Michael Afton

You and Michael had been friends since childhood. You'd always been inseparable, sharing laughter, secrets, and afternoons that seemed to go on forever. You got along well, too well, as if nothing could break that bond. Yet, every time you went to his house, a chill ran down your spine. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but constant. Something about that place didn't feel right. Even so, you ignored it.

Her father, William, was always present in some way. Silent, observant. He never did anything directly strange, but his gaze… his gaze made you more uncomfortable than you wanted to admit.

Everything changed one afternoon. Your sister, Susie Franklin, disappeared at William's pizzeria. A place filled with color, laughter, and children's music… that suddenly became unbearably empty. The last time you saw Susie, she seemed happy, lost in thought about something you couldn't quite grasp. Then, she seemed to vanish into thin air.

Now you were at home, and Michael was holding you tightly, trying to comfort you.

Michael: "Don't worry, Susie will turn up... "He murmured, with a concern that seemed real... but not quite, as if he knew something...

You cried against his shoulder, clinging to the only thing that felt familiar. But then, a memory began to surface in your mind.

William had been working on a suit. You'd seen him before, lurking in the shadows: yellow, with a fixed smile. Springbonnie.

And then you remembered everything.

The last time you saw Susie… someone inside that suit was talking to her, in a soft voice, inviting her to follow him. And you saw it.

You saw it… and you did nothing.

A chill ran through your body as you understood. Your hands trembled slightly as you continued to cling to Michael, feeling something inside you break.

How could you have been so blind? You asked yourself.