Harry sat quietly on his bed, the soft morning light spilling across the scattered bits of metal and wire. Plushtrap's words still echoed in his mind — Remnant.
A soul liquefied and stripped of consciousness. He turned the word over in his thoughts like a puzzle piece. If it was what gave life to animatronics, his new friends . . . then he needed it. Simple as that.
His first idea had been the Dursleys. It would've been easy — they barely noticed him anyway, a simple sleeping pill in their food and a cut across the neck and he'd have what he needs — but even he could see the problem. Someone would notice if they disappeared. People came by. Neighbors watched. Too many eyes.
He needed someone who wouldn't be missed. That thought settled into his mind, calm and solid. For the rest of the day, he planned.
When night fell, he and Plushtrap met again in that strange, dark world. The little animatronic bounced excitedly on its metal feet as Harry explained his idea — he had found the perfect target that nobody would miss.
"So you're gonna hunt one, huh?" Plushtrap said, eyes glowing bright green. "Smart! And strategic too, no one would expect a kid to commit murder.
Harry's face remained still, though his voice was even. "It's not gonna be that easy, I still have to overcome the size difference"
Plushtrap giggled, spinning in place. "Oh, I like you. You think perfectly for building! You find what you need and make it work."
Over the next few nights, they worked through every detail: where he would go, what time to act and what he would need to bring.
The plan came together piece by piece, efficient and quiet — just like the way Harry worked with machines. He would bring a backpack to carry the body used to make remnant. A kitchen knife hidden behind his back, its handle tucked out of sight by the straps. His desired location: an alleyway near the edge of town where the streetlights didn't quite reach.
Plushtrap watched as Harry visualized it all, nodding approvingly. "You're learning fast! You're gonna be perfect at this. And then—" it grinned, eyes flaring with energy, "we can build forever!"
Harry didn't answer, but the faintest hint of a smile touched his lips. When the night finally came, he was ready. Quietly and quickly sneaking out the house, his previous plan of the Dursleys still had some value: a bit of crushed sleeping pills and they were out in 2 hours.
As Harry moved to the location he kept his senses on high alert, though the street was quiet, empty except for the whisper of wind through trash bins. Finally after a long walk Harry stood at the mouth of the alley, his small figure swallowed by shadow. The world felt hushed — waiting.
He crouched slightly, and started to act the part of a scared child that had gotten lost, while he did this he carefully keeper a eye up toward the dim light the was spilling from a distant window; he definitely did not want someone to see this.
It was time. And as if on cue, a voice broke the silence from behind him — low, rough, and slightly amused and with a small trace of malice. "Are you lost, little guy?"
Harry slowly looked towards where the voice came from, tightening his grip on the knife behind his back, taking a step back acting the part of a scared kid, Harry asked,
"who are you"