Chapter 9: Papyrus

When I woke, it felt like some axe was cleaving my head in two. I lifted my hand to rest it on my forehead. A strange clicking sound was produced. Opening my eyes, I looked around in confusion before focusing on my hand. I gasped.

"No"

I stare at the off white bones that make up my hand. I sat up. I coughed up dust. I looked for my bag immediately. It wasn't there. I saw red droplets falling. Scowling, I reached up to rub them away, determined to ignore the bones' texture, but the same clicking sounded. Denial first raced through my mind before acceptance settled in. I stared dully at my hands. A soft crimson glow illuminated them along with the drops tracing through them. I didn't care about my tears anymore.

This was it. I wasn't human anymore.

I clenched my jaw and fisted my phalanges. No, I just need to eat something. I think I still have some flesh left. I can go back to normal. I just need to eat or drink something.

I pulled my loose collar forward. Yup, I still had some flesh left. Gray, crumbling flesh but it's there. Hesitantly, I let one of my hands feel my face. I heard the scrape of bone on bone but couldn't feel it. I 'felt' my phalanges dip a bit into where- Oh dear, are those my eye sockets? How do I even see? I don't have eyes anymore or a nose. That just crumbled away. My eyelids where still there though, just harder than they were. I tapped one of my 'eyelids' to hear the hollow taps. I slid my hand up to run it through my hair, thick as always. I guess skeletons can have hair too. Then again, I'm more of a decaying zombie turning into a skeleton. I rubbed the back my neck vertebrae. That 'felt' weird. I shivered, hearing muffled rattles of my spine.

I looked around once again, only more closely. I rolled my crimson eye lights. Of course, I'm in a shed somewhere. At least, it had heating. I pulled off the blanket pooling around my hip bones and jeans. I straightened my jacket and zipped it up properly. I stood up slowly from the bare musty mattress, testing my new form. I wobbled a moment, dust falling in lumps to the ground. I noticed the small mounds of dust surrounding my horizontal figure on the mattress. I huffed and patted myself down to be mostly clean. Once done, I wanted to swipe the dust off the mattress. After a moment of wondering, I did so as best as I could.

I looked back at the dim shed. It was strange. It has the same musty off smell as a forgotten shed, but it seems it has been lived in. There was a desk, an old tread mill; trash littered everywhere, a pillow besides the mattress, a perfect wad of sheets on the lower part of the mattress, and a strange phenomenon going on over by the door. It looked like a miniature tornado made of trash. There was a plate of food in it too. Seeing how the pasta was stuck to the plate and not flying around with its plate, I left it alone in fear of food poisoning. Would that happen?

As common sense would indicate, I went to the door first. Listening through the wood, I couldn't hear much. I tried (fiddled, not really having a good grip anymore) the door knob, locked tight. Looking back, I spotted the window. I moved over there to see if I could open it. It did a couple of inches but no more. The frame wasn't cared for properly. It had grime, natural dust, and ice smothering it. Looking through the foggy pane, it wouldn't look like I'd make it anyways, second story. What was left of my shoulders slumped in defeat. I looked back at the unsanitary room.

Sudden mothering instincts kicked in, I started to straighten up the room. Years of picking up after Frisk, this habit helped me calm down. It was strange to do this with phalanges instead of fleshy hands. I collected the crumpled up pieces of paper and threw it into the tornado. I placed the crimple free papers onto the desk in a neat stack. I left the paper note on the tread mill. The dust I left on the mattress would be a nightmare to get out, so I left it as is.

I cautiously sniffed the wad of sheets. Not that it would matter anyways since the mattress was beyond saving; I wish I had my vacuum. It would make this so much easier. Static filled the air as I jerked at the intense glow and headache. I blinked a couple of time to see if it was really what I saw. There it was my vacuum. It was transparent lined in hazy red, but it was my vacuum. Using it, it was silent as the particles whirled in the expanding chamber as I went about the room. I used the familiar attachments to clean up the bed as best as I could.

I unrolled the surprisingly less- than-musty-sheets to properly lay them out. I fluffed and placed the pillow back where it should be. I glanced at the enormous magic container of unknown substances floating in the air. I glanced at the open-ish window. Somehow, I was able to dump everything out the window. I looked about the room in satisfaction and fatigue. That took a lot out of me than I expected.

