Lexus and Oriana stood in shock as the Slim Bunny returned to its position, guarding the door with its glitching digital voice repeating, "My name is... My name is... my name is... 010110o1o0." The eerie atmosphere lingered, and the hallway seemed to grow colder, sending shivers down their spines.
Oriana turned to Lexus, her voice trembling with disbelief, "Partner, what did you do?"
Lexus shook his head, equally perplexed, "I don't know. I just called out random names, but it reacted to Antonio."
Realization struck Oriana like a bolt of lightning. "You mean Antonio Bendeta?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
A moment of silence engulfed the hallway, broken only by the glitching voice of the Bunny Doll. And then, the unexpected happened. The Bunny Doll spoke again, but this time, its voice carried a plea for help. "He-he... zzshwzzt! Help me!"
Lexus and Oriana exchanged wide-eyed glances, unable to comprehend what they were hearing. Lexus mustered the courage to respond, "Who are you?"
The Bunny Doll's voice, now more human than digital, revealed its true identity. "I'm the real Slim Kelly! Me, Antonio!"
The realization hit Lexus like a ton of bricks. Memories flooded back, reminding him of Kelly's Room on the 5th floor where the first AL-Machina had been placed. It suddenly clicked in his mind that Kelly was none other than Antonio Bendeta, the son of Don Kisame.
"Oriana..." Lexus began to say, but his words trailed off as he saw Oriana breaking character, tears streaming down her face.
In between her sobs, Oriana managed to utter, "This Bunny Doll... is my cousin the whole time?"
Lexus reached out to comfort her, gently wiping away her tears. "Yes," he affirmed softly. "It seems that when we destroyed the first AL-Machina, it allowed them to regain consciousness. Dr. Lizardo must have wanted us to free their souls, so they could become whole again."
Oriana's tear-filled eyes met Lexus's, a mix of emotions swirling within her. It was a revelation she never expected, and the weight of the truth seemed almost too heavy to bear. But amidst the chaos and confusion, Lexus's unwavering support brought her a glimmer of solace.
"Don't worry," Lexus reassured her, his voice filled with determination. "Justice will prevail, and together, we'll find a way to stop Don Kisame and put an end to this nightmare."
As they held each other's gaze, Lexus and Oriana knew that their bond as partners had grown stronger.
Lexus looked back at Kelly, the Bunny Doll, with newfound empathy in his eyes. "Kelly, can you remember who killed you?" he asked gently.
Kelly's glitching voice responded, "It was the Wolf Man... I was with 6 others. Dr. Lizardo tried to save Kelly, but he got killed by the Wolf Man too. I'm stuck in this Doll. Kelly can't control... Kelly suffers when Kelly hurts people."
As the doll sobbed, Lexus couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for the trapped soul inside. He listened intently, storing this shocking revelation in his memory. Kelly's memories abruptly paused, leaving behind a sense of helplessness and pain.
"The Wolf Man was obviously Don Petri," Lexus said, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.
"You're right, my partner," Oriana agreed, her eyes reflecting determination.
Lexus turned to Kelly and assured him, "We're going to make the Wolf Man pay for what he's done."
"Take care, my heroes!" Kelly bid them farewell.
With heavy hearts, Lexus and Oriana continued their ascent, heading towards the top floor of the burning Bendeta Mansion. The time was already 11:00 pm, and the fire had spread to the second floor, engulfing the mansion in flames. As they climbed higher, the heat and smoke became more intense, but they pressed on.
Meanwhile, Robin Padaplin struggled to pull Milky Cow's unconscious body to safety. He found a secure spot outside the mansion, hiding amidst the thick foliage that surrounded the corner. This location was far enough from the roaming dolls, and he hoped it would remain safe.
Worry consumed Robin as he watched the fire continue to spread throughout the mansion. He couldn't help but think of Lexus and Oriana, hoping they were safe and still pushing forward to put an end to this nightmare.
Back inside the mansion, Lexus and Oriana finally reached the 4th floor. The atmosphere here was suffused with an even deeper sense of foreboding. The dolls they encountered were becoming increasingly malevolent, fueled by the evil that permeated the mansion.
"We have to be careful, Oriana," Lexus warned. "The danger here is greater, and we might encounter more powerful dolls."
"I'm ready, partner," Oriana affirmed, her grip on the shotgun tightening.
Together, they proceeded with caution, step by step, determined to uncover the truth behind the cursed dolls and to put an end to Don Petri's heinous plans. As they advanced, they couldn't help but wonder what other secrets awaited them on this floor.