I yawned and stretched my arms over my head, only to wince instantly as all the pain crashed back over me. I stayed still after that, trying to ease off the pain. I felt softness beneath me, which was a relief from my tense and hurt muscles. Pain clouded my head as a thought popped in.
Am I at home? Am I…. alive?
I forced my tired eyes open and took my surroundings. Four empty gray walls boxed in the room, with a dresser on one side and a bookshelf next to it. A small picture frame stood on the bookshelf. On the other side of the bed was a tall lamp and an assortment of stuffed animals. I was starting to get antsy, confused of where I was and how I got here. And more importantly, why I wasn't dead.
Before I could let my thoughts get any further ahead of me, the door of the room opened slightly and a white, furry head popped in. The creature brightened instantly when making eye contact with me, like he was happy to see me. He ran into the room, calling out loudly.
"Mom! Dad! Chara is awake! Come and meet my new friend!" He cried out, running to my bedside. I couldn't do much except move my head, because everything else hurt. I looked up in panic as two huge white monsters walked into the room after the smaller monster. The female gasped when she saw me.
"Asriel!" She scolded gently, coming to my side. "You didn't tell me the child was injured." She placed her clawed paw on my forehead and I instantly felt relief. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in as the pain diminished. I sat up as soon as my muscles felt ready to support me.
"What's going on, where am I?" I asked them, taking the female aback. She smiled warmly and knelt down so she was eye level with me on the bed.
"You're home, my child." She said gently. I felt my eye twitch in annoyance.
"Okay but where is this." I said impatiently. She rolled her eyes and cast a glance at the larger male, who smiled back at her.
"No, its really just called, 'Home'. Too bad the king isn't all that good at naming things." She giggled. "Asriel here tells me you fell down here, right?" I didn't have the heart to correct her, so I simply nodded. She nodded back and stood, extending a paw to me which I took in my own hand hesitantly. She guided me past the large male and Asriel and out of the room to the rest of the house.
"I made some pie. I hope you like snail!" She trilled happily. I inwardly cringed, but said nothing. She sat me down at a table, and moments later brought me out a slice of pie on a plate and set it down in front of me. Asriel bounded into the room.
"Where's my slice?" He demanded, hopping into his seat at the table. The female laughed softly and set his slice down on the table in front of him.
"Enjoy, both of you!" She said and headed back to the room I came from where the male monster was left behind. I pushed the plate of pie away from me before looking to Asriel.
"Hey, Asriel… can you please tell me what's going on?" I asked him, and he took a large bite of pie before responding.
"Well, you fell down here into the underground then you passed out and I had to carry you Home… by the way, what do humans eat, cause you sure were heavy! I brought you home then and Mom and Dad let you rest in my bed! Mom said if you wanted to stay though they would get you your own bed." He explained before taking another huge bite. My head was spinning with all the new information.
"So you're living under Mt Ebott…? I thought the pit never ended, I would have never guessed there was someone living down here." I mulled over this fact for a moment, mindlessly drawing circles on the wooden table. It probably isn't too bad down here. There's no bullies, no mean parents, and it wasn't death but it seemed as peaceful as such. I let a smile pull at my lips for the first time in a long time.
"You know what Asriel? I think I would like to live with your family down here." I decided out loud. Asriel coughed loudly as he choked on his pie, his eyes wide with excitement. He coughed a few more times, then stared at me ecstatically.
"Do you mean it!?" He couldn't control the excitement in his voice as he practically trembled with delight. He yelled down the hall. "Mom! Dad! Come quick!" He shouted. His mother and father came running instantly, worry painted on their faces.
"Asriel? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" His father asked. Asriel shook his head.
"No! The opposite! I'm so excited! Chara wants to live with us!" Asriel beamed. His mother and father looked at eachother, then at me. The shock was evident on their faces, but I could see their joy as well. I smiled and nodded confirmation, gasping in surprise as I was suddenly whisked off my feet into a bear hug by the mother and father, Asriel skipping in delight at their feet.
"Oh this is wonderful!" The mother hugged me tighter. "We can get you your own bed, some clothes, and… what do you like to do? Draw? Read? Play games?" She asked me.
"Uh, yeah, all those things!" I answered, starting to get a little overwhelmed by all this attention. The father suddenly stopped and darted away from the hug.
"Chara!" He shouted in disbelief. "You didn't eat your pie!" I laughed.
"Humans don't really enjoy snails…" I said with a grin. The mother looked at me curiously.
"What kind of pie do humans enjoy then?" She asked sincerely. "Butterscotch? Cinnamon?" I nodded thoughtfully, but I already had an answer to that question.
"Chocolate!"