Not good. Not good. Asriel continued to pound on the elevator door as hard as he could. Why wouldn't it open? It's been so long, and yet, nothing. That freak could be doing anything right now.

"Hey, are you listening?" Asriel yelled to whoever would hear. "You better let me back in or else!" He punched the door with all of his strength. He winced and reeled back and clutching his furred hand.

Managing to overcome the urge to keep scrunching up his face, Asriel looked up at the door. A part of him was surprised to see he had actually made a dent. Not big enough to really matter as it was almost unnoticeable. Asriel would need to break both of his arms off to get through it.

Defeated, Asriel let himself keel down to the floor and sit. Sometimes he just wanted to punch that stupid doctor in his weird face. Anything could be happening to Chara right now… business as usual then.

Asriel absentmindedly rubbed his knuckles. It didn't really help ease the pain. Suddenly, there was a sound; a constant hum, getting louder... The elevator. Finally, then he and Chara could leave for the day. To go where? Asriel couldn't say other than simply not here. When the doors opened, every point on Asriel's body froze.

"Ch-Chara?" Asriel stuttered. There was no movement from the body strewn over the metallic floor of the elevator. Asriel's brain finally started working and he ran over to Chara, eyes wide with uncontrolled breathing. He nearly fell over them.

"Chara!" Asriel said louder. A part of him wanted to think this was normal; that it would end soon and Chara would get up like everything was fine and normal. But Asriel knew, he just did, that it was not the case. Their skin was pale, almost porcelain white, their features were darkened and sunken in, but above all, it was their dead eyes that were the creepiest.

Their eyes were just… not right. Those that were forever burned into Asriel's memory so long ago; he knew they were different. Back then they were brown with only a faint bit of redness around the edges. Now the color in Chara's eyes were a brilliant red, almost glowing. The color of their human blood.

"Wake up!" Asriel shouted. He grabbed Chara's shoulders and shook them, trying to get them to do something; anything. Asriel's already unsteady breathing was getting faster and heavier. Asriel shook harder. "Come on, Chara!" He tried to keep the grim thoughts out of his head.

Asriel lightly slapped Chara on the cheek multiple times, each time getting adding a bit more force. He just wanted some sort of reaction. He knew that now he was hitting them so hard as to be painful, but Asriel needed something to keep away the thought that Chara might be dead. At least they weren't turning to dust, but humans are so different. Didn't he hear somewhere that human bodies might not break down when they…

He stopped his wild hitting; it was leading to nothing. He didn't want to think about it, he just didn't. He rested his paw on their skin… it was very cold.

"Chara…" Asriel began, not realizing how much despair was in his voice until he said it. Asriel closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to clear his head. "Chara," he repeated a little more level headed. "You're gonna be okay. I'm gonna..." his mind wandered off then he pulled it back. "I am going to protect you."

Asriel gripped the fabric of their sweater. He needed to focus, but he couldn't stop thinking about it. He wanted to tear Gaster- no, that thing to pieces. Bit by bit until there was nothing left. He breathed in again. No. He had to get Chara out of here first.

Asriel reached under Chara's shoulders and pulled them out of the elevator, collapsing on the ground of the laboratory. To think that the elevator might suddenly close and pull the both of them back down. The doors closed a few seconds later. Asriel held the limp form of Chara close. He remembered something and brought his face close to Chara's open mouth. Breathing, slow and shallow, but it was there.

Asriel moved his head away so that Chara could breathe the little air they were getting just a bit easier. Still, he continued to hold them. All that mattered now was getting Chara away from here. Then he could go to his parents; his dad, he would help. Chara would be safe.

Asriel hurried back over to Chara, who was still eerily unmoving. Asriel wanted to pick them up and run, but something tugged at the back of his mind. He put his hands on Chara's arm tenderly.

"I'm sorry," said Asriel earnestly. He was sorry for a lot of things. He gently wrapped Chara's delicate arms over his shoulders and hoisted them up. Something about this had a certain awful nostalgia to it. Asriel started his walk home.

...

Asriel laid the limp body of Chara down onto the bed. Their skin hadn't gotten any warmer, even after the earlier trek through Hotland. Quickly, he worked to cover them with blankets. So cold; Asriel felt a chill himself. He brushed the hair out of Chara's eyes.

"Chara…" Asriel started, "...are you still there?" Asriel looked, not actually expecting anything. However, he let out a small gasp when Chara's eyes moved to look into Asriel's own with a hint of recognition. Asriel almost tackled them with a hug. "Thank you… thank you, thank you!"

