Chapter 33: The Box Hater
Early one morning, there was a knock on the door of the lab. Papyrus answered it. He saw Gabby, Pearl, Chica, Blah, Stanley and Tommy.
"We heard what happened," Gabby said. "How're you holding up?"
"I'M ALRIGHT. MY BROTHER ON THE OTHER HAND..."
"I knew it," Pearl said.
"I'D OFFER YOU FOOD BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COOK VERY GOOD."
"UNBELIEVABLE! Have you been starving, dear?"
Sweat beaded down Papyrus' skull.
"NO, SANS HAS JUST BEEN VERY BUSY."
"Why can't your father feed you? Why does Sans have to do it?" Pearl asked.
"DAD TOLD HIM TO."
"Just like that?!" Gabby asked.
Before anyone could stop her, Pearl headed inside and headed upstairs. She knocked on Sans' bedroom door.
"Who is it?'
"It's Pearl."
"I'm very busy at the moment."
"Oh really? Is that why you're in your room by yourself? It has nothing to do with the fact that your mother died?"
Sans was silent.
"You don't have to talk about it but at least come out. Everyone's come to visit you and if you don't come out I'll open this door and drag you out myself," Pearl said.
With that Sans opened the door. His eyesockets looked sunken.
"Everyone is downstairs."
With that Sans followed Pearl until they reached the living room.
Everyone was already seated. Gabby and Blah were seated on the couch while Stanley, Tommy and Chica were seated on the floor.
"Hey!"
"See he's fine," Stanley said.
"You're alright. Good," Chica said.
"You were worried? Hate to break it to you, kid but I'm not gonna be a mummy like my mommy."
Stanley and Blah groaned.
"That isn't funny, y'know," Gabby said. "You don't need to act so tough. We're supposed to be your friends. How are we supposed to help you if you don't confide in us?"
"See if we ever visit you again then," Stanley said.
Sans' face looked away as he turned blue.
"Er...sorry."
Pearl sighed.
"Chill out, if he doesn't wanna talk then he doesn't want to talk. Pressuring him isn't gonna solve anything."
"Thanks, I really do appreciate it."
Just then Aster came out from the lab.
He scowled at Sans but it quickly evolved into a forced smile.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Just offering support," Gabby said. "We heard what happened to your wife."
"That isn't necessary. I've already got over it. Besides there are bigger things to worry about."
"I see. I thought you might have wanted some time off," Gabby said.
"Of course not. Preparations need to be made."
"Oh, of course," she said.
"What about Sans?" Blah asked.
"What about him? He's busy," Aster said.
"Busy with what?" Pearl asked.
Aster glared at her.
Tommy and Chica glanced at Aster and then at Pearl. Both were giving each other malicious glares.
"Your silent treatment tells me everything. Sans doesn't do anything anymore does he?"
Aster's glare turned more intense.
"I guess it's all for the best. So you wouldn't mind if I borrow them for a while. Your sons I mean. It must be boring sitting around all day with nothing to do."
Aster grit his teeth.
"What about you?"
"I'm not your employee, doctor. I have no obligation towards you. My husband is the only one who works for you," Pearl said. She called for Sans and Papyrus who joined her downstairs.
"Chica, we're leaving."
"Cool," Chica said.
Outside the ruins, it was snowing.
Sam only wore a green and yellow striped t-shirt and black shorts. Still he persevered.
When he arrived in town, Sam ran into a bird-like dragon creature that looked like he was crying his eyes out. His tears turned into ice cubes before they even hit the ground.
"Hey, do you know the way out of here?"
"Huh. Out of here?" The creature inquired with a raised eyebrow. "We're stuck. Everything's hopeless."
"Why do you say that? Did somebody die?"
They cried louder.
"Look calm down. Nothin' is gonna change if you keep cryin'. What's your name anyway?"
"Freedrake," they said.
"Trust me. It's not the end of the world and I should know I've had it pretty bad. I'd be happy you're still alive."
Freedrake chuckled.
"I guess so. By the way, you look really cold. I know a good spot for good food and drink. Try the bunny sisters."
Sam dropped by the inn spotting Violet behind the counter.
"Can I sleep here tonight?" he asked.
"It'll be 80 gold," she said.
Sam slept for a couple of hours before heading downstairs.
