A demon can also be an angel

by Perys20

Summary:

When our protagonist, "Angel," receives a VHS from the company where he once worked and suffered, telling him that the workers are still there, they know who, or rather, who, is left behind; so, determined to make up for his mistake of abandoning those he once considered friends and his "family," he returns to the factory. Will he achieve his goal of saving them all, or will he fail?

Chapter 1: Welcome back to Playtime Co.

Summary:

When our protagonist, "Angel," receives a VHS from the company where he once worked and suffered, telling him that the workers are still there, they know who, or rather, who, is left behind; so, determined to make up for his mistake of abandoning those he once considered friends and his "family," he returns to the factory. Will he achieve his goal of saving them all, or will he fail?

Today was a day like any other for Angel—sad, that is. He had lost his reason for living years ago due to a family loss, so he didn't have much to do but eat alone, spend time alone, and sleep alone. The silence in his house was deathly quiet, but it was what it was, and it was better to continue living than to let those who harmed them win by his death. He laughed bitterly at that.

Angel: Oh, well, I'd better check the mail, see what's there.

With that, Angel got up from his seat to see what was in the mail, unaware that there was a package from a company he thought he'd never hear from again.
When he went to pick up the mail, at first he didn't find anything out of the ordinary: some surveys, the newspaper, magazine subscriptions, and some water and electricity bills. He would pay them as soon as he could. But one package in particular caught his eye, not only because it was striking, but also because of the sender: Playtime Co. Upon seeing it, he gripped it tightly, since that was impossible. She hadn't heard about the factory where she worked and suffered so many horrors 10 years ago, when it closed for reasons that were never clarified. She clutched the package tightly and looked around to see if there were any unwanted visitors. After making sure no one was there, she gathered all the mail and ran inside. After setting the mail aside, she sat down with the package in her hands.

Angel: What the hell is this? It's impossible, unless...

Then she opened the package, which contained a VHS tape and a letter, but she set the letter aside for a moment to examine the tape, which had "Old Poppy Ad" written on it. Curiosity and a deep sense of guilt filled her, so she put the tape in the player and it started playing.

---

Elliot Ludwig: You're about to see the most amazing doll ever invented. Her name is Poppy, and she's the world's first intelligent doll. A little girl can talk to her, and Poppy talks back. She's the world's first doll capable of conversing with a child. Don't believe me? Just watch.

Children's Choir: Poppy Playtime.

Female Voice: Poppy is adorable like a real girl and talks like one.

Poppy: Hi, my name is Poppy! I love you. Can you shine my shoes?

Female Voice: Of course, Poppy! Like a real girl, Poppy will always look beautiful.

Poppy: Perfect! Thank you.

Female Voice: Her hair is strong, it doesn't fall out when brushed, and she smells like a beautiful flower. Is there anything else you want to say, Poppy?

Poppy: I'm a real girl... just like you.

Children's Choir: What time is it? Playtime!

Elliot Ludwig: And if you ever wanted to see how the nation's favorite toys are made... Playtime Co. is now offering tours of our factory for only 2.99 per person. A full hour in the world's most magical factory. What are you waiting for? Come visit the factory! We can't...

The image abruptly cuts out, revealing scaffolding leading to a door with a large flower drawing, and the image gradually fades to black, ending the film.

---

After the tape ended, Ángel was trembling. That change of scene from the commercial to the flower relay was intentional, a message, but it could only mean one thing: "they" were still alive, his old friends, his family in that hell disguised as heaven. And he wasn't referring to the workers. Holding his breath, he read the letter, which seemed written by a child.

Everyone thinks the staff disappeared 10 years ago.

WE'RE STILL HERE

FIND THE FLOWER

This confirmed what he suspected: it meant they would be there, alive, hungry, and possibly scared.

Angel: Shit, I can't abandon them, not again. So, determined, he prepared to return to the factory he swore he'd never return from, the nightmare factory, the monstrous place disguised as paradise, the abandoned Playtime Co. factory.

