"Thanks, mom," Chara smiles slightly at Toriel as they arrive at the front of the school.

"Of course, my child," Toriel smiles back. "Have a good day!"

Chara smiles and nods. They climb out of the car, throwing their backpack over their shoulder.

They watch Toriel start to drive away, then turn around and take a deep breath. They shake their head and walk inside the school. The first thing that catches their eye is the large group of kids surrounding..something.

They push past the crowd of people. They gasp when they see it.

Danny had Asriel pinned against a wall. Asriel looked absolutely terrified, and already had a bruise on his right cheek. Chara growls and shoves their way in. They immediately shove Danny away.

"What do you think you're doing?!" They snarl.

"Oh, if it isn't the demonic little pipsqueak, back again," Danny smirks. He gathers the front of their shirt in a fist and slams them against the wall.

"Chara!" Asriel gasps.

Chara growls and tries to struggle free from his grasp.

Danny's smirk only widens. "Hah...this is why you don't try to fight with the big kids."

Suddenly, someone yanks him backwards, causing him to let go of Chara.

Frisk.

"Hey!" Frisk crosses their arms. "Leave them alone!"

"What's with you freaks?" He sneers.

Chara stands up. They run and punch him in the stomach as hard as they can. He hadn't expected that. He gasps and stumbles backward.

But he reacts almost immediately. He grabs their shirt collar again and pins them to a wall. He punches them in the jaw.

Chara winces. "Asriel..! Frisk! Go!"

"I..I can't leave you!" Asriel refuses.

"It's a fight, I'm not going to war!" They shout as Danny tightens his grip. "Just go!"

Asriel hesitantly nods and takes off, taking Frisk's hand and running with them before they can refuse.

Chara takes a deep breath. Danny smirks and punches them in the chest. Chara winces and coughs.

"You really thought you could try and fight me, freak?" He laughs humorlessly. He punches them in the jaw before they can respond.

Chara glares murderously at him. "You messed with my friends. I won't let that slide."

They hesitantly reach into their back pocket. They pull out a small switchblade and flip it open. They don't even hesistate before stabbing it into his arm. He cries out and lets go of Chara. Chara yanks the blade out and falls to the floor.

He acts almost immediately, pinning them to the ground with a foot. "Hah...it'll-" He winces. "It'll take more than that to stop me.."

His arm was bleeding profusely, but he seemed more focused on Chara. He kicks them in the chin before moving his foot to their arm. He applies pressure. Chara winces.

"Ngh-" Chara grits their teeth. "You...You think this is funny? What do you have against monsters, huh?"

"They don't belong up here," Danny replies, grinding his foot on their arm, clearly trying to break bone. "And you don't even belong on this Earth.."

Chara bites the inside of their cheek to tolerate the pain. "Hah..you're one t-to talk...you humans disgust me. The world would be so much better without you.."

Danny stops trying to break their arm and lifts them up by their shirt collar, so he's eye level with them. "So it's true. You really are a demon. You hate humanity...for no real reason, huh?"

"Oh, there's a reason." Chara growls. They stab his other arm, cutting deeper than before. "Too bad you don't get to hear it."

He immediately drops them. Chara closes the blade and shoves it back in their pocket. They run off.

Chara doesn't stop running until they make it to an empty hallway. They crouch down in a corner and catch their breath.

"I'm so stupid," Chara mentally punches themselves. "Why did I think I could fight him? I would probably be an inch from death if I hadn't stabbed him.."

They shift positions. What were they supposed to do? If they went near anyone else, they'd be attacked or harassed. But they'd be found eventually if they stayed here..

They'd just have to call Toriel to take them home. Again.

They sigh. They'd wait until everyone had gone to class before going to the office.

Once Chara is certain the halls will be empty, they stand up hesitantly and start walking.

They pause when they reach the bathroom. A familiar face in a pink-striped sweater is standing in front of the mirror.

"...Frisk?"