The fifth day started with a heavy feeling of dread and hollowness over everyone in Waterfall. It was a while before Syphus had the energy to stand up and get ready to go all the way to Snowdin. Unlike the day before he didn't feel particularly excited about his new part-time job – did my enthusiasm really last one single day?! – but soon he realized it wasn't a matter of enthusiasm. His actual sullen mood was much more than that. Everyone in the Hidden Village looked rather jumpy and wary, looking around with suspicion. Byssa passed by, walking so fast one would have thought her life depended on it. Grahan and Ciruel were talking in front of the communal cabin, making sure to not to say more than a few words in each sentence, and Celia was inside her cottage, or at least Syphus supposed that. Syphus didn't say a word to anyone, trying to fight that feeling of wanting to lie down on the ground and hope nothing bad happened, and started ascending towards the plateau in front of the way out of the village.
"Do you really have to go outside today?"
Cohen was right there in his sentry station, holding his head with both hands. Syphus clutched his brooch, tensing. "Uh, yeah, there's something I need to do outside..."
"...it'd be nice if you didn't leave today. Don't you feel it? There's something in the air" Yeah, I feel it. That feeling...Syphus was sure he had felt it very recently before, but he couldn't remember exactly in what situation, a feeling similar to suffocation like something was constantly pressing his chest.
"I can't stay in here just because of a feeling" Syphus uttered, ascending another stair. Cohen raised his head from his hands to argue and attempt convince Syphus to stay, but instead he let his head fall again into his palms, holding it as if he was in pain.
"...take care. You're an adult, you take care of yourself. I'll keep Annie from going out" he said. Syphus nodded and ascended to the tunnel, activating the brooch and walking towards Snowdin, making a SAVE point like he always did every morning. The bad feelings didn't vanish, not even when he left Waterfall and stepped on the cold grounds of this part of the Underground. All the residents of Snowdin who were going on their everyday lives seemed annoyingly cheerful to Syphus, who crossed the town, hunched over and not bothering to acknowledge anyone with anything further than a glance. When he entered Grillby's he went straight to the counter, barely waving at the red bird, and settled to receive instructions for the day. Grillby turned his head around, looking at Syphus with attention. The pub was mostly empty, most of the regulars not having arrived yet.
"...are you okay?" he inquired, leaving aside the glass he had been cleaning. Syphus took a deep breath, waving without energy.
"Yes, sir, I'm just feeling under the weather today"
"You're not used to the cold?" the bird asked "I heard someone say you live in Waterfall" What? Has people been talking about me? That wasn't really a good sign. Had he been so obviously out-of-place people couldn't avoid talking him? He'd have preferred not to have people gossiping about him, but it seemed like it was too late to stop that. Syphus nodded, trying to end the conversation by asking Grillby what needed to be done today. Instead of answering and telling him his tasks for today, Grillby crossed his arms.
"...take the day off"
"What?"
"Grillby said you should take the day off. You don't look good, go rest" the bird said. Syphus looked intermittently at each one, unsure on how to take that. He really needed the gold, but could he work while having this horrendous sickening sensation? Syphus shuddered, deciding to take the offer. After thanking Grillby for his kindness, Syphus left the pub, sticking his hands as deep as possible in the pockets of his coat, looking at the snow of the road.
He felt like there was something he should be remembering, what was it? Why did he feel like whatever he was forgetting was so vital having forgotten it was the worst thing he could have done? Syphus wracked his mind, thinking back to the past days, but he couldn't recall what situation he had felt it into.
His foot sunk into a particularly soft patch of snow, almost making Syphus lose his balance. Once he was sure he wasn't going to plop down in middle of the road, he pulled from his leg with his hands, freeing himself. When he did that, he noticed one of his hands was leaking that black and viscous fluid Shadows were made of, seeping through the green scales of his hand. The scarce white feathers on the back of his hand were literally melting away into oil, ink, or something resembling tar. Again?! Why was this happening to him? Was he falling apart, what was going on? Drops of ink plopped heavily in the snow, sinking out of sight. Syphus mumbled something under his breath, using his other hand to try to keep the ink from flowing.
