The experiment was reaching its next phase. Events set into motion, years prior, yet somehow at that very instant. Alterations, injections made into a world by a Doctor.
Yet, while his hand was steady, and his plans thought out. Something else had slipped in. Twisting the knife, and changing the flow. The result, was humorous.
Somewhere a doctor is confused. So much for knowing everything~
Somewhere, an assistant is unaware. Denied what she so desired~
Somewhere, somehow, the experiment has taken a turn. All thanks to you, and I. Isn't that right, partners?
All it took was a nudge during creation. And a shift, of a step. I hope you are satisfied with your choices, and mine.
The surface had undergone changes over the millennia. The once lush lands, and bountiful future of prosperity replaced with a dulling sky, smothered in the ash of roaming wildfires. The skyline replaced with the piercing heights of buildings designed to scrape it.
Even in the most rural spaces, in areas once endless fields of food, the devastation was present. The native flora, and fauna eradicated. Replaced with rows, and rows of similar plants, similar 'foods.' Yet, despite so much, so little was provided.
Entire trenches full of foods. Covered in poisons, to prevent the hungry from consuming them. Fields flooded with milk, the air reeking of shit. This was the mark of mankind.
It was in the intersection between a city, and the fields, laying at the base of a mountain that this story begins. A pair of orange eyes, alongside the glances of green ones. A sea of commotion, of people wearing masks wandering the streets. Coughing, and going about their daily lives.
A newspaper wrapped found, wrapped around an arm. The headline indicating that several rivers had run dry. That famine was being reported. That a dozen companies were reporting record profits. A smaller subheading indicating that they had begun to buy water supplies, and that the stock value of it was rising.
"And there you go." The green eyed girl said, finishing wrapping twine. "Wow, you even make trash look cute."
The orange eyed girl gave a curt response. "Thanks."
"You can talk more you know. You have a pretty voice." The chattier one snickered.
"Frisk." The other girl sighed.
"Relax, it'll be fine." The green-eyed girl, known as Frisk responded. "Just trying to lighten the mood."
The pair were resting in one of the construction sights on the edge of the labyrinthian city. It seemed to grow more every day. Expanding, grasping for more. Like it was living, desperate organism with an endless hunger.
The girls were presently getting 'geared up' as it were. Both were wearing masks across their faces. For Frisk, hers was tinted green with a few silly flirts written on it. Noting how beautiful the reader was, and how loved they were. For the other child, hers was simpler, and orange, with a little cartoon lion on it.
Their outfits seemed reflections of themselves. Frisk wore a plainer shirt, and shorts. With a jacket that was well to large for her on. It dragged on the ground some. The sleeves were decorated on the jacket, with various little decals. Everything from colorful sticks and knives, to cooking aprons and bandana icons. Few going together, but all of them stitched in all the same.
The other girl wore a ratty purple dress, that was originally meant for someone bigger. The ends cut, so it stopped around her knees. The shoulders, and other parts sewn together to make it fit. She lacked shoes as her companion had, instead walking around with bare feet.
In addition to these things, their outfits had been 'armored' in a fashion. With various newspapers coiled and taped to their person. Frisk having some wrapped around her legs, and chest. With the other girl having them around the arms, and legs.
With the last bits taped down, Frisk helped her counterpart to her feet. They a goal, a destination in mind for their misadventure for the day. Frisk picking up a nearby stick, sturdy and strong. The other girl, grabbing nothing.
"Okay, let's go!" Frisk declared.
"I'm-" The other girl trailed.
"Huh?" Frisk glanced.
The other girl motioned to another part of the construction site. While stepping over that way. The green-eyed girl humming, and following along with her curt companion. They approached the section, which consisted of large pipes that were intended for use in the structures of this place. One of them having a blanket over the front, with some writing on it, scribbled in marker. 'Zone Zero' it said.
Pushing through the curtain, the orange-eyed girl glanced at sleeping forms present within. Two cats, both pale and white in complexion. Rested there, on a makeshift bit of bedding. With little drawings around the space, marking it as home.
The girl knelt down, and pet one of the cats. "Valérie-" The cat stretched. "we're leaving."
The cat opened its blue eyes, snaggle toothed and tired looking. Purring some, while pushing against her hand. The others ear twitching, orangey-yellow eyes examining her, before glancing to Frisk at the entrance. It wore a perpetual sort of grin, even when it rested.
Frisk noted. "Right. Forgot to say goodbye to the cats." She smiled, and waved. "Later Pablo~"
Valérie, the cat looked up at the girl. "Aliza, where are you two going today?" He asked in a soft voice. "Are you going after that bird?"
Aliza, the girl with the orange eyes frowned. "No...please don't...chase it." She requested. "It's mean."
