Behold! The moment you've all been waiting for: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
Or is this the moment you've been waiting for? Mayhaps by reading it you will find that you've changed your mind...
Almost sorry,
mariahills-capsicle
PS. We've started up a blog on tumblr! We'll be making our first post tomorrow. Come check it out at fractured-tale . tumblr . com
Augh- I think that fixes the link thing.
It was Saturday- six days after the kittens had gone to new homes. Frankie was playing in the living room with Mr. Rails and Sir Barkley. Sans was watching the News.
"People have, of course, become concerned about the movement known as Red X. The reason being their actions have come to not only affect the lives of monsters, but those of humans as well. Even former Anti-Monster groups have changed their opinions in order to fight for peace." Sans groaned inwardly. This was terrible. These Red X people, they really hated monsters that much? Hurting humans just to get to monsters? It was disgusting. Well, what was he to expect when the whole thing was disgusting to begin with?
A policeman appeared on screen. "We're all quite concerned about Red X, though they weren't very high on our list of concerns before. This group has become more of a cult than protesters. Our department has dealt with arson, theft, destruction of property, bullying and attempted murder all connected to that symbol- the red x. And I'm not just talking about against monsters. These people are insane. They will not hesitate to hurt 'one of their own' if it means that in the long run they'll be hurting a monster. Their actions have gone from protesting monster rights, to protesting monster existence. It's immoral, and unlawful. We will no longer tolerate these people's destructive actions." Sans flicked off the TV. Good. At least that's one anti-monster group taken care of… hopefully. He knew Red X had threatened Riley. It hurt him to think about it. If they touched her, or anyone else in his family… No. They wouldn't. Nothing was going to happen. Red X wasn't going to touch them, Sans would make sure of it.
"Heya, kiddo." He smiled at Frankie. "What do you want to do today?"
"Oh… I dunno." Frankie sighed. Sans frowned. Hmm…
"I know! How'd you like to go visit Luis?"
"Oh! Yeah! That'd be fun." Frankie grinned enthusiastically.
"Okay, I'll call and see if it's alright." Sans said. He watched the little boy, playing more excitedly with his toys. Papyrus… He remembered his little brother, sitting in the living room of their home. Their father was away, working. Sans had to watch Papyrus. "Look, Sans! I made a block tower!" "Wow!" Now, Papyrus had grown tall… Sans had never imagined he'd be doing that same thing again, watching his- mine? Where did that come from?- little skele-child playing with toys in his living room.
I wonder how tall Frankie will be when he's all grown up? He thought with a little chuckle, as he goes to grab his phone.
"And I'm gonna tell him all about Justice and her kittens, and how Undyne and Alphys, and Papyrus, and Frisk all have kittens now! Four kittens, Sans!"
"Yup. That sounds like a plan, kiddo." Sans chuckled. They were walking through downtown towards Luis' house. Frankie was skipping happily, sometimes trotting ahead of Sans, sometimes pausing and falling behind. "And I'm gonna tell him about school, and how Frisk is my bestest friend in the whole world- besides you, Sans! You're my bestest friend and then Frisk. And I'll tell him about Ella, and Wren, and how they're my friends too! And! I'm gonna tell him about how Sir Barkley's has become good friends with, Mr. Rails."
"Rails is definitely a good name for it." Sans nodded.
"Sans, Rails is a Mr. not an it." Frankie corrected, as he skipped backwards, facing the older skeleton.
"I'm sure Grandpops would really like to hear all about that." Sans said. "Maybe we should stop and get him a little present."
"Yeah! What should we get him?" Frankie turned to walk with Sans, taking his hand in his own.
"Well…" They were passing by a few shops, and so Frankie tried to find inspiration from the window displays. What does Grandpops like? He makes great toys. Maybe… They were passing by the big antique store now, and looking in the window Frankie saw the most perfect gift. Grandpops loves roses! In the display window sat a vase with a beautiful decorative wooden rose. It was sanded and shone beautifully. He hurried to the window, and pressed his hand against it.
"That one, Sans."
"The Rose?" Sans frowned.
"Yeah!"
"Alright." Sans shrugged. "I'll run in and get it. Why don't you wait right here? I'll only be a second."