"Yo!"
A familiar voice sounded near him. Syphus hurried to put his dripping hand deep into his pocket and turned around, hoping no other parts of his body would start melting too. Monster Kid was running towards him, falling into the snow once he was close enough. The kid stood up before Syphus could offer to help him, and grinned blithely. Syphus waved with his undamaged claws. "Good morning, kid"
"Are you going to Waterfall, mister? Me too! Let's go together! Annie is waiting for me"
Ah, right. Hadn't Ananas said something about playing with Monster Kid today? Judging by what Cohen had said, that plan was doomed not to happen anymore. No way Cohen would let her go out of the village. "I heard she's not going to leave her house today" Syphus said flatly, continuing his way towards Waterfall. That statement didn't deter Monster Kid at all, thought, he caught up with Syphus almost immediately, as if he hadn't said anything. Syphus didn't make any physical effort to stop him from following.
"Hey, you know what? I haven't seen Annie's house. Can you take me there?"
I'd rather not. No way that'd end well. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. I have heard Annie's parents are very strict, they wouldn't be happy" Monster Kid didn't seem bothered at all about the perspective of strict parents, though. He managed to shrug and hurried ahead, having ignored Syphus' protest. Telling the child to not to go hadn't worked, and unless Syphus physically grabbed him and dragged him all the way to Snowdin – something he didn't want to do out of respect to Monster Kid and because he feared his hands were still melting – it seemed the only option was to try to lose the kid at some point. How hard could that be?
Ten minutes later he decided it was much easier said than done. Monster Kid had boundless energy and kept running ahead, talking loudly and not paying much attention to the lack of monsters along the way nor the disquietingly cold air. From time to time, ethereal balls of light traversed through the emptiness, the only comfort to the otherwise unnatural state of Waterfall.
After an attempt of losing the kid by straying behind and hiding in another corridor – somehow Monster Kid found him pretty much immediately – Syphus gave at trying to lose him, feeling too dispirited to try. While the oppressive feeling of constriction was gone and it didn't seem like he was melting anymore, he still didn't feel any energy besides the necessary to walk. "Yo, are you okay?" He must have looked rather bad, because Monster Kid returned and asked that question, toning down the enthusiasm for a moment.
"...sorry, I must be coming down with something" Syphus responded. Then, after a moment of doubt, he inquired: "How can you be so chipper? You don't feel sick?"
Monster Kid wrapped his tail around himself, shuddering a bit at the coldness of Waterfall. "It's nothing bad. No big deal" Syphus narrowed his eyes a bit, unconvinced "Don't look at me like that! It's true, I'm okay"
"If you don't feel well you should return to Snowdin" the piece said patiently, huddling a bit further into his coat.
"No, Annie says that when one doesn't feel well one should keep going. I believe in that"
Syphus resumed walking. "...you put that much stock in what she says?" Monster Kid didn't reply, instead looking at Syphus as if he had talked in riddles. ...right, I should phrase it in a simpler way "You believe what she says?"
"Of course I do! Friends believe each other, right? And she's my best friend" Monster Kid once again ran ahead, he continued talking by raising his voice enough for Syphus to listen despite the distance "You know how we met?"
That was a chance to know a bit more about Ananas, chance Syphus intended to take. It was possible this was something she shouldn't tell, but if Monster Kid was going to spill the beans then Syphus wasn't going to object. "No. How did it happen?"
Monster Kid slowed down a bit, looking upwards. "I was exploring Waterfall and trying to find Undyne's house, but I got lost after that one patch of grass, you know which one. I thought I was going to be lost forever! But then I turned the corner and I found her"
"Was she happy to see you?"
The kid laughed with a bit of disbelief. "No, dude! She aimed that gun at me. She was shaking like a leaf! And I wasn't any better, I thought I was going to scream, but then I said 'Yo! I-I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!' I was ready to run, but before I could move...
...she put the gun away and apologized. She said it was her first time exploring Waterfall, so we started walking together. She told me many things about her, and I tried to take her to see Undyne, but she refused. I think she was...scared?"
