Aliza came to step down the staircase, winding into the lobby.
She rubbed her neck, finding a dull ache present there. Her eyes glancing out, as she noticed a strange individual behind the counter. It wasn't Limbs, or Oscar as she'd anticipated. Nor did the room seem 'the same.'
Behind the counter was a golden flower, whose color was fading to grey. The room full of vines, seeming to be growing from this figure. Spreading across the walls, and through the floor.
She heard a voice. "Isn't like there's a-"
"Hello?" She greeted, looking for whoever was speaking.
The Flower turned to her. "Huh, oh...someone new."
Aliza was surprised to see a talking flower. Moreover, a talking flower with a face. That was overgrowing the lobby. She imagined this individual must be a monster, of some kind.
She waved some. "H-hi. New?"
He examined her. "Wait...you're Aliza, aren't cha?"
"You...know me?" She asked, reaching the bottom of the steps.
The Flower let out a huff, its more neutral expression becoming a frown. Its face shifting to bear the image of displeasure and irritation. It seemed, he wasn't glad to see her here.
"Aware of you." He explained. "Hi. I'm Flowey. I'll spare the rest, nobody cares."
She found herself examining the vines. They were growing in such a strange fashion. She wondered if this was normal in the monster world. Possibly? What she found odd, was that sections of them, like the flower, seemed to be greying. Losing color.
"Nice to...meet you, Flowey." She greeted hesitantly. "Uhm...where's the others?"
"The others?" Flowey muttered, smirking. "Either sleeping, or outside. Surprised to see you here though."
She stepped over some of the vines. And glanced at the door leading outside. Her curiosity towards it, matched only by her intrigue in this individual.
"Why...would you be...surprised?" Aliza asked.
Flowey considered and replied. "Guess I figured you'd uh...stay asleep." He smirked. "Guess not, huh?"
Aliza considered this concern, admittedly it was sensible. She knew she didn't sleep well, but most people that found her awake at night seemed perplexed by it. She didn't really like explaining it, but it would probably be a wise idea, she wagered.
"I well...the uh, there was a light-" She began to explain.
"So that's what did it." Flowey snickered. "You got up and went to investigate the crews outside, huh?"
"I-I mean...I'm not...trying to be snoopy, just-" She hesitated. "like, curious."
"Curiousity, yeahup. I got curious too. It's how I got here." He noted, before motioning. "Whatever. Either stay here, or go explore. Dealers choice, either way."
"Are you okay?" She asked him.
Flowey thought of answer to that question. He thought about explaining the situation. But, it didn't matter. He had accepted it. No point fighting, right? It wasn't like they could win. Wasn't like he hadn't tried. It was hopeless.
"I've got some reading to do." He picked up a half-burnt book with his vines. "Later."
Aliza flinched at the sudden dismissal. Wondering what she'd done wrong. Humming, while heading over to the door. She gave a glance back at the flower.
In truth, she didn't feel like exploring outside. But without knowing if the strangers would be a threat, she wasn't comfortable going back to the room. So, she opened the door, and stepped beyond the threshold.
Happy Town, and all it was this late at night, was a peculiar sight to her. Namely, because it was just like it was during the day. Only, emptied than before.
She briefly wondered how anyone kept time in a place like this. Her focus falling on the handful of individuals present. The workers she'd expected, simply weren't. Instead, there was a monster by the gate leaving the city, and a few others either walking around, or sitting beside some of the buildings.
There wasn't a scent in the air either. Which she found peculiar, for some reason. It didn't smell like stale air, or water. She wondered if she was just having a hard time smelling things. Hoping she hadn't caught a cold or something.
While considering this, one of the strangers wandered nearer to her. It appeared to be a monster kid, wearing a grey poncho, with lifeless white eyes. She noticed the monster out of the corner of her eyes, and jumped in surprise.
"Y-you scared me." She admitted, with a nervous laugh.
"You're Chara's friend, aren't you?" The Goner Kid asked.
"U-uhm...yes, er, what?" She inquired.
The creature smiled some. "She really likes orange souls."
