Chapter 3

After leaving the door, I then saw I was in a forested area with a lot of evergreen trees and there being snow all over the ground. It didn't really feel too cold given how I was dressed, so I simply walked forward through the snow for a bit, noting that it looked pretty peaceful. I then saw a branch in my path and simply walked over it, noting that it didn't do a thing when I stepped on it. But as I walked further down the path, I heard a loud cracking sound! I looked behind me and gawked at what had happened. The branch on the ground had been snapped right down the middle as if it were made of paper!

"O-Okay... getting scared..." I said with a gulp, which only hurt my voice box a bit. It only hurt when I gulped air in and that was it. I then went down the path some more and couldn't help but feel like someone was following me. But when I turned around, no one was there... but there were footsteps. I shivered with anticipation as I continued forward some more, but this time, I had my guard up as I then arrived at a small bridge that had a gate on it... but the gate had very wide bars, so I could easily slip through them... but before I could do so, I heard footsteps approaching me from behind. I shivered as I looked over my shoulder to see... a skeleton with eyes as dark as sin, wearing a blue parka, shorts, and having fuzzy slippers.

"Human... please, shake my hand," the skeleton said in a very deep voice. He then held out his hand and I went to shake it... but when I did, my fear turned into bafflement and annoyance. Why? The skeleton had a whoopie cushion in his hand and when I shook it, a fart sound happened. It was one of the dumbest jokes I'd ever fallen for! "hehehe... the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick. it's always funny," the skeleton said, this time in a much softer voice as I saw his eyes gained two little white pupils in them.

"Uh... yeah... can't believe I fell for that trick..." I frowned, the skeleton looking at me in confusion.

"what's up? you shy or something?" he asked.

"No... my voice has been this way since I was four... I can only really speak clearly when I sing. But after falling for a joke like that, I'm not up to it," I smiled honestly.

"ah, got it. anyways, the name's sans. sans the skeleton," the bony boy smiled. "i'm supposed to be on the lookout for humans. but i don't feel up to tryin' to capture you. but my bro papyrus, on the other hand? he's a human hunting fanatic... oop. i think i see him coming from over in the distance," Sans said, me gawking as I turned around and saw a figure approaching us. "go through the bars and hide behind that lamp," Sans said, me nodding at that and hiding behind the lamp, seeing that it was actually wider and taller than my body, meaning I could actually be hidden from sight so long as I didn't move. I looked out from behind it and saw Sans's brother Papyrus appear. He looked the total opposite of Sans in the fact that he had a skinnier build, was taller, was dressed in battle gear, and he had a normal sized head.

"hey bro, 'sup?" Sans smiled at Papyrus.

"You know what's 'sup Sans! It's been 8 days and you still haven't Recalibrated. Your. PUZZLES! You just stand around outside your station! What are you even DOING?!" Papyrus asked in annoyance.

"staring at this lamp. it's really cool. you wanna join in?" Sans asked as I then hid behind the lamp again... but then looked back again when Papyrus did something surprising. He started to sing his own little diddy!

"~I don't have time, Sans! What if a human comes through?
I must be ready catch them before they're gone!
Then people will love and respect me
more than they do already, I will be the one!

If I can just get one human, then I will be popular
And the Great Papyrus will get all that he deserves!
Like a statue in the shape of my likeness
and they will ask to be my friend and I will accept with verve!~" Papyrus sung happily, me smiling at his unique song. I had to remember that tune. "Don't you see, brother? I will bathe in a shower of kisses every morning!"

"well, maybe this lamp could help you out?" Sans asked, my smile forming again at his stupid jokes.

"Sans! I don't have time for that, you lazybones! All you do is sit around and boondoggle! You get lazier and lazier every day!" Papyrus complained as he stomped his foot to the ground.

"hey, take it easy. i've gotten a ton of work done today. a skele-ton!" Sans smirked as I then heard a rim shot and, soon after, and I facepalmed at that.

"SANS!" Papyrus groaned.

"come on, you're smiling," Sans smirked.

"I am and I hate it! Ugh, why does someone as great as I have to do so much just to get a little recognition?" Papyrus groaned.

"wow, sounds like you're really working yourself... down to the bone!" Sans asked, me shaking my head at that. His dumb jokes were giving me diabetes.

"Ugh! I shall attend to my puzzles now. As for your work... put a little more BACKBONE into it! Nyehehehehehehehehe!... Heh!" Papyrus sneered before rushing off ahead.

"alright, it's safe to come out," Sans said, me doing so and smiling at him.

"Just so we're clear, I'm in agreement with your brother. Those jokes were diabetes... no offense," I smiled at him.

"eh, some people like 'em, some don't. you better get going before he comes back... and you'll have to hear more of 'em," Sans said.

"Good thinking," I smiled as I then tried to leave before Sans then spoke up again.

