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The iron box which weighed Chara down by their leg began to grow chains like vines and wrap around nearly their entire body. Their legs could only move as one,
They struggled as the weight succeeded in pulling them into the salty water. The two precious words they held on to didn't escape Chara's grasp, but what was once salvation floating above certain death could only serve as companion as the child's body was dragged into the dark lake. They squirmed around, almost like a mythical water-creature. They tried to scream, but the force of the deep pressed upon them, tighter and tighter. They dug their nails into those two words, and tried again. If they were going to die, they would speak that name which had kept them afloat.
"Goat Mom," they screamed.
The box continued to pull as those words seemed to take Chara upwards with unnatural speed. Just as they were sure that they would be torn in two at the waist, they woke up in their bed, breathing heavily. They tried to sit up and walk around, but their legs refused to separate. They began to pant and whimper, their hands searching in the low light for those words. Instead, those trembling hands found the soft blanket wrapped tightly around the lower half of their body.
Chara began to breathe slowly as they manipulated the blanket from around their legs and feet.
They laid back down, too tired to stop the tears of frustration from falling. They had shelter, yet their heart was pounding in terror. It was a familial word which brought punishment all those years before, yet it was a familial word which brought them out of that nightmare. What exhausted them most was that while there was a possibility of this all coming from manipulative monster magic trying to warp them, they wondered if succumbing to that calming deception would be such a bad way to go.
They wiped away the tears from their face and the tears that had pooled in their ears. Dinner had been delicious, and this family was kinder than most humans they knew. If human flesh was on a future menu, they seemed like they preferred to kill their prey quickly. None of the Fallen Children believed that most Caretakers knew the meaning of "quick and painless."
They saw the shadows of the plants being cast even higher and turned their head. Opposite of the long shadows was a small glowing light, bouncing along in the air like a human jogging. As the figure came closer, they saw that it was Toriel, jogging towards the greenhouse in a blue nightgown. Something was at the hems and sleeves, but it was too dark to tell.
"Goat Mom," they whispered, smiling as the tears threatened to make a comeback. Death be damned; it felt good to at least pretend that they had a parent, someone who would love them.
Toriel stopped jogging and took a deep breath as if she were about to speak quickly or loudly. She paused, and instead spoke slowly and quietly as she walked slowly to one of the glass walls of the greenhouse.
"I heard you call for me. What happened?"
They wanted to tell her that they were okay. That they just had a weird dream, but they can get to sleep just fine. That there was no need to worry. That it was weird that she would care about someone as suspicious as them. That they would like some of the soup from dinner if there was any more.
But all that came from their mouth was a guttural cry that wouldn't stop. Even when there was little breath left in their lungs, their chest began to cave in almost to the point of fracturing. They kept looking at Toriel outside of the greenhouse, unable to do little else but stare and sob, their body possessed by grief of unknown origins.
They weren't sure why Toriel didn't raise her voice to be heard, but instead gestured.
"Can I come in?"
Chara nodded their head. At least they could control their head.
Toriel came in, her face and pace as calm as if they wasn't screaming like an animal in a trap. She made another gesture, silently asking if it was okay for her to sit down on the bed with them. Chara answered by moving over a bit and patting the bed. They still couldn't stop crying, but it felt good to regain control of their body little by little.
"Do you want to just want to sit together," she asked once their crying quieted down into occasional moans.
Chara shook their head, looking down at the blankets which now seemed a bit smoother than before.
"Do you want to talk?"
They shook their head more emphatically. They wanted something they were too afraid to ask for.
"Do you want a hug?"
Chara looked up to see her kind eyes looking on them. They could tell that her last question wasn't a wild guess, but an invitation. Somehow, she knew. Their face contorted as high-pitched whines were barely contained by their closed mouth. They nodded so emphatically that their chin knocked on their chest. She opened her arms and Chara launched at her, clinging to her with every last ounce of strength they had left. Hugs at the House were secret, forbidden things. But they knew that even if everyone else was awake, she would've offered a hug to them anyway. They felt Toriel pick them up, scoot to one end of the bed, and make a light thud against the headboard of the bed.
"I've got you," Toriel cooed. "Go ahead and get some sleep." She then whispered some of the same breathing exercises and peaceful imagery that she did with Asriel, making sure to include everything she had ever read about beautiful things that grow on the Surface.
Asriel woke up and went to see if the commotion in the kitchen was his mother cooking breakfast.
"Mother! I had the funniest dream last night," he said, turning to walk into the kitchen. He stopped when he saw it was his father sautéing water sausages while wearing his "Cooking King" apron.
"If you want your mother," Asgore said, keeping an eye on the skillet, "I think she went to check on the human. Chara, right? After she put you to bed, she said she heard them calling for her and went to check. I guess she was right, because she didn't come back in."
"Did she sleep at all," Asriel asked.
"Oh, you know your mother. She'd sell her right arm to help the tiniest temmie, so she ran out as soon as she thought Chara was in trouble." He stopped for a moment, took the skillet off the fire and knelt in front of his son. "What are you thinking?"
"Mother. She's, she must be very tired." He was looking down, embarrassed.
"Look at me, son," said Asgore, stooping his head down further to Asriel's level. Once they had eye contact, he continued. "Your mother chose to help you get to sleep. She chose to check on Chara. And I guess she chose to stay up with Chara. If she needs to sleep, we can take care of your friend and the house so she can take a nice, long nap. Okay?"
"Okay," Asriel said, nodding and smiling. He dashed off to make sure she remembered to put his dirty clothes away so that his mother would have one less thing to worry about.
Toriel snored softly, her back settled against the headboard as Chara was settled in on her lap, deep asleep. She chuckled and muttered, "You're so sweet, Asriel," before drifting off again.