May 10th. That’s her brother’s birthday. And it will soon also be one of her least favorite days of the year again for Olivia. Her family is very into her younger brother, Marty. Every time it was his birthday, they would go celebrate it with a huge party at any place possible. When it was hers… It was just a quick celebration at home.

Olivia insisted that she wasn’t a big partier, that’s why her family didn’t do a big party for her. However, Marty was a whole other story. He was almost addicted, and her family didn’t mind that! This year, he would be thirteen years old. Olivia has been sixteen since March twenty-fifth.

“I’m going to die.” Olivia told her older cousin, Laura. Laura is pretty much the only person who listened and helped her. Both of them were talking on the bedroom. They both enjoyed staying together every weekend for playing games, talking, making stupid stuff and all.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be just like last year. Just wait patiently, eat cake, and get the hell out! Simple!”

“Oh, if only it was that easy. Every year, they try to make the parties bigger and ‘better’. I’m not sure I’m going to be alright after this one.” Olivia joked.

“Then I can try to help you?”

“Why?”

“So that you don’t ‘die’ at the party.” Laura said in a sarcastic tone.

“I don’t even know where we are going!”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah…”

“I’m sure they’ll tell you soon.” Laura said.

“Hopefully. I’m just wondering when they’ll finally end them.” Olivia admitted.

“Probably when you’ll be out of the house, don’t you think?”

“That’s a possibility.”

The girls continued to talk, play games and all just like every weekend. Eventually, Olivia had to leave and go to her home with her family. Her family wasn’t that bad but still very, very annoying. Olivia kept thinking about how much she’ll be happier when she’ll get out of the house.

When Olivia finally arrived at the house, it was almost diner time. Marty seemed excited as always while her parents were too but also slightly tired.

“So, how’s been your day, Olivia?” her mom asked.

“Great, I guess.”

“That’s good to hear!” Olivia’s mom finished cooking some spaghetti and started to serv everyone. “Oh, I got some exciting news for all of you!”

“Oh no…” Olivia responded.

“Oh yes!” Marty responded. The family sat down around the round table.

“Want me to announce the news, Clara?” The father, Tim, asked.

“Sure!”

“Alright. Kids, for Marty’s birthday…” Tim tried to create suspense.

This isn’t exciting at all. Olivia thought.

“We’re going to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza!” Tim announced, very excited. Marty exploded of joy; he was definitely extremely happy.

“…What?” Olivia stared at her father. Her voice was pretty sharp.

“What, is something wrong?”

“You can’t be serious…”

“I am. I don’t see the problem here.” Tim admitted.

“Dad… Can we have a private talk after dinner…?” Olivia asked.

“Sure?”

Tim got to Olivia’s bedroom. She seemed mad but tired. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“Dad… Do I really need to go to Fazbear’s?”

“I mean, it’s for your brother’s birthday! I know that you’re not that much of a fester, but you got to participate for him. I’m tired as well but I’m still enjoying this.”

“It’s… Not just that. I’m… Scared.” Olivia admitted.

“What?” Her father’s voice changed in an instant. There was one thing that he loved above anything else: his daughter and her brother. When something was wrong, he would always immediately turn to worry.

“I never told anyone except Laura about this but… That place scares me and not in a good way. It’s just… It doesn’t really make sense; it looks odd and j-just…”

“Hey, it’s fine…”

“These things scare the crap out of me. And I mean it. They have this uncanny valley look to them, their proportions are just weird, they’re uncomfortable… Look at Bonnie, his shoulders, his eyes, almost everything about it is just… Please, Dad. I’m... Not feeling great about this.”

Tim approached Olivia’s bed and sat down, feeling bad for her. “Look, I understand your concerns, I truly do. But your brother always wanted this. He begged for years! You understand?” Olivia could tell that her father didn’t really know what to say.

Feeling horrible for both herself and her parents, Olivia started to think of what to do. Several ideas ran through her mind, but none didn’t really seem to work… Eventually, she gave up. “F-Fine… I can go in…” She was stressed, she knew her father would notice that.

“You’re going in?”

“It’ll… Be fine. If it makes him happy, then I guess I can give him that. Just, please, no more parties after this one.”

“Okay. Don’t worry, it won’t be that bad. And thank you for accepting, despite your fears.” Tim said as he got up. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” He looked at her one last time before leaving her room and closing the door.

“Goodnight…” Olivia said almost in a whisper. She stared at the door for a few minutes. Have I done the right thing? She asked in her mind. One thing was certain: she hoped that she had done the right thing. Feeling tired, Olivia laid down on her bed and started to sleep.

***

Olivia woke up with a weird sensation. She had a nightmare. The nightmare was stuck on her thoughts. I was running away in an endless hallway, someone… No, something was chasing me… Right? And-

“Ah!” She got surprised when her phone rang. It was Laura, surprisingly. “Crap.” She quickly got up from her bed and answered the phone.

