Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 19 - Blackout
'What happened...?'
This is the first thought that comes to your head as you wake up out of your unconscious state, only to find yourself in an odd, inky-black sea again with nothing but dark fog encroaching from everywhere around where you float. "..Guess I'm still out cold." As you try to rationalize the fact that you're not really awake yet you see a light emanating through the fog, but barely. As you attempt to make your way over to the source it seems that no movement you try gains any traction. Oddly enough, the light seems to be growing. That, or... getting closer apparently! After three more seconds the light is apparent; An orange, glowing SOUL. As it nears you it seems to circle like a happy house-pet. The thought of it having such a personality makes you smile, but you look up into the fog once you hear a familiar, but unfamiliar voice.
"The strength within one's mind to press forth against the hardships they face."
A figure can barely be made out from within the fog but as they approach the mist itself seems to part from around their immediate person. The face is of the 'broken man' you recall from a dream a couple days ago.. "Pardon?" As you ask for clarification the figure lifts his face and tilts it slightly as they stare with a smile. "Resolve, Manny. That is the name of the trait you hold within your SOUL." The figure extends an open palm slowly, and as it does your SOUL seems to be pulled unwillingly towards the hand, slowly rotating. The absence of the light from yourself is numbing, and just as you begin to hunch, the figure uses his hand to to 'push' your SOUL through the air back into your body. "Who are you...? How do you.. know me?" Both questions cause the figure to smile a little wider. They take their oddly bony hands and fold them in front of themselves politely before replying. "I know much about you, and about the world you reside in.. but who I am isn't quite as important. You, on the other hand.." In mere seconds the figure is nose-to-nose metaphorically speaking, before they finish their sentence. "...are far more interesting. Someone new, in a world that repeats itself."
A world that repeats itself? You glance away for the moment in thought and confusion before realizing that several seconds have passed and the stranger interrupts. "Do not try and think about it right now, human." Wait a second. "Human? So you're a...?" You leave the sentence open for the person to finish, but they seem to raise their one sunken eye in expectation, forcing you to answer instead. "... a monster?" The figure backs up and nods with a polite bow. "Correct. I didn't finish because you're certainly smart enough to piece that together yourself." The tone of the stranger changes from welcoming to slightly cold as they say that. "Gee, thanks.." You smirk and offer that as a jest in an attempt to hopefully change the abrupt tone and it seemingly works. The figure re-gains a slight smile before sitting mid-air. "Where am I, exactly?"
The question causes two pupils to briefly flash within the figure's eyes, if but for a moment. "Quite literally, nowhere. Now when we are, that is much, much more interesting." With a shrug and slap of your hands to your sides you ask in a slightly irritated tone. "Okay, 'when' are we?" A brighter smile comes to the stranger's face and they answer with a surprisingly giddy tone. "Never." You extend a hand with a completely befuddled expression. "...Alright, what the fuck." The stranger stands up and again walks towards you, placing one of their hands on your shoulder and squeezing firmly. "Exciting, isn't it? The idea that we technically do not exist at this very moment is amazing in and of itself. Something more amazing, is 'this'!" The figure stands up straight, waves their hand with a swipe, and in an instand thousands of small window-like boxes appear in front of the two of you showing various areas, events, and monsters. With a tilt of your head you idly comment. "...Television?
" The figure's head snaps in your direction and they give a flabbergasted look, lightly slapping the back of your head. You instinctively cover the spot with an "Ow- hey, man!" They waggle a finger abruptly in your face and correct you. "Not 'television', you child! Timelines. Timelines!" Each turn of your head from the screens back to their finger only frustrates you further. Finally, you lightly swat their finger away with the back of your hand and ask in annoyance. "What are you even trying to explain to me?! I'm not following the train of thought, here!" After you say that the figure gingerly curls their hand into a fist and lowers it, making the screens shrink into nothingness. A gentle smile returns to the figure's face and they re-fold their hands, simply stating. "Hopefully, in time, I'm sure you'll understand the necessity of this conversation. It holds much more meaning that you will initially believe." Having felt like you've upset them you sigh and slouch your shoulders subtly.
"Look, I'm sorry.. I'm just not understanding at 'all. Why are you telling me this? What's the significance? Why am I important here?"
That last question causes them to frown, their sunken eyes seemingly showing a bit of displeasure in your statement. "To divulge such a secret would in time turn it false.. Contributing on to the end, a memory of your being, to be fixed in the minds of your counterparts." The poetry only causes a heavy sigh from you, and the moment you begin to reflect upon those words the stranger raises their hand towards you with an extended palm. "You must keep your RESOLVE, Manny. 'I will always be better tomorrow, regardless of what I am today.', that is what it means to know RESOLVE." You feel yourself abruptly pushed backwards into the black fog, and as the sound of wind rushing past you fills your ears the blackness engulfs your vision.
