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Chapter Text

SAVE - Stop Abusive and Violent Events

Where the wild things are
Chapter 1

I pack my traveling duffle bag with the rest of my food and fluids before setting it down next to an old school bag; it has always been stupidly massive in comparison to me, so it was perfect for my escape. After checking over all the items for the fifth time, I finally decide I was prepared enough for my trip.  I was heading off to mount Ebott for a solo camping/hiking adventure; and my plan was to be there for roughly a week, give or take. I have more than enough supplies for it.  I had a few survival and couple of fiction books to pass the time, some dried meats and fruits. Just simple things that’d last, I don’t need a big meal everyday but just enough to take the edge off basically. If it all went south, the trip home wouldn’t take very long and I made sure to bring a first aid kit this time. Making sure everything was secure, I begin going around my small home, locking all the windows and doors and making sure the power was off for certain appliances. Picking my things up, I start the journey that will, unknowingly, change my life forever. For the better or worse, I have still yet to find out.

Mount Ebott isn’t far from my house as I live in a secluded area at the base of the mountain. A few other people lived in the area, but as it’s not a very popular area due to the disappearances, everyone’s houses are pretty far apart, my neighbors house is just tall enough that I can see the roof from out my front window, trees and shrubbery helping to mask it. My house happens to be the highest and nearest to the mountain, it was a little bit shabby at the start but I mean, it was dirt cheap so why wouldn’t I take it! Some grease work and a little more money spent, and now its perfect. I turn towards my house, soaking it in for a moment before taking a deep breath and setting off into the woods. My heart light, but my future dark.

I hum happily to myself as I munch on my chicken salad sandwich, still making my way up the overgrown pathway up the mountain. I smile to myself at the thought of being completely alone. Because of the legends and disappearances no one ventured to the mountain, meaning I had it all to myself.  Was I scared, no, did I believe in the superstition surrounding this place, nope. I sigh in peace as golden flakes flutter down from the tall dark trees, a strong, sweet-scented breeze flew past me, warm and comforting. Small beads of sweat began to collect on my forehead, despite it being fall it was still very hot out.  I continue to travel upwards, looking at all the untainted and lush’s wildlife. Once again, the legends have saved this mountain, as no people equals no rubbish, or near to none.

An hour passes with me just enjoying the slow pace I had set. Every now and then photographing the beautiful nature I was in awe with. I even managed to get a photo of some of the prettiest birds in the area.

While I continue my hike up, I notice a golden butterfly fluttering down towards me, I stop and stare. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a butterfly like this one, not even on the internet, it looked like it was almost glowing. I watch as it lands delicately on a huge leaf nearby, for just a moment I stand there, staring in wonder at the insect. Taking my camera out slowly, I got into a good angle and snapped a shot, praying that I could get a good quality photo before it moved. Looking down at the picture my lips stretch into a smile, it was a perfect shot. I took a few more; I swear the butterfly was hanging around just for me to snap his picture, such a diva. After I had a good handful, I say a soft farewell to the golden beauty before continuing my journey up the now steeper pathway. I didn't notice the butterfly following me, leaving a trail of golden dust behind it.

A few hours later I found myself leaning on a rock, waving my hand like a fan while drinking water. It seems that a heatwave came out of nowhere because it was not this hot before, it's probably because of the altitude of the mountain and how high I've gotten. You know, lack of air or something like that, or was it meant to get cooler, uhh who cares, too hot to think. As I sat and rested, I heard something. It was very quiet, the rustling leaves were almost louder than whatever made the noise, but I could still detect it slightly, even if only because the birds were suddenly quiet. Now I know what you’re thinking, strange noises in the middle of a vacant and cursed mountain, me all alone and defenceless, get the hell out of there now. Don’t wanna be like all those girls in those horror films now do ya?

But I'm a curious person, plus, what's wrong with a little bit of adventure; it'll probably be nothing anyway.

I was very wrong.

Very wrong indeed.

As quietly as I could, crept towards the sounds of rustling, carefully pushing through the bushes and other foliage. The closer I got, the subtler noises I could hear. Ineligible murmurs and sounds drifting on the wind. Crunching of dry leaves and a stick or two snapping. I tilt my head, aiming my better ear towards the noise. It sounded higher pitched than most humans. Maybe it was an animal, but then again, it also sounded a little like sobbing. I creep a little closer and hear a particularly loud, child wail, which was quickly cut off by a following wet cough.

Why on earth was there a child, here! On THE Mount Ebott. I might not believe in superstition or be afraid of the mountain myself, but I know that a child on the mountain is bad news. All of the missing people hadn’t even reached their majority yet, the oldest being a 14 year old girl, and the youngest sadly being about 4 years old. Hence why, as a rule of thumb, families were heavily encouraged to stay as far away from the mountain as possible.

I wonder a few more steps before peering out from behind a large tree trunk. Leaning out from the foliage I see the side profile of a small child with brown hair resembling a messy bob. They were stumbling and tripping over sticks and stones. Small hands rubbing at their teary face, hiccupping and shaking. The poor thing walked a little further away from me. Getting uneasy I open my mouth to call out to them when I notice a hole, a really big hole, and the kid was stumbling just near the mouth of the hole, tripping over the roots circling it. I yell a random sound as they begin to fall. Time seems to slow. I couldn't let them fall, I had to save them. Instinct overtook me and I raced faster than I've ever ran before. The kids body turned, trying to grab onto something that could give them aid, but missing the big roots at the edge of the hole. They were already free-falling down.

My eyes met bright, tearful and scared yellow irises as I jump forward. Their hands reaching out in a grabbing motion, my arms outstretched trying in vain to greet them, dropping my duffle bag in the process. I could nearly hear them calling for help despite the lack of sound coming from the child.

But nobody-

My arms wrap around a small body.

And somebody came.

We both fell.

I woke slowly; pain deciding it was a good time to kick in, making my body ache something fierce. I softly groan, breathing deeply I realize that I had something heavy on my chest. Not too heavy but it was enough weight to be noticeable.

I open my eyes and squint up at the afternoon sun, damn, how long have I been out. I slowly and carefully look down at my chest. A small child laid comfortable on me, head resting in between my breast and seemingly fast asleep. One arm wrapped tightly around them while the other protected their head. I try to look past the mess of hair without moving them. Well, they appeared to be fine besides the small cut on their cheek, looks like I took most of the damage. I looked around the cavern; looked like there was a pathway a little ways away from where we sat. Shifting my head to the side to see beneath me I noticed that there was a bunch of almost glowing, golden flowers. ‘Hm, did they break my fall’ I frown in confusion before looking up, finally registering exactly how far we had fallen down.

I should be dead. Fear gripped at my heart and my arms began to shake. There is now way a bunch of delicate flowers broke a fall that long.

My heart begins to stutter as air seems to escape me. My mind both blank and empty while also having a hurricane of thoughts swirling and swirling and swirling and-

-‘Ok, calm down, no need to have a panic attack’ I hissed to my mind as I tried to calm my body. Exaggerating my breathing and counting backwards from ten, attempting to get some sort of self-control back. I needed to do something, and now. I couldn’t let my thoughts continue, couldn’t think of the ‘what if’s’. I couldn’t have an attack. No matter how hard I was trying though, scenarios began to rush to my mind. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t decided to go on my trip, or if I had taken another route? What would’ve happened to this child, I thought as I glanced at them, they were so small, they, what if….. they would’ve died. My arms that were already wrapped around the little ones body tightened. Their parents would’ve never known, and what if it had been like an ‘Until Dawn’ scenario, the child living but injured and possibly dying from starvation or killed. Oh god, I could’ve died, dead, gone, zip. No reloads or restarts like a game, just pure darkness or maybe endless pain. My breathing grew fast and shallow. What would’ve happened to us, what’s gonna happen to us oh god what if the kids actually dead or hit their head. Did I cause them to become Paraplegic? I can’t breathe, why is it so dark. I’m dying, their dying. This is all my fault. I should’ve-  

Enough!

Just…Breathe.

I swallow thickly before slowly and carefully moving the child off of my chest and onto the bed of flowers, being extremely careful with their head. I breathe deeply, my shaking slowly decreasing until they stopped. I looked the child over, only noticing a few more cuts and bruises.

‘gee’ I wonder as my brows draw closer together ‘their awfully thin’. In the corner of my eye something moves, causing my head to whip towards the shadowed cave walls and upwards towards something swaying, causing the sunlight to flicker in certain spots. Looking up the walls of the hole, I see my duffel bag a little way up the drop, hanging on a thick branch. I almost forgot about it completely, I’m surprised it even managed to dodge all the roots when I dropped it, having expected it to stay topside. I quickly looked around for my backpack when I realised it was still strapped onto my back, thank god that it was with me and not up on the ground above. Though the bruise it’d leave would most likely have me glaring at the bag for a couple of days. That’s it; concentrate on the pain and the here and now. I take a shuddering breath before forcing myself up, carefully lifting the child up with me. Looking around I notice more grass a little further into the shadows. Walking with a slight limp, I place the child down gently onto the grassy bits of the cave. After making sure the child wasn’t injured and that there was no immediate danger, I clumsily, made my way over to the wall that had captured my bag. Feeling the walls of the cave, I search for something, soon enough finding a bunch of holes big enough for my hands and feet. Strangely enough, they seemed to be the perfect amount and spacing of these holes that I could possibly climb without much issue. I place both my hands of the two higher holes and get one foot up into one of the lower indents. I breathe in deeply and bounce on my remaining foot, before jumping, pulling myself up. Once I was vertical and not falling, I continued to carefully climb the rock wall, scrapping my hands a few times. After I had climbed up a few feet, barely off the ground, I could feel something beginning to squeeze my head. The pressure building up in my mind and body, causing my eyes to squint and making me grind my teeth. It felt like gravity became more concentrated the higher I went but like, not in the usual way, but I was so close, I had to continue. I grit my teeth as a high ringing sound began to take over my hearing, my eyes blurred and my finger trembled. My breathing sped up as I started to find breathing difficult. But I won't fall. All of my stuff was in that bag, things that I could use on the kid. With that thought, adrenaline courses through my veins as my heart pumped to a steady beat, my hands clawing me further upwards. I was determined.

With a powerful kick to the rocky wall, I leap up and grab the branch, my shocked laugh echoes around the cave as I sway back and forth, branch wobbling slightly. Ok, that could’ve gone badly. The thin wood groaned and I realized what an idiotic move that had been. Well, can't go back the way I came. I reach over to grab my duffle bag, but I’m too short to get it further off the branch. Lifting my right foot up, I begin to aggressively kick at it, hoping that with enough momentum I can push it off. The branch didn't like this and it showed its displeasure by shaking in rage, nearly making my hands slip. I eventually manage to get the bag off and watch as it falls helplessly to the floor. I wince, I really hope nothing broke.

Now how was I going to get down?

.

…

…….

………

Welp. I've fallen down once, might as well do it again.

I slipped before I could actually go through with jumping off. “Oh SHIT!” I gasp, I would've said something a bit more… creative, but there was a child…Damn, I need to get my priorities straight. My back pack hit the floor first, my back arched around it and my head hit the ground with a harsh thud.

A flash of white erupts and the world goes black.

“Eh” A cute little noise greets my ears as small hands grip my left , pushing and pulling on it, making my body slightly sway back and forth.

“Eh, hmmph!” oh god, I can just hear the pout in their voice. Ignoring the want to sleep and the pain in my head that was encouraging that notion, I struggle to pry my eyes open. Soft, brown, doe eyes peer down at me. Weren’t they yellow before? Lips bitten softly by pearly whites, they look at me worriedly, small tears in their eyes. My insides clench tightly. “Hey now, no need to cry, I’m up” I coo as I push myself into a sitting position despite the flash of pain that erupted throughout my whole body, especially my back and head. Looking unsure and afraid, the small child’s eyes are glassy, shiny with unshed tears. Without really thinking I wipe away their tears, not allowing the devils a chance of escape, the child slightly flinches but relaxes when they notice that I’m only drying their face, the child then proceeds to stare at me. I shifted slightly, staring back at the child.

Let’s just say, she challenged me in a staring competition, and I accepted. There was a lot of staring.

Finally the kid blinks, which was good because I was about to myself and I refuse to lose to the kid. The child smiles widely, they were cute. “Are you an Angel?” they quietly question in a baby voice, they must be really young. Wait, Angel?

“Nah kid, not that I know of” I chuckled, but the child just frowns, mouth pulling into a pout before gasping loudly.

“Your my guardian Angel aren’t you” they quietly exclaims, voice crackling like they doesn’t use it often. Mm, welp, I guess while we’re here I’ll play along. 

“If you want, I can be” they instantly begin to nod their head with passion. “My names __, what’s yours?”  the kid clears tehir throat and a flash of pain showed through their brown eyes.

“Frisk” I frowned, maybe they didn’t normally speak, or the crying from earlier had made their throat sore, either way, I didn’t want them in pain. “I” clearing their throat again, “I saw you fall” they croaks out.