Asriel felt all the tension slip out of his body. He felt so much more relieved than he thought he would be. He lingered there just for a little bit longer before pulling back. "I'll be right back, okay? You're fine. Everything is fine." Chara blinked. That had to have meant something too. Asriel couldn't help but smile just a little bit. A rare sight.

...

"Dad!" yelled Asriel as he ran into the throne room. His father shot up from his chair in attention. "Dad, I need your help," He said, stopping a few feet from his father.

"What is it, Asriel?" Asgore said leaning forward, a look of concern on his face.

"It's Chara," Asriel started, "I took them to the lab and that doctor… thing hurt them really bad-"

Asgore's sigh halted Asriel's train of thought. The king sat back down in his throne as if he had just heard something that was nothing more than a waste of time. Asriel didn't know what to think of it.

"What?" Asriel said defensively. What was with his dad? He was acting like he didn't care.

"Son… we need to talk about Chara." The king's eyes looked baggy and worn.

"...Yeah?" Asriel said in a softer tone. The words of his father struck a strange chord. An uncomfortable silence filled the room as the King's vacant eyes flicked back and forth randomly. "Well?" Asriel prompted, impatience returning.

"You're not going to like this, but know that I have thought of this very carefully." Asgore said as he stood back up, his powerful presence returning. Asriel watched carefully as his father's lips moved. With every syllable, the world felt less and less real. Asriel had his jaw agape as the king concluded his talking. This couldn't be happening.

Asriel felt as if he was looking at the mad doctor Gaster himself. The prince wanted to pretend he misheard, but he knew he heard his father correctly. Asgore wearing his full suit of armor and cape seemed to tower over Asriel, as if the king was about to strike his son down right then and there, simply because he could.

"Wh-what do you mean I have to take them back?!" Asriel shouted, every hair on his body standing on its end.

"I will not repeat myself," Asgore said, his voice as strong and impassive as a stone wall. "The doctor needs the human for study and has not informed me otherwise." Asriel was completely stunned. All logical thoughts and actions completely erased from his mind. He wanted to say and do so much, but he didn't even know what it was exactly.

"…" Asriel made a short and quiet word under his breath. So quiet, he almost didn't hear it himself.

"Speak up," said Asgore.

"I said no!" Asriel screamed suddenly. "You can't do this! I won't do it!" Asriel was ready to break his arms off on the impenetrable door that was his father.

"You must!" Asgore bellowed.

"No!" Asriel yelled again, stomping his foot down. He held up his hands, balls of fire springing to life.

"Then kill them yourself." Asgore's words plunged a knife into Asriel. His stance broke completely. The fire faded.

"…What?" said Asriel, his words no longer defiant, instead sounding like the scared and defenseless child he was at that moment.

"You heard what I said."

"I…" Asriel couldn't even comprehend. Of all things that could happen, this… "why?" was all he could say.

"If you do not, the monster wars of the past will start once again and our family will perish." The words sounded weird; alien.

"But-"

"Take their soul, and free our people. This is what you are meant to do. Even if it means making sacrifices…" Asgore said, softer. Asriel couldn't move an inch. A part of him thought that if he stayed still long enough, the world itself would not notice him and all of this would be over. "Asriel." Asgore prompted after some time. The prince's breathing picked up fast and faster until he couldn't breathe any heavier. Then he turned and ran, ignoring the words his father shouted after him.

...

With every step Asriel wanted to turn around, go back to his father, and kill him, but he just kept running. His feet ached but that didn't slow him down.

Asriel slammed the front door of the house shut, the boom could probably be heard throughout the entire house. He stood there for a moment, both hands pressed against the door, seething. He suddenly whipped an arm back and punched the door.

"Damn it!" he screamed before collapsing onto the wooden floor with a sigh. He had his head in his hands. First the Underground itself wanted Chara, then his own father?

"My child?" A familiar voice said from down the hall, "Is that you? Are you okay?" Asriel didn't answer. He didn't even react when he felt his mother put a hand on his shoulder and lean down beside him. Asriel wanted to ask his mom for help, but a part of him knew nothing would really be done about anything. Asgore was still the strongest of all monsters, after all. Still, perhaps…

"Mom," Asriel started somberly.

"Yes, my child?" Toriel responded tenderly.

"Dad wants me to kill Chara," he stated flatly. Asriel could feel Toriel tense up ever so slightly. He felt an arm wrap around his waist and pull him into a side hug.

