It's you!

Frisk squinted at the mirror. It was them. Tan skin, narrow brown eyes, dark and messy hair. No matter how carefully Mom dried it with fire magic, it poofed out every which way. They were wearing a fresh sweater, one Mom had knitted herself. In the monster tradition, it had stripes across the chest. This time they were gold and purple.

They blinked, half expecting the reflection to shift when they reopened their eyes.

Still just you, Frisk.

They jumped. That voice again. Well, it wasn't a voice, exactly. Frisk couldn't hear it out loud. But the thoughts were so clear, they might as well have.

There were plenty of monsters that didn't talk like humans. The froggits' magic translated their ribbits into words Frisk could understand. Moldsmals communicated through interpretive dance. Maybe… maybe this was just another monster. One who had been following them around. Invisibly. And who really liked knives.

Well. It would be rude to ignore them, right?

"Hello?" Frisk said quietly, still looking into the mirror. Maybe an invisible monster would still have a reflection. "Can you hear me?"

…

They felt like they were being watched. Maybe the monster was shy?

"I don't want to fight. I just want to meet you."

(And to know that they weren't crazy. That would be nice too.)

…

"Please?"

…

…

...Don't you have anything better to do?

They grinned. There was someone there! They still couldn't see them, but they'd answered!

"Hi! My name's Frisk. What's your name?"

...Why not? My name is Chara. Chara Dreemurr.

"Nice to meet you, Chara!"

Mom's bedroom door creaked. Her head poked out, one hand cupping the doorframe.

"Frisk? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah! I was just talking to—"

DON'T.

They shuddered with the force of the command. "Um. Myself?"

Mom's eyes looked sad. "Oh. I am sorry, my child. It is awfully lonely in this house, is it not? I will join you for a bedtime story shortly."

"It's okay. I'm not lonely. I was just having fun."

They weren't lonely. Mom made this house warmer than anywhere Frisk had lived on the surface.

And with Chara to talk to, Frisk doubted they could feel very alone anyway.

"Ah. You are a very independent child. I should not worry so much… still, let me know when you are ready for bed. I will be writing in my journal for just a bit longer."

They shared a smile, and then Mom disappeared back into her room.

Frisk's eyes flickered back to the mirror. Still just them.

"Why didn't you want me to talk to Mom?" they asked quietly.

…

Had they scared them off? Maybe they really were shy.

I am not shy, the voice returned. They sounded a bit grumpy. I am protecting you, Frisk. Do you really think that Toriel would believe you?

"...What?"

Think about it. You hear a voice in your head. No one else can hear or see me. I might as well not exist.

"Why can't you just talk to her too?" It didn't make any sense. Frisk wasn't crazy… were they?

A surge of emotion came from Chara. Something like... longing?

It doesn't matter. I can't. And it is better that she does not suspect you are weak. Just continue to be good. That is what you want, isn't it?

"Y-yeah…" Frisk shivered.

Good. Because if you don't… well. I am not sure how much mercy Toriel would show…

The voice retreated, and so did the feeling of being watched. It wasn't completely gone, though. There was still a heaviness in the back of their mind… but that had been there ever since they'd fallen down, hadn't it? Had Chara… been watching them all this time?

That was okay. They were a little weird, but they could still be friends.

And Frisk could prove that Mom wasn't like the people Frisk used to know. She would show mercy.