Prologue: She looked up at the window, which confusingly enough was fading to darkness allowing no light to enter. At first she thought she was dead, which wasn't exactly unreasonable. The black room receded ever so slightly, the source of it came from the door handle which was emitting a blue glow, a few clicks later and it was unlocked. It was hard for Frisk to focus, given that her brain had been scrambled all night, but to her surprise no light dare enter into Sans's room. It truly was dark.
A.N: Hello all! Just a quick moment of your time! Just wanted to let you all know that this particular chapter has a very gruesome ending, and I wanted to put it out there for anybody who rather not read a detailed death, it's the second to the last paragraph. :3
Anywho! Thanks for stopping by and reading my work! This particular chapter was hard to write, butI love it (cynical laughter)! It also really sets it up for the next few chapters that I'm excited to get to get back to writing. So Enjoy and see you all next!
Chapter 3: Sanctuary on Enemy Grounds
"…Those who are unfortunate to fall down here will be cursed, cursed in a timeless loop until their determination falls or their soul breaks. Seven souls we want, the last soul mine to take. If by chance any mortal leaves the underworld, 20 years will pass before the beginning begins."
"Human! Tell me! How is my cooking?"
Frisk prodded the noodly substance with her fork. Holding her breath, she begrudgingly took a bite and immediately scours at the taste. It was the texture of noodles that were left in a pot for days...and yet somehow accompanied by a charcoal chaser? Looking up to Papyrus, she saw he was eagerly awaiting her response.
"Your face...you must have been disgusted with your own cooking styles. After tasting my special spaghetti, it moved you to tears. Tell me!? What did you think of it?"
She swallowed the lump down her throat. It took all her determination to keep it down. After she was sure it was safe to speak, she raised her hand and gave a thumbs up. "It...was like nothing I've ever tasted before." Papyrus's eyes lit up.
"Well, plenty more where that came from! I don't do this for everyone Frisk, but, you seem like you could really learn a thing from me! I will show you my secret recipe!" Papyrus disappeared into the kitchen glowing with joy and confidence. Frisk stood up with plate in hand. She avoids San's curious gaze as she quietly dumped the plate's content out the window. Once she sat down, Sans immediately began to smirk, in response, Frisk shot a glance at him.
"Wow Frisk! You ate all of that so quickly...you must be really hungry. Hey, hey Pap! Frisk here thinks your food is to die for! I think she could use seconds"
"Oh? Sure thing, brother, I'll be there in a moment!" Papyrus returned from the kitchen and gave Frisk another large heap full. Frisk glared hard at Sans, who was snickering up a storm. Papyrus finally sat down and began to eat, leaving Frisk with only one option. "Don't wait now Frisk! Don't want your food to get cold!" Papyrus said eagerly as he pleasantly ate. Frisk took a huge breath, and began the ordeal, wondering if this was how she was going to die.
…
Frisk recedes back to reality; the nostalgic and seemingly vivid memories of a happier Sans fades back to one who wanted nothing but ill will towards her. Presently, the three of them were in the house, Papyrus, still oblivious to the tension between the two, was off in the kitchen cleaning up. Frisk was on the couch holding Doggo, across from Sans. She had grabbed the happy dog when they had first entered the house, knowing that the furry white creature hid itself away in the kitchen cupboard. She swiped the pooch before he had a chance to steal Papyrus's special attack. 'No way would Sans hurt a poor wittle puppy!' She thought, adorning a sly smile while patting the happy-dog in her lap.
Sans was leaning against the table, arms crossed, keeping a close watch on her. He dragged a finger across his neck, and hissed; 'I'll be watching'.
Papryus returns from the kitchen, once again, paying no attention to the daggers of the hateful stare Sans was offering to the rather sheepish Frisk. "Well it's getting late, Sans, where should Frisk sleep. Hmmm...I got an idea! Eh-Frisk? You should sleep in my room tonight!" Papyrus offers.
"Pap that's a terrible idea. Kid can sleep out in the shed."
"Nonsense brother! You saw how cold Frisk was! And how sickly she looks now, she would most definitely get worse if we leave her out there."
"Wouldn't that be tragic?" Sans mumbled.
Papyrus knelt in front of Frisk placing his gloved hand onto her head, ruffling up her hair. "Yeah, you can sleep in my room!"
"H-hey Pap, if you insist the human sleeps inside...Let her take my room, I'll sleep on the couch. I like the couch anyway, don't trust those stairs much; they're always UP to something" He gave a wink while Papyrus gave a mortified face. "Oh my god! SANS! Now dinner night is ruined! Well, very well then. Frisk! Go ahead and unlock Sans doors." His voice trailed off in a mumble. "Though...really I would have preferred a sleepover in my room…"
Frisk squeezed Doggo cautiously before finally getting up and walking across the room towards Sans, who was still leaning against the table. Slipping his hand into his pockets, he grabbed hold of his room-key and reached out to give it to her. Frisk reluctantly opened her hand for him to drop the Key. Sans paused momentarily and gave an ever so slight grin. "Knock yourself out, kid. Don't you worry, ol' Sans here will keep watch for any suspicious activity all night."
