The night before had melted into rest, shortly after their arrival at the inn. A few exchanged jokes, a few little laughs. All reaching its apex, when they began to fall asleep one by one. The last to reach sleep, being Frisk.
The child struggling with the process for some time, after her friends had already fallen into it. Yet, exhaustion got the better of her eventually. The dark, and the swirling tempest of intermingled thought merging into something less like dreams, however. It was more like a loose compilation of concepts, both nightmarish, and sweet.
Dreams of another place, another time, or perhaps another world imagined in detail. Glimpses of purple and yellow tinted ruins, of a malevolent flower, and a kind-hearted guardian. Of silly creatures, and a tipped bowl of candy.
There were flashes of people unfamiliar yet familiar, known and foreign in unison. Speckles if an eldritch horror murdering her in an abyss, cackling, laughing at her suffering. Of a silly date, with a goofball skeleton. To a fight to the death, against a resurrecting warrior.
These strange dreams and visions extending to something constant throughout the rest. A feeling of being followed, forever. Of perceiving something otherwise unseen. Spoken to, guided by someone familiar. Familiar with everything, everyone, every step of the way. Making dumb jokes, offering advice. A friend, a companion.
This voice would assure her it was going to be okay. Would judge her when she did something wrong. And finally...got quieter, when things turned grim. At the end of one dream...the final dream. Frisk whispered something back to the voice. Words that lingered in the air.
"I expected more partner...stay...determined." The whisper prompted a bit of shaking, and the dream to end.
Rumbling, stirring, shaking, Frisk awoke from it, feeling her heart pounding. Jolting upright, with the light of her shining soul illuminating the dark some. A quick bit of movement seeing her retrieve the hard-plastic knife from beneath her pillow.
Slashing out at the dark, before aiming it. Moving at every little shadow. Her eyes wide, scanning every corner, and every bit of perceived potential movement. The lingering sensation ebbing away gradually, her heart-shaped object fading back into her.
Shaking in the aftermath of the strange ensemble she'd faced, the girl let her arms fall to the side. Hand still gripping the knife tight within it, the dreams slipping from her consciousness. Some bits and pieces remaining, etched in, but incomplete.
Everything felt hot and unbearable. The sound of her friends snoring was...getting loud, too loud. She hopped up from the bed. Pushing the false knife into her pocket. Pacing some, for reasons she didn't fully grasp. Just to think, perhaps?
The room had three beds spread throughout it. Noelle was laying atop her blankets, looking like a snoring mess. Suzy was tucked in nicely beneath her own. For Frisks bed however, the sheets and blankets had found their way onto the floor, before she even awoke. Alongside one of the pillows too...somehow.
A faint light illuminated a corner of her vision. She turned, noticing light coming from the dresser nearby the bed. The phone she'd been gifted by Toriel, flashing the little light that indicated it had gotten a phone call. Sitting comfortably placed on top of her jacket.
Heading over to it, she first picked up the phone. Flipping it over, checking the log. There were...dozens of missed calls.
Suddenly feeling quite cold, she picked up her jacket. Sliding it back over her shoulders. Making sure the top two buttons were still buttoned. Giving it the fashion of a cape once more. She stressed over the calls, pausing briefly to glance at her reflection.
Her reflection stared back at her, as she met it. Her mess of thoughts still running amok. Darkness hung beneath her eyes, she was looking very tired. Which, made sense, given her present...struggle, at sleeping.
Her attention turned, and for just a moment all her thoughts ground to a halt. A hand having grasped the metal collar around her neck. It was still cool to the touch, and the odd reprieve it permitted, prompted a chilled sigh of relief. Icing up part of the mirror. It eased some of the warmth, calming her uneasy mind. Frisk was gracious to have it.
The sensation of reprieve ending as she released it. Her mind returning bit by bit to what she was presently struggling to deal with. Trying to determine how to deal with it. The girl quickly returning to her debate about the phone calls.
Her attempted return to process halted by noises she heard from beyond the door to the room. Curiosity led each step, as she drew near it. Leaning, she placed her ear against the wood. Listening, focusing, on every little sound. Providing a glimpse, of what was transpiring beyond the threshold.
"He said he guided them here for the night. Please, I just need to go upstairs and check." The voice was...Toriels. "It won't take a-"
The inn-keepers voice carried up the stairs. "Lady, I don't care if you're the captain of the royal guard. I respect my guests privacy."
