Chapter 4

"Hope?" Frisk asks, rubbing her eyes. She was probably sleeping before I came in. I suddenly felt bad.

"Oh, uh..." I trailed off, not knowing how to break the news to her. How was anyone supposed to do this? I sighed. "Well, remember how you're a foster child?" She nodded, looking unsure of where I was going with this, "Well, Mom and Dad have been thinking for a while, and they decided..." I stopped. Tears began to well in my eyes, and I shifted my gaze to Frisk. She looked confused.

"What?" she asked, not understanding. I stared down at her innocent, confused face and felt tears and a single tear dripped down my cheek. I pulled her into a tight embrace and she looked up at me. "What?" She asked again, more forcefully this time. I gazed into her doe-brown eyes and sobbed, looking away. I couldn't tell her, I couldn't... I inhaled deeply through my nose and exhaled through my mouth, a trick my Dad taught me. Then I looked back at her questioning gaze.

"Hey, how about we play a game?" I whispered and put on a shaky smile. Her eyes lot up, making me smile a little wider.

"Game?" she asked, her voice an eager whisper.

"Yeah. It starts tomorrow, okay? I'll tell you more then." Frisk nodded excitedly, a smile forming. Her eyes were wide. My voice turned more serious.

"But you have to promise, no matter what we do, you can't tell Mom and Dad." She nodded again, still eager. I laughed softly. "Okay, good. I'll tell you more tomorrow, okay? Now get some sleep." She nodded, giggling when I ruffled her hair. I laughed quietly, then hugged her tight. What was I thinking, this was crazy, I couldn't do this, why did I even consider it?

I looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, a slight smile still on her face. No, I had to do this. There was no other way. I couldn't let them take her.

"I love you, Frisk." I murmured, gently lifting her small form and setting her on our bed.

"Love you." she responded sleepily. She shifted slightly and relaxed, sleep setting in.

"No one will ever take you from me." I whispered, trying not to worry about the dangers ahead, "I promise."

Hope awoke with a skull-splitting headache. She moaned. What happened? She cradled her head in her arms, keeping her eyes closed. Feeling the softness of a pillow underneath her head, she burrowed deeper, letting the comfort set in. Maybe the headache will go away if she just stayed here...

Wait.

Where was she? And why was she tucked into a bed? Hadn't she been in front of the door earlier. Wait... was she inside the house?

Her eyes snapped open as she shot upright. The room she was in was small and dark, and everything had an odd maroon-red tint. She was currently sitting in a twin bed, with a large rug splayed out on the floor in front of her. A wonderful scent hung in the room, like cinnamon and butterscotch. Those were Frisk's favorites.

Mmm, cinnamon and butterscotch. I love that stuff so much. Stupid allergies, restricting me so much...

She froze. That voice wasn't her own, and neither was that thought. It was that same voice again, the one that kept popping into her head. Could it be... a person? A spirit, maybe?

Hope gave her head a hard shake to clear it, immediately regretting it. Pain spiked through her head. Everything seemed to swirl for a moment before coming back into focus.

No. There was no spiritual being living in her mind.

Tentatively, she swung her feet so they are on the floor and stands up. A sudden dizziness is triggered, causing her to sway for a moment before steadying herself. She takes a deep breath and walks to the door. Reaching out a hesitant hand, she turns the knob. It turns, to her relief, and the door swings open.

The hallway has a cozy feel to it, like the room behind her. There are a few different varieties of houseplants, two more doors, and a long mirror. Hope walks up to the mirror and examines herself. Jeez, she looks a wreck. Though she had just been sleeping for a while (Hope guessed at maybe two hours, probably less), there were dark circles under her normally bright emerald eyes. Her long, chestnut hair was still in its braid, but there were hairs sticking out every which way, including in her face. The green T-shirt and jeans she wore had many wrinkles in them that would take ages to iron out. With quick and practiced movements, Hope undid and remade her braid. She nodded in satisfaction and walked back down the hallway.

She entered an entryway area with a set of stairs leading to a basement. Meandering over, she peered down. She couldn't really see anything from here, and was about to head down when a voice stopped her.

"My child? Is that you?" the voice called out, soft and friendly, like a mother. Well, like a mother should be, anyway. Her mother had been far from kind and friendly.

Is that Toriel? the voice questioned, shocked.

Hope ignored the voice. "Are you alright?" the friendly voice asked, entering the room. Hope gazed up at her, in awe of her tall she was. The woman- or goat-woman hybrid, it seemed- was at least 6'3" and was covered in white fur. Her plum dress had a little emblem on it. She smiled invitingly.

