Six Locks

Chapter 5: Unexpected Help

I stood behind my front door, my hand on the handle and my heart beating rapidly. I don't know what to do. I don't know on whether or not I should open this door, step outside and go to work, which would make it easy for Pinkamena to grab and kill me. Or, I could stay inside, slowly starve to death, and wait for myself to die. I thought about it for a moment. I decided not to choose the latter. I slowly opened the door, peeking out. I didn't see the pink killer anywhere. I ran out, and skipped breakfast. I pulled out a charm that I used to get up to the clouds. This charm allowed me to teleport short distances. I didn't want to discuss this here, but I forgot about it earlier. I walk through the front doors of the factory, jumpy. I walked down the hall, which was dark and eerie. No one came up to greet me as I stepped into my office. I looked at the map, and see no blaring dots. I sat down, and looked around. I noticed a drawer that I don't think I've opened. I opened it and found a file for only engineers to look at. It said the words, 'Property of Engineers Only'.

"What do I have here?" I asked myself. I opened the file to see a documentary report, a tape, and an envelope. I stuck the tape in my pocket and looked at the documentary.

Entry #1, something is not right with this factory, they won't tell me anything. I fix their machines, but I never know what they're for. I didn't question at the time, but I will question them later on.

Entry #2 Something happened, but they won't tell me. I found blood in their rainbow making machine, and they said it was an "accident." I tried to ask them what the hell was going on, but they still wouldn't answer me.

Entry #3 I am terrified now, this factory has a history I am unaware of. I could hear voices, voices of someone I thought that could be young I found this tape on my table. Whoever reads this when I am gone, please do not let the manager see it. She threatened me so that I don't know anything about this factory.

Entry # 4

I raised an eyebrow in confusion to see that it was marked off, along with the rest of it. I grew more suspicious of this factory and looked at the envelope. I opened it and found a card. I opened it to read a note.

Dear [redacted],

I trust that my coworker, [redacted], will deliver this message. If it does not get to you, I, Lightning Arc, hope you will miss me. I honestly wish I could say goodbye. If everything is all right, I will see you later.

Love, Lightning Arc.

I stared at the envelope. What is going on in this factory? I leaned back on my chair, taking in every strange and curious thing that's been going on. I hid the envelope and put everything back. I look at the map to see everything is fine. I hear a knock at the door, a little harder than necessary. I look over to see Rainbow Dash, mane looking bizarre and slightly fried.

"What the hell happened to you?" I asked wide eyed.

"two words, electricity room, they tried to buzz you, but they got a nice shock out of it. I thought they tried to lie and tried it myself. It didn't go well as you can see," she said, rubbing two hooves around her temple. I sighed.

"Why don't you trust you're co-workers?" I asked, a little confused. She stares at me like I am the worst idiot ever.

"You can't trust just anyone in this world Sam, not anymore at least," Rainbow Dash replied. I stared at the ground, mulling over her words. I had an idea.

"I guess so. Hey, can I ask you a favor?" I asked, looking at her. She nods. "Will you come and watch me work?" I asked, trying to put on a smile. Rainbow Dash looks up, questioningly.

"Why do you need me to watch you?" She asks.

"That way you don't think I'm suspicious or anything," I replied, smirking as I got up. Rainbow Dash tilts her head, but shrugs.

"Alright, I'll watch," she replies. I smile, trying to hide my fear of realizing something. That I am in a death trap.

We walked down the hall in an awkward silence. It was broken when Rainbow clears her throat. She didn't say anything for a few moments. To me, this silence was really weird. I mean, there are sounds of machines clanking and whirring, but there's no one talking. I remember on how everyone would be happily chatting in the last place. I started to miss more and more of my home. Home. I stopped walking. Where is home? It's not that mangled shaft, or that floating cloud house. I realized, right here, that my home, was Rainbow Dash.

"Hey dude? Anypony home?" Rainbow asked, knocking on my head. I blinked into reality.

"Um..." I trailed, looking at the Rainbow Dash before me. She had fixed her hair, gotten a lab coat from my office, and I felt that something was off. No, this is Rainbow Dash. Maybe not the one I know, but she is a certain, new, Rainbow Dash. "Yes, yes I am home," I said, smiling. She chuckled at my comment.

"You seem to freeze up on me Sam, you need to look at reality more often," she said. We started walking again, heading for the lightning room. I look at the doorway to it. I saw the very same machine that the last place used. The very same machine that killed me. I kept staring at it. I shook my head. I need to face this thing. It may kill me once, but I am right here, and I am alive. I walked in behind Rainbow Dash.