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Kris lies awake, struggling to fall asleep.
The music and muffled laughter of their mom dancing with the shopkeeper downstairs is just too loud.
They turn in their bed, trying to drown out the noise, but it’s just not possible.
With a sigh, they sit up in their bed.
The soul in the bird cage is moving around, trying to escape, but is held back by the bars of the cage.
Kris feels a sense of satisfaction from seeing the soul struggle like that.
At least it can’t control them like this, even if it’s just temporary.
Kris sighs. They wouldn’t mind if Susie was here right now.
Eventually, Kris gets up and opens the window, preparing to climb out of it.
Suddenly, their phone rings and a distorted voice speaks. “Don’t… forget…”
Kris’ throat tightens, but they choose to ignore it.
They proceed to skillfully climb out of the window, like they used to so many times in the past.
The drops of water on the lawn glitters in the moonlight. The music can even be heard from outside the house. Inside, Toriel laughs loudly at one of the shopkeeper’s jokes. Guess they’re having fun.
Without hesitation or even looking back, Kris makes their way around the house and down the street.
They remember the alleyway they and Susie went to the other day and that Susie had mentioned she occasionally hangs out there.
It seems to be worth checking that place.
Hometown is empty. There isn’t a single person on the street, except Kris.
Normally, Kris would consider this peaceful and relaxing, but not this night.
They don’t want to be alone. Nor do they want to leave Susie alone. Not after what happened today.
Every shadow seems to creep closer and swallow whatever light there is, almost chasing them.
Kris walks faster.
After what felt like an eternity, they eventually reached the alleyway. Just as they had hoped, Susie sits there, staring at a wall, seemingly deeply in thought.
Kris coughs and Susie turns her head to face them.
“Oh hey Kris, didn’t expect to see you here. Can’t sleep, eh?,” she grins.
Kris sits down next to her, hugging their knees. “No,” they mumble. “It’s too loud.”
Pause. “You aren’t home either though.”
Susie frowns and grumbles. “I’m not. Just don’t feel like going home.”
She fidgets with her jacket.
“It’s just… when I saw your mom dance with the shopkeeper— it felt wrong, very wrong. We were so worried for her that she could have been at the church, but we didn’t find her there! And then we fought the titan, a real titan, Kris, and then the prophecy—.”
Susie swallows and takes a deep breath.
“Kris, I was scared. And I’m sure I’m not the only one. Ralsei too, he said so, and you surely as well!”
She looks at Kris, who nods slowly.
“And when we got to your home… Everything was fine?! It’s as if nothing had happened! But it did happen! And I just—”
Susie had stood up and is now trembling, struggling to find the words.
She paces around.
“What do we do now, Kris? Officer Undyne is missing, the Knight tried kidnapping your mom, we have to find the codes to the shelter, Noelle and her family might be in danger as well — there’s just so much going on right now and I don’t know what to do!”
Kris silently reaches up to Susie’s arm. She pauses, sighs and sits down close to Kris, still shaking.
They lean their head against her shoulder, still having their hand on her arm.
Susie lays her head on theirs and takes a deep breath, calming down.
“I don’t know, Susie. I don’t know. It feels like all we can do is wait. Maybe we can talk with Ralsei about this…,” Kris mumbles. “Or maybe everything will turn out to be okay.”
“I refuse to let this end badly,” Susie responds quietly. “We won’t let it happen any other way.”
Both close their eyes and eventually, they doze off.
Yeah… maybe everything will be alright. Maybe.