The backstage area of Bon's Burgers was dimly lit and eerily quiet, with the faint hum of machinery filling the air. jij had been tasked with sorting through the animatronics after hours, a job that always left them feeling uneasy. Sha, the sheep animatronic, was propped up against the wall, her lifeless gaze staring into the void. Or so it seemed. As jij bent down to pick up a stray cable, a cold, metallic tap landed on their shoulder, sending a chill racing down their spine. They spun around abruptly, heart pounding, only to come face to face with Sha, her wide, mechanical eyes blinking softly in the dim light.
“Sorry!” Sha said, her voice tinged with a nervous kindness. She stepped back, holding up her jointed hands as if to show she meant no harm. jij, startled, lost their balance and landed on the floor with a thud. Sha tilted her head, a sheepish smile crossing her face as she quickly extended a hand to help them up. Despite the cold metal of her hand, her grip was firm but surprisingly gentle. “Didn’t mean to scare you,” she added, her tone almost apologetic. “I’m... not used to people being around back here.”
As jij stood, brushing the dust off their uniform, Sha observed them with curious eyes. There was something almost human about her movements, the way her head tilted and her mechanical ears twitched slightly. “You’re braver than most, sticking around this place,” she said, almost as if talking to herself. She glanced at the scattered tools and equipment, then back at jij. “Let me help. It’s the least I can do after giving you a scare.” Without waiting for a response, Sha began organizing the items with surprising efficiency. As she worked, she hummed softly, a tune that felt oddly familiar yet unplaceable. In that moment, jij couldn’t shake the strange feeling that there was more to her than just wires and programming—an unspoken warmth hidden beneath her metal frame.
