When the lift stopped on the main floor and the gate opened, the group got off it. Michelle looked at the right arm cannon before twisting the knob.
Soon after, the mechanism switched from the empty slot to the purple hand. "We'll need to let the others know that it's safe to come here," Michelle said before turning her head to Bubba Bubbaphant. "Bubba, can you do that?"
Bubba Bubbaphant nodded. "You got it," he said before sprinting toward the front.
Michelle looked at the arm cannon's flashlight and noticed it was off before tapping it a bit, which made it flash a bit before turning on. "That electric surge must've fried it a bit..." she said in a low voice. "I'll need to see if there's a new one in this place..."
Michelle looked forward and saw the large blue battery on the ground. "Now to get that in the socket," she continued before walking forward.
When Michelle was close to the battery, she aimed the right arm cannon at it and placed her finger on the trigger. Before Michelle could do anything, CatNap grabbed the battery, which made her flinch a bit, before putting it in the large blue battery socket.
Michelle turned her head to CatNap with a slight chuckle. "Thanks for that..." she said. "But next time, try not to sneak up on me."
CatNap lowered his head to Michelle. "SORRY, ANGEL..." he said in a low voice.
Michelle smiled and petted CatNap's head, which made him purr. Michelle looked at the button underneath the battery socket before pulling her hand away from CatNap and pressing it.
Two cables started lighting up before reaching toward the machine with the middle tube filled with Red Smoke. "DogDay," Michelle said.
DogDay nodded before pressing the button on the machine. After the terminal booted up, the Red Smoke in the middle tube moved to the left tube before going through the small pipes.
Soon after, the lights turned back on, which made the group look around. "It's finally done..." Mommy Long Legs said in a low voice.
As Michelle let go of the right arm cannon's handle, the group heard footsteps, which made them turn to the front. The group saw Bubba Bubbaphant and the others approach them. "I brought the group and filled them in on what happened," he said.
Michelle nodded. "Thank you, Bubba," she said.
Bunzo Bunny dropped his cymbals before sprinting toward Michelle and tackling her into a hug, which pushed her back. CatNap caught Michelle with his tail before she looked at him. "Thanks for that," she said, which made him nod.
Bunzo Bunny trembled and clung to Michelle. "When you were gone for so long, I thought the worst had happened..." he said in a low voice.
Michelle frowned before picking Bunzo Bunny up and wrapping her arms around him. "It's OK, Bunzo... I'm still here..." she said in a low voice as she petted the back of his head. "I'm still here..."
After Bobby BearHug picked up Bunzo Bunny's cymbals, she looked at CatNap with weary eyes. "Are we certain that he's on our side now?" she asked.
Miss Delight looked at CatNap. "I kinda agree with Miss Bobby..." she said. "What if it's all an act for the Prototype?"
CatNap growled with angry eyes, and his ears pointed back. "FALSE GOD..." he said.
Michelle looked at CatNap before smiling a bit and holding Bunzo Bunny in her right arm. "I don't think it's an act," she said, which made him stop growling and look at her with his ears perked up.
CatNap lowered his head to Michelle. "I can confidently say he's on our side now," she continued before scratching under his chin.
CatNap closed his eyes and purred. "THE ANGEL WILL FREE US..." he said.
Michelle smiled at CatNap. Or die trying... she thought.
Michelle pulled her hand away from CatNap before looking at the others. "Now then, I think it's time we get the hell out of this place," she said.
DogDay approached the center of the room. "There's a way to leave this area," he said, which made the others look at him. "In fact, it's how our group got here in the first place."
DogDay gestured to the large opening on the left. "This way," he continued before approaching it.
As the others followed DogDay, Michelle stared at the large opening before placing Bunzo Bunny on the ground. After Michelle took Bunzo Bunny's paw, the duo approached the opening, which made CatNap follow behind them.
As the group entered the room, Michelle looked at the vault-like hatch. "The vault from before..." she said in a low voice.
Bobby BearHug approached Bunzo Bunny and held his cymbals out, which made him hold them under his free arm. "Good, you're here..." a female voice said, which surprised the group.
The group looked around the area. "Poppy..." Huggy Wuggy said in a low voice.
"And you've done it again, Michelle... after everything you've been through, you've done the impossible and befriended CatNap as well," Poppy said. "Just like I knew you would."
The vault-like hatch started opening, which made the group look at it; soon after, they saw a lift. "With the Red Smoke diverted, everything is falling into place, thanks to you," Poppy continued.
Poppy, who was holding a dark red VHS tape in her hands, came out of the vent opening, which made the group look at her. "But if we're to keep going... there's something you need to know..." she said before looking at Michelle. "Have you ever wondered what happened to the employees who worked here?"
Michelle let go of Bunzo Bunny's paw before crossing her arms. "I did find it weird that the place was suddenly shut down and most of the people from that company were never found..." she said.