"Hello my child. My name is Toriel, caretaker of the Ruins." Toriel smiled down at Hope, her eyes warm and soft. Hope stiffened. The voice in her head was right. "When I found you outside my door, I was very surprised. I had just seen another human, and humans don't usually come down here at all, so two in one day was very unusual." Hope perked up instantly. Another human? That must've been Frisk! If she was indeed in the same house, then that would make sense.

Well, you do have to battle Toriel before you leave this place. Frisk was probably in the middle of that battle when you heard her. Hope took this into consideration. If the voice was right before, it might be right again.

"Another human? You mean Frisk?" she blurted, and the goat woman looked startled for a moment.

"Why, yes. Her name is Frisk. Do you know her?" Toriel replied, staring at Hope curiously. Hope ignored the question.

"Is she okay? Is she hurt? Which way did she go? Is she still here?" Hope fired at a now stunned looking Toriel. A spike of pain went through her head, and she stumbled backwards.

Behind you-!

Toriel snatched her away from the stairs just before she tumbled down them.

"My child! You have to be more careful!" Toriel scolded gently, clutching the shaking girl, "Are you alright?"

"I-I'm okay." Hope replied, trying to steady herself, "I've just been so worried about Frisk, I-I..." Toriel nodded slowly.

"I understand the feeling." Toriel sighed, then smiled at Hope, "Is she a friend?"

"She's my sister, actually. Well, kind of." Hope answered, "She's a foster child, and my family has been fostering her."

"Ah. I see." Toriel smiled again, "That is very kind of you, to take in a child like that." Hope looked up at the goat woman, and she had the strangest urge to call her Mom.

"Yeah, well, they made a few decisions I didn't quite agree with." she muttered, looking away. She laughed humorlessly. "That's why we're here." Her voice shook, hardly a whisper now. "They were going to give her back."

Toriel looked appalled and stared at the shaking child in her arms. "They were going to give her back? After she became part of your family?" Hope nodded solemnly. Toriel's face darkened.

Wait, what? That's awful!

Hope sighed. However much she wanted to stay here, with this woman, she needed to go find her sister. Taking a shaky breath, she pulled away from Toriel's protective embrace.

"Thank you," she smiled at the woman, "for everything. But I... I really need to find my little sister. She's alone out there, and who knows what's out there with her." There was pain in Toriel's gaze, and Hope started to wonder what was on her mind, "I can't afford to waste time. I've already wasted enough." Her breath shuddered. She really didn't want to leave Toriel, but she knew the sooner she was on her way, the better.

"Can't you at least stay for a slice of pie?" Toriel questioned, almost pleaded, "I still have plenty left." Considering for a moment, Hope laughed.

"Okay, one." she smiled. If she had one weakness, it was desserts.

Same.

Hope felt her expression, and Toriel stared at her curiously. 'Would you quit saying things to me? It's very distracting!' she growled in her thoughts.

Sorry. the voice replied, and Hope could almost see a shadowy figure shrinking back.

Toriel took her hand and led her to a cozy living room. There was a large plush chair that seemed about the right size for the goat woman, as well as a table with three chairs. Hope took a seat in one of them while Toriel disappeared into the kitchen, coming back a minute later with a slice of pie.

The girl ate ravenously, not even realizing how hungry she was. When she spotted Toriel staring at her, slowed a bit, embarressed. The woman laughed.

"You seem hungry!" she commented, smiling, "Though that would make sense, seeing how long you were asleep." Hope almost choked on her pie. Seeing how long she was asleep? How long had she been out?

"Toriel," she began, more hesitantly than she meant to, "how long was I asleep?"

Toriel thought for a moment. "About five hours, I think." she replied, and Hope felt herself pale. Five hours?! She thought it was only one or two!

Abruptly, Hope pushed her chair away from the table and stood. Toriel looked surprised. "I need to leave." she stated shortly, turning and starting off at a brisk pace.

"Wait!" Toriel called after her, "Where are you going?" She stopped. Where was she going?

"Uh... where did Frisk go?" she asked sheepishly, turning to Toriel.

"The Ruins door is in the basement. Your sister exited through there" Toriel replied, then quickly added, "Why are you leaving in such a hurry?"

"I was asleep too long. I must leave now." Hope answered shortly, already heading down the stairs. Toriel followed close behind.