...no surprise there. Going to see Undyne would have been the worst mistake any human could do, except Frisk...maybe. Monster Kid, unaware of how Syphus' expression had turned grave, continued talking. "I told her there was nothing to be scared of, that Undyne was so cool and she'd love to meet her, but Annie didn't want to keep going"
"...do you know why?"
"Nope. I dunno. But it must be really bad if Annie was scared. She's not the type that gets scared easily!" Monster Kid slowed down, waiting for Syphus "Maybe Undyne intimidates her. But there's nothing to be scared of! Undyne would never harm anyone. Only bad guys would be scared of her" what followed that was silence. Feeling he had said something wrong, Monster Kid chuckled nervously "What?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking something" Syphus looked away. A very uncomfortable pause replaced the conversation, the two walking with no more sound than their steps and the splashing of water around them.
After a few minutes of awkward journeying through Waterfall, Syphus noticed he was running out of time. He calculated they'd be arriving to the place Monster Kid and Ananas played often at, and he still had no idea how he could distract the child for enough time to run to the Hidden Village. He didn't have to think it through, because as soon as they passed nearby, they saw Ananas there. "What?!" Syphus exclaimed. Cohen, why's she out here?! Monster Kid was delighted, though.
"Annie!"
Ananas turned around, her eyes widening with joy when she saw Monster Kid. She was wearing her western clothing, including her hat. "Howdy! And you—" Ananas shut up when she saw Syphus. She tensed, her hand going towards the holster, looking at him like she expected him to attack her at any moment. Monster Kid looked between them, realizing the danger.
"Wait, Annie! You don't have to fight! He's my friend" he said. She didn't lower her guard, though, she advanced a few steps, trying to suppress any fear she felt.
"State your i-intentions"
"...I mean no harm" Syphus said bluntly, glancing at Ananas' gun. She hadn't taken it out yet, that was a good sign, right? Ananas glared at him, but after a moment she took her hand off the holster.
"I'll have to request you to l-leave, mister, p-p-please"
"Why?" Monster Kid questioned "We can trust him!"
"No, it's fine. I'll leave" Syphus said. Better to go away while he had his monster illusion intact. After giving Ananas the most disdainful stare he could make, his face tensing and making him look like a viper about to strike, Syphus turned around and walked away quickly before Monster Kid could protest. With some luck he wouldn't follow him, now that he was with Ananas. Syphus turned around the corner, chose the closest hallway and walked to the end until he turned another corner, and deactivated the firefly brooch, showing his human form. Showing himself in this form to Monster Kid was risky, but what other option did he have if he wanted Ananas to come peacefully? The piece sighed and leaned against the wall, looking at the ceiling with helpless expression.
Ananas was out of the village. Somehow she had gotten past Cohen and gone outside. At least that meant Monster Kid wouldn't have followed Syphus to the Hidden Village, but in his opinion this was a worse situation. Why do things have to go wrong in some way? Cornio must have set up this scenario, that was likely. If that was true...
...what were Cornio and Sisyphus planning right now?
The only thing Syphus had clear was that leaving Ananas in the company of just one or two people may not be a good idea. Sans hadn't said much, but as far as Syphus knew, Frisk had been attacked when they had been isolated, even if it was for a few minutes. No, that couldn't be allowed to happen again. He had to take Ananas back to the village as soon as possible. Syphus coughed, his throat feeling like it was in a vice. It'd be better if it didn't feel like Waterfall is going to crumble down on us at any moment!
After smoothing over his track coat and hoping that neither Ananas or Monster Kid would notice the fact he was wearing the exact same clothing than the weird feathered snake monster who just left, Syphus backtracked to where he had left the children. They weren't there anymore, but Syphus could hear them a bit further away, most likely they had continued their way to the chamber where they usually played at. Syphus took a deep breath, creaked his neck and went in that direction, finding the children standing near one of the corridors, talking to each other mutedly.
"...go and play! There's no camera, I covered it in mud"
"But it wasn't there yesterday! What if the Royal Scientist found out...?"
Ananas put her hands on her hips, considering what Monster Kid had said. "...think she found out...?"