After receiving the package, Angel packed a fairly large backpack, containing a couple of blankets, candy, food, and water for several days for a group of people. He also packed several first aid kits and medical supplies. With the backpack ready, he took a vehicle he had, perfect for this situation, went to take care of some pending matters, and prepared everything for a possible absence of several weeks, planning a personal trip or something similar, since he didn't expect to be gone for long. He drove toward the abandoned factory for several hours, took the road that led to it, since it was a bit secluded, and parked the vehicle in the parking lot, hiding it as much as possible to avoid trouble. After stopping, he leaned on the steering wheel and sighed.

Angel: "Well, last chance to leave and pretend I never received that letter." He sighed as he said that. "Well, fuck it."

He got out of the vehicle, hid it, and covered it a little more, then headed to the factory gate and entered, preparing to face its horrors once again.

Chapter 2: A sweet entrance and meeting

Summary:

When our Angel enters the factory, exploring the surroundings he comes across a mysterious individual, will he be an ally or an enemy?

When Angel entered the factory, she could see the reception area and confirmed that the electricity was still working. The other doors were boarded up, and she saw quite a few leaves on the floor, which is normal for a place that has been abandoned for at least ten years.

Angel: I wonder how there's still power.

After concentrating, she approached the counter at the entrance and saw a green VHS tape. Upon examining it, she realized it had "Leith Pierre closure" written on it. Leith Pierre, that name infuriated her because she hated it with all her heart.

Angel: Leith Pierre—snarling—you fucking bastard. I don't know what happened to you, but I hope you're burning in hell, you fucking moron," she said this last bit with a tear in her eyes. "I trust you, I wish I'd never done it."

After wiping away the tear, she decided to put the tape in the player to see what it said.

---

Leith Pierre: “Hi, my name is Leith Pierre,” -Angel growled again at the sound of his voice- , “and I’m the Innovation Supervisor here at Playtime Co. If you’re watching this, you’re trespassing. That’s right, we leave this tape playing when we close the factory each night. So, outsider, just so you know… While we pride ourselves on our high-quality toys and excellent childcare,” -Angel lets out a sarcastic laugh- , “we also pride ourselves on our security. For example, this factory has several motion sensors that, if triggered, set off security alarms and alert the authorities. And well… That’s the tamest of our security measures. No spoilers! You’ve been warned, you should turn around. I just hope that whatever you do is worth the risk; “ -worth it,” he thinks- .

---

The tape ends.

Angel: Well, I don't think the alarms are still working after all this time, and even if they were, I doubt any police officer would waste their time investigating a break-in at a long-abandoned factory, only to discover that the "invader" doesn't exist or is just a miserable rat.

After this, he decides to go to the security office. Along the way, he sees a poster for Poppy that says "Poppy Wants to Play" and a Cat-Bee toy on the couch to his left.

Angel (thinks): I wonder where Cat-Bee is. I hope she's okay.

He keeps walking until he reaches the security door, which is locked with a color code: four colors.

Angel: Uhm, I wonder if the code is somewhere.

I retrace my steps and head to the other end, where I find the gift shop. As I walk, I see a poster of Bron eating on my left that says "Eat healthy, eat like Bron," and, in a small corner, "The Playtime Co. cafeteria recommends a 4000 kcal diet," a very high amount, really. And to my right, several windows with broken glass on the floor. Without paying much attention to them, I head for the door.

After opening it, I see a practically empty store, with a few fallen display cases, boxes everywhere, some with their packaging intact, a Boogie Bot in the distance with blood spatter on a counter, and a blue tail behind it... Wait, a blue tail?!

Angel: Who's there?!

Angel hears a snort and the tail has disappeared and sees something moving behind a shelf.

??: Please don't eat me!

Angel: Calm down, I'm not going to eat you, but I need to know one thing: who are you?

???: Are you really not going to eat me?

