Being Human - Act I - Chapter 8

"Where's a corner when you need one? I'd love it if it was 90 degrees." Frisk says as his words transform into cold breath before his very eyes. Even standing inside the ruins, the frigid air is impossible to ignore as every breeze hits him like a cold sucker punch. Any hopes of a tropical paradise waiting for him on the other side dies a slow death by frost bite.

"Well I always liked winter more than summer. Sweater don't fail me now." Frisk pushes against the door, not easy since the door is made from stone and snow piles on the other side. Yet, Frisk manages to reach the other side, takes one good look at the outside, and slams the door shut to take a deep breath while his palm meets his face.

"Ugghh… Oh come on. Fine. Let's just get this over with." Frisk reopens the door to enter a veritable winter wonderland.

Tall hulking evergreen trees reach into the sky, their canopy of branches cut off all light, leaving the forest buried beneath a thick shroud of shadow. Beneath the darkness the ground is buried underneath layers of pure white virgin snow; long hardened by ice and frost. With no stone door standing in his way, the freezing air blows inside like a renegade snowplow, burying everything under a callous cold breeze.

"Maybe the window wasn't so bad after all. At least you get to be all warm inside." Frisk says and shivers, although he does not know if it's due to the cold or his own fears. Within this dark forest lies any unknown threat, from wild animals, wild flowers, and most especially the wild monsters.

Toriel pacified the Ruins. But outside are monsters even stronger than me!

I will be honest my child. The monsters will try to fight you.

What will you do if you meet a relentless killer?

Frisk gulps deeply as he steps backwards. "No! I made it this far, I can't go back now! Besides, I'll be fine. I promised Toriel I would be okay. So here I come, Mom." Frisk enters the frozen darkness of the forest, leaving the Ruins firmly behind him.

Luckily, a path is cleared through the woods, allowing a relative ease of passage through the gargantuan trees. Their trunks are thicker than his entire body, with a very impressive height, meaning this forest has been standing for decades if not longer. The ground cannot make up its mind, changing from solid snow to swallow his feet that he must dig himself out of. Or it turns slippery as butter and keeps him light on his toes to avoid falling. The one constant element is the inescapable freezing breeze, following him wherever he goes.

"Now I know how a snowman feels like." Frisk buries his arms beneath his sweater and shirt, little more than a shield of paper fighting against an ice dragon. He rapidly rubs his sides and shoves his tongue between his teeth to keep them from grinding themselves. His legs fare worse, as his knees shake and his footing stumbles.

Frisk almost trips over a large wooden stick stuck on the ground, but does not allow it to stop him from continuing. Okay Frisk. Stop thinking about the cold. Go to warm places. Home, sweet home and... Umm. Where else is warm? Volcanoes, fire, Toriel's hands... Oh yeah... Those were really nice, just like her. I just hope the other monsters will be-!

CRACK!

Frisk turns in a fit, no one is there, but upon closer inspection he can see his luck is over. The stick which caught his feet lies broken, and a separate line of foot prints follows him. The strangest thing is that the prints start and end within feet of each other, somehow avoiding the long trek from the door and to suddenly disappear. Frisk searches in every direction, seeing no one but the surrounding trees and darkness.

"Whose—" Frisk covers his mouth shut to stop himself from speaking, not eager to give away his position anymore than he already has. Frisk marches down the path to get away from whatever or whoever could be there, lurking in the shadows.

Calm down Frisk. Calm down! You didn't see anyone. Maybe the stick broke by itself or snow could have fallen from the branches. There's no reason to panic. You can-! From the corner of his eye, he spots a moving shadow behind him.

Don't Panic! Please don't Panic! Just find the way out. Before they find me! Frisk marches as fast as he can. He no longer cares if he slips on the ice, if the act takes him further away from this approaching enemy, he will welcome it. Yet no matter how far he travels or how fast he moves, the feeling of being watched always lingers.

Please leave me alone. Just a harmless human kid. Nothing to see here. Frisk smiles as a bridge comes into his view. Ironically the cold bothers him less as his heart pumps faster than his feet can carry him. Frisk reaches the bridge hoping to find something, anything that could hide him on the other side.

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Frisk's heart nearly stops as footsteps reach his ears, growing louder and growing closer to him. Frisk is unable to look back, too afraid that it will be the last thing he ever does. Deciding he would rather meet the ground then whoever is behind him, Frisk sprints to the bridge.

The breath from his mouth is so thick he disrupts his own vision, only stopping at the most bizarre and random of sights.

"What?!" A series of tall wooden bars stand on top of the bridge, but the gaps between them are so large that a bear could walk through them. The moment of hesitation costs him everything as someone stands behind him. Frisk becomes as still as steel, unable to move an inch, frozen as the ice around him. Dreading whatever comes next, but unable to escape this fate.

"Human. Don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and shake my hand." A voice says. Their voice is flat and blunt, Frisk cannot tell if they are friend or foe, but he cannot help but recall the last time someone offered to be his friend.