Oh. Ooh……Oooh “Ah I didn’t mean to scare ya sweet pea, how long was I out?” they looked at the ground as they cleared their throat again, looking pained. I wince at their expression, but it’s something I kinda need to know. “Only for a little while” ok that was good, that is if a little while was actually a minute or two, if it was too long then I could have some serious head injury. Hopefully, that’s not the case.

looking around the cavern, once again I note that there’s only one exit/entryway besides the gaping hole above us. “Come on kid, let’s try and find a way outta here” I said softly before reaching for their hand closest to mine. They fling themselves back  away from me, hunching over into a ball, shaking. I frowned, before forcing a soft smile.

“Hey, its ok, I'm not going to hurt you.” Once of their eyes peer from beneath their hair, staring out from within their ball. “I’d be the worst guardian Angel if I did. Do you mind if I pick you up?” they looked at me in wonder, uncurling from their ball. They look at me, brows furrowed before hesitantly nodding their head and reaching their small chubby hands to me, doing little grabbing motions with their hands. I go onto my knees and pull them up. Standing up, my face scrunches up as my head thumps in pain, better take it easy for a bit. I start to walk down the rocky hall. Unknowingly leaving behind my duffle bag that I had hurt myself further while trying to get back. It sitting in the bed of golden flower, abandoned.

“Hey, if it hurts to speak or you don’t want to, you don’t have to, ok?” I told Frisk, they sigh quietly, slumping in relief and nods. Ok, one problem solved. Cautiously I walked out of the caverns doorway and was greeted with a patch of green grass with the sun spotlighting it, and a singular, yellow, smiling flower. I blinked.

Wait….what?

“Howdy I’m Flowey, Flowey the Flower. You’re new to the underground aren’t cha? Golly! You must be sooo confused!” The flower(?) said in a singsong kinda voice, “Someone should show you how things work around here, I guess little old me will have to do” the flower spoke way too cheerfully; I tighten my hold on the child. I didn’t like this; first off, flowers don’t talk. Secondly, I don’t like how it’s eyeing the kid. Thirdly, it had that false sense of kindness, like all those assholes that I use to go to school with. My body shakes and my hands and forehead begin to sweat as a cold hand grips my heart. What was this creature, I didn’t know, however I need to calm down and listen to this, thing, what it says might be handy.

“Ready? Here we go!” An odd feeling forms in my chest; I clutch the child closer to me as I gasp at the unwelcoming feeling. I take it back, I take it back! Don’t listen to the devil flower! The flowers face scrunches up into a frightening glare, before he seems to catch himself and plasters a too happy smile on his face. “Hey, you need to relax if you want me to teach you the ways of the underground!” the forceful feeling came back twice as strong, it was cold, uncomfortable, it was dangerous. I fought it and took a step back, a soft whimper leaving my lips. The child let out a destressed noise as they tighten their grasp on me, softly sniffling. “Just. Stop. RESISTING!” ‘POP!’ I hiccupped as my body shook after what felt like an electric shock travels throughout my whole body. A soft glow fluttering in front of me distracts me from the feeling though. I can feel Frisk turning to look at it at the same time as myself.

A cartoon looking 3D heart hovers in front of my chest, it was the size of my hand including the fingers and was a pristine white colour. Warmth emits from the heart as it pulses softly. I want to protect it, and it felt wrong having it hanging in front of me. Unnatural, a feeling of wrong, wrong, wrong beings to build within me. What was this? In my upper vision I could see Flowey grow pale, don’t ask me how a flower pales, he just did, he looks a little frightened even. He quickly shakes himself out of it though. 

“See that heart? That is you Soul, the very culmination of your being!” huh, so souls look like unrealistic hearts that kids draw……Well I’m talking to a flower so this isn’t the most mind blowing thing I’ve seen today. Maybe I’m still knocked out, maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.

“Your soul starts off weak, but can grow strong if you gain a lot of LV. What does LV stand for? Why, LOVE of course! You want some LOVE don’t you?” Um no thanks, you know, taking my soul out wasn’t pleasant so I don’t imagine this, LOVE, will either. My hold on Frisk tightens “Don’t worry, I’ll share some with you two” huh, two? That is when I noticed a smaller red heart floating next to mine, it was so tiny and it’s probably smaller than the size of my palm, and my hands are very small. Despite the size of the soul, its glowing so very bright I’m shocked I didn’t see it earlier. Was this, the kids’ soul? The room glows a vibrant red as the 3D heart pulses strongly, a lot quicker than my own. Wow, sure is a determined little thing. Wait, I'm off track, oh crap I missed half of the flowers chatting.

“Are you ready? Move around and get as many as you can!” small seed like white things descend down to our souls(?), spinning round and round. The red soul quivers, I can sense the fear oozing from the red heart. All the sudden it feels like my body was filled with static as a strong felling of wrong and protectiveness stabbed into my very being. It coats my mind and next thing I see is my heart shooting to the red one and….absorbing it? The red soul now sits snuggly in mine as I force my soul and Frisks to move out of the way of the pellets, moving our bodies as well, just in case. The kid slumps against me and sighs in bliss, which is a little odd considering the situation, but I focus back onto the, uh, souls, and the weird flower thing. Flowey stares, annoyance clear on his face at my dodging, while also looking a little uncertain as well. “Hey buddy, you missed them. Hehe, let’s try again, and don’t hog all of it, let the kid gain some LOVE too” my eyes narrow as I dodge the next attack, dragging the kids soul with me. Flowey begins insulting me before letting loose the big secret, even though I had mostly figured it out.

“Run.Into.The.BULLETS!…Friendliness pellets!” heh, fudge you and your stupid face, nope, I’m nopping out of this right now. I dodge to the right as another rain of bullets come at the kids soul and mine, my soul glowing brighter as it continues to hold the kids soul, protecting it from the assault. Said kid just nestles on further into my neck, hiding from the attacks as much as possible. Body still slumping and relaxed, I worry for a moment that somethings wrong, but I can’t continue that train of thought as Flowey’s face contorted into the thing of nightmares. Icy claws run down my spine and I clutch the child closer and angle them away from the demon spawn, my own face contorting into a fierce look.

“So, you already know. WHAT! Did you come here to taunt me, to play with me!” my face scrunches as I spot small tears in the flowers eyes. What did he mean by that? Soft cries escape the flower, sounding, young? My shoulders slightly lower as I stare in confusion, was this flower a child? Flowey growls lowly, blinking away tears with a glare, “why? Haven’t I’ve gone through enough, WHY DO YOU HATE ME!! JUST DIE ALREADY!”  I gasped as bullets begin to surround the kid and I. Frisk, seemingly coming back to themselves, yelps in my ear and frantically looks around at the bullets surrounding us from all angles. The bullets slowly closing in around us, the circle growing tighter and tighter.

“Hey Frisk” I softly whisper, Frisk looks up at me, worry and fear clouding their big eyes. “Don’t look” I said as I force their head into my shoulder. I looked straight at Flowey, pushing away any fear to the deepest part of my mind as I stare. I don’t know what I was trying to accomplish. A connection maybe? A false sense of confidence, a brave front in our final moments. I’m not sure, but Flowey gets an unsettled look, his brow bunching up as his leaf hands fiddle with one another. The bullets freeze for a second before the bullets continued their course as Flowey seems to shake off his uneasiness. My soul shined bright as a wispy mist begins to circles the soul within it. I stare at it, confused but hopeful that it would protect the child. I close my eyes and wait for impact.

“OW!” my eyes snapped open just in time to see a fireball rushing from the darkness and hitting Flowey causing him to fly away from us. The bullets around us soon fade and my soul flutters closer to me and the child but still doesn’t return to our bodies. A furry, giant creature comes into the light in front of us, I take a step back, my nerves sky rocketing. The lady, thing, looks friendly enough, but so did Flowey, so I keep myself ready for anything.

“Oh what a terrible creature, torturing such a poor innocent youth” The, cow? Lady spat in the direction of where Flowey had just been, before turning towards me, not noticing Frisk yet it seemed as I had gone further into the shadows. “Ah, please, do not be afraid my dear, I am Toriel, the caretaker of these ruins” her voice was soft when she wasn’t angry, it had this peaceful, motherly tone, but it just made me tense up more. I’ve already had enough shares of cute but dangerous things in a cave for a lifetime. I’m not so willing as to fall for a motherly act. The cow, goat, woman thing turned her head in the direction of where she had burned Flowey, “I wander through the ruins every day, to make sure no humans have fallen down. You’re the first to have fallen in many years” a sad smile creeps onto her face. She turns back to me, eyes close and smile bright “Come along my dear, I’ll lead you through the catacombs” little Frisk chooses this exact moment to lift their head and look at Toriel who had just opened her eyes and was truly, for the first time, looking at us. Frisk tightens their hold on me as they look the creature over. Toriel freezes, eyes widening and growing cold as her body began to shake and twitch, her fur raising like a feral animal. A cold unseen hand tugs at my soul, seeping pure fear into me as I take another step back, clutching frisk closer. “Give me that child, human” Toriel softly growls out, I briefly wonder why everything nice and cute looking down here turns evils within seconds; shaking that thought away I step back. Trembling, Frisk turns and tightens their hold on me, they looks up at me, their eyes are wide and full of fear. I stare into baby doe eyes.

I feel something building up inside of me. I bring Frisk close in a hug, before looking up at the monster, my eyes hardening

“I won’t let you touch them” I growl out as I set Frisk down and push them behind me. Toriel face turns blank and all the sudden her hands are engulfed in flames. My face could already feel the heat from where we stood.

“Then human, you leave me no choice. I am truly sorry” My eyes fill with small tears, stress and anxiety eating at my being, my hands clench and unclench as I await her first move. Flames burst from behind the woman and charged at me with angry intent. My body and soul both leap out of the way, my hand reaching behind me and dragging Frisk along with me. Toriel stared at our intertwined souls, her face breaking out into a broken and grief-stricken expression, tears gliding down her cheeks as her mouth pulled into an angry snarl. A ferocious yell left Toriel mouth as another round of flames rush at me, grabbing frisks arm I twisted and jumped out of the way, instinct saving me from being burned. Toriel stops abrubtly, but it looks like she’d much rather continue to try and barbecue humans. She seemed to be waiting. Suddenly a soft but bright orange light shone beneath me. FIGHT. ACT. ITEM. MERCY.  These words were all encased in bright orange boxes, my soul, along with Frisks hovered in front of me, awaiting my decision. I briefly wondered what FIGHT would do, but my lack of strength made me choose ACT-TALK which glows a bright yellow before vanishing.

“Please, Toriel, just let us go!” I yell. ‘Mmm, it seems your plead falls on deaf ears.’ What? Who said that? I completely forget about the strange voice as I dodge another set of fireballs.

ACT-TALK- (Y/N) “Please, can’t we all just get along?”  ‘Toriels face hardens, mm, guess she’s the silent type.’

TORIEL –FIGHT

Bend this way, leap there, run.

ACT-TALK-(Y/N) “Hey, could you please stop. I really don’t wanna fight” ‘Maybe we should fight….or not.’

TORIEL –FIGHT

Jump, duck low, slid there and leap here

ACT-PLEAD-(Y/N) “Please! Stop!” ‘Oh lookie! She’s not listening.’

REPEAT…..

My body shook and my injured head pounds, sweat falling down my brow and off my nose. ‘So much for taking it easy heh’ I think. Frisk falls down, tired legs shaking and arms sore from being pulled. I want to turn and apologise, hug them and tell them its ok, but I can’t afford to risk it. I look up at Toriel, she doesn’t even look a tired at all, her face was stone and her eyes steady. The fear of death gripping tightly at my heart, squeezing out my hope and strength. I straighten my body as I shake my head, I can’t give up, I won’t give up. Despite my exhaustion, I need to protect Frisk and get them to the surface. Looking down at the buttons, I decide then and there to stop this endless cycle. My hand goes past FIGHT and I consider pressing it, but I decide not to and go past ACT. ITEM, and hover hesitantly above MERCY, I stared at the FIGHT button for a second, thinking the maybe I should, but it was already a struggle to stand. I slam my hand onto the MERCY button before I can convince myself otherwise. I yank Frisk up as gently as I could, waiting for the flames. I wasn’t disappointed, an army of fireballs rage towards me. I don’t know if it was my imagination or not, but the flames seemed to burn brighter and even hotter than before. Almost as though my attempt at mercy was seen as an insult.

Skip, run, lean, flinch, pain, fire, hot. Hot. Hot. HOT!

I screech as I was hit by four fireballs. Hp 16 of 30, flashes in front of me as I fall onto the ground. I don’t know how but I manage to protect Frisk from the flames by pushing them harshly behind me seconds before being burned. I heard them land with a pained grunt somewhere. Footsteps come closer, I look up; fear clouding my thoughts and vision, I was going to die. Another set of 4 horrendous balls of death flew at me and hit me, one even getting my face. I screamed as my skin burns and blisters. My eyes pressing tightly shut, before my lids begn to burn away, leaving my eyes watering, in pain and vulnerable to further attacks.