"Oh, poor thing." There was no condescension in Toriel's voice, only sympathy.

"Yeah…" Asriel said bitterly. Asriel clenched his fists and started to grind his teeth. He really wanted to hit something.

"I know this is not what you want to hear… but your father is only doing what he thinks is right." Asriel's breathing got heavier; angry. He would never, but he really wanted to hit something. "But that does not make it right." Asriel froze up; he didn't even dare breathe. "I think we all should do whatever it is we think is right, even if others may not agree." Asriel turned to look at his mom's face. She had a sad smile. "I will not defend your father's actions, but, even though we have had our arguments before, I will not condemn them either."

"What are you saying?"

"If you decide to do something about it… if you want to do the right thing, then you have every right to do so."

"Yeah, but… can you help me?"

"My child, while your father and I may have other disagreements, I still think it is the right thing to follow his judgement. However, I will not stop you if you decide to take action." Asriel turned his head away in thought.

"...okay," Asriel said after a while. He had no idea what to make of it. It just seemed like such an odd thing for her to say. But it did give him an idea. He pushed himself up off the floor. His mother's arms slid off him. He turned his head to give his mother one last glance. It was odd, her eyes looked… distant. "Mom?"

"We must all do what we think is right." She said in a droning tone. If Asriel's idea was going to work, he wouldn't have time to think of it.

He walked down the hall to his and Chara's room, each step faster than the last. He opened the door and it was like all the paranoia returned. Chara was much more active, but that was because they were shaking, curled up into a ball under the bed sheets. The same existential stare had not gone away. Asriel quickly rushed over.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong?" Asriel asked nervously, trying to sound gentle and comforting. That was never his strong suit.

"S-s-s-s…" Chara stuttered, making Asriel's eyes widen. It didn't sound like language. "S-s-so… cold." It took Asriel several seconds to properly comprehend. Then his mind started back up.

"R-right. Okay, uh… don't worry." Asriel quickly got up and rushed over to the dresser. He opened it and grabbed the extra blankets on the top shelve and hurried back, almost tripping over the cloth. He threw them over Chara.

"Better?" Asriel asked, keeping his hands on the blankets as if to somehow trap the heat. Chara only responded with a shiver. His idea would never work, not while they were this weak. "Don't worry, that doctor isn't going to hurt you anymore," Asriel said, trying to convince himself more than anyone. Chara shut their eyes tight and curled in on themselves further. Asriel felt a chill run down his spine. "Sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned…" Asriel stopped himself from making it worse.

Don't make it worse… Asriel got up and went back to the dresser that was still open. He looked on the bottom shelve and there it was. He knelt down to grab the casing and brought it near him. He unsheathed the sword, there were no imperfections in the steel. It wasn't very big; a fancy knife more than anything. He made his way back to the bed and sat down next to it, making sure he had the sword in his hands. He kept watch of the door… just in case.

Both of them didn't have a lot of time. Asriel just hoped Chara would feel better in the morning. Then he would take as much food and gold as he could carry and get both of them out of here. When those ran out… well, it was still much better odds for Chara's survival than staying.

He reached up into the mound of blankets until he found Chara's hand and took hold of it. It was nice to feel a very subtle squeeze back. It took the edge off just a little bit. Tomorrow he would have to avoid his father and probably the entirety of the Royal Guard. At least a passageway was created directly to a part of the river where the River Person could pick them up. It had been constructed fairly recently, in order to grant safe passage to the river and therefore… the laboratory.

The night was spent preparing. He had gathered up various fruits and vegetables from their respective areas, some jars of grain, a few leathery pouches for water and pieces of meat that he cut it into strips and used the house's fireplace combined his magic to smoke the meat so it would not rot. He could hardly believe the boring lesson in survival training from the old turtle was actually being useful. Everything was placed in some lightweight jars and Asriel fit as much into two backpacks as he could. Wearing both was heavy, but he didn't really have much of choice.

Asriel's internal clock was telling him that morning was approaching. He just needed one last thing, and that was assuming Chara could walk. He went back to the dresser in his room, leaving the packs by his door. The jagged pits of metal poking out of a sack of cloth was what he was looking for. He hadn't worked on his set of armor for a long time, hopefully it would be usable.

There wasn't much, but the important parts were the chest and back pieces. Various thick tubes of metal resembling wires outlined Asriel's frame. He put it on and secured it with the remnants of a leather belt. It was lopsided and tended to lean down the the left. It would have to do. At least the sheath of the sword wasn't awkward to reach when buckled to the belt. The only other usable piece of armor was a metal grate that fit on the back of Asriel's left hand. Left for blocking, right for using the sword.

