Chapter 5: The Caretaker's House

Through the next door were three pillars. I assumed it was yet another puzzle. Prepared for whatever the Ruins might throw at me next, I began to survey the room for anything that I might need to do. The space itself was L-shaped, and there was a sign on the wall beside me. It read: The far door is not an exit. It simply marks a rotation in perspective.

I decided to move around and find out what it meant. Beside each of the pillars sat what looked like colored buttons. I wasn't sure what they would do, so I decided to leave them for the time being. Around the corner of the L-shaped room, to my surprise, the door was open. I decided to look at the next room.

This one was almost identical to the last; it was L-shaped, and had three pillars. However, I didn't see buttons. I turned the corner and noticed a sign on the wall. If you can read this, press the blue switch. I thought for a moment. There had been a blue switch in the last room. Did I need to press that one? I walked back to the first room and pressed the blue switch beside the first pillar. It didn't seem to do anything.

Confused, I walked back to the second room. Suddenly, before I passed the first pillar, a spot of blue caught my eye. I came to an abrupt halt and investigated the color. Behind the first pillar in this room, there was another blue switch. It was out of sight if I was to be on the path. "Clever," I whispered allowed. When I clicked the switch, I heard a clack, and the spikes blocking the door slid into the ground.

I was relieved to see that I had passed the area of puzzles when I walked into the next room. This was a split hallway, with one path going straight and the other jutting to the left. The left one looked different and large, so I decided to keep going forward, first. I would come back to it.

Down the hall, there was a door to the left. Through a small, empty room was another door, and the sight on the other side of it took my breath away. I was on a small balcony that overlooked a view that I never would have thought could exist in a place like the Underground. It was a city. Almost a royal-looking city, by the shape and design of the buildings. It was enormous! I was entranced by the sheer size and regality of it. Somehow, I had a feeling that this place in the distance was where I would need to go. This was sure to be one hell of a journey.

As I pulled my eyes away from the city to head back to the other room, something shiny caught my eye. I turned to get a better look at it. On the other side of the balcony, there was a small, dull knife. Why in the world would a knife just be sitting here? I knelt beside it to examine it closer. As I scooped the blade into my hands, I felt a chill run up my spine. The weapon was a toy. It was a hard, sharp plastic, but looked very metallic and had faint traces of something on the edge of it.

Curiously, the thought crossed the back of my mind that I should take this with me. I pondered it. I might need it for something in the future… Besides, I didn't know how long I was going to be down here. Who knew if I would be in a situation where I would need something to cut with…? After a long moment of hesitation, I stood up with the knife and walked back into the Ruins. When I entered the door, I took a wad of leaves from the vines on the wall and wrapped them around the sharp of the blade. I put the plastic weapon into my pocket before entering the large room from before.

Here, there was a small house, like a cottage. A dead tree stood in the area before it, surrounded by red leaves. The house itself was somehow familiar, and felt comforting, like an oasis in a desert.

Before I could think anymore about it, I was startled to see Toriel run out of the front door. She pulled out a cell phone and prepared to dial it, but before she could push more than the first button, she halted as she noticed me standing in the middle of the path.

She put a hand to her mouth in shock. "My child!" she gasped. "H-how in the world did you get here?" She ran to me in a panic, falling to her knees and examining my entire body for wounds. Her claws gently grazed over one of the burnt spots on my arm, and upon seeing me flinch, her breath caught. "Oh dear… What did they do to you…?"

I touched her sleeve. "Oh, no, it was just from misunderstandings… They didn't mean to hurt me." She continued looking me over, and I saw her face get more and more worried the more wounds she found. I felt… bad. Toriel really was worried about me… If I had never left the hallway in the first place, she wouldn't have to be upset. "I…" Toriel looked up at me, and I suddenly saw a hint of my mother deep in her shimmering, red eyes. A dagger went through my heart at the look, and I felt tears prickle my eyes. "I-I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have left the hall…"

Toriel paused, then let out a breath and smiled. "No, no… It was irresponsible for me to leave you there in the first place. I should not have been so naive." She pressed a paw to my chest, just like she had after the incident with Flowey. "Here, let me heal you."

My Soul glowed red once again, and I felt the pain from the burns begin to ebb. I sighed in relief. "Thank you," I half-whispered.

The glow faded, and Toriel took her paw away. "Of course." She stood up, and gently took my hand. "Come, it will be safer in the house." Carefully, she led me up the few stairs and into the small cottage.

Inside was… adorable, to say the least, and extremely homey. I smiled as I remembered my grandmother's house, and I noticed how much Toriel's cottage reminded me of her's. The small home had a light, hardwood floor, and the walls were a soft tan. There were stairs about halfway through the room that led down to somewhere dark. I assumed it was a basement of some sort. Most dominantly of all, a wonderful, sweet scent wafted through the entire room. "What is that…?" I asked, sniffing the air.

Toriel chuckled. "Heehee, surprise! It is butterscotch-cinnamon pie!"

My face lit up at the sound of warm food. "Wow! So that's what you asked that question for! That sounds amazing!"

She laughed. "Oh, I am glad! I thought since you were new down here, I would make a little surprise to help welcome you in. I suppose it was a bit abrupt, but I did not know you would be coming today, and I had to make it sort of last-minute."

"Well, thank you so much. It sounds amazing," I said happily.

Toriel smiled in pride. "Of course, my child." Her face lit up. "Oh, and I have something else to show you." She took my hand and began to lead me down a hall to my right. We stopped at the first door, and she let go of my hand. She opened the door and giggled. "Here we are! A room of your very own!"

I stepped through the doorway and gazed around the small bedroom. There was a bed just about my size, and a chest full of toy monsters at the foot of it. A wardrobe stood near the wall, and a lamp stood on a small shelving unit. It felt comforting… Almost familiar, somehow, like I had been here before. I smiled as I touched the plush fur of one of the toys. "Wow… Really? You'll let me stay here?"

Toriel clasped her hands in glee. "Yes, of course! It is all yours, my child." Suddenly, her nose twitched. "Oh dear, is something burning?" She stepped out of the room and smiled apologetically. "Um… Make yourself at home!" With that she ran down the hall, her large paws stamping gently on the carpet.

I stood there for a moment, glancing around the room. The first thing that caught my eye was a tiny box on a table beside a lamp. I walked over to it and curiously wound the key. The melody that began to play was slow and thoughtful. Also, like some other things here, it sounded quite familiar. It was extremely soothing.

I sat down on the bed and heaved a sigh. It felt good to be safe and healed. I stroked the sheets gently, feeling how thick and warm they were, just like the old blankets my grandma used to have. I flopped onto my back, bouncing to a stop. I moaned as I felt the pressure release from my spine and shoulders. It felt amazing to be relaxed instead of feeling the constant tension of being attacked. I let my eyes close for a moment, and instantly I felt sleep claw at me. But… with the music box playing… and the sweet smell of butterscotch and cinnamon… maybe sleep wouldn't be all too bad, right now.

I heard the melody slow to a stop as sleep's arms pulled me away into the dark.