Chapter Ten
Leaving behind the dark and decrepit tunnels that was the Ruins and venturing into Snowdin Forest instead was… no better at all.
The deadpan the human had directed to her shadowy guide when told how this winter zone was ingeniously named 'Snowdin'.
Frisk and her demon to traveling partner have left the Ruins behind and now following the snowy path ever deeper into the coniferous forest.
It didn't take long before Frisk's heart was beating hard in her chest. Her eyes dart from one ominous shadow to another cast by the towering trees flanking them. The tanned but due to the cold now reddish hands reassure their hard grips onto her only safety. The right carrying the large red knife, while the left firmly intertwined with the demon's shadowy but pleasantly warm one.
"If it gets any colder, I'll freeze out here." Puffs of steam formed behind each word, as the red cheeked but terrified human looked over to the unnatural entity floating alongside her. The darkness enveloping the demon's form somehow even darker than the shadows of the forest surrounding them. A demon who thus far seem unfazed by the cold, making Frisk wonder if it was because of her being semi-corporeal or just that tough.
Or perhaps it was because of being a demon, for whenever the gleaming stare turned over to her, the cold subdued considerable. As if even the weather itself didn't have any powers or simply didn't want anything to do with this hellish fiend trespassing their world.
Despite how much her companion would mask that ever-present demonic undertone with a pleasant human-like one. Even the smallest aspect of that soul chilling and malevolent voice demands one's utmost attention whenever a conversation was held.
"I admit I didn't take that into consideration." An honest reply and if it weren't for how Chara's mere words somehow even further lessened the cold in their immediate vicinity, Frisk could've mistaken it for an ordinary human's.
Even more puzzling was whenever the demon spoke or just breathed that there were no puffs of steam either.
"Then again, you dealt with the goat much faster than I had anticipated."
"I am sorry…"
"Don't be," and Frisk's spirits jumped when receiving a squeeze in her hand. "You were forced to act, and only resorted to violence when no other option was available."
"She will be ok, right?" Frisk again looked up at Chara for assurance.
"She'll recover." The demon half turned to look back in the general direction of where the now not visible exit was.
The already healthy tree of curiosity gaining a new branch upon noticing how Chara's expression becomes one of utter disgust the longer she stared off into the distance.
"Chara… Why do you dislike the Ruins so much?" Frisk's inquiry was one of utmost caution, not wanting to learn just how terrible the demon's ire can become. Making an entire tunnel tremble in fear Frisk decided was a strong enough testament already.
"For the monsters in there are not worth my time. If I hadn't felt your presence, I would've never stepped my foot in that dull place." Chara's tone considerably lighten when her eyes lands on Frisk again. Who was thankful of the cold hiding how red her cheeks would've been otherwise.
"Although I have to confess that it was somewhat entertaining seeing the bottom of the food chain tear one and another apart. But even watching desperate rodents struggle for survival grows tiresome, you know? Especially when there's bigger game out here to watch."
"I say it again," Frisk began but only after casting several quick glances after hearing that last part. "You are a psychotic weirdo."
The giggle the demon let out was so genuine and endearing that Frisk felt her own heart melt. The warmness she felt making her even forget for the longest moment that it was an actual demon floating next to her, hand in hand.
Even beginning to imagine how Chara would appear if one would remove her demonic features.
"You are too sweet, Frisk. Though what's more important…" And the cloak of darkness parted as her other arm slowly pushed out. Wispy tendrils bleeding from the arm as it rose with the palm and claws turned up and wide.
Frisk leaned in closer when in wonder watching how the wispy tendrils suddenly began to coalesce into a single point above the palm. Swirling together and the gaseous-shadows transforming into an ever expanding mass of some black viscous liquid. Reminding of an orb made out of tar.
However the larger it grew, the more unstable it seemed to become— until the human let out a surprised shout and pulled back. But it wasn't a reaction of fright but merely taken by surprise. For both her feet stayed put and she maintained her hold on Chara's hand, when the tar ignited and exploded into a roaring orb of dark-red flames with a black core. Its unsettling brilliance painting the surrounding snow and trees a strong dark red.
