Chapter 2
(The Ruins)
A little light flickers from some corner of a room, a picture of a child illuminating the screen. They beam at the recipient, their pudgy hands waving for attention.
'Ah! Welcome my child. How have you been?'
...
'Impressive. You have grown up so much.'
...
...
'Hm? Will we be coming to visit? I am...afraid not this time.'
...
'Hm? You will be visiting us soon?'
...
'...How fitting...I wonder how your father is doing...Please...if you see him...give him my regard. It has been...too long...'
...
...
'Yes I do believe your mother would be glad to see him once more.'
...
'In time...perhaps...'
...
'Yes... I miss you too...but you must w.a.k.e u.p.'
A gasp escapes my lips upon awakening, my hands pushing roughly against the mattress to sit up. Under my skin I feel my nerves frantically buzzing like an angry beehive. 'It was…just a dream…' The beating of my heart fills the silence of the room, its sound deafening. I close my eyes, allowing a nervous sigh to escape my lips. Tenderly I push a few stray locks behind my ear, wincing as they peel off my face.
"Just a dream…hah…" A nervous giggle escapes, escalating in volume to the point of insanity. As quickly as they come, they stop, allowing silence to once more takeover.
'Why can't I…' I open my eyes slowly, waiting for the darkness to swallow me whole. 'This is ridiculous…You are over reacting as per usual. Good going self.' I roll my eyes, grasping blindly into the dark for the light switch. The brightness blinds me for a moment, the warm glow decreasing in brightness in time. A soft rapping emits from the front of the room.
"My child dinner is ready if you are feeling up for it. There are some clothes in the drawers as well should you wish to change." Toriel's footsteps tap against the floor in her departure, leaving the room silent once more.
'She is a sweet woman…' I sigh, tossing the covers off. The floor creaks under my steps, groaning in protest. I head over to the dresser drawer, pulling it open. A frown creases my face at the choices presented before me. Most if not all of the shirts have some sort of striping across it whether it be one or two stripes. The pants were no better, their size meant for a ten year old than a grown woman. With a slight grumble, I close the drawer albeit a little rougher than needed.
'Don't know why I bothered to look anyway. This is a child's room after all…'
"C.h.e.c.k t.h.e c.l.o.s.e.t." A voice whispers into my ear, the chill of their breath causing a shiver up my spine. I whip my head around, eying the room frantically. A chill settles upon the air, the dark shadows of the room appearing to grow. The hairs on the back of my neck stand erect.
"What the…" The sound of doors slamming open, their hinges shrieking in pain. I spin around, my eyes widening as the closet next to the bed is wide open. Various clothing and trinkets fall gracelessly to the floor, leaving only the clothing on the hangers exposed. Hesitantly I step towards it, my hand shakily grabbing onto one of the swinging doors. One outfit in particular stands out among the items surrounding it. My other hand reaches out to grasp it, taking care not to rip it off the hanger.
Two thin pumpkin colored straps jet out from the middle of the sapphire colored sweater, taking place of the missing shoulders. The arms extend down half the length of the top, the material appearing tighter compared to the rest. A pair of dark denim jeans hang on the bottom of the clothing hook beneath the top. Everything appears to be relatively new, as though someone was expecting me. Blood rushes out of my face as I examine the tags.
'Yup…These are my sizes…' Another chill races through my body leaving an icy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Quickly I head to the other side of the room, turning on every light this room possess. When not a speck of darkness could be seen, I carefully toss my boots off before stripping. The clothing pieces whisper their last goodbye as I pull them off, their material worn with memories. The tatters of my old clothing fall unceremoniously to the floor into one sad looking heap. There is a clatter from my pants as the forgotten phones make their presence known. I fish under the pile, pulling both up to the surface. After checking them for damage, I place them on the nightstand.
'At least my under garments survived this whole ordeal.' I shake my head, feeling thankful for the black lace clinging desperately close to my skin. A smile makes its way onto my face as little panda faces quirk their heads up from the floor. 'And my socks.' Quickly I slip into the new clothing, feeling the lush fabric settle comfortably like a second skin. I place the hanger neatly back in its position.
"Now if only there was a…" Something clatters to the floor from the closet, sliding across the floor until it hits my feet.
"..A hairbrush…" I pick up the newly acquired hairbrush, glancing at the closet. A quiet hum of approval vibrates in the back of my throat. "Thank you I guess?" A chuckle thrums through the air, the familiar chill returning for a brief second. Something else clatters out, the sound lighter than the previous item. Squatting down, I open a hand to allow the item to slide right in. A faint glow illuminates the little hair clips within my hand with a white light. It vanishes just as quickly, the warmth of the house dispelling the cold.
