Fssssssssh...

It's been three days…and that television was still on. Heh…I probably should turn it off, to spare what little power we monsters have since most of the Core's workers have been killed off. Guess I'm too lazy though…besides…

Fssssssssh...

Its static was the only sound in my life now.

Papyrus always hated it when I left the TV on like this, but, despite that, I couldn't seem to bring myself to turn it off. I could only stare blankly from my slumped position on the couch and watch the black and white fuzzy things conflict against each other as they bounced along the screen.

I chuckled dryly to myself, ignoring the pain that throbbed in my chest at the movement. Yeah, it's been three days. Three days since I killed them. Damn murdering bastard… Another pained laugh whistled through my teeth, as I reminisced the past seventy-two hours, my everlasting smile clunching as the grim events replayed through my head.

The final time I killed the kid was real stressing for me. I remembered how I stood before their body, their blood pooling around my feet, staining my white slippers red as I waited for hours on end in complete and utter paranoia before I was fianlly convinced that the anomaly was gone for good. I thought they were going to load back to the kid's last save point, like they had dozens of times before. But then again, maybe they took my advice and got the hell outta my life. Or rather, what was left of it. I sighed. Welp, now that they're gone, the few monsters who managed to evacuate were finally able to go back to their silent homes. Homes kinda like mine…

I yawned and stretched, my joints popping loudly. At least I learned something... Like how waiting for a psychopathic serial killer to reappear at the end of a dark hallway was really tensing, not to mention such a thing was mind-destroying in general. And, uh, that aside, I don't think I would've lasted another battle anyway, not with them wearing me down to the bone each time. Heh…get it?

So, after I bawled my eyesockets out with relief, sadness, and anger, I dragged myself away from the Judgement Hall and into the throne room where King Asgore asked me to take a series of reports on the remaining monsters of Home. As much as I wanted to deny him and go to my house to take a thousand year nap, he was still the king, and as the last remaining sentry, I had to follow his orders. So for the next six hours, I went around the underground and cataloged how many people died, who died, and how much help the survivors would need, which actually wasn't that much. It's sad to know that everyone left already knew how to deal with this kind of disaster, that they already knew how to work through calamity. I sighed.

So, the town at the top of our list was Snowdin, despite being the furthest from the castle and closest to the Ruins, there weren't many monsters living there in the first place, therefore, fewer casualties. Besides, Snowdin is a small town. If so much as one monster died, everyone in town would know soon enough. If only there were just one less death, then maybe my home wouldn't be so damn lifeless. Maybe I wouldn't be so damn lifeless. Heh, no good wishing for the impossible, eh? Won't do me no good, nor anyone else for that matter.

Waterfall came second on my list, with about a quarter of its population gone, amongst them Undyne, the captain of the Royal Guard and a dear friend of Papyrus's. I would be saying that I feel bad about her death but…I don't think I got the capacity to feel that kinda stuff no more. Besides, Alphys is crying all the tears for Undyne already, it won't help to shed any more. Hm…that thought sounded a lot worse than how I'd first imagined it.

Anyway, Hotland came third, surprisingly enough. I was certain it would've gotten first place since Alphys had already evacuated pretty much everyone by then. Even so, the only survivors were Alphys and about a handful of Core workers lucky enough not to encounter the kid.

So once the main lands were all finished up, I went through Snowdin Forest to see an old friend of mine. It felt like an eternity before I finally reached it. The Door. I remember just standing there, knowing that even if I knock, no one would answer. Which therefore leaves the Ruins at the bottom of my list. And I did go in, mind you, to see if there actually were survivors, but as I'd expected, everyone was gone. The only evidence that hinted at the Ruins being inhabited at all were monster soul fragments scattered across piles of white dust throughout the entire area. I also found a little house deep inside, one that creepily looked like Asgore's, and decided to go ahead in. It wasn't long until I realized that it belonged to the late queen, or as I know her, the Woman Behind the Door. Well…that explains the shattered boss monster soul right in front of the door. My cell phone buzzed on the coffee table and I groaned as I sat up to look at it.

Another text from Alphys. Greeeeeeaaaat…

Hey, it's not that don't I like her, she's a cool monster, always has been. She just keeps giving me things to do, when all I want to do is lie on the couch and feel like the failure I am. Damn, could that last sentence get any more depressing? Also, my younger brother died, a.k.a. the only person in my screwed up family I actually cared about, and I wasn't there to protect him because I was trying to get everyone else evacuated, adding yet another reason as to why I hate making promises. Sorry Dad, you too, Lady Toriel, for breaking my promises.

So after a good fifteen minutes, or something, of staring sideways at my phone, I finally mustered the strength to pick up the damn thing to look at what Alphys sent me, and immediately regretted that action.

So she said: Hey Sans? Could you do me a huge favor?

I groaned. Here's some advice from your soon-to-be-deceased Dunkle Sans; whenever a gal asks you a question like the one above, just go ahead and disappear 'cause she just might dump a giant load of responsibility on your shoulders, and trust me, that stuff'll only stab you in the back.

And so I replied: what is it?

Not even a second passed before she answered, saying: 'Kay so I bumped into this kid on the street today and he looked lost so I asked where his parents were and he just burst into tears! OMG I'M FREAKING OUT O.o' I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO SANS HELP ME! D;

So I said: well calm the kid down and figure out why he started crying in the first place.