Angel: I promise.

The mysterious figure slowly appears. It's a blue cat, the size of a large child, with a large dark blue spot on its back and tail, and a little hungry, a familiar sight for our Angel.

Angel: "It can't be, Candy Cat!"

The cat was surprised by the scream and didn't expect to be hugged by this man, who seemed like family.

Angel: "Oh, Candy, I'm sorry to leave you all."

Candy Cat: "I don't understand."

Angel: "She moves away a little and stands face to face." "Candy, it's me, do you remember me?"

She didn't know what he meant until she looked at him more closely and recognized him, and then she started crying and hugging him tightly.

Candy Cat: "Angel!!! Is it really you?"

Angel: "Yes, it is."

---

Flashback

Angel was walking near the toy store, looking for a toy his sister might like, a stuffed animal she didn't have, when the clerk caught his attention.

Clerk: Hey, are you looking for anything in particular?

Angel: Well, I'm looking for something for my sister. Do you have any suggestions?

Clerk: Well, how old is she?

Angel: She's going to be 14.

Shopkeeper: Well, maybe she'd like a Candy Cat toy.

Angel: Yeah! She loves collecting them, and I don't think she has that one.

Clerk: Great, just grab one to pay for it and...

???: Yeah! That's the best one!

They're both surprised to see Candy come out from behind a shelf. Something knocks over some boxes.

Candy Cat: Oops. Sorry.

Shopkeeper: He was putting them away, groaning from exhaustion.

Candy feels guilty and looks at the floor.

Angel: Don't worry, I can put them back if you want.

Shopkeeper: Sure? It's too much trouble.

Angel: Sure. Besides, I think it's my fault Candy came here. I bet she followed me from kindergarten because she smelled the candy I was carrying and wanted to grab it when I wasn't looking." She looks at Candy with a bit of amusement. "Right?"

Candy Cat simply nods.

Angel: What do you say we do this? Help me put away the boxes you threw away, and when we get back to kindergarten, I'll give you the candy I have." She looks at the shopkeeper. "In exchange, can we keep this little incident to ourselves?"

Candy Cat: Sounds good to me. And you, Mr. Shopkeeper?

Shopkeeper: Well, I don't know.

Candy Cat: Please, she makes puppy dog ​​eyes.

Salesperson: The salesperson finally relents. "Okay, but just this once."

Angel: You heard him. Let's get to work!

Then they both started putting away the fallen boxes, and just as Angel promised, he gave her some candy and then went back to the toy store to buy the stuffed animal.

---

Angel: Hi, my favorite candy-eating cat. How are you feeling? Does it hurt?

Candy Cat: Candy pulls away from the hug. No, I'm not hurt, but I'm really hungry.

Angel: Wait a minute.

Angel moves away from her and takes off his backpack, taking out a sandwich and juice, and some candy that makes Candy's eyes light up.

Angel: Here's a little... Uoh.

Angel barely has time to react before Candy snatches the food out of his hands and starts eating quickly.

Angel (thinks): Poor thing, who knows how long it's been since he had anything decent in his mouth.

Angel: Sweetie, eat slowly or you'll choke.

Candy Cat: Sorry.

After eating the sandwich, he eats the candy and cries with joy at having something to eat after so long. When he's finished, he sits up.

Candy Cat: Thank you.

Angel: You're welcome. What were you doing here?

Sweet Cat: I came with my love, Bee-Cat, looking for food or candy. We got separated when the blinds closed, so I came here looking for something to eat or a way back, until I heard someone coming in. So I hid, hoping the intruder wouldn't find me. And you?

Angel: I came here because I found out you might still be alive and I couldn't abandon you, not again.

Sweet Cat: Angel, you didn't abandon us. I'm sure you had your reasons for leaving.

Angel: Thank you. So what do you want to do now? I'm going to go ahead and try to rescue the others.

Sweet Cat: Can I come with you? I want to help you.

