The gentle clanking of chains was the only sound filtering through the dank, dirty air. Heavy, cold steel pressed steadily against a pale neck, restricting the passage of air partially. It was a permanent reminder to the captive of her fate, the fate she had bowed to with little reluctance, the fate of being held in a place where she could no longer harm a single soul.
A small rasp of air echoed through the empty room. Deep within the darkness, slouched in the corner, was the victim of imprisonment. At first sight, it looked like a simple human in her early twenties, but once looked at more closely, the differences between a measly human and herself become more prominent. The hair that cascaded down the head and shoulders was a pale, shiny silver which resembled the rays of moonlight on the night of a full moon, waving lightly. The skin was incredibly pale, almost as if all warmth was sucked out of the creature. Hidden behind pale lips were sharp, jagged teeth worthy of a monster, the canines striking fear into those that see them. Settled on her back were two large leathery wings, but emitting off of them was a thick, black mist which dissipated after a couple of seconds of appearing.
Two hands shifted in her lap, jingling the chains once more that trailed from thick, slightly rusted and stained cuffs. Glinting in the darkness, were long, slightly curved talons that were permanently tainted with the shadow of the blood the victims had shed far in the past in the eyes of the prisoner. The eyes were a simple amber colour, bright and vivid in colour, but what set them apart from others was not the iris, but the colour behind it. Black, darker than the void itself filled her eyes where an average person's whites would be. In the centre of the iris was a slit for a pupil, however it was an unnerving pure white with a black outlines.
Protruding from the base of a spine was a long appendage, thick in girth which became thinner as the length continued into a tail. The ivory connections of the tail glinted in the darkness, clicking against the ground. The end of the skeletal tail was sharp, like a spear whilst the actual tail was 1.5 metres in length.
Absently curling the tail around herself, she leaned her head back to settle against a cold, hard surface of the wall of the place she had determined as her home and prison alike. Closing her eyes calmly, a wheezing sigh filtered into the air. How long had it been since she first got sent here? How long had it been since she had last had company? Setting her hand absently against the metal shackle against her throat, thoughts swam around in her mind, flitting across her acknowledgement at a speed that would be incomprehensible to mankind.
"…ere are we going?" Snapping from her thoughts, the prisoner perked her being at the sound of a voice. Hearing a voice after such a long time was music to her ears, but also something she half wished never to hear again… not after what she did. The faint sound of the door unlocking had her snapping from her thoughts once more, eyes opening to turn to the front. Blinding blue light filtered through the crack, making eyes that were adjusted to the dark burn and scrunch closed. The fresh air that was brought with the opening of the door had her lungs greedily sucking it in to the point they would no longer inflate.
"T-the key, u-uh, t-t-the n-notes me-mentioned that i-it o-opened a door hid-hid-hidden d-d-deep i-inside wa-waterf-fall." A high pitched, slightly nasally voice spoke this time. The stuttering was something that brought up an emotion that had long since been buried deep within the prisoner. It was bubbly, giddy and slightly warm. Amusement. The door let out a hearty creak. Attempting to pull her eyes open, she had only succeeded after multiple attempts, adjusting to the light eventually.
"I dunno about this Alph, the notes also said that it held something, something very dangerous." The next voice was a deep baritone. It sounded something similar to a lazy drawl, however it had firmness behind it. The bright blue light let two silhouettes stand out against the rectangular opening of the door. One was slightly triangular, shaping what seemed to be some sort of dinosaur with some sort of coat or cloak on, the other was only ever so slightly taller, bulky and on the more human side, though not quite.
"…You shouldn't have come here." The prisoner spoke up after they had set a couple of feet inside her chambers. Her voice was hoarse from misuse, but soft behind the cold tone. Freezing, the silhouettes even stopped their regular occurrence of respiration. The prisoner sat away from the lights reach, making her silhouette difficult to make out from the shadows of her corner.
"Listen bud, you better show yourself or you'll be in for a bad time when I find ya." The more human-shaped one spoke up with a dark, deeper tone that sent faint shivers of fear down her spine. A small bubble of… something raised in her throat, releasing a raspy chuckle that bounced of each wall.
