Chapter Text
“Hey” Susie called to Ralsei and Kris. Both turned when she called. She seem frustrated. “Are we seriously not gonna addressed what happened with that… puppet?” she asked with a shudder.
“With Kris’s soul and all?” she asked them. Kris was hoping that their friend wouldn’t mention it. They thought she would dropped the subject of the soul with Spamton and pretend that nothing happened that it was something that occurred in the Dark World and go back to their adventure.
The soul pulse in question and confusion. That was the only way for Kris to know the emotions of… that. The majority of the time it was passive only reacting to Kris’s neighbors for some reason. But some of the darkeners reminder it of people Kris didn’t know.
They didn’t even know how Kris could decipher something like this, based on pulses of a thing that could ended or drive them to insanity. Not of them told them that would happened.
That wasn’t part of the promise or the deal.
Ralsei fidgeted, seeming nervous, all of the sudden, before shoving his uneasiness aside. “I mean… maybe it was a glitch of a faulty program. Maybe it’s something we shouldn’t question further”.
Ralsei spare a glance at Kris’s direction. Kris knew that Ralsei knew about the Soul. Those little sections of sending the soul away to assist Susie is to talk behind it’s back. The soul was quite happy every time it return to them.
Kris had no idea why Ralsei was so secretive even with it. He’s know it’s nature. But he also seem rather uneasy after the whole ordeal. Did he suspect something?
“Cut the crap!” yelled Susie, frustrated. “You saw what happened, how upset Kris got and you just want to let it go? Not even asked them if they are okay?”
“I… I…” Ralsei started, trying to defend himself. “I’m sure Kris would tell us if they weren’t fine”.
Susie walked passed Ralsei, pushing them to the side as he stare to Kris. Kris couldn’t bear to see their friend in her eyes. They evaded it.
“Kris…” she said, surprisingly solemnly for her. “Are you sure you are alright? You’re still pretty shaken…”
Kris wanted to run away from her. If the soul wanted and if it didn’t like Susie, it would hurt her like it hurt Spamton. The soul pulsed in anticipation, thinking about what to say. Kris knew that feeling, but never had any idea what the soul would force them to say, until it was way late.
All they wanted was to scream. But their mouth, their voice couldn’t come out, no matter how hard they wanted to.
But the soul answered their call.
“NO!!!!”
Kris was surprised. They expected the soul would say they were fine. It didn’t. It pick a choice Kris wanted. Something they had notice since the start of the day. It became more considerable of them. They felt it pulse in worry for them. A way for it to lower Kris’s guard to do Angel’s know what, perhaps?
“Kris, are you fine? You’re yelling”, said Ralsei, masking their emotions with a soft smile. It was clear he was strained and stressed out of his mind. He hug Kris, Kris didn’t want a hug. They hated hugs.
They wanted to pushed Ralsei away. Ralsei was a person they wouldn’t consider a friend, more like a lackey. But for whatever reason the soul had decided to like them was a mystery for them.
Ralsei departed, finally. “When this adventure is finished, I would bake you all the cakes you like! Butterscotch, Chocolate...maybe even cinnamon or apple. Or even Red Velvet…” he listed some cakes flavors, trailing off.
Cake did sound good to Kris. But nothing compare to Toriel’s butterscotch Cinnamon pie. The soul pulse again in alarm, just like they had done when Spamton had rip it from Kris’s body or when it heard the garbage noise or when Spamton had that festive jig and had said “freedom”.
For what reason, the soul didn’t trust Ralsei when he mentions really specific things, that it found suspicious, for some reason, Kris had no idea. Kris extend their arms towards Susie’s direction. Susie recoiled in offense.
“Hell, no!!” she squawk for a dinosaur monster. Kris giggled to themselves. “I am not giving you another hug! You had enough!”
“Oh, did Susie run out of hug power. I have enough of it… but maybe a cake would be able to fix it?”
“What?” she said turning to Ralsei. “But… I mean… do I want to…?” she question to herself.
Kris chuckled. Susie hide her face, her cheeks brushing, but Kris could have swore they heard a light laugh.
“Anyways… Lets get out of here. We have a Queen to overthrow!” Susie declare. Ralsei tried to stopped her from doing that.
Kris tried to have fun for the reminder of the adventure. For Susie’s sake. And to remove the incident with Spamton and the soul. Spamton wasn’t responding, When Susie manage to removed him from the Neo body, she commented how cold he was, he had turned into an item. An item in which Kris hated the look and the flavor text.
You acquire the broken strings. Increase speed temporally when you take damage. It the price of freedom worth it, thought?
Kris was the only one able to equip it. Kris felt sick in their stomach, when the soul, although confused, force them to equip it. The remains of it’s first victim. Like a hunter to it’s hide of a beast, it slay. It’s only a matter of time, when Kris would join.
