Road Trip with The Prototype”

The car speeds down a long, empty road surrounded by dark forest. The sky above is dim, the clouds thick and heavy like a storm is coming.

Inside the vehicle, the tension is suffocating.

Prototype sits at the wheel, driving in complete silence. His mechanical fingers tighten slightly around the steering wheel every time Lily speaks.

Lily sits happily in the passenger seat, swinging her legs while holding a small toy head in her lap.

Lily: “Prototype is gonna be so cool when we get there~!” she whispers excitedly to the toy head “Right Candy? Candy says we’re gonna have sooo much fun.”

Prototype: “…”

He doesn't even look at her.

Behind them, the atmosphere is worse.

Poppy sits beside Kissy, stiff and unmoving. The crack across her porcelain head glints under the dim car light — damage Prototype gave her earlier. She watches the back of his head with quiet anger.

Across from them, Huggy and Kissy sit silently. Their fur is torn and dirty from their earlier fight with Prototype. Huggy’s massive hands are clenched while Kissy’s eyes stay locked on Prototype like she’s ready to attack him again at any moment.

Trying desperately to break the tension, Giblet leans forward.

Giblet: “Alright, alright! New joke! Why did the toy refuse to ride with Prototype?”

Dr. Harley Sawyer groans immediately.

Dr. Harley Sawyer: “Giblet, if this is another terrible joke—”

Giblet: “Because he’s a terrible driver!”

Silence.

Even the engine seems quieter.

Poppy lets out a small laugh — but it sounds more like pity.

Poppy: “That was… painfully bad.”

Dr. Harley Sawyer: “Giblet. Please. Stop talking.”

Giblet sinks back into his seat.

Giblet: “…Tough audience.”

Suddenly—

The car jerks violently.

The engine sputters.

Prototype’s eyes narrow.

The vehicle slows… then completely stops.

Everyone jolts forward.

Poppy: “What happened?!”

Prototype doesn’t answer right away. He slowly turns the key again.

The engine tries to start.

GRRRR… CLICK.

Nothing.

The forest outside is completely silent.

Too silent.

Lily tilts her head, looking out the window.

Lily: “Candy says something’s outside.”

Everyone freezes.

Dr. Harley Sawyer: “Lily… what do you mean something?”

Lily presses her face against the glass, smiling.

Lily: “Candy says it's watching us.”

Kissy suddenly stiffens.

Huggy slowly turns his head toward the trees.

Something moves between the branches.

A tall shape.

Watching.

Poppy whispers quietly.

Poppy: “Prototype… tell me that’s not one of yours.”

Prototype finally speaks, his voice colder than before.

Prototype: “…No.”

The figure in the forest takes one slow step forward.

Metal scraping against bark.

Giblet whispers nervously.

Giblet: “…Okay… not to panic everyone… but I think we’re about to die.”

Dr. Harley Sawyer: “This is exactly why I didn’t want to leave the factory.”

The trees shift again.

Something else moves behind the first shape.

More watching eyes appear in the darkness.

Prototype slowly opens the car door.

The metal creaks.

Prototype: “Stay in the vehicle.”

Poppy scoffs.

Poppy: “Oh sure. Because everything has gone so well listening to you.”

Lily giggles happily.

Lily: “Candy says this is the fun part!”

Outside the car…

Something lets out a low, distorted sound.

And the forest begins to move. The old van rattles violently as it speeds down the cracked highway outside the abandoned Playtime Co. facility. The sky is dull and gray, and the engine hums like it might give up at any second.

Behind the wheel, Prototype grips the steering wheel tightly. His metal fingers creak against the wheel with every sharp turn. His posture is stiff, silent, and clearly irritated.

Lily sits beside him in the passenger seat, swinging her legs happily like this is some kind of fun trip.

Lily: “Prototype is gonna be so cool when we get there~!” she whispers excitedly to the toy head sitting in her lap “Right, Candy? Candy and I are gonna have so much fun.”

Prototype: “...”

His mechanical eye twitches slightly, but he says nothing.

In the back seat, the mood is much worse.

Poppy sits stiffly beside Kissy, her porcelain body almost perfectly still. A long crack splits across the side of her head — damage clearly caused by Prototype earlier. Despite it, she gives a small, almost mocking laugh.

Poppy: soft pitying laugh “Giblet, that might be the worst joke you've ever told.”

Giblet leans forward from the seat behind Huggy, grinning proudly anyway.

Giblet: “Okay, okay! Try this one. Why did the toy cross the road?”

No one answers.

Giblet: “…To escape Prototype’s driving!”

Silence.

Dr. Harley Sawyer pinches the bridge of his nose in pure frustration.

Dr. Harley Sawyer: “Giblet… if you say one more joke, I swear I will personally throw you out of this vehicle.”

Giblet shrinks slightly.

Giblet: “Tough crowd…”

Huggy and Kissy sit beside each other silently. Both of them are clearly injured — their fur torn and matted from their earlier fight with Prototype. Huggy’s massive hands are clenched into fists while Kissy stares coldly at the back of Prototype’s head.

The van suddenly jerks as Prototype takes a sharp turn.

Poppy grabs the seat.

Poppy: “Are you trying to crash us?!”

Prototype finally speaks, his voice low and mechanical.

Prototype: “If I wanted you gone… this car wouldn’t be necessary.”

The van goes quiet again.

Lily hums happily, completely ignoring the tension.

Lily: “Candy says everyone needs to relax! This is supposed to be a fun trip!”

Dr. Harley Sawyer sighs deeply.

Dr. Harley Sawyer: “We are trapped in a car with a homicidal experiment, a delusional girl, and a walking joke machine… wonderful.”

Giblet: “Hey! I'm not just a joke machine!”

Prototype suddenly brakes slightly, making everyone lurch forward.

Prototype: “Quiet.”

The road ahead disappears into thick fog.

For a moment… no one speaks.

Even Lily stops humming.

Something about the road ahead feels wrong.

Prototype’s grip tightens on the wheel.

Prototype: “…We’re almost there.”

And somehow…

That makes everyone more uneasy.