"Have you heard the stories? About that mountain…?"
"You mean the mountain where people disappear? People go up, but no one comes back down!"
"Yeah, that one! What was it called again…"
"Its called Mt. Ebott." I spoke up from the book I was reading. The other kids turned and looked at me.
"Oh, right, Ebott…" The kid who I didn't bother to learn the name of trailed off. I looked up from my book to look at him, feeling him continue to stare at me.
"What do you want?" I snapped.
"I dare you to go to Mt. Ebott." The kid sneered. Another kid in the group giggled.
"I hope he takes that dare! No one wants you around Chara, the only place you belong is far up in the mountains!"
"Haha, yeah! Even if you get up there you'll never come back, good riddance!"
"You'd be lying to yourself if you thought we'd miss you!"
I slammed my book shut and stood up sharply. The other children laughed harder.
"Oh no, he's mad!"
"Careful, he might 'glare' you to death!"
"FINE!" I snapped at them, and they stopped laughing. "You're right. You won't miss me. No one will. I'll take your stupid dare, but remember I'm leaving for me, not for you!" I stormed away from them and I faintly heard the teacher try to call me back but I ignored it.
"Chara! Come back here right now! I will call your parents about this!"
"He's gonna be in so much trouble when he chickens out and comes back!"
The voices behind me grew to muted whispers as I walked down the halls of the school. I pushed open the larges doors to the exit and walked stiffly across the grass. In the distance I heard some more teachers call my name but I didn't turn back. I fought against the tears threatening to pour from my eyes, sniffling as I rubbed my sleeve against my face. I crossed the street and entered the neighborhood in which I lived. I dug the house key from under the mat and entered my house. Silence engulfed me as I walked in, meaning my parents were still at work, of course. After all it was only 12 pm. I ran up to my room and grabbed my knife; that's all I needed. I left the house as silently as I entered, stepping onto my porch and looking towards the mountains. Mt. Ebott stood tall above the others, but I knew from books it was actually quite easy to get to the top because of its even slope. I made my way towards it steadily, taking breaks periodically but never even thinking of turning back.
Though the journey up was somewhat harder than expected due to unseen issues like lack of water and food, I finally reached the top. Parched and famished, I stumbled into a cave that stood in the side of the mountain. I was close enough to the top that this must be the place. I dragged my tired legs into the cave, and found myself in front of a huge, dark hole. Peering down into it, I felt my stomach flip as there was no bottom to be seen. No wonder no one ever came back. I inched closer and closer, holding my knife tight in my hand.
No one will miss me. I'll be doing a favor for everyone. No one ever returns. All I have to do is jump. It'll be over soon. Come on, Chara! You've been wanting to do this for years!
But for some reason I was hesitant. I sighed shakily. I am so worthless, such a wimp, a fail-
My eyes widened as I suddenly had no control over myself. My foot was caught in something. I didn't have time to look down for I was already falling. My weak body couldn't catch me, so all I could do was smile and welcome the sweet embrace of death. Even nature hated me enough to trip me to my demise.
I don't remember hitting the ground. I don't remember waking up. I do however, remember the pain. I didn't open my eyes, confused beyond belief. I thought pain didn't exist in death? Whats going on? Pain seared through my body as I tried to move, and I couldn't hold in the agonized scream that escaped me. I clutched my hurting legs to my chest, whimpering like a baby in pain. Tears overflowed my eyes, dripping down my cheeks and onto the hard ground below me.
I faintly registered a voice somewhere behind me.
"Hello? Is someone there? Did you fall down?" The voice got closer and I flinched away. Pain clouded my mind as I felt soft hands on my shoulders, helping me up. I winced at the pressure on my legs but let the other person help me walk with them. I felt my consciousness slipping as black spots dotted the edges of my vision. I saw a blurry white shape lean into my line of sight as he spoke to me again.
"Hey, what's your name?" He asked softly. My head spun as I processed the question much slower than I should have. The black spots grew larger.
"Chara..." I mumbled through my tired lips.
"Chara... That's a nice name. My name is Asriel." That was the last thing I heard before I collapsed into Asriels arms.