The soul was unaware of it’s vessel problems and troubles and fear of it. Now, Kris wanted more that ever to get rid of it. But Kris knew that they were expandable, the soul wasn’t.
Why even Soul trusted Spamton was a still to mystery to Kris. Kris knew it was weird. The soft and comforting hum of the soul when it was feeling fondness and nostalgia, just walking around Hometown, talking to the residents was radiating even to Kris.
Especially every time it saw Undyne, Alphys, one of their parents, even the convenience store guy that the soul and an obsession with his brother, for some reason, if the soul’s feelings to jump thought the window into the house was anything to indicate.
Even Gerson Boom’s grave manage to cause those feelings. Even if Kris was sure the soul never met the old teacher. When he saw the gravestone, the soul spent a lot of time, there in silence, hearing the birds singing. To Kris, it seem like it was praying respect to the old man.
Kris was surprised and confused that the soul had a concept of mortality and death of mortals. It was here only a day at most. Yet, it felt like it knew these people, even the shut it Ghost monster in that lonely house.
The same feelings where directed to them and Susie and Noelle and even Ralsei and Lancer. Berdly was a mixed bag to the soul. Because every time he appeared, Kris felt the urge to hit their head hard. The only Darkner that manage to do that was Roulxs Kaard.
With the adventure finish and everyone return safe and sound back into the light world. As both Susie and Kris walked to go to the school to put the new darkners, a terrified thought crossed Kris’s mind.
Noelle was with them and… the soul. Kris felt their throat tighten and a chill run down their spine. What if the soul tried to do something back there? Maybe the fact that the soul liked Noelle save her from becoming it’s plaything. But why? The soul didn’t hesitated with Spamton, so why did it hesitated with Noelle?
“Hey…” A hand was pressed in Kris’s shoulder. Kris flinched hard. They turned to look at Susie, who was unsure for a moment.
“Listen, I know you’re still upset and all…” she started. “But if you ever need anything, just tell me? I guess?”
“Jeez, is this what friends do to their friends to comfort them?” Susie whisper to herself, when Kris gave her a small smile. Susie gave them a wide grin in respond.
“That seem to calm them thought”.
Kris pushed the thought aside. It never happened, so why they were worried about it? Perhaps because of the one culprit was nested in their chest? Still it was better if Kris informed their “bosses” about the soul.
Besides they needed to give a report, any ways. And they need to know what do to next.
“The Soul… killed Spamton? Is that what you’re saying?” said the owner of the voice dumbfounded at the revelation. Kris nodded in confirmation.
“So you’re telling me, the soul made someone turn insane?” Kris nodded again.
“It was surreal. Whatever the soul did it was…”, Kris swallow the lump on their throat. “...An experience to say the least…” they muttered.
The owner of the voice let out a chuckle, which turn into a laughter. Kris tense, it sounded echoed and like it was coming from an off tune speaker of an old radio or a speaker.
“Does little Kris is terrified of the soul? Of it’s power? What it could possible do?”
“YES!!!” said Kris in barely complained voice. Why no one were listening or taking them seriously? No one ever care for their feelings or how uncomfortable they were making some of the situations for them.
“What if that… that thing did this to me?! What if the moment it discover that I am working behind it’s back, does this to me? What if…”
Kris couldn’t find other words to say. They were tired of being a good for nothing sibling. But was the chance to fix their mess up. To get everything back to normal. They rise their head to look them in their eyes.
“That wasn’t part of the deal! Or my promise for that matter!”
That was the moment knew… they went to far. They shouldn’t have question or complaint. Their fear made them second-guess anything. They yelp when the katana was pointed on their shoulders. Near their throat.
“Kris.” the voice said levelly. “The soul has no power over you. It have no reason to suspect you of anything. If anything, just be a sitting duck... What I have told you to do?”
Kris gulped, trying to clear their throat. “Become the vessel…”
“Right, go on…”.
“Not get attached to the soul’s allies…”
“Yeah. The last one? Which is it?”
Kris gulped again, their throat drier that ever before. “To keep going, because...”
“… You promised”, the voice finished it for them.
“Did I made myself clear?”
Kris nodded, not trusting their voice. The katana got remove from their neck. Kris puts their hands on their throat, grasping it tight, breathing heavily. The katana moved closer to the owner of the voice and started rubbing the blade against it’s hands, almost lovingly.
“I know you are scared. But the prophesy never mention, something like this happening. If you have seconds thoughts then I guess we can continue without you…”
Every cell on Kris’s body screamed for them to run, to try and hide but they were pinned down. Even if they did, it was a matter of time before they found them. Kris didn’t know this labyrinth of a Shelter.