"Okay!" Frankie was happy to sit on the bench outside of the antique shop, swinging his legs, and watching people walk by. Sans had just hurried into the store when Frankie saw a particular group of people who caught his attention. They were heading across the street towards him. All adults, mostly males but some females, probably about five or six of them. They all wore hoodies, hiding their faces. Some wore masks. People avoided them on purpose, as if they knew who they were and were frightened by them. That was when Frankie noticed the baseball bat one held, and how they seemed… to be staring right at him…
He stood slowly, a little frightened. Who were these people? Why were they coming this way? It's just… But he had no explanation. His mind was screaming, Run! Run! And it was only a matter of seconds before his legs obeyed. He ran, heading down the street, away from the antique shop, away from Sans. The group of humans ran after him, and their longer legs were bringing them closer and closer. Frankie gasped for air, and choked on tears. Why are they after me?! But he didn't dare stop or turn around. He had to keep running, but it wouldn't be long before they caught up to him. There was only one other option. I have to lose them.
Up ahead there was a turn, a backstreet probably. He'd be able to shake them by making a few turns in there, and at least make it back to Sans. Sans would be able to help. So, he sped around the corner with high hopes, and in an instant they were shattered. He came face to face with a wall. It was a dead end, there was no escape. Idiot! Idiot! He screamed at himself. He should have gone into the shop. I should have stayed with Sans!
He heard his pursuers approaching slowly behind him. So he wiped away his tears, stood tall, and turned to face them.
"We've finally found you, you little freak." Said the one with the baseball bat.
"What do you want with me?" Frankie whispered.
"You're one of them. You don't belong up here, and you certainly don't belong in any position that allows you to stand up to one of us!" Hissed another. "You're nothing but trash! This is our home! This is our land!"
"You're all unjust for doing these terrible things!" Frankie replied. "It is our right to have a say! We're just like humans! We feel just like you. Why do you want to hurt me?"
"You broke my son's jaw! You're a freak! You're dangerous!"
"I- You're… you're Brendan's dad… I'm sorry, I didn't want to hurt Brendan, but… he was hitting me and my friend and calling us names. I had to stand up for myself, and everyone else he hurt. It was wrong… it wasn't…"
"Enough talk! Are we going to kill the freak or what?!" Someone shouts. Frankie's eyes widen. Should have stayed with Sans. His hands ball into fists and a yellow glow surrounds them.
"Stand back! You don't… you don't know what you're dealing with!"
Brendan's dad took another step forward, raising the bat high in the air. "You deserve what's coming to you kid." He hissed and then he swung with all his might. Frankie raised his arms up to protect his skull. There was a sharp CRACK! Excruciating pain shot up Frankie's arm and he screamed in agony. The rest of the humans converged on him, kicking him, beating him. None of the pain was enough to overcome that from the first blow. Tears streamed down Frankie's cheekbones, and his pleading fell on deaf ears. He cradled his arm, and fell to his knees, trying best to protect his skull at the same time. His vision was blurred from the tears. He couldn't see, but he felt…. oh, he felt…
Then, like some sort of brilliant ray of hope, someone- a familiar figure- appeared at the end of the alley. Frankie had just enough strength left to cry out one more time.
"Frankie?!" Sans called out.
"DAD!"
When Sans exited the antique shop with the wooden rose safely wrapped in tissue in a little bag, he looked around expectantly for Frankie. Upon finding that the little boy was nowhere in sight, he panicked.
"Frankie?! Frankie!" He half expected the skele-child to leap out from behind some corner. "Look what I found Sans!" But there was no response. "Miss!" Sans spoke to a woman passing by. "Please, help me, I'm looking for my…" She passed by without a second glance. Oh god. Where is he?! "Sir! Please! I'm looking for my s-"
"Get out of my way." The man said gruffly, pushing him aside. Oh god.
"Frankie! Frankie!" He ran down the street, looking down alley ways as he called out Franklin's name. "Frankie?!"
"DAD!"
Frankie. Down the alley way before Sans, the small skeleton was huddled on the ground, above him stood about five or six dark figures, their black jackets emblazoned with a red x. Everything around Sans stopped. Red X… Sans' fear and worry quickly turned into rage.
All of their backs were turned. Sans' eyes go black as he raises a palm over to them, turning their souls blue. The leader lets out a cry of alarm as they're all dragged to the ground, gravity increasing on them. After they gather what was happening, they manage to stand against the downward pull, turning to face Sans.
"Heya, Fellas. What's the matter? Y'look a little down." Sans sneers, the lack of pupils in his eyes seem to unnerve the group of miserable creatures in front of him. The leader staggers forward, a metal bat in his hand.
"So- you're that little scum's dad?" He called me dad… Sans nods.
"That's right. And you'd better step away from him or-"
"Or what?!" The man crows, raising his bat.
"Or you're gonna have a bad time."