Syphus chose that moment to approach. "Annie, we need to return to the village" Ananas turned around, having recognized the voice, although judging by the way her shoulder slumped she wasn't happy to see him "This isn't a good day to go outside"
Monster Kid looked at them with curiosity. "Oh! So Syphus was right...you have strict parents!"
"You said Syphus? You knew him already—?"
"Anyways..." Syphus quickly interrupted, stepping forward "Let's go, Annie" she didn't move towards Syphus, though. Instead she looked at the ground, her hat hiding her expression "Annie, I'm serious! We need to return"
"...why?" she asked, still looking at the ground.
"Because..." Because I have a bad feeling and it's too cold out here? That wasn't going to work. "Because this isn't a good day to be outside. Please, Annie, we need to return..."
Ananas suddenly looked upwards, eyeing Syphus with suspicion. "Cohen sent you!"
"No one sent me! Please don't start with that. I'm serious, this isn't a good time to be outside" Ananas crossed her arms, skeptical, but at least she wasn't accusing him from conspiring with Cohen to keep her inside the village. Monster Kid shuffled around, embarrassed of being caught what seemed to him like a family dispute.
"Uh, yo, I...I think you should listen to him" he said "We'll play tomorrow" Ananas glanced at him before nodding.
"Yeah...I'll go with you, Syphus..."
"Excellent! Thanks, now let's—"
"...if you catch me!" Ananas suddenly grinned and turned around, running away towards the chambers and tunnels where Monster Kid and she liked to play in. Syphus didn't even react until she had run further than the corner. ...this has to be a bad joke. Tell me this is a joke! It was useless to mentally grumble and clench his fists, though, so Syphus set to pursue Ananas and try to catch her before too much time passed.
"Hey! Wait!" Monster Kid, not really knowing what to do, followed Syphus. When Syphus asked how many paths were ahead, he was told it all led to a single chamber, but that there were several tunnels left before arriving there. It wasn't like Ananas could get anywhere else, though. So it's matter of time before I catch up to her! In his opinion, Ananas' dislike of Cohen had reached such intensity she simply couldn't bear to be near him, and this was no more than an attempt to delay the return to the village. While Syphus couldn't blame her for not wanting to see Cohen, he wished she didn't let such feelings lead her to danger.
"Catch meeeee~!" they could hear Ananas' voice echoing from further ahead. She wasn't slow at all! Although she had run away just a few seconds before Syphus, she had gotten so far away they couldn't hear her steps or the splashing she made when stepping into the many puddles in Waterfall. Monster Kid wasn't having any problems following Syphus, but it seemed to him that the child wanted nothing more than catch Ananas so he could go home.
Syphus had been so focused on pursuing Ananas he hadn't been paying much attention to where he was stepping. Suddenly, his foot hit a protruding rock in the path, getting stuck underneath. "W-Woah!" the piece fell like a sack of bricks on some puddles, soaking himself and getting winded.
"Are you okay?!" Monster Kid asked, getting to Syphus' side and offering him his tail to help stand up. Syphus didn't grab it, instead clutching his chest and gasping for breath.
"I-I...I'm okay...don't wait for—for me" he struggled to say, managing to sit on dry land "Ouch..."
"I-I'll get help!" Monster Kid tried to run in the opposite direction, but Syphus managed to grab the child's stripped shirt.
"Don't let Annie get away!"
Monster Kid hesitated, but after getting told again to hurry he ran towards where Ananas had gone, leaving Syphus trying to stand up. Ananas wasn't shouting anymore, but Monster Kid guessed she was going towards the chamber where they usually played at.
The tunnel bifurcated, both paths technically leading towards the same corridor, but the left path ended high on the wall, too high for him to descend onto the tunnel near the chamber. Not having any other option, Monster Kid went to the right, to the longer tunnel.
The path went further towards the right before doing a sharp turn, forming a straight corridor that'd need a minute or two to be traversed. Monster Kid ran through the completely dry path, getting to the end and turning to the left. He didn't notice the camera recording from a ledge at the end of the corridor, broadcasting everything through most of the tunnel.
