Footsteps tapping quietly against concrete forced him to stir after the muffled rain had lulled him into a light slumber. It was unusual to hear those steps so late… or perhaps it was too early? He had lost track of the days and time what felt to be eons ago. Clients had become much more scarce as of late, even the cries of other monsters had seemed to lessen. Hearing the rustle of rusty keys, he slowly sat up upon instinct instilled into him so long ago, sockets watching as the door creaked open. The lights from the hall bled into his room nearly blinding the skeleton as the figure in the door way growled out usual commands to follow. Without a word he followed, all to eager to leave the dark tomb behind him.
Their shadows danced across the darkened walls and into empty rooms as they strolled passed, their foot steps echoing softly in the empty halls. Curiosity crossing the mind of what became of the other monsters that had been tucked away. Moans of anguish and pleasure use to echo heavily in the once filled halls, and where they had hidden his precious brother he would never know. Dust swept across his feet as he stopped, eyeing the looming figures above him, expecting the usual exchanging of money. Instead, dread gripping his soul as his handler took him by the collar whispering final orders; a small serge of magic rattling through his bones, the collar turning from green to red once he was released.
One hour was all he had to get ahead of the humans, if he chose to. Either die by their hands, or by the collars kill switch by sunrise. What of his brother? Gone. Sans had been sold off long, long ago. Everything that he had hoped for and everything he had done to protect him, shattering him to his very core, reaching out for something to tell him that Sans was still alive. Darkness filled his vision for a moment when the truth came, but the cold brush brushing against his bones and heavy rain brought him back. He could hear them starting to follow. Had it been a hour already? Magic surged through his aching bones. There had to be a way out. A root caught his foot as forced another short cut, and another, and another, and another. Sans was the only thing on his mind as he flew through each one, desperately trying to find any hint of his brothers soul, when he did, he went for it. To hell with the consequence.
An alley was where the last short cut left him stranded as he desperately tried again and again to force another short cut, but only in vain. Panting from exhaustion he fell against the wall, his body drained as his legs finally gave out. His breath was heavy as he tried to gather enough magic for just one more time, once more and he would be able to see Sans, just one last time. As the world began to darken around him, the rays of the morning sun began to peek over the horizon.
Warmth; the only thing he could comprehend when his senses came, steps and soft voices coming and going as he slipped in and out of consciousness. Was this what had awaited him in the afterlife? The warmth itself was enough to leave him senseless.. His bones ached as he began to move, but his vision blurry trying to make sense of the things around him. It was not his room back in Snowdin, Chara had long since disappeared since the monsters came to the surface, and for once doubted there ever being a reset. He fell to the wooden floor of the office, taking a moment to realize that he was in fact not dusted and began rattling his skull for answers. Papers and recipe books were scattered everywhere, the familiar scent of baked goods filled the air; had he passed out at Muffet's again? No, she never had an office… and Sans always took him home… then where was here? Had he been able to take one last short cut? His skull swam, trying to make sense of where he was and why his legs seemed to be entwined in some trap, but with the click of the door all thoughts stopped.
A crash from outside was what awoke you that chilly morning. You groan, figuring it was an animal going through the garbage as you slipped out of bed you looked to your alarm clock which read, "4:25 AM". Another sigh escapes you as you turn off the alarm and throw on your usual jeans and tshirt before going through your morning routine before heading to the bakery below from your second story apartment. As you approach the kitchen, you hear a strange sound; beeping. You always double check to make sure that all the equipment was off when you closed and all of the fire alarms seemed to be in working order, but that beeping still remained. What was it? Where was it?
Frantic knocking grounded you back to reality, knowing exactly who it was this early. "Muffet, it's too early for-," you began, but she frantically dragged you out the door.
"I'm sorry to drag you out here so early, darling, but this is an emergency," she exclaimed, taking you a bit further down the alley, that damn beeping becoming louder and clearer. As your eyes adjusted to the light, you noticed a figure lying at the very end, a lanky skeletal monster curled against the brick wall, the collar around his neck flashing red as it beeped in warning. In moments he would be turned to dust. "M'am I know him and I need your help to help him," she begged you, "I give you my word that he is not a danger."
You looked into her desperate, pleading eyes and looked back to the skeleton. Never in your life had you thought of owning one yourself as it had become illegal to own a monster years ago. With a heavy sigh you found yourself poking around with the collar and it eventually made a soft chime with the light quickly changing to green. It would only be temporary, right? Just until you could, literally, get him on his feet.
"If he's staying with me, you're at least helping with his care, Muffet," you utter hopelessly as she smiles with glee and comes to help you life up the lanky figure. Both you and Muffet carry the limp monster through the back door of the bakery, through the kitchen and into a small office under the stair case. After some how managing to get him onto the small bed, you had Muffet undress him so you could at least wash the garbage juice stained clothing. As she did, you began to start your morning working routine of putting together ingredients for doughnuts and bread. At least there would no secret spiders in the goods today, except for the monster goods!
You heard the door to the office close after some time and Muffet heading to the basement, the hum of the washer downstairs confirming your thoughts as you take out the first loaves of bread out from the oven. When she returned, she went straight to work. With demand for fresh baked goods going up, you were very relieved to have hired her.
"How long do you think he'll be out?" you ask her after a few hours, and quickly took note of her concern.
"A few days… maybe. His collar is set at the bare minimum, but it looks like he's spent nearly all of his magic reserves much to quickly, and it's amazing how he's still alive after all these years," she spoke. There was silence between the two of you for a moment before your curiosity got to you, "So you knew him? Before the… coming to the surface I mean."
"Yes," she answered, the memories seemingly warming her soul, "Papyrus was always a regular- There were times I would have to call his brother to drag him home from having too much to drink. Ahuhuhu~." She continued on with her memories of life in the Underground as you both continued to bake; mostly of the activities her own parlor and occasionally a few interesting notes about your new and unexpected roommate.
Everything else ran as normal, other than checking on the skeleton from time to time. Muffet had even left some food on your desk incase he would wake, knowing full well how well her baking cured a monsters HP. As the day progressed, the spider monster eventually went on her way, but not before giving you a short list of what she remembered of Papyrus. Another day came and went, no signs of the skeleton waking, it concerned you, but took Muffets word that he may be out for awhile. You were not exactly expecting him to be out for a few days. As the day came to an end, you wondered how he had been missing for so long without a trace and why no one had seemingly looked for him. It was three days later- while entranced in your thoughts as you were kneading the bread, wondering if that skeleton would ever wake up. Maybe you should call a doctor for him? Were there even any close to town that specialized in monsters? A thud knocked you out of your thoughts, and a groan made you realize that he was finally awake! Quickly, you washed your hands of flour and dough before opening the door, finding an entangled skeleton on the floor staring back at you with empty sockets.