‘It hurts, everything hurts, please stop it. STOP IT! IT HURTS’ I cry and scream out as my Hp dies down more. Hp 3 of 30. Toriel looked down at me with disgust, her furry lips curling as she prepares another set of fireballs. “No one, will ever take my child” she whispers before throwing her flaming hand down at me, I try to close my eyes to spare myself the view, but my lids were nearly completely burnt off, only able to squint. My arm comes up to protect my face from further deformity, hands blackened and bits of exposed muscle not doing much in form of protection. I cry.

“NO!”  a voice screams as soft footsteps rush towards me, my eyes snap forward from their downward gaze as Toriel gasps. Pressure is suddenly around me as small arms wrap around my neck. A small body covering my upper body as much as a child could, desperately tryging to protect me. Fast approaching flames swiftly moving from there planned course, avoiding hitting Frisk and myself, thank gods. Sobs and hiccups echo through the now silent room both from myself and Frisk. My crispy lips cracking and breaking further due to my sharp breaths. The form clutching onto me shaking with exhaustion and fear. Their faced rubbing and nuzzling deeper into my burnt shoulder as they clung to me, I managed to squeeze their small hands despite my exhaustion and pain.

“My child” Toriel spoke softly as she went to grab Frisk, but Frisk just screams, as if sensing the fast approaching hand, sounding as though they were in great pain themselves. Which they could’ve been, maybe they had gotten hit. The pain left my mind as I shoot up and cover frisk with my own body as I glare at the furry hand through my injured and burnt/near non-existent eyelids. Feral and animalistic instincts took over me, adrenaline overcoming pain. A deep growl rose from my chest. Surprised and shocked Toriel looks at me with disdain, before beady eyes turn to my child, expression become, sad. “My child, it’s ok, you’re safe. Get away from that bad human, I’ll protect you” Toriel softly coos before very quietly whispering “I won’t ever let them take you away from me again”. Frisk stills. She turns towards Toriel. Darkness crawled up my body and into my mind. She was going to leave me. My face fell. I was going to die and this child would be left all alone with this unstable monster. Will she die? Can I survive these injuries? No one will know what happened to either of us, we’ll be forgotten, and we’ll die and I’ll never see the moon again and Frisk will never-

“You hurt my mummy! You’re the bad one!” Frisk wailed at Toriel, cutting through my thoughts of despair. Oh thank god she’s not leaving, wait…..did she just say…mummy? Toriel stills, before beginning to shake, stumbling a few steps back.

I cough weakly.

“I nearly, I almost killed, I almost did what he..Oh gods” Toriel shakily said as tears gather in her eyes before rushing out of the room. Frisk turns back to me, cheeks shining from previous and new tears. We sat in silence for a few seconds. Frisk’s eyes scanning my face with anguish. I want to hide. How grotesque do I look, especially to a small child. Before I can try to hide myself, Frisk lets loose a loud wail and throws themselves at me. I grunt quietly as my body seemed to catch fire again at the contact. I breath deeply through my nose, regretting it as charred and cooked flesh assaulted my nostrils. Choking back a gag, I look down at Frisk, ‘Yeah, focus on Frisk, forget about the pain and focus on them.

“Mama!” Frisk wailed, I sat up carefully and hugged the destressed child.

“Ssh ssh, hush now, it’s ok, I’m fine” no I’m not, I am not fine. We sit for a few minutes, Frisk a complete sobbing mess and me trying my hardest not to pass out or throw up, my previous adrenaline fading and the pain was happy to announce its presence with a full blown party. It felt like forever before Frisk finally detached themselves from me and began to gently help me stand.

Legs burning, my face blistering and dead, blackened skin falling from my arms and face. I think I can say that this is the most painful moment of my life but I noticed that some areas that were burned I couldn’t feel all too well. When I was up and standing was when I finally decided to ask Frisk my question. “Frisk, why did you call me, mum?” I croaked out in pain, throat sore from pleading and screaming. The small child looked at me, red tired eyes clouding over in confusion.

“You’re my guardian angel. Doesn’t that mean you’ll look after me?” they blinked innocently up at me, tears still streaming down their face. I sigh deeply, ow, ok no sighing, even that hurts. I begin to wipe away their tears with my least injured hand, the saltiness stinging my wounds. “Yes, I’ll look after you but that doesn’t-”

“So doesn’t that mean you’ll be my mummy, I’ve wanted a mummy for a long time and you act like a mummy” Frisk whispered as they fiddle with the hem of their oversized jumper, tears rushing faster than I can wipe them away, their cheeks and nose glowing red due to their tears. My heart aches, and those bad thoughts from earlier came back, where was their Mum, why did they want a Mum, didn’t they a gaurdian. Were they orphaned, abandoned or something else entirely? I desperately wanted to ask, but my body was struggling, I needed to find water and to try and sooth these burns. I know I have some in my backpack, but I don’t want to waste it on my injuries. Who knows if there is fresh water down here. I hope I’ll be able to ask Frisk about their family later, cause so far, I do not like the hints I’m getting. But at the moment, I really need to do something about…my burned body. Apparently I must’ve taken too long to answer, cause suddenly Frisk is hiccupping and aggressively scrubbing at their face.

“Please don’t die! Don’t leave me Mama” I stare as the kid works themselves into a near panic “ I’ll be good, I promise!” I softly shush them. Reassuring them as best as I can in the state that I’ve found myself in.

“Oh honey, its ok. I’m not dying” even though it feels like I am “Frisk, you are so right. As your guardian angel, I’ll happily be your mummy” I said softly, swallowing thickly as acid creeps up my throat. Frisk wetly smiles up at me before looking concerned and staring sadly at my burnt face. Doubt clearly written on their face. I’m surprised they can look at me, I must be so scary to look at. I can feel an oily substance dripping down my face and my burned arms are glistening. My eyes sting from not being able to blink properly and my vision is slowly becoming more blurry.

“We best be heading off, are you well enough to walk on your own, I don’t think I can carry you right now” I really don’t wanna carry them, my body throbs, but it also feels like its numbed down a little, its mostly my left leg and face that continue to be a pain, maybe the fire damaged my nerves, probably…actually that is most certainly what’s happened, damn. Either way, if the kid really doesn’t think she can walk, then I’ll have to figure out something. Frisk pursed their lips as they looked at the ground before shaking their head no, but I could see their little legs trembling from me forcing them into all that running and dodging. They’re only young, actually how old are they. I chuckle softly, trying to mask my pain as I pick Frisk up and place them on my less sore hip. Frisk pouts a little at being held but they also lean further in my hold; they’re so cute and small. A worried frown pulled on my burns at the thought as I limp into the next room; I wonder if they’ve been lost on the mountain for a few days, maybe that’s why their so thin. I mentally hit myself, ‘Don’t be naïve, its obvious somethings not right. Like why were they all alone in the woods, on the mountain with no supervision in the first place? Plus, I’ve heard of no recent missing people reports. Anything involving the mountain, I would know about. And no one goes on this mountain unless they’re like me, and so far, I’ve not met someone like me. At least not in our small town of superstitious oldies.’ Glancing down at my charge, I feel something beginning to tear into my head, a thought that doesn’t fully form, but one that I didn’t really want to acknowledge either.

Stairs greet us in the next room, along with bright red leaves and another doorway that innocently laid at the top of the stairs.  As I place my foot onto the first step, Frisk began wiggling and fidgeting, trying to get down. I bite a yelp back as she accidently kicks one of my many blistering parts. I quickly put Frisk down, the child races to the red leaves and touches a few before coming back to me and hesitantly putting their arms up, face down and badly hidden fear as she makes grabbing hands. Breathing fast and trying to not cry at the stinging over taking my body, I quietly begin to seethe internally. Whoever made this child so timid and afraid of asking for affection is going to hate the day they meet me, I darkly think as I sweep the girl into my arms as gently as possible. I breathe in deeply as my body screams, I ignore it.

I probably won’t live for too long, not with these injuries. I might have a first aid, but that’s not going to do anything. I’ll ignore my pain for as long as possible until I can’t anymore.

I hope Frisk can survive if I’m not able to get them out before, well, before whatever happens to me happens.

In the meantime, I want to make them smile.

 The next room was small, on the floor to the right were 6 button things and on the opposite wall there was a lever and a sign, between the two was a big, purple door with an odd symbol. It seemed to be some sort of puzzle, but it looks like the cow lady already activated it when she fled. I look at the sign before leaving, ‘Only the fearless may proceed. Brave ones, foolish ones. Both walk not the middle road.’ Okay………….that was a waste of my time to read.

My ears picked up rushing water and I could see vines coated with purple flowers running up the wall, this room seemed nice, I hope no vines come to life and try to kill us though. I’ve had enough of talking plants and animals trying to kill us.  Going to the sign on the wall, I mentally face palm at what it said and walk back to Frisk who stayed on the path, before leading them over the small bridge. ‘Stay on the path, why on earth would you put the sign OFF the path? I hate it here’ I ask Frisk to wait while I settle my legs into the running water, my burns hurt for a bit before the cold water numbs it. Looking around I pondered on our next move but my burning face kept distracting me, “Frisk, honey” I coughed, ash and something else catching as I breath. Frisk quickly runs up to me. Their small hands fiddling with one another as they nervously watched me, “Frisk, I need to get undressed for a little bit, could you do me a huge favour and keep watch?” shocked at my seemingly random question, Frisk gazes blankly at my burns. I stare at them as they stare at me, before they nod their head with the most determined expression ever, and it was so cute too. They spun and stare at the doorway that we haven’t gone through yet. Stance wide and fist clenching and unclenching by their side. The perfect little warrior.

I carefully undress, hissing as burnt skin gets stuck on my shirt and pants, peeling more of my skin off as I struggle. My breath hitches as I finally get my top and pants off, before I slowly settle myself into the water, submerging myself until only my nose was above the water. I stare at Frisk, noticing how my vision was worsening the longer I went without the ability to blink. A few tears manage to well up and drip into the river below. It was an awful feeling, being unable to blink them away. Carefully with my better hand, I began to gently wipe my tears away, avoiding my ruined eyelids, the lower lids and the top ones. After a few minutes of soaking, I climbed out, shook off as much water as possible and re-dressed. I frown after noticing the holes and burns covering my shirt, but choose to put it back on despite the damage. My clothes cling to me but I’m just happy that my skin isn’t feeling like molten lava and that my shirt was a dark colour, less likely for Frisk to become even more traumatised from my battered body.

As well as the many blood splotches more than likely staining my shirt and pants.

I pick Frisk up again and begin walking towards the two levers on the wall; both of them had a bunch of yellow arrows pointing to them. Frisk slightly bounces from their seat on my hip, so I walk up to the arrow lever and let Frisk pull, it seems to of made them happy as Frisk gave me a squeeze and a happy smile. When we go over the bridge, I put Frisk down so they could get the switch as I waited by the spikes.  I shivered slightly, that water sure was cold. Sniffling a bit as I watched Frisk dramatically pull the switch, they turns to me with a hopeful expression and I respond with a few loud claps and some quiet cheering, Frisk smiles. It seems like these mundane tasks make Frisk very happy. They literally skip back over to me after deactivating the spikes, clutching at my hands, Frisk begins to pull me into the next room.  A ratty, old Dummy greeted us, its bead eyes seemed to stare right at us. Frisk and I wearily walk past the Dummy, but a sudden and unexplainable urge drove me to speak to it. So as we past I said a quiet “Hello” and Frisk seemingly right afterwards said “You look nice today” before existing. Upon entering the next room, I get the feeling as though the dummy had been happy with the short conversation, which was weird because it didn’t look alive. Then again…. talking flowers are a thing apparently.

 We wander down the halls, I keep my eyes searching for any puzzles or traps, but it seems this room was nothing but that, a room. So, we exit it with ease. Frisk quickly runs to some of the red leaf piles, and happily jumps in it for a few moments before rushing to a door on my left. “Frisk! Wait!” I cry out as I limp through the doorway after them, well, more like stumble and hobbled really. Frisk just smiled at me as they turned and reached into a bowl on a pedestal and grabbed out something, candy? “Frisk, it says to only grab one” I softly say, Frisk blushes and set all but two back. “Frisk you still have two” that seemed to make Frisk smile as they jump towards me, placing one of the candies into my least injured hand before popping theirs into their mouth, eyes sparkling with delight. ‘Little cutie’ I thought with a small smile as we left the room. Looking at the candy I mentally shrugged my shoulders, Frisk seems to be ok so what the hay I thought as I pop my own lolly into my awaiting mouth. Oooh~ I can understand why Frisk looked so happy now, the taste was indescribable and it seemed to sooth my very soul. Haha soul, that’s a thing now. I heard a gasp and open my eyes, wait, since when could I shut them properly? Seeing Frisk looking at me in happy disbelief, looking down I notice all my burns disappearing. As my burns slowly morphed into smooth skin, my body still ached a little but it was definitely better. I notice in the top of my vision some words. Without moving my eyes or head I study the words, making out ‘HP-15/30’ it’s the same thing that flashed during my battle with Toriel. Is that my health? Frisk lets loose a happy squeal and literally tackles me, eyes filling with happy tears. I feel my own tears gather in my eyes, I had been pushing my feelings away, but had been shitting myself with thoughts of what was to come. Infection and slowly dying underground is not a very comforting thought, especially when being temporarily responsible for a lost child. My soul sympathised and empathised to those who’ve had to live with such burns. A small part of me was also just so happy that I could close my eyes again and cry. And cry I did.