"Sans, I don't get you sometimes. Who would intrude our home? Oh, and Frisk, keep my scarf for tonight! I don't want you to get... chilled to the bone! NYE-HEHEHEHEHE"
Papyrus leaves to go upstairs, before entering his bedroom he says one last goodnight and leaves out of sight. Doggo wiggles out of Frisk's arms leaving her to tug at her shirt awkwardly. Sans shrugged his shoulders, getting ready to snap his fingers. "Welp, take off that scarf. You do not get-Wh-where you think your going?"
Frisk shuffles upstairs near Papyrus. "H-hey Papyrus! I-I had a nightmare. I want to sleep in your room." A muffled voice excitedly responds. "Of course! Come in!
"Why you little snot-face!" Sans grumbles while walking up the steps, Papyrus swings the door open, in a one piece gown and slippers. A puzzled (pun-pun-pun) look flew across Papyrus's face before finding resolution. "Oh Sans! Of course it all makes sense now! You were just jealous of me to have a human companion! Well I can't blame you, but fear not brother, I have a solution to make us all happy! Lets all sleep in my room. Not yours...yours too dirty. Ooh I'm so excited! I have specially made sleepover bags for such an occasion!"
"Hehe…" Frisk laughed nervously promptly sticking right next to Papyrus. The tall skeleton swoops Frisk up with a few twirls. "Here, have my bed Frisk. I'll sleep on the gr-what? You want me to sleep next to you? Well...if it makes you feel better...Then yes!" Papyrus laid Frisk down onto his bed and grabbed a hold of the sheets shuffling himself in. Sans casts a shadow from the entrance, he was glaring down suspiciously at the foot of the bed. Papyrus looks at Sans and pats onto the bed. "C'mon, there's room for all of us!" Papyrus pulls Frisks up to his chest to give Sans room. He slowly gets in folding his arms behind his head. "Sleep tight…" Papyrus said mid-yawn before immediately falling asleep. Frisk was squished by the two, and she tenses up being so close to Sans. She peeks up towards Sans, who was looking straight at her.
Exhaustion took over and her eyes became heavy; despite the uncomfortable predicament, time traveling makes it easy to forget that sleep is a necessity and thus knowing she was safe, she shuffles to her side, curls up and falls asleep.
Later that night Frisk begins to shiver notably, an intense cold wind blew up her shirt as she tried reaching for the covers...eventually trying to reach for the bed. "What the…?" Slowly opening her eyes she finds herself hovering outside Papyrus's window, both Sans and Papyrus seeming fast asleep, however Sans left eye was slowly seeping out blue aura. "Sans!" Frisks whispers, "Put me down!...Sans...Sans!?" But there wasn't a response. Moaning she wraps Papyrus scarf over her shoulders trying to reach for the window, but it quickly slid shut. Frost slowly began to form onto her covered shoulders and she curls up to preserve warmth. "No way he's asleep" She stated, now completely upside down, surprisingly, it was like being rocked to sleep, in thin air, really cold thin air. Frisk levitated at a snail's pace towards Sans's window, which promptly opened when she reaches for it.
Looking into the room, it was completely dark; like light that cannot escape a black hole. She enters unwillfully, completely frozen from the outside, but her heart stayed blue. "Where is that asshole taking me?" She asked to nobody. She felt her levitating-journey finally come to an end, and falls. To her surprise however, instead of meeting the ground (or bed), she is greeted with gods-knows-how old spaghetti to the face and begins to feel yanked around in a spiraling circle. "Dammit Sans! Get me out of here!" She demanded, she felt herself quickly become sick from rotating constantly, but dares not puke her meal from last night, it would only make things much worse. "Sans! I swear I'll kill you! Ahh….!Ugh…!"
…
...
Papryus was wide awake early the next morning, having not been use to guests sleeping at their house, he had completely forgotten about Frisk and was reading his one recipe on the bed. Sans was curled up next to him, sleeping the opposite direction and resting his head on Papyrus's lap. Sans eventually wakes up, his content expression turns to disappointment when seeing that Papyrus had already been awake before him. 'What I get for sleeping all the time, can never get pass an early bird.' He thought, contemplating on what he should do now with Frisk.
It was going to complicate things.
Papyrus stretches out leaning his head against the dashboard of his bed, the really cool red one, that's a car. "Something is missing...Oh! Yes! Frisk must be up early! But she hasn't come back in? I wonder where she is?" Papyrus soon noticed Sans was awake. "Oh Sans you're awake, do you think Frisk might have gone off into your room?"
San shrugged, scooting up to sit on his knees while rubbing his eye sockets. "Probably, being that there's nothing but trash in there; I think it suits her better, " Papyrus scratches his head in bewilderment and was moving to get up but Sans stopped him. "I'll go check on the kid. You have that cooking lesson with Undyne today right? Should go get yourself ready." Papyrus looked discouraged; sensing a slight betrayal of abandonment from Frisk but he quickly buried that inside, reminding himself of how selfish it was of him to want to force friendship onto somebody.
