Thank you for 3 Favs and Follows already (as of writing this)! Never thought people would actually LIKE my stuff! What is this witchcraft!? So, naturally, I had to write another one immediately! Again, if you guys (and gals) for whatever reason think the title so far is good (which would be ridiculous, right? Right?), please tell me. I need to know! Also, if any formatting issues occur (This is my first fic), please tell me. I want this to be as great a story as possible. Also, don't be afraid to be a "grammar Nazi" as they're called and point out incorrect spelling, grammar or punctuation. Word should work that out on its own, but let me know! Thanks for reading!
I would like to thank "IAmBehindYou123" "Imagining Creativity" and "cryptologicalMystic" for following, and "HeadphonesCityActress" as well as "Imagining Creativity" and "cryptologicalMystic" for the favorites. I don't request or ask for anybody to do these, but if you genuinely like the story, why not mate?
Reviews:
cryptologicalMystic: In case you didn't see my reply, no, as of now, Dr. Whitman isn't an OC. That was just a joke. However, that could be an OC once the monsters are free and return to the surface. Also, thanks for liking the concept! That means a lot to me. *Write for three minutes* WAIT! HOLD THE PHONE DAMN IT! About *counts on hands* 22 sentences into this chapter, he will be briefly mentioned, and I have decided he will be an OC on the surface. He is, however, not one of the main two I talked about last chapter. In fact, you'll meet them, right…. about… NOW!
Future Austin!: So, I decided to take that part out of the first chapter, don't know why, just felt like it. For those who don't know, Dr. Whitman was a horrible joke I did in the first chapter, but now it's chapter 9, and I looked back and it was just kinda weird. He doesn't play a big role (yet) and it didn't seem necessary. However, as my only review so far, I think it's fair to keep cryptologicalMystic's review up. Unless, of course, they don't want it.
Oh yeah this chapter sucks.
"Adam, stop running!" Mary cried as she chased Adam through the thick brush at the base of Mt. Ebbot.
"Catch me then!" Adam cried back, as he raced up the mountain trail.
Mary laughed at her husband's shenanigans. He always knew how to make her have a good time. Playing videogames, going to parks, climbing mountains from which no one has ever returned from before. Yeah, what a blast she'll have.
"Adam, come back please!" Mary called, developing cramps in her sides as she panted along up the slope.
"Ok, I'll stop," Adam said, a mischievous smile on his face.
Mary always felt that that was one of the reasons she'd married him. His explosive personality, semi-decent humor, mainly revolving around un-related puns, and of course, his intelligence and bravery under pressure. Despite how ridiculous he could be sometimes, he always knew where to draw the line. Yes, he stepped a toe over every once in a while, but never far enough to cause trouble. That, and probably his looks.
Adam was about five feet eleven inches, with bright blue eyes and wind-swept hair. He stood confidently and never seemed to look down at people. Well, figuratively. He could find good in everyone, and was pretty good at making people feel better than they thought they were themselves. He was amazing, and Mary, she felt like she wasn't. Sure, she was top of her class in college, but before meeting Adam, she didn't have very many friends. Well, none at all, really. Adam had come to her school about a year before she was due to graduate. He, much like her, had been top of the class, and was even asked to help Dr. Whitman with his commencement speech at graduation (AN: For those who don't know, in the US, commencement speeches are speeches spoken by usually politicians or other notable speakers at a graduation, typically from a college or university. I think.). Adam, or course, excelled at it. Later, after the ceremony, he had proposed to Mary, after eight months of dating. She accepted, and here they were now, walking up to their camping spot near the base of Mt. Ebott, as far as law enforcement allowed them to go.
"Hey, Mary. Want to play some music? I brought the keyboard, and your violin, too," Adam said as they neared closer to their car, packed with essential survival gear and their bikes. They both knew that no law enforcement would stop them from checking the top. Their curiosity was too piqued, nothing would stop them from checking out the rumors. Did monsters really live at the top? However, this wasn't the only reason they wanted to check it out. A child had gone missing down in the town, and people had started suspecting a suicide at Mt. Ebott. Once Mary had heard, she knew that she wanted to find the child, if they were up there, and make sure they're returned safely. She felt as if it was destiny, as cliché as that sounds.
"Sure, lets," Mary agreed. She tried to sound calm and collected, but on the inside, she was ecstatic. She had wanted to try the new song Adam was hinting at for ages. Adam started setting up his equipment, and told Mary she should go look around, find anything cool they could graffiti, or animals they could throw rocks at. Mary knew he was joking, but inwardly cringed. Adam was apparently still mad at the people they had seen just days ago doing just what he described. To think some humans were so heartless.
Aren't they all?