“Hahaha, Frisk, be careful you crazy thing” the little sweetheart just giggled and did the ‘up’ motion again, ‘man, this kid loves to be carried’ I thought while scrubbing my face of my tears, before quickly wiping my face and then sweeping the kid into my freshly healed arms. Ah, it was nice to not have my flesh pulling, stretching over burnt wounds, my face especially. I can actually blink properly again and close my eyelids all the way. I lick my lips which are smooth and plump again. I pull Frisk close, and they snuggle deeply into my arms. Lesson learnt.

Candy is amazing.

We continue to explore the catacombs, coming across a few friendly and helpful froggits that gave some advice for monster encounters.

“Humans, if you ACT a certain way or Fight until you almost defeat a monster, they might not want to fight anymore”

“Human, if a monster does not wish to fight, please have some mercy”

“If the SPARE in the MERCY box is yellow, it means you are able to SPARE a monster”

“Some monster will not listen; sometimes it is wise to FLEE”

“Monster food has magical healing abilities.”

“Eating monster food can restore your HP and physical form”

Overall, the cute and normally confused frog creatures were quiet helpful, and Frisk seemed to get along well with them too. Managing to rope in a few Froggits into playing a few rounds of leap frog. Makes me a little sad that our first monster encounters were a devil flower and an insane cow/goat thing. We also encountered some weird Carrot monsters, these odd Bug things and Whimsuns. The Whimsuns were really cute but completely terrified of everything it seemed. I was happy to meet the Carrot monster as they gave us some food during our ‘fights’. Most of the monsters were easily deterred from hurting us, much to my relief. We soon met up with a cute ghost, but when we tried to sneak past him, so as to not cause his obvious anxiety to spike, we activated a battle with the poor thing. His eyes watered, and his form shook as he looked sadly down at the ground. I look at Frisk and she looked back to me with uncertainty as the four familiar orange boxes appeared alongside mine and Frisks soul. My bigger soul instantly absorbing Frisk’s soul, which again, made Frisk sigh in bliss and happiness as they turned to mush, I really needed to talk to them about that. I quickly pick them up, not wanting to have to drag their limp body around.

‘Here Comes Napstablook~’ comes the subtle whispers from within my mind.

‘heh, as soon as Frisk and I find a safe place, I’m going to have to find out who’s voice that belongs to, maybe it’s a monster thing.’

FIGHT-ACT-ITEM-MERCY

I instantly push the ACT button, knowing the routine already. It’s amazing how quickly this has become the norm to me, I wonder if Frisk feels the same.

ACT-CHEER- (Y/N) ‘you give Napstablook a patient smile’

Napstablook just cries, I hastily dodge the falling tears.  

‘Napstablook looks just a little better, yay you’ says the child like singsong voice in my head.

ACT-FLIRT- Frisk- “I feel like there is something wrong with my eye” Frisk says dramatically, hanging backwards over my arms as I hold them, they’re covering their eyes to add to the dramatic flair before they then bounce back upwards nearly hitting my head. Doing the pointing guns pose with their tiny fingers before proudly claiming, “Because I can’t take them off of you!” I put my head in my spare hand in disbelief. Where on earth did this kid learn social skills!  Napsta blushes and smiles small and delicately, ‘awwwwww’ I thought, but then Napstablook ruins it with more tears and a small frown.

“I'd just weigh you down.” His form wavering as his eyes welles with more tears ‘No! That’s not right, you won’t weigh us down’ I thought with a frown before yelping as I dodge the oncoming tears.

ACT-CHEER-(Y/N)- “It’s ok, take your time and when you’re feeling better, maybe we can hang for a bit” I smile with my eyes, bright grin pulling at my cheeks.

‘You make Napstablook smile, I guess your gross face helped’ damn, ouch. That was rude.

“I’m sorry for being such a pain~” my face scrunches in discomfort as I try to think of a way to cheer the depressed ghoul, I could see Frisk in the corner of my eye shaking their head desperately. Napstablooks voice sounded so hallow and empty. Like a void of negativity. I didn’t get to voice my disagreement as another set of tear attacks started to rain upon us, except it was harder to dodge then the previous attacks, my heart fell.

-HP- 9/30- Shit shit shit shit! ‘heh, maybe we should fight now, don’t want a repeat of last time’ ‘shut up demon child!’ I thought angrily. It became silent, very very silent.

ACT-CHEER-(Y/N)- “Hey, I’m sorry for making you upset but I hope you know you’re pretty great” my mouth rising into a caring smile, Frisk nodding along to my statement, they gave the ghost a wide and toothy smile while giving him a thumbs up. Napsta smiles and small tears collected in his eyes.

“Hey, do you want to see something?” Napsta asks softly and with a small, hesitant smile. I beam “Yes please!” I exclaim as Frisk claps their hands in excitement. Napstablook began to cry again and I prepare to dodge but then I realized that the tears were going up, making a cute top hat appear. “D-Do you like it?” he anxiously asked. Frisks mouth wide opened and mine on the floor, we both turned to one another before squealing.

“That was AMAZING” ‘not really’ oh shut up voice, it so was.

“That was really cool Napsta” Frisk squeaks. Napstablook blushes and looked away as he tries to hide his small shy grin.   

MERCY-(Y/N)-> you give mercy, Napsta accepts. ‘You won, somehow. You gained no EXP and no GOLD. Ha, that’s what you get for sparing the loser’ go away….

“I normally come here because no one else does but today, I met two new and very nice people. Oooh, I’m rambling, aren’t I?” He whines and before I can say anything to cheer him up, he fades away. Damn.

We sat around for a bit, resting from the battle. Frisk was happy to sit on my lap as I played with their hair, both of us tired from the days’ events. It’s funny how today started with me wanting to go camping on a ‘cursed’ mountain, only to find and save a small child from being alone in this place. I can’t even imagine how they would’ve approached this if I hadn’t of been in that exact place, where I could only just hear them. Where I was curious enough to check out the noises. My stomach swirles in anxiety as my chest begins to ache. I breathe in deeply and calm myself. ‘Man, I haven’t been this anxious in months’ I absentmindedly think to myself as I brush my fingers through Frisk’s hair. I begin to loosely braid Frisks hair before un-braiding them and smoothing the hair down, soon small and soft curls began forming in their hair. This was nice, it gave me the sense of normality again and I began to relax. I pull Frisk closer to me and give them a big, warm hug, my head resting on their head and theirs leaning against my shoulder. I heard them hum quietly and squeeze my arms. I let them go and they start to stand, quickly following, I also stand and we walk over to the red leave and straight into the next room. When we enter the room I noticed it was fairly barren but we were greeted by a nice, lonely, cute bakery stand that was being maintained by…………

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” I squealed and leapt away from the stand and Frisk. Frisk looked back in confusion. 1,2,4,6,8 ………8 legs!

Nope.

My body started to slightly twitch as I began to hyperventilate, tears gathered in my eyes and the feeling of tiny legs creeped over me. I absolutely without a doubt-

HATED SPIDERS!

“Frisk sweetheart, can you please come back here, those things might be poisonous.” I subconsciously start scratching my wrist making it turn pink, my eyes looked everywhere but at the creepy crawlies. I forced myself to stay where I was and not to go running, I wanted to hide but I stayed out in the open. I absolutely, without a hint of doubt in my mind, HATED spiders. Well I guess I was more scared of them then anything as I understood they were needed and vital for the world BUT STILL! They’re nothing but creepy crawly death dealers. Frisk looked at me, brows bunching closer in confusion as they tilted their head to the side, their eyes glancing from me and back to the spiders. Another shiver crawled up my spine, I could see in the corner of my eyes that more spiders had shown up and they were staring at me. I took a shaky breath and stiffly walk to Frisk. I gently take hold of their hand and pull them away from the stall, unfortunately their feet stay planted, they stare up at me as I softly plead with my eyes. Suddenly Frisk breaks my hold, cause my heart to do a panic disco dance inside my chest. Frisk goes closer to the stall and hands over the small gold coins we’d been finding around the place. They made some hand gestures and then the spider swooped down and took it. A strangled whimper escaped me as my arms pulled closer to my body and my shoulders inched up. I can feel an increasing number of eyes staring at me, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand. That’s when reality slowly sunk in, these aren’t just normal spiders. Everything in this godforsaken place has been sentient. Shaking increasing, eyes darting around the room, I can feel the panic rising. These spiders could attack us and I know I’d be powerless against them, they understand my reactions and they understand what I say. Before I could think more on the matter, the same spider, a bloody WOLF SPIDER, swooped down again and left two muffins. Frisk smiled at them and left another coin and left before they could receive anything. Frisk skipped back to me and handed me one, I nearly refused it just because a spider had been holding it, but then I noticed the millions of small beady black eyes staring at me. I quickly took the muffin. “Thank you, this looks amazing” don’t freak, don’t freak. I can feel the eyes slowly decrease.  I store our treats into the lunchbox that was in my bag and tell Frisk we’d have them when we found a nice safe place to rest. We then left the horrid room, we begun walking to the only other available path and walk through another doorway. Frisk grabs my hand and forcefully held it, that was when I noticed that my left arm was bright pink and covered in raised skin that were the shape of scratches. ‘Shit! I forgot I was scratching, I need to learn to control that little tick, I don’t want Frisk to worry I turn to them and smile, fighting against the urge to scratch scratch scratch.  My earlier panic still swirling inside as the knowledge that literally less than 10 feet away from us was an entire ROOM full of my greatest fears. Breathing deeply before give Frisks hand a few squeezes, assuring them that I was ok now. We continue down our path.

We were greeted by two frogs, one told us how it was sad that there was meant to be four frogs when there were only three, that had me majorly confused as I had mentioned before, there were only two. The next one was similar to the room beforehand, where we fought Napsta and met the creepy crawlies. Just like last time we went straight, like I mean why would there be spiders there too. We entered a very small room that held one froggit and a doorway, ‘I guess that’s the third froggit then’. The froggit just watched us, not giving any hints, advice or even just a greeting. Frisk and I both said hello before going through the other door. Hundreds of buildings sat below the balcony we stood on, dust and silence were the only inhabitants though. I stared feeling strangely hopeless as I looked at the empty homes, stalls and undergound versions of skyscrapers. I didn’t notice Frisk walking over to the edge, I didn’t notice them picking up a toy, nor did I notice the quick flash of yellow irises. I did notice when Frisk skipped over to me and waved the toy in my face, their face hopeful and excited. It was a toy knife; I took it from them and examined it. It didn’t look sharp, looked fairly new and it didn’t seem to have been lying in any questionable substances. I smiled and nodded to Frisk handing back the toy, they jumped up and down excitably before playfully swiping at unseen enemies. We left the room seeing as there didn’t’ seem to be a way out. The silence was also a bit unnerving, but I kept that to myself, not wanting to scare Frisk. We entered the room from earlier and chose the other path we ignored. I think I would’ve preferred the silent and dusty city to what laid behind the new doorway.

I look in front of us and notice a beautiful large tree with vibrant red leaves and a huge house sitting behind it. I notice there were no more doorways and the path led right up to the house. An inky feeling began to trickle down my spine, I had a bad feeling about this. Frisk began tugging on my hand wanting to get a move on. I oblige and let them lead me to the house, my soul which was safely tucked away in my chest now, began glowing so bright I can see it pulsing under my skin, odd how it had never done this before I fell. However, despite my fear and confusion, I was ready to protect this child, no matter what lies behind this door, I will shield Frisk with my very life. Frisk knocks on the door and we wait a few seconds. I can hear very faint shuffling noises along with sniffles, but nothing comes to the door. This time I knock on the door, this time putting a bit of force behind it, when still no one answered I knocked and didn’t stop. Soon enough footsteps could be heard, and the door knob twisted, and the wooden door opening with the quietest of squeaks. Within seconds I had Frisk in my arms and had leapt away from the door. I kept walking backwards until I was nearly at the tree. Frisk shook in my arms.

Starring at us with irritated eyes and tears staining her fur, was Toriel. No longer was there fury clouding her eyes with its thick fog, now there was only deep sadness. Her fur was no longer bristled like a frightened cat but was now smoothened out. I wanted to leave though. I didn’t care if she looked sad she tried to fucking kill me for no reason. Anger and hatred began to heat my core, my eyes narrowing and my mouth twitching into a snarl, readying with hateful words that I didn’t even know I was capable of thinking when I was stopped by a small voice.

“Please don’t hurt us, we don’t wanna fight anymore” cold water trickles over my soul and I calm. Looking at Frisk I could see how afraid this situation has made them. Their voice wavering, and their lips trembling. I sigh and look at Toriel again. She looks ashamed and so very heartbroken. I sigh and close my eyes for a moment. I mentally reached into a pool of hatred, anger and body freezing fear before forcefully ripping it out, burning away those emotions and feelings. ‘heh, what an ironic way to kill something off after what’s happened today’ I thought.