"W-well...I wanted Frisk to join in on the lesson. But okay, I'll get ready. Sans...let her know she's still invited to come! B-but don't make it seem like she has to come…" Papyrus put on a fake smile; something which Sans was all too familiar with. Sans saw right through it and felt the need to make his brother happy.
"Hey Pap don't worry, I'm sure she wants to go. I'll check on her okay. She...just isn't used to new things, probably still scared and confused from her new surroundings. She'll come through and before you know it you two will be best buds in no time...I promise." He placed his hand on Papyrus's lap, giving a reassuring smile. It did seem to help as Papyrus was gradually getting more enthusiastic, happy at the prospect that Frisk would be his best friend. Sans sighed and got out of bed. "I'll...go check on the kid now."
"Sans...why don't you call her by her name? I think It might make her feel more at home!" Papyrus offered sincerely, not possibly understanding why it was that Sans refused to address her by her name. Sans avoided looking at his brother when he reached the door, careful to not have Papyrus see his eyes were black.
"Sure thing, bro."
Frisk had been spinning around all night, she kept watching glimpses of the window to see that the dark cavern was lighting up, indicating daylight had arrived. Surprisingly, even when underground there was minuet but noticeable changes during cycles of day and night. Most notable however is that the cave became uncomfortably cold at night; something which Frisk had the most unfortunate pleasure of finding that out for herself today. Sans had forgotten to close his window, and the bitter cold threatened to turn her blood to slush. Frisk however took it harder than one should; every time she died, she slowly becomes more and more detached from her body. This detachment was making it harder for her to brave on against the elements; Frisk was dieing to an eternal death.
She looked up at the window, which confusingly enough was fading to darkness allowing no light to enter. At first she thought she was dead, which wasn't exactly unreasonable. The black room receded ever so slightly, the source of it came from the door handle which was emitting a blue glow, a few clicks later and it was unlocked. It was hard for Frisk to focus, given that her brain had been scrambled all night, but to her surprise no light dare enter into Sans's room. It truly was dark. Suddenly the tornado dispersed and Frisk fell to the ground.
Sans walked in, bunching himself together. "Hehe guess even with a hot head like mine, anybody could cool off in this room. That...was a joke." Frisk replied with a moan, she would be furious right now, or frightened, really she could have any emotion right now but couldn't muster up any; right now, she was just trying to not throw-up, or die. She was just trying to prevent whatever came first. Sans slipped his hands in his pockets, he would move to kill her, but seeing how close to death she was, he just waited for her to die. "Come on kid, why don't you just reset already?" He asked, genuinely curious as to why she held on in this timeline.
"I want to talk." She said, her muscles involuntarily twitched, attempting to generate it's own source of heat.
"Go right ahead, I aint stopping you. Be warned, you ain't getting my sympathy. Or forgiveness."
"I don't want that anymore." Frisk exhaled, giving a sincere smile. Sans's eyebrow arched up, curious with what she had to say. The room morphed and degenerated, giving the illusion that they were no longer in the same place. "I want to save this world...you don't know this, but I sold my soul." Her eyes became heavy, she could feel her body succumb to hypothermia but refused to die just yet. Sans listened on, apathetic (maybe numb?) to her pain; he was patient and more or less curious to hear more. "When you died...a girl...Chara…s-she...dust." She tried as hard as she could to stay alive, but due to her Hypothermia going into full effect, she fell onto the ground convulsing. "Hehehe! Ooooo! Sooo warm in here Snansy!" She said trying to remove her clothing, the Hypothermia was driving her to deliria and she began to spluttering out words futilely. If skeletons could turn pale, Sans would have, as he watched on. It was not a pretty sight. He could see that the girl should have died minutes ago, as her body tensed up, but she still wanted to live. Disturbed from the prolonged and gruesome death. Sans slipped his jacket off from his bony shoulders. He felt himself go sick as he dropped it over the small child's almost lifeless body. Inaudible moans and sounds escaped her lips; she was still trying to talk. Sans tensed up, really not wanting to provide any comfort, but he did not have the heart to stay aloof. "Shhh...Hey it's okay now… Don't talk-it's okay-be still." He patted her shoulders trying to give her any comfort. When it was clear she wasn't going to stop he reluctantly summoned his bones they hovered for a moment, before finally moving to kill. She yelped in pain, tenses up then slowly her body goes limp.
Sans didn't remove his bloodied jacket from the child's corpse; somehow not seeing the dead child masked the sickly pain and hatred towards himself. He sighed, as he felt himself dissipating to the blinding white light; Frisk had resetted. He could feel portions of his memories ripped away from him. Part of him wished it would all go away, so that he might find peace with each reset. But the trauma scorched his mind, refusing to allow him to forget. It was why he never let Papyrus learn the truth of the deaths of his friends. Protecting Papyrus would allow him to not remember past lives, to not feel the same torment. Before finally disappearing in the blinding white light he sighed.
"Kid...you got some explaining to do."