The factory was in a frenzy of activity. The upcoming tour had every employee scrambling to ensure Playtime Co. appeared pristine and impressive for the visitors.

Engineers tweaked machinery, custodians polished the floors until they gleamed, and marketing personnel rehearsed their scripts with eager anticipation.

Every inch of the facility had to be perfect.

But Yazmina, as usual, was buried in the laboratory, far removed from the whirlwind of preparation.

She had little interest in the factory's public relations efforts. Her work was more important than playing hostess.

Or so she thought-until she found herself at the main entrance, drawn there by an errand she barely remembered agreeing to.

The moment she stepped into the grand hall, she froze.

Standing at the very center, towering over everything, was Huggy Wuggy.

Awe flickered in her usually indifferent eyes. She had read reports, examined blueprints, and even dissected pieces of failed prototypes, but seeing the real thing-seeing it standing there in its unnatural stillness-was different. It was massive. Looming. A presence that demanded attention.

And then, she felt it.

Its eyes moved.

Only for a split second, so fast that anyone else might have dismissed it as a trick of the light. But Yazmina wasn't like everyone else. She knew. She knew that Huggy Wuggy was no mere statue, no simple display piece.

It was watching her.

A few employees had noticed the anomaly too, whispering among themselves about how the statue's eyes seemed off, how it felt like it was aware.

But Leith Pierre, ever the smooth talker, dismissed their concerns with a practiced smile.

"Probably just a maintenance issue," he had reasoned, waving off their unease.

Yazmina didn't need to be reassured. She knew the truth. The fact that Huggy Wuggy was here, in the very heart of the factory, playing the role of a harmless mascot, was nothing short of disturbing.

She was still staring when something tugged at her sleeve.

She glanced down and found a small boy peering up at her with wide, curious eyes. He couldn't have been older than five, his golden curls bouncing slightly as he shifted on his feet.

"Hi!" he chirped, unbothered by her cold expression. "What's your name?"

Yazmina blinked.

"...Doctor Yazmina," she finally said.

His eyes lit up. "Whoa! You're a doctor? Like a real doctor?"

She nodded, uncertain why he seemed so impressed. Before she could say anything else, he stuck out his hand.

"I'm Jack! Jack Ayers!"

Yazmina didn't shake it. Instead, she studied him, her sharp mind already piecing things together. Jack Ayers. The name sounded familiar. Then it clicked.

This was the child who would disappear today.

Her expression didn't change. The Playtime Co. tour was notorious for tragedy. And this boy-this innocent, wide-eyed boy-was another victim in the making. She knew it.

"Nice to meet you, Doctor Yazmina!" Jack continued, unfazed by her silence.

"I got invited here because I won a ticket! My parents said I could look at the big Huggy Wuggy statue before we start the tour!" He turned, pointing at the towering figure. "He's huge! Do you think he's nice?"

Yazmina's gaze flicked back to Huggy Wuggy's unmoving form.

"No," she said bluntly.

Jack giggled. "You're funny."

Funny? Yazmina arched a brow. No one had ever called her that before.

Jack suddenly rocked on his heels, his tiny hands gripping the hem of her coat. "Umm... Doctor Yazmina?"

"What?"

"I think I'm lost."

She stared at him. He looked up at her with complete trust, as if she were someone who could protect him. As if she were someone who would.

Yazmina sighed. She should ignore him. Walk away. Let the course of fate run its path.

Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small candy, placing it in his hand. Jack gasped in delight. "Whoa! Thanks, Doctor Yazmina! You're so cool!"

"Eat it before I change my mind," she said dryly.

Jack grinned up at her before quickly unwrapping the candy and popping it into his mouth. "Mmm! You're the best doctor ever!"

Yazmina wasn't sure why, but the words gave her pause.

"Come on," she said, glancing around the crowded main entrance. "Let's find your parents."

Jack eagerly took her hand, swinging it slightly as they walked. "You're really pretty, Doctor Yazmina. Like an angel."

Yazmina nearly stopped in her tracks.

An angel?

Well most of them call her that but If anything, she was more akin to the devil, watching misfortune unfold without a shred of remorse.

Yet Jack held onto her hand, his admiration genuine.

As they weaved through the bustling crowd, Yazmina remained indifferent on the surface, but deep down, something about Jack Ayers clung to her mind.

He was just another child in this factory, another victim of its horrors.

Jack eagerly grabbed her hand, his tiny fingers wrapping around hers as they navigated through the bustling crowd.

He babbled the entire time, telling her about his new toy, his birthday, and how excited he was to be here.

Yazmina mostly listened, offering the occasional nod or hum of acknowledgment.

Eventually, she spotted a frantic-looking couple scanning the crowd. "Are those your parents?"

Jack followed her gaze and beamed. "Yeah! That's them!" He turned back to Yazmina and hugged her waist. "Thank you, Miss Yazmina! You're the best!"

She stiffened at the unexpected contact, unsure of what to do. But before she could react, Jack had already run off, waving at her before disappearing into the sea of people.

Yazmina lingered for a moment, watching him reunite with his parents.

Then, without a word, she turned and left.

-----

From a distance, someone watched the exchange, his gaze lingering on Yazmina. He had never seen her before. A woman like that-so striking, so cold yet oddly gentle with the child-was not easily forgotten.

Who was she?

Before he could approach, another worker called his name, snapping him out of his daze.

"Hey! We need you to help arrange the safety barriers before the tour starts. Get moving!"

With a frustrated sigh, he turned away, casting one last glance at the mysterious doctor before disappearing into the factory's chaos.

-----

Later, the tour was well underway, the guests marveling at the factory's many wonders. Excitement filled the air as children and parents alike observed the machinery at work.

But then-

A scream.

Jack had been leaning against a railing near the dough machines, his curious eyes fixated on the process below.

No one noticed when the faulty metal beneath his grip suddenly gave way. A brief moment of silence hung in the air before gasps and shouts erupted.

"Someone help him!"

Jack dangled, his small fingers clinging desperately to the broken railing. Employees rushed forward, trying to reach him, to pull him back up.

But it was too late.

His grip faltered. His tiny hands slipped.

Jack plummeted into the dough machine below.

A sickening crunch followed, and then-silence.

The factory workers scrambled to shut off the machine, but it was far too late.

Jack Ayers was gone.

The tour came to a screeching halt. Gasps turned to horrified cries as parents shielded their children's eyes, unable to process the gruesome sight before them.

And yet, somewhere deep in the factory, life carried on as usual.

The machines never stopped for long.

(Jack's image above 🤗)