"Why must I show myself when I am in plain sight? You must simply look." Speaking in a slightly amused tone of voice, her hand moved from the shackle around her neck, back to her lap whilst the chains rattled in accordance to her movements. Muffled footsteps had her eyes settling on the closer silhouette, whose features were becoming more prominent. Indeed it was no human, but what would be considered the remnants of one, a skeleton. He, however was no human skeleton. His bone appeared to be malleable, also the star-like white pin pricks inside the eye sockets was a clear sign.
"Come out into the light." He ordered.
With a deep, raspy sigh the loud clangs of chains, the shuffle of cloth and wheezing breaths of the prisoner were the only sounds available. Deep aches settled deep within her joints as they groaned in protest. Eventually standing, her tail clicked against the solid stone floor, scratching before lifting with a chalk-board worthy screech. Chains rattled and strained, glinting coldly in the light, patches of dark rust prominent against the steel.
Face stern in concentration, faint slaps of bare feet hitting stone accompanied the loud rattle of chains before the first sight of sickly pale skin was seen. It took a short while before her entire body entered the only source of light. Eyes turned tiredly towards the visitors, analysing the ones that dared order her about – not that she fought against them. In order to relieve the tension that began to grow in atmosphere in body, the prisoner settled down on to the cold floor once more.
"It's best if you leave." Hoarse and rough, the soft voice of the female prisoner spoke out, eyes that were once lowered, connected to two stars for pupils inside the voids of the skeleton's eye sockets. Legs crossed and hands resting in the centre, the prisoner watched closely with a small wheeze escaping her mouth every couple of seconds. Amazement flashed across her eyes at the sight of the flurry of emotions crossing the skeletal visage. The monster was far more expressive than she had first thought possible.
"Please… Leave me and return to your homes and families." She quietly begged, uncomfortable and fearful whilst the skeleton and dinosaur seemed to have snapped out of their reverie and turned to look at one another with a brief yet detailed conversation between eye contact. Before long, the dinosaur began shuffling forwards – stopping only at the contact of a skeletal hand wrapping around the scaly bicep. Upon closer inspection, the dinosaur had golden yellow scales – tinted a faint green from the blue light and two small, fidgeting hands with fairly blunt claws entwining with an off-white lab coat of sorts. The eyes were beady and black, two thick lenses in front of them as a pair of glasses which rested on the thick snout. Framing the cranium were golden horns which appeared to merge with the scales of her skin.
"Alph, don't get too close, we don't know if this thing's dangerous." Deep monotone greeted her sound deprived ears whilst she watched, silent and entertained. Sweat seemed to glisten on the reptile's cranium whilst moving to vocalise despite the trembling which only seemed to increase in intensity.
"W-we do-don't know th-th-that S-Sans!" The nasally voice that belonged to the reptile echoed throughout the room, bouncing off of the walls and making the uncomfortable atmosphere grow. Shifting uncomfortably, their attention was drawn to her once more as a tiny, ghost of a smile appeared on her lips.
"You should listen to your friend, I was locked up here for a reason." Despite the attempts of lacking emotion, sorrow that sunk deeper than the marrow of her bones filtered through with the words, unknowingly striking the skeleton directly in the soul. Breathing hesitantly, the skeleton – presumably named Sans – watched the creature that was locked up closely. Each emotion that flashed across the visage both quickly and slowly, lingering and fleeing, was seen by his 'eyes'. Loneliness, guilt, sorrow, excitement, wonder and fear.
"What happened?" Words that were spoken, spoke to the prisoner from two time realms.
"What happened?!" She looked around, confusion marring her features. Slick yet sticky, her eyes turned down to her twelve year old hands. Red. Dark, horrifying red. Feeling her face contort in horror, mouth opening to scream. Tiny silver specks, so fine she almost mistook it for the light glimmered both on and in the red liquid. Dust. Lifting her gaze from her hands, all breath left her at the sight before her.
Scattered across the ground as far as she could see were corpses, piles of dust tainting the sky as the wind blew across the open plain. The cries of horror and war were prominent, but she didn't hear a single thing. Warm droplets on her hands brought her to attention. She was… crying. Jerking in fright at the endless screaming that she heard, eyes scoured the area for the source only for her to realise… it was her.