"actually... can you do me a favor?" he asked, me turning around and smiling. "see, my brother's been feeling kind of down lately. he really wants to capture a human. truth is, he's never seen one before. you think you could let him see you, and then you can play around with him and his little puzzles?" Sans asked, me smiling at that.

"Deal," I smirked at him.

"alright, thanks, i owe ya one, kid. i'll catch up with you later," Sans smiled as he then went backwards instead of forwards and I was wondering what his deal was... was he the one that destroyed that branch effortlessly? I was so confused. I quickly shook that feeling off, however, and went forward, finding something cool in the process. A strange box that looked like it had a couple items in it already, namely a pair of gloves that had a picture of biceps on them and a bandanna that was colored orange.

"I think I'll take these with me," I smiled as I then placed them on my body and smiled. I probably looked stupid, but I didn't care. I then went forward and saw Sans talking to Papyrus, me being surprised at how Sans got to this location when he obviously went in the wrong direction prior.

"So, anyways, as I was speaking with Undyne, I-" Papyrus was about to say before I simply threw a snowball at his face, Papyrus gasping as he looked at me and he then looked stupefied.

"A-Are you... is that... a human?" Papyrus asked when he saw me. I then did the same tune that he did just a few moments ago.

"~Hello there, bone boy! I am a human
My name is Mute and I'm walking through the snow.
I heard that you were very very cool
And that you love making puzzles, but I gotta tell you:

You won't so easily capture this human
Because I am very smart and I really like to think!
So you had better bring your best to stop me
From going through the snow on the way to see the king!~" I sung happily, Papyrus smiling at my song.

"You overheard me singing my song, didn't you, human?" Papyrus asked, me nodding at that with an inaudible giggle. "Very well, Mute the Human! Your trek through the Underground ends here! I, the Great Papyrus, will capture you! And when I do, I will finally be... POPULAR! POPULAR! POPULAARR! ! !" Papyrus exclaimed in joy, which made me smile at him. "Ahem. But as I'm sure you heard, I have laid out numerous puzzles and traps all the way to Snowdin. Once you are captured, I shall deliver you to the capital! And then... I'm not sure what happens next... in any case! Enter, but only if you dare! Nyeheheheheheh! HEHEHEH!" Papyrus laughed happily as he then went off ahead, Sans looking at me with a smile on his face.

"thanks, kid. name's mute, huh? some singing talent ya got there... so how come you can sing like that, but you talk all quiet like?" Sans asked.

"Eh... something that happened when I was younger... a fire hurt my voice box. Now I can't talk good at all unless I'm singing," I smiled.

"i got ya. and don't worry about him catching you, kid. he's too nice to hurt ya," Sans smiled at me as he then went off ahead and I looked around me a bit. I moved forward some more soon after and saw that there was a small fort nearby made out of a cardboard box. And it was made by Papyrus. And when I went forward some more, I came across another shack... but before I could move past, I got a ring on my phone from a number I didn't recognize. I answered it with a small smile

"Hello?" I asked with a whisper.

"Huh?... I-Is this... um... t-the pizza place?..." asked a voice on the other end, this one sounding like it was slightly nasally and feminine at the same time.

"Uh... sorry, no... I'm not a pizza worker..." I said with whispers, the girl on the other end seeming to be calmed a bit by my voice.

"S-So... um... why are you whispering? N-Not that I'm complaining... it's just nice to hear a very soft voice..." the voice said on the other end.

"My voice box got damaged by a fire when I was 4. Now the only way I can use my voice for anything other than a whisper... is by singing," I smiled.

"S-So... um... oh god... help... uh... I... I'm Alphys... what's your name?" she asked, me noting she was very timid all of a sudden.

"Mute... my name's Mute," I smiled. But then, when I said that, I could hear the girl on the other end start to panic.

"Oh god... oh come on, where's the off button! I n-need to-" she said before she hung up, me being completely confused at that.

"Huh... maybe it'd be wise not to call her back..." I frowned as I then moved forward some more and, once in front of the small shack, I stopped and looked inside to see... a very shifty-looking dog person wearing a pink shirt and having very tiny eyes.

"Huh? Did somethin' move? I can't see nothin' if it doesn't move," the dog said, me being a bit worried and standing completely motionless... though my breathing made the dog notice me. "Aha! Don't stop moving, girl!" the dog said as he then tried to send a magic attack at me... but I simply stood still and saw that, when I did so, the attack went right through me! Also, it was colored blue. I then approached the dog and pet him behind the ear, the dog gasping at that as he started to bark and yip.

"What?! Pet?! Pat?! Who petted me?!" the dog asked in shock as I then simply stood still and he looked confused. "I... I got pet by something I couldn't see! I... I need some dog treats after this... roogh..." he groaned as he then slid back into his shack and I could hear lighter sounds. I simply moved on my way, hoping to come across Papyrus again. I found him much funnier and more charming than Sans.