Asriel hesitantly turned to Chara. They looked almost completely fine, innocently asleep under an excessive amount of blankets. Asriel knelt down next to the bed.

"Hey, Chara, are you awake?" Asriel said softly. Nothing. "Chara," Asriel repeated a little louder, trying to not be too noisy as to wake up his parents. Chara stirred a little bit but their eyes were still closed. Asriel put a hand on their forehead, it felt like ice. Asriel's jaw muscles tensed up. Asriel shook their cold, fragile head and, surprisingly, their eyes actually flickered open.

"Chara," Asriel whispered, "you okay?" They didn't respond. Their eyes started to close again. Asriel shook them again. "Chara, you need to get up." They opened their mouth, like they wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

Asriel got up and sat down on the bed next to them, careful to keep the pointy bits of metal away from them. He put his hand under the back of their head and lifted it up toward him, making sure their eyes met.

"Chara, I, uh…" Asriel said, trying to put the right words together. "I really don't want to scare you, or anything, but we need to go now, or… something really bad is going to happen." Chara started to squirm. "Listen, listen…" Asriel quickly added, "you'll be fine, just get up... okay?" Their squirming was reduced to a shiver. Asriel peeled back the blankets and slowly raised them into a sitting position. "You need to stand okay, so get ready. One, two, three..."

Asriel hoisted them up by the arm to their feet. Their knees buckled almost immediately, but Asriel held on. They barely managed to not fall over. It took a few more seconds before Chara was able to properly use their legs, but they still needed to lean on Asriel. Asriel took one step forward towards the door. Chara's leg flexed like it wanted to step forward too but couldn't quite get the strength to do it.

"You can do this," Asriel tried to reassure. Chara's foot slid forward. Asriel could feel the weight shifting and barely managed to stop them from losing balance. They must have been in as much pain as this whole thing was to watch. Asriel could already picture the door opening with his dad staring down at him trying to help Chara escape. He pushed that thought from his mind and tried to focus on the task at hand.

The next few steps thankfully came a little bit easier. They were in the doorway. Asriel bent down awkwardly to try and grab the packs while still keeping Chara on their feet. He managed to sling the straps of both packs over the shoulder that was not supporting Chara. The straps were cutting into him but Asriel gritted his teeth and ignored it. Everything was ready to go…

...

Getting out was easier than expected. It helped that Asriel was vaguely familiar with the guard patrol patterns but most of them were off trying to control the underground anyway. They had managed to sneak out of the house, through the castle, down the hastily constructed narrow passage, and into the River Person's boat who always seemed to be there.

Once everyone was seated, Asriel opened his mouth to ask Chara if they were okay but he stopped when he saw that Chara looked to be asleep, shivering. It was good they were resting but the cold… Asriel cursed himself for not bringing at least one blanket with him. He took their hand as if it would help. Sharing body heat would have to do.

It was a long time before they reached the river landing of Waterfall. Asriel had chosen this place over the Ruins as a place to hide since its labyrinthine structure could leave any pursuer confused, but more importantly, it had water. The Ruins did have a few springs where fresh water flowed but they were very few and far in-between. You could walk for miles without finding anything to drink.

Asriel had to go through the same routine of getting Chara to walk as before. Very weak and imbalanced steps slowly transitioning into something more concrete, but still painfully slow.

Waterfall used to be one of Asriel's favorite places to visit. But now, the glittering red gemstones that dotted the ceiling only reminded him of Chara's unnatural, sickly eyes. The streams and rivers that glowed and equally brilliant crimson now looked like endless amounts of their blood. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea.

He had no idea how long the two of them had been walking. All the heavy things Asriel was carrying were starting to take their toll. His muscles ached. But what really told Asriel that he needed to stop was when he felt Chara's grip fade completely. They landed hard on the stone floor. They didn't even utter a whimper.

"Chara!" Asriel yelled, quickly kneeling down next to them. He turned their head to face him, revealing a cut in their forehead. "A-are you okay?" They groaned out something in response. Damn it, he shouldn't have been so careless.

Asriel looked around trying to get a good look at his surroundings. The cavern wasn't too big, the sparkling ceiling loomed above, and one of the many smaller streams was a few feet away. A wall of the cavern was a few feet behind. That would work.

