Chapter 4

Frisk wasn't sure who had the messier room – Napstablook or Sans. While Napstablook's guest room was covered in a thick layer of dust, Sans's bedroom was littered with dirty clothes and sheets that had been wound up in a ball for so long Frisk gave up trying to straighten the crusty sheets and went to bed on the undressed mattress. It would have been better if Sans left Frisk to sleep on the couch after all.

When she awoke, Frisk wasted no time putting on her mask and leaving the room. Chara wordlessly followed behind. Ever since Frisk had acquired the tutu, Chara had not acted like himself. He was quiet now, observing more than he narrated. Whenever Frisk tried to speak with him to engage in conversation, he either answered with as few words as possible, nodded, or didn't answer at all.

Tiptoeing down the stairs, Frisk saw that Sans was not asleep on the couch. However, there was a note on the table. Frisk picked it up and read what was written.

I have a few errands to run today. Be back by sundown. Frisk, do not go anywhere until I return.

That was it. No mention of where he was going, just how long he would be gone. And the specific request that Frisk remain in the home until his return.

"Think I should stay?" Frisk asked Chara as she showed the floating mask the note.

"That's up to you," was all Chara answered.

What Frisk wanted to do was call Chara out for his lack of interest as of late. She wanted to know what was wrong and assure him that she would do whatever she could to help him. Yet before she could open her mouth to say a word, she heard Papyrus walk out of his bedroom.

"Good morning, child," Papyrus greeted after he took the last step off the stairs. "Where's Sans?"

Instead of replying, Frisk handed him the note. Papyrus accepted the note and read its message. As he scratched the back of his head, Papyrus muttered to himself, "What could he possibly be doing so early in the morning on such short notice?"

Although Papyrus didn't ask her, Frisk still answered by shrugging. For a moment, the two simply looked at each other. Frisk began shifting from foot to foot. Papyrus cleared his throat. After a minute, he cleared his throat again.

"So, umm," he tried, "what is it you children do all day?"

"I am not a child," Frisk argued. "I am almost thirteen. I am practically an adult."

"Okay, then, what do practically adults do all day?"

Frisk was about to answer climb trees or play ball, but those were childish activities. Chewing on her lower lip, Frisk tried to recall what her parents did all day. If they weren't working, they were doing chores.

Perhaps being an adult wasn't as wonderful as Frisk initially thought it was.

Knowing she had to give Papyrus an answer, Frisk thought quick and said, "Talk."

"Okay," Papyrus replied. "What do you talk about?"

"Oh, well, you see . . . adult things like the weather, or work, or . . . I don't know. I guess just anything somebody wants to talk about."

As if defeated, Frisk dropped to the couch and rested her chin on her palms. She wasn't sure what she was thinking by coming back here. Papyrus may have saved her from Undyne, but that did not mean he any interest in helping her beyond that.

This was why it surprised Frisk when Papyrus sat across from her on the chair Sans never returned to the kitchen and said, "Well, here's what I want to talk about: What are you doing back here? You wanted to leave Ebott Forest, didn't you? In case you forgot, the exit is away from here, not close."

"Yes," Chara said, choosing now to be somewhat vocal, "why are you back here?"

Fidgeting only a little, Frisk looked everywhere except at Papyrus and Chara and replied, "I . . . er. . . . Maybe I'm being simple or unwise, but . . . as of late, I have been starting to think about the curse you all are under. More specifically, how was it placed, and how do we break it?"

Papyrus crossed his arms and looked out the window. Frisk also turned her attention towards that direction. Monsters were waking up and leaving their homes to start their day, and Frisk could not take part in it if she wanted. Nobody could know she was back here. The attack from the kid with the frog mask was all the proof Frisk needed that not every monster would show her mercy.

"I think it's better if you read about it instead of my telling you." Papyrus rose to his feet. "I'm going to the library. I'll be back soon. Help yourself to the leftover spaghetti for breakfast."

Although the taste of spaghetti Frisk had the night before was unbearable, Frisk nodded. Papyrus seemed hesitant to leave, as if he did not trust she would still be there when he returned. Then he left, and Frisk merely lied on the couch and curled into a ball.

"You are not going to seize the opportunity to flee?" Chara questioned. He didn't sound condemning. Only curious.

"I meant what I said, Chara." Frisk propped herself on her elbow. "The only reason everyone here has to wear a mask is because humans put a curse on them. Not only are they trapped here, but they can't even express themselves like they used to. I want to help them."

"Do you truly believe you can break the curse?" Chara challenged.

"I don't know," Frisk replied, "but I might as well learn what it takes to break the curse. Besides . . . what if breaking the curse helps us remember who you are?"

For a while, Chara said nothing. Then, "I no longer wish to remember who I am."

Frisk frowned. Wishing Chara had a hand for her to hold, Frisk asked, "Chara, what did you remember?"

"I did not remember anything."

"Please, Chara, I know you better than that. If you don't want to tell me, just say so. Why are you lying to me?"

It was a moment before Chara answered, "I do not like who I was. The last thing I want is for your feelings of me to change because of who I was before I became who I am."

"Who you were doesn't change who you are now." Frisk felt her eyes burn, and if she blinked, she knew tears were going to fall. "Nothing you have ever said or done will change how I think about you now."

When Chara didn't respond, Frisk swallowed and asked, "Did you remember how you died?"

Frisk didn't realize she wasn't expecting Chara to answer until he did. "No. I only remember my life prior to running into Ebott Forest. Everything beyond that night is still a mystery."

"Do you . . . do you still want to remember what became of you?"

"I do not know anymore."

There was so much more Frisk wanted to ask, to say, but she didn't have the words. She didn't know if there was anything that could be said. So instead they sat together in silence as they waited for Papyrus to return, and Frisk wondered if the things she had done for Chara thus far were in vain.