"I can be of assistance about your concern of succumbing to the cold." The demon's alluring tone was as that missing instrumental piece to complete the orchestra that's the horrifying infernal fire. Despite the thickness of the sluggish moving molten magma-like red flames, that red gaze and smile of hers pierced through it all.
Frisk's initial caution was almost gone when drawn back to the hell orb again. Its blood brilliance and sensually dancing molten-flames reflected in the human's red eyes gave her her own demonic gleam.
But this was still the magic belonging to that of a demon. For it wasn't just its appearance but the continuous roar it emitted that felt… wrong. Like if one of Toriel's fireballs had been abducted and tormented into something… hellish.
"So… How does this work," a frozen hand was raised towards it. "Will this do more than just keep me warm?" Frisk's eyes reflected an inner but even conflict between that of uncertainty and curiosity when looking past the orb at her smiling companion.
"Oh, why don't you find out?" The demon playfully proposed.
It was however that alluring undertone that incited the human.
"Ouch!" Frisk jerked back with a couple of steps. Letting go of Chara's other hand to hold over her hurting one instead after the orb delivered a sharp and hot jolt up her arm.
"That stung!" Frisk rubbed her hand while her eyes looked back up at Chara accusatory.
Too only notice a mischievous look in the demon's eyes.
"Wait, what are—" Frisk began as the demon with utmost elegance floated close to her before landing on the snowy road. The losing her voice when the demon's now free hand was placed onto her lower back and pulling her into an intimate embrace!
The puffs of steam quickened— the distraction that was her hurting hand catapulted ever further away in conjunction with how closer Chara was leaning in.
Even a hundredth of a second being an excruciating waiting for the graceful demon's finale. Which when it finally happened, the racing heart and mind needed a long moment to register the actual words whispered to her.
The sudden dread when the once tender hand on her lower back went hard.
"Don't scream now." And emerging from underneath her blindspot the forgotten hand still carrying the hell orb now pushed it into her chest— where her soul was located!
The knife sunk silently into the snow and it was a brief but futile struggle against the demon's arm that was like that of a statue's. Frisk's eyes widening and she could do nothing but stare breathlessly as the demon kept forcibly shove the orb into her!
For each tiny shove, the more the hellish flames and darkness blazed up inside of her— until it culminated into an explosion of dark energies that consumed her entire being!
The demon's hand was now resting on Frisk's chest. No visible burns or any kind of blemish left on the sweater from where the hell orb had been pushed through. The shadowy nose almost touching the reddish one, as Chara remained close to take in the experience forced upon Frisk's soul. Her grin ever widening for each passing moment of the beautiful internal struggle reflected through those panic-stricken eyes.
Not a single corner of her being was spared from the dark flames. Only when everything was burning to cinders, Frisk regained some semblance of control and convulsively hugged around the demon. Her puffs of steam ragged and uneven.
"Don't worry… It'll subside soon enough." The demon's dark claw caressed her protégée barely healed cheek.
It indeed began to subside. Painfully slowly Frisk breathing became more even. Her body stopped trembling as much and the senses returning back to normal.
This made her more than aware of the intense warmth that remained. This warmth in her body, mind— her entire soul that never lessened no matter how much time passed.
However, the warmth wasn't like the caressing summer rays on an open grass field. Rather the burning and unbearable kind that one endured right before that moment of succumbing in the desert.
The demon began to tenderly caress her lower back again, while the human just kept hugging her hard and whimpering into the shadowy chest.
Frisk's hands slowly move to the front instead… before each grabbed a fist full of the sweater-robe. Through the gaps in-between the bangs a pair of furious eyes staring up at the gleeful demon.
Unbeknownst to the human and though it was but a fraction of the demon's own brilliance, those red eyes were now gleaming a demonic red.
"Y-You shoved it into me?!"