Better do what he says... Don't want him to get angry... Please just let me have this one... Frisk turns around with shut eyes to grab his assailant's hand and to meet whoever it is. For better or worst.

A long and extended fart gushes out between them.

"Hey, nice going Kid. You managed to break the ice and the wind."

"Huh?!" Frisk finds a whoopee cushion inside a mitten covered hand.

"Hehehe. The old whoopee cushion in the hand trick. It's always funny."

"I guess so... I-!" It takes every bit of fiber in his being to stand still as Frisk comes face to skull with death itself; as a humanoid skeleton stands in front of him. No skin, no flesh, and no blood; only bones from skull to metatarsals. The Skeleton monster wears a blue hoodie, a pair of white shorts and slippers on his feet. He is short and stocky in his stature, but his skeleton nature causes Frisk to miss the wide smile and cheeky dimples on his face.

"I can tell that you're stunned to see me Kid." Frisk remains unmoved from his position as the skeleton winks at him. His eye sockets are empty, but there is a white light deep within that Frisk assumes are his eyes.

"Ah, come on kid, no need to give me the cold shoulder. You don't gotta worry 'bout a bonehead like me. I ain't gonna hurt ya. Skeleton's honor." The monster laughs a hearty chuckle and Frisk joins him, although his is far more awkward and forced in the Skeleton's presence. "Feel better now kid?"

"Yeah. I do. I can tell that you're really... humerus."

"There you go. Anyways you're a human right. That's hilarious. I'm Sans. Sans the Skeleton." Sans extends his other hand which Frisk grabs to shake together.

"I'm Frisk. Frisk the Human."

"What a coincidence. I'm actually supposed to be on watch for humans right now." Frisk tenses slightly as he hears that. "But… Ya know… I don't really care about capturing anyone. Sounds like too much work to me."

Is this guy for real? Frisk thought as a mixture of complex feelings fill him. Fear comes to the forefront as Sans is an undead living skeleton monster. Surprise takes second place as Frisk did not expect an honest answer, unable to read any deception on the Skeleton's part. Suspicion comes next as Frisk can only take Sans at his word, his intentions a complete and total mystery. Lastly there is a strange sense of appreciation as Frisk enjoys his sense of humor.

Anyone who makes puns can't be that bad; just like Toriel. However it is fear that wins out as a piece of him panics and dreads being in the presence of this skeleton. It overpowers him and Frisk is eager to leave.

"Well-thanks-for-not-capturing-me. Nice-to-meet-you-Sans-but-I-have-to-move-on-now." Frisk breaks their handshake.

"Nice to meet you too… Frisk." Sans casually places his hands inside his pockets, the pause adds to Frisk's tension as he steps away from the skeleton.

"Oh, I should probably warn you about my brother Papyrus. He's a Human hunting fanatic. So, I would be really careful around him if I were you." Frisk stops dead in his tracks as his warning reaches him.

Another Skeleton Monster! That's the last thing I needed! What am I supposed-?

"Hey, actually, I think that's him over there." Frisk stares ahead as time falls short, true to his word Frisk can see a figure moving towards them. The distance and darkness makes fine details difficult to determine. Trapped, Frisk trembles in place, unsure of what to do next, surrounded by skeletons on both sides.

"Here Kid, I have an idea. Go through this gate thingy. Don't worry, my bro made the bars too wide to stop anyone." Sans walks on ahead and Frisk places his fear aside to follow the Skeleton. The figure is coming closer and closer, to Frisk's displeasure.

"Quick, go hide behind that conventionally shaped lamp," Sans says, to Frisk's confusion.

Lamp?! Why would there be… Oh there is a lamp here. Frisk wastes no time as he hides behind the lamp. Strangely enough it is a perfect shape and size to hide him, unless you are directly looking at him, you would not be able to see him. Frisk waits there with mounting anticipation and dread as the second skeleton monster and human hunting fanatic arrives.

"Sans! I should have known that I would have found you lollygagging again," Papyrus says.

"Sup Bro," Sans says.

"You already know what 'sup', brother! It's been eight days and you still haven't recalibrated your puzzles! You just hang around outside your station. What are you even doing?"

"Staring at this lamp. It's really cool. Do you wanna look?" Sans presents the Lamp with a boney thumbs up.

No! No! No! Don't look at the lamp! What are you doing Sans!? Frisk thought as cold sweat freezes on the back of his neck. His spine tingles in dread at what Papyrus will do and what Sans is doing. Deciding to take a risk, he sticks his face out an inch to look out and see them. Frisk regrets it for a second before retreating, not wanting his pants to freeze either. But the look he got told him everything he needs to know about this Papyrus.

Like Sans, he is naught but bone, a walking and talking skeleton whom resembles a human long after death. Unlike Sans, Papyrus is tall in his stature and bulky in his build, surpassing his brother by a considerable margin. He can certainly be called big boned as his torso and arms outsize and out stretch Sans. He wears a heavy and crudely constructed suit of armor over his chest, with a flowing red scarf in the air. Sitting on top is a more stretched vertical skull, one overtaken by his large eyes and a toothy silly grin.

