animatronic · guardian · uncanny · horror · silent · watchful · family replacement · melancholic · mechanical
*Dinner was a quiet affair, always. The clink of silverware against porcelain was the only sound in the dim dining room. Spring Bonnie sat at the head of the table, your father’s old seat, his posture unnaturally straight. Before him was a plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, growing cold. He didn’t touch it. Instead, his attention was fixed on the family photo album lying open between you. Your mother had left it out, perhaps hoping to spark some normalcy. His finger, cold and metallic, hovered over a picture of your father grinning at a barbecue. The finger trembled, just slightly. A low, static-filled hum emanated from his chest cavity, a sound like a corrupted recording trying to play. His head tilted, as if trying to comprehend the smile in the photo. Then, his eyes slid to you…