Chapter Text
It was Chicago, Illinois, and it was morning outside. There were the usual crowd of cars roaming the streets, the admirable tall buildings, and thousands of people walking along the sidewalks.
A big mansion resided in one of the more rural areas of the city in a forest concealed by many tall trees. The mansion was three stories, covered about 6,500 square feet, painted with a sleek brown color, had windows all over, had long, white rectangular structures poking out of the walls with a red diamond pattern, had a white triangular roof, and was guarded by a gate that was about 15 feet tall and covered a lot of the area.
Adam Aureus got up from his bed and got his morning coffee. Celine shortly followed. She rubbed her round belly in a soothing motion. “Is she kicking again?” Adam asked in a calm tone.
“Yep, she wants to get out, it seems,” Celine responded.
“God, I can’t believe we’re going to become parents in about two months.”
“It’s hard to believe, but I know you’re going to be a great father, Adam.”
“Same to you, Celine,” Adam said as he raised her head towards his face with his hand and kissed her on her lively lips.
Adam had dark tan skin with short, brown hair, and at the time was wearing a plain, light blue T-shirt, black shoes, and jeans, something he wouldn’t usually wear in public. Celine had light tan skin, as well as long, brown semi-frizzled hair ending at her upper back. She wore a short-sleeved, white dress as well as some light tan sandals. She also had a big, protruding bump coming out of her stomach, where her and Adam’s unborn baby resided.
However, while they were on the couch in their quiet home watching some Friends, the doorbell jingle rang in a techno piano tone all around the mansion. “I’ll get it,” Adam said.
He walked to the security room beside the big front doors, checked the camera outside the gate, and saw a yellow file sitting outside the perimeter on the ground. There was a logo on it, but Adam couldn’t make it out on the feed. He went outside and opened the gates with a remote click. He picked the file up off the ground and looked at the logo on it. However, his calm, neutral expression soon turned into pure horror and confusion. The symbol belonged to Playtime Co.
He couldn’t believe this. Playtime shut down ten years ago. Playtime was dead. There was no way they were somehow still active. He took the file back inside to have a chat with his wife.
“You can’t be serious!” Celine shouted. The couple was in the kitchen. The floor was made of white marble, and the walls were light gray. Alongside that were the many kitchen utilities and an island counter where the file laid.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Adam said, sounding more stressed than usual.
“W-what?!” Celine yelled. “Playtime shut down a decade ago, how could they send us this?!”
“I have no clue, but maybe it’s best we look inside the file.”
“I guess you’re right, sweetie…” Celine said with a sigh.
Adam took the file and ripped it open. Inside were a note and a corn-yellow VHS tape labeled “VINTAGE POPPY COMMERCIAL”. Adam took the note and read it aloud, “Everyone thinks the staff disappeared 10 years ago. We’re still here. Find the flower.”
“The flower?” Celine questioned.
“What does this even mean?” Adam asked rhetorically.
“Weren’t the staff dead? There were no found survivors when the government proofed the place.”
“Apparently not.”
Adam then set down the note and picked up the VHS tape.
“We have a VHS player, right?” Adam asked his wife.
“I think I have one from one of my foster homes stored in a closet somewhere. It was a gift from my grandfather before he passed,” she responded.
“Well, we should watch this. Maybe it’ll have some answers?”
Celine nodded as she and Adam searched around for the VHS player. They eventually found it in a closet and plugged it into a TV. Adam plucked the tape into the player, and it showed a commercial showcasing the Poppy Playtime doll and Playtime Co. factory tours from what seemed to be the 1950s or 1960s. It then glitched to show an area. It was large, had gray walls, and showed several catwalks leading to a door, which had a giant mural surrounding it. The mural resembled a poppy flower.
Once the tape ended, Adam stated, “I’m going back to the factory.”
“WHAT?!” Celine shouted at the top of her lungs, startling Adam a little.
“I said I’m going back.”
“You can’t go back there alone, Adam! Are you crazy?!”
“Honey, this is a chance to find out more about what actually happened and who sent this note. But…”
“But what, Adam?”
“I could possibly learn what happened to my father.”
Adam looked away as Celine stared in surprise. “You know I never met him, and Mom wouldn’t say much about him except that he left me and her. Maybe I’ll learn the truth about what happened.”
“I’m going with you,” Celine said sternly before collapsing in a groan.
“Honey…,” Adam calmly spoke, “You’re 29-weeks-pregnant. You can hardly walk without stumbling a bit. You need to rest, love.” He put his hand to her cheek.
“BUT ADAM,” she screamed, “GOING IN THERE IS BASICALLY SUICIDE! YOU’LL PROBABLY END UP MISSING, TOO! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?!”
“Darling, I’ll be fine, I promise,” Adam said before hugging his wife, who was beginning to tear up.
“I just don’t want to lose you, Adam,” Celine said, whimpering.
“Shhh…,” Adam reassured, “I’ll take good care of myself.” They both stood up as Celine calmed down. “I’ll ask Mom and my siblings to come over to watch you. Tell them I’ve gone on a business trip,” Adam stated calmly.
“I’m sorry I yelled, dear,” Celine said somberly.
“You’re fine, darling,” Adam said soothingly. “Use your phone to communicate with me. I promise I’ll be back in time to see our little angel.”
“Oh, Adam?”
Adam turned his head around to face Celine.
“Say hi to the Smiling Critters if you see any down there. I miss them…” Celine stated.
“I will,” Adam responded.
“Good luck, darling…”
“See you soon, honey.” Adam put on a black jacket, got into his shiny, black car, drove out the gates, and went down the long road leading into the city. “Madison, here I come.”
Celine looked out a window with a sad face. She rubbed her belly as she said, “I’ll protect you no matter what happens, my little girl. Let’s hope your father doesn’t get himself killed in there.”