Bravery

"You are filled with bravery"

I have heard of the rumours, that a girl had went missing quite a few years ago, 20 years to be exact. Her mum is still searching to this day, and refuses to give up and accept that Grizelda is dead.

But I agree with her.

I mean, how could a small seven year old girl go missing? I know that she went near a mountain that day, so I will begin my search there.

I go back home, my mum and dad out. I put on the cleanest headband I have, and some gloves I took from my dad.

I know that I will have to be quick on my feet, as I need to find that little girl.

I jog over to the mountain, quite a while away.

This will be good training for me.

Wow.

I had no idea there was a huge hole in the mountain! How did nobody find it?

It looks quite deep, but I can see something yellow down there. I'm sure it will cushion my fall.

Here I go!

I am filled with a funny feeling in my stomach, the feeling you get from a roller-coaster.

I am correct, as I land on a very cushiony flower bed.

I will admit, my legs and arms are slightly shocked from the fall, but with my gloves, it wasn't too bad.

I am sure Grizelda could have survived that fall as well, as I am only four years older than her when she fell.

I continue my search.

When I meet a flower.

I don't think much of it, but it seems to have an aura around it, which I don't like.

I hastily leave the room.

The walls are made of purple bricks, worn down. It seems like this place has been here for quite a while.

I continue walking, until I see a room filled with spikes.

Please no... Ok good. I checked for Grizelda's body, which wasn't there.

I then see a small white figure in the distance. It grows and grows, and I ready myself.

A goat.

She is dressed in old rags, that look like they could have been old robes.

The goat creature speaks up.

"Wow! I'm surprised you got here this quick!" The goat chuckles. "You obviously have a lot of spunk"

The goat walks a certain way through the spikes, and the spikes go underneath her feet, and she makes her way to my side.

"I'm Toriel. What's your name?" Toriel looks sincere, but it almost feels like she has said these exact words to somebody else before.

"I'm Richard. Nice to meet you Toriel. Tell me, have you ever seen a little girl pass by here? Ribbon in hair, playing with a toy knife?" I decided to approach Toriel more maturely.

Toriel falls silent before speaking up once more.

"Yes, but she's gone now." A solemn expression appears on her face.

"W-What happened?" I ask nervously. Is she really...? No.

"I'll tell you more once we reach my house."

I do realise that she could be deceiving me, but I think I'm strong enough to take her.

We walk in silence, Toriel solving the puzzles as we go. As we go, I notice something. A toy knife on one of the balconies as we pass.

I really need to know about what happened to Grizelda.

We finally reach the house. A sad building, only with two empty windows and a dead tree, with leaves lying underneath.

I wonder why she decided to live here, or was she forced?

Toriel steps inside, and beckons me in.

"Make yourself comfy, Richard." Toriel disappears into the living room, ready for our chat.

I decide to look around the house a bit first.

It is so much nicer in the inside! Full of paintings and light, it really is spectacular.

I step into the living room, where Toriel sits at the dining table.

"Sorry, I only have one comfy chair." Toriel smiles, and sets aside another dining chair.

"You are talking about...Grizelda, is that right?" Toriel asks me directly.

"Umm, yes. Her mum is worried sick, and still believes she is out there. What do you know?"

"Oh...Oh no. What have I done?!" Toriel stands up abruptly, and walks out the room.

"Toriel, what's wrong?"