what's been going on", Hudson said slowly, a pensive expression on his face.

"It shouldn't be even be possible—"

"But it is!" Willy Weasel interrupted, with an extremely arrogant grin on his face.

"One of my finest achievements ever!"

Finally, the serial killer chief had a real audience to boast to about it!

"Escaping from the police, and coming back from death itself!"

Deputy Lund, however, wasn't impressed at all ... and also didn't have any common sense.

"Finest achievements, hah!" said woman scoffed, looking Willy Weasel up and down with derision.

Tex Macadoo frantically tried to shush the deputy, his eyes wide with fright ... but she took no notice.

"I wouldn't exactly list 'murdering', 'kidnapping', and DEFINITELY not black sorcery as 'achievements', Willis!" Lund continued.

"Eloise, I really don't think that now is the right time—" Sheriff Hudson tried to interrupt ... but he was too late!

"More like the actions of a selfish, sadistic psychopath too cowardly to pick on his equals!"

The arrogant grin was instantly replaced with an ominous scowl, as an angered Willy thrust his face into Lund's own.

"Oh, and I suppose that YOU and the Sheriff here are prime examples of morality?" the big weasel snarled, poking the now-scared deputy in the chest with a claw.

"After all of the bribes that pompous oaf took from me and the wannabe moron over there?"

Willy shot a look over at Hudson and Tex; who were both looking embarrassed and shamefaced.

"And don't tell me that you wouldn't be the same!" he continued, turning back to Lund.

The sheriff's deputy vehemently shook her head at the big weasel, trying to swallow her fear.

"You're wrong!" Lund stated boldly. "I'd never be someone who consorts with criminals and consents to MURDER!"

Willy Weasel's scowl slowly changed into a scornful, yet knowing smile, as he chuckled unnervingly.

"We'll see, Eloise ... we'll see ..." Lund bit her lip anxiously, trying not to let him see her discomfort.

"At least, I didn't commit FILICIDE—"

The words came out before the deputy could stop herself ... and dead silence fell in less than a second.

The lights flickered and faded to a dim glow.

Menace and barely-contained rage hummed through the air, like static before a lightning flash.

"Oh sticks ..."

Chapter Text

The words echoed through the air, as their speaker (Ozzie) shifted uneasily on his feet ... feathers all ruffled.

In fact, ALL of the animatronics were looking anxious, and darting wary looks at their boss.

Willy Weasel's expression had swiftly changed from cocky and self-righteous ... to a terrifying 'blankness'.

There was no visible anger; no scowl, glare, or grimace ... just a tranquil, calm look that sent shudders down Lund, Hobson, and Tex's spines.

Willy's crew too were getting increasingly unnerved, and even scared by this new show of 'fury' from their leader.

They'd NEVER EVER seen Willy this angry before ... not even in the 'Belle' incident!

Judging from how badly the lights overhead were flickering, the big weasel was in a rage so intense ... that literally ANYTHING could set him off!

The only one who seemed relaxed about the situation was Willimeena ... although she was checking her dad's expression every few seconds.

"Just asking, I'm not the only one with a sense of impending doom?" Siren Sara whispered to Ted, for once not being antagonistic.

"Nope", the aforementioned man whispered back, in complete agreement.

"Oh good ... I thought that it was just me thinking that!" muttered the blue siren, as she backed a couple of steps away from Willy Weasel.

Her comrades promptly did the same, as the big weasel's blank expression started to twitch.

"¡Chicos, prepárense para correr! (Guys, get ready to run!)" Tito hissed to his friends, tensing up as Willy finally spoke.

J̶u̸s̴t̷ ̸t̶o̶ ̴m̴a̵k̵e̵ ̶i̴t̶ ̷c̶l̷e̷a̸r̵ ̸...̷ ̷t̸o̴ ̷y̷o̶u̸r̷ ̶p̴a̶t̷h̶e̶t̶i̴c̷,̵ ̵s̴l̶o̴p̸p̴y̵ ̵l̵i̴t̶t̸l̴e̷ ̷b̵r̸a̵i̵n̸.̸

Willy Weasel's words were now so interspersed with feral growls that they were barely recognisable ... slightly echoey ... and more than a little devilish.

Lund was practically paralysed to the spot with fear.

Hudson was preparing to pull his deputy clear if the big, fuming weasel attacked.

Ted ... was already planning on breaking a window and running for the hills!

I̷ ̷d̷i̴d̷n̶'̶t̸ ̶k̵i̸l̶l̶ ̶A̶r̸a̵b̸i̷a̴.̷ ̵S̷h̵e̴ ̸d̴i̷d̴ ̶t̵h̷e̵ ̸r̶i̶t̵u̸a̴l̷ ̷w̷i̸t̷h̸ ̵m̶e̴ ̸a̸n̵d̵ ̵t̶h̷e̷ ̵r̴e̴s̶t̶ ̸o̷f̷ ̷h̴e̸r̷ ̷f̷a̷m̷i̸l̵y̷ ̵...̸ ̷w̶i̵l̴l̴i̶n̵g̸l̶y̴.̵ ̵I̶ ̵d̴i̶d̵n̴'̷t̷ ̵f̵o̶r̷c̶e̷ ̵h̵e̷r̶ ̴t̸o̵ ̸d̶o̵ ̵a̵n̴y̷t̴h̶i̶n̴g̶.̸

"Daddy's right!" Willimeena's childish, but sincere voice instantly cut through the fearsome growling ... like a knife through butter.