Mary whipped around, but no one was there. She had already walked out of hearing distance of Adam, and this voice was close, too close.
"What... what do you mean? Who are you?" Mary said aloud, feeling stupid when obviously no one was nearby. It was Mt. Ebbot afterall.
I am a child who… took a fumble at the top of the mountain. If you come up, maybe you can return my body. Or….. I could just take yours.
"N-o, go away!" Mary cried, trying desperately to find the mysterious voice. This child seemed… malevolent. Evil. Nothing she wanted to be around. And that suggestion of taking her body sounded too much like a possibility.
"How can I help you? Are you dead, you must be if you're able to talk to me without a body, right?" Mary said, her body trembling.
Oh yes, I have no body, and I am also dead. That changes nothing, however. I am still here, am I not?
"I-I suppose," Mary said, shyly. She was disliking this conversation even more every second she was a part of it.
However, I am not the only one to fall. Come see, you'll find that your dream of SAVING someone isn't just that. A dream. Finish what I started, human.
Mary, having been visibly shaking uncontrollably, stopped. She wasn't particularly startled that the child knew her one dream, but what startled her was the fact the child called her a human, as if she wasn't.
"wait, wha-"
I await you.
And the voice went silent.
Mary walked slowly back to the campsite, trying to control her shaking. It was getting dark very quick, and she found Adam trying to start a fire.
"Mary, you okay? You look pretty shaken up there. Why don't you come over and cool off?" Adam joked. He was obviously low on material, and his expression showed. Mary attempted to look very mad, but epically failed. Adam took notice, and opened his mouth, his eyes lit with glee.
"Woah, Mary, that expression-" Adam started. Mary screamed, "NO!" but Adam pushed on, "-sends a shiver down my spine!" he finished before laughing at Mary's now fuming expression. No faking required. She tackled Adam playfully, forcing them both to the ground and laughing out loud. Once they calmed down, Adam spoke.
"You look pretty cold, Mary," Adam said quietly, completely serious now. "Here's a blanket," he said before passing her one.
"Ready to play?" Adam asked, and Mary nodded.
Adam sat down at his makeshift bench (in other words, a burned tree trunk) and started his piece, with Mary beginning on the violin later in. They played the piece, and Mary couldn't help but tear up. She loved the song. Once they finished playing, they heard soft clapping from the bushes. She turned around to see a small child's outline. She couldn't make out the clothes or face, but the way their body tensed up, Mary could tell they regretted it. The child took off into the wood, up the mountain. Mary turned back to Adam, and, based on his expression, she knew he was thinking the same thing.
That was the missing child, now heading to the top of the mountain.
"Quick, get them!" Adam yelled as he picked up his bike and started pedaling.
"Hey! Stop running! We want to help!" Mary called, but the child was already off.
"I'll catch them, get the car up here!" Adam called as he pedaled off.
As Mary started the car, a downpour started. She instantly grew worried for Adam and the child. Freezing cold, drenched, and no one for miles around? This was worrisome. She started to drive up the narrow slope, animals jumping away from the path as she sped off. She passed numerous signs:
Don't pass this point!
Dangerous animals present!
Passage beyond this point prohibited!
She ignored them, and continued along. A few minutes later, the path got too thin for the car to continue. Mary quickly got out and raced up the path. She started feeling drowsy. She started crawling along the path. The rain fell even harder. Mary collapsed, and fell unconscious, lost alone in the woods of the mountain...
A small child approached the mountain. The child was short, around the age of nine. They have curly, brown hair and vacant eyes, yet they eye the mountain ahead of them. Their striped sweater was already soaked. They urgently seeked shelter from the rain. As they approached even closer to the mountain, they notice a small cave entrance through the alcove of trees. They sprint to the entrance, only to see a massive hole in front of them. Stalactites hang from above, threatening to impale whatever might happen to be beneath them. The cave entrance opened into the massive cavern, perfectly sphered within the mountain.
The child had never seen anything like this. Bright green vines slither and cross each other all over the ground. Several strange creatures try to sneak a peek at the human, yet cower in fear away. They remember the horrors of the war against humans and monsters. A confrontation was one of the last things they wanted.
The child, oblivious to the numerous deadly creatures just feet away in the shadows, pranced around happily. They felt that they could simply stay here till the storm passed, and so many cool things to explore! Strange rocks, magnificent plants, and patches of golden flowers litter the cavern's floor, yet the human's attention was solely on the hole.
The child begins their walk to the hole's edge. Their curiosity piqued, they couldn't help but explore what kind of wondrous things could lay at the bottom. Maybe nothing at all. But they knew in their heart they would regret it if they didn't. Or, maybe their soul.
