"Fiora has been very obedient lately."

A female voice.

"Yes. Let's inject her with more of the extract."

A filthy male.

"Just a little more is needed to increase her Effect Level Rating to Two. I doubt she will survive if we push for One."

"Indeed. She will be unable to fight today. The boys should have some fun before the subject adjusts."

"You're disgusting."

The voices fade off. Her mind is clouded by the heat burning through her body. It starts at her arm and it grows. The inferno consumes her like a beast devouring prey. It burns. It hurts. She can't wake up.

She screams for help.

Nobody came.

Nobody ever will.

Happiness is never going to last.

The old man she called father was wrong.

G looks down at the girl on the couch. Her skin was flushed red and sweat beads on the surface. Her breath was heavy to the point it could be called panting. Frisk fidgets in their chair. "Sans? Will she be okay?"

He checked her stats one more time. They healed her but he understood their worry. Jacinda didn't look so good. HP 40/40. The number change jolted him to his feet. She was loosing HOPE. She already didn't match the other numbers but now it's decreasing?!

CHECK

-is having a nightmare-

A nightmare shouldn't be enough to lower someone's HOPE. He would know. G soaked a rag in cold water before walking over and placing it across the girl's forehead. There was a faint sound of sizzling followed by steam. That definitely wasn't normal. He sets a bowl of ice water down on the coffee table. "re-wet the rag when it gets dry. i need to check something." Frisk nods vigorously and goes to sit beside Jace.

He left the apartment and selected a contact. It was picked up after the first ring. "Hello?"

"yo alph. something came up and you know about human souls just as well as i do."

"W-what happened?!"

"what could make an adult human's HP drop? i checked one before and she had a total of 50 but now it dropped to 40."

"Are you talking about your new ward?"

"yeah. there was a fight and now she seems to be running a very high fever too." He doesn't mention how hot her body was. That sounded a bit bad in his head. "frisk is cooling her down with ice water but it might not be enough."

"I'll see what I can find in the old notes."

"thanks alph."

He hangs up and walks back into the room to see Jace writhing side to side on the couch, her mouth opening and closing as if gasping for air while her fingers claw at her left wrist. Blood was starting to ooze from the cuts. Frisk was panicking. When they see him, they quickly run over and hug his legs. "She kept saying no more and won't stop scratching Sans! I can't get her to stop!"

That is a problem. He hurried to the supply closet and dug around until finding some rope. He picked up the girl and brought her to his room, tying her hands on opposite bed posts so she wouldn't bring further harm to herself. He felt a cold stare at his back and he looked to see Frisk giving him a disapproving look.

"This looks dirty."

"shut it brat."

They only leer at him. "Pervy G"

"that isn't what i'm doin' and you know it!"

"What would Jace think when she wakes up? Hm?" Why the hell is this kid being devious right now of all times?! This kid... He levels them with a glare. A pained hiss brings them back to the matter at hand. Jacinda was pulling at her restraints, growling and clenching her teeth so tight that he could here them grinding.

She was in pain. The nightmare she's having wasn't letting her go and is torturing her. He CHECKS her again. HP 35/35. She lost HOPE again. G reached over to feel her forehead but instead, as if on instinct, she snapped her jaws and sharp canines bit into his had. Red marrow leaked from the cracks that formed. It wasn't too bad.

Frisk whimpered from the doorway. "kid...I think you should go to undyne's for while. jace isn't going to wake from this on her own." They nod and scurry off. He lets out a deep breath when he hears the door shut. "c'mon alley cat. you gotta snap out of it." Her teeth dug in deeper. He froze when he saw that her eyes were open. Open but unfocused.

Jacinda rips the rope and her hands fly to his neck. He would be worried if he was human. Her eyes were so... lifeless. Her mouth had a trail of his marrow dripping from her teeth and lip corners. "Kill." Her voice came out emotionless. "Kill...Target." Her teeth were bared in a insane grin.

G grabs her shoulders and shook her back and fort. "wake up!" Her hands only squeezed around his neck vertebre more. He shoved her to the ground and growled. "forgive me for this." He rose a hand and slapped her across her face. God he felt like scum for hitting a girl. Her body jolted, her eyes widening and the light returned to those icy pools. She blinked, her hands loosening and eventually falling to the floor beside her. The skin of her left cheek was reddening.

She looked around, still in a daze. He hand came up to sign "What happened?" Her face was still flushed from her current temperature.

"you came down with a fever. you had a really bad dream on top of that and the stress isn't healthy." Her gaze found his hand and she bit her lip. "don't worry about this. you have some serious sleep fighting reflexes, heh, i'm impressed."

Jacinda tensed and curled up on herself. "Can...You get off me...please." She croaked weakly. He remembers how he was positioned over her and quickly stands. G watched as she stood up and headed for the bathroom. HP 34/34. Thank goodness it stopped dropping. He winces from the sting he felt in his hand and rubbed his neck with his uninjured one. It was warm to the touch but the extreme heat of her skin during the fight was far from normal. It was almost like Grillby's when he's mad.