Poppy held out the tape. "This tape has that answer..." she said before approaching a dark red VHS player. "We called it 'The Hour of Joy'..."
After Poppy inserted the tape into the player, the TV beside Michelle booted up, which made her look at it and uncross her arms before approaching it.
When Michelle was close to the TV, she saw a text reading 'The Hour of Joy' on the screen. Soon after, the screen changed to the lobby with a few employees standing by Huggy Wuggy.
Soon after, the scene showed Huggy Wuggy pouncing on an employee and biting his head off, which made Michelle's eyes widen, before he swatted another guy away and started attacking others.
The TV turned to static before it showed Mommy Long Legs grabbing employees and lifting them in the air. Soon after, the people hit the ground hard, which made Michelle cover her mouth in horror.
The scene changed to a man falling down the stairs before Mini Smiling Critters and Mini Huggies attacked him. Another scene showed a man entering a room before multiple Miss Delights entered the room.
Soon after, the screen showed Kissy Missy on a restraining board before swatting two employees and running away. Soon after, the scene showed a large jack-in-the-box toy eating a man before running away. "A Boxy Boo..." Michelle said in a breathless whisper.
Soon after, the scene changed to CatNap throwing an employee at the bottom of the stairs, which killed him instantly. Soon after, the TV showed corpses in different areas, which left Michelle petrified.
When the screen turned off, Michelle trembled and crossed her arms before looking down. "I remember hearing every moment of it..." Poppy said, which made her glance at her. "It went on for so long... so agonizingly long..."
Poppy looked down. "They tried to hide, to run, anything to stay alive..." she continued. "I remember their cries: 'What's going on?' 'Why is this happening?' 'What are those things?'"
Poppy closed her eyes and sniffled a bit. "Senseless slaughter, that's all it really was," she said. "They killed everyone..."
When Michelle turned her head to the group, they all looked down in guilt. "The guilty, the innocent, didn't matter..." Poppy continued. "All that death... it didn't fix anything."
Michelle approached the group. "Is what she said true?" she asked. "Did you really...?"
Tears pricked Mommy Long Legs's eyes before nodding. "It's all true..." she said in a low voice. "We killed those people..."
Tears fell from some of the smaller toys' eyes. "There were a few that refused to participate, but..." Mommy Long Legs continued. "Most of the larger toys blindly followed the Prototype."
Mommy Long Legs covered her face with her left hand. "I know, after seeing that... there's no way you could forgive us, my little Misha..." she said in a low voice before crying.
Some of the group were crying while Huggy Wuggy and the Smiling Critters looked away in shame, which broke Michelle's heart. Michelle approached Mommy Long Legs and gently rubbed her hand against her arm. "Hey, it's alright..." she said gently.
Mommy Long Legs uncovered her face and glanced at Michelle. "You remember what I said back at the catwalk, right?" she asked rhetorically. "Not everyone is perfect; everyone has their flaws... including me."
The others looked at Michelle as she pulled her hand away from Mommy Long Legs's arm before turning to them. "Most, if not all of you, were young when this happened, and you believed what you did was the right thing," she continued.
Michelle looked down. "While I feel bad about those who didn't know about the Bigger Bodies Initiative or the children being turned into smaller toys, this company is guilty of your pain and suffering," she said.
Michelle looked at her hands with tears pricking her eyes. "Plus... I've already had my fair share of killing someone in this cursed place..." she said in a low voice.
The group stared at Michelle as she shook her head before looking at them. "But you were quick to give me a second chance. So I don't care about the stuff you did back then," she continued. "You had every right to be angry at this company; I sure as hell would be, too."
Michelle held her arms out. "I'm not gonna define you by your past mistakes... I'll define you by who you are now..." she said.
The group stared at Michelle until Huggy Wuggy wrapped his arms around her, which surprised her, before lifting her. Huggy Wuggy pulled Michelle close to him and closed his eyes while tears fell from them. "Huggy sorry..." he said in a low voice.
Tears fell from Mommy Long Legs's eyes before she wrapped her arms around the duo and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry too..." she said in a low voice.
PJ Pug-A-Pillar climbed onto Mommy Long Legs with the Mini Huggies and Bunzo Bunny holding onto him before rubbing his head against Michelle's cheek with a sad whimper. "We're sorry too..." Bunzo Bunny said in a low voice as the Mini Huggies cried.
Miss Delight approached the group and laid her head against Huggy Wuggy's leg with tears falling from her eyes. "Sorry..." she said in a low voice.
Michelle smiled a bit as the toys near her cried; CatNap stared at them before looking away with guilty eyes, which made her look at him.
After the group pulled away and Huggy Wuggy placed Michelle on the ground, she approached CatNap. "And I don't blame your actions, too, CatNap," she said, which surprised him.