"Hair clips? Really?" I shake my head. "I haven't worn these since…" A fragment of a memory hangs on the cusp of my mind, just out of reach.
"Since…" The memory fades to the background, other useless information replacing the image. I frown, my mind straining against the information to reach for it once more. A wave of dizziness hits suddenly, throwing my balance off as the world spins on its side. In the distance, I hear the sound of doors closing. I shake my head, washing the dizziness away with the memory.
"What was that all about?" I frown, glancing at the little clips in my hand as I stand. A little white heart sits on the edge, small little fractures running through it. The clip itself is a stark contrast against the heart. Various shades of orange and yellow stripe vertically down the band, running under the heart as well. The other clip held no image on the end, only the similar striping as the first one. I take a glance in the direction of the closet noting that everything appears to be in order. Not a speck out of place.
'It is as though nothing mysteriously weird just happened.' I ignore the feeling in my gut as I brush the tangled mess, cursing softly when it would lodge itself into the knot. After a good couple of minutes, the strands cooperate. They hang straight, curling slightly at the bottoms. My bang hangs awkwardly off to the side, held off by the possessed hair clips. Without a mirror, I could only assume I looked at least half decent.
"Toriel?" I poke my head out of the room, the halls wafting a beautiful fragrance through it.
"In the kitchen!" I hear her shout, a note of relief in her voice. I walk through the hallway, passing the stairs descending into the basement. A homey living room greets me with various smells from baked goods to whatever Toriel is cooking for dinner. A fire flickers in the fireplace, filling the room with peace as it crackles. A giant comfy looking recliner resides close to it, a book resting on the seat. A fairly large dining table resides toward the back of the room with three chairs flanking the sides.
'Odd. I wonder why she has an odd number of chairs at a table capable of double that?' My fingertips trail against objects as I pass, imprinting their touch to memory.
"Oh there you are my child! I do hope you are hungry I made plenty to go around!" Toriel's warm voice snaps me out of my trance, my fingers curling around a book on the bookshelf.
"I am looking forward to your cooking Toriel." I smile, pulling the book out of the shelf. "I was just getting ready to read…" I glance at the title, my eyebrows crinkling at the title.
"The do's and don'ts of…snail raising…" Toriel giggles, hiding her smile behind her paw.
"Yes that shell be a good read. It can be a bit sluggish in the beginning." Her giggles escalate to breathy laughter, the smile stretching far beyond her hand's boundaries. I roll my eyes, placing the book back on the shelf.
"So what is for dinner?" I ask, derailing the conversation away from the snail puns. She lets a few more bits of laughter out before answering.
"We shall be having lasagna for dinner. And for dessert…Butterscotch cinnamon pie! I wanted to surprise you!" A blush dusts my cheeks, shyness settling in at the kind gesture.
"T…thank you Toriel. You…you didn't have to do that…" Her footsteps pad quietly across the floor until she stands before me. She drops to a knee, glancing into my eyes with a kind look. It reminds me of a mother praising or comforting her child with a tender smile and a patient gaze.
"It was no trouble at all my dear Nix. I wish for you to be happy living down here. It is the least I can do." Guilt swims in my stomach, my soul beating painfully. I keep a shy smile on my face, stomping down the feelings.
"Thank you…mom..." Her amethyst eyes glisten, her smile widening. White fur encases my vision in an instant, the vibrations of her voice echo through my core.
"Thank you Nix…my child. For giving me this blessing." I wrap my arms around her, nuzzling into her shoulder. Tears threaten to leave my eyes, building to the point of breaking. I close my eyes, allowing them to escape this one time. My mind takes a moment to absorb this moment: the lushness of her fur beneath my fingertips, the warmth radiating hotter than the sun could produce, the smell of cinnamon in her home, and the way her entire being felt finally at peace.
We break apart after a moment, wiping the tears away with little giggles. Carefully her fingers grasp mind as she stands, leading me over to the table. 'Give her this memory…'
"Tada! I do hope you enjoy my cooking!" Toriel carefully sets the glass tray down in the center of the table. Carefully she uses a spatula to break apart the cheesy noodles, cutting a large portion onto a white ceramic plate. She walks over, a wide grin on her face as she places the large helping in front of me. A loud rumble escapes my stomach, only spreading her grin further. She returns to the food, grabbing herself a healthy portion before sitting at the other end of the table. I pick up my fork, cutting through the piece like butter. Steam emits a meaty aroma, the cheese oozes perfectly over the noodle, the whole thing feels perfect. I take a bite, moaning as the flavors assault my tongue. The tomato sauce is vibrant and fresh, bits of basil elevating the bright flavor of the tomato. The beef is cooked perfectly, not even a hint dry. It is seasoned with Italian seasonings and a pinch of salt and pepper. The noodles are al dente, giving a bit of texture against the softness of the dish.