Slowly, you open your eyes to nothing but the tinnitus in your ears and your blurry vision starting to correct itself. You're... on something soft.. a couch? As you wake up the ringing in your ears fades and you hear a muffled argument. You start to recognize the three figures in front of yourself.. It's Sans, Papyrus and... Toriel? What are they.. how did you get here? Instinctually you attempt to sit up but immediately groan and land back down on the couch with a soft thwumph. The noise causes the argument to stop and all three of them make their way over to the couch. "MANNY, YOU'RE AWAKE..!" Papyrus has a worried expression, and you can see Toriel sporting one as well. Sans seems to be staring in surprise, but has his same lazy grin. "you sure gave us a scare, buddy. you ok?" Toriel places her paw on your forehead and you wince slightly once she puts pressure on your brow. "I... how long was I out..? Wait, what happened? Where's... where is she?!" A note of anxiety can be heard in your voice and you instinctually sit up quickly, scuttling back against the arm of the couch and glancing around the room in a panic. "HUMAN, IT IS ALRIGHT. SHE IS NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT, SHE'S IN THE SHED." Your breathing slows slightly and Toriel re-places her paw on your shoulder. "Do not be afraid, my child. We stopped the battle before anything else could happen, but... what did happen? We wanted to see if we could catch up to you, but just as you came into sight, we saw a flash of light between the two of you and then you both landed quite some distance away from each other.
" Once that question is brought into light you immediately recall the horrible childhood memory. Your SOUL can be seen flashing for a brief moment in your chest which brings you into a slight sense of shock. "I-It was nothing, I'm fine I swear." You stutter through that sentence which causes both Papyrus 'and' Toriel to sport a concerned look. "HUMAN, PLEASE, I PROMISE THAT WHATEVER IT IS WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP YOU THROUGH-" Unable to control your fear you hug your knees to your chest and shout, interrupting Papyrus mid-sentence. "... I said it was NOTHING! I DON'T want to talk about it right now..!" Toriel's hand recoils and she glances to Papyrus who seems clearly taken back and slightly upset at the outburst. "Do not worry, Papyrus. Perhaps Manny just needs a moment to relax after such a stressful ordeal, do you not think so, Sans?" Sans glances over to Toriel, then to you as you attempt to calm your trembling.
"...given all that's happened, i know i'd at least be exhausted after something like that." The short skeleton offers a nod and shrug before Papyrus interjects. "SANS, YOU GET EXHAUSTED WHEN YOU GO CHECK THE MAILBOX!" You can't help but quietly stifle a single laugh, and they seem to notice. Papyrus and Toriel smile in a sense of relief before you quietly apologize. "I'm sorry for that, Paps... I just.. It's.." You fumble for words before continuing. "I don't even know what happened, and to be honest what did happen I didn't want to. I wanted to forget that." The more you explain the more they seem to be confused. "All I know is that we were fighting, a-and as Undyne was hitting me it brought back a memory from my childhood. Then my SOUL started to glow, and-" The train of thought you have is interrupted by a bony hand on your shoulder and Sans stops you mid-sentence. "relax, buddy. no one's gonna force it out of you, but..." The skeleton glances to the side before continuing after the pause. "..you're gonna have to have a SOUL-TO-SOUL with Undyne." The statement seems to bring a slight sense of shock to Toriel and Papyrus and they look to Sans with worry, but it seems that the statement has no sudden meaning to you. "A what? You mean a heart-to-heart?" As you ask that question Toriel shakes her head abruptly and goes to explain, but Papyrus starts first.
"NO, HUMAN. A SOUL-TO-SOUL IS A VERY PERSONAL THING BETWEEN TWO MONSTERS. IF A FIGHT OR FEUD BETWEEN TWO MONSTERS GETS TOO VIOLENT OR DISRUPTIVE THE MONSTERS IN QUESTION ARE SUPERVISED IN A SOUL-TO-SOUL, WHERE EACH PARTY EXPOSES THEIR MOST VULNERABLE PIECE; THEIR SOUL." Toriel nods before turning to Papyrus with a patient smile. "Thank you, Papyrus." She turns back to you before continuing the skeleton's definition further. "Once the two individuals do this, they must make amends with one another by discussing three things. Their past hardships, common interests, and finally, extending an offer of friendship." When that concept is brought up you attempt to straighten your back but wince back down in pain. "You're joking, right? She tried to fucking strangle me, and you're expecting me to be buddy-buddy with her? I don't give a shit what she went through in her life, she focused on trying to kill me rather than trying to save a CHILD." As you explain that you don't notice your voice raising in anger and Sans quickly interjects in a calm tone. "no one's doubting you, manny, but come on. remember what grillby said? The statement takes a moment but when it comes to mind your face sours with frustration.
"If monsters this far have lightened up to you, there's no telling how many more friends you can make."
You grit your teeth and give a frustrated growl before sliding your legs off the couch. Toriel and Papyrus sport a grateful smile and Sans pats your shoulder lightly. "see? i knew you'd lighten up to the idea, buddy. come on, the shed's not far, but first let's uh..." Sans glances at the now-torn clothes that he and Papyrus had lent you. "...Let us get you a change of clothes, Manny." Toriel finishes the statement with a smile and offers a paw. You take it and Papyrus additionally helps you onto your feet. "...Fine. You guys better be right about this or one of us is going to beat the shit out of the other." Papyrus sports a frustrated and concerned glare before folding his arms. "THAT IS EXACTLY WHY WE SUPERVISE THE SOUL-TO-SOUL. TO PREVENT THOSE OCCURRENCES." Toriel reassures Papyrus' statement as she guides you up the stairs to the bathroom. "It has happened more than once before, but I can promise you that this will work itself out, despite her actions." With a resigned sigh, you nod and slouch your shoulders. At this point you're too tired to argue.
I wanted to pump this one out quicker because it's more of an interval between the last chapter and something else big happening.. No spoilers, though!
-RampantMemory