Trapped at Maple Town Pizza

It was a regular Saturday night and this happened on August 28th, 1993. I wasn't in the best mood as I had to babysit a 9 year old boy shiba inu named Kenji that night. His extended nuclear family was heading out of town tonight with my parents, I needed to babysit him, of course they just had to volunteer me. My dad offered to pay me thirty bucks to take Alex out to Maple Town Pizza, would have rather stayed home and watch Dragon Ball Z on TV, but making thirty bucks to sit up in a pizzeria and watch animatronics for an hour at most, seems like a good idea, before leaving my dad handed me fifty bucks the extra twenty for whatever the cost was for the food, and games, I would obviously pocket the change. My aunt and uncle dropped Kenji off as they and his extended nuclear family left with my parents, I greeted Kenji and tried talking to her although i didn't expect much conversation from an nine year old.

It was around eight o'clock when we left, I had never been to this place, I imagine it would be like Chuck E Cheese, I did however know that this place had a bad history and that'll it will be closed by the end of the year, Kenji seemed excited on the way there, I couldn't relate I remember having always been afraid of those singings and animatronics and these kinds of places when I was younger. We got there at around eight fifteen, the last show of the night started at around eight thirty. I remember seeing a 'HELP WANTED" sign for security guard, I wondered why place like this needed security guard but I shrugged it off. We sat down at a table and I got a pizza for us. It tasted no better than a frozen pizza or what you would get in Chuck E Cheese, I didn't expect much more though, the animatronics seemed a little outdated like something would fit in the 1980s, the place was particularly nice and clean and is still very popular, which made me wonder, what could happened to me to have it close by the end of the year.

While eating there was suddenly a loud drum role, followed by a voice introducing the characters, the kids all cheered as the curtains open up revealing the animatronics singers Patty Rabbit, Rachel Rabbit, Fanny Fox, and Bobby Bear. I was shocked this animatronic look old and a lot less detailed than I was expecting, they look creepy despite being very cute and adorable. As they sing there first song Kenji along with all the other kids seems to be enjoying it, even most of the parents seem to smiling and having a nice time but I just stared with a blank expression in my face.

The animatronics movements were pretty and impressive though, I guessed they made it off with the looks, after they finish there first song, the fox in the back Fanny Fox. I swear it turned its head straight at me, wasn't by chance it's eyes were fixed right on me. I stared back a little freaked out, maybe they were programmed to make eye contact like this, but for how long? It was starring at me for at least thirty seconds, both animatronics were turning there heads and eyes to look at the whole crowd, but not Fanny Fox, it wasn't until the next song started that Fanny Fox finally started moving it's head again. I felt a bit relieved considering maybe I was just being all paranoid letting my childhood fear of animatronics to get the better of me, at least Kenji seem to be enjoying himself. The song went on for about three minutes before ending, I had it this point completely calm down, until it happened again, as the song ended, Fanny Fox turned it's head to face me, eyes locked on to mine, but this time Bobby Bear turned it's head to me as well making eye contact.

"What the Hell" I said obviously loud enough for Alex to hear me as he looked at me with a curious stare. I pointed out to Kenji that two of the animatronics were looking at me. He didn't even acknowledge what I said as Patty Rabbit and Rachel Rabbit spoke to the audience. Both Bobby Bear and Fanny Fox's fake eyes were locked to mine, my heart started beating twice as fast as this point I was freaking on my sit. Why was nobody turning around to see what was the two robot staring at? Was anybody acknowledging what's happening? I got up my seat to refill my soda at the fountain resort, frightened to look behind at the stage. I refilled my cup and stalled by putting new lead and straw. I was just waiting for the next song to start or some kind of intermission, I just couldn't turn around to look at the stage suddenly I hear Kenji called my name, I had to turn around now it's okay, I thought, there's was no way the animatronics were still looking at me, after leaving my seat I turned around to look at Kenji, but I saw the two heads starring at me. I drop my cup of soda on the floor out of shocked, an employee came over and asked me if I was alright, I asked him, "Why the hell are those two animatronics starring at me?".