But Kris was afraid. Not for fear but for fear of disappointment send their way. They couldn’t even complete this task.
The simple task of taking the role of the hero in the prophesy.
“I guess you’re already used up, then”. The katana moved again, in a sheepish matter. It past right to the level of their hand and it swing lazily, not even bothering to hit it’s target.
Kris clutch their teeth and steel their resolve. “What did you need me to do?” Kris could have see the wide grin in the dark.
“Not much. You stick to the plan. You need to buy enough time for Toriel to be asleep and for Undyne to come. Then everything would fall into place”.
“What about the soul… and Susie? Would they have to be involved?”
The sounds paused for a moment. “Don’t tell me, you got attached to her”.
“No...No!” Kris quickly said, trying to defend themselves. “It’s better, if the less people get hurt, the better”. An idea pop up into Kris’s head to be able to convince them.
“Besides, Susie is still needed to fulfill the prophesy. Who knows, if we derailed the prophesy, we may cause a bigger and worst calamity to come, maybe…”
The owner voice narrowed it’s eyes. It was clear that they weren’t convince but they knew Kris was right.
“Create a distraction for Susie and the soul. You said they both enjoy the little wacky adventure in Cyber City. So something similar would do”. Kris had to hold themselves from exhaling the breath they were holding.
“I’m sure that Television of yours or should I told the Lord of Screens? Perhaps, they would loved to be used to entertain an audience again”.
Kris knew they were talking about Tenna, the name Asriel had given to them. A habit that had pick up by them. Kris was okay with Tenna dying, like the prophesy foretold. They brought only bitter memories when they tried to use him to drown their pain away.
Besides they are probably over everything and moved on like everyone else has. Everyone except Kris.
“I’m sure I can strike a deal”.
In the dark yet darker room in the shelter, Kris could a wide smile out of propositions in front of them, bent and twisted in weird ways.
The Soul was curious of where Kris went. It was trying to figure out why Kris would slash Toriel’s car’s tires. Kris thought it would do to what they did to Spamton but they just nestle on their chest, humming. It seem disappointment not being able to made cookies with Toriel. It was like it wanted to help her.
Like a kid who was looking forward to make a baked good with their mother, but their mother had started and they didn’t even tell them. Kris wants to keep that thing away from their mother.
Why that thing had such fondness like a child to a mother?
Late Night fell and Kris enact their orders. The soul was curious on why they created the TV Dark World. But everything seem to be swept away, like a song in the ocean as it agreed to participate on Tenna’s TV Show, after Ralsei’s suggestion. Susie was also excited to escape their empty reality and have fun with her friends. All according to plan.
Kris didn’t like the soul, but they had to hide their fear. Especially the time they had to conceal the need to have a mental breakdown after the soul went from torturing a guy to name itself “ASS”.
But Kris wasn’t one to denied a high five with Susie, while Ralsei died a little inside, next to her. The game show was a perfect distraction for both the soul and Susie. With it’s variety of mini games and quizzes. The plan would be finish and complete in no time.
And Toriel was still asleep… It made things easier for them.
The more Kris got to interact or more correctly the soul got to interact with Tenna, the more Kris saw a different side of him. It seem like he also longed for the missing days to return.
Just like them.
Kris didn’t like the guy… they didn’t like TV anymore. Everything could be done from the computer. Yet why they felt guilty when Tenna said: “The family is fighting again”?
But the soul had to ruin everything. It had to have the need to take a perfect score for T-rank and despite their horror to be let alone again with it, Kris wasn’t against the games Ramb had. Until they saw the context of those games had. The soul learned that Kris and Tenna made a deal behind it’s back.
The soul was confused and in denial on why they would do that. Kris for a moment thought they saw a faceless head right next to them. With it’s body being attacked to strings connecting to their soul.
But they blinked and it was gone.
Then it defied Tenna with the Rest of the $h!t Squad. Kris had to run to as much as enemies as possible to buy some more time. They thought that the recruitment of Shadow guys would be the best distraction. It didn’t worked.
They reach the end and befriend Tenna, with Susie saying that they would find a new home for him. Kris wasn’t against it, as they weakly threw a thumps up, Susie smiling to the idea who it was all hers, chest puffed with pride.
It would give the chance for Tenna to move on from the trauma. But maybe that was also a chance for them to also move on?
Yeah, no, they deserved to be drown in misery and sorrow. That could never happen. Everyone knows and blames Kris for what happened. Even if everyone were too nice to even saying in front of Kris, they were definitely whispering it behind their back.
That’s why Rudy and Noelle were drifted apart from the Dreemurs, because of them. That’s the reason why their parents divorce. And Asriel would also blame Kris, if he returned home. But Kris would fix everything, it’s only a matter of time. They had to be patient, just a few more days.