Asriel grabbed Chara's arms and dragged them back towards the wall. He got them into a sitting position with their back against the wall. Asriel wadded up a bit of his sweater and dabbed at the cut. He quickly shifted through one of his backpacks and grabbed a pouch of water. The twisted off the cap and poured a bit on his wadded up sweater before putting the cap back on the pouch and putting it away. He hastily dabbed at the cut as fresh blood started to trickle. When he was done, he pulled back, with no idea what to do next. Hopefully that was enough.

He laid his head back, moving it around a bit to find a spot of the wall that wasn't as jagged. He probably wanted some sleep as much as Chara. Asriel removed his armor and put it down beside him; the discomfort was too much. He wrapped his arms around Chara and pulled them close and rested their head against his shoulder in the hopes it would be more comfortable to them. He closed his eyes, intent on going to sleep. It wasn't long before a feeling of vibration made his eyes open again. Chara, shivering quite severely, had their arms around him too, as if to draw as much heat as possible. Heat… why didn't Asriel think of it before.

He freed his arms and brought his hands close together. He concentrated and a tiny spark appeared in the middle, floating in the air. He gave it a little bit more and the spark grew into a little ball of flame that gave of an illuminating orange glow.

"As...riel?" the voice of Chara whispered, barely audible. Asriel turned to look at eyes that had trouble staying open.

"Are you okay?" Asriel asked for what felt like the hundredth time. He just needed to hear it for himself.

"Warm…" they said. That's when Asriel had an idea.

"Chara," Asriel whispered, "Hold out your hands. Like you're holding a plate or something." They brought their flimsy arms together, and held their palms up in the air. Asriel moved his hands, the flame following his movement, and set the orange ball in the air above their hands. They looked much better in the light. When looking at the fire, they looked more focused, more… present. A faint smile even formed on their lips. Asriel couldn't help but smile back.

"Thank you…" they said in a tone that resembled happiness. Asriel could see that their arms started to droop, followed by their eyelids. He kept the flame suspended in the air above them for a few minutes after they closed their eyes completely. He let the spell fade; he didn't want to see if keeping a spell going while asleep was possible.

One of his arms wrapped around Chara's waist, another brushed on of their cheeks. It was still cold, but not nearly as much as before. Asriel rested his chin on the top of their head, not daring to let go. He closed his eyes, giving in to the feeling of complete comfort and drifted off to sleep.

It was one of those perfect dreams of nothing. There were no images of fighting, or conflict, or people getting hurt. Just complete blissful darkness.

It made it all the worse when Asriel woke up to kicking and screaming. His eyes flew open, Chara was on the floor, trying to keep a grip onto his sweater. He only vaguely registered the form above him as he automatically reached to grab Chara's arms, but his grip quickly ended as Chara was dragged away.

As the panic set in, he looked up and gasped. Gaster was standing above him. Asriel, eyes wide, with heavy breathing, groped the ground with his hands until he had the sword in his hands. Chara was being held up by those creepy floating hands from before, trying to break free of their grip.

"Asriel! Help!" Chara yelled.

Asriel got up and didn't think. He charged at the doctor, the sword unsheathed. A hand came out of nowhere and grabbed his arm, freezing it in place. He tried to pull free but another hand pushed down on his head, forcing him to the floor. Another two hands held is feet to the ground, stopping his wild kicking.

"Get away from them." He groaned.

"Don't miss your appointments." The sickening voice of Doctor Gaster replied in his head. "It turns out the specimen is very useful still." Asriel was forced to watch Gaster glide away into the darkness along with Chara, still struggling for freedom.

Oh god, no, no no! This couldn't be happening! Asriel still couldn't get up, he was starting to hyperventilate. He struggled as hard as he could, putting all his effort into moving, but the hands gripped him so tightly.

He forced his muscles to move. He could feel he was moving ever so slightly. Just as he thought he could move his arm to get leverage with the floor, the hands vanished.

He was up. He ran over and grabbed his makeshift armor and ran. He hastily buckled the pieces together during full sprint. Maybe he could catch up. Just maybe. Images of Chara being cut open and examined pressed his running strides further and further. He could already see them panicking and struggling. They needed him.

He was already at the river landing with the boat waiting for him. He immediately jumped it.

"Hotland, now!" Asriel screamed at the River Person.

"My my, that's quite rude of you to-" the River Person was cut off.

"Just go god dammit!"

"Very well," and the boat started moving. Asriel couldn't sit. His fingers kept digging into the side of the boat.

"Can't you go any faster?" Asriel demanded. There was no response. "Are you listening to me?" He snarled. Still no response. Time was passing at a snail's pace. It felt like hours had gone by. He couldn't get the idea out of his head that he would arrive right as Chara turned to dust in front of him.