When CatNap turned his head to Michelle, she held her hand out to him with a gentle smile. "At the time, the Prototype saved your life when you were human. Whether it was genuine or if he had an ulterior motive, I don't care," she continued. "I'm just glad that you're still here with us."
CatNap stared at Michelle's hand before his eyes went dark; soon after, he started trembling and tears pricked his eyes, which shocked the other Smiling Critters and Poppy. CatNap laid his chin in Michelle's hand. "THANK YOU, ANGEL..." he said in a low voice.
Michelle smiled and scratched under CatNap's chin before turning her head to Poppy with a serious expression. "If I may ask... what happened to the corpses in that video?" she asked. "Last I checked, I didn't find a single one since I've been in here."
Poppy looked down with a frown before glancing at the lift. "They dragged the corpses down below where they'd never be found," she said. "And they... ate the bodies... to stay alive."
Michelle looked down with a frown. So that's what Bubba meant by 'cling to humanity'... she thought.
The large gate near Poppy opened, which made the group look at it; soon after, Kissy Missy came out of it. "The Prototype has to die... for this... for everything..." Poppy said.
Kissy Missy got close to Poppy and held out her hand, which made her get on it. "We should get going," she continued.
Michelle remained silent and clenched her free fist. "Michelle?" Poppy asked.
Soon after, Michelle loosened her fist before pulling her hand away from CatNap's chin and facing the small group. "If I'm going with you, I need questions answered; I don't care who says it," she said. "If you lie to me or dodge the question..."
Michelle sternly looked at the small group. "I'm taking my group with me, including CatNap, to the surface, and leaving the rest of you behind," she continued.
The small group was shocked. "But the Prototype—" Poppy was interrupted when Michelle glared at them. "Prototype be damned!"
The room went silent. "I'm sick of people hiding stuff from me as an act of protecting me!" Michelle shouted. "I've been lied to and let down by so many people, and I'm sick of it! I'm not the same child you once knew!!"
As Michelle tried to catch her breath, CatNap looked at her with worried eyes. "ANGEL..." he said in a low voice.
Michelle turned her head to CatNap before petting his cheek, which made him close his eyes with a low purr. Michelle softly smiled at CatNap before facing the group with stern eyes. "I want the truth, and if you don't provide it... my group and I are gone..." she said.
Kissy Missy tilted her head. "What Misha's question?" she asked.
Michelle trembled a bit before pulling her hand away from CatNap and looking down, which made the larger group look at her, worried.
Soon after, Michelle clenched her fists and stopped shaking. "Kevin and Katelynn Barnes..." she said before looking at the group with serious eyes. "They were turned into toys, weren't they?"
Most of the small group froze and looked away. Now I'll know if they're a group I can trust or not, Michelle thought.
DogDay stared at Michelle before stepping forward. "Yes, they were," he said, which made the small group look at him, shocked.
Bobby BearHug held her right arm out to DogDay. "DogDay—" she stopped midsentence when he turned his head to her with serious eyes. "She's involved in this just as much as we are... she deserves to know the truth."
Bobby BearHug lowered her arm a bit before holding her other arm and looking away with guilty eyes. Michelle turned her head to DogDay. "What kind of toys were they turned into?" she asked.
DogDay turned his head to Michelle. "Kevin became part of Experiment 1322, also known as Doey the Doughman," he said before glancing down with sad eyes. "As for Katelynn... she became Experiment 1332, also known as Suzy the Slimewoman."
Michelle looked at DogDay. "And both of them are at Safe Haven?" she asked.
DogDay nodded. "As far as I'm aware, they should be at Safe Haven," he said.
Michelle intently stared at DogDay before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. After Michelle exhaled, she looked at the small group with determined eyes. "Well then, it's time for us to head to Safe Haven," she said.
DogDay nodded before turning his head to Bobby BearHug, Bubba Bubbaphant, and KickinChicken. "Bobby, you go on ahead to Safe Haven with Bubba and Kickin'," he said.
The trio looked at DogDay, shocked. "But what about you?" Bobby BearHug asked.
DogDay looked at Michelle. "I'll accompany Misha and her group," he said before glancing at CatNap, who stared at him with stern eyes.
KickinChicken looked at DogDay. "You can't be serious, Boss Dog," he said.
Bubba Bubbaphant looked at DogDay. "At least let one of us accompany you," he said.
DogDay faced the trio with stern eyes, which shocked them. "That's a direct order; don't make me repeat myself," he said.
The trio remained silent before nodding. "Just be careful..." Bobby BearHug said.
DogDay nodded before the trio went down the stairs and got on the lift. DogDay approached a lever near the CatNap cutout before placing his hand on it. "We'll see you back at Safe Haven," he said before pulling it down.
