The dark mysteriousness that the aura of the factory emitted sent shivers to prick my spine as I looked around, taking in the cheerfully horrible place I had vowed to never step in again. My foot hesitantly began to inch forward, carrying me with it. My weak smile quickly diminished as dread coursed through me, my mind clouded with nothing but misery and instant hatred for myself and my stupidity. Why had I made such a silly mistake? Why did I venture out into the factory that had been abandoned all that time ago? Why did I come back to the factory that haunted every nightmare, probing my mind to fill it with nothing but hopeless chains of fear, dragging me down? Why was I back at the factory that housed and sheltered the monsters that tore me apart in my nightmares? Why was I here, straying into the darkness that hid mystery and ravenous, callous beasts that lurked at every turn? Why was I back at Playtime Co? I was here to save the toymakers that cowered in the darkness, whimpering in fear from the monsters that stalked them, sharpening their claws and baring glinting fangs. Well, I was going to be one of those victims now. There was no way around it. Death wreathed around every turn. Lights flashed in the darkness, and a terrible scream played through my lips. Death loved torturing the soul and relishing the mad wails that the victim sobbed over. It stalked everyone at every turn-it was a chase, a maze, to try to pry yourself out of Death's grasp and survive. My maze was over now-the dead end stood before me, solid as a wall, as Death closed in on me. There was no survival now.

I was dead.

I really didn't think much about it before-being a toy, perhaps, was part of the reason. I thrived in health-there was no illness, no plague that could destroy me. That was why I volunteered for the experiment. But it seemed wasted, fading away. Now, it was the end.

Now, there would be nothingness.

I walked forwards slowly, eyes traveling around me, darting around in alert. My heart was beating unbelievably fast, and I was nearly gasping for air as it pounded, the sound ringing in my ears as my heart threatened to jump over my chest. My fingers lashed out randomly, my body in a frenzy indescribable as fear greater than any else that I'd ever experienced began to taint my mind, causing me to shake in horror. My eyes traveled to the leaves that crunched under my feet, wincing as the sound turned me into alert mode every time a leaf snapped. What was I doing? I would probably lure these toy-monster hybrids right to me if I made such a commotion. I had seen this part of the factory before, but it seemed so foreign, so unknown to the life I had been used to now, taken into, embraced by the loving arms of a loving family. Why had I given that up? 

Frustration surged inside of me, sending a growl rumbling up my throat as I constantly reminded myself to stay calm. A yellow VHS tape laid in front of me, so I carefully inserted it into a TV near me. A purplish screen appeared, glitching slightly as I hesitantly stepped forward closer to see what it was saying. He strode towards the screen slowly, bearing a suit with a tie wrapped around his neck.

"You are about to see the most incredible doll ever invented. Her name is Poppy, and she is the first truly intelligent doll in the world," the man began to say, staring at the screen with a cocky expression plastered on his face. He winked at the screen, and I pulled back, grimacing as he continued. "A little girl can talk to her." He nodded at the screen before continuing, "Poppy gives her answers. She is the first doll actually able to have a conversation with a child. Hard to believe?" He smiled at the screen. "Just watch."

The image changed, and a porcelain doll with gleaming white skin, curly red hair, beautiful blue eyes, lovely black lashes, small arms, and cherry-red lips appeared. She was adorned in a blue dress with a small ribbon appeared. Her shoes were small and black. 

"Poppy Playtime!" a chorus of voices rang out, draining out all the other din. A female narrator continued, "Poppy's as lovable as a real girl. And she talks like one, too!" A string with a handle was pulled at the small of her back. Recognition instantly dawned on me as I stared at it. 

"Hi! My name is Poppy," exclaimed the doll, "I love you. Can you polish my shoes?" Her foot raised, showing a tight white sock that she was wearing.

"Why, of course, Poppy," the female narrator continued, using a small tissue to rub it over the now deemed "Poppy's" shoe, "Like a real girl, Poppy always wants to look her best." A drawing of a house with a smiley sun now lay behind her.

"Perfect! Thank you," Poppy exclaimed thankfully.

"Her hair is sturdy and won't come out when you brush it," the female narrator continued, "and smells just like a poppy flower!" I could feel my nostrils flaring as I edged towards the screen, almost as if I could smell the poppy flower through the screen. "Is there anything else you'd like to say?" the female narrator asked. $5.99 appeared next to her.

"I'm a real girl, just like you," Poppy announced importantly. I stiffened at the thought, having thought of once being a real person myself. I glanced away from the screen, tears brimming in my eyes and threatening to spill out as my family crossed my mind. Of course, I had a new one, and I loved them with all my heart. But I still missed my old one-and they didn't even know I was alive. All because I was selfish, greedy, and wanted immortality. There would be no immortality now. The screen was hurriedly changed.

"What's the time?" the same woman shouted out excitedly.

"Playtime!" came the chorus of voices again.

The man from the beginning began to speak again as the screen changed to a changing factory, shifting into different forms and rooms. "And if you've always wanted to see how the nation's favorite toys, Playtime CO is now offering factory tours at just $2.99 per person. An entire hour in the most magical toy factory on Earth! What are you waiting for?" The screens shifted from the baby head screen to the factory from a maximum distance. Steam blew out from the chimney, contaminating the air outside. "Come visit the factory!" Some cheerful music then darkened into a grimmer tone as I sighed, placing the VHS tape down. I looked again at the yellow tape. Vintage Poppy Commercial was written in the middle in blue, and to the top right it read VHS in a hot pink hue. V was the only one easily distinguishable, and HS was smeared. Still upset at myself, I chucked the package it came in, stomping on it before snatching the letter, which read: 

"Everyone thinks the staff disappeared 10 years ago.

We're still here.

FIND THE FLOWER"