Prologue: Chara - Happy Birthday

I take a deep breath, sitting at my desk. I shove my school books aside and set down my tape recorder. I take another deep breath, listening. I have to make sure my parents aren't home yet. I don't hear anything. I turn back, staring at the golden flower sitting in a pot on the windowsill. It's wilting, his flower is dying. I take another breath as I turn back to the tape recorder. My hands tremble as I take it in my hand. I take yet another breath, and hit the record button.

"Hey, let me tell you a story. Everything I'm about to say is true, it actually happened to me. I'm recording this now because.. I don't think this part of our history will stay in the books. There was a time when we shared the world with these creatures, we called them Monsters, but they didn't really have a name. The story I'm about to tell you is heartbreaking, at least I hope it is. I'm sure time has changed, I'm sure people just don't care."

I chuckle lightly, sniffle, then continue, "But, um.. We're horrible, awful people. We don't deserve to be the race that won. We don't deserve to be the ones left alive. My name is Chara, and this is about the four years I had with a Monster named Asriel. This is about how my parents ripped him from his home, his family, to give him to me for my thirteenth birthday. This is about how we turned innocent creatures into pets and slaves for our own benefit. And.. This is how I failed.. To set him free."

I hesitate to speak, I can feel the tears running down my face, "I-it all started.. The day I turned thirteen.."

Four years earlier

I sigh, sitting at my desk. I rub my eyes, I still have so much more studying to do. I lean back in my chair, stretching my arms over my head. Maybe a little break won't be so bad. It's not like my parents are here right now anyway. The phone rings and I get up and leave my room. I go to the kitchen where phone is kept. I answer it, "Berkley residence."

"Heya, squirt!" a familiar voice laughs.

I smile, "Hi, Frisk."

"Happy birthday!" he says.

"Thank you." I reply.

He sighs, "I'm sorry I can't make it down there for your birthday, but I promise I'll visit soon."

"I'm sure Mom and Dad would love it if you visited." I lean against the counter, "It's been a year since we've last saw you."

"Yeah, sorry about that." he sighs.

I shake my head, even though I know he can't see it, "No way, you got into the best college in the state. We're all so proud of you."

"I kind of hate here," he sighs.

I frown, "What? Why?"

"I don't think the big city's for me. Besides, there's a lot of people here that are dragging Monsters around on leashes. It makes me mad, they don't deserve that." he groans softly, "Sorry, I shouldn't bore you with this stuff, especially not on your birthday."

"Do you see a lot of Monsters there?" I ask.

"Yeah, my ex-roommate has one, it disgusts me. I told him that, too and he had me kicked out. I have a different room now, by myself." he replies.

I raise an eyebrow, "Did you just tell him that or did you fight him over it?"

"I may or may not have broke his nose." he chuckles lightly.

I laugh, "I knew it! Heh, anyway, if you hate it so much over there, you should come back home. I miss you."

"I unfortunately can't just quit. I'm trying to make a career out of this, but don't worry, I will visit very soon." he replies.

"You better. Oh, I think our parents are back, I got to go. I'm supposed to be studying." I quickly hang up and run back to my room. I sit back at the desk and go back to reading the text book. I hear the front door open and then Dad calls to me, "Chara, come here please!"

I get up and go into the living room where they are waiting for me. I immediately look down at the big dog kennel thing they have with them. The thing's on wheels. I look at my parents, "What's that?"

"This is your birthday present, dear." Mom replies.

I frown lightly, leaning over, trying to look into the kennel, "Is it a puppy?"

"Better," Dad grins, "You got you a little Monster!"

I stand up straight, staring at them, "What?"

"It's basically a puppy," Mom waves her hand, pushing the kennel towards me, "Take it to your room. It's your birthday, so you can stop studying for today."

I frown, but silently take the kennel to my room. Once in my room, I close the door and push the kennel up against the wall at the foot of my bed. I Open the cage door and peer inside. It's dark in there, so I can't really see the Monster hiding at the back. I sit in front of the kennel, "Hello."

The Monster doesn't budge. I move and climb into the kennel. I sit there, close enough to see the Monster, but not too close. I don't want to spook him. He's a humanoid dog, or goat, or something of that nature, Monster with white fur. He has long floppy ears that just just below his shoulders, and he isn't wearing any clothes. His eyes, however, are the most human. He has big, bright eyes. The left is green, and the right is blue. His eyes are full of anger, fear, and pain.

I smile softly at him, "My name is Chara. What's your name?"

He just stares at me. I ask him another question, "How old are you? I'm thirteen."

He continues to just stare. I don't blame him, he's probably scared to death. I crawl backwards out of the kennel and I sit back on the floor, "You can come out of there if you want. You can even sleep on my bed, I don't mind."

Still, no response and he just stares at me. I sigh and stand, "Well, I'm not going to lock you in there, so just come out when you're ready."