Surprise, The Surface Sucks: Chapter 7
The surface changed. Sans blinked wearily at a suspicious green pool.
It hadn't been in the middle of the path before.
The pool appeared to be eating the rock as the edges smoldered.
An unwelcoming scent was thick in the air. It was strong if he could smell it.
"Ksirf."
Right, that was their name now.
"So, what should I know about the surface?"
Frisk almost laughed. That question was just too loaded to answer plainly.
"Keep following me Sans, and you'll find out."
Walking along the cliff-sides of Mount Ebott, several smoldering pools shifted their path.
Frisk stayed clear of them and jumped when a pool suddenly bubbled.
Eventually they reached the bottom. The sky's sun was high in the air and Frisk regarded it with a smile.
They still had plenty of time.
"Kid, can we take a pit stop here?" Sans gestured to a hole in the earth. At the bottom was another smoldering pool.
He looked ragged as he leaned again a rock. Frisk imagined he hadn't walked that long in his entire life.
Perhaps they didn't have enough time.
"No!"
Sans's lights grew wide, then suddenly darkened.
"Uh...what?" He smirked after a moment, thinking. "Oh! So you don't like my puns then?"
He feigned disappointment, "And here I was, ready to rock your world with a ton of em'!"
Sans picked up a rock, tossing it between his hands. He held it out as if he wanted to juggle it, but then thought better of it.
Frisk just stared at the sky, worry slowly crippled their bones.
Sans had misunderstood.
"No!" They kicked up gravel, looking him over as if he suddenly sprouted skin. "Sans, I mean no! We can't stop-" Frisk cut themselves off, turning to a whisper, "It's dangerous." Their skull swiveled side to side in all directions, lights paranoid.
They pointed up. Thick clouds patterned the sky.
"Sans." Frisk approached him closely. Suddenly, Frisk wasn't afraid of him.
Up on the surface, they had some authority. The mere idea filled them with determi-
"Kid! Ksirf!" Sans held up his hands. "Relax." He placed a hand gently onto their shoulder.
Okay, maybe they didn't have that much authority.
Frisk's bones began rattling. They couldn't keep the logical fear down.
"You should go."
Sans patted their shoulder, "Yeah, and you're coming with kiddo. Something's got you spooked." Sans's hand tightened-a firm objection.
Frisk sighed and pushed his hand away. "I have places to be."
San raised his brows suspiciously, "Do you now?" They took a few steps back, edger to move on.
"Yes."
Clearly Sans didn't believe them. Adults were sometimes funny like that.
Things became awkward as Sans stared. His lights dimmed and he shuffled his feet.
"Ok kid."
He held up a hand, sparking blue. Frisk tensed, preparing for an attack.
But it never came.
*Ring* *Ring*
Sans was preoccupied with his phone.
"Hey bro, I'll be away for a few days, so don't freak okay?" He paused, "...And please have lots of spaghetti for when I return." He openly grimaced as the call ended.
"W-what?"
He walked up to Frisk and patted their shoulder reassuringly.
"Come on, you can keep taking the lead."
"What? No! Go home!"
Sans smiled cheekily.
"No way babybones. You're scared of something up here and I'll find out what." He shrugged, "Plus, Paps would freak if I just left you alone when you're all spooked out."
Frisk frowned. "Babybones"-what a stupid word. Sans sure liked to talk a lot.
Hopefully that didn't become a problem.
"Alright you can come."
Sans smiled.
"But," Frisk glowed their eyes, "you follow my rules!"
They stomped up to Sans and leered into his sockets.
Dad loved to spook folks out by doing that.
"Uh...sure kid." Sans raised his hands complacently. He leaned back, trying to look casual-but was obviously bothered.
Frisk smirked. "Rule one, shut up-it attracts attention." Sans didn't look pleased.
"And rule two, keep up!"
Sans cursed as Frisk began running.
It was amazing!
Frisk focused on the clear sky and gravel ahead.
They'd only been running for a mile or so, and Sans was already winded.
*Thump*
Frisk reluctantly turned around to find Sans had face-planted into the dirt.
How ridiculous.
"Sans, get up!"
No response, so Frisk kicked his ribs.
"Ack, kid-the hell?" Sans shot up, rubbing his side. "That hurt."
"Good." Sans frowned and Frisk smirked-perhaps he was regretting his decision.
"If you can't follow the rules, go home!"
"Oh?" Sans puffed up his jacket, his lights aglow. "And what about the rule on staying quiet? Yelling doesn't seem to follow that?" He gave a cheeky grin. "Seems you're not following the rules either, bud."
Frisk clicked their teeth. They rarely yelled.
Alright, Sans made a point there, still...
"Hey." They leered. "You're wasting time. Either keep up or go away!"
