The moment I ducked from the currents of magic, my breath snapped away. I tried to cry out, but couldn't. I was falling. Falling fast. Tree tops came into view. Somehow, in my haste, I had teleported—not into town—but above Snowdin Forest. I was going to die; I would be impaled on the branches. Even if the trees didn't kill me, the impact of hitting the ground would. Shutting my eyes tight, I waited for the inevitable.
The first branch pounded my shoulder, not quite in grabbing range. Next, the tip of a branch smacked my face, leaving a terrible stinging across my cheekbone. Suddenly, a harder hit across my side flipped me, and I felt the branches slapping the back of my legs and jacket, catching and occasionally ripping as I plummeted towards my grave. I only had 0.5 HP now. Honestly, it was a miracle I had made it this far. i don't want to die i don't want to be without papyrus i don't want to be alone i can't leave him alone! Flinging my arms out, I tried to break my fall. All it did was hurt more, but I persisted. Lightning fast I latched on to a branch, yes!, but it snapped. Seconds till impact. i'm sorry pap—
POOF!
…what is this? Suspended in muted white, I felt cold press up against my bones. Struggling to get upright, my head suddenly broke the surface. oh. it's a snow pof. For a split second, I marveled at my luck, then sprang up, scattering the snow. It would be all for naught if I couldn't get back in time! I took off running. One shoe was missing—possibly hanging by the laces from a tree branch. Stumbling, I kicked the other one away, desperate to go faster.
As I dashed onwards, I noticed piles in the snow. Grey piles. dust. I ran faster. All through the trees and snowy banks, silence reigned as king. Thick flakes began to fall from the sky, masking my path. Still, I pressed on.
By the time I reached town, it was a full-blown snowstorm. Flurries pelted the sides of the empty buildings. empty. My feet ached terribly, but at this realization, new panic spurred me on. Soon I could see the tiny red and green Christmas lights that strung our home. Skidding to a stop on the front porch, I flung the door open.
"PAPYRUS! where are you?! please, answer me!" No response.
I dashed all throughout the house, searching every room, all the while calling desperately for my brother. He wasn't here. Racing haphazardly down the stairs, I came to an unsteady stop in the living room. where could he be, where could he be? did he go with the others? perhaps he's safe. but how do i know?! and, if he went with them, wouldn't he have left me a—note. There, pinned to the inside of the front door, was a note. Snatching it down, I quickly scanned it.
DEAR SANS, I KNOW YOU TOLD ME TO STAY INSIDE UNTIL YOU GOT BACK, BUT I HAD TO LEAVE. THE HUMAN NEEDS MY HELP AND GUIDANCE! I THINK THEY ARE VERY SCARED, AND HAVE DONE SOME BAD THINGS BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT! I SHALL GUIDE THEM BACK TO THE RIGHT PATH! I MUST GIVE THIS MY BEST, BECAUSE, MY BEST IS ALL I HAVE TO GIVE! SO DON'T WORRY! I SHALL BE BACK FOR DINNER! PERHAPS I WILL EVEN BRING A NEW FRIEND!
WITH MUCH LOVE,
PAPYRUS.
Panic hit me like a tidal wave. Papyrus was going to confront the human. Horrid scenes from my nightmares flashed before my eyes. i have to get there in time! The note fell from my shaking hands and I bolted; I was long gone before the page fluttered to the ground.
Outside, the storm had intensified. I could barely see more than a few feet ahead of me. The howling wind sent the fringes of my tattered jacket thrashing, trying to push me back—but I fought forward. I knew where Papyrus went. He went to the pathway leading to Waterfall, beside the ice-ridden river.
Holding my arm up in attempt to block the whirlwinds of snow, I squinted through the thick white. I couldn't see anything. Maybe he wasn't here. Maybe the human decided to stay inside somewhere until the storm stopped. Though unlikely, maybe they talked it out! Maybe—I saw a flash of orange. Struggling forward, I rubbed the sting from my eyes and saw—
There, fluttering from a tiny heap of powder and brightly colored clothes, was Papyrus's scarf.
My entire world came to a grinding halt, like the wreckage of a train wreck as it comes to a spinning stop. This couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening. ok, ok, wake me up now, papyrus. come on, pound on my door, yell my name, please, it's all just a dream, it's gotta be a dream… slowly, I fell to my knees, reached forward with shaking hands, and touched the scarf. It was real. this isn't a dream.
Splintering sorrow hit my soul; I clutched the scarf, buried my face in it, and wept. Fat, bright blue tears streaked down my cheek bones, silently fizzling into oblivion as they splashed onto the soft orange fabric. I held it tighter, begging time to reverse, to bring my brother back to me. i… failed him. i should never have left… i shouldn't have left him alone, please… don't leave me alone…
I lost track of how many hours passed during which I wished the snow piling around would hurry up and bury me. Soon, I ran out of tears. Crying was replaced by numb trembling; the ice was starting to take over. I felt brittle. It was so, so cold…
Distantly, I sensed someone approaching. With any luck it would be the kid; then they'd dust me, too. They came closer. It had to be the kid. No one else was crazy enough to come out here in this storm. Closer still. please, make it quick… They were right behind me now. There was a considerable pause, during which I shut my eyes tighter. Then, to my surprise, based on the crunch of snow, it sounded like they… knelt beside me? But before I could process this, I found myself in a warm embrace. Very warm. My eyes snapped open. The harsh white all around was now tinted a glowing orange. After a moment of shock—
"g… grillby?" I whispered, overwhelmed.
"I'm here," the kind, familiar voice of the fire monster replied. A slight pause later—"I'm so sorry, Sans. I am so, so sorry."
And just like that, I was crying again. I hated myself for it, but I couldn't stop. Warring thoughts swarmed my head. why does grillby have to see me weak like this? he's alive, i still have a friend in this world. but i just want to stay here and freeze, i can't go on! there is a tiny bit of hope; i'm not alone. if he's here, then where is everyone else, did he get left behind, are we both gonna die? perhaps he came back for me. i shouldn't be alive; why couldn't it be the kid? maybe i still have a purpose to play, it's not over yet…
"Sans, we need to go," Grillby said softly, standing, and gently tried to pull me up. Miserable, I wrenched away from his grasp, stubbornly refusing to leave. "We need to get out of here. It's not safe," he insisted, a bit more urgently this time. Apart from my hiccupping sobs, I didn't move.
After a full minute of silence, I began to wonder if Grillby had left after all. Then, I heard a sigh and was once more enveloped in a hug. Warmth seeped into my bones, bringing the slightest sense of peace; it was comforting. A little warmer. Slowly, my chin fell to my chest; I was too tired to keep my head up. Warmer. Gradually, I felt myself relaxing. By the time I realized what Grillby was doing, it was too late. He was lulling me to sleep. I jerked desperately, but it was futile; the next increase of temperature pushed me over the edge.
The last of my energy drained away and I gave up the fight. My sight was fading to black. Going limp, I melted into my friend's arms. Distantly, I felt Grillby hurriedly scoop me up and stand. Just as sleep stole my mind, my eyes drifted open a slit, and for a second, I saw Papyrus's scarf still clenched in my hand in a death grip, fluttering sadly in the bitter wind. Turning towards the river, Grillby carried me away from the pitiful little heap that was all that was left of my brother, and I gave into the beckoning darkness.