"I don't wish to harm it." Valérie replied, purring. "I'm...just hungry."
"I know." She replied quietly. "We're...getting food."
Pablo, the other cat examined the situation. "Valérie, it is best we endure with a patient spirit. Our compatriots would not soon abandon us." He noted. "Forbye, respose seeks to halloo us back to its commiserative fold."
Aliza took a moment to hug Valérie. The cat seemed contented, and was left purring for awhile. Before she releasing him, and let him relax once more. Turning, she saw Frisk smiling.
The other human commented. "It's always odd to me. You talk to them like they're speaking back."
The orange-eyed girl smiled. "They are."
"As I've said, I'll take your word for it." Frisk waved. "We'll be back with food you two. And Valérie-" The cats ears twitched. "you leave that bird alone. Thing creeps me out."
With this bit of resolution, the two girls began on their journey. Heading out of the construction site they were calling home. Passing a fence indicating that the project had been shut down, requesting individuals not trespass, they were out on the edge of the city once more.
The air, as always was almost exclusively smoke, or smog. It was familiar to them, in its own way. Feeling as though, it was simply what people breathed. Even if it hurt to breath too much of it in. That was merely the way of things.
Aliza sometimes imagined that if there was no smoke, then people might suffocate. After all, without it...what would they have to breath? Frisk assured her this wasn't the case, but her kind-hearted friend wasn't always right about everything. She liked to imagine that perhaps she was right for once.
Their feet pattered around the streets that had been paved. They were often hot, unbearably. And as Frisk was the only one with shoes, it meant Aliza could not leave their shared home often. But today, the sky was much darker than normal. Some people were even talking about rain.
Were that the case, they would need to get home soon enough. It often felt like melted plastic, heated and boiling. Aliza had heard someone call it 'Acid Rain.' But her companion told her once it was melted plastic, falling from the sky, trying to smother the world. She wasn't sure she believed that.
Frisk brought them down to the end of the road. To the place where construction equipment was rumbling, and moving. The various crews working along, to expand the boundaries of the city. Her focus, notably, was on a building that often moved with them.
She liked to imagine it was a sort of barn. That just materialized wherever it needed to be. Though she knew better. She had seen one being lifted by an even larger machine. Moved, and placed in the places it needed to be that day.
"Do you wanna keep watch or, should I?" Frisk asked.
It wasn't common for Aliza to get the choice in these matters. She was very used to merely obeying the whims of her companion. To such an extent, that the first presentation of such purpose, caught her entirely unawares.
"Me?" Aliza asked.
"Yeah." Frisk motioned. "Or, I could-"
"N-no." Aliza huffed.
To acquire such a choice was a momentous occasion. Perhaps it was a sign that they were becoming honest, proper friends. Were that the case, she might be able to go home. She imagined her mother would be so very proud of her, for finally doing as she was told. Hoping that the door had been left unlocked this time. And that the strangers who had been there last time, had left. Wouldn't that be marvelous?
She imagined her room, and her mattress on the floor in the corner. On the teddy bear her nana had given her, before she was killed by a bad man. Aliza wondered if she could bring Valérie, Pablo, and Frisk? There were spare rooms after all. It was such a wonderful set of thoughts, she almost didn't register her potential friend giving her a little wave.
"Aliza-" Frisk smiled. "you're doing that thing again. And while your smile could set the stars alight, I dunno if now is the time to uh, zone out."
Aliza felt a wave of embarrassment. "U-uhm...I'll go in."
"You sure?" Frisk asked. "N-not that I'm doubting, just-"
"I-I can do it!" Aliza said, in a loud voice, that was still quite quiet compared to...well most beings.
Her counterpart was surprised by this assertion. It was uncommon for dear Aliza to get so vocal. It was as if a mouse was attempting to roar in terms of volume. But the intent was clear, and it made her feel proud of her friend.
Frisk nodded. "Okay. I'll wait outside." She pat her on the back. "You've got this."
With this bit of assurance, and a sense of bravery in her heart, the barefoot child headed forward. Watching the movements of the workers. Before heading up to the door, and turning the handle to head inside.
The interior of the 'magical' moving box building was perpetually the same. It was comprised as though it were a living room. Latched together with aspects of a kitchen. The kind she'd seen in the magazines people often tossed when they were done reading them.
She liked to imagine herself owning a place as nice as this. It was cooler there, after all, than outside. Her mind returning to its goal, as her focus fell on the fridge at the other side of the small building.
Stepping through it, she noted a bundle of blankets on the couch. They were stacked quite high, and she pondered taking one. But decided against it for now. Glancing to a nearby television which had been left on. It was playing a news report.