Angel: Well, I don't know. It's dangerous.

Sweet Cat: Please make puppy dog ​​eyes.

Angel: He tries not to give in, but he does eventually. Okay, okay, but don't stray too far from me, okay?

Sweet Cat: Yes!

With that, they both decide to go together, but before leaving the gift shop and returning to the security room, he notices a train up ahead.

Angel (thinks): I wonder how it still works, just for a second.

Looking closer, he notices that both the engine and the three cars are different colors, the same ones shown on the panel: green, pink, yellow, and red. Knowing this, he returns to the security room and enters the colors, which work, opening the door.

Angel: Bingo! Let's go, Candy!

He notices her looking at the Cat-Bee toy on the seat. It stands to reason he misses his girlfriend and his love. So he approaches her and puts a hand on her shoulder.

Angel: Hi, are you okay?

Candy Cat: Yes, I am. I just miss her. I hope she's okay.

Angel: I'm sure she is. Come on, let's keep going.

Upon entering the security room, she saw some chairs on the left and, to her right, several monitors, possibly for surveillance. But the most striking thing was in the background, behind a security glass, a Grab Pack. If she remembered correctly, it was a tool used in the factory to open certain doors with hand scanners, grab objects, and even move around. As she approached the glass, she realized she only had her blue hand.

Candy Cat: What are you looking at, Angel?

Angel: I'm looking at that Grab Pack behind the glass. It seems to only have one hand.

Candy Cat: -She let out a small gasp- "That's what we need!"

Angel: What do you mean?

Candy Cat: Remember I told you to separate from Bee when a blind closed?

Angel nods.

Candy Cat: Well, upstairs, a blue hand scanner lit up. Without a blue hand, there was no way to open the door, so I looked for another way back because I thought there were none left.

Angel: Well, don't get your hopes up either. It's locked in that display case, so it's not much use to us like this.

Candy Cat: Shit.

Angel: Hey! Language!

Candy Cat: Sorry—he looks at the floor, embarrassed—but how are we going to get the Grab Pack?

Angel looks for a button or lever to open the display case and sees a blue VHS tape that says "Grab Pack Training." He takes it and inserts it into the player next to it.

---

The Playtime Co. logo appears, then changes to an image of a working GrabPack, with the "Registered" mark, then switches to an illustrative video featuring a yellow mannequin.

Video: Fasten the straps! Hold both barrels. Pull the trigger to fire. Pull it again to return. Hold it down to grab objects. Use ONLY with small objects and handles. Do not use on your peers.

It illustrates how the mannequin shoots its hand at another mannequin's head and tears it off, leaving a pool of blood, causing Candy to instinctively cover her eyes, despite her protests.

Video: May cause serious injury. The wire is conductive; you can use it to make connections! Thank you. Use the GrabPack responsibly. What time is it? Let's play!

After the explanatory video ended, we heard a squeaking noise coming from the GrabPack's display case, which had been opened.

---

Angel: Well, it looks like it's open, let's grab it.

He took off his backpack and put on the GrabPack, adjusting the straps. Once on, he put it back on, which was quite awkward with everything in its place. Afterward, he tested the GrabPack's range a bit and headed to the door Candy mentioned. They went through the turnstile and touched the blue hand scanner. They were greeted by a message that said "Welcome to Playtime Co." and a statue of the company's most popular toy until its closure, Huggy Wuggy.

Chapter 3: The bee in the generator

Summary:

After exploring the surroundings a bit, our companions find a new friend and two lovers reunite, but not everything is bliss, it seems that someone is watching them on cameras and, has the Huggy statue just moved?