"Well, you don't seem to be freezing now… And more…" The demon took in, although it was faint, nevertheless gorgeous brilliance of her protégée eyes.
"Yes, for it feels as I am on fire!" Frisk violently shook the demon.
"You're welcome." Chara met the wrath with a kind smile. As if she had done her a great service.
The huffing human just stared at that accursed smile and those enticing eyes.
Why is she so maddening…? Frisk closed her eyes as her anger cooled. Letting go of the demon's garb and instead sought after affection by resting both hands and her head against the warm chest.
Silently Chara began to stroke her protégée head. Already after a few strokes, the fuming human was sufficiently appeased.
This wasn't so bad in hindsight. If ignoring the unpleasant sensation of the unbearable warmth, which she already was growing accustomed too anyway. Her body felt more than just invigorated. Like she now could endure any cold.
How the demon's magic wasn't just keeping the chill away, but granting her… strength too.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Chara whispered from above upon seeing Frisk staring down into one of her palms. The tanned skin not just back to normal but warm as well.
"Ok, this feels pretty good… Except for this nauseating part." Frisk flexed her hand.
"It's because your mortal body isn't accustomed to demonic energies." Chara explained while continuing to stroke her head, but the demon's eyes however looked over Frisk and down at the knife half-buried in the snow.
The demon's sclerae flashed black right before the knife began to levitate up into the air.
Seeing the floating knife in the corner of her eye, Frisk took a step back but kept her head bowed when picking up the knife again. Not just ashamed of dropping Chara's gift into the snow from the beginning, but worse completely forgetting about it too.
Actually her first gift, for Chara had now blessed her two times.
"T-Thank you," Frisk nervously shifted on the spot and kept her head low. "This is the second time you gave me something. You… are more kind than most."
"It isn't about kindness." The demon's tone was harsh and shut her down hard.
To only again surprise and turn the already sad human around when a clawed hand was placed under her chin and made her look up.
"How can I not, when I see my protégée most precious and delightful expression whenever she receive benevolent attendance?"
The gentlest of breezes caressing Frisk's lips, as those claws dragged down along the side of her neck. The sincerity in the demon's reply calling forth a swarm of colorful butterflies… well, perhaps more parable to butterflies from hell fluttering within a furnace.
Chara was only becoming more maddening for each passing moment.
With what could've been mistaken for newfound confidence but actually was an evasive maneuver before Frisk would lose herself over to her own intoxicated mind. She reached up and grabbed Chara's tender hand and brought it down to their sides again and with haste resumed their journey.
"That's the spirit! Let's continue." Chara directed an approving smile as the pair went deeper into the Underground.
Seeing that smile sent another assault wave of butterflies in her stomach. Making the fallen human's steps suddenly from more than just the demon's blessing now radiate with energy and joy.
"So what's our next destination?" Frisk only dared to glance over to her 'leisurely' floating companion.
"At the end of this road there's a town. There we'll gather supplies for the remainder of our journey to escape the Underground." Chara reply was direct and serious but far from harsh.
Frisk nodded and a comfortable silence fell over them.
A very short-lived one for that, for the human was more than astonished by how much strength she had in her now. As if she could sprint for miles without tiring!
"This feels amazing!" Frisk couldn't contain her bewilderment. Only further heartened when hearing that peculiar giggle from Chara.
Frisk would never tire of hearing that.
A golden opportunity presented itself when spotting further up a too heavy branch in the middle of the road.
"You've spotted something up ahead, a too heavy branch. While useless, perhaps its last act was to plant the seed of an idea." Chara began to narrate Frisk's every move while being dragged by said protagonist towards the branch. For now ignoring the fascinate fact that Chara apparently still maintained a normal person's weight even when floating. As if it mattered, when the air isn't offering any form of resistance to begin with.
"The branch seems more solid and heavier than you've anticipated from distance."
Frisk held back a giggle finding the demon's narration very entertaining, as she crouched down next to the branch and shoved her hands under it.