He slammed his hand into the side of his head. Stupid. Stupid! Why did I let my guard down? I'm so weak! Why do I have to be so weak? After an eternity Hotland peeked over the horizon.

As soon as the landing was close, Asriel jumped off, stumbling from the forward momentum of being on the boat. Again, he put everything into sprinting for the lab. His legs cried out to stop but he only pushed harder.

In a few of the longest minutes of his life, Asriel reached the door of the lab. He slammed on the control panel, and the doors slid open. Again Asriel ran and ran to the elevator.

This panel had so many buttons, he didn't know what to do so he gave into an impulse. A burst of flames shot out and exploded on impact. When the heat and smoke faded, the panel looked completely untouched.

"Argh!" Asriel grunted through clenched teeth. Then he remembered, at one point, he managed to dent the metal of the doors. Asriel quickly drew his sword and thrust it into line both of the sliding doors met.

He pushed as hard as he could to force it farther in. Then he pushed, using the sword as a lever, trying to pry the doors open. The doors inched open. Just enough for Asriel to squeeze his hand into. He readjusted himself, one hand pushed on the sword, the other on the door itself. It just just wide enough to get through. He started to squeeze himself through then he slipped, he frantically whipped his hand back to grab hold of one of the doors.

He gazed at an endless square hole that led to utter darkness. The elevator car had already gone. Asriel gulped hard. He awkwardly managed to told onto the door with one hand and sheath his sword with the other. He looked back into the abyss, there was one lone cable that lead down into the black nothingness. Once Asriel was oriented, he wasted no time and jumped.

He had the cable in his hands, but it immediately slipped through. He felt as if he was almost in free fall. Through the terror of the moment, Asriel managed to bring his shoes up and pinch down on the cable. He slowed to a stop.

All the fire within was gone. He was totally alone, looking down over an endless expanse of blackness, while terrible things were no doubt happening to his only friend. Asriel gulped down breath after breath. Trying to get his mind to right itself. He didn't dare look down, keeping his eyes on the walls. He loosened his grip and let himself descend.

It was so long. It seemed to stretch impossibly far into the earth. When his feet felt something below him, he jolted. Panic seized him and he accidentally let go. He was doomed, until he realized he had only fallen down onto the floor. He got up, trying to orient himself.

Something caught the corner of his eye, and he spun all the way around to get a good look at it. The sinking feeling that he may never find Chara started to build. One of the walls had closed doors as expected, but the other three also had hallways going off to who knows where.

How could he have forgotten; he remembers feeling the elevator move in many different directions. If each hallway was as long as the main vertical shaft, then this place could go on forever.

Asriel shut his eyes, he needed to think. He would find a way, he would. Chara needed him. His breathing slowed to something more steady and rhythmic.

He turned to face the wall with the closed doors. Start here and figure it out. He jammed the sword in again like before and managed to force himself through. It was easier this time.

As soon as he was through, his eyes stung as freezing air assaulted them. He rubbed his eyes, then immediately hugged himself for warmth. He looked up. The walls were colorless but somehow faded. The floors were tiled green, also faded. Corridors led to both left and right seeming to extend forever. A pale green mist hung in the air.

Everything felt... off. But damn was it cold. Asriel put the sword away, and brought his hands together. He started to summon the fire when an overwhelming urge of utter dread came over him. Don't. Don't. He extinguished the flame like his life depended on it. He pressed himself against the wall. It was like he somehow knew that the light was attracting attention, but of who, or what?

Asriel picked a direction and started walking. He clutched his sword. His hands were shaking. He couldn't explain it, but this place was wrong, wrong, wrong! He had to force each step forward. One after the other. It was like the entire place was repelling against him.

The quietness was the worst part. Every step, no matter how soft seemed to boom and echo through the hall. He could hear the rustle of his own fur, the saliva squishing through his mouth. His breaths sounded like screams of agony. Be strong, be strong, he told himself. Chara needs you. Chara needs…

Step by step. Has Chara even been to this part of this accursed lab? The images of Chara crept back into his head. The stare, and the cold. They were so cold. Were they just left to wander through this place until they went crazy. What did that thing do to them? Would the same happen to himself?

Asriel stopped when the walls to the side of him ended. He was looking into some sort of wide open room. They had to be through here. He stepped forward but the urge to turn back and run only grew stronger. Soon he couldn't see anything other than the floor, even the ceiling was gone. The sickening green fog filled his view. He felt so blind, so vulnerable.

