As I walk towards the big dark door at the end of the hallway, a sense of guilt reaches me for leaving Toriel by herself in the ruins… She looked very concerned, so maybe she was really just trying to protect me from a greater danger. Cold shivers run through my body as I stop midway to think.
"Maybe I will regret it."
Yep, there's always a chance I will regret it eventually, but for now I have to keep going, to keep exploring this strange monster world. I don't wish to go back to the surface, to my house, where I've never felt at home anyway. The day I fell down here I had run away from my hometown, I was wondering nearby Mount Ebott and I didn't actually have any idea about where to go, so I climbed it out of boredom and, when I was on top of it, I looked down in the ominous darkness and I felt even more hopeless. In that precise moment I vividly realised that I had nowhere to go, no one to care for me, that I was completely lonely. Tears started running on my flushed cheeks without any self control, I was sobbing desperately. All the anger, pain and grief I had suppressed for way too long were flowing out of my eyes. I took a deep breath, gathering all my courage. I just wanted all of that to end forever.
I can't take it any longer.
That's what I thought as I closed my eyes and let myself fall down.
That's it. I've had enough.
Or so I thought.
When I slowly regained consciousness, I was quite disappointed at my failed suicide attempt.
Now I'm standing in front of the door, the one way exit from the ruins and, as I push it open, I think there's no going back, but I'm kinda used to it at this point.
Everything around me is white, so bright it hurts my eyes, and also so… cold? It's snow! Despite being so surprised at the sudden change of weather, I keep walking forward. All it's silent, apart from the soft pat pat of my steps in the snow. I'm so absorbed in my own thoughts that I don't immediately sense the presence of someone else approaching behind me.
"Human, don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and shake my hand."
Oh shit, another fight already? Anyway I do as I'm told, so I turn around and shake hands with the grinning skeleton standing in front of me. I hear the mocking sound of a whopee cushion. Ok, so he's making fun of me, alright.
"What the fuck?" That's funny, but I'm not in the mood to laugh.
"Hehe… the old whopee cushion in the hand trick. It's ALWAYS funny. Anyway, you're a human, right? That's hilarious."
"What's so funny?" I ask.
"I'm Sans. I'm actually supposed to be on watch for humans right now. But… y'know… I don't really care about capturing anyone." he explains.
"So you're not going to fight me or anything?"
"Dunno kiddo, maybe in an alternative universe." he answers as he winks at me.
I feel relieved, he seems a calm and relaxed guy, carefree. I wouldn't say he's trustworthy, but he doesn't look dangerous neither.
Then he proceeds to talk about his brother Papyrus, who's so eager to capture a human and become head of the royal guard. Now Sans is asking me of meeting Papyrus, since this will make him super happy.
"No way, you just said he's eager to capture me!" I exclaim.
"Yes, he is, but trust me, he's not dangerous, even if he tries to be."
I stare at him with a doubtful worried expression as I begin to tremble because of the cold weather.
"I'll keep an eyesocket on ya, kid. You gotta trust me." he insists and winks while grinning.
"Ok, I guess…" I sigh.
"Oh, there he is!" says Sans, looking behind my shoulder "Quickly, hide behind that conveniently shaped lamp!" he adds, pointing at said lamp.
What the fuck? A lamp shaped exactly like my silhouette is standing in the snow. How strange… Anyway, I do as I'm told and immediately after that Papyrus arrives, he scolds Sans for being too lazy and away he goes. How is it possible that he didn't notice me, a human, standing behind that lamp??
After that, I get to meet him face to face. Sans was right, he really looks excited to finally meet a human for the first time. The two skeleton brothers then proceed to have me undergo a long but rather simple series of puzzles, before arriving to a village named Snowdin. It's so freaking cold that my teeth are rattling vigorously.
"Here, take my hoodie." says Sans as he's undressing.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." I answer with a shaky voice.
"Listen kid, you're clearly freezing. I have no skin, but I know for sure that no one would stand in the snow with just a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, so take my hoodie or you'll catch a cold." he asserts and lends me his blue hoodie.
That's awkward, I feel like I'm in a cheap romantic comedy and I probably would blush, if it wasn't so damn cold.
"Thanks, Sans. Didn't expect you were so kind."
"I'm not kind, but as I said I will keep an eyesocket on ya." he blurts
"… and this means worrying also about the cold I could catch …?" I ask, half genuinely confused and half slightly mocking.
"Yep, that's right." he winks at me "Why? Are you embarrassed to have such a handsome skeleton concerned about your wellbeing? It's only natural eh eh." he cackles
"You can't be ugly if you're skeleton." I answer back maliciously
"And what if you're a human?"
"What do you think?" I look at him as I raise my eyebrows and smirk.
"I think it's quite unlikely that the humans are all this pretty." he whispers, lowering towards me and softly caressing my cheek.
What the fuck??? Is he… is he flirting with me???
I'm sure my face is bright red. Sans has noticed it and he is grinning at me, I'd say he looks satisfied with my reaction.
Such a weird skeleton…
"Enough bullshit for today." I say as I pull away from his touch and start walking again, hoping he won't follow me around.
"There's still a long day ahead of us, kid!" he screams, before disappearing who knows where in the blink of an eye.
Oh, so that weirdo's got super powers as well...
After exploring Snowdin, I run into Papyrus again. Although he's technically talking about me, making assumptions about how I feel about him, he's actually telling me how happy he is to have found another pasta and puzzles lover. I'm actually not so fond of neither of them, but I don't say anything, because he's cute and naive, I don't want to ruin his good mood. Oh no... it looks like he just remembered that he's supposed to capture me! We get into a fight. I try to flirt with him and he suddenly blushes, then he says we can have a date later. What the fuck, Papyrus? I was joking and I didn't think you could be so self confident, that's quite impressive!
After capturing me for three times, he gives up and tells me to come back when I want to do that date thing. I don't have much to do actually (and I'm still cold, even with Sans hoodie), so I immediately go back to Papyrus' home. He's standing in front of the door, was he waiting for me?
When we go in, I realise that it's Sans' home as well. I wonder what his room looks like, but I have a feeling that it's probably super messy.
After a brief tour of the house, we go to Papyrus room. I wonder what's next…
"LET'S START THE DATING!!" he exclaims.
Oh boy, is he serious?
After all, the "dating" was more like a playdate, but he was so sweet, he gave me some more spaghetti as a gift! I don't think I will ever be able to eat it, but I appreciate it anyway. In the end, surprisingly he friendzoned me, that was such a relief!
As I go downstairs to the entryway, I realise it's pretty late, outside the window the night has fallen along with the snow.
Fuck, where will I spend the night?
"Hey, kiddo." Sans greets me from the couch "Have a sit."
"Mmh… actually I think I should get going, it's late and I don't want to bother you any further." I mutter, fidgeting with the sleeve of his hoodie.
"That's precisely why you should stay. I suppose you don't have a place to spend the night at, am I right?" he asks, staring straight into my eyes.
"Yes, you're right, but…" I reply awkwardly "I mean… is that really alright for the both of you? I don't want to be a burden."
Sans looks a bit confused by my last sentence. Now he's probably thinking that I'm weird, fuck.
"Listen, I don't know what is it that you're used to, but I won't let you freeze to death outside. You can sleep on the couch, I will give you a fluffy blanket to keep you warm and a pillow to make it as comfortable as possible." he speaks with a reassuring voice.
"HUMAN, I WILL COOK YOU A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST TOMORROW MORNING, SO YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD SPEND THE NIGHT!" exclaims Papyrus, who's just got outside of his room.
I turn to look at Sans again and he replies with a wink.