“I don’t forgive you, but I’m willing to start over” is all I said before opening my eyes. The stronger feelings of rage mostly burned off. The woman had fresh tears streaming down her face, her shoulders shook, and she began to hastily mutter ‘I’m sorry’ over and over again. Putting Frisk down besides the tree, I give Frisk’s hand one big squeeze before leaving their side, I walked cautiously towards the monster. I was slow and careful as my mind kept repeating the facts that everyone knows about cornered and stressed animals. I didn’t want to alarm her and cause her to flip. When I was only two feet away did I stop. Heart thumping loudly in my chest as it dawns on me how small I was compared to the monster. She easily towered over me and her fur made her look even bigger than she was, I wanted to slouch and grow smaller but I did the opposite instead. Standing as tall as I could I confidently hold my hand out to her. Despite my best efforts my arms still shook in fear, all I could feel was the feeling of being burnt alive; my skin charred and flesh cooking. The feeling of my eyelids becoming sticky from blood mixed with tears and ash, struggling to close as I’d blink. The horrific feeling of fire crashing into my body and the painful feeling of my body burning burning BURNING.

I take another deep breath. “Hello, my name is (Y/N), it’s nice to meet you” I smile and tilt my head just slightly, eyes darting down and using the new angle to quickly see if anyone else was in the house, before dashing back up. Toriel looked stumped before smiling sadly and taking my hand gently. I flinch without meaning too but continue to smile at the woman. Her hand engulfing mine completely.

“Hello (Y/N) my name is Toriel.  It’s a pleasure to meet you. Would you and…your child like to come in and join me for lunch?” She gave me a very sad look as she adds “You especially look like you could use it” I’m assuming she means the HP thing. Considering there were no other pathways besides the one to Toriel’s to take, I nod my head in agreement despite not wanting to. I wave Frisk over, who hurriedly rushes to my side, roughly colliding with my side, and clinging to my arms. When Toriel doesn’t try to snatch them or freak out is when I truly begin to relax a little. With one last bit of hesitation and fear, Frisk and I enter the goat woman’s domain.

We enter the living room where a fireplace sat, freshly put out thank god, a nice comfortable recliner, a bookcase and a wooden table was laid out around the room. The table only just had enough chairs for us, including one that was higher and smaller, obviously fit for a child but by the lack of noise I assumed there was no child here besides Frisk. Toriel left for the kitchen to go get some ‘snail pie’ allowing me some time to scope out the place. first on the list, we needed to find the bathroom. Taking Frisk by the hand we exited the living room, went past the stairs and went into the corridor. Peeking into all the rooms until we found the bathroom, I let Frisk go in first to do their business and then I go in next. Rummaging the cabinets with a bit a guilt, I search for a first aid kit. I end up finding something like it and begin to patch myself and Frisk up. Taking off their gross and old band aid and then cleaning the wound, applying some healing cream and then re-applying a new band aid, I check the kid over for other scrapes but they seem to be doing better than me. Frisk beams at me before jumping off the counter and running to the dining area, not wanting to leave Frisk alone with the woman, I quickly put the first aid rip-off away, and run off after Frisk.

Entering the living room in a slight panic, I calm down as I notice Frisk sitting in front of the bookcase, staring confusedly at the books. I walk over to them and glance at the books and at Frisk, their eyes showed no understanding as they scan the titles. These books didn’t have hard titles either, even a child younger than Frisk should be able to read it. Well, I’m assuming a child younger then Frisk could read it, I haven’t had the chance to really find out how old the kid is. I don’t even know if their a boy or girl, I’ve just been playing it safe. My musings got interrupted by Toriel saying lunch was ready. Frisks head whips around so fast I’m shocked their little neck didn’t snap. Frisk runs over to the table and try’s jumping up onto the table, fortunately they couldn’t quite get up, which meant the plates were safe from grabby hands. Chuckling I walk over and pick them up, they bashfully look up at me as I place them down onto the tallest chair. I pulled over one of the chairs and sat as close as possible to Frisk. Toriel gracefully slides in with a humongous pie, my mouth watering at the enticing smell. I could literally feel Frisk vibrating in their seat next to me, glancing over at them, guilt grips my heart, I should’ve fed them something from my bag earlier.

“I’m sorry this might not be suited to the usual human taste, but I didn’t think I’d have company, especially you two.” I could hear the guilt, thick and heavy, in her voice. “Snail pie is my personal favourite and I hope you enjoy it too” she gently murmured. I felt a sense of wrongness as Toriel muttered, she gives me the sense of someone polite but loud, no not loud but whose voice demands attention, someone who is important. I shrug the thought away, deciding to busy myself with cutting a slice of pie before placing it onto Frisks plate, a loud gasp was then heard alongside the sound of a chair scraping against wood. Before I could even blink Toriel had appeared before me and had my left arm trapped in her giant fury paws. Dread bubbles up in the pit of my stomach as I freeze up.

Mind blank, I have to restrain myself from kicking and biting. The urge to bite her arm until it releases me, before grabbing Frisk and fleeing briefly pops into my head. However, Toriel wasn’t hurting me, her eyes held a deep pain and concern. looking away from her face I look at my trapped arm. Bright pink scratches had turned darker and more swollen, some had even pierced through the skin and had some blood welled up into small drops along the pink web. My breath stalls. I stare with unseeing eyes, ignoring the way Toriel flutters around the room before hovering over me again.

It wasn’t a big deal, I mean I’ve been scratching myself like this since I was 11, heck I’ve made worse injuries then this. At least it was only my nails, not like I’d have the balls to use another method but still! It’s a nervous tick I’ve always had. I ignore the rising desire to ich, as I know from experience that once I start, it’s hard to stop the habit. I sigh as Toriel twitchily begins to dress my wounds, though her movements were hesitant, and she kept looking at me in fear. Cause you know, the oddly very short and weak human could totally take on the monster, plus it’s not like said human has lost in a battle with said monster. No not at all.

‘Sarcasm much’ oh shush you, you sassy lassie, where’ve you been for the last hour.

‘…’ and silence, damn I thought we were finally connecting.

‘pfft, you wish. I hate you’ good to know random voice in my head, sorry but I’ve now gotta deal with actual people who are actually present.

“I know I have no right to ask, but who scratched you, I am not aware of any monster within my ruins having nails, beyond myself?” Toriel asks with such concern. A crawling sensation trails from the base of my spine to the tip of my head as her lavender eyes stare at me. Once again, the feeling of burning begins to blister across my skin, my fingers twitch as the need to scratch came back.

“You’re right, you have no right to ask” I blink forcefully, brows pinched. I hadn’t really meant to say that. Toriels whole body shot back, as if she got burned, ha, burned. Mind halting, I realise who exactly I just spoke to with such venom. My instincts were yelling at me for antagonising someone who was clearly stronger in every way possible, as well as happily reminding me of the child I had already promised to protect. My eyes quickly dart over to Frisk noting they was out of their chair and a few feet away from the two of us, shifting in place, unsure as to if they should come forward or flee. Good, they’d have enough time to run if needed. Slowly I lifted my gaze back to Toriel, looking up at her with my eyes to see she’s frozen from wrapping my arm up, her eyes filling with tears as her body shook. My mouth uselessly moves about in an attempt to speak, to apologise, to do anything but nothing escapes me. Cold fingers seep into my chest and grip my heart, my body begins to shake the longer Toriel sat there quietly. My breathing quickening and my eyes beginning to burn from not blinking. Flames lick at my skin as ash coats the inside of my nose. This all-consuming fear of being burnt alive begins to fill inside of me. Of melting, of just becoming nothing but a pile of dus-

“Hush, it’s ok my child” a bright voice spoke through the sudden darkness. Blinking I look up and see watery purple eyes staring at me with so much fear. I feel her grip on my arms tighten, wait, arms. I look down, long scratches, bright pink and bloodied, cover my thighs.

Oh.

“I’m sorry” my breathily whisper. I close my eyes and breathe. I haven’t done that in a long time, the scratches I mean, breathing is sort of a necessary thing to survive. I lightly shake my head, todays messed me up more than I thought. But then again, how many people nearly get burned alive by a giant goat monster.

“I’m sorry” I say again and startle as soft fur cups my cheeks. Raising my head, I see Toriel’s patient smile, she lightly strokes my cheeks, despite the softness though, all I feel is burning. I ignore it. She nods before getting up from her crouched position before fleeing to the kitchen. I sit there in complete confusion and embarrassment, I literally just had a total mental breakdown inside of a potential threats home, I know she’s not doing anything right now, but I can’t forget, I wish I could. Small hands wrap around my neck as a small body presses against mine, gripping tightly at everything they could touch. I loosely hug Frisk back and rub their back. Their small body shakes and small hiccups bubble up and out from their throat. Soon a quiet, near non-existent croaking wail flies from Frisk’s mouth. My body moves on its own as I stand, holding Frisk tighter and closer, before I begin to pace the room, bouncing as I walk. Soft cooing noises and shushing wash over the room as I comfort the poor child. I nuzzle my face against their hair, swaying gently for a moment and letting my eyes shut.

She’s so small.

I can smell the snail pie, it’s got a strangely calming scent, a scent of home.

I can feel Frisk’s warm and shivering body, I hold them tighter.

When I open my eyes I can see creamy coloured walls, it’s nice.

I breathe deeply, I can nearly taste the pie its smell is so strong.

There’s no burning, no smell of ash. It’s calm. I’m ok and so is Frisk.

I walk over to the table and sit Frisk down in their seat, they look up at me with red, puffy eyes, tears still streaming. I pull on the bottom of my shirt and wipe their face with it before booping their nose with my finger. Frisk wetly smiles at me. I set them up with a plate of pie, making sure that they start eating it before making my way to the kitchen. I stop at the doorway, Toriel’s body slumps over the counter, her back to me and soft murmurings coming from her. Head in hands, big enough to crush me.

I walk up beside her, squashy my fear down into the pit within.

“I’m sorry. For how I spoke to you” my eyes lower before I force them back up, I felt like a child again, admitting to my mistakes and trying to be all grown up about it but not quite succeeding. Doesn’t help that I only just come up to the lady’s mid-section. Toriel lifts her head and stares at me miserably, eyes showing bewilderment. I shift back and forth as I force myself to keep eye contact, but failing a bit as I keep glancing away.

“My chi-” she swallowed thickly as she reconsiders her wording, “My dear, you have absolutely no reason to have to apologise. I endangered you and your child and refused to listen to your pleas” her purple orbs water again as her body shakes. “I’ve never- have never been a violent monster, I-I would never mean any harm that-that’s not how we monster are-should be and I-I left you, after I caused so, so much damage and I-I” I cut her off, my body reacting without fear or thought, my arms wrapped around her as much as my short arms could and buried my face into her stomach. Was I just really short or was she just really tall, probably tall, actually properly both, I’ve always been a shorty. I hear a loud gasp and I can feel my eyes watering again. Fucking hormones, fucking empathy, fucking stupid human emotions. She tried to kill me what the absolute fuck am I fucking doing, she’s going to kill me, I should escape while I can, I should-

Warm, fuzzy arms circle around me and pull me closer, softer sobs echo through the small kitchen. I close my eyes and lean further into her hold. I’ve missed being hugged.

Besides the soft sniffles and hiccups, its silent. I can feel the lady’s tears drop onto my hair. Despite everything, I know deep down that she really meant no harm, doesn’t stop the fear and anxiety, but it does help even if only slightly. Don’t know if I can actually learn to trust her, but I can start over with her.

I’m not so sure what happens after. Somehow, we manage to finish our meal and we all go to bed, me and Frisk bunking in the same bed. The little sweetheart pretty much climbed onto me and used me as a mattress. They didn’t want to move, so I left them there.

This was four days ago.

Frisk has been becoming increasingly more attached to me, constantly wanting cuddles and to be carried, I didn’t mind, she was really light for her age. I was also getting use to her calling me mum every now and then, you know, on the occasion she actually speaks out loud. Oh, yeah, Frisk is a girl as I’ve learnt over the last few days.

We both got to experience the amazingness of cinnamon and butterscotch pie, which is to honestly die for, I would definitely kill a man just for a small slice. I also learnt some disturbing things about the ‘underground’. I could forgive Toriel, and I could probably forgive most of monster kind after what we humans made them all go through.

But King Asgore.

I can never, ever forgive a person like that. I understood Toriel a bit more after that, and her fierce protectiveness. To lose both children and your husband.

Yeah, I can forgive her, but only just.

Being isolated after all of that….well… I think it’d be pretty hard to keep your sanity.

Thankfully Frisk has trouble reading and doesn’t know. Toriel doesn’t even know I read through them, I don’t think she’d be happy to know that I know who she was once connected to, or the loved ones she lost. I don’t think she knows that I can actually read, now that I think about it. She’s always reading things out loud, whether Frisk is around or not.

