There was a bewitching kind of silence in the room, despite the horrors transpiring elsewhere.
Unfortunately, its lone resident was unaware of these things. Having been gifted a peaceful reprieve from her own nightmares. The girl shifted in the bed, taking a breath, the first strands of consciousness plucked.
One of her eyes opened, still in the haze of deeper sleep. Leaning back some, she hugged the jacket. Some aspect of her thought, playing out the concept of her hugging something, or someone else. But that was rapidly fading, as she awoke.
Her earliest traces of these dreams, began as nightmares. Terrible things, that weren't uncommon to her person. Things that had suddenly quelled. In the dream, someone had reached through the blinding light, and placed a hand upon her cheek.
That gifted moment, provided her the best sleep she'd had in a very long time. Even if she herself, wasn't aware of how long it had been. A yawn escaping her, as she pushed the blankets with loose kicks. Shaking herself some, in the process.
Mouth closing, a breath released, both eyes opening. She smacked her lips some, merely trying to properly rise from her slumber. Reluctant, in many fashions to do so. Groaning and muttering under her breath, at the need to do so. Her purple eyes scanning the dark room.
She was left pondering, in those moments. Had she woken up in the morning, or in the middle of the night? It was difficult to discern, given how little light was present. Such was the consequence of a world without daylight.
Her purple eyes fell upon the bed across from her. There had been an expectation, which was not met. As, to her surprise, it was empty. The girl sighing, as she imagined where her friend might be. Glancing over the side of the bed, expecting to find Aliza staring up at her. As she'd done with the couch, before.
And yet, this wasn't the case. She wasn't there. Chara found that to be especially strange, before suggesting to herself that her counterpart had likely gotten up to get a drink. Either that, or to walk around. Perhaps to avoid waking her up. She found that very considerate, and sweet.
Slipping out of the bed, she let out another yawn. This one a bit more intense than the last, She never understood why actually getting sleep, always resulted in her feeling more tired when she woke up. It seemed very dumb, in her opinion.
Stretching out, she noticed her music box on the dresser. Searching her memory in that moment, she concluded it wasn't something she'd done herself. Considering something, she picked up the hooded jacket, and pat the pockets.
They were presently quite empty. She guessed that things had spilled out at some point in the night, and that Aliza must have put them up. However, despite her checking around, she couldn't locate Mychals Switchblade.
"Where-" She paused, thinking of the obvious solution.
It was likely that Aliza had taken it with her when she left the room. It was better to be safe than sorry, after all. Admittedly, it made her feel more comfortable, knowing the other girl had something to protect her.
With that thought, she wandered over to retrieve the bat instead. Shoving the music box into the jacket pocket once more. Hoping it wouldn't just fall out next time. Following this, she found the bat wedged between the dresser and Alizas bed. Picking it up, she was greeted by said weapon.
Whisper spoke. "Oh, you're finally awake."
"Yup." She replied, taking the time to get the straps secured. "Where's Aliza?"
"I think she went for a walk. She said she'd be back soon." Whisper recalled.
"Figured." Chara rolled her eyes, but smiled.
With the weapon secured to her person, she ventured from the room. Briefly shaking her leg, as it was more or less still asleep. Entering the hallway, she found that the light there was flickering some. Electrical problems, it seemed.
Glancing towards the vending machine, it seemed Aliza wasn't there. Thinking for a moment, she wandered over. Examining the options, she placed in some 10G. Hovering over the drink options, she elected for an orange soda.
The machine whirred a moment, and it came rolling down the slot. With her new drink acquired, she started towards the staircase. Opening the top, and taking a drink. It wasn't actually orange in flavor, it was that synthetic orange flavor found in most sodas. Something close to correct, but slightly off all the same.
Chara paused when taking the drink. Admittedly, she was a bigger fan of green apple, maybe, kiwi, or watermelon flavors for drinks. But for reasons she couldn't identify, the citrus flavor was really satisfying. A purple light manifesting, shining near the machine.
Her resolve, renewed. Her save sorted automatically. And her drive to Persevere, renewed through what had been a good morning, so far.
Working on the drink, she headed down the staircase. Trekking down the steps, she held the can in her offhand. She wished it had been a bottle or something, then she could put it in her pocket at least.
Sighing at this grave injustice upon drinks, her focus turned to a familiar monster. The scarecrow, named Limbs was sitting behind the desk. She didn't know too much about him, admittedly. Wondering briefly where the bird, Oscar, was.
The monster noticed her, and greeted. "Good Morning, child."
"Is it?" She asked.
"Hmm, upon observation, it is more than less." He replied, having checked his wrist watch.
Well that was good to know at least. She was tempted to ask how long she'd been asleep. But it was unlikely he'd have the answer, or that it'd matter too much.