He was being watched. As soon as that idea wormed its way into Asriel's brain, he shuddered. Oh god, something is out there, something close. The worst part was the realization that it might be only a few feet away, just out of sight, watching him… waiting.

Asriel had to shut his eyes in order to continue. Where was the cool and powerful Asriel now? He tried to think- it's- of the various battles he had- there- fought and won with other monsters. All- it's there- of which he got hurt but didn't-It is there- flinch in the face of danger. He was victorious and- IT iS theRe, in FrOnt oF yOu!

Asriel stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes shot open and he fell backwards as the horrible thing loomed over him. He didn't think, he just held up his arms as a flimsy shield. Trembling, all he could do was wait for the end.

"I am incomplete," a deep, scratchy and stilted voice said. Asriel still didn't dare to move. There was a terrifying silence for the next few seconds, but he still didn't dare do anything. As if any action would set the thing off. "Are you looking for him?" was choked out. Slowly, Asriel opened his eyes. It felt like spiders were crawling under his skin. The thing wasn't much taller than he himself.

"H-h-who a-are you?" Asriel panted.

"I am incomplete."

"What… are you?"

"I am incomplete." There was no variation in how it spoke this uncanny sentence. Asriel could feel his nerve slowly return. Slowly and unsteadily pushed himself to his feet.

The thing was some sort of construction of bones. It didn't exactly resemble a skeleton. The bones were at odd angles; sticking out of places it should not. The skull was the most formed; however larger and rounder than eye sockets were somehow less than empty. Like the space wasn't just filled with nothing, but with something somehow more vacant and dim than should be possible. The pointed teeth seemed to be arranged into a sort of eerie fixed… smile? Various cables and wires were inserted to the various bones, all connected to a strange metal box.

"D-did you say something about looking for… someone?" Asriel asked uncertainly.

"Him," it said through unmoving teeth. Asriel racked his mind for an answer that should have been obvious.

"Do you mean Doctor… Gast-"

"Yes." There was something about this skeletal thing. Something gnawing at Asriel's mind. The thing was no bigger than him and he was a child. The stare of someone who wasn't really there.

"Whoever you are… are you- were you, at one point…" Asriel hesitated on the last word, "...human?" The utter silence that followed lasted for far too long.

"I am incomplete. Shall I take you to him?" It said, without changing its tone. Asriel took a deep breath.

"Yeah," as soon as he said it, an arm lurched out and grabbed him by the shoulder. He tried to grab it and get it off but then it was gone. He looked around confused. He was inside some sort of metal box; the elevator, and he could hear muffled sounds that made his fur stand on end. He knew Chara's voice anywhere.

This was all that mattered now. Asriel once again started to bend the doors open using his sword. The doors split into a crack and the sound was much more audible. The screaming sent chills down his spine.

"Chara!" Asriel yelled. It didn't stop. Asriel forced himself through the doors and was standing face to face with doctor Gaster in the cramped office. "You!" he yelled, thrusting out his hand. A spark formed a split second before a floating hand grabbed it, blocking his palm. Asriel yanked back and slashed it with his sword, barely missing his own hand. Something caught his eye to the left and he whirled around to slash again, shattering it into pieces.

He felt something pull hard on his shoulder. He spun in circles, trying to shake it off, using his free hand to try and remove it. He registered that more hands were forming around him. He threw all his weight into running forward at the doctor. He slashed down with his sword and-

An arm thrust out of the lab coat faster than Asriel could register, grabbing his sword arm. The doctor wasn't even looking at him, instead through the window. Asriel caught a quick glimpse of some giant glowing contraption before a hand wrapped around his neck and pulled hard. He couldn't breathe. He felt his head smack against a wall. The world was spinning.

"St...op," Asriel croaked out before the hand removed itself from his neck and clamped his mouth shut. He took in as much as through his nose as he could before he realized more hands were pulling onto various limbs, nailing him to the wall. He heard the sword clatter to the ground. He couldn't move an inch.

"It is unwise to interrupt," the voice of Gaster said indifferently. Asriel's widened eyes moved again to the window. He felt weak. The metal thing had Chara trapped. What was it doing? It looked like it was sucking out blood. So much red. No, somehow it was different; more than just blood. It was their soul, it had to have been, and it was being... eaten.

The screaming. Deafening and constant; ripped Asriel's ears to pieces. Drilling itself into his mind. Stretching and tearing it; unraveling it. He felt like he was going to throw up.