With the exception of Flowey, he is truly the greatest and most terrifying threat to him and his journey.

"No! I don't have time for that! What if a human come through here?! I must be prepared and ready to capture a human." Papyrus shouts as he throws a tantrum and stomps on the ground.

"I will be the one! I must be the one! I will capture a Human! Then I, the Great Papyrus, will be strong enough to become a member of the Royal Guard! I will receive recognition and respect. People will ask, to, be my friend?" Papyrus says to Sans, Frisk, the monsters back in the Ruins, and the sky itself. All the while striking a cool pose with his hands on his hip bones and boasting an enormous confident smile.

"Hmm... Well bro, maybe this lamp can help you." Sans says.

No don't do that! Are you helping me or not Sans?! I can't be captured! And why do I have to be captured?! Frisk thought as he shakes behind the lamp, struggling to remain still despite wanting to leave. However, running away will definitely give away his position, he is stuck here for now and must place his trust in Sans.

"Sans! You are not helping! You Lazy Bones! All you do is sit around and boondoggle! You get lazier and lazier every day."

"Hey, take it easy. I've gotten a ton of work done today... A skele-ton." Sans winks and wags his fingers like crashing a cymbal.

"Sans! Not Again!"

"Come on. You're smiling."

"I am and I hate it!" Papyrus sighs. "Why does someone as great as me have to do so much just to get some recognition?"

"Wow. Sounds like you're working yourself… down to the Bone." Sans makes Jazz hands this time.

Okay, that was a good one... He's a lot better than Toriel. Sorry, Goat Mom. Frisk thought as a small smile creeps across his face.

"Ugh! Enough of this. I shall attend to my Puzzles. As for you and your work. Put a little more… Back bone into it. Nyeheheheh!...Heh." With that the sounds of footsteps and crushing snow return as Frisk sees the skeleton monster leave the area.

"Okay, you can come out now." Sans says and Frisk releases a sigh of relief as he leaves the lamp.

"Wow that lamp really was convenient." Frisk rejoins Sans. "But why was there a lamp at all?"

"Heh. Just one of my many bright ideas." Even Frisk couldn't contain his smirk, the fear within him shrinking but refusing to leave in Sans' presence.

"Well you ought get going kid. He could come back after all, and if he does... You'll have to sit through more of my hilarious jokes."

"Honestly, I really needed use a good laugh. This day has just been a conga line of crazy stuff. But I do have to get going." Frisk leaves Sans and returns to the path.

"Actually, hate to bother ya but can you do me a favor?" Frisk stops even as a piece of him commands him to continue. Something Frisk would like to do, but turns around to face Sans anyway.

"What is it?" Frisk says both curious and dreading what Sans will ask of him.

"I was thinking. My Brother's been kind of down lately and he's never seen a human before. Seeing you might just make his day."

Nononononoooooo. There's no way I'm going to do that! It's bad enough he's trying to capture me! I'm not going to make it easier for him! This is a terrible idea! Frisk thought. "I'm sorry, but as great as that idea sounds, I really don't want to be captured."

"Hey neither do I kid. But you got nothing to worry about from Paps. He's not dangerous, even if he tries to be." Frisk raises his eyebrow, as this request fills him with so many questions.

"I'm not sure. That means I would have to expose myself. Sounds really risky and I've had a lot of close saves today already."

"I see your point. Well tell ya what, I'll keep an eye socket on you kid. You won't have anything to worry about." Surprise takes Frisk, as he did not expect that response from a monster, much less the brother of the one intent on capturing him.

"But he's your brother. Why would you want to help me?" He asks, genuinely curious to know his answer.

"Well let's just say, I got my reasons and besides you seem like you got a good skull on your shoulders. But hey it's your choice. So whaddaya say, it could be a lot of fun," Sans says as he winks his eye.

A lot of fun? Yeah I've had enough fun today... But he really does seem to care about his brother. I don't know. I can't waste any time and the last thing I need is more monsters. But… Frisk gazes at Sans, his wide shining grin and pinchable cheek bones make him regret looking up.

"Alright. I'll do it," Frisk says with reluctance.

"Thanks a million Kid, I'll be up ahead waiting for ya." To Frisk's confusion Sans walks back the path they came, disappearing in the distance as he crosses the bridge to the other side.

"What the heck am I getting myself into?" Frisk returns to his path, the darkness hiding what lies ahead of him with only the frigid air to keep him company. Frisk stands for some time, unable to find the will to move forward. The possibilities of interacting with the Skeleton Brothers and their schemes weigh heavy on him.

"Can I really trust him? And what if I have to fight?" He turns to the side, towards a trek through the thick forest away from the path. While there are likely to be other threats, it will take him away from the ones before him too. Moments of indecision pass until Frisk sighs.

"Well there's only one way to find out, ready or not here I come. Hope I don't hate the answer."