"I said WHAT HAPPENED?!" Pale and tear stained, her face turned to see a large monster looming over her. Bloodstained white fur, a blue trident that dripped red, two huge curling horns with golden hair framing them, a goatee of gold hair showing the beginning of a beard. The horror filled young creature didn't answer, clutching to her baggy shirt tightly. A single silver heart-shaped locket was settled on her chest.
"M-mummy? Daddy?" Scared and traumatised, the little girl searched the bloodied area hopelessly. The corpses were unidentifiable, torn and crushed. It appeared as if a crazed animal had wreaked havoc. A dark, cold chuckle boomed across the clearing, making the trembling girl jerk in shock before snapping her gaze up to the white furred monster.
"Crying for your parents, child? Why when you turned them to dust?" Her heart and breath froze in her chest and lungs, eyes wide as tears seemed to build up. The words echoed in her head on replay. She had no recollection of anything. One moment, her big brother was disintegrating into dust, rage bubbling up from deep within her, the next, darkness. By the time she had come to the present, she was curled on the floor – a blood curdling scream escaping her lips until her throat ran sore, crying for the ones she had lost.
Snapping to attention at a shuffle of cloth, the female prisoner sniffed. Cracking and lost, the voice echoed twice as loud in the silent chamber. "Something I'll never forget." The faint dripping noise, irritated her ears, only then noticing the tears that trailed down her cheeks, dripping on to her shackles whilst she wheezed heartbrokenly.
"…H-how l-l-long ha-have you b-been here?" The reptile spoke up. Closing her eyes in thought, her hand subconsciously curled into the fabric over her chest, gripping a hard object beneath it that was warmed from the touch of her skin.
"I-I don't know. T-The day the monsters retreated underground?" It was more a question than a statement, but it brought time to a standstill to the two monsters that towered over the slouched creature. Looking towards one another, they had a silent conversation using their eyes and subtle facial expressions that the prisoner took no notice of.
Scuffs of slippers brought the creature from her thoughts, a faint shadow of the skeleton lingering in the corner of her eyes, however, tension grew when the yellow scales of the reptile moved closer. Turning to the said monster with wary eyes, she scooted backwards towards the wall slightly when she had kneeled down, now at an equal height to the seated prisoner. "H-Hi I'm A-Alphys." The introduction took her by surprise as she looked down at the outstretched, slightly sweaty hand.
Not returning the gesture, she simply looked up into the beady eyes of the dinosaur, wheezing quietly. "Verrater." She mumbled, her voice near illegible but seemed to be heard. Alphys blinked with a look of short surprise, the look of pity overcoming all other emotions present on the scaly visage.
"S-surely t-that isn't your real name." Her stutter seemed to fade as seriousness seeped into the vocals of the short monster. Verrater made no move to correct the monster nor give any other information away. Distant rattles of the chains had the prisoner tensing greatly, the cold, cruel emotion of fear flitting through her soul and heart. Before long the skeleton had reappeared, carrying three broken chains in his arms.
"Come on, we're getting out of here." Sans spoke gruffly, Alphys getting up ad stumbling over towards the exit without much hesitation. Grunting with reluctance, Verrater refused to move despite the twisting of the shackle on her neck whilst the chain – connected to the back of the said shackle – pulled forwards. "Get up."
"I refuse to move from my cell. I brought this upon myself." Her voice was stern, the desire to atone for her sins was greater than any desire for freedom. Sans, of whom she presumed the skeleton was, looked at her with a blank expression. Flaring blue, the female prisoner squeaked in surprise when a blue haze surrounded her body, freezing her attempts of movement and lifting the entire creature from the ground.
"Hey! Put me do-" Hacking coughs cut her voice off, deep wheezes replacing the soft tone of her voice. Wheezing heavily, begging silently for air. The skeleton glanced over his blue parka covered shoulder, concern evident in his unusual gaze though drowned out by other conflicting emotions. Several moments of hacking and gasping lead to her collecting enough oxygen to quiet down.