WAIT A MOMENT! If I can make a vacuum materialize, then I can unlock the door! I must be more out-of-it than I thought. I wobbled over to the door. Kneeling to half rest and half better grip on the dang thing, I focused on it and the thought of unlocking. A click sounded, I sighed in deep exhaustion. I twisted the door knob before I could blink. Freedom! But, as soon as I took a couple of steps, I felt extremely light. I collapsed. What I heard last was a loud exclamation before everything went dark.

I woke again on a lumpy surface, my headache worse than before. Immediately sitting up, I looked around what looked like a living room. A door to the outside! I made to stand but fell over. I huffed and puffed in short breathes. Darkness was reaching the edges of my vision when I heard something. A familiar clatter of pots and pans halted for footsteps to take their place.

"MISS, PLEASE CALM YOURSELF! THE GREAT PAPYRUS HAS FOUND YOU IN YOUR MOMENT IN NEED! PLEASE DON'T OVEREXERT YOURSELF. I SHALL GET YOU A PLATE OF SOME OF MY EXQUISTE CULINARY MASTERPEICE TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER. STAY THERE PLEASE!"

I looked up to the tall skeleton, Papyrus, helping me back onto the couch. When I say tall, I meant it. He was probably a bit taller than Toriel! I sat on the couch, waiting for my strength to return. I wanted to leave as soon as I can. I don't know where I am or how much time had passed while I was unconscious.

I was attempting to stand up when Papyrus came back from the kitchen with a plate of pasta. With a grimace, I sat back down as he approached. He handed me the plate and a fork and sat down beside me, filled with excited nervous energy. Glancing at him with apprehension, I twirled my fork in the pasta. It would be rude to refuse, but I don't know if I can trust this skeleton. With Marshmallow, I at least have some sort of deal with him to trust him a smidge. This skeleton is an unknown. I wouldn't know how he was going to react to a skeleton turning human. From what I could gather from Marshmallow and Toriel, humans are hunted down here for their SOULs.

I carefully placed my bite in my teeth, wincing at the scraping sound of bone and metal. I was used to having lips. I froze at the indescribable taste. If I had a tongue, it probably just dissolved into dust, maybe my stomach too. Glancing at the expecting grin of the soon to be fellow skeleton, I just hoped that not having a tongue or stomach will allow me the release of the pain that'll come later on some time. That and I could tell this dish won't help me in my decomposition reversion.

Immensely relieved that I don't have taste buds anymore, I continued to eat the humanly inedible plate of pasta. Some strange sensation started to creep over my exposed bones. It felt like having flesh and skin again, but as I discreetly glanced at my phalanges, that wasn't the case visibly. I also noticed, out of the corner of my eye socket, my clothing was starting to fill out like when I had flesh. I jumped, startled, when my so-far-silent companion started to bellow a particular laugh.

"NYEHEHEHEHEHEHEH! I SEE YOU ENJOYED MY CULINARY MASTERPIECE!"

I smiled nervously. 'Enjoyed' would not be a word I would use, but I am satisfied in hunger. This was getting incredibly awkward on my part. I don't even know how I am smiling without any facial muscles!

"ALTHOUGH, I MUST SAY, I HAVE NOT EVER SEEN ANOTHER SKELETON BEFORE NOW, OTHER THAN MY BROTHER OF COURSE."

I froze for a moment. The only other skeleton I know is Marshmallow. Quite honestly, I forgot his real name already. I inspected Papyrus features. Other than being skeletons, I can't see any familiar traits they could share. He straightened out his spine and puffed out his chest proudly. He seemed to close his eye sockets with a big grin. I also noticed that Papyrus's sharp cheekbones were turning hazy orange color. I was staring. I looked away. This just got uncomfortable.

"Sorry about that, I have only met one other skeleton. I have, uh, forgotten his name, but I call him Marshmallow. I was just trying to see any sharing features you may have with him."

Papyrus blinked and grinned even more. The haze lessening but still there, he stood and struck a pose to pronounce his body more. His red scarf flapping in none existent wind, he laughed again. I looked back at my used plate. My cheek bones were tingling like crazy. This is so embarrassing. I raised a hand to cover my face as best as I could. Well, I might as well ask some basic questions. Hopefully, I'll stop being embarrassed for the both of us.