Frisk had been running for miles, finding their original endurance had tripled since the conversion. The lack of lungs made running a joy!
No longer was the nagging need to breath holding them back.
They ran so far, they didn't expect to see Sans when looking back, but there he was.
He was a speck on the horizon, his blue jacket standing out like a dried blueberry.
Taking in the surroundings, Frisk clenched their teeth. They had ran far sure, but to where?
Frisk wrestled with an uncomfortable realization.
They were lost.
Of all the things...lost.
The very idea was humiliating. Mom and Dad would chew them out if they found out.
Only babies got lost.
Frisk paced back and forth, scratching their arms as options were examined.
'Ask for help.' They thought.
The word "help" lingered sourly. It wasn't a bad word, Mom had explained; but, Dad sure loved to weasel the word out of folks put under his foot.
They shuddered. Frisk had no choice.
Both arms stretched out to the sky, charged red.
A magical bolt shot upward and broke into a shower of sparks.
There-now anyone nearby could find them.
It was a risky move, stupid even-but Frisk blinked nervously up at the sky.
Determination rained down on them.
Not asking for help was a bigger risk. Getting caught in a storm was a death sentence.
Frisk sat down, running their hands through the earth. It was comforting as the dirt was cold underneath. They dug a hole, reveling in the refreshing chill as they buried themselves.
It was wonderful! Frisk readily dozed off, feeling safe as dirt blinded them.
Eventually they felt a weight on top and the earth shifted.
Sans?
They peeked up.
It wasn't.
"Ssssssssssss." A shadow hissed and loomed closer.
Quickly, Frisk ducked back down into the hole. Their legs kicked frantically to loosen the dirt to burrow deeper.
Only Frisk's sockets peeked out of the earth.
"Hello?" Frisk said, through a mouthful of dirt.
The shadow stepped away and grumbled loudly, its annoyance plain.
Interesting.
Curiosity got the better of Frisk and they popped their skull up.
Another skull stared back—it was a skeleton.
Not surprising, they'd asked for help after all.
The stranger summoned a femur, blunted on both ends. It was extended towards Frisk and it didn't glow with any animosity. Frisk tentatively grabbed an end.
*Swish*
Frisk was flung out of the earth.
'A fight!?' Frisk grumbled. It was the last thing they wanted. Help be damned.
Magic was readied, but a hard smack into the ground disorientated any shielding against the impact.
Frisk spun around, their hands outstretched for defense.
The stranger loomed over them, tall and bulky. The bone then spun around like a baton, no doubt charging an attack.
*Poof*
Suddenly, the bone was gone, poofed away in a purple mist.
The stranger loomed over them, tall and bulky. It had a livid skull, sharp teeth scrapped together.
Frisk leered, gnashing their teeth in response.
It didn't settle in they were spared from a fight until a golden badge was pressed into their face. It shimmered hypnotically.
The badge read "Law Watch."
Frisk relaxed a little. Only good strangers tended to bother with those.
The Law Watch was created to help. Maybe the stranger was safe?
Still, almost anything could be faked, the badge no exception.
Frisk backed away, a stranger was a stranger.
Said stranger snorted, amused. Clicking teeth, it cocked its skull curiously. The badge sparked purple and snapped onto the stranger's armored chest.
"Ssssssssssssalt." The stranger hissed.
Frisk could see it was a man, his sockets darkened as he relaxed.
He patted his chest, gesturing towards himself. "Sssalt."
Ahh, his name.
"Frisk."
The stranger, Salt, bowed his head in greeting. Then he stood tall, dark sockets flickered impatiently.
He grumbled and crossed his arms.
"Uh, do you perhaps know the way to the nearest…town…or shelter?"
The stranger frowned and his teeth clacked. His skull swiveled and bobbed up and down, as if he was testing the air.
Then, he pointed towards a direction.
"…Thanks."
Frisk expected the stranger to leave, but instead he stared intently off into the distance.
Sans.
The blue speck was easy to spot in the desert expanse.
The stranger began to be a bit weird.
"Sssss!" Salt snarled.
He looked absolutely furious as he gazed in Sans's direction. Apparently another person was too much for him.
The femur was summoned, the points sharp.
Salt's sockets glowed with unwarranted hostility.
Frisk was stunned. Why was he angry?!
He crouched down. Salt began digging feverishly into the earth.
"Wait!"
The stranger didn't listen. Salt hurled himself forward. With a crash he buried into the earth and tunneled towards Sans.
"A-ahh!" Sans had barely time to scream.
Salt barreled into him, erupting from the earth. The stranger's boots kicked upward like claws, pinning Sans by his spine.
The femur pressed against his mandible. It glowed dangerously.
"Ssssssss!"
