Chapter 2: Encounter

When I woke up from my sleep, I shook my head slightly to try and get the disturbing dream out of my head.

In my dream, I was older, maybe three or four years older, and I had a sister. Long story short, the impossible happened and my sister was murdered or something, and it just wasn't the best thing I could have dreamed of.

Stretching as I got out of bed, I made my way into the hallway and to the living area, where Toriel was reading.

I sat on the floor near the fire place, bringing out my makeshift white-board, which was just a blank piece of paper inside a lamination sheet, which I wrote on with a dry-erase marker. I slowly wrote down what I wanted to say, trying to make my handwriting presentable, Toriel, I have a question. When can I see the rest of the Underground?

Toriel scanned over what I had written, frowning once she finished. She spoke a bit slowly, as if contemplating what to say, "My child, it is too dangerous for you to try and get home. The king of the Underground... is not a very nice man. It would be best if you just stay with me."

I erased what I had written so I could give my response, Toriel, I don't want to go home. I just want to see more of the Underground.

Toriel read what I had written, her mouth opening slightly and eyes widening, "You... don't want to go home? My child, why-ever not? Every other child I have encountered wanted desperately to leave. Why not you?"

I began to chew on my lips, trying to figure out what I wanted to respond with. Eventually, I just shrugged, I like you a lot better.

Toriel got a bit teary-eyed, giving me a wide smile, "That's so sweet of you, Frisk. Okay. If you want to explore more, you'll have to call and check in with me every once in a while. There's someone I know very well in Snowdin, who should take good care of you. He'll be able to speak into the phone for you, since you can't seem to speak yourself. Okay, my child?"

I frowned, writing quickly and sloppily, Won't you be coming with?

Toriel shook her head, giving me a small smile, "No, Frisk, I won't be coming with. You see, not a lot of people know that I'm... well, me. They all think I've disappeared, and honestly, I think it should stay that way." Toriel looked lost in thought for a moment, before giving a shake of her head and standing up, "Okay my child, let's get you all packed up! I'll tend to your provisions and your cell phone, while you grab anything you think you will need. Okay?"

I nodded, before making my way to the room I had slept in.

As I entered the room though, I realized that I didn't have any items of mine to take. Scanning the room, I found a leather satchel, which looked like it would be useful to carry anything I came across.

Going out into the hallway, Toriel walked up and grabbed my hand, a pie in her other hand. Toriel led me down to the basement, through long, winding hallways. When we came across the door to the rest of the Underground, Toriel set the pie in my inventory, kneeling down to be face to face with me.

Tears shimmered in Toriel's eyes, but she seemed genuinely happy, "Okay my child, make absolutely sure that you find a way to contact me by the end of this day, and inform me of when you'll next contact me. And when you are done exploring, be sure to visit me lots." Toriel wrapped her arms around me, engulfing me in a warm hug, "Be safe, okay my child?"

I nodded vigorously, tearing up a bit myself, before turning, and entering the rest of the Underground.

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My first step into the Underground, was an icy one.

I shivered as I stepped out into a snowy, frigid forest, regretting the choice of shorts.

Making my way down the path and through the forest, I decided to make the best of my situation, and have a bit of fun. While walking, I blew my breath out to see the condensation work it's magic, and pretended to be a dragon. As I continued to walk, I found a heavy branch in the middle of the path, and managed to pick one end up, drawing designs into the snow with the other end. As I tried my best to make what should have been a snowflake, I giggled, scaring myself into silence.

I continued on down the path, having dropped the branch so I could get to warmth as quickly as I could. Soon after dropping the branch though, I heard it snap, the sound echoing eerily throughout the forest.

Looking back, I saw no one, but the branch was very clearly snapped in half.

I quickened my pace, quickly crossing over what seemed to be a bridge of some sort, and past an oddly shaped lamp. As I continued onward, I found something strange; something that the flower had mentioned, that related to my soul and determination. I reached a hand out to what I learned to be a save point, saving my progress. Kind of like a game, I guess.

Instead of going straight, I took a small detour to the left, wanting to see every bit of the Underground.

I soon found a river, and what seemed to be a fishing pole stuck into the ground.

As I went over to the edge of the river bank, a deep voice called out from behind me, "hey, kid- -"

I jumped violently, not expecting the voice behind me, and tumbled into the icy water below.

Kicking my legs and swinging my arms, I broke the surface of the water, gasping as I felt the sensation of needles stabbing into me.

Almost instantly though, someone grabbed onto the back of my sweater, pulling me from the water and back onto land.

I shuddered violently as I turned to look at the person who had both caused me to fall into the river, and who saved me.

Looking at the person, I found the concerned skull of a skeleton, who was taking his jacket off to put around me. The same deep voice that had scared me, came from the concerned skeleton, "shit, i'm so sorry about that kiddo. here, we need to get you warmed up."

The skeleton gently picked me up in his arms, walking off the path.

I felt a weird falling sensation in my stomach, and suddenly, we were in what looked to be a restaurant.

The skeleton made his way to the front of the restaurant, "heya, grillbs, the kid needs some serious warming up. think ya could do me a solid and warm them up for me?"

I looked up over the bar counter, to see a flame monster, staring back at me with concern, but also with relief. The flame monster motioned for the skeleton to join him behind the bar, setting the glass he had been cleaning down.

The flame monster sat down on the floor, and the skeleton gently set me in his lap. Sitting with the flame monster, I warmed up almost instantaneously, my shivering coming to a stop.

I climbed out of the flame monster's lap, turning to face him. There was just something about him... I got my makeshift whiteboard from my inventory, writing out my question, You look really familiar, almost like I've met you before. My name is Frisk. What's your name?