"Oh dear," Violet spoke. "Couldn't sleep?"
"No, I'll just walk around until tomorrow. I still have two hours."
In the morning, Sam dropped by the item shop.
"Can I help you?" Peri asked.
"Do you have a sweater and some pants for sale?"
Periwinkle went into a back room handing him some clothing.
"These are my sons but you can have them for free. No charge."
After that Sam headed into the cave and jumped over a small stream deeper in the cave. A large seahorse monster stopped him on the way.
"Hey."
Sam turned and when he caught sight of the monster's pecks, he howled with laughter.
"You gotta be kidding with me."
"Look can you help a friend? I'm feeling a little under the weather," he said, winking. "Achoo."
"Why are you winkin?"
"These are winks of sickness."
"You're fine."
"How rude," he said with a wink.
There was a message in a box near Waterfall. He stored his food inside.
As Sam headed to the peak of a cliff, a spear came flying down.
"Well well, what do we have here?"
Sam conjured a shield in front of him that absorbed the impact and promptly took down the shield heading for Hotland.
Undyne screeched.
"Come back here."
She tossed a spear and it hit him in the back.
The pain was indescribably intense and he keeled over dead.
He was surprised when he awoke next to the box. The last thing he remembered was the sight of the blue spear protruding from his chest.
He looked in the box if he had carried the food maybe he wouldn't have died.
Toriel had said it instantly healed the wounds of the soul.
Sam scribbled a note to put on another box professing his hatred of the things. He hoped that writing a note would prevent future humans from using it often. Every healing item was beneficial if the monsters were as hard as Undyne.
A direct confrontation would be death.
There had to be another way that he could avoid the confrontation altogether and it hit him.
Aaron had floated up to him panting in visible exhaustion.
"I finally caught up to you. I want an arm wrestling match."
"Sure but I hope you don't grovel if you lose."
Aaron snorted.
"You're on."
He helded his arm out and Sam joined.
"Ah, ah."
"No sneezing until after the match," Sam said.
Aaron's grip suddenly pushed at his arm. Sam fought back but it was no use.
Aaron smiled at his near victory.
Sam pushed his arm to the opposite side.
"Sick, you just gave me your germs," he said in disgust.
"Sorry."
"Goodness get a kleenex, preferably fish lady's so she'll leave me alone."
"Ok," he said before floating away leaving Sam mystified. Sam went back to the inn to nap preferring to wait another day before headin' out.
Just as he was heading back he headed to Gerson's place to the northwest to buy more food with the gold he had. Luckily he didn't run into Undyne at the caves' peak and headed straight to Hotland.
He spotted a large lab and knocked on the door.
No one answered.
'Huh.'
He stepped inside. No one was inside and the lights were off.
There was a door ahead on the left side that was open.
Sam headed inside, hit one of the buttons and suddenly it sunk to the floor below with a ding.
In the distance, he heard whimpers coming from nearby.
"Hello?"
He drew closer to the voice eventually finding what looked to be a human girl with blonde hair pinned to the table.
"Get the key," she sputtered. "It's by the door."
Sam turned and grabbed the key.
"Who are you?" he asked unlocking the shackles on her wrists.
"That's not important," she said.
"You-what are you doing here?"
Sam turned and saw a tall skeleton in a white lab coat.
"RUN!"
"Run? Run where?" Sam asked.
"To the elevator."
She started to run and Sam followed her to the elevator.
The two heading inside.
"You can't escape."
Once the elevator arrived at the top, the two split up. Sam headed for the dock where the river person was.
"What's the matter?" they asked.
"I need your help. There's this skeleton tryin' to attack me."
Suddenly the skeleton appeared.
"Why are you doing this?" The river person asked.
"Simple, there's something I want."
The skeleton summoned two large skeletal hands with holes in them.
"LOOK OUT!"
The river person shouted pushing Sam out of the way as the pointer finger on the left hand fired an orange blast of energy at them.
"Head to the CORE and don't look back."
The river person pulled out a scythe which blocked and deflected the hit.
"It doesn't matter," the skeleton said. "I already switched on the CORE. The room's lasers are programmed to change every fifteen minutes. He'll be dead by the end of the day without the ability to use magic he will die permanently. That's what happens when a human tries to use determination to change this world."