"Yael!" Undyne recognises the weapon.
I hop out and look around. Vicinity's clear.
"Thebestpassword," I whisper. "That's their password."
"Really?" She looks excited. "Come on! Let's go!"
We run through the woods. Her technique is noticeably different from mine. We sprint together, an odd pair. I run silently on my toes, nothing more than a flash of fur and dark clothing. Undyne stomps noisily along with me. Except, whenever anyone comes to fight her, she sends them onto the ground and away before they can blink. Eventually, we reach the clearing. People point to her and rush over with guns and knives. Undyne sends spears back at all of them with ease. I stand in awe at the tree-line. The shadows of the trees cover me, the darkness of my clothing and my hair blending in with it. I watch silently from afar as she storms over to the den and pokes through it, tackling anyone who gets in her way. She stops in one spot for a while. There's a click. The flag! She's opened the safe!
"Not today darling," Mettaton jumps out from behind her.
His grip is strong, you know, because he's a robot, and he roots her to the spot. She throws something in my direction. I catch the flag and turn around to run. I crash into someone. He grabs me and spits harshly.
"Didn't see you there in the dark, you're good at being invisible. All the better, we don't have to look at you." He pulls my hair and puts a gun to my head.
"Hand over the flag."
I hold it tight.
"HAND OVER THE FLAG!"
I don't move.
"GIVE ME THE DAMNED FLAG YOU FREAK!"
He pulls the trigger of his gun and shoots me in the head. The holographic bullet- while doing no actual harm to me- sends an agonising shockwave through my body. If the bullet were real, it'd all be over. I'd be dead and free from the pain. But I'm not.
"GIVE IT TO ME!"
He shoots again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
People turn around.
"Uh, Damion, I think that's a bit too far-"
"HAND IT OVER YOU BRAT!"
He shoots me again and again and again until he runs out of bullets. Blood runs down my chin from biting down on it. My eyes are scrunched up and he loosens his grip on me. I sink to my knees but still, I keep hold of the flag. I can see the array of pale faces, Papyrus looking shocked and frightened. He lets go.
"Do I have to explain it to you again? I'll give you five seconds. Five, four, three, two-"
I pull out a knife and jump to my feet. He stumbles backwards and a faint smile resonates in my eyes.
"One," I whisper and take the moment to sprint away.
People pursue me, boys and girls. I can see Jessica ahead of me. I throw her the flag and she sprints on. Right now, I just need a break. Urgh, I could really do with a good cut right now. These holograph things couldn't give me blood if I digested one of them. I climb up a tree and breathe out. Come on Yael. I drop to the ground and run for miles. Jessica should be back by now, I wonder what's taking her so long. The girls dens come into view and I freeze up at the sight before me. Alphys is desperately trying to stop the other girls from torturing Wynn. I sprint over and all words leave me.
"Come on!" Alphys tries to convince them.
"Jess has the flag," I breathe to her.
"We've almost won!" Alphys tells them.
They pause from hurting Wynn and look at her.
"Fine," Rachel glares. "Lauren, will you make sure he stays far away from here?"
Lauren nods and takes Wynn by the collar. They go out of sight and I sit down low in the leaves. I hit my head on the tree behind me with a jolt as Jessica comes bursting out through the clearing. Alex follows her close behind.
"Hold him off!" She cries desperately.
People jump forward and fight him. He manages to kick his way past them. We're so close! Jess just needs to wave both the flags, then we'll be done. She brings the paper from one den into another and opens the safe. There's the sound of knuckle meeting flesh. Jessica screams and my blood runs cold as I watch her fall from the den and onto the ground. She doesn't get up.
Alex waves both the flags triumphantly and cheers. He's the only one cheering. Alphys rushes over to check her pulse, she puts her in the recovery position and announces that she's breathing. Her ankle looks broken. There's anticlimactic silence. It's broken by a hissing sound. Yellow tendrils of gas float into the sky from all around. I cover my airways and try not to panic. What is this? Why is this happening? Is it poisonous? Will it- my questions are silenced as I accidentally inhale it. One breath of the smoke makes me fall unconscious, the others aren't an exception.