"This is really good mom. Better than most I have had on the surface." A pink blush coats her cheeks, her fingers twiddling with the fork on her plate.
"Come now child although it may be good it cannot be that good." I roll my eyes, stuffing another bite into my mouth.
"Believe me when I say it is good. I have been around for a while."
Throughout dinner, we chat about little things. Hopes, dreams, Toriel's gardening passion, my studies, and everything in between. Once the main course finishes, Toriel brings out what she calls her famous cinnamon butterscotch pie. After one bite, I can understand the meaning of having a foodgasm.
We clean the dishes together, giggling at some bad puns as we go through the routine. Toriel stifles a yawn behind her paw, little bits of darkness hanging under her eyes. I guide her to her room, lacing my fingers through hers.
"Goodnight mom," I whisper, hugging her midsection with as much strength as I could muster. Tears threatened to fall again, but I tamper them back. I feel her paw brush the top of my head.
"Goodnight my child." I release my hold on her, watching as she silently enters her room. She gives one last smile, closing the door behind her. The hallway is silent, the crackling of the fire put out prior to. The smile slips off my face, the guilt gnawing away at my conscious.
'It is for the best…' I continue to tell myself as I head back to the child's room. Tears drip to the floor in a futile attempt to console the house. I glance at the tatters on the floor, picking them up to move to the bed. Without much thought I begin to fold them, making a small pile.
'It is…for…the best…' I gingerly pick up Toriel's borrowed phone, staring at it for a good while. My thumb flips the top open, illuminating my face with the light. My fingers hover over the text key, succumbing to the urge to write one last thing. Once the message feels satisfactory, I flick the phone closed, leaving it on top of the pile. I take one last glance at the room.
"Goodbye," I whisper, shutting the door behind me. There is a beat of time I wait, listening for any sign of movement. Silence greets me, whispering, begging for me to remain with the goat woman.
'I cannot…she will only be burdened with my staying here. I have to get…home.' I wince, quickly shaking my head. As quietly as I possibly can, I make my way to the staircase. The steps creak with every step, the sound deafening. I wait after every step, listening in fear of being caught. When a few seconds pass without discovery, I continue onward, descending into the dimly lit basement.
The walls and floor are, to no one's surprise, purple bricks with purple cement flooring. Little lights hang dimly on the ceiling, only emitting enough light for the pathway. My boots echo the long hallway, the high frequency hum of the lights screaming in my ears. The hall ends abruptly to an oddly egg shaped room with a set of purple double doors.
"This is it…" I whisper, a cold sweat breaking out on my skin. I wipe my hands against my pants, frowning when the feeling ceases. My legs shake nervously beneath me, taking tentative steps toward the doors. Upon close inspection, the door contains an image toward the top. A black egg shaped being centers itself between the two doors, a wing on each door. They feather out gracefully, stretching out as though to block those from proceeding. Three black triangles reside further under the image, sticking out to act as the door handles. My fingers brush against the cool metal, a sad smile on my face.
'She will be devastated when she learns…but…' Tears bubble up to the surface; my hands grasp the door handles. With a shove, they nudge under the pressure, opening up to the hallway. I run, using the momentum of my fear to press my legs further down the hall. Away from Toriel and away from the Ruins.
'I hope she will forgive me.'
The hallway is a blur of purples, meshing together as tears cloud my vision. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of the doors close, their creaks crying out. I push forward, shoving open what appears to be a dark purple blob. The doors creak open, throwing me out into the area. I keep running, the sounds around me fading. The wind whips by my face, shoving against my exposed skin.
'I have to…' My steps begin to falter, the cold begins to settle in. 'Keep…going…' My breath comes out in pants, the air visible to the eye. A world of white surrounds my vision, the flecks of snow falling catching my eyes. Without warning, my legs collapse, sending my body to the snow covered floor.
"Fuck…!" I cry, burying my face into my hands. Sobs rake my body, my mind screaming at the idiocy of running from a warm home. The cold lends a hand, wrapping around my body in its embrace. The wind howls out along in pain, screaming for an unknown reason. It leaves kisses on my exposed face, drying the tears that fall. Flakes of snow attempt to distract, to entertain with their little dances down from the sky.