Angel and Candy Cat approached the Huggy Wuggy statue, which was waving at them with a raised hand.
Angel: Hey Huggy, it's been a while, hasn't it?
Without a response, it must have been a statue.
In front of it was a sign about Huggy Wuggy. It read: “Playtime Co. has designed hundreds of different toys, but none connects more with people than Huggy Wuggy. Our founder, Elliot Ludwig, aimed to create a toy that could hug you forever! The four-step process for creating Playtime Co.'s most realistic toys was a success!” “With a little string and polyester, our friendly blue friend Huggy came to life! So far, Huggy Wuggy has become Playtime Co.'s most popular and best-selling toy!”
After reading it, Angel pressed the button and played the following:
Megaphone: His name is Huggy, Huggy Wuggy. When he hugs you, he won't stop! (Huggy laughs) Your friend Huggy, Huggy Wuggy! He'll hug you until you explode.
After the song ended, Angel and Candy Cat began exploring the surroundings, seeing the closed cafeteria door, a shutter that required a blue and red hand, the theater door also closed, a shutter that led to the innovation area, with no apparent way to open it, a door to a closed testing area, and a shutter with a blue hand scanner. When Angel shot the scanner, it went off and caused a short circuit, leading to the electrical room.
Angel: Shit, we'll have to restore the power.
They approached the power door, but it was closed.
Angel: Damn, is there any door that isn't closed?
Candy Cat: You can swear all you want, but I can't?
Angel: Who's the adult, you or me? I must preserve your innocence.
Candy Cat: "With a really face?" Angel, after these last 10 years, believe me when I tell you that neither I nor anyone in this factory has any innocence left.
Angel: "He opens his mouth to argue, but realizes she's right." "Good point, but at its core, you're still a kid, a grown-up bordering on adolescence, but a kid." Sighs. "Okay, I'll let you swear, but don't overdo it, okay?"
Candy gives him a thumbs-up. After that, Angel was thinking about what to do, but before deciding, he hears a jingling sound. When they both turn around, they see a key hanging from the statue of Huggy, raised in his hand.
Angel: "Did you notice if he had it before or..."
Candy Cat: "No."
Angel: "Well, don't look a gift horse in the mouth."
Angel uses the GrabPack to grab the key, unlocks the door, and they enter the electrical room, where they soon hear a noise, putting them both on the defensive.
Angel: Hello? Is anyone there?
??: Please leave.
That voice makes Candy react.
Candy Cat: Cat-Bee! Is that you?
The mysterious being appears, revealing itself to be Cat-Bee, who, like Candy Cat, was a cat the size of a big girl, with a yellow and black striped pattern, like a bee, and a pair of bee-like wings behind her, large enough to allow her to fly, and a tail with the same pattern, almost resembling a tiger.
Cat-Bee: Candy Cat!
She flies up and pounces on the blue cat in a big hug.
Candy Cat: Bee, are you okay? Are you hurt?
Cat-Bee: No, I'm fine, but a little hungry.
Angel: I can give you some food if you want.
Cat-Bee: -Turns to see Angel- And who are you?
Candy Cat: Bee, it's Angel, do you remember him?
Cat-Bee: -I go from confusion to understanding- Angel! I'm so glad to see you, I've missed you so much.

---

Flashback
Angel is taking a walk through Playcare when she sees Cat-Bee sitting to the side, thinking.
Angel: Hi Bee.
Cat-Bee: Oh, hi Angel, do you mind sitting with me?
Angel: Not at all. What's going on?
Cat-Bee: I'm thinking about asking Candy to hang out with me, just to play games or eat or just hang out.
Angel: Do you want to ask her out?
Cat-Bee: -She turns as red as a tomato- It's possible...
Angel: Well, what are you waiting for? Tell her!
Cat-Bee: But what if she doesn't feel the same way I do?
Angel: Well... A little bird told me she has feelings for you.
Somewhere in Playcare, a crow sneezes.
Poe: Achoo! “How strange, why did I sneeze? Did I catch a cold?” Poe thinks.
Meanwhile, back with Angel and Cat-Bee.
Cat-Bee: REALLY?
Angel: Don't yell at me, you'll make me deaf!
Cat-Bee: Sorry, but is it true?
Angel: There's only one way to find out, so go ahead and tell her how you feel.
Cat-Bee: I will! He gets up and walks forward, but pauses for a moment. “Oh, one last thing, if she says no…” He turns around and has a frighteningly terrified expression, “I'll sting you.”
Angel swallows, then Cat-Bee changes her expression to a tender smile and leaves, with Angel hoping that what Poe told her is true, for both her own sake and the crow's, or she'll pluck out all of its feathers. He remains so thoughtful that he doesn't notice a scientist coming, he already knows what it means, so resigned he gets up and she accompanies him for what's coming.