She understands that I’m Frisk mother, which I am in no way going to correct, but it’s almost like she views me as a child as well. She’s….motherly, towards me. And seems to think I can’t do certain things despite being a grown woman. She’s also very hesitant to leave us, but has a habit of wondering the catacombs, searching for any human’s unfortunate enough to have fallen down, which is exactly what she had been doing the day we fell. So sometime between 12pm to 3pm she’ll go out, fix the traps and wander around before coming back, it’s nice to have an hour or two with just Frisk, we tend to spend it reading any of the children books or playing games, or sometimes, going outside looking for a way to enter the rest of the underground. So far nothing.

Today’s our fifth day here. I can see that Toriels setting up things to allow us to stay here, more permanently. Things like educational books that are specifically for Frisks age, which I’ve found out she’s 6 years old, though she’s looks closer to 4 in terms of size. Toriels also gotten some new art supplies, both for Frisk and for myself. She even started to quilt a new blanket yesterday, it already having been promised for us. It’s been making me twitchy to see her so openly accept that we’ll be living here. Anytime I speak of my home above and how I’d like to return soon, Toriel gets this look and it causes nothing but pure fear to shoot through me. All she’ll say in response is that there was no way out of the ruins, let alone up above. A lie that I noticed after I read the book on monster history. I’m walking on eggshells, too scared to demand or ask her to let us leave, in case she snaps and does something drastic.

“My Dear’s, I’m off to go do my rounds, would either of you like to accompany me today?” Toriel’s voice is kind and warm, but her eyes dark as they watch me possessively, glancing around the room in search of Frisk. Thankfully I have a good excuse.

“Sorry Tori, Frisk just fell asleep. I’d feel better being here” It wasn’t a lie, Frisk had just fallen asleep and I didn’t want to leave her, but she didn’t need to know that it wasn’t my only concern.

“Oh” she sounds disappointed, but approving “I understand, it’s not good to leave one so young on their own. I’ll be back soon. You’ll be ok on your own though, right?” I nod, again not understanding how she doesn’t see that I am an adult and have spent plenty of time alone. She smiles before patting me on the head, I manage to not flinch, before she turns to the front door and leaves. I wait for ten minutes, using the time to check on Frisk and clean up a little before heading outside.

I searched all around the house and the front yard, Frisk and I had already searched further and couldn’t see any path into the rest of the underground. Actually, besides the froggits, vegitoids and other small monsters, we’ve not seen any other monsters wandering around at all. Especially nothing like Toriel. I pull at vines, lift up non-talking boulders and looked through every crack in the catacomb’s walls. It’s nearing the 40 minute mark and I’m beginning to panic. ‘Where on earth is the gods forsaken exit!’ I pull my hair and lightly begin to scratch my wrist.  I can’t risk being kept here for much longer. I twist and turn, not sure where else to search. Toriels wonders have been getting shorter, less willing to leave us alone as the days pass.

‘Where do I go!’ mind screaming as I pull on my hair.

‘…go down the stairs’ what? It’s the voice, I thought it had disappeared, I haven’t heard it at all in the last two days, it having quietened with each passing day we had spent down here, trapped at Toriels, until it just stopped talking completely. I missed it’s occasional chatter, even when it was being a brat.

‘Hello? What stairs’ I think with a purpose, hoping it’d help me get an answer.

‘…. Inside…Right in front of the entrance door, there are stairs. Stairs going down. Go down them, continue down the hall, and you’ll find the door’ huh? I honestly thought it was just a basement. I’m assuming the door is the exit, hopefully the voice isn’t lying. I wouldn’t of thought that the rest of the underground would be, well…further underground.

I walk inside and stand at the top of the staircase. Well, if this is the exit, I should wake Frisk up and pack our things, we’re leaving, right now. Looking at the clock above the front door, I shudder, we don’t have much time left. I nod to myself and turn from the stairs, rushing into our room, I gently wake up Frisk. I tell her where I think the exit is and that we don’t have long before Toriel’s return. Frisk understands my urgency and flings herself into a rush dazed start. The poor thing still not fully awake, but aware enough of the situation. She grabs the little bag Toriel had given her for her pencils and paper and starts to pack as much stuff as possible. I feel bad for taking Toriels things, but they don’t fit her and she’s the one who nearly killed me and hasn’t told us how to leave, I think it’s good enough payment. I take my bag and head to the kitchen and begin to take some supplies, not a lot, but enough for a few days. I got some cans of beans, corn, peaches and I took a slice of the butterscotch cinnamon pie for Frisk. I don’t quite know how Toriel has human food, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. My personal stuff was already packed and ready so I didn’t need to worry about that, only needed to stuff the food into the limited space. I get the canteen I have and fill it up with fresh water from the tap. I hear footsteps running and my heart freezes.

“Mummy?” I sigh in relief, my entire body drooping.

Frisk stands, bag on her back and fiddling with the straps in the kitchen doorway.

“Yeah, it’s ok sweetheart. Nearly done, ok?” she nods and I smile. “how about you quickly go to the toilet before we leave, hurry on now” she bounces away quickly to the bathroom, her bag bouncing as she hops off. I pack the water into the bag and set them on my shoulders before heading to the bathroom. We both get done with our business and start to head down the stairs, about half way down the very long staircase, we hear it.

“My Dears?” Frisk and I freeze before I turn and pick her up as silently as I could and begin to softly run down the stairs. Frisk digs her small hands into my shoulders as she watches the stairs behind me. I can hear Toriel walking towards our room, I hear her knocking on the door but its barely audible as we’re already speeding down the hallway now. I hear nothing but my quiet breaths as I run as quietly as possible down the longest corridor known to mankind. Small quiet whimpers escape from Frisk, but all is eerily quiet upstairs and the soft sounds of my footfalls as I run are the only things I’m able to pick up. Maybe she thinks we went outside, maybe she didn’t go into the room.

Maybe she’s letting us go-

“MY CHILDREN!” Holy fuck! NONONONONO! Legs pumping as I sprint harder, no longer caring about being quiet, as the sounds of a demon’s screech rings down the halls. Loud thumping footsteps stomping down the stairs follow the unearthly screams which echo around the halls.

“Mumma she’s coming!” Frisk screams, her body curling further into mine. Just a little further, please, just a little further. I see the door. My free hand not clutching onto Frisk goes in front of me.

‘Please.’

‘Just a little further.’

‘Please whatever gods or goddesses that exist, please.’

It’s so close, my fingers spread, and my hand lays flat in the air. Fireballs are being shot left, right and centre and I dodge them as best as I can while not looking, using the heat as my only way of eluding the death balls of gas. Her footsteps are louder. I can hear her breaths. Frisk is screaming as she struggles to stay in my arms. She’s here. She’s here. She’s right here. Right behind me.

PLEASE!

My hand connects with the door and I slam it open, managing to fling it behind me right as I pass through. I hear a cry of pain as a loud bang echoes throughout the hall. I pay no heed to it though, as I’m already racing towards the next door, which of course there’s another bloody door. In the corner of my eye, I see Flowey looking at us in astonishment and irritation from the shadows. I can feel another, very large fireball coming our way, my hands are reaching out again, the doors there but the fires coming closer and faster. Frisk screeches, I scream, and Toriel howls.

The door opens, I fall.

SLAM!

The door slams automatically behind us

Gasping loudly, my body was on fire (Fire, BUrnIng,PAiN PAIN) and my body shook as I wheeze, trying desperately to gulp in the frigid air. A smaller body shakes, loud gasps, hiccups and coughing echoing around us. Large clouds of white puff emit from the both of us. I’m curled over her, she’s curled into me. My breaths are struggling and it feels like I’m choking. My head and the veins in my arms thump to the same beat as my heart. She shivers, I curl over her more, she cries and I tighten my hold.

We escaped.

Unharmed.

And as the world slowly becomes colourful again and my mind comes back around, we hear earth shattering wailing from behind the door and the deafening sounds of fits against the thick stone door behind us. I look back in horror as the stone door shakes due to the force.

BANG BANG BANG BANG!

“COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! MY CHILDREN, MY BABIES! YOU’LL DIE! YOU’LL DIE YOU’LL DIE YOU’LL DIE YOU’LL DIE”

Cold fingers crawl up my back. The haunting howling continues, each word being emphasised by the banging. Frisk flinches at every bump. I shakily stand up, my eyes wide in terror as I stumble through the thick snow that lay all around us. Crying icicles as I distance myself from the mourning demon.

Unaware was I of the black eyes watching my every move. 

Chapter Text

SAVE - Stop Abusive and Violent Events

Out Of The Fire, And Into A Freezer

Chapter 2

It's snowing. Frisk has her face buried deep into my shoulder, cold and still a bit shaken up from earlier. I shiver, I can still hear her calls, her broken cries and hellish screeches.  she's still too close so I pick up my pace just a bit, feeling the need to get as far away from her and that blasted door. I sneeze loudly, Damn its cold. We're not really wearing appropriate clothing for the weather, though to be fair, who would’ve thought that the weather would go from almost an autumn type of environment to a winter wonderland in the span of a single door. A door that stills feels as though it’s looming over the both of us, no matter how many steps I take.

Struck with a memory, I begin to take off my bag, putting Frisk down for a second as I rummage through the tightly stuffed carrier. Frisk instantly begins to whine, probably from the cold and the still residing fear from our earlier escape, it grates on my nerves but I have to ignore her cries for just a moment. Frantically I dig, and as I continue to claw and push things aside, I glance up at Frisk from the corner of my eye.

Her thin jumper does almost nothing against the cold, her small ratty boots disappear beneath the thick snow, causing her legs to become wet and more than likely freezing. Her skins turning pink, her legs are slightly shaking too. I turn my gaze back to my bag, continuing my aggressive search. After rummaging through my bag for a while, Frisk shivering more fiercely during it and becoming increasingly more emotional, I managed to find my light blue sweater and a pair of long and thick fuzzy mint coloured socks. Not great but better than nothing, I think as I put my bag back on, I put the sweater on frisk, which looks more like a dress on her. I roll the sleeves to stop them from getting wet, almost being able to double the sleeves thickness in doing so. Should be a little more protective against the frigid air. Kneeling down on one knee, I sit Frisk on my leg. Taking her shoes and threadbare wet socks off, replacing them with the new fuzzy ones. Thankful that the kid was so small, as the socks were able to meet her shorts, becoming odd leggings. Looking at the boots I contemplate on what to do. Frisk whines again, leaning over and wrapping her arms around me. ‘I guess that settle that’ I think to myself, before placing her sodden boots in my bag. I manage to somehow get my bag on without falling into the snow, before bringing Frisk closer to my body and getting up from my kneeled position. With her up again and safely tucked into my arms, she instantly buries her head back into my shoulder and hair. Her shivering has only lessened a little, but it’s all I can do for now. I can feel my knees and feet growing sore from the cold wetness, but I'll survive without the extra layer.

…

…..

..I hope.

I mean, I've always been more resistant to the cold. Still, if we’re able to, we should really get some warmer clothes, my singlet isn’t going to last me long in this weather, and leggings are not a great choice for winter. But I can’t waste more time trying to find a new wardrobe from my pack. We need shelter first, then I can worry about myself.

Stumbling through the snow again, I grumble softly to myself in irritation. I swear this snow must be some of the loudest snow I've ever heard and it’s putting me on edge. The noise felt out of place in the silence, the crunching of ice cracking through the air with aggression. At least its fresh though, it's not as slippery as it would have been had it been old or melting. Light dusting of fluffy white flakes drift carelessly around us, catching onto my lashes and hair. It's nice. I’d prefer the burning from the cold then from fire any day. Actually, lets just not think of burning at all, yep, that sounds like a good plan.

Frisk hasn't stopped crying, still hiding in the slope of my shoulder. All I can do for her is to soothingly rub circles on her back and mumble random, but what I hope, are comforting words. It breaks my heart to hear her struggling, so I hold her close. There's not much more I can do for her. We need shelter, we need better clothes. Heck! We need a better plan.  I wonder if that had been the right choice, to leave the safety of the ruins. I just didn't feel comfortable with that woman. The way she would stare at Frisk, touch her and speak to her. I shiver and goose bumps crawl up my arms. The whole situation gave me bad vibes, even the way she looked at me was scary. It was as if she didn’t see us sometimes, even when looking straight at us. Her touch was always firm and her grip fierce. The only thing soothing was her voice, but even that soon became odd, more controlling in a way.

I understand she lost her children. But that doesn’t mean we can be replacement kids for her, sad to think she’d even want to replace her children, dead or alive, no one should try to replace someone so precious, no matter how heartbreaking.

Then again, I’m no parent. Glancing down at the miserable child in my arms, I feel the smallest of smiles inch on my face. Their face is laying on my shoulder, head tilting towards me with eyes closed, face wet with tears and frost. I wipe the tears falling down her face, her eyes opening to look up at me under snow dusted lashes. Smiling at her, I place a small kiss on her forehead. Frisk closes her eyes again, and seems to nod off a little, her constant tears slowing until they stopped completely. Snuggling in further, she seems to relax finally. I hug her close and rub soothing circles on her back. Thankful that we had gotten out of the ruins without either of us being harmed. Thankful that Frisk was so strong in the face of such danger, being way more brave then myself.