'You barely know her stupid! Why...'? I sniff, wiping the snot with the back of my arm. 'Why are you so attached to this goat woman? She is a stranger…' With shaky legs I attempt to stand, collapsing back into the snow.
'A stranger…heh. Funny…I feel like…I know her from somewhere…'
"Like a distant memory…" My gaze turns toward the dark sky, watching blurs of images scramble through the clouds.
'Come on Nix! _has been asking to see you!'
I gasp, desperately clawing at the memory to give more information. It fades to the back, the fragments floating in a non-existing space.
"Damnit!" I growl, willing my legs to stand. They shake under pressure, the cold slipping in through the fabric. Shivers race over my body, the threat of hypothermia settling in.
"I need to find a place to stay, lest I wish to catch my death." I mumble, shivering as a particularly strong wind runs through. A little wooden sign sits among the snow, the top of it collecting the freshly fallen snow along with the older stuff. Snowdin is scrawled into it followed by a small arrow drawn underneath. There is no mileage or estimated walk time, just the name and an arrow. I begin the trudge through the snow, humming a tune under my breath. It helps distract slightly against the cold, but not enough to keep the limbs warm. Massive piles of trees line almost every direction, leaving only one path available to walk.
"What the…" A semi large wooden structure looms over a short bridge, the bars far too wide to stop anyone. A small, paper note shifts in the wind, holding onto the structure for dear life by a nail. As I walk through the structure, I glance at it, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
"DEAR NEW HUMAN!
I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, IS CURRENTY DEALING WITH ANOTHER HUMAN THREAT AT THE MOMENT! PLEASE WAIT HERE SO THAT I MAY COME DEAL WITH YOU LATER! REWARD FOR LISTENING TO THIS SIGN IS A PLATE OF MY FAMOUS SPAGHETTI! NYHAHA!"
The bottom is signed 'The Great Papyrus' in a chicken scratch-like writing. 'The great Papyrus?' I pass through the gate, shaking my head. 'Guy sounds either really full of himself or very stupid.'
The journey is uneventful at this time of night. The snow continues to fall, slowing down as the night presses onward. The wind quiets down, whistling a tune through the trees. The trees thankfully thin out, allowing the night sky to present its clouded self. Despite the darkness of the snow clouds, flecks of moonlight poke out every once in a while.
"Gwah!" I screech, tripping over something hard. Snow fluffs around my vision, the impact hard against my anterior. Something clicks underneath, setting off something in the distance. I huff, gripping at the snow. Flecks stick into the loose strands, clumping the hair together. I push myself off the floor, the snow melting through my clothes. Buried by the new pile of the snow, a stone button squishes into the earth by my boot. I glance up, noticing the pattern within the snow. Red circles line the snow around various rocks, vaguely making a poorly shaped face. I walk around it, noticing a similar metal plate void of any spikes. I do not think much of it, pressing forward.
A few feet ahead, to my surprise, is a plate of spaghetti next to a microwave with no plug. As I pass by, the microwave only has the word 'pasta' written over all of the buttons. 'Must be the same guy that wrote the note from earlier.' I shake my head again, a chuckle escaping my lips. 'Quite…an odd one…'
The journey contains a few puzzles that are complete, the little red circles illuminating from the ground. At some point, I pass what appears to be a little wooden shack in the middle of nowhere. 'Oh! Someone might be in there to point me in the direction of Snowdin!' I quicken my pace, rushing over to the building with a new hope. A frown forms on my face as yet another note is tacked onto the outside.
'If you are human, I apologize. I cannot normally see unless something moves. Due to the darkness, I have gone home.
-Doggo'
I toss the note back into the hut, trudging forward. 'Should have known it was too good to be true.' I trudge on, mumbling curses at my poor time planning.
The sun begins to peak over the horizon, illuminating the snow with a blinding brightness. My eyes squint against it, keeping to the floor as I walk. Yawns continue to escape my lips, my body feeling sluggish as the night's antics wear on.
'Almost…there…' The world begins to fuzz at the edges, my eyes wishing to slip close. 'Gotta…stay…awake…'
I collapse onto the ground, everything refusing to function a moment longer. I smile, succumbing slowly to the inevitable. A few letters blur into darkness as my eyes shut.
'Welcome to Snowdin.'
Sorry everyone for the slowness of the chapter. I had a hard time writing anything about it since it is a filler/ moving point. Hopefully you find some amusement/questions out of it. Thanks again for reading and have a good night (morning!)