"What...does that mean?" She asked.
"But, you're just like him." It whispered. "Dead."
Before she could respond, its jaw unhinged. The girls eyes widening, as hand erupted from the throat, latched to a nightmarish inky arm. Her scream muffled by the sense of it grabbing her head.
The pain that followed was fast, but extreme. The squeezing, the feeling of breaking bone. Of countless other horrors as it crushed her head in its grasp.
The room was quiet.
But not truly quiet. That was impossible, given its occupants. Two children, flooded with trauma enough to cripple beings significantly older than them.
The nightmares they experienced, were a side-effect of this fact. Plaguing their minds, with grim visions, and sadistic reinterpretations of inflicted traumas. Playing over, in a demented carnival of insanity, within themselves.
Notably, Aliza was in a cold sweat, tossing, thrashing on her bed. Her foot swinging out, managing to kick against the wall. The sudden jolt of pain, rocking through her. It was enough that her soul briefly shone, visibly above her. Eyes opening as she let out a cry of fear, muffled by the pillow held against her chest.
She clutched it tight, eyes searching the dark of the room. She was hyperventilating, pushing against the bed and blankets. Moving into the corner of the wall. She hugged the pillow tight there, like a shield of some kind.
The nightmare that had dragged her to consciousness, was already fading. But traces of it were retained, however few they were. She began muttering little self-assurances. Trying to assuage her fears, by insisting it was just a bad dream.
And yet, the phantom pains lingered for a moment. The age in her neck, the strain and headache. It had felt so hauntingly real.
Her attention was inspired in another direction however. She overheard her friend, sobbing on the other bed. It was muffled, but loud enough to fill the room.
Aliza felt a grim sort of comfort, that she wasn't the only one plague by nightmares. Alongside a deeper empathy, for her companion, still having to deal with them. The girl letting out a little breath, to calm herself some.
Sliding off the bed, she stepped across the room with a practiced deftness. A natural haste to her steps, brought her close quickly. An instinct, and tense familiarity overtook her. Had she done this before?
She tried to ignore that feeling. It didn't matter to her. She recognized the fear, able to see the tears. And she didn't want them to persist, so she acted.
The girl reached out with her hand, placing it on the cheek of her counterpart. The feeling of Charas tears were cold, like ice. The twitching movements, the frigid frost of her fast shallow breathing, it was all so familiar. While watching her, the awoken girls orange-eyes glowed faintly.
Enough to illuminate Alizas hand, and greying fingers. Things she herself didn't register. As she was focused, elsewhere.
No matter her fears, or concerns, some part of Aliza couldn't help but be transfixed with Chara. She loathed the sight of her lone friend struggling with nightmares. Likely going over some grim scenario, endlessly unaware it was escapable.
Her presence there was like an unblinking statue. Even as she began to feel the sense that she'd done this before. And not just by the couch, but here, in this place. Yet, she ignored it, and began moving her thumb softly side to side.
She felt like she knew what to do next, and followed that instinct. Staring to hum something she'd heard, Chara doing when she was stressed. Aliza knew, it would help. The shaking slowing. The state of terror growing calm.
It seemed the nightmare was fading, and it made Aliza smile. However, she didn't pull her hand away. She recalled the origins of this set of actions. She'd met a cat once, that had come to rest with her while she was sleeping.
It had decided to rest its face against hers. Nuzzling up against her cheek. Aliza wagered that the cat would have gotten along great with Pablo. The thought fading. She was merely grateful that she'd woken up when she did. As it meant she was able to help quell someone elses fears.
She kept brushing the other girls cheek, considering something. Something she'd meant to say, but didn't have the courage to. She still felt hesitant.
"Chara?" She asked softly.
Some part of her wanted to wake her counterpart, but she resisted that urge. It was better to sleep soundly. Besides, maybe, if she could muster the will to say it here, and now, then she could say it again later. She merely hoped her friend wouldn't hate her for admitting it. The words of her mother ringing in her head, casting vicious doubt and disdain upon herself. For being 'wrong.'