And she replied literally two seconds later: NOTHING IS WORKING! O.O'

Before I had a chance to text back, she sent this: I'm bringing him to your place. He just told me he used to live in Snowdin ^-^' and I just got a txt from Asgore, so I gotta go anyway. He'll brt thx. :)

And then she had the nerve to also send: Promise me you'll take of him! Kk thx! you're the best! d(^o^b)

Thus leaving me staring dumbstruck at my phone. Seriously, what the hell was Alphys thinkin?! Dumping a kid on me of all people? Didn't she understand that I already have enough emotional turmoil to deal with? A series of sullen knocks came at my door. I stifled a groan and slowly rolled off the couch. After laying on the floor for a couple minutes, I got up and dragged myself over to the door. i swear to god alphys...

When opened it, I was greeted with a sight that shocked me. Standing before me with downcast eyes was a young armless monster that looked in as much pain as I was. well, that shouldn't be so shocking. kid probably doesn't have parents anymore. which means… i'm apparently taking their place. I almost groaned again.

"Ms. Alphys told me to knock on your door. She said you were a friend of hers and that you would take care of me till I'm old enough to take care of myself," the little thing said in a quiet voice. I wasn't sure how I felt about taking this kid in, but he definitely looked like he needed somebody who's been through Hell and back, and I didn't exactly have a choice. So I gestured for him to come in, and the first thing he did was sit on the couch and slump into the cushions. Wow, déjà vu.

"ya want anything?" I asked. The kid glanced up at me and shook his head before returning his gaze back to the floor. I sighed and plopped myself next to him.

"so what's your sob story?" The kid gazed at me with a strange expression.

"What?"

"what's got you looking half dead?" The kid seemed a bit taken aback, before he quickly turned away, though not before I saw a sheen of tears come over his eyes. I felt a part of me soften, barely.

"Why should I tell you?" He muttered angrily. My gaze dropped to the floor, my supposedly always-there smile becoming more like a grimace.

"guess i'll go first then?" He glanced at me as my eyes dimmed. "i lost my brother, nearly all of my friends, and my self-respect to that human. how 'bout you kiddo?" The monster kid was silent. I wacted a few tense seconds, then stood.

"let's go to grillby's. i'm kinda hungry and you look like you-"

"My parents are dead and I can't find my little sister," he interrupted, "a-and Miss Undyne…she saved me…and now she's…she's…"

"gone. i know. lots of people are gone now bucko…" By now the kid's face was streaked with tears. Upon impulse, I reached over and wiped the wetness off his face with my sleeve. He flinched at first before stilling, his face pressing into my cloth covered bones. Realizing my actions, I quickly retracted my arm. well, that wasn't weird in the slightest. I cleared my throat.

"c'mon, let's…go…" I said crisply, shoving my hands into my coat pockets. The kid look stricken for a moment before he ducked his head and trudged past me. I swallowed down nonexistent bile from the guilt of my actions, then shook my head and followed, closing and locking the front door behind me. It didn't take very long for us to reach the bar, so I told the kid to grab us a booth while I bought our food. Grillby's daughter, Hestia, stood behind the counter, polishing a glass as she chatted with one of the regular attendees. She waved politely as I walked over.

"Hey Sans," she said. "Give me a second, I'll go get your ketchup-" I waved her off.

"nah, I'll take two orders of burg and large fries," I said, "ketchup's only a condiment this time round, but thanks anyway, hestie." She tilted her head questioningly.

"What changed?"

"alphys dumped an orphan on me, and i don't think the kid'll want just ketchup." Hestia only nodded in understanding before opening the fire exit and repeating the order to whomever was in there. Probably ol' Grillbster himself.

"Go ahead and sit with your kid, Sans. I'll bring you guys the food," she called back, leaving before I could even begin to deny her first sentence. Slowly, I walked back to the booth the kid picked out. His head lay sideways on the table, his eyes closed, eyebrows drawn together. Silently, I sat down, studying him. I would've thought he was sleeping if he wasn't frowning so much. I frowned too. my kid? seriously? The kid shifted, twisting his neck to lay on the other side of his face. I refrained from sighing. Well, the kid was gonna be living with me from now on anyway, I might as well get used to being called his guardian, or even his father. I shuddered at the thought, but… I sighed out loud, making the kid twitch in surprise and look up to see me studying him.

"what's your name buddy?" I asked, resting my head on my hand. He looked uncomfortable for a second.

"Zach," he said quietly, "short for Zachary." I gave him a smile, reached over the table and gave his head a pat. He stared up at me, shocked.

"zach," I repeated, testing the name, "i like it." I had a feeling that the genuine smile he beamed back at me was first he's had in a while. At that moment, Hestia dropped by with our food, apologizing profusely for the wait.

"We got a little backed up right after you ordered," she explained sheepishly, setting down the burgers and fries. She pulled a mustard and ketchup bottle out of her waiters apron and placed them in the center of the table before rushing off to serve someone else. I looked back at Zach, who'd already dug into his food with a boyish enthusiasm. I held back a chuckle. Perhaps...this won't be as bad as I'd initially thought.