"So, hey, have you seen Aliza?" Chara inquired, reaching the bottom of the staircase. "Ya know, other girl, bout my age?"
"I do recall who she is. And, I believe she went for a walk, a little while ago." Limbs pondered, before admitting. "I had to go clean one of the rooms, so I'd imagined she'd come back already."
"Not, really, no." Chara replied, humming. "I mean...I don't think so?"
"That's interesting." He let out a small hum, and scratched his cheek. "I am aware that Grillby enjoys an early opening to his cart. It may be likely, that she went there seeking sustenance?"
Chara found the idea, mildly revolting. It wasn't that his cooking was bad, as she'd told him. It was more that the foodstuff wasn't...great. But it wasn't a bad idea. Grab food, get ready for the day.
"I guess, probably, huh?" Chara shrugged. "Well uh...thanks, by the way. For helping out with-" She held her drink. "and, that."
"Never a concern, little one. The room is yours for a whole day, technically. So feel free to come back, anytime." He said, with his unintentionally eerie smile. "Though, we will need the key."
"Oh, right, fair." She muttered, wandering over and giving it back. "Heh. Best not to lose that huh?"
"It would be unfortunate." He snickered, while placing it back on the wall with the other keys.
"Yeah." She replied, heading to the front door. "Have a good day, I guess."
"You as well." He tipped his top hat.
The semi-formal behavior of the scarecrow amused her greatly. Especially when she thought about the other monster who helped run the place. She imagined they must but heads an awful lot. The idea, or little arguments, or mini-miseries, inspired a dark laugh, that she felt only semi-guilty about after.
There was a certain delight in misery, if one looked at it the right way. At least, that was a thought she had, sometimes, when she was left alone with nothing. The ebbs, of sadism, ever present, even throughout everything. Though, at least the girl had the good sense to still feel guilty about it all.
Now beyond the door, she was once more in Happy Town. A place that had thus far proved to be, perhaps, a touch misleading in its naming conventions. She decided on her course of action.
Namely, she felt that she had been making too many of the party decisions. She wanted to offer some of that control, to her friend. With some words of caution sprinkled in, just in case.
Chara pondered if she wanted to get a move on, or linger. They didn't really have a room anymore, and definitely didn't have a way to get another. Not without finding some way to get money. She hated money.
Regardless, this had a benefit. Namely, she contemplated asking to borrow someone's phone for the first time since arriving. The girl groaned a little bit at herself. It was, admittedly, a simple solution to some of their problems. And, as with most simple solutions, it had evaded her mind completely.
Perhaps they could just borrow a phone, and call Papyrus, or Metta. Maybe she could try to call home, not that it worked before. But, she could try again. Realistically it would be the other two, but she was fine with that. They just needed someone to come and help them figure a way forward. So they weren't wandering around lost, and the chances of Aliza being hurt would lower.
That thought, finally snapped her from all the thinking. Namely, as she reminded herself not to get lost in the process. She still had a friend to find, after all.
At present, Happy Town was fairly active. Some people wandering about to start their day. Talking with one another, or working on things. Fixing up houses, adjusting street lamps. Things she didn't care much to investigate. Her attention falling on Grillby's, where, only said monster was present.
Well, that wasn't what she'd been hoping for.
Whisper, well...whispered. "Hmm, if she's not there. Where else would she be?"
"I...guess, museum?" Chara suggested, before second-guessing that. "No...she found the uh...things creepy."
Statues, Aliza found the statues creepy. Not to mention how rude the lady behind the counter was. It was rather unlikely that she'd gone there, and she knew that well.
"That's a fair point." Whisper reasoned.
Left a little bit uncertain, the girl and her weapon wandered towards Grillbys. One of them, mostly just hanging around. The other putting on all the heavy lifting, the...leg work, as it were.
On the topics of their dynamic, Chara was left a little bit curious that they were getting along so smoothly. She had anticipated the odd living bat to be a little bit more upset with her. Given that their last interaction, hadn't been the most pleasant.
"Hey-" She began.
"I know." Whisper responded. "There was a lot of stress, and tension. I'm not upset. Honestly."
"Heh...well, thanks." Chara rolled her eyes. "I think...you two...are too nice to me sometimes."
She suggested this, thinking over the behavior of both Whisper, and Aliza. Both entities tended to forgive some of her faults. Perhaps a bit too easily. It sometimes made her uncomfortable, and sometimes made her feel better. The conflict from those feelings did make her want to try and be better though. She wanted to deserve what that kindness.
"Could be meaner, if you wanted?" Whisper offered.
"Na, I'm good." She snickered. "Enough mean people around, right?"
"Mhm." Whisper replied with a sage hum.
The concept was amusing to her, at least. But the last thing she needed was a bat that could read her thoughts, talking trash to her. That was certain to inspire some unpleasant feelings. Her steps carrying her over to the outdoor restaurant counter. The flame elemental noticing her, nodding.