"Annie!" Monster Kid called when he left that tunnel, getting closer to the chamber Ananas should be at. There was no reply. The air started to feel heavy, the former uncomfortable sensations growing stronger, making him feel like something horrible was happening or was about to happen. The drops of water falling from the ceiling seemed to have intensified in sound, and the air felt abnormally cold, breathing it was like shoving ice cubes down his windpipe. It all melded together to turn the formerly familiar Waterfall into an ominous and threatening place.
A big hole on the wall showed the place where the path from the left ended, too high for him to climb onto, and it was very unlikely Ananas had gone up there, too. "Annie!" Monster Kid shouted again, running faster and getting to the end, he turned to the right and entered the chamber right when somewhere in the corridor he had just ran through a strange sound like steel being scrapped against rock echoed. The child didn't pay attention to that, instead looking around the chamber. It was a rather large and round chamber, with many platforms and columns the children liked to climb and hide behind of, a veritable playground for them. Monster Kid quickly browsed the chamber, checking all the spots and places.
There was no one in there.
"...what...?" But Ananas could only have gone this way! If she wasn't here, then where did she go?
"Heeey! Did you find her?" Syphus' voice sounded in the distance. That snapped the child out of his stupefaction, immediately turning around and running back.
"She's not here! Annie is gone!" Monster Kid yelled back, trying not to sound as panicked as he felt. Syphus bellowed in alarm, the sound of his steps resonating in the elevated path. The piece stuck his head out of the large hole.
"What do you mean she isn't here? Where did she go?!"
"I don't know!" Monster Kid didn't understand anything, how had she vanished in thin air?! Syphus jumped off the hole, landing on her feet with a wince. He hadn't twisted or broken his ankle back then, but it was painful and uncomfortable.
"I didn't see her coming this way. Are you sure she isn't over there?" he asked, already stepping in direction of the chamber. Monster Kid didn't reply, instead running to the path he had come from. Ananas could have gone that way, couldn't she? It was the only option! "Where are you-?" Syphus tried to reach him, but as soon as Monster Kid turned the corner to the straight tunnel he screamed loudly, startling Syphus, and bolted forward so fast it was amazing he didn't trip and crash against the ground. Alarmed, Syphus followed him, but didn't have to go further than the corner to see why the child had been so terrified.
Ananas was lying unconscious in middle of the hallway, her cowboy hat having fallen to the floor. Monster Kid had gotten to her, managing to turn her on her back, and nudged her with his head. "Annie...Annie, wake up! You—you can't fall down yet! Annie!" he sounded on the verge of tears. The piece gasped and immediately got to Ananas' side, softly raising her head and checking for a pulse. She was alive, merely unconscious, but that was bad enough. Only Monster Kid and Syphus were in the area, as far as Syphus knew. Then who had...? "Y-Yo, is she okay?" Monster Kid struggled to keep the tears at bay, but he was far from a breakdown, thankfully.
"I think she's okay. I have to take her home now" If this was the same situation than Frisk went through, then he had to use the firefly brooch on her once she was at a safe place. With some luck he'd be able to put Ananas into her cabin without Cohen or anyone else realizing it. "I can carry her. I'll just—huh" Syphus frowned, having noticed something strange about Ananas.
Despite being on a completely dry tunnel, Ananas' front and back were damp. Only her boots and legs were dry and clean. Now that he thought about it, it could be a good idea to see if there were any clues about the attacker somewhere nearby. "Okay, this is what we'll do. I'll take her home...in a moment. First I want to check something. How many paths are in this area?"
"I—uh" Monster Kid quickly thought "Only two! This and the other one"
"Then the attacker must have gone through here or through the other tunnel. Let's see..." Syphus managed to lift Ananas, carefully holding her against his chest, with her head against his shoulder. She wasn't heavy, but he wasn't going to be able to carry her forever "The other tunnel is...what's that?" Syphus had looked upwards, seeing the ledge.
"What? What's what?"