Aliza let out a breath. "I have a joke. It's...knock knock." She paused. "And then uhm...who's there, and.."
She got quiet, and lost her resolve. She felt disappointed in herself. Moving her hand away.
There was a conversation in her mind. Recalling when she'd found that magazine, when she'd kept it. That thing her dad had so many of. Depicting all the pretty ladies within. In truth, she didn't grasp the significance. She didn't get why she enjoyed it. And didn't comprehend its purpose. But she knew she had kept it.
They were so angry with her. And their words rang through her thought, as she took an active step back. It was best she said nothing, she knew that. She wagered this was wise. After all, if she admitted to having a crush, Chara would certainly think she was a freak too. And she didn't want that.
"I'll...nevermind. I'll...tell you later." She whispered quietly, most to herself.
Aliza internally cursed the grim thing that Limbs had called puberty. Whatever it was, it was making her life very complicated, and she wanted it to stop. The girl frowning, as she sat down on her knees. Defeated, and deflated.
Her eyes came to rest on her sleeping counterpart. Recalling that Chara found it odd the first time however, the idea suddenly made her feel insecure. So, with reluctance, she rose.
She didn't know what to do now. Glancing towards the door out of the room, she recalled something about a vending machine. Patting her pockets, she had some G within them still.
Aliza sighed, and started wandering that way. Maybe she just needed a drink, and then she could get back to sleep. Though, she'd always found that task difficult.
"I'll...be right back." Aliza whispered, before heading out of the room.
She wandered out into the hall, finding that the light that was usually on within it, wasn't. Leaving the place dark, and a little bit unnerving. She briefly glanced towards the staircase leading down, but turned away from it. There was a vending machine beside their room, after all.
Stepping over, she examined the thing. It was the only real source of light within this place. There were a few options, for brands she hadn't heard of. She elected to go with something that was cherry flavored, placing in the golden coins, before making her selection. The machine rumbling some, as something was deposited.
Crouching down to get it, she heard the sound of a creaking door behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the silhouette of another child. A girl, with incredibly long hair, who had red eyes, visible through the strands. She raised a brow, this person looked like a human, only with incredible grey skin.
Just like. "Aliza, well, looks like he got you too."
The voice was familiar. It sounded like Frisks. Only, with a bit more venom clinging to the words. However, the words were what the orange-eyed girl was focusing on. Rising, turning to face this stranger.
"How do-" Aliza felt the sensation, that familiar thing. "it's...you."
"You remember me~" The non-human girl, snickered. "Awh, that's okay. You're one of the few things I remember too."
Aliza stepped back, bumping into the machine. Glancing back at it, before turning to face front again. Finding the Non-Human inches from her. Her heart beginning to race. How was this possible, didn't she die? Why did she look so much younger? Was it really her?
"H-how-" Aliza stammered.
"Guess you're to thank for the new accommodations." The Non-Human smirked. "Oh, you must be so confused."
Aliza realized in that moment, she didn't have any weapons on her. She'd forgotten them in the room. She reached to the side, and scrambled to grab the soda can from the machines shoot.
"G-get away from me!" Aliza tried to swing the can, only to have her wrist grabbed, and slammed against the machine. "I-I y-you died."
"Oh it was so much worst than that~" The Non-Human replied in a sing-songy fashion. "I was dragged here. But hey, at least you can keep me company now."
A flash of something metal was drawn from the Non-Humans pockets. Slashing out, and punching into the girls chest. She let out a cry of pain, feeling the knife twist. Using her free hand to punch her attacker.
"C-chara!" Aliza called out.
"You idiot." The Non-Human replied, withdrawing the knife, releasing the wrist, and letting the girl fall with a thud. "Haven't you figured it out yet?" She grinned. "Where you are?"
Aliza glanced up, as the grey girl began to walk away. "I-I don't...understand-"
"You will." The Non-Human reasoned. "Welcome to our own special hell, Aliza."
The girl was doubled over in pain, bleeding out on the ground. Watching the hostile force simple walk away. Heading over to the staircase, and down, as her vision began to fade. Until everything, went black.