Just as I was saying this I heard Patty Rabbit that it was time for an intermission, I turned my head to look on the stage, the curtains were already closing. The employee explained, to me that the animatronics were designed to make eye contact with people, before he walked off I can tell he hadn't taken me to seriously, at least the curtains were closed and I couldn't see them anymore, but still I couldn't forget how'd they stared directly at me, it didn't feel happy or friendly..it felt easel. I asked Kenji if he was ready to leave, because I wanted to get the hell out of there, he told me he wanted to see the rest of the show and play some arcade games, he asked me for my cellphone telling me he had to tell his mom something, I handed him my phone and he walked off to the arcade games, as he walked off I noticed another another mini stage away from the main stage. It was called Pirates Cove.

The stage had its curtain close and the small sign that said "OUT OF ORDER" I asked an employee what it was and why it was closed? He told me that an animatronic named Suzie Squirrel, who she and her brother Skippy Squirrel lived in the stage, had a technical malfunction in 1990, causing it to bite a child's right arm! Hearing this news I realized why this place had a troubled history and why it was closing. It shocked me that it's such a horrific accident like this happens! How this place managed to just stay open all this time? I was starting to feel uncomfortable staying in that place, l wanted to leave as soon as possible but I knew Kenji was having a great time, I saw him playing some a arcade games, I sat back down and just waited I just wanted the show to end as soon as possible.

About five minutes passed till the intermission was over, and the curtains were opening back up, a lot of kids who were playing in the arcade didn't return back to the show area, I couldn't really blame them I never found any animatronics entertaining when I was younger either, Kenji didn't come back either. I know I should have probably just left the stage and play the games with Kenji, but part of me was curious I needed to see what was going on, and if this things would still stare directly at me with there evil plastic eyes. Patty Rabbit, Rachel Rabbit and Bobby Bear made jokes and interacted with kids and the audience a bit before starting their third song.

Why was I anticipating?

W-Why did I want them to stare at me?

The last song went fast because of my thoughts. The four animatronics said farewell to the children, at this point I was convinced they weren't gonna stare at me anymore, and that maybe the worker was right, maybe they were set to make eye contact with people.

It was almost nine o'clock, which meant the place were about to close down. Most of the parents and the kids started heading through the door, Kenji told me that he needed to go to the bathroom. The public men's room had a "Out of Order" sign. I asked the employee where he could use the bathroom, he said that he could use the employee's bathroom, and then he pointed out the bathroom. There was an announcement that the place was now closed, I waited for a few more minutes It seemed that I was the last person there. Even most of the employees have left. I stood their groaning impatiently, I caught something in the corner of my eyes..

No.. I-It couldn't be I turned my head and I saw three of them looking at me, the same eyes. I felt like my heart sink into my stomach. I couldn't even choke up the words to call an employee.

It was time to get the hell out of there. I ran down the hallway to find the restroom, I called for Alex he didn't respond I looked under the stalls to find Kenji's shoes, luckily I found him. I waited for him to finish, but he didn't opened the door. I didn't want to say anything because it was awkward, but I had to. I knocked in the door and said "Kenji" are you in there?

I started to become curious because he was staying there for a long time and he hadn't made a single sound. I walked up to the stall that crept open to reveal nothing but Kenji's shoes. He wasn't in there. I heard it coming from outside the bathroom. It was a huge bang. It sounded like some kind of door closing. I ran out the bathroom to find that the main lights had turned out with the only sources of light were the dimly lit night lights.

I made my way back to the lobby or at least what I call a lobby in this place. I screamed for Kenji and I screamed for help, but to no avail. "This is insane!" I thought. What kind of place completely shuts down in such a rush like this? It was probably after 10:00 after 9. I ran to the entrance thinking Kenji was waiting outside, only to realize that I was right. There was a giant metal door blocking the entrance. I didn't know what to think of this. I didn't know how to react. I was trapped in this place. Why would a place like this have a giant metal door like that? What were they trying to keep out....or in?

I had to call my parents or the police or someone. Kenji was missing and I was trapped in there. I reached in my pocket for my phone. Empty. I remembered that I had given it to Kenji. I tried to calm myself down. "I can't be the only person in this building!" I thought to myself. There had to be a phone somewhere in the building. I walked down every hallway I could find looking for a phone and occasionally shouting for somebody. The only phone that I found so far was disconnected. If it weren't by the fact that Kenji was by himself on a Saturday night, I wouldn't have been in such a panic. What happened to him? Why were his shoes in the stall? What if somebody had taken him?