Toriel was wrong for having put her in this position. She was wrong for firing at not only me, but this poor innocent child. She was wrong for a great many things. My earlier forgiveness waning in the face of her recent actions, how she endangered Frisk. How she used us a pseudo children, playing pretend family.

She called Frisk by another name at one stage, I'm not sure what it was but she had become hysterical afterwards before fleeing to her room. I’m sure it was one of her children’s names, that were strangely left un-mentioned in the books that I had been snooping through when left alone. A small crack in her pretend family, an imperfection that led to me and Frisk huddling in the living room, flinching at the sounds of screaming. Something smashing and breaking, the tearing of paper feeling like a warning siren. Fisk covering her ears, her eyes wide and clouded. We had sat like that, for what felt like forever before Toriel came back out. All smiles, all softness and motherly attention. Her eyes had been wide, red and angry.

She hadn’t left our side till it was time for bed, and even then, I knew she had watched us through the cracks of the door. I remember Frisk, mouthing something to herself as she pretended to sleep. Neither of us did that night.

No, I think with a slight shake to my head, leaving was the only option.  Doesn’t matter if it was good or not, we weren’t safe there. And anyway, humans aren’t made to be underground, Frisk deserves to see the surface again.

I….want to see the surface again.

Wait, it’s snowing?

Snow.

THE SURFACE!

Looking up, expecting to see clouds and grey skies I get a little shocked that there's a high, rocky ceiling.  Oh…..oh… This is the rest of the underground. I vaguely remember reading in a book at ToRiEls that there were different factions and cities of the underground. Disappointment rises up my throat. The normal coloration, vegetation and weather made me forget. It wasn’t even due to snow upside, so how I just suddenly think we escaped, was just plain dumb. Forcing away tears of frustration, I set my gaze forward. Ignoring the stone walls, ignoring the dark ceiling, ignoring the rising fear. Instead, I begin to wonder about ways to get out with minimal monster interaction, and hopefully without anymore battles.

My musing are interrupted by a loud snap reverberating behind us. Frisk instantly squeaks, no longer dozing. Her head whipping back and forth in panic before she squeezes my neck and hides in the crook of my neck again. I spin around, my hair damp and messy, sticking to my face and clinging to the back of my neck.

Frosty breath obscures my vision slightly, as I stare with widening eyes. Something colder, yet colder, spreading through me.

There, in the middle of the pathway, lay a thick branch. No one around it, no footsteps or disturbed snow besides those left by myself. Nothing unusual at all. Nothing except.

The branch was snapped in two.

For a second all I do is stare as a terrible uncontrollable shiver runs through my whole body that I know had nothing to do with the cold. That’s when I feel it.

There are eyes watching us. I can feel my throat tighten, not sure if it’s the fear, or Frisk’s strong hold.

With speed that was nearly inhuman I turn and bolt, clutching Frisk tightly as she squeals in shock, her small body bouncing frantically as I run. Her grip cutting off my air every now and then as she struggles to hold on. Snow crunches loudly behind me as something, something very fast, speeds after me. I gulp in the icy air clumsily as I struggle through the thick snow.  Frost scrapes at my throat as a strangled wail escapes me as whatever was behind us got even faster. My pathetic noises of fear only grow louder as I continue to struggle running, my stamina already low and the snow making my escape even harder to accomplish.

Now, I'm not religious, I find that stuff messy, but I have never prayed as desperately and wholeheartedly as I began doing in that situation. A melted bit of ice under the snow has me slipping forward, landing harshly on my knees. Quickly, I thrust one of my arms out, catching myself from falling face first into the snow and crushing frisk. I look up from the icy ground in a panic, my legs freezing and wet, I notice a bridge. My heart Leaps as I spot a small hut of sorts beyond the bridge. Maybe someone was there that could help us! I use my freezing hand, currently sitting in the snow, to push myself up before sprinting forward. Just as I’m about to step onto the bridge, my body freezes.

No, I mean I actually froze.

I can’t move

Frisk whining and fussing, turns her face away from whatever was behind us and rests her head on my chest, her shivering was so bad that it was causing my whole upper body to vibrate and move, but that wasn’t important.

The crunch of snow growing louder as whatever was behind us grew nearer, its pace slow. A predator toying with its captured prey.

I desperately try to lift my leg off the ground and to move forward, but nothing happens. Something growls behind me, low and dangerous. My eyes stretch wider.

I try to let go of Frisk, in hopes that she may be spared.

My arms don’t budge.

I whimper.

What did I do to deserve this! Was it because of that one kid I punched in primary school? He deserved it, he stole and ate my lunch, what else is a girl to do! Or was it because of all those times I embarrassed my mum at the grocery store by having tantrums?? Was it because I don’t like chocolate? Why world, you’ve beaten me up, thrown me down and bUrNT me alive. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANNA FU-

Crunch

Goosebumps caress my arms and legs as I feel a presence directly behind me. Their breath tickling my neck and causing the hairs to stand up. Whatever was behind me lent closer until their mouth was right next to my ear. Tears collected in my eyes, trembling, I again try to lift my legs, using all my strength, but nothing. Not even a slight slip or shuffle. Nothing but shivers racking my form. A low rumble emerges from the thing behind me, as whatever it is begins to speak. It’s tone dark and voice low, it sounds distorted.

“H u m a n.

D o n’ t   y o u   k n o w   h o w   t o   g r e e t   a   n e w   p a l?

T u r n   a r o u n d   a n d   s h a k e   m y   h a n d.”

My eyes stretch wide open as my body begins to turn itself around. Frisk stays quiet and clutches onto me tighter. I find myself staring at the ground and I can’t tell if it’s my doing or if it’s the being that’s now in front of me. Fear clogs my throat, its stickiness stopping me from screaming for help. Maybe we should’ve stayed with ToRIel after all.

I see a hand enter my vision and my hand robotically moves itself to shake the hand. The other, fortunately or unfortunately, stays holding frisk to me.

PPPPPPPppfffffffffffftttttttttttttttt!

“eep!” a small short yelp escapes my mouth as my head shoots up in alarm. Greeting my wide eyes and agape mouth, is a smiling skull that has its head tilted slightly, eyes crinkled shut. Small chuckles come from him as he slightly bobs his head and shoulders as he laughs.

“Ah, the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick, never get’s old” he snickers as he slowly opens his eyes and looks at me. However his laughter cuts short as his eyes widen in shock, mouth turning downwards slightly. Small flickers of lights from his dark eye sockets stare intensively at me.

For a moment we’re both still.

Tears are still falling down my face and my legs are trembling in exhaustion.

Mouth hanging open as I pant, clouds of air coming out in puffs of white, the vapours drifting in the small space between us.

I just want to rest.

I'm tired.

My hand is still being held tightly by the wide-eyed skeleton, still in mid shake. Its eyes are so dark, so empty and lifeless. Only the tiniest pinprick of light flickering in the void. On and off it blinked. And it was staring at me.

I collapse as whatever hold on me dissipates, my knees slamming into the icy ground, the rocks hiding beneath the snow slashing into my skin. The freezing frozen water settles into my shoes, socks and pants. Frisk is silent, she hasn't moved or made a sound. My chin slightly rests on the child head, my arm still reaching up where the skeleton stands, my hand trapped by his. My lips wobble, my eyesight blurs and a strangled cry escapes me.

I'm done, I can't do this. Pathetically I wail, overcome with every emotion. My body begins to ache from how severely my body begins to shake.

Unnoticed by myself, the skeleton stares with his small eyelights. And just like that. Something seems to snap in him and his eyelights grow.

“Oh! Hey! Hey don't, uh, don't cry!” his bones rattle before he's suddenly kneeling in the snow in front of me. His eyelights bigger and brighter, sending out a faint glow, and his smile has become small and downturned. He speaks in a rushed, confused and worried tone, voice so deep I can feel my body vibrate because of it. Tears come forth faster and thicker, my nose beginning to drip as my throat clogs up with a heavy thickness.

“Uh! Umm, are you hurt? Hey human it's ok. I'm friendly! See” he smiles widely, sticking his face just below my now hanging head, giving me a good view of his great big strained smile. I cry louder, hyperventilating and lightly coughing now. His eyes go wide and his smile is gone again. He doesn't move his head though. I feel something rub against my non-free hand and when I turn slightly to see what it is, I'm surprised by long bony fingers rubbing my hand gently. Both of his hands were wrapped around my free hand now, trying to send a sense of something comforting. I look him in the eyes as best as I could, tears continuously clouding my sight.

“please” his eyes widen and if I wasn't so scared, so tired and broken I also would've been shocked. My voice was just as broken as me, crackling and barely above a whisper. Like the crackling of fire. ‘It hurts, please! Stop!’ I'm burning. STOP’.

I sob “please, don't hurt Frisk” clutching Frisk tighter to me, I can feel her tense, I can feel my chest become warm and wet from her tears. The only thing I care about however, was the safety of this child, so small and young. I've had time to grow, even if it was a short time, it was more than this child. I needed to know they'd be safe. They can have my soul, but they cannot have Frisk.

Despite it all though, I'm still scared. My lips tremble and I pant in fear, thick vapour wisps escaping my mouth. I blink away tears and lift my head up. Eyes pleading to the monster whose face has turned blank and dark, lights dimming and wobbling, unstable. I feel something crawling up my spine.

“If you need a human soul, kill me instead”

‘I don't want to die’

“Just don’t hurt her, please”

‘please I don’t want to die, I want to go home’

“She’s just a kid”

‘stop’

“I wont fight it, just-“ I cough, air catching in my throat, “just don’t hurt her”

The skeletons eyes go black, his fingers still from their motions and the small smile that had been growing on his skull again, drops into a small ‘o' shape, barely open. For a second, two empty voids stare.

Then his eyes came back and he begins stuttering badly.

“Oh Stars! It was just a joke, i-i didn't mean to scare ya so badly kiddo.  Oh! Uh! I’m not hurting anybody. Jeez, what would make you think I'd kill ya. No no no, it's ok, sshh. It's ok, you don't need to cry!” his hand waved around nervously, keeping one hand wrapped around mine at all times. He was desperately trying to calm me, shushing me whenever my crying began to grow more.

He's a liar. Toriel seemed nice too. But then she tried to kill me. Flowey also tried to pretend.

They’re all LiArs.

I remember one of her books.

Monsters needed human souls.

They needed seven human souls.

They needed to kILl seven humans.

In hopes, of breaking their barrier to the surface.

My breathing slows slightly. My tears dripping slowly, before running dry. And I'm numb. Whether it’s now, an hour or a day away, he will try to hurt us.

He’s a liar.

Liar. Liar. LIar. He’S a LiAR! LIAR! LIAR! LIAR! ALL OF YOU ARE-

I blink away the last of the tears remaining in my eyes. A soft numbness beginning to creep into my chest.

“See! That's it human, just, stop crying” the skeleton says. I blink and I blink again, my eyes staying closed longer and longer with each blink. I'm so tired.

“uhhhhhh, hey! Human! Why did the skeleton not go to the dance?” cracking my eyes open, I stare up at him, confusion chipping at the growing numbness. His smile stretches causing his eyesockets to scrunch up, huh, wonder how that works.

“Cause, he had no-body to go with!” he chuckles. A soft snort comes from Frisk, I squeeze her tighter. The skeleton looks...disappointed? Before he smiles and chuckles again.

“oh, ok human, guess that one was pretty bad. But! I’ll bet this next one you'll like, it’s a real,” he pauses for effect “rib-tickler.” He laughs nervously at my blank stare, “Why doesn't the cold bother a skeleton! Because, it goes straight through em!” he fully laughs now, small tears in the corner of his scrunched-up eyes. Frisk is a bouncing bundle of giggles. A small tight smile stretches my face. The empty feeling subsiding, as its chased away by the bad pun. The skeleton opens his eyes and stares at me, smile still wide and small tears still in the corners of his eyes.

“See human, I’m not that scary. I'm just a numbskull with a head full of jokes, because you know, what else am I going to use that empty space for” I quietly giggled when he lightly taps the top of his skull, letting a loud and hollow sound surround us. The skeleton seems shaken by my laughter before chuckling with me, giving my still trapped hand a squeeze and shake. “The names Sans, Sans the skeleton” he gives a wink before rattling his bones. I smile before shaking his hand myself. Something oddly calming covering me.  “My names (Y/N), (Y/N) the human” he chuckles “And this is Frisk” I say before shaking my torso, causing Frisk to sway and bounce around giggling, pulling her face away from my chest, she turns, giving the skeleton a smile. The skeleton looks a little confused, something changing in his gaze, but it’s only there for a second, a bright smile replacing the random expression.