The flame monster read my writing, quiet. After a moment, the flame monster gave me a small smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Frisk. My name is Grillby."

I flinched as a hand took it's place on my shoulder, and I heard the deep voice of the skeleton, "kid, i'm real sorry for scaring ya so badly. i'm sans. and you just said your name was frisk, right?"

I nodded, smiling up at the skeleton. For someone who scared me half to death, and was a skeleton, he was really nice.

Sans smiled back, "well, frisk, what's a kid like you doin' down here in the Underground? you seem kinda young to be on your own.

I wrote back my response quickly, I'm not that young, I'm fifteen. And I'm exploring. I live here.

Sans read what I had written, and chuckled, "fifteen? that's pretty young, kid. where're your parents?"

I frowned, That's not really young! I'm a freshman in high school!

Sans shrugged, still smiling, "seems pretty young to me, kiddo. anyways, ya didn't answer the question. where're your parents?"

I bit my lip, contemplating on what to write. Eventually, I wrote a simple response, Don't have any.

The skeleton and flame monster seemed to frown when they read what I wrote.

Grillby spoke softly, "You must have someone to take care of you. Are they up on the surface? Are you trying to get back home?"

I shook my head vigorously, writing quickly and standing up, I don't want to go back home. I'm staying down here. And the only person to take care of me is Toriel, and she lives in the ruins.

Once the pair had read what I'd written, I grabbed my whiteboard and made my way out of the restaurant, walking fast.

It wasn't long before a certain skeleton appeared by my side, "kid, you can't just wander around, and you certainly can't just stay down here. it's too dangerous for humans down here. just come stay with me for the night, and then we can get ya outta here."

I walked over to a tree so I could use the hard surface, writing as much as I could onto one side, I don't care. It's better down here than up there. Did you know the orphanage I lived in was so horrible, that kids would kill themselves just so they wouldn't have to live there anymore? Every kid had to sleep down in the basement, with the door locked every night so we couldn't get out. They had buckets lining the walls to use for a restroom. And the older kids were so mean, that if you needed to use the bucket, they would hold you down and... everyone would rather wet the bed than get up with the older kids lurking.

I shoved the makeshift whiteboard into Sans' face, waiting for him to start reading.

As soon as he started reading, I took a few slow steps back, before bolting.

Sans' Point of View:

I took the laminated paper that the kid had written on, my frown deepening as I read on.

Sighing, I rubbed my eyes tiredly, "look, kid, i'm sorry about the whole living situation thing, but you can't stay down here. if you run into undyne, it's her job to-"

I stopped talking, realizing that the kid had fled.

I frowned, beginning to follow their footprints, "they're gonna get themselves killed..."

Bringing my cell out, I dialed Alphys' number, waiting for her to answer. When I heard the click of her answering, I began to talk, "heya doc, look, I've got a quick question. there's a kid i'm lookin' for, and i was wondering if you could use the cameras to find 'em?"

"thanks alphys, i owe ya one," I hung the phone up, getting ready to teleport.

But as I went to take my shortcut, the world became still, and started to fade into darkness.

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I followed the kid, trying to get them to stay with me and Paps since the Underground wasn't the safest for a human. And as the kid shoved their makeshift whiteboard into my face, I froze, realizing that this was the second time that this had happened.

Looking up from the writing, I watched as the kid had gotten just out of my sight, making their way to Waterfall.

Hoping to catch the kid before they got too far, I took a shortcut, arriving at my telescope. This way, I'd at least be able to wait for the kid, and interfere before they got too far.

As time passed though, the world faded into darkness twice more, until the kid finally came into view.

I took my place by the kid, "heya kiddo, long time no see. now, i wanna talk to ya about- - -"

The kid just continued on their way, refusing to acknowledge me.

I followed them, not wanting them to get hurt, "look, kid, it's not safe for ya down here. you've met paps by now, yeah? well how do you think he'd feel if you didn't come back from your little exploration?"

Frisk just continued on, not even batting an eye as they made their way through Waterfall.

"kid, c'mon," I went to put my hand on the kid's shoulder, "the least you can do is- - -" I was cut off when I put my hand on their shoulder, and the kid fell to their knees, covering their neck and head.

"...kid?"

Frisk's Point of View:

When a hand came down a bit roughly on my shoulder, I instinctively fell to my knees, covering my head and neck, waiting for the blows to fall. My breath came out shaky and uneven, icy fear in my stomach.

After a moment, Sans' deep voice reached my ears, "...kid?"

I slowly got up, my cheeks burning from embarrassment, and I continued walking, my eyes on the echo flowers and the glowing waters.

Sans began to walk with me, quiet. After a moment, his voice came out softly, "kid, the way you keep flinching when someone touches you, the way you sometimes jump when spoken to, that thing that just happened a moment ago? it makes me think that wherever you came from... you weren't treated very well there."

I turned to Sans, holding my hand out for my makeshift whiteboard. Once I had my whiteboard back, I uncapped my marker, Look Sans, I just want to see the Underground and get to know people better. Can I do that? Please? If it makes you feel better, I'll call you if I need help.

Sans frowned slightly, before sighing and putting a smile back on his face, "okay kiddo, whatever you say. just... be careful. no one down here has seen a human die, and i'm sure no one wants to."

Sans gave me a small wave as he began to walk off, taking whatever shortcuts he had.

I continued through Waterfall pretty quickly, not dying once as I finished my little journey through the beautiful wetlands.

When I was about to enter Hotland though... well, that was where the problem was.

"FUHUHUHU! Look out Human, here I come!"

Sooo, I meant to post yesterday, and I am so sorry for the late update!

My new posting schedule will be every Sunday, generally around 2:00 or 3:00 PM.

Anyways, I don't have much else to say other than... enjoy!

Until Next Time~