"They are children and...I..." There was a pause, followed by a sound of fear, or surprise. "You will help me locate them, now. Do you understand?"
Frisk blinked, and felt a little nervous. Toriel sounded quite intense at this particular moment. Not that it didn't make some sense to the girl. Frisk internalized some remorse, and worry.
The intent was to only be gone for a little while. They were just trying to find Chara, they'd even left a note. If she caught them now, they'd undoubtedly be taken back. Frisk wondered if this might be better. It wasn't like they'd found Chara, yet.
To the credit of her own imagination, some aspect of her had anticipated something like this occurring. Granted, it had been dubbed as an 'unlikely' course of action for some reason. Resulting in it feeling entirely unexpected to her. Thinking on it more than the split moments she had permitted thus far, she realized it was honestly the only thing Toriel would have done. They had no doubt made her incredibly worried.
The idea of being taken back now, inspired an odd hesitance in the child. Like some part of her was wondering if she even wanted to go back. Toriel was nice, or at least had seemed nice in their limited interactions in the city, including shopping. But she didn't really know her well.
Normally, it should be a no brainer. Toriel was just some nice stranger. Of course, she wouldn't stay. But...something about her made Frisk feel...safe. It was an unfamiliar feeling in her life so far, and yet Toriel made it feel familiar.
That sensation had overwhelmed her when they first met. Inspiring a desire to stay at the home. Inspiring a desire to tag along with the woman. To get to know her, to feel safe around her somehow.
And, for a moment, even the strangest little desire to view the monster-lady as a maternal figure, a... she struggled to even think the word. And yet, these same compulsions were at odds with things inspired by the same feelings. She couldn't just leave Toriels daughter to be lost, could she?
As if on queue, her phone began to quietly ring. It wasn't Toriels number. She answered it.
"Hello?" Frisk greeted quietly.
"Hello. Hmm, by process of elimination, this must be the phone number belonging to that 'other human' in Snowdinn. Isn't it?" The voice asked, prompting a feeling of surprise in her. "Nevermind, don't bother answering. I just wanted to inform you. I saw the other one bleeding, running from someone. In Waterfall."
"Who is this?" She asked in alarm. "And, w-what do you mean bleeding?"
"If you wish to help this one, I'd recommend you hurry. A human soul is...tempting, after all." The voice, like static noted quietly, before hanging up.
Dread had set in from the call, rather quickly. Frisk trying to process it, beginning to pace once more. An instinct prompting her to open her phone, and move to call Toriel. Hesitating at the last moment, her finger over the call button. It was silly to call anyways, given Toriel was downstairs.
But functionally, she knew she couldn't tell the monster-lady. If Toriel knew Chara was in danger, then...she'd probably rush straight into it. And unlike Frisk...the danger would be far more...permanent.
Moreover, there was no way the goat-lady would permit the girl to go along with her. So if something happened, she wouldn't know. And if she didn't know, she couldn't try and fix it. The spiraling realizations only made her more and more anxious.
Beyond the door, footsteps echoed some. "Y-yes I know. I just, I didn't recognize you, and-"
"It's fine. Please, just-" Toriel tried to say.
"Oh uhm, were they...I think-" The footsteps passed the door, moving to one of the other rooms.
The pair inaudible to Frisk, as they went. Frisk concluded she simply couldn't tell Toriel, not yet. She had to get out, and quickly. Maker her way to Waterfall, and rescue this human from whatever peril was transpiring.
The girl noted that while she didn't even know where that was, she would figure it out. She as determined to do this. She would succeed, no matter what. And most importantly - Frisk noted she could just ask someone where it was. Pretty easy solution she figured.
She turned towards her friends, intent on waking them up. They would need to sneak past Toriel and-
|Proceed|
Frisk paused at this impulse. Blinking, processing the thought, while involuntarily shaking her head. Her head stinging some, like a headache that simply came and went. Leaving only a faint sense of scratching behind, in the back of her thoughts.
The ruby souled child turned to face the door, giving this invasive train of thought a moment to settle. Considering it, and what it was suggesting. The idea that she could probably sneak out easier on her own. After all, it would be easier to get past Toriel and the Innkeeper while they were distracted, right? She'd just need to...she didn't want to leave her friends, though.
|Proceed|
Her head shook again. If she woke them up would she honestly have enough time? They might talk, or draw more she was intent on finding the other human...if she really wanted to do something nice for Toriel, could she afford to be slowed down by them?