"There's something up there" Syphus momentarily left Ananas on the ground before going to the wall, managing to lift himself enough to check on the ledge. "It's a camera!" A camera placed on that ledge would have recorded everything! Syphus stared at the object on top of the ledge for a moment before letting himself fall, dusting his hands off. Monster Kid asked about the camera, but Syphus ignored him, mulling what he had just seen, and picked Ananas up again "Let's go. This tunnel is shorter" he said, leaving Ananas in the hole on the wall. Monster Kid was too short to reach it, but someone of Syphus' height was able to, albeit with some effort. After getting Monster Kid up, the piece lifted himself up.
Indeed, that tunnel was shorter, and many parts of it were full of mud. The group hurried, walking through it with haste, but Syphus stayed alert in case there were any clues, and indeed, there was something: a very well-defined shoeprint on the mud, child-sized. It didn't match Ananas' boots, and a quick look at Monster Kid's feet it wasn't his, mainly because of the lack of shoes. Shaking his head, Syphus continued leading the way.
-ooooo-
Monster Kid cared a lot about his friends, and in other circumstances Syphus would have applauded that, but right now that was a hindrance. During the way from the tunnels to the hall where the crevice that hid the entrance to the Hidden Village's stairways Syphus tried his best to tell him to go back to Snowdin, but Monster Kid refused. "Annie is my friend, and I want to know if she's okay!" he had said every time Syphus had tried to convince him to go away "How's she? D-Did she fall down?"
"No. She's just asleep" Syphus slowed down, having seen the crevice in the distance. Having run out of time, Syphus sighed and looked at the child with severity. "You need to go back to Snowdin. Now"
"But—"
"I said now! I'll keep her safe" Syphus gently pushed Monster Kid on the back with his foot, nudging him away "I'm serious. Stay away" Monster Kid didn't look happy at all, but reluctantly obeyed, dragging his feet. Once the child was gone, Syphus descended into the crevice, holding Ananas tightly. Everything'll be okay. Once I wake her up it'll be like nothing happened. It was a good thing neither Sans nor Papyrus was nearby. Taking them to what would be Ananas' SOUL didn't seem like a good idea, despite their excellent attacks. Syphus descended the stairs towards the Hidden Village. If he could get to Ananas' cottage without being seen, he could avoid there being panic—
"Annie?!" Damn it.
Cohen. Of course he was going to be in his sentry station. The old man got out of it so fast Syphus didn't have time to think of an excuse, and Cohen demanded an explanation immediately. "She got attacked. I found her not too far from here" Cohen's face acquired a nasty gray tone, and he took Ananas out of Syphus' arms, looking at the piece with suspicion. "H-Hey, I did nothing! I simply found her"
"If I find out you hurt Annie—"
"I said I did nothing!" Cohen looked at Syphus for a moment more before taking Ananas to her cottage, leaving her on the bed. Syphus followed him, looking to the ground with apologetic expression. Once the girl was on her bed, Syphus examined the frame of the door and asked: "How did she get out of the village? I thought you said you wouldn't let her out"
"She knows how to sneak out, that little brat..." Cohen said, although he sounded more worried than annoyed. He took off Ananas' hat, putting it aside "She seems okay...monsters didn't take her SOUL, or she wouldn't be alive. I don't get it, if she was attacked why wouldn't the attacker take her SOUL?"
"I don't know, I found her near where she used to play with" Syphus stepped away of the frame, looking at the few things in the cottage "She may have fell and hit her head" Cohen examined Ananas' head, finding nothing.
"Syphus, be honest: did you have anything to do with this?"
"No! Cohen, I would never harm Annie!"
"...I'll take your word for it" Cohen said in a tone that made obvious his lack of trust towards Syphus. For a moment Syphus saw in his mind the Emperor card that represented his bond with Cohen, it was trembling like it was going to reverse and indicate the link was going badly, but thankfully it stayed in its upright position. "You should leave. I'll stay here until she wakes up"
"Uh, alright..." Damn it. I need to get Cohen out of here for just enough for me to put the brooch on her! Taking Cohen with him was something Syphus preferred to avoid. Doing the same mistake he had done with Sans and Papyrus would be the height of stupidity, in his opinion. But how to get Cohen outside? Syphus exited the cottage slowly, taking the brooch out of his pocket and turning it in his hands, when he heard a scream coming from the other side of the tiny village.