It lasted for an eternity and Asriel could do nothing about it. Was this hell itself? Not being able to escape being tormented by the cries of a best friend having their very essence be torn apart. It just kept going and going. Asriel knew that nothing he had ever been through had come close to the agony that Chara was going through at this moment.

This was beyond a display of strength. It transcended cruelty. It was sick. How could something like this exist?

Asriel barely even registered when it stopped; everything was still ringing in his ears. He blankly saw the limp body of Chara be carried into the elevator. He was picked up soon after and put in as well.

"Keep them alive," Said Gaster, "I may need them again." Then the elevator doors closed and it started its ascent. Asriel, still in shock, slowly turned his head to look at Chara beside him.

The world turned into a blur. He couldn't comprehend. He saw through his eyes but it looked like a picture of something he had never seen and it was out of focus. What he was seeing wasn't real; it couldn't have been. How could something hurt others like this? It couldn't because it didn't exist. Just like the constant echoed screams in his head weren't real.

Asriel picked something up, it was really heavy, but that too was just a figment of his wild imagination. He let the various landscapes pass him by in a haze. All of it wasn't real, so why bother to even think.

The reason he reached home so fast was because he was imagining it. He recalls setting something down on a bed he used to call 'his.' He stood perfectly still, waiting for this dream to be over, so he could get back to what was real. But nothing happened. If anything, things somehow became more in focus. The walls of his room gained definition and presence.

He just needed to wait a bit longer. A thing filled his view. He could hear his name. It was far, far away. Even the hand on his shoulder felt… Asriel blinked. There was someone in front of him. Mom? Asriel blinked again, the haze was beginning to fade.

"Are you alright?" said Toriel, unnerved. "What happened my child? Where have you been?" Oh god.

"... get out," Asriel said, no louder than a whisper.

"I am sorry, but I did not hear-"

"I said leave!" Asriel screeched, shoving his mom through the opened door of his room. He slammed it shut before grabbing a chair from the corner and shoving it under the door nob. Asriel turned back to look at the limp form on his bed.

"Oh god…" Asriel whispered. "Oh god. Oh my god! Chara!" he screamed, rushing over to the bed. He leaned down to cradle the human in his arms. He put his ear next to their open mouth. He could feel something rustling his fur, but it was barely anything at all. Too little. Something caught in Asriel's throat. He pressed his forehead against theirs. "Chara!" he was still screaming wildly. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" He started to rock them back and forth. "I-I…" he whimpered, "I failed you. I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you."

They were so cold. So impossibly cold. Almost as if he was holding a corpse. Asriel sat down next to Chara and pulled them into his lap before grabbing the blankets and draping it over both of them. Asriel hugged the limp human tightly. He wanted to absorb all the cold. He wanted to be the one to carry it, not them. Asriel tilted Chara's head toward him.

"Chara, look at me," Asriel whispered. Their eyes were pointed at him, but they weren't looking at him. Maybe he could find that spark of recognition, like before. Anything, just the slightest hint, but… there was none. "Please look at me," Asriel pleaded. Their eyes, swirling with the sickening red, didn't move. "Chara," Asriel repeated, jostling them just a little bit to try and get their attention. "Chara, I need you to be alright." Asriel was searching their face for anything. He could feel something tugging at the corners of his eyes. "I need you." Something wet ran down his cheek. "So please, just look at me." There was nothing.

"Please, Chara, please..." the words faded into indistinct sounds. The tears turned to sobbing. He clutched them, never letting go. "You can't be dead," Asriel managed to say. "Please don't be dead, Chara."

He shut his eyes. He kept rocking them back and forth. Back and forth. Waiting. Waiting for anything. For the time he reopens his eyes to see Chara smiling back at him, the redness gone from their eyes. They would tell him he would be okay. That both of them would be okay. Back and forth. Not letting go. Never letting go.

Asriel opened his eyes and looked back. He wanted to scream. The orbs looking back only reminded him of the vacant sockets of that thing from deep within the lab.

Why couldn't he have been stronger? Why was he so afraid? Why? Why? Why did he let this happen?

Asriel set their head down on the pillow, he soon laid down to join them, still not letting go of their body. However, he still had a weak grip on the fantasy that Chara would be alright eventually, but... he still didn't let go.

Authors note: hoped you all liked the chapter. It was obviously the longest so far and a lot of stuff happened. Were nearing the end. Also, if you want to follow me on tumblr for sneak peaks and extras, my tumblr name is the same as my fanfiction account name: EmeraldLazers