“Hey Ollie!”

“Oh, huh. H-hi L-Laura. H-How are you?”

“Are you alright ? You seem… Stressed.”

“You surprised the heck out of me.” She admitted. “I literally just woke up five seconds earlier.”

“Oh, sorry. I thought that you were awake.” Laura said. “I just wanted to know about Marty’s party.”

“Oh… Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you.” Olivia chilled and sat on her bed. “W-We’re going to… Freddy’s… Yeah…”

“Ah… Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“Well… Good luck, I guess.” Laura said, having mixed feelings. She wasn’t bothered with Freddy’s too much, but she understood Olivia’s fears.

Olivia suddenly remembered her thoughts. “That reminds me… I had another nightmare…”

“Really? Oh no… Wait, is it the same one?”

“I’m not sure. Not feeling too great.” Olivia admitted. “I’ll call you back later, I need to do some stuff at the moment.”

“Alright, see you later!” Laura was actually the one who hung up.

“See… Oh, never mind then.” Olivia said to herself, smiling. It was Saturday, meaning that it was going to be an incredibly busy day for her, unlike Marty.

She got up, took a very long shower as usual and, after that was done, she started making breakfast. The living-kitchen room, a mix of both the living room and the kitchen, was dark, but Olivia could still see clearly. She knew this because she immediately saw Marty playing with his Gameboy on the couch. He probably thought that no one would notice.

“Aren’t you supposed to be asleep?” Olivia told her annoying yet good brother.

“You’re asking this? I’m going to be thirteen, it’s fine, right?”

“You said it yourself, you’re going to be thirteen. You’re not thirteen yet.” Olivia chuckled. “It’s fine, I won’t tell mom and dad.”

“Thanks, big sis.” Marty said with a nice smile. “Can you make me breakfast too?” He asked when he noticed her grabbing her bowl.

“Sure, I guess.” Olivia took out his bowl and started making breakfast. Took a few minutes and it was done. She picked up both bowls and joined her brother on the couch. “Here, buddy.”

“Thank you.” Marty said, without looking up.

“What are you playing?” Olivia asked.

“Pokémon Ruby.”

“Seriously? That one’s four years old and not that good.” Olivia joked. “Emerald’s better.”

“For you.” Marty laughed. He put down his console and they both started to eat their breakfasts: two biscuits and hot chocolate.

Today was April thirtieth, exactly ten days before Marty’s birthday. “So, anything planned for your big birthday?” Olivia asked, almost sarcastically.

“Not really…”

“Really? I honestly thought that you would have already planned who to invite, the food and all… I thought that you would be a bit more…” Olivia was trying to come up with the right words. “Excited?”

“I am but it’s not fun without you…” He admitted.

Olivia’s eyes grew wide and her expression was both flattered, confused, and shocked. “Oh! Huh, why?” She asked, giggling, and also concerned. It was a funny feeling.

“Well, you’re funny and sometimes we’d play games together. I remember last year, you agreed to play hide-and-seek. Seeing how you reacted yesterday, I doubt that you’ll come this year…”

“Oh, don’t worry, I am coming!” She said this in an instant, not really thinking. She didn’t really want to make her brother disappointed. While she had rough feelings about his parties, at least he was happy and that made her happy. “I talked to my dad about my concerns, that’s all. I’ll be there.”

“Really?” He jumped from excitement. “That’s incroyable!”

“You’re welcome… I’m still feeling uncomfortable about this whole thing…” She admitted.

“Why? You’re scared?” He almost immediately said.

“What? No, I’m not at all s-scared. I’m a perfectly normal mature human being… Okay, maybe a little.”

“Knew it.” The two continued to talk a bit more. A few hours pass and Olivia now had a lot of stuff to do. The first thing was vacuuming her bedroom, which was boring, of course, but she didn’t mind it. What she wasn’t hyped to do was the next thing: helping her brother for his homework.

Even though he was soon-to-be thirteen years old, Marty still struggled with his homework due to having slight hearing problems. He could perfectly understand sounds close to him, like Olivia talking to him earlier in the morning, but not sounds that are a bit far away, like in his class where he is at the back and can’t properly hear his teachers. So, for homework, Olivia would recite them for him. It took quite a while but, eventually, it was done.

The day goes by and Olivia is now preparing herself to go to Laura again. “Hey, sis.” Marty came just as Olivia was putting on her shoes.

“Sup.”

“I just wanted to know… Do you have anything planned for my birthday?” He asked with a pretty cute voice.

“Not really… Let me think.” Olivia said before going silent for a few seconds. “Wanna go to the theatres soon?”

“I mean, sure but for what movie?” He asked, a bit excited.

“… Silent Hill? It came out two days ago and I’m kind of interested on seeing it. You’re not scared, right?”

“Nope!”

“Alright, I’ll plan that later.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, buddy.” Olivia said before wearing her coat and getting out of the house.