---

After ending the hug, we separate a bit.
Angel: Hi, how long has it been? Are you sure you're not hurt?
Cat-Bee: No, but I am—she takes a bite of the sandwich Angel gave her—very hungry.
Angel:—With a cartoonish drop of sweat—Yeah, it shows.
Candy Cat:—While hugging Bee—I'm glad to see you're okay, but what were you doing here?
Cat-Bee:—She raises a finger as a signal for him to wait a moment, finishes her sandwich and juice, and breathes—Well, after the blinds closed, I was trying to find a way to get to you, or open them. Besides, I didn't like being near the Huggy Wuggy statue. It gave me the creeps because I didn't know if it was the real one or not.
Angel: What do you mean? Let's see, I remember Huggy sometimes acted as a statue, but I don't think that was the real one, right?
Candy Cat: Well, he guards this area, so I was hiding there too, and now that I think about it, where did the key we used to get in come from?
Thinking about it, they realized the Huggy outside might not be a statue.
Angel: Boo-Boo-Okay, let's fix the electricity, and then we'll carefully check if it's a statue or not.
Cat-Bee: Okay, check it out while Candy and I walk a good few meters away, okay?
Angel: I can see you're not very brave, huh? Why should I be the brave one?
Candy Cat: You're the one who came to an abandoned factory 10 years ago.
Angel: He opens his mouth to argue, raising a finger, then says, "Point for Candy Cat." While Bee nods his head. Okay, I'll do it, but let's fix the damn generator now.
Candy Cat and Cat-Bee: Okay!
In the generator room, there was a Kissy Missy poster with a series of rules, indicating what was allowed and what wasn't. One of them was funny because it said not to scare Leith Pierre from behind a door. Who knows how many scares he got before he made it a rule.
Angel (thinks): The jerk could have already had a heart attack.
The trio continued forward until they were startled by the sound of the front door slamming shut. After the small scare, they reached the electrical panel, with several colorful hand prints, and to the right, a blood splatter on the wall with a Boogie Bot head, the word "Wonderful" scratched on the wall, and a series of elongated lines that looked like a hand. It was so sinister that they stopped looking at it.
When she grabbed the handle and pulled, the lid fell and electric sparks flew out.
Angel: "Watch out!"
Angel said, pulling the two cats back with her arms, protecting them.
Angel: "Are you both okay?"
Candy Cat and Cat-Bee: "Yes."
Angel: "Okay, I'm going to need you to move out of the way. I'm going to hook the GrabPack into the power outlet to try to restore it, okay?"
Both cats nodded, moving away, while Angel threaded the GrabPack's cable through both poles, restoring the power.
Angel: "And, voilà." "Okay, I've turned the power on. Let's go outside."
As they leave, Angel pauses for a moment, looking at the camera in the corner above, thinking about this as they leave.
Candy Cat: "Is something wrong?"
Angel: "I feel someone watching us through the cameras."
Cat-Bee, puzzled, looks ahead just as they leave and notices something, or rather, "someone," missing.
Cat-Bee: Guys, I think the cameras are the least of our problems right now.
Candy Cat: Why?
She points to where the "statue" of Huggy is, or rather, "was."
Cat-Bee: Where's Huggy Wuggy?
When the rest looked where she was pointing, they realized they had more pressing problems.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of Poppy Playtime