Everyone automatically looked up at the little weasel doll, even Willy.

"I wanted to stay with my family", Willimeena continued, smiling down at her father.

Lund blinked in disbelief and shock, darting looks between the weasel pup and the bigger weasel before her.

"Arabia ... why ..." the deputy mumbled, her expression confused as she locked gazes with Willimeena.

The weasel pup just gave her a sympathetic smile.

"I love my family", Willimeena stated ... the words reminding her and the animatronics of a past time.

"They love me. Family always stick together."

As the doll spoke, she began to 'knead' the fur on Willy Weasel's head.

The big weasel's expression of tranquil fury slowly relaxed into a reluctant smile, his single ear twitching a little as he looked fondly up at his daughter.

Lund blinks in surprise, as sudden realisation dawns on her ... and shows clearly on the officer's face.

He ... cares for her? Willis really cares for her?!

Gus Gorilla abruptly clears his throat, narrowing his eyes as his gaze turns from his boss to Sheriff Hudson.

"Speaking of that night ... is there something that you want to tell us, you two?" the animatronic gorilla asked flatly, drawing everyone's attention to the Sheriff.

Hudson coughed uncomfortably, trying not to look at any of the animatronics. Especially Gus.

"I-I don't know what you mean ..." he muttered, trying and failing to be deceptive.

Ted frowned, looking both confused and suspicious ... as did Deputy Lund as well.

Gus Gorilla didn't look at all convinced by the Sheriff's words ... a look of disbelief that was shared by all of his robotic comrades.

Even Willimeena looked sceptical!

"Yeah ..." Arty said slowly, his smirk widening to show all of his teeth. "The SWAT team barged in to get us, yes ... but who called them?"

The animatronic alligator grins evilly at the humans, drooling in front of them pointedly.

"Who ratted us out in the first place?"

Tex gulped and looked at the two police officers desperately for assistance. Lund bit her lip nervously, but Hudson put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"It was me, I called them", the Sheriff stated loudly, looking Willy Weasel dead in the eyes.

"As Sheriff of Hayesville, it was my duty to try to stop fiends like you, Willis!"

Silence fell, as the big weasel stared back at Hudson with unblinking, narrowed green eyes.

The two continued their silent stand-off for a whole minute, while everyone else watched them in wariness and anticipation.

The silence was abruptly shattered by a slow, sarcastic clap ... started by Gus, and then taken up by the other animatronics.

Willimeena looked slightly confused as she stared at their clapping appendages.

"Bravo, Sheriff ... well done!" Gus Gorilla spoke dryly, a smug, 'knowing' grin on his face.

"I agree, Gussy!" Cammy Chameleon purred, smiling at her friend. "It's always nice to see people taking responsibility ..."

She then turned to sneer at the human trio, as her gaze came to rest on the nervous Deputy Lund.

"... for others' mistakes!"

The aforementioned woman blinked in shock and confusion, quivering as Cammy began to cackle manically.

"What ... but I ..." Lund stammered in panic, losing all of her officious composure.

"How—" Hudson began, equally perplexed.

"Funny, isn't it ... how much people talk when they think no one's listening?" the animatronic chameleon jeered, with a wink at her robotic allies.

The other animatronics nod and grin evilly at each other ... like spies 'finally dropping the act'.

"Especially 'cheap, moth-eaten caricatures' ... those were your exact words, I believe, Señorita?" Tito quipped, snickering as Lund shot him a tense, terrified look.

Willimeena shook her head disapprovingly, not liking the deputy's disrespectful remarks.

"Oh, how I've waited, Deputy Lund ... waited so long for this moment", Willy Weasel sudden spoke ... in an eerie sing-song, behind her.

Lund whirled around, eyes wide in panic and fear ... only to see an orange shimmer pass by her, and out of sight.

"All these years ... waiting for you to realise the truth, realise what really happened ... so I could END it.

The dark words thrummed through the air, as Lund whirled around again ... only to crash into Willy's sinisterly-grinning face.

"PERMANENTLY."

Now completely freaking out, Lund tried to back away ... only for the big weasel to take a step forward.

The deputy's back crashed into something hard, and when she turned to see what it was ... Lund looked straight into Tito's mismatched eyes.

"¿Vas a algún lado? (Going somewhere)? the turtle robot asked sassily.

Before Lund could react, Tito viciously kicked the backs of her knees ... sending the deputy to the ground with a cry of pain!

"After all, it's only fair that I repay the favour YOU and the other officers forced upon us that night", the big weasel continued.

Deputy Lund looked up at that ... only to see Willy's sharp, serrated claws slice down at her fast!

"Tit for tat, and all that."

The aforementioned woman screamed in terror and shut her eyes, preparing for the fatal blow ... only to be suddenly shoved aside!

Lund's eyes snapped open as she hit the floor, still alive ... and altogether confused.

She rolled over and quickly got to her feet, staring at the person who shoved her ... Sheriff Hudson.

The aforementioned, now-pale-faced officer shot her a weak smile as he collapsed to the ground.

Both halves of him.