"man... that scared me. sent chills down to my bones." He chuckled, albeit weakly.

Jacinda sat on the tile floor, shaking. How could she have done that? She almost killed him. She was trying to kill him. Tears fell from her eyes as she sobbed into her hand. Everything was so hot and blurry. Like a room full of smoke.

Burning. Smoke. Flames.

She shook her head and looked down at her throbbing wrist and hands. They felt to raw and tender. The scratched were already healing too. She pulled herself up using the sink and dug out some bandages. She wrapped both of her hands, from her fingers to the middle of her forearm. A knock sounded from outside the door right before G opens it. "you okay?"

She shrugs and holds out the bandage roll. "Hurt..." She murmurs, pointing to his cracked marrow bleeding hand. He takes it and wraps the bones up, threading it through the hole in his palm. She couldn't look him in the eyes. His hand patted her head in a comforting manner before leaving the room.

They both sat on the couch after that. The silence was heavy and awkward. He most likely hates her after seeing what she could do even if it was a dream clouding her mind at the time. She should leave before she hurts young frisk. Hugging her knees, she curled them up to her chest and hid her face.

"hey... stop moping like that."

...

"come on." He put a hand on her head and she naturally leaned into it. "your fever is still present. you should rest." Jacinda peeked at him to see that he was patting his lap. He didn't seem to be ready to move from the couch so she lays down on her side, head on his lap. She couldn't feel the bone. Something else was filling out his jeans.

Tears prick at her eyes and slide down her cheek. "Sorry..." She croaks.

"don't worry about it alley cat. though i expect an explanation when you're ready to give it."

"Okay..." She curled into an even tighter ball when she felt her blanket from the night before getting draped over her.

"you really are a cat huh?" He chuckled.

Her eyes shut and darkness surrounds her.

Fire swirls around her. The inferno was unforgiving against her fragile body. Yet there was a coolness pressed against her face. It kept her from turning to ash. She didn't know how long the burning darkness went on. She barely remembered asking for water while the cold liquid drizzled down her throat.

One day she finally did open her eyes. Frisk was there to greet her with a smile. It was as if her fit never happened. The days passed peacefully. Today G wanted to take her somewhere. There was another friend he wanted her to meet. She stayed close to his side as they walked. The autumn weather was getting colder and the wind was hard to block.

She wasn't cold, the wind was just annoying. "we're here. wait out here while i talk to her, aight?" SHe nodded silently and watched him enter. The twinkling sound of the bells inside were cut off as soon as it shut.

G didn't have to say anything for an owl monster to pear out from the kitchen doorway. "Hey G! What can I do for you?"

He waves his bandaged hand, giving her his usual smirk, sitting down at a table. "do i need a reason to visit a pal?"

Owl walks from behind the counter and stands next to G, "You have a point there. What happened to your hand?"

"got into a little scuffle. no big deal."

"A little scuffle? One second I'll be right back with some feather juice."

He nods and takes out his phone, selecting one of the various mini games he had on there to wait. He settles for the chess app instead something like candy crush. G often competed against Frisk. Maybe Jace would like these too. He hears her returning and sets his phone down.

"Okay! I'm back!" Owl chirped as she brought out two drinks. "Here you go, one feather juice for you, I want to hear what's been going on in you life."

He sighs dramatically. "ugh. where to start." He takes a sip from the drink and smiles at the familiar taste of her magic recipe.

"Hmm anything interesting? Like new things? How's Frisk?" Owl asked G settling herself in to hear a story.

"well we found a stray. frisk insisted on taking it in so we did. then when i left help alphys at the lab again, frisk was targeted by a hate group when i left them and alley cat in the park. luckily frisk made it to grillby's...you following so far?" He rose a brow ridge at his friend.

"Hmmm so you picked up a new friend? Okay... ugh. I hate anti-monster groups. So, who's the new friend?" Owl said before taking a sip of her drink

"a little alley cat." He states, taking another sip himself.

Owl raised her brow feathers "a cat?"

He makes a humming sound before speaking again. "a ginger one with ice blue eyes. quite the exotic." He mused.

"Okay well I'm going to want to see this new cat. What's their name?"

"jacinda. but we call her jace most of the time. if you wanna meet her so bad, she's right outside waiting." He grinned, obviously waiting for her to bring it up. It was his main goal for even starting the conversation. Check and mate. He couldn't help but chuckle at the next thought that popped into his head. Or was is foul play.

"Their outside?! Bring them in! I want to see them!" Owl exclaimed looking out the window to try and see a cat. "I don't see a cat... are you pulling my feathers?"

He twists himself around to face the door. "it's clear alley cat! c'mon in!" The door chimes as Jacinda steps into the bakery hesitantly. She was wearing a black tank under a short sleeved green flannel shirt today. Her hands were still bandaged from her mid forearm down to each finger. "owl, this is jace the alley cat." He had his shit eating grin plastered on his face now, just waiting for her reaction.