"Well, um, may I ask you where I am?"

"NYEHEHEHE! OF COURSE YOU CAN MISS, UH, OH PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR YOUR NAME! WHAT IS YOUR NAME MISS?"

"Kia, my name is Kia. Where am I, again?"

"IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU KIA. YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN MY HOUSE."

No duh.

"I'm sorry. I meant as to which town I am in, currently."

"OH, WELL, YOU ARE IN SNOWDIN."

I'm sure Marshmallow said that Frisk was almost this town when I emotionally blew up. Alright, I need to go. Hopefully, I can find Frisk here and protect them. I shifted and got up onto my feet. While the meal wasn't exactly good, it still gives me strength. Hm, need to find my bag and eat Toriel's pie. I should look human enough for Frisk to recognize me. Turning to Papyrus, I nodded with a smile.

"Thank you for the meal, but I need to go. Do you happen to know where my bag is?"

"OH, WHY THANK YOU! OF COURSE IT'S NOT EVERY DAY YOU GET TO EAT MY FAMOUS SPAGETTI. HM, I DID SEE SANS WITH A BAG EARILIER. WAIT HERE MISS KIA AND I SHALL GET IT FOR YOU! NYEHEHEHEHEHEHE!"

I was left standing as Papyrus somehow gallops through the house looking for my bag. I sighed and awkwardly shifted my weight. Sans, that was Marshmallow's name. I don't know how to feel waking up in his room: terrified or grateful. Terrified that I am in his room for some reason, grateful am I to be out of the cold. I started when I heard his louder than I-suppose-was his normal voice.

"OH MY GOODNESS! I HAD NOT NOTICED, BUT SANS' ROOM IS CLEAN! HAPPY DAY INDEED!"

Happy day? He suddenly sees a female zombie/skeleton stumbling and fainting outside of his brother's locked bedroom and feeds said zombie/skeleton terrible food thinking that it was the best in the world. I need to get out of here. That and I am, absolutely, sure my bag is not in Marshmallow's room. I cleaned it after all. I fiddled with the end of my shirt as I waited as politely as allowed. When Papyrus finally found my bag and came over to give it to me, I held it securely as I said a quick polite goodbye. I was about to leave when I was stopped by Papyrus again.

"COME BY AGAIN KIA, IT WAS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE DESPITE THE CERCUMSTANCES OF OUR MEETING. I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY BROTHER LOST HIS MANNERS, AND I DO APOLOGISE FOR THAT. MAYBE NEXT TIME WE MEET, WE CAN BE FRIENDS!"

I had my hand on the door knob when he spoke. My shoulders slumped in defeat. He really was trying to be friendly. I am such a hypocrite. I can't judge anyone for other's reasons or mistakes. Releasing the door knob, I placed my bag on properly. I turned to Papyrus with a more genuine smile.

"Maybe, and thank you for hosting my unexpected visit, I really appreciate it."

I waved goodbye to the ecstatic skeleton before opening the door and leaving. I stepped out into the snow and had a moment to myself. Watching fresh snowfall, I didn't feel the cold anymore. I feel so empty. I trudged to the right and into town to see if I can find Frisk. I looked through a greasy bar, a freezing river bank, and the entrance of Snowdin. I was getting strange looks was I went through town. It wasn't until a small kid dinosaur with no arms told me that there were only two skeletons in the whole of Underground, and they lived in this very town.

Frisk wasn't here.

I was exiting a small shop owned by a rabbit woman when I saw the star. I must have been too focused on talking to the residents to notice it. I did get some decent information from the nice woman. She was surprised that I didn't know anything about 'our' history. I let her assumed that I was delinquent during my school days and had turned my life around for the better. Not that it mattered anyways down here.

I approached the star and stared at it. I clenched my jaw. If Frisk is not here, then I will continue on from here. I am getting closer to them. I can feel it. I just need to keep going. I grasped the star, feeling something getting crushed in my phalanges before whatever it was disappeared in my hand.

Keep going. Stay on track. Stay DETERMINED.