"Do you know how long you've been in there?" Alphys spoke up this time, her nasally voice being oddly serious in the short time she had known the dinosaur monster. Bright colours welcomed her when they had stepped out of the door. All breath was lost at the sight before her, luminescent blue hues surrounded them all, above settled thousands of glowing crystals which were hypnotically beautiful, reminding her of a distant memory of stars before…
Absently shaking her head no, her eyes took in every detail of the surrounding area, from the floors to the faintly glowing water. Eyes flitted across the room but always lingered on the single source of hydration. How had she not noticed her thirst, tongue equivalent to sandpaper covered in thick tar whilst the throat burned with each breath. Swallowing thickly and with difficulty, she eventually turned away from the source.
"You've been there for over four hundred years. 436 to be exact, it's a surprise you're even still alive bucko." Sans spoke up, earning her attention whilst she internally sighed, eyes lowering to the locket she had taken from beneath her shirt at some point, resting in her palm as the silver accessory glinted in the blue light. No amount of time could make up for what she had done… nothing could truly let her atone for her sins.
"Heh. Guess I really lost track of time." Her voice rasped out, squeezing out of her semi-tightened neck. The rattling of the chains grew louder as they moved in an upwards direction. Hours had passed almost before she had dared open her mouth again. "…Where are you taking me?" Silence was her only reply, gentle scuffs and taps of slippers and firm claws were the only noises. Giving in, she leaned back into the hold of magic. Crying out in a short choke, the tilt of her body was accompanied by a pain blooming from her wings and head – the most prominent being a harsh snapping sound.
"S-Sans!" Alphys spoke up, sounding either outraged or incredibly surprised, which? Verrater couldn't tell. With eyes closed tightly, shadows danced across her blackened eyesight, a couple of silhouettes that haunted the girl every second she breathed.
Can you do nothing right? First kill us then embarrass yourself in front of some strangers! Pathetic.
Brooding, filled with hatred, the voiced bounced around her skull painfully, the familiarity of the voice always threw her off guard – yet it always managed to hurt her more than anything else. Bowing down under the voice mentally, eyes opened before the body twisted to a more comfortable position.
"Oops, sorry Alph." The deep voice of Sans echoed through the long corridor whilst silence merely echoed afterwards. Grunting in a strained voice, she brought herself to a standing position, something warm trickling down her wing. Glancing over her shoulder at the useless things, the mere movement brought all air settled within her lungs, rushing out. Internally screaming, tears piled up in the corners of her eyes. Distracted and forcing her mind to remain calm, the distant dripping noise on the ground had her internally wincing – knowing exactly what it was.
Oh stop being such a wimp! You're no child of mine with that attitude. Ducking her head to hide her pain filled eyes, hands moves up to rub her eyes quietly. A frim tug to the chain had her jerking forwards. Muffling the cry of pain with her hand, the walk began. It wasn't long before the bright light, she barely remembered as the sun, peeked through the entrance of the cavern. The short distance had brought her stamina down to the point exhaustion weighed upon each and every muscle in her body.
"Ah! There the punks are! What took you guys so long?!" A brash, yet somewhat friendly voice had her jumping in surprise, yet instantly regretting it as she had to swallow another scream. Sans chuckled briefly, speaking in a cool, warm voice which contrasted greatly to the firm, serious tone of previously.
"I guess you could say…" He trailed off as a new voice followed. But what churned her soul most about this was that the voice sounded so much like… Tears began to form in her eyes at the thought, it wasn't so much the sound of the actual voice, but the emotions and innocence behind it. "SANS DON'T YOU DARE!"
"It was a chain of events." Sans finished his sentence, an indigenous cry of outrage following afterwards. Only the tension in the third chain, connected to the shackle around her neck made her realise she was subconsciously backing away. Sans suddenly jerked his skull in her direction, yet seemed to falter at the sight of her.
Muffled, a cry broke out from the throat of the female prisoner as fresh tears slipped down the sides of her pale cheeks. She couldn't do it, she couldn't! He sounded too much… no, no, no, NO. Ducking her head into her hands she began shaking her head – desperately trying to fight the memory that was resurfacing to the forefront of her mind. "Hey kid, what's wrong." Sans spoke, but it did little to help the traumatised monster. A small whimper of fear filtered through her throat.
"SANS, WHO IS THAT CHAINED PERSON? WHY DO THEY LOOK SO SAD?"