I had to call the police, but there was no phone. I went down to another hallway that was open. I checked the door sign saying "Staff Only"

I went inside and saw lots of animatronics stuff.. The room smelled foul, like something was rotting in there and it felt like I was standing in some kind of liquid substance. I got out of that room as quickly as I entered, seeing those animatronics part was making me think that maybe Kenji was waiting in the dining area waiting I might as well check. Navigating the barely lit building was difficult, but also creepy.

When I got to the dining area, I called for Kenji, but there's no response. Suddenly I notice something through the corner of my eye. I could see that the curtains on the stage have been opened again. I could've sworn they've been shut after the show. I didn't want to turn my head in fear of what I'm expecting to see. Before I could give myself time to think, I turned my head to the stage to see Fanny Fox, Rachel Rabbit and Patty Rabbit on the stage. There was the 4th one. I knew there was the 4th one. Bobby Bear was missing. Where was Bobby Bear?

I was able to make out in the dark of the heads of the 3 animatronics facing me. I ran out of there as quickly as I could back into the dark hallways. I stopped to catch my breath but I heard something coming down from the hall. There were footsteps coming my way. I was saved. Somebody was there. I ran closer to the source of the footsteps yelling for help. As I got closer, I slowed down and noticing that the footsteps were very heavy. Unnaturally heavy for a human being. I stopped, thinking something wasn't right. The flickering lights ahead of me didn't provide enough light to see the source of the footsteps yet.

As the footsteps got closer, I'm able to let out a scream. The robot started walking toward me. And in that instant, I ran to the nearest room which happened to be a security room. I looked for anything to defend myself with. There were no weapons, but there was a button on the wall that seemed to be door control. The footsteps were getting closer almost outside the room. I ran to the wall and threw my fist onto the button, causing a giant door to close down to the floor. The robot banged on the door for a few seconds before the only noise was the buzzing sound of the dim fluorescent light in the room. How is this possible? How could these animatronic performers have ability to roam freely? What's that thing following me? These things. Are they alive? These nightmarish thoughts kept pouring into my mind that I almost didn't notice the heavy footsteps coming from the opposite direction. I turned around, realizing there was another opening to the room with an identical door switch. I immediately sprinted to the door and slammed my hand on the button not wanting to see what's coming down that hall.

I sat in the room, feeling safer for a few moments until I remembered that Kenji was missing. I had to find a way out of there, but there's no way that I could step into those hallways until I knew those things were gone. There were 2 windows in the room facing either side with a view into the hallways. I couldn't see anything outside though. It was pitch black. I noticed that under the door buttons on both sides, there were 2 buttons that were labeled "Light". Maybe these lights are for outside the security office. I needed to make sure that the robots weren't outside. I flipped the switch on the left side of the room to reveal Bobby Bear's face staring at me through the glass. I hit the light switch again to turn it off. I didn't want to see that thing. I didn't want want that thing to see me through the glass. I moved across the room to the other side, pressing a light switch. I almost fell to the floor in fear. It was Fanny Fox, the animatronic fox and this time, Roxie Raccoon, the animatronic raccoon was with her. They were staring at me through the glass. Their eyes were disturbingly bleeding and Fanny Fox was holding a bloody knife in her right hand. Fanny Fox banged her hands on the glass, keeping eye contact with me. I shut the light when I couldn't take the sight of those things anymore.

I sat in the chair in the middle of the room, balled up like a baby. "This can't be happening!" I kept telling myself. Those 3 robots reminded me of their presence with constant knocking on glass. I feared that they might break the glass. I didn't know what they will do to me if they got me, but I imagined the worst. I couldn't see anything through the glass, but I knew they were still there watching me. While looking around the room, I found a flashlight in one of the drawers and on the desk, I noticed a camera system. I turned it on and a bunch of screens turned on, surveilling every probable room in the building. I looked at the screen displaying the show stage. Patty Rabbit and Rachel Rabbit were on the stage, staring right into the camera.