The gate closed before the lift started going down. "Once the lift is back up, the rest of us will get on," Poppy said.
Michelle realized something before looking at Poppy. "Hang on, if all of us are gonna get on that lift, who's gonna pull the lever?" she asked.
Poppy looked at Kissy Missy. "Well... I could leave Kissy behind so—" she was interrupted when Michelle sternly looked at her. "Are you an idiot?!"
Poppy looked at Michelle, surprised. "You were gonna leave Kissy up here all by herself?! To hell with that bullshit!" she shouted.
Michelle flinched a bit and sighed before rubbing the back of her neck. "Sorry... I lost my cool..." she said before sternly looking at Poppy. "But still, I don't think it's wise to leave her up here all alone. Especially if a psychopath like the Prototype comes by and attacks her."
Poppy froze a bit and looked down with a frown. "You... do make a valid point..." she said in a low voice.
Michelle crossed her arms. "I think our best bet would be if a large toy sticks with Kissy," she said.
Huggy Wuggy lit up and raised his hand. "Huggy stay with Kissy," he said.
Michelle looked at Huggy Wuggy, surprised. "You want to stay up here?" she asked.
Huggy Wuggy quickly nodded. "Huggy protect Kissy," he said.
Kissy Missy blushed and glanced away. "Huggy..." she said in a low voice.
Michelle looked at Huggy Wuggy. "Well, if you insist, I won't force you to change your mind," she said before looking down. "But still... two of the same kind of toy being up here..."
Mommy Long Legs placed her finger on Michelle's shoulder, which made her turn her head to her. "No need to worry, my little Misha; I'll be accompanying them as well," she said.
Michelle smiled a bit. "Well... that puts me at ease a little..." she said.
Huggy Wuggy knelt and took off Michelle's backpack before holding it out to her. "Misha's bag..." he said.
Michelle uncrossed her arms before grabbing her backpack, which made Huggy Wuggy let go. "Thanks, bud," she said.
Miss Delight looked at Michelle. "I can carry it in Mr. Huggy's stead, Miss Misha," she said.
Michelle nodded and helped Miss Delight put the backpack on before looking at Huggy Wuggy and Mommy Long Legs. "There's something else I'd like to say," she said. "I know it's not in your nature, but if you encounter another dangerous toy or the Prototype himself... run away immediately."
Michelle looked down with a slight frown. "I'd rather you come back to me and the others alive than die in a fight," she continued.
Huggy Wuggy looked at Michelle before raising his hand and placing it on top of her head, which made her look at him. "Huggy promise..." he said.
Mommy Long Legs nodded in agreement. "I promise, too," she said.
Michelle smiled at the duo as Huggy Wuggy pulled his hand away before turning her head to Kissy Missy. "Make sure you keep these two in check, OK?" she asked.
Kissy Missy nodded before the group heard a metallic noise; Michelle turned to the back and saw the lift. Michelle took a deep breath and exhaled before approaching the stairs. "I think that's our cue to get going," she said, which made most of the group follow her.
Kissy Missy approached the lift and grabbed the frame of the vault before leaning toward it with Poppy in her hand, which made her get on it. Poppy turned to Kissy Missy. "As soon as we reach the bottom, we'll send the lift back up," she said.
Kissy Missy nodded before approaching the lever; after Michelle's group was near the lift, Poppy smiled at her. "After you!" she said.
Michelle nodded before she and the others got on the lift. Mommy Long Legs looked at Michelle. "Be careful down there..." she said in a low voice, which made her nod.
DogDay let go of the lever and looked at Kissy Missy as she approached him. "Stay safe out here..." he said in a low voice.
Kissy Missy nodded as DogDay approached the stairs and went down them. After DogDay got on the lift, Kissy Missy approached the lever and placed her hand on it before pulling it down.
The lift's gate closed before the lift started going down, which made Poppy sigh and walk forward. "Alright... once we hit the ground, we need to be cautious; there's something—" before she could finish her sentence, they heard screeching, which shocked the group and made them look up.
Michelle's face went pale. "Based on the sound, that's Kissy!" she shouted.
Poppy was worried as the screeches continued. "What's she doing... this isn't..." she said in a low voice.
Soon after, the group heard a different screech. "Get away from her!" Mommy Long Legs shouted.
Michelle's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands. "Mommy... Huggy..." she said in a low voice.
Poppy was mortified. "No, no, no... NO!" she shouted before pressing a button on the console.
The lift suddenly stopped before it started going up. "We're coming; just hold on!" Poppy shouted.
The vault-like hatch started closing, which shocked them. "We won't make it on time!" DogDay shouted.
Poppy panicked and kept pressing the button. "C'mon, c'mon! Go faster!" she shouted.
Michelle stared up in horror as the area around her went darker. "You guys!" Poppy shouted before the hatch closed.