"You don't need to leave yet. I could get you some more food, maybe something to drink. You'll want proper clothing for your journey, too." Toriel insisted from behind, but Hope kept up the brisk pace.

"I can't waste any more time."

"Preparing for the journey ahead is not wasting time!"

"I don't care, I'll find a way." Toriel continued to protest as Hope approached a large door. This must be it, she thought. The Ruins door.

More quickly than she thought possible, the goat woman stepped in front of Hope and blocked her path. "You. Will. Not. Pass!" Toriel growled, and Hope took a step backwards, bewildered.

"T-Toriel?" she stammered, suddenly very afraid of the woman. She loomed menacingly ahead, a frighteningly fierce expression darkening the otherwise friendly goat woman's face. Fireballs formed in her paws, Hope clutched her hands to her chest. Is this what had happened to Frisk to make her cry out? "Toriel, wh-what are you doing?"

Toriel snarled at Hope before she seemed to notice how frightened the girl was. The fireballs vanished, and her face settled into a sad expression.

I am sorry, my child." Toriel apologized, her eyes closed, "I cannot allow you to pass. It is too dangerous." Hope stared.

"B-But what about Frisk? She's my sister, I need to find her." Hope protested, hoping the woman would see reason.

"It is too dangerous." she repeated, "I cannot allow it." She looked up, her eyes full of pain. "Asgore, the King of Monsters, will kill you if you continue." Hope continued to stare, startled.

"But, Frisk..."

"She gave me no choice. I had to let her go." Toriel shook her head, "But if I can't save her, or anyone else, I will save you." Tears welled in Hopes eyes as she realized what this meant. If this goat woman never let her through, she would never see her sister again. Frisk would be all alone in the world. No parents, no real friends, no sister. She couldn't bear to think of that. The presence in her mind sobbed once before silencing themself.

Hope held back sobs, and tear after tear trailed down her cheek. "P-Please..." she pleaded, "She needs me, a-and I need her..." She collapsed on the ground in a sobbing heap, overcome by her tears. She couldn't live with herself if Frisk lost the only family she had. "Please..." There was the sound of a sniffle inside her head.

Toriel, I'm so sorry. I missed you, and you... the voice stopped, choking on their words.

Everything faded, and Hope was vaguely aware of a monster lady kneeled beside her. Soft, strong arms curled around her feeble body, and she cried into them. She couldn't stay...

After a little while, probably about twenty minutes by Hope's estimate, she finally came to her senses. She stared up at Toriel, who still had her in a tight embrace.

"Toriel..." Toriel gazed at her, tears beginning to well in her own eyes.

"Don't."

"Please, Toriel."

"No, stop." The goat woman looked away, not able to bear it.

"Toriel." Hope's voice was surprisingly firm, and Toriel looked back at her.

"I just want to protect you." her voice was soft, hardly more than a whisper, and full of love. Hope smiled sadly.

"I know," the girl replied, a certain gentleness in her voice she quite couldn't place, "but you know I can't stay." Toriel's gaze saddened, and Hope knew she understood. Toriel sniffed, then stood up. The woman offered her hand, and Hope took it. She was pulled into a standing position. Toriel took a shuddering breath.

"What is your name, child?" Hope smiled.

"Hope."

"Hope." Toriel echoed, letting it sink in for a moment, "I will miss you very much, Hope." she smiled, absently tucking a stray hair behind the child's ear. Hope's smile saddened, and the voice sobbed again.

"I'll miss you too," her voice trailed off for a moment, thinking, before adding "Mom." Surprise flashed across Toriel's face for a moment before she smiled too.

Hope broke away from Toriel's embrace and slowly walked over to the door. She took a deep breath and glanced back.

"Goodbye, my child." Toriel swiped away a tear and smiled.

"Goodbye, Mom." she replied and quietly stepped out the door. It gently closed behind her, and Hope felt a tear trail down her own cheek.

Goodbye Mom, the voice echoed.

(A/N Hello again, whoever is reading this right now! I had a lot of fun doing this one, but it's taking some serious restraint to not just jump ahead to where she meets Sans. Oh well. Even as I'm going right now, I get the feeling I'm not quite pacing it right at this point in time, so it's best I don't. Hopefully I can get it down later.

Anyway, I just want to say thanks again for your guys' support of this story. Since this is my first, it really means a lot to me that people are actually reading it, and following it is just amazing. The next chapter should be up by tomorrow, FYI, though I may stop posting daily pretty soon. It's actually a bit draining. Anyway, happy reading and writing to you all!)