Well I'm moving right along it seems! So shall we have some more of these 'happy fun times'?

Chapter 3: Reality

The small group wandered down the dark tunnel, each of them holding hands. "Get over there and strip." A soldier commanded.

"Excuse me?" Doggo growled, glaring at the soldier. "No way in hell. Not in front of a girl anyways."

"Please, I've seen worse." The girl chuckled.

"Now!" The soldier kicked Doggo to the ground, the poor dog monster landing in a muddy puddle. Sans made Papyrus turn around as the girl slowly removed her clothes. Her body was littered with old cuts and bruises, but she was built tough. The soldier threw old, brown, ratty cloaks to all of them and they slipped them on.

No dignity here... Sans thought and glared at the soldier. Nathen shivered and helped Doggo up and get changed as well. If we're out in a desert...nights are gonna be real cold.

"Thanks human kid..." Doggo said, scowling as he undressed and slid on his cloak.

"It's ok. Don't mention it." He smiled and picked up a scarf. He wrapped it around himself, shivering a little.

"Ooo~! It's so nice!" Papyrus looked at it and smiled. "Can I touch it?"

"Of course." Nathen chuckled as the little skeleton tugged it gently. "My mom made it for me." Nathen looked down at the cloak and mumbled. "17..."

"I've got 42 on mine." Doggo said.

"I'm 1!" Papyrus smiled.

"12 here." Sans pointed to his cloak. "What about you?" He asked the girl.

"8."

"Wait you said you didn't have a name right? Well...until we can get you one, should we just call you Eight?"

"Nope I'm ten thank you very much." She winked.

Did she just...make a bad joke? Sans chuckled a little. "So Eight it is then." Sans watched as the soldier picked up their clothes and tossed them into a small bonfire. "H-hey!"

"You don't need those anymore kids. Starting tomorrow...you'll be working." The soldier shoved them along, their bare feet kicking up dirt as they went. Nathen moved closer to Sans as they were hearded down a smaller tunnel.

"Sans...I'm seeing more monsters here than humans." He mumbled. "That can't be a good thing...right?"

"Maybe they're 'working' elsewhere. Don't worry about it for now, worry about yourself." Sans said as they were stopped.

"Here's your tunnel kids. Have a pleasant night." The soldier cackled as he left them alone. A small hole could be seen above them, too high up for anyone to reach. The sun filtered through gently, orange rays making the tunnel seem like it was burning.

"Well...this is it." Eight whispered. "Looks like we're home boys."

Sans sighed as he sat near the entrance of their little tunnel. This is not a good situation at all. We haven't been fed since we were taken, stripped of our clothes...given numbers. This...is looking rather bleak. He buried his face against his knees when he heard someone sit next to him.

"Hey, you ok? You know everyone's sleeping over there, right?" Eight said, fidgeting where she sat. "Look...I don't really know how to comfort anyone. I've been alone most of my life. But I think your little brother needs you right now."

"Yeah I know. I just can't sleep. I mean who honestly can? Look at this place." Sans sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "So how did you get caught?"

"I was just walking the streets of a small village, looking for something to eat when they got me. Luck of the draw I guess." Eight leaned back to stare at the tunnel's ceiling. "At least I have a roof over my head for a change."

"You live on the streets?"

"Yeah, been an orphan for as long as I can recall." She said and sat back up. "I know my mom died at childbirth. As for my father...either he's dead too or he just ditched me somewhere. A small group of monsters raised me until I was six and they left me too. Since then, I've been on my own." Sans frowned as she looked to him, her brown eyes gentle. "What about you Sans?"

"Me and my little brother lived out in the sticks. Our mom, Cali, used to be married but my dad passed away shortly after Papyrus was born. She raised us both on her own pretty much. We took care of a wheat field." Sans chuckled softly. "Well mre like Mom and Paps did. I was just a lazybones."

"Heh."

"...I just hope Mom's ok." Eight rubbed his back gently and he turned to her.

"I'm sure she's fine, if she's anything like you and Papyrus. He's such a trooper for such a little kid."

"He puts on a brave face, but I know he's terrified inside." Sans turned to the group when Papyrus began to whimper. Nathen snuggled under his scarf, Doggo around the two of them. "Let's get some sleep."

"Yeah." They both walked over and managed to get into their tight group. "Good night Eight."

"Good night Sans."

"This...is brutal." Doggo whined as they all began to chip away at the rocks. All of them were in a line and chained by their feet, chipping at the rocks with pickaxes. "It's so hot..."

"Shut it!" A soldier snapped and hit him upside the head with an armored fist. Doggo whimpered but went silent.

Abuse during the day and the living conditions at night are horrid...Sans thought with a scowl. Papyrus rubbed Doggo's head gently and they continued their work. The sun was high in the sky, beating down on all of them. Didn't think a skeleton could sweat so damned much. As he continued to chip away, he took a glance around at his surroundings.

The rock had been cleared away, making large paths around the hole like mine. Carts and tracks were on some of the paths. Monsters pushed large chunks of rocks along in the wooden carts as humans carved at the rocks. Ropes, pulleys and ladders were all over the place, and the sounds of whips and cries filled the air around them.

"Oi, work faster!" A whip cracked across his back and he yelled, falling to his knees.

"Sans!" Eight walked over and helped him to his feet, only to receive the same strike. She collapsed to the ground, one of her injuries from the day before reopening. Sans slowly stood and watched as the soldier began to walk away.

You piece of shit...He grabbed a big rock and was about to throw it when a hand grabbed his arm. He turned to glare at the newcomer in their midst. He was a tall, dark blue fish like monster with sharp red eyes and green fins for ears.

"Don't even try it punk. You'll just get worse, and so will she." He warned. His voice was deep and low, spiky red hair slicked with sweat. "Look after yourself here. Anyone else is deadweight."

"What was that?!" Sans hissed and dropped the rock.

"Ya heard me. Family...friends? Nothing but deadweight. Here it's kill or be killed pretty much. That your little brother?" He gestured to Papyrus, who was watching with fearful eyes. "Yeah I'll be amazed if he lasts the week. Most little kids don't last long before Eratz gets bored and kills them for sport."

"I won't let him."

"Me...either." Eight stood next to Sans. Doggo and Nathen also stood in front of Papyrus. "Whether we like it or not, we're in this together."

"Tsk, whatever losers. Don't say I didn't warn ya." As the fish monster walked away Sans called out to him.

"What's your name then? So I know who I'm proving wrong!" The fish turned and grinned, showing off sharp teeth.

"Name's Dren. Most likely won't see you again punk." He said and left the group alone.

Present day...

"Yeah I know kid. I was a little bit of a 'bone head' back then. I didn't really realize my situation then...none of us did." Sans said as he leaned in the grass with Frisk, the little girl curled closer to him as he told his story.

"This is horrible...but I know at least you, Papyrus and Doggo made it out ok!" Frisk said, trying to feel hopeful. Sans gave her a sad smile and ruffled her brown hair.

"That we did...but that part comes a little later." He admitted and looked back up at the sky. "It was only a few months in when we learned what Dren meant..."

Chapter 3 end

Whew another new character in the mix! I must be losing my sanity...too many characters to keep track of!