The stranger kicked his ribs and Sans reeled in pain. His spine scattered into vertebrae and dust mixed into the dirt.
Fortunately, Frisk loved to run.
Salt looked over at Sans, sockets glowing. He grinded his teeth threateningly over the snapping of the fire. Sans was hunched over and had his hood pull up, fast asleep.
It had taken some effort on Frisk's part to pull them away from their fight.
Sans had almost died but fortunately this stranger, Salt, was capable of mercy.
Frisk glanced at Salt's badge.
"Law Watch." It read, but it was still suspect.
"Hand the badge over."
To Frisk's delight and relief, Salt tossed it over without a glance.
It was gold plated, most likely stainless steel. It was nice...and most importantly, looked genuine.
On the back was engraved "Salt."
This Salt then was an official helper. It didn't look stolen; of course, he could always be lying about his name. Frisk tentatively gave the badge back.
"Can you take us to the closest town?"
Frisk didn't trust Salt by far, but it was better than running to nowhere.
Salt nodded. It appeared silence was his language and that suited Frisk just fine.
It was Sans that talked too much, who had asked so many questions before finally succumbing to sleep.
The fire died down later into the night. A thin downpour began. Both Frisk and Salt stared meekly at the sky, united in fear.
As soon as the sun was up, Salt and Frisk were ready to go.
Both were more than happy to kick Sans awake, gently of course.
"I'm up! I'm up!" Sans put his hands up and stumbled to his feet, moving faster than Frisk had ever seen him. It was a little amusing.
The group made good time. Sans moved slowly, but ever since the attack he was silent, and eerily focused from what Frisk could see.
Salt kept looking over his shoulder, no doubt expecting retribution for attacking Sans the other day-that, or was expecting him to fall over dead.
He knew first hand how weak Sans was.
Frisk felt increasingly uncomfortable. Traveling with two adults, strangers to boot? It was incredibly ridiculous.
Who knew where Salt was taking them. He could be plotting to hand them over to a mill house...
Frisk let Salt take the lead, eyeing his back as their mind swirled with contingency plans.
If Salt did go rouge their only option was to run. It was a poor idea but at least Sans was sure to be captured first.
Frisk smiled nervously. They'd been kidnapped before, but never for long. Ransom payments had always been the motive and family had always been close by.
Frisk was alone now. It was terrifying.
Each step felt like moving closer to death.
Their bones itched as they imagined the gears of the mill grinding them down into flour.
It was death reserved for condemned criminals; though, that fact didn't ease Frisk's paranoia.
Frisk was no stranger to crime. They loved it and their bounty climbed as their skill and passion did...
Then Salt stopped.
Frisk snapped out of their musings, hand clasped over their pointed bone.
Salt walked over to a particular spot. There was nothing to see but dirt and rocks, yet Salt seemed keen on something.
He dug at the ground with a pointed boot, reminiscent of a chicken looking for food.
A rock was kicked into the distance.
*Vroom*
The ground rumbled to life. A large crack pushed outward a huge metal box.
Salt approached, holding out his badge.
*Click*
The badge snapped on magnetically and the box opened.
Inside was empty and the area was larger than the box appeared outside.
Salt climbed into it, waving Frisk over.
Their peered into it suspiciously. It looked like a coffin inside.
They waited for Sans to catch up before daring to touch it.
Salt nodded, gesturing for them to come inside.
Both Sans and Frisk shared a look.
The box seemed liked a death trap.
"Uh, no thanks. We'd prefer a town."
Frisk rubbed their arms nervously. No way were they getting into that.
Salt gave an admonishing look. He wasn't pleased and his sockets flickered with anger.
"Hisssss." He was like a viper as he ducked deeper into the box.
He held out his badge and twisted a piece around. He again gestured for them to come closer.
Sans stepped forward, holding Frisk back.
He didn't trust Salt one bit.
The two starred and Salt grew angrier.
Suddenly Salt lashed out!
Sans dashed backwards, but it was too late!
Salt's claws had hooked into San's hood. A large gash was made in the fabric as Salt dragged him forward.
Frisk was dumbfounded. They held the pointed bone close to their chest, not wanting to get caught either.
Then Salt raised his other hand, burning gold and purple.
He pressed a claw above San's nasal bone, scratching it. His teeth glowed maliciously.
Frisk couldn't watch anymore and raised their bone. It cut through San's hood and he fell forward, freed!
Salt then turned his attention towards Frisk. The bone was then thrown, charged a brilliant red as it flew into the box.
*Broom!*
The box exploded and Salt had ducked inside. His hand raised again.
Both Frisk and Sans began running!
Salt chuckled as he closed the box. The ground rumbled and the box was dragged underneath.
Salt was gone.
