Every time I am summoned, the first thing I feel is anger. Why am I being woken up this time? I don't care if some new savior is ruining your grand master plan. That's your problem, not mine. Unless you want me to destroy the world, I'll gladly do that. But one person? That's way too small.

Then I open my eyes, and I see who summoned me. And my anger fades. Because then I see their beautiful madness, lighting up their eyes, and I have to. I have to hear what their plan is, and I have to know what I can do to help. I fall in love with their insanity, and then when I'm done, I'm back to sleep.

Over the course of time, I have seen many things. I've seen entire cities burnt to the ground, children crying over corpses, people going insane from unbearable pain, but I've never seen this. Not once. The scene is still the same, a bloody knife held in one hand, a now-dying heart held in the other, but this time, this time, it's a child. A child with red eyes.

Immediately, I move into them, filling the space where their heart used to be, keeping them alive. The price for summoning me is death. The only reward I give is that whoever summoned me gets to live long enough to see their destruction.

~What is it, my child? What do you need?~ I whisper into their mind, curious as what to they're going to say.

Instead of replying, red hot anger floods their mind, and I'm taken aback. Tiny hands reach inside their chest, grabbing me, and fling me out of their body. I materialize into my full shape, facing the child. I'm confused, and a little shocked. Why did they do that? Don't they know they're going to die?

The child points the dagger at me, glaring hatefully. "Do. Not. Ever. Call. Me. That."

Call them what? A child? I rise to my full height, towering over them. ~You did not want to do that, human.~ I say menacingly. ~You're now going to die, and you've woken me up for no good reason.~

The child laughs cruelly. "You idiot. I'm not going to die."

I'm struck silly. How could they not die? They ripped their own heart out of their chest. I go to focus on the bloody heart, but they're no longer holding it. All they're holding is the dagger, and what appears to be some shards red glass. I look back at the child.

~Where is your heart?~ I ask.

The child grips the red shards tighter. "That wasn't my heart."

I eye the dark hole in their chest, noticing how it is a bit more to the right than it usually is, but still no heart remains inside. What do I do now? The child clearly isn't dying. I shrink back down to a more normal size for the child, considering. Should I just kill them and go back to sleep? Or should I wait and find out more? I meet their red gaze, and once again, the desire for sleep leaves. I sigh. Even if this child is strange, the beautiful madness is still there, if not a little more desperate.

~What was it?~ I ask, giving in.

They smile sadly, looking down a bit. "Something much more important." Then their head snaps up, their red gaze crashing into mine. "But it doesn't matter anymore. I paid your price, you can help me now."

~Only if I choose to.~ I snarl defensively. ~Especially since you did not pay the correct price. The price was your death, once all of this was done.~

The child shrugs, still smiling sadly. "Can't kill something that's already dead."

If I had a jaw, it would have dropped at this point. This child is already dead? Then how was it able to summon me! I only answer the call of the living! I growl in frustration. If this child wasn't so desperate... I meet their red gaze again. And the red eyes! Why the red eyes!

I close my eyes tightly. ~Child, do you know what you have done?~ I ask in frustration.

The child glares at me again. "I told you not to call me that."

I open my eyes, glaring at them myself, but they don't back down. I sigh again. ~Fine. What is it you wish for me to call you then?~

They tilt their head, considering. "Chara." They say finally. "My name is Chara."

~Pleasure to meet you, Chara, but we really must discuss the proper payment.~ I hiss.

"Can't we do that later?" Chara whines. "I really need your help now!"

I grumble to myself. They better be able to accept the price later. If they don't, I'll find a way to kill them again myself. ~What is it you require?~ I ask.

Chara grins, looking unusually happy. "We're going to save all the monsters."