"The sharp and cold snow is hardly bothering you now. Even melting by how hot you've become!"
Frisk's ears and face went bright red, but the flushed human remained determined and made sure she had good footing.
An excited shout echoed throughout the woods when she with some struggle managed to lift it up! With a groan, she heaved it up on her arms and elated with the fact that she was able to carry it!
"You are damned impressed. Knowing you wouldn't even be able to nudge it before the mysterious demon's gift." Chara watched Frisk walking around a little and even doing a few lift ups, before with a content sigh dropping her burden back to the ground again.
"You forgot beautiful." Frisk winked at her, before crouching down and grabbing one end of the branch.
"My! Getting rowdy are we, Frisky?" The demon let out that adorable giggle and floated back some distance when Frisk after she had gotten a firm grip on one end began to spin it around. Becoming a whirlwind of playful happiness with a touch of danger when one considers the size of the branch.
Frisk kept building momentum, before with a excited cry let go and threw it as far she could up along the road. While it perhaps might've only flown a couple of meters, the satisfactory grin on the human was more befitting one they've just won a gold medal in some contest.
"This is awesome." Frisk flexed her arms.
"Seems all that was needed was a little boost in strength to turn you into a hooligan." Chara floated back next to her now that Frisk was done spinning around that improvised club.
"Oh shush with you. I won't go and bash in some store windows… Unless it's something nice that catches your eye."
"Twice you've just flirted with a demon? Connected to exerting violence too?" Chara's gleaming eyes scanned her.
"How can I not try to impress my so dark and enticing partner with my simple mind and brute strength?" Frisk's took on a more rigid stance and offered her arm like a gentleman would've.
She was certain that the demon raised a brow under those shadows. But she nevertheless took on the role of the damsel by first landing next to Frisk before taking a hold of her arm.
As the pair again resumed with their walk, Frisk was absolutely certain that Chara had been a little too eager when taking a hold.
"Didn't see you as a romantic."
"Says the insufferable flirt to demon who can't stop smiling at the sight of little cute me." Frisk teased her taller companion.
"I always have this smile you dork."
"Nah, I can see how it widens whenever you sneak a glance at me." Frisk retorted.
Their fun however was snap short, literally.
Upon hearing the sound of tree snapping, both Frisk and Chara were quick to turn around.
But they saw nothing on the road, except for the heavy branch now snapped into several pieces.
Frisk nodded towards the branch and the two of them cautiously returned to it. The human's other hand tightening around the knife, while Chara floated back up into the air but remained close.
"It's been smashed like it was nothing… This development sends a shiver through your spine." Chara narrated when both stood next to the pile of firewood now.
"Ok, while I may be terrified again. That pun made me feel little better." Frisk cast a thankful glance at the demon, who just responded with smile widening upon receiving praise.
"Let's continue…" Frisk decided.
After a minute however, again they both spun around but saw nothing.
"I am sure I heard heavy steps…" Frisk threw cautious glances at the nearest trees and their shadows.
"A dark figure is following you."
"Turning this into a horror story isn't making it better…" Frisk whispered and not only because of being followed, but first now remembering of Chara's preference that others would remain unaware of the demon's presence.
Resuming their walk again, the pair soon reached a well-worn rope bridge over a sizable ravine. It's current sorrowful state making Frisk very concerned if it would even be able to carry her across when seeing the gaping holes all over it due to planks either missing or being broken.
"You hear more of those slow but heavy steps, as a dark figure approaches from behind." Chara kept her at this point useless narration, for Frisk had already frozen up on the spot when hearing someone walking up behind her.
What if Toriel followed me?!
It clearly wasn't the goat-monster, for when it spoke up it wasn't just entirely different but sounding as a male's voice with a deep baritone.
"human. don't you know how to greet a new pal? turn around and shake my hand."
Frisk did as she was told and reached out with a quivering hand. While the knife in the other tensed up and ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Even with the demon's blessing, Frisk suffered a shiver when first feeling before seeing the cold skeletal hand grabbing hers. The rough textile of the fingerless black glove with light brown wraps around the wrist giving it an even steadier grip.