"Hey Grillby." Chara greeted, asking. "You uh...having a good morning?"
Grillby considered, and nodded. "Yup."
"Cool. Like, super." Chara rapped her hands against the counter.
The fiery man watched her do this. Raising a brow, while adjusting his glasses. It was clear, a question was coming. The man sighing some.
"What's up?" He asked.
"Have...you seen Aliza, this morning?" She asked.
"Nope." He replied. "Not with you?"
"No, uhm...Limbs said, she was going for a walk." She explained. "But, I woke up before she got back, and...ya know."
Grillby checked his memory, wondering if he had seen her. Thinking back across his morning thus far. But, he couldn't recall anything.
"Hmm." He hummed, looking around. "No idea. Ain't seen her."
Chara found that, admittedly, a touch concerning. There weren't many locations within Happy Town, that one could go, right? She turned, and looked around the place. Surely it couldn't be that hard to find her right? It wasn't like she'd left, or something?
That thought, prompted a glance towards the gate that led into, and out of, the town. Had she left? Would she leave? The idea had little to no merit, for the girl. Aliza wasn't the type to venture off alone. Wasn't the type to go take risks, right?
The girl felt uneasy. "Uhm...well, if you...see her, can you let me know?"
"Will do." He assured.
"Thanks." She replied.
With that interaction sorted, a slight haste fell upon her. Her mind running over possible locations she had left to check. Or, that she could. It wasn't a video game, she couldn't just barge into random strangers homes. Even if she imagined some might let her to so.
She hurried to check the shop. However, it was closed. It seemed it wouldn't open for another hour. Meaning, Aliza couldn't be in there.
Well that was another location down, leaving her with nothing. She began to feel anxiety rising, breathing getting, just a touch more difficult. However, she worked to calm it, quelling as much of the growing alarm as she could.
Whisper commented. "Hey, it'll be okay. Honestly."
"I-I know." She muttered.
She tried to assure herself, that she was getting nervous about nothing. That she was being clingy, and awful for no reason. That this wasn't like the other humans, that Aliza would be fine, that she needed to relax this fear.
Whisper offered. "Why don't we go ask Aaron?" The whisper in her mind adding. "If she left, surely, he'd know."
"Okay." She muttered. "That's...a good point."
With that, she jogged through town. Passing by a few curious onlookers. Until at last, she got to the gate.
And there, before it, was a figure mighty and dignified. A sea-horse, of sorts. The legendary, the mythical, Aaron. Just sort of...floating around, checking his reflection in a mirror.
"Whoa, hey, where's the fire? ;)" He asked, having heard her approach, before noticing who she was. "Ah, right, sorry. Didn't mean to uh, do that."
She honestly didn't care right now. "Hey, have you seen Aliza?"
"The other little dude who was with you?" He asked.
"Yes. Yeah, yes." She felt irritated.
"No, can't say I have. Why?" He inquired.
"W-what do you mean no?" She demanded, her breathing heavy.
He scanned her. "I uh...I haven't. Hey, take a breath bud, it's-"
"Cuz...I-I dunno. I don't know where she is." The girl admitted, feeling anxious. "It's probably dumb, but I-I feel really nervous for some reason. And, did...did anyone leave the town, or-?"
"Uh, just the workers who came in last night?" Aaron recalled. "They came from the factory to drop stuff off, and headed back." He noted. "I didn't see her with them though."
This wasn't the information she had been seeking, nor was it entirely useful. It did provide her the idea, that, perhaps Aliza was still in the town. After all, how would she had gotten past the guard, and not been seen?
Unless he was lying. The concept that she was being lied to, gave her a rather grim thought. A...negatively charged concept, of punishing the lie, should it prove to be one.
"Well...that's-" She grumbled. "I don't...so, I don't get it-"
"Hey, tell you what. Why don't I ask folks to help look around?" Aaron offered. "She's gotta be in town somewhere, right?" HE motioned. "I'll ask my buddy to watch the gate, and help you out."
"Y-yeah. Yeah, that's...fair." Chara responded, feeling a little bit less concerned. "I'm sorry, it's, probably silly, I just-"
"Hey, don't mention it. I'm happy to help, buddy." He motioned. "C'mon, let's see if we can track her down. Maybe she took a nap somewhere. I like to take em myself now and then."
The idea was amusing. "I dunno...maybe?"
If that were the case, and if Aliza had merely fallen asleep somewhere, she was going to be both amused, and very upset. What was the point of getting the room, if she was just going to sleep outside, anyways? She pouted some, at the concept.
But, she wagered, she'd forgive it. After all, she would just be happy, to know her friend was alright. Even if she was a dork sometimes.
With that, the duo headed off to begin their investigation, of Happy Town.