“Well, hi there small human, I’m happy that my jokes are funny to someone, I swear, funny bones are a hard thing to find in some monster,” tapping rattles his bones again, “I personally find my jokes quite humerus” I shake my head as Frisk gives a small laugh, that one wasn’t even good. Sans chuckles before standing into a slumped forward position, still holding my hand with one of his, causing him to bend forward so as not to lose his grip on mine. I wonder why he’s yet to let go. “Come on, you both look bonetired, and I should know, I’m only ever bone and tired” ok that one got a small chuckle from me “I’ve got a sentry station just past this bridge where you can rest, if you want” he says awkwardly with a shrug. Still bending over, skull leaning down close to mine, he wear a genuine expression, something, light. My lips pull into a strained smile, before I begin to pull myself up onto my feet, sans pulling on my hand, helping us out of the thick snow, Frisk decided she was fine clinging to me and didn’t let go for a second. I smile down at her before cuddling her closer, trying my best to warm her. Despite my smile and semi-cheerful demeanour, I couldn’t help but eye the skeleton when he’s not looking, my eyes narrowing. Distrust bubbling throughout my whole being. However, when he turns his eyelights back towards me, my tired eyes and soft smile are all that’s there. I’ll watch him.

I’ll do anything to protect Frisk.

Finally, the skeleton hesitantly lets go of my hand and begins to lead us through the oddly designed bridge and towards the wooden stand, however before we could fully get there, a loud shrieking voice screamed into the cold still air, forcing my body to halt and my heart to sink in terror, my shaking increased intensively. Clutching Frisk close to me I look in fear to the skeleton who had turned towards us at the scream, a slight nervous expression settling onto his skull. I contemplated fleeing but then he sighs, stopping my thoughts.

“That’s my bro” he pauses for a second as his eyelights dart down the pathway before darting back to us, “quick, go hide behind my post” I did exactly that, rushing to the little stand and basically collapsed behind it, shuffling back until my back was pressed up against the wooden corner of the stand and my bottom was sitting on the sentry’s floor. I scooted and twirled around quickly so Frisk’s back was to the corner instead, where it was warmer, my own back now exposed to the cold world outside. Soft and light footsteps came towards us, before, I’m assuming Sans, leaned against the frame, causing an old wooden creaking sound to travel across it.

Loud thunderous stomps echo around us, the crunching of snow making the hairs on my arms stand. I still stand by the statement that this snow is by far the loudest thing ever. I shiver as a cool breeze(?) blew against my exposed back, my thin, sleeveless top doing nothing for protection.

“what’s sup bro” sans voice shakes my bones, his voice was way too low to be normal. I nuzzle Frisks hair when the new comer speaks, and I’m quick to realise that their voice is the complete opposite of sans.

“YOU KNOW WHAT’S UP, BROTHER” loud, higher pitched and with an amount of energy I didn’t expect from the apparent brother of Sans, begins to shout. “IT’S BEEN EIGHT DAYS AND YOU STILL HAVE NOT RECALIBRATED YOUR. PUZZLES!” I can hear the skeletons brother stomping angrily. I supressed anxious giggles, because someone that could potentially be my killer should not have the audacity to sound so much like a cute cranky kid, oh my god. “YOU’VE NOT EVEN BOTHERED TO STEP AWAY FROM YOUR STATION. YOU’RE JUST LOUNGING ON IT!!!! WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?!?”

“eh, you know. Just chilling with my stand, they’re really cool, wanna hang?” my heart stutters to a stop. No no no no no no NO! I knew it, I shouldn’t have trusted him enough to keep us safe, not for a single second! I should’ve made a run for it while we had a chance! I look behind me, looking at the white forest, contemplating if I could make a run for it, before my thoughs are interrupted by the loud monster.

“NO! I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT! WHAT IF A HUMAN COMES, SANS?” the voice whined “I NEED TO BE READY, I MUST BE READY! I WILL, no, I MUST BE THE ONE! I WILL CAPTURE THE HUMAN AND THEN I CAN FINALLY BE APART OF THE ROYAL GUARD!” the voice screeches, causing an echo to ring around us. Silence rang for a moment afterwards before it was broken by the same newcomer but this time their voice was, smaller, in an odd way. Less theatrical and screechy. It was actually, kinda nice.

“I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, WILL FINALLY GET ALL THE THINGS I DESERVE SANS. RESPECT. RECOGNITION. PEOPLE WILL FINALLY ASK TO BE MY…’FRIEND’ ” They sighed loudly, it sounded defeated but then it was cut off by small laughter, well, if you can call ‘nyeh heh heh’ laughing.

“AH! BUT LOOK AT ME, HOW CAN I EVER JOIN THE GUARD IF I MYSELF KEEP SLACKING OFF!? NO MORNING SHOWER OF KISSES FOR LAZYBONES…RIGHT SANS” silence stretches for a bit. I feel my shoulders slump downwards, despite the positivity from the new monster, they sounded sad. I close my eyes tightly. It didn’t matter if they were sad, they would kill me and Frisk and that is what matters most right now. Don’t think about how lonely they sound, or how unsure and hurt they sound, it doesn’t matter what they’re feeling. You need to think of yourself and the kid.

You’ve never been very good at not caring though.

Biting harshly on my lip, I try to distract my bleeding heart.

“mmm….Well, you could always go on break, hang with me and my station for a bit? Might cheer ya up” I twitch, again contemplating just getting up right now and running but if the skeleton could freeze me before then I’m sure he could easily do it again. At least here, Frisk is sheltered and not the one opened to any attacks. I refuse to let anyone hurt her.

‘ Well you’re already too late for that’

My arms stiffen around Frisk. It’s the voice again. Is it actually there, like some type of mind monster? my eyes dart around, as if that would show me the intruder. Or was I just going insane. My eyes stretch open wide as I tensely wait…for something.

…

‘oh, so got nothing to say now, huh?’

……

I sigh quietly into Frisk’s hair, she tightens her hold on me. Maybe I was loosing it. It was only ever brief, but, it did help us escape from the ruins. The new monsters voice, breaks my thought.

”SIGH, SANS YOU ARE NOT HELPING. YOU LAZYBONES. ALL YOU EVER DO IS SIT AND BOONDOGGLE!!” voice becoming more energetic with each word, before becoming a confident boom like sound. It vibrated my body, differently and yet similarly to sans voice. I frown, pulling Frisk closer to me as I glare at the wood of the stand. So far, the newcomer wasn’t coming to the stand, was Sans aware that, that would be the outcome to his invitation.

“YOU GET LAZIER AND LAZIER EVERY DAY!” snow being stomped loudly crunched as the voice stomps repeatedly.

“hey take it easy papyrus, I’ve gotten a ton of work done today. A skeleton” oh my god. Does this guy really need to make them that obvious! My heart does a flip and dive into my stomach as Frisk lets out a little laugh, instantly stopping when I give her a gentle shake. I worry my bottom lip in between my teeth. Thankfully, the voice-errr Papyrus? Doesn’t hear, too preoccupied with screaming into the black abyss above.

“SANS!!!”

“come on Papy, your smiling”

“I AM AND I HATE IT!! ‘SIGH’ why does this guy keep saying ‘sigh’, its cute but distracting, “WHY DOES SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME HAVE TO DO SO MUCH JUST TO GET SOME RECOGNITION…” there they go again, sounding sad.

It makes my chest ache.

It makes my soul push against my very being. Heh, souls are a thing now. Maybe it actually is.

“wow…..sounds like you’ve been working yourself…down to the bone” a high pitch squeal comes from both Frisk, making me nearly piss myself in fear, and also Papyrus. One of uncontainable laughing and the other of utter despair.

“UGH!!! I WILL ATTEND TO MY PUZZLES… AS FOR YOUR WORK? PUT A LITTLE MORE… BACKBONE. INTO IT!! NEHEHEHE” I hold my breath, that was the cutest thing ever, don’t laugh, I repeat, do. Not. Laugh.

I laugh.

Thankfully Papyrus must’ve come back and let out a loud, unsure laugh at the same time. Saved from certain death by the theatrical monster. Humans point 1, monsters….a flash of fire…..eeeerrrr, also 1.

Now to deal with Sans.

“ok, you can come out now” Sans voice shakes my body once again, my shoulder instinctively raising defensively. I stay where I am, ignoring Frisk’s restless fidgeting and confused looks. I breathe deeply. I don’t know what to do.

“Uhh. Kid?” snow crunches as the monster walks around the stand and towards our hiding spot. Frisk begins to wiggle more, obviously uncomfortable and unsure as to what the hold up is. I close my eyes tight. What do I do? What can I do? The skeleton was so close to giving us away, he’s not even trying to pretend! I could run, but he’d freeze us. I could maybe fight him, however the sensation of burning alive makes me reconsider that thought. I don’t want to get BuRnED, I don’t want Frisk to get hurt, and despite the few monsters I’ve already met and their horrible treatment, I don’t want to hurt anyone.

I just want to go home.

Frisk shifts in my hold and I look at them, seeing big brown eyes staring up at me, worry shining through those brown orbs. I smile shakily before finally glancing out of our little corner, eyes instantly locking onto the skull that’s peering around the corner of the stand. For a second all we do is stare. He’s got both hands, now covered by pink gloves, buried into the snow as he kneels and leans round to look at us. He looks confused.

“Why did you do that” is all I can think of to say. Sans face seems to tense a bit, causing…crinkles?…wrinkles? I mean, he’s a skeleton so I have no clue how that works but I guess I am talking to a walking, joking skeleton monster, so really who cares at this point.

“Waddya mean bud?” Odd, I hadn’t noticed that his mouth stays shut when he speaks, I swear it opened before.

I narrow my eyes a little “Why would you risk our hiding spot?” Sans seems a bit confused, but I continue on ignoring his questioning look. “You said you were ‘friendly’ but then throw out hints to the very next monster on how to find us” I look down at Frisk, whose once again snuggled up into my chest, only one eye visible and peering up at me. I look back to Sans, my glare falling as my whole being slumps forward slightly, my head resting on the wood of the stand.  Exhaustion tugging at me and making my eyes feel weird. “Why?” I plead.

“Uhh” Sans so very intelligently rumbles, eyelights flicking away from me as he hunches over a little. It’s quiet for a moment before the skeleton sighs, his smile stretching a little before looking over at us. “Sorry kid, but that was my little bro” I scowl a little, I mean that was kinda obvious, he did say this earlier after all, still doesn’t explain why he did what he did. Sans seems to notice my look as he chuckles, though it seems flat. “Papyrus is awesome, like he’s the coolest guy someone could meet” his face softens as he mentions this, “but he, uh, doesn’t really got a whole lot of friends” my scowl softens as Sans trails off, his hand coming up to lightly rub the back of his skull in an almost nervous way. “My bro wouldn’t hurt a soul, hehe. He’s too much of a soft bones to do anyone any damage” he looks down “but he’s always wanted to ‘capture’-” he uses his whole hands to indicate quote marks, rolling his eyes lights slightly “-a human. I know you were freaked out but I thought it’d do you both good to meet each other. Papyrus is the best monster round, and one of the kindest. And you’re a human, that itself is enough to make my bros day” god damn it, do not fall for the caring big brother act.

Do not do it.

Stooooop.

Don’t you dare.

I look at Sans whose got a small lazy smile, he tilts his head slightly, “My bro wouldn’t hurt ya.” Pausing as something unreadable crosses his face “Couldn’t” he mumbles with certainty.

.

..

….

God bloody damn it.

Sighing and closing my eyes tightly for a second, I contemplate everything that’s led me to this current point in time, before opening my eyes and standing from my hiding spot, keeping Frisk in my arms and pulling them as close as I can. Sans stands abruptly as well and eyes me, though he’s doing a good job making it look casual as he pretends to pat snow off of himself. I turn to the skeleton, “Ok mister, I don’t trust you and I don’t like what you did whatso ever” I bluntly state, keeping my face blank. Hoping that this randomly confident facade wouldn’t guarantee my demise. Sans blinks and mutters a soft ‘k’ as he turns his body to face us. “However” breathing in deeply, tension between my neck and shoulders growing “If you promise not to hurt Frisk and that your brother won’t hurt us-“ I doubt he won’t attempt to though. Taking another deep breath, already regretting my decision. “Then we’ll meet your brother”.

Sans smiles a little wider before lifting his shoulders and closing his eyes, “Gah, you drive a hard bargin kid” he opens an eyesocket “but I think I can manage that” both eye sockets are now open, peering down at me, “Just be KIND and try to relax, then we won’t have any issues.” His smile softens slightly. “My bros been down lately, seeing not just one, but two humans, well, I think it’d do more than just make his day”. Then, with a lazy wave, sans turns and saunters towards where Papyrus had left.

“Follow me kid”

With a small grumble about monsters and thinking I’m a child, I uncertainly begin to follow the odd skeleton. Hoping that I wasn’t taking myself and Frisk from one bad place to another. Frisk looks up at me, patting my cheek with a wide smile. With a soft gaze, I grab her hand and give her forehead a sweet kiss. Before hugging her close to my body once again, her head resting on my shoulders.

Whatever happens, I’ll protect Frisk.

A small yellow flower glowers from behind us, watching as we walk away. a snarl pulling at his lips, before sinking back into the freezing earth. Golden eyes being the only thing to have seen it.