"T-they aren't...slowing me down?" She muttered quietly, in confusion.
|Proceed|
Her head felt foggier, and foggier, and her anxiety began to become easier to handle. She had to concede, to this line of thought. True, they may not have 'been' slowing her down in some intentional actions, but they would inevitably inspire little delays. Further, it was not going to be as pleasant as their trip to Snowdinn.
No, this place she was going, was going to be more dangerous. If the man on the phones suggestion was accurate. And they'd need to move quick, recklessly perhaps. Was Frisk really so cruel, as to endanger her own friends, for this goal?
The girl hesitated at that thought. She could hear the chatter, hear the talking beyond the door. She had to go, and she had to go now if she wanted to go at all. A hand gripping the cold collar, shaking off her fear. Her eyes a bit glassed over, dimmer in color. She had to do this alone...and that feeling, that was a cold feeling. But she was determined.
Pushing the door open slowly, she stared ahead at the stairs leading down. To the front door visible below. Her mind full of scratching, her thoughts naught but static. A chilled breath escaping her lungs.
With a quick step, she fell into a dead sprint forward. Passing the clearing quickly, while hearing a sound of surprise. Diving at an angle, she sailed above the steps. A compulsion prompting a follow up action. Hitting the ground with a forward roll. Coming to stop at the end of it. The momentum making her feel a little woozy.
Shaking it off, she darted to the door. Pushing it open, casting light across herself. Two shadows extending from her person. One writhing, the other still. Looking around for a moment to determine her path of progression, and moved through the shade
"Frisk?" She heard Toriels voice call from within the Inn.
The girl heard this, while continuing her mad sprint. Moving across the wide clearing that made up the 'street' of this town. Once at the other side of it, she hooked around a corner. Heading further she passed various homes and buildings. Some stacked on top of one another. Turning, weaving, dashing past other monsters, looking confused at her pace.
And then, finally she came sliding into an alleyway. Panting tiredly, looking over her shoulder. She didn't see Toriel, couldn't hear her. Seemed she had gotten away, at least for the time being.
Frisk took a seat for a moment, to recover her energy. Pulling the hood over her head, closing her eyes, and relaxing some. The static getting quiet. She reminded herself, that all she needed to do now, was find her way to Waterfall. Then, she needed to find Chara. Easy...hopefully, anyways.
Rising from her seat after a couple minutes, she peaked out of the alleyway. Wandering out, though still not seeing Toriel. Staring up what appeared to be a way back to main street, she did her best to not draw a lot of attention from the Monsters walking around. Most on their phones anywho.
She felt into her pocket, noticing hers was going off. She examined the calls. Repeatedly missing them. Feeling guiltier, and guiltier about this path. She started to walk by a building with another stacked on top. Hearing a little chuckle, to draw her attention. Some sort of lizard lady in fuzzy clothing hanging out, eating donuts.
"Whoa, neat. I didn't expect to see two of your kin today." The lady remarked.
"Huh?" Frisk glanced. "Two of...what?"
"Ya know, the kinda monster you are." The lady commented. "You related to that niece of Paps, I'm guessin?"
"Paps?" The girl hesitated some. "I'm...wait, you saw Chara?"
"A little bit ago, yeah." The lady examined Frisk more. "If you're lookin for em. I think they hooked a right on the main road. Guessin they're headin to Waterfall."
"And to get there, I take the main road, and turn right from here?" Frisk inquired, trying to make sure she heard that correctly.
"Mhm. You two have that out-of-towner energy. Didn't figure you knew." The lizard lady snickered.
Frisk stepped over, and hugged her legs. "Thank you, you beautiful lady."
"Eh, heh...your uh...welcome, kid?" The lady replied, noting. "Have a good day I guess?"
"As long as I get to see your pretty face again." Frisk flirted, with a blown-kiss, before started off.
The woman put a hand on her hip, as the girl started off. "You shouldn't flirt with random strangers." She called out. "Just...noting it."
"I know." The human called back.
She knew where to go now. All she had to do, was catch up with Chara. And then, well, and then everything would go great, and they'd go back to Toriels. It would be wonderful. Frisk really hoped it would be wonderful. That nothing bad would happen. That she wasn't too late.