As the child walks closer and closer, the vines along the floor begin to move. They begin to slither off into the human's direction, easily able to catch up with the human in no hurry to reach their destination.
Finally, the human reaches the edge. Looking over the side, they notice the bottom, several hundred feet down. No way to jump. They would need climbing equipment to get down there. Just as they are about to turn around, they notice a small ledge, this one only ten feet below their current position. However, it was on the opposite side of the hole, and getting around to the other side was impossible, as enormous rocks barricade the path. An impossible jump. However, if they could make it, then they could explore the rest of the cave, and, with luck, make it back by tomorrow morning. Yes. What a wonderful idea, they thought.
They break into a run, nearing the edge fast and preparing to jump. Thirty feet. Twenty. Ten. Five. Just as they were about to jump, the vines swooped under the child and snagged their foot. The child tumbled and slid down the opening, before they were free falling into the hole.
They fell, hair waving behind them, sweater fluttering in the air. While the fall should have been short, time seemed to slow down for the human. They screamed, kicked and yelled. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the human neared the ground. Thirty. Twenty. Ten. Within half a second, the human managed to think one last thought:
My life will end here, in a world where no one remembers me…
They wait for the instant they perish, the moment they cease to exist, the second their soul leaves their mortal body, without a living host and possibly even shattering. They would die, and so would their soul.
But it refused.
Their eyes shot open. Pain flared through the human's body. Their vision went dizzy, and they ached all over. Yet they were alive. How? Why ask? They feel something beneath them though. They try to stand, yet fall into a kneeling position. Definitely broken, they can't take any pressure. They look up. Hundreds of feet above, the entrance to the hole opens up to the cavern the human had once found fun. They were naive, however, and quickly resolved to find a solution to get out.
But before they could even begin to formulate solutions to what seems like an impossible feat, they feel themselves losing consciousness. Vision blurs. The human might die here. They realize they may never make it home, they may never see the light of day again, and they may never be able to live their whole life, one solely reserved for them to enjoy.
NO, I DON'T WANT TO DIE! they thought. They wanted to live, to enjoy their life and figure out how to leave this place. They forced themselves to take deep breaths and soon, their vision had returned to normal. The once unbearable pain in their leg now was merely a dull throb. They still couldn't walk, but they could crawl. But to where?
They turn to their left to see a long hallway leading to a doorway. The doorway could lead to anywhere, numerous places to explore, and hopefully a way out of this mountain. But now, rest. No point scrambling around with a leg they could now barely walk on. They apply a bandage to their fractured leg, but how would that help? Oh well, it was comforting, at least. They picked up a stick to use in defense. What if something attacked? They didn't have much time to think, anyway
Once upon a time, as usual, they thought, before drifting into slumber.
"Mary! Mary! Please wake up!" Adam shook Mary vigorously in an attempt to wake her up. Mary grudgingly opened her eyes.
"Ugh… Where's the kid?" Mary asked.
Adam bit his lip. "The kid fell down. Down the hole in the mountain," he said.
Silence. Mary sat, thinking. She wanted to follow the child, save them from the dangers in the underground. But would Adam want to follow?
As she thought that, Adam answered her. "I know you want to follow them. I know you want to prove yourself, let people think your important. And I want you to know, that I don't care. I want you to be you, but I know that what you want to do is follow the kid. And I want you to also know, that I will follow you, and help you, and always be there for you, understand?"
Mary nodded. "Okay, let's go."
You know what would be really neat? I need art! If you are willing to take the time to draw or create a cover for this story, I would appreciate it SO much. I can't draw, and I dislike taking others work, even when I give credit. It just doesn't seem right unless it was SPECIFICALLY made for this story. Anyone who is willing to do this can PM me.
So, you've made it to Chapter 2. Congrats on not dying. I mean it, this is literal trash. This is Alphys. I'm sure this just seems like a baby-horrible-awful-throwaway-piece of garbage, right? NOPE! You have no idea, you have no idea what this thing has in store for you. Say what you want about it, but you can't just put it in a box… in a box… in a box… in a box (BTW: anyone who gets that reference is embedded in my heart as one of the best people of all time.)
Okay, there are probably going to be chapters I don't like as much as the rest. This is probably one of them. I just felt like this is more a boring part and it will be more invigorating once they get into the underground.
In regards to my upload schedule, this WILL NOT be daily uploads. I will post when I am ready, hopefully not too long in between chapters. Again, criticism and advice alike are welcome, but don't be a jerk.
I am super thankful for my very first fans! I got six of them now! I'll go ahead and name them. I have the one in my room, the one in my office, the living room, my brother's room, my… okay, that joke sucked. BYE!