Frisk really wasn't mistaken and before her was an actual skeleton, bones and nothing else! Almost as surprising was how it was shorter than her, only reaching up to her chin.
Its size however just strengthened the already intimidating presence radiating from its stoic form. This monster already dwarfs any previous encounter combined, but still far from Chara's supernatural nature.
The theme of clothing was dark but just as much 'easy-going'. Over the hipbones a pair of ankle long black shorts with gray edges and with more of those light brown wraps functioning as a belt. Draped over the ribcage was an open dark gray jacket with lighter shaded gray touches with a matching thick fur collar.
If the jacket would've been closed, its collar might've concealed the massive black slave shackle around the short neck. However, unlike the monsters back in the Ruins, this particular one's chain had a huge difference by being a strong blue in color.
The skeleton would've resembled a very short human perfectly if it wasn't for a few very notable details on its head. The first being the pair of vertical curved black horns, when included making it as tall as Frisk. There's was also a long and even straight line starting from the top of the nasal bone and going straight up, vanishing behind the top of the cranium.
Though even more disturbing than the horns was that dimpled wide smile that never faltered. Closely followed up by those uncanny large eye sockets with gleaming yellow inhuman eyes stare straight into hers.
"so… where is your friend?" The skeleton's inquisitive tone was as cold as one would expect from a walking dead. Not showing any signs of letting go of Frisk's hand.
It wasn't as if Frisk chose to remain silent but rather was so startled that she needed some more time to collect herself again.
"i heard you speak with someone," the skeleton pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "and then that extra set of tracks just stopped. now that's very interesting."
"W-Well…" Frisk stuttered while trying to muster enough courage before continuing.
"Then they are not here I guess?" Frisk even managed to muster a sufficient innocent smile.
Seeing in the corner of her vision Chara silently snickering at her reply gave Frisk a considerable boost in confidence.
"oh, so we got a comedian here? funny. well, why don't you humor me then? is your friend a monster? perhaps it flew away?" somehow the skeleton was able to raise a 'brow' at her.
"No, it didn't sprout wings and flutter away." Playfulness crept into her now confident tone.
"so your friend is a human?" The skeleton eyed her with emphasis.
"Nope. Not human either," a genuine smile emerged. "They can vanish into thin air, simple as that."
"huh, that's a neat trick. oh, where's my manners. the name, sans. sans the skeleton."
"Frisk."
"The fallen human." And Frisk so wanted to turn around and look at her companion after hearing the pride she had uttered this newfound title.
Instead she suddenly let out a cry of pain when Sans hand turned bone-crushing.
"knife to meet ya."
The sound of several bones shattering echoed throughout the dark forest.
Wide eyed, Frisk just kept staring down at the large bone that had emerged from the ground and pierced straight through her in a diagonal angle from behind.
Even before the knife fell and vanished into the snow, the life force in the human's red eyes was already gone and her limbs fell limp.
Sans let out a sigh now that the grim part was over with. Eyeing the bleeding mess still suspended on his magic attack.
But his mission was not done just yet. For in precisely three seconds the next part will occur.
On time, just like with the few other humans he have 'encountered', the soul emerged. This particular one's emitting a stunning red brilliance.
And just as with the others, it was already quaking.
The skeletal hands moved between it and through his magic stabilized it before it would actually start fracturing and shatter.
Except for that his magic wasn't taking hold.
"ok, this is new…" The cold and inquisitive tone was utterly drowned in a tidal wave of dread.
It was as if the soul refused his magic's interference.
Beads of sweat formed on his temple when a large crack began to form from the top and already periodically crack further down the middle.
In desperation he tapped into all of his reserves. But no matter how much magic he poured into the spell, it kept refusing him.
"he'll have my head—" Before a soft crystal-like chime bounced gracefully throughout the forest. The soul did its first and last defiant action by shattering right between his hands.