With that, the man swings at Sans. The skeleton teleports out of the way, just before the bat strikes. The leader seems confused. And he's about to be even more confused. Sans raises his hand, the man flies up, and he slams his hand back down. A dull thud. A cry of pain.
All of the other humans were staring at what just happened, wide-eyed. The man growls, standing again, wiping blood away from the cut that had formed just above his eyebrow.
"You pieces of scum have no right to be here! There's a reason we trapped you underground in the first place- you freaks!" The man hissed through clenched teeth, charging at Sans again. This is amusing. Sans teleports again, this time, he counters with a bone attack. The bones charge at the man, hitting him dead-on. At this point, everyone else is scrambling to get away.
"You COWARDS!" The leader screams after them, "GET BACK HERE-" Sans stands above the man, smiling down at him, his left eye flashing. The man doesn't seem angry anymore, in fact, he looks rather afraid.
"Red X will kill you. We'll kill your son. We'll kill your human friend, too." The man growls. Sans slams his hand down, the man falls.
"If you so much as touch my family or friends, I'll kill you." The human hisses as gravity increases further, taking his breath away, "Understand, buddy?" The man doesn't respond. Sans countered by pressing the human down further. There was a sharp crack. The man screamed.
"Yes! Yes. I u-understand!" Pleased, Sans lets the man go, he limps away, cursing out loud. Sans' rage melts away and turns immediately into blinding fear. Frankie! Sans runs over to the kid, who lay on the ground, holding his arm tightly against his chest.
"Frankie!" Sans crouches down, pulling Frankie into his arms. He's not moving… "Frankie! Frankie, c'mon buddy. C'mon buddy- wake up!" Sans shakes him gently. No response.
"Frankie. Frankie, C'mon…" The little skeleton lies limp in his arms, Sans clutches the kid tighter, tears welling in his eye sockets.
Frankie… Please wake up…
REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
Mr. Indigo: It makes me so happy that Sans is going to give someone a bad time! I'm so excited! *Does a little jig*
ARE YOU STILL HAPPY? Sorry... just... *sob*. But, YES! Give those jerks a bad time, Sans!
KittenRainbow: Normally, I've been a silent reader who has enjoyed this story very much, but one aspect of chapter seventeen really threw me off to the point where I felt obligated to review. :D
And now, here it is:
ALL THE KITTENS HAVE FOOD NAMES WHAT IS THIS
SPAGHETTI
MEATBALLS
SUSHI
TOAST
WHAT
...
That is all. Thank you for reading, and I very much hope to see another chapter soon! Loving this story so far! :D
Hehe... yeah, that was totally random. All the names kind of came at separate times after we decided Justice would have kittens and the kittens would go to each 'family'. Spaghetti and Meatballs were obvious for Papyrus. Then Sushi for Alphys and Undyne because it's Japanese I guess, and the cat looks like sushi. And then Toast because... actually I have no idea where the hell toast came from. It's been a while since we decided on it. I guess it was just kind of funny to think of Frisk just randomly naming their cat Toast.
Thanks so much for the review! We're so glad you like the story!
anthonyabc268: KITTENS LITTLE KITTENS YAY I love the food names quite clever
Thanks! It was actually really random and totally unintentional, but when we realized we did it we thought it was pretty hilarious.
HourglassMadness: I'm so excited for chapter 18! You've been building it up so much, I can hardly wait! Thank you guys so much for writing this!
You still want to thank us? This chapter was pretty intense. I'm *almost* sorry. But anyways! Thanks so much for reviewing and reading! It's so great to hear from you. What did ya think of chapter 18?
Guest: Heh. I think it's hilarious that every cat got named after food. Frankies friends know whats important.
Hell yes. Food: A+
GenuineGreenTea: I also forgot to mention how I loved the cat justice foreshadowing Frankie's powers in ch 16.
Now that, I can say was intentional! Thanks! That's so awesome you mentioned that! :D
I guest as much: Another awesome update! It's a shame that the small cats are going away, but we'll be able to see them again, and the bit of everyone naming them after food made it a bit easier to digest(the mewment where Papyrus name his cats was the best). I can't wait to check out the blog, when you guys set it up, just don't forget to post a link(or the URL).
Aw yes! Papyrus and his small cats *are* the best! Yeah! Be sure to check it out tomorrow when we do our first post. Thanks for the great review!
So uh... you all are probably really itching to see what happens next. Fear not, as per usual: Chapter Nineteen coming up in three days! Thanks for all the great reviews! We love hearing from you all! See you next time!