"A monster!" That sounded like Byssa. Syphus looked up, surprised. Had monsters found the village? Cohen exited the cottage, having heard the scream too, cursing under his breath. Syphus thought quickly and hid to the side of the cottage, listening.
"This can't be happening!" Cohen muttered before going towards where the scream had come from. Although Syphus felt a lot of curiosity regarding what monster had entered, Ananas seemed like a bigger priority. After making a SAVE point, just in case, Syphus opened the door of the girl's cottage and entered.
It was likely he wouldn't have long to act. Syphus opened Ananas' leather vest, placing the firefly brooch on the inside. He didn't want to find out if someone taking off the brooch while he was inside the SOUL would affect him, better to be safe than sorry. He had just managed to get the brooch's needle to pierce the tough leather when someone entered the cabin at full speed. Syphus turned his head around, startled and expecting to see Cohen.
It was Monster Kid. "You?!" Syphus screeched rather ungracefully. Monster Kid grinned sheepishly.
"Y-Yo, Syphus...didn't think you'd be here, eh?" Before Syphus could reply, they both heard noises of people approaching the cottage. Syphus yelped and pointed at the door, gritting his teeth, and thankfully Monster Kid didn't need to be told. The child closed the door with a kick and threw himself on it, holding it back the best he could. "What's going on? Are you—is Annie a human? Are you a human?"
"This isn't the time to talk about this! Hold the door!" it was rather unfortunate that Monster Kid had followed him to the village, and even more that he had found out everyone in there was a human. Everyone shouting that a monster had arrived must have been what tipped him off Syphus guessed while he secured the brooch, making sure no one would see it from the outside. Someone hit the door, Monster Kid dug his heels on the rocky ground the best he could and tried to resist.
"Dude, I don't think I can—"
Leaving it up to a child to fend off a bunch of adult humans was something that wouldn't ever work. Monster Kid didn't even have time to complete the sentence before Cohen, Graham and Byssa all hit the door together, making the child propel forward towards Syphus. Syphus had just put his hand on the outside of the vest over where the firefly brooch was located when he noticed Monster Kid careening him. "No!" Syphus' hand pressed on the brooch, activating it, while he instinctively raised the other hand to keep Monster Kid from crashing against the piece's torso, making contact with Monster Kid's face right when the firefly brooch did what it was designed to do.
The three humans that barged into the cottage arrived just in time to see Syphus and Monster Kid fall unconscious. "...what's going on?!" Cohen exclaimed, not having expected that. Byssa hurried to pick up Monster Kid while Graham went to Syphus. The woman sighed in relief when she confirmed Monster Kid didn't seem to be injured.
"I think we could have handled the monster's presence much better" Graham loosened Syphus' jacket, faintly remembering first aid techniques he had once heard when he lived over the surface, and looked at Cohen "What do we do now?"
Cohen looked at the three unconscious people, greatly confused, his mouth ganging open a bit. Was this what that bad feeling from a couple hours ago was all about? The old man gulped, forcing himself to snap out of it. "We need to call Toriel. She'll know what to do"
"They're just a kid..." Byssa extended her arms, as if nobody had noticed how young the monster in her arms was.
"That's why she'll know what to do. This...uuuuuh..." was this monster male or female? Cohen wasn't sure "This monster will accept an explanation if it comes from the Queen"
"I'm sure there'll be a way to convince him not to tell anyone about us..." Graham stood up. He had managed to drag Syphus to the couch, leaving him there "Annie told me about this little guy"
"So that's what she sneaks away for..." Cohen directed Byssa to leave Monster Kid on the bed, beside Ananas. Although he didn't approve about Ananas exiting the village, he was glad she had managed to make a friend. That should make her days much more bearable. Cohen took out his cellphone from his pocket and started looking for Toriel's number.
The Queen would know what to do. For now, he decided he should keep an eye on the three unconscious people, just in case any of them woke up. After arranging Graham to bring food and Byssa to make sure no one else was going to enter the Hidden Village, Cohen dragged a rickety chair and sat on it with grave expression, watching over the three unconscious people, and initiated the call.