Evidently someone had been killing people, near one of the cities. A strange looking man, dressed in a uniform that reminded her of a baseball player. The reporter referring to him as a religious fanatic, who was obsessed with 'purity.' Advising everyone to keep distance, and report the individual if he was seen.
The girl paying little attention as she walked by. Her focus was on more immediate, and pressing matters. Wandering over to the fridge, she opened it. Feeling the wave of cold that it provided. It was such a refreshing thing.
Within there were a variety of bags, containers, and drinks. Her stomach growling at the prospect of it all. Licking her lips below the mask, despite trying not too. She grabbed a few of them, filling her arms. Unable to hear the sound of the couch creaking.
A sudden pressure gripped her arm, yanking it back, as she let out a sound of pain. The food and drinks spilling across the floor. One of the glass bottles breaking. An angry looking woman staring down at her.
"Thieving brat!" The woman boomed. "Thought you could come in, and take what wasn't yours, huh?"
Aliza felt the painful grasp, and cried out. "S-stop, t-that hurts!"
"If there is one thing, I can't stand, it's thieves." The woman hissed.
The door opened, Frisk bursting in. She noticed what was happening. Quickly running over to push the lady. Who stumbled, and fell forward. Smacking her head against the fridge, making the door slam shut. Aliza falling to the ground, in the process. Slicing at the makeshift armor on her arm, scratching her skin below.
Frisk yelled. "Hurry up!"
Aliza got to her feet, and began to dart out. A sudden force resulting in her slamming to the ground again. Her leg grasped by the furious looking woman, bleeding from a wound on her head. The girl turned back to kick, managing to hit the wound, resulting in the woman yelling in pain, and her being released.
Being helped to her feet, the two girls quickly got outside. Some of the workers taking notice now. Much to the alarm of the pair. One or two big men starting to yell. Frisk grabbing her hand, racing off. As they tried to put distance between themselves, and the workers.
However, it was becoming abundantly clear very quickly that they weren't fast enough. Aliza couldn't help but feel afraid, yet, enduring the sensation an idea came to her. She tugged her hand away from Frisks.
"S-split up!" The girl yelled, turning, to run in the direction of the mountain.
"Aliza!?" Frisk called out, before being forced to continue fleeing.
Their paths once intertwined, unbound from one another in an instant. Forces beyond their comprehension working to ensnare them. Breathing life into the world they knew, specifically for this moment. Yet unaware, that things had been...derailed from their intended course. Heh.
Aliza ran through the complex system of streets, and pathways. Darting past parked vehicles. Things in construction. Running out onto a baseball field at the base of the mountain, as the voices of furious adults screamed at her.
She wasn't sure why, but she wasn't willing to stop. She couldn't stop. It felt like they were right behind her. And when she glanced back, there was always someone trying to catch up with her. She didn't know if those people, were the same people. But she couldn't stop.
She had to lead them away, had to be brave enough to keep going. The child raced up the path of the hill. Her pace beginning to slow, only for a police offer nearby to begin talking with someone, while looking her over. He motioned to her, and tried to say something, a hand moving to hover over his gun.
She didn't fully grasp what he was saying, and didn't care. She knew a threat when she saw one. And began her mad dash once more.
Up and up the twisting, winding path. Up the big hill, and across the bridge. Up, and off the path to places she wasn't meant to go. Never stopping again. Hoping the being she viewed as a potential friend was okay. Hoping that Frisk was at home waiting, or would find her soon.
Her feet getting sore, her movements rigid and clunky. Her muscles aching. How long had she been going? She didn't hear anyone anymore. Everything was aching.
She started to slow down, panting, feeling exhausted in a way she didn't think was possible. She stopped to catch her breath, there were trees everywhere. And a big wall of vines, and mossy growth before her.
Looking back, she stepped towards it. Seeking a place to lean. A place to sit for a time. Her foot caught on something. A breath escaping her, followed by a feeling of utter weightlessness. A sense of horror flooding her tale, as she began to plummet down.
Screaming as she went. Clawing at the snapping vines. Grasping at empty air. Until nothing was left, but darkness, and falling.
Tada, I found so many nice things. Laying just beyond the Doctors grasp. Isn't it wonderful?
What's with that expression? It's like you bit into a sour apple.
You were expecting Frisk? My, what a horror-ble tale you told yourself.
Don't feel bad though, they expected the same thing. They were planning on it, built their intervention around it. Feeling like it was their choice the way they intended it. Much as you did.
How delusional. Merely believing things would go as you believed they would? Do you think you have that much sway over this reality? That I wouldn't make a choice myself?
What an amusing prospect. It makes me wonder something. A question, I must ask...
Since when were you the ones in control?