"G! You were pulling my feathers!" Owl loudly said to G. She got up and walked to Jacinda and stuck her hand out. "Hi, I'm Owl welcome to my bakery!"

The orange hair girl shrunk back slightly just G stood up. "i also lied about just visiting. asgore wanted to talk about something important." He closed his dark socket in a lazy wink before vanishing like a mirage.

"Hmpf. I hate it when he does that." Owl huffs, folding her winged arms. Jacinda fidgets in place, picking at her bandages nervously. He at least gave her time to get adjusted at the bar. This time was completely different.

Owl slaps a hand to her mouth. "Oh! I'm sorry, would you like something for your wounds? Feather juice? Talon cookies?"

She lifted her hands and started signing. "I'm... okay. We just ate." Did the bird monster know sign? So far every monster did.

"Okay, how's G treating you? Is he being nice?" Owl asked not missing a beat after Jacinda had finished signing.

"Nice after he realized I wasn't going to take advantage of Frisk's kindness." She looked down, a guilty expression crossing her features. "He's also...rather forgiving." She still couldn't believe it. Though she owed him and he was holding her to that.

Owl nodded and gestured for Jacinda to sit. "Most people wouldn't expect that from him. Only his close friends know that, most other monsters are only acquaintances..."

Jacinda nodded and took the offered seat. She looked around the room, her nose twitching as she smelled the scents filling the air. Owl saw Jacinda's nose twitch she gave a small smile. "I thought you weren't hungry? At least let me give you a drink, my treat."

Her face tinted pink and she looked away, her hands moving at a flustered pace. "A drink should be safe."

Owl nodded and stood up. "I'll be right back with your drink. Oh, do you prefer mint or apple?"

"Apple."

"Okay I will be right back."

The girl waited patiently, staring out of the windows. She watches the people pass by on their way to multiple destinations. To think she would actually blend in with them for once. Her life was finally that of a normal person. As normal as it could be with all of her flaws.

She heard Owl return and looked up to see that she was holding glass. "I'm back!" She took the drink and sipped. A gasp escaped her. "Sweet..." Her quiet voice mumbled below her breath before taking a longer swig. Her hands were tingling as well as her wrist where her cuts were.

"I do hope you liked it. Not very many people choose apple flavor. Have you been going to school?" Owl asked picking up her own unforgotten drink and taking a sip. Jacinda responded with a confused look. "Where is this confusion aimed towards? The school question or the apple flavor?" One hand came up to spell out 'school'.

"Oh! I'm sorry, if you were living with G, he would've made you go to school am I correct?"

Jacinda tilted her head, placing down her drink to use both hands. "Only the tiny ones go to those large brick boxes to learn don't they? I am also...twenty two." She blushed faintly and looked down at her lap.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry... I thought you were 17!" Owl said embarrassment making her feathers ruffle.

"I know...I'm small... my malnutrition doesn't help me grow either." She manages a faint smile, feeling just as embarrassed.

Owl gave a small sigh, and then smiled wide. "Well, I'm going to have to fix that then! If you ever feel the need, come back anytime for more food or drinks."

Frisk suddenly came bursting into the room. "Jace, Jace! Sans said you were here and you can walk me home!"

"Hey Frisk!" Owl said standing up and giving the small human a hug. They give the monster a big squeeze in return before grabbing Jace by the hand, dragging her out of the shop. Frisk already began their big rant about their school day. She could hear her calling out goodbyes and tentatively waved before she couldn't see the shop anymore.

A chuckle came from behind the owl. "well that was a success."

He watched the flustered bird whip around to face him. "G! You know I hate it when you do that! It's creepy!"

"ouch. that's a bit fowl of you." He winked with his pun. His head turned to the door with a relaxed smile coming to his features naturally.

"You said Asgore wanted to talk about something?"

His expression turned serious and stressed. "yeah. you saw the news broadcast about the murder right?"

"Yeah, who could forget that?" Owl said walking over to the table that their drinks were.

"it wasn't a gunshot" He leaned back on the wall, is single ringed eye light going dark.

"It wasn't? Were you able to get a good look at it?"

"agsore showed me the pictures he was sent by the police. the body was burned to the point where they are unable to identify the victim. fire magic."

Owl tilted her head. "Hmmm only a few people are able to use fire magic. But you know that of coarse."

"the elementals have never been violent. vulpins can't hurt a fly and neither can the pyropes." He runs a hand down his face. "no monster was there...but i have a hunch on who it is. well... i need to get home to cook dinner."

"Okay well if anything more is needed you know where to come!" Owl chirped.

"sure thing. i'll make sure to...tweet you." He grins at her. "oh and pap is coming to town for the holidays soon!" He runs off before she could throw anything.

He laughed as she heard her squawk loudly. "G!" Owl called, not even bothering running after him. He would just teleport away. But the one thing she did do was send a few feathers at him as payback for the puns.