They had reach Toriel. And Kris realized that the Soul manage to ruin their carefully crafted plan. But from the corner of their eyes they saw….
SLASH!
BOOM!
---------
“TENNA?!”
The Roaring Knight appear when they had reach Toriel. Kris watch in horror as Tenna laid lifeless in the snow. The old CTR TV filled with life and loved by kids of two families.
The soul was pissed. Kris felt it pulsed in anger and fury. Not directed at them, no. But at the Roaring Knight. The battle started. The soul pulsed widen and inconsistent at the presence of the Knight. It was difficult to find sense of the emotions of the soul.
But Kris could figure that it felt fear, shock, alarm. If it had a mouth, it would possible scream in shock. But they also felt hype (?)
Knight had told them that the soul it’s no match for them, despite the Roaring Knight’s surprise at seeing Kris and the $h!t Squad present, it quickly put what it had to be done. Kris wish Susie and Ralsei they weren't get hurt badly. Kris had just started to care for him.
But Kris witness in absolute horror the soul managing to dodge the attacks of the Roaring Knight without inflicting an ounce of damage to them or any member. Kris was always thinking that the next attack would surely made them lose to made things easier.
Only for the defeat to be delayed further and further.
When the last attacked finished, Kris had enough. By this rate the Knight would be defeated… Kris had to clue them into it! The Knight was frustrated with them, for not doing the one thing they were meant to do in the plan.
As they were forced to kneel, Knight clearly frustrated in the turn of events, they had to reminded them of their place.
They were a cage.
They manage to succeed in half the plan. Undyne was abducted and Toriel would also have if Susie hasn’t stopped the Roaring Knight. But now Susie and the soul knew they had to get some sort of codes to get to the shelter.
Both her and the soul was determined to save Undyne.
The day was pretty normal for the duo’s recent escapades filled with traversing a Dark world every day. The soul gather some clues, they decided to hang out with Noelle after Church. They went to the dinner with Susie. They went to Noelle’s house.
Kris shove the soul into a box and went to play some piano and drink chocolate milk. The soul manage to escape the box but Kris shove it back up not realized it let the box open...
Kris had forgotten what had happened with Spamton, the piano filling them with a much needed freedom to let out some stress and fear after everything. Kris play as much songs as possible to stall some more time.
To enjoy their freedom and become a teenager again. Until the power went out.
“Shit! The lights...” they said, grabbing the phone.
“What... happened...?”
“Nothing!” Kris blurted assuring them, quickly. “Getting the soul now!”
“Shit, it’s in the walls, isnt it...?”.
“Did... you let the soul… loose… in my house?” The voice said the last words louder.
“It wanted enrichment!”
“Kris…!”
Kris close the phone. They didn’t want to deal with it now. Kris knew it would go to Dess’s room. The only room they didn’t get the chance to explore. Quietly like a mouse when they went upstairs.
They run pass the two girls, who didn’t realize they were there. Both holding something that Kris couldn’t made out what it was.
Kris entered the room hiding under the bed, smiling reminisced from the fact it was like hiding under Noelle’s bed, when they were younger, holding a hockey pluck at their arm.
A low glow enter the room, with the soul at it’s center. The soul went straight for the guitar after exploring for a little bit. Kris took a deep breath. They’re possible going to regret that in the near future. But best opportunity to beat up the soul demon. It would become angry at them but it’s for the sake of their promised.
THUNK!!!
The soul fell motionless on the ground. Kris lunge at it, grasping it tight, while grabbing the guitar with the other hand. Kris felt the soul pulsed, but Kris couldn’t made out their emotions it was feeling like they care at all for it.
Kris was ready to leave but they heard Susie’s and Noelle’s voices. And they were coming upstairs! Kris look around, the only good hiding spot was the bed and the closet.
Kris went for option number two. The heard the two girls speaking before settling waiting for the “mouse” to appear. Well, that complicated things! Kris had to wait until…
OUCH! Kris yelped, before trying to muffled it biting their lips, tight to draw blood. The soul had escaped from their grasp. Their pulse had grow intensely, it begun to boil. Kris had forced to left go or else they would acquire third degree burns.
The soul moved closer to them. Kris in fear tried to grasp it again but it evaded them. The soul went straight for the guitar.
Kris used the guitar but the soul manage to go to the little hole, where the code was located. Kris moved the guitar around, with intent to hurt, careful not to hit the guitar on the shelves of the closet.
After a while the soul got out and flew into the corner of the closet, dazed and dizzy since it stay there for a few moments. Kris needed to keep it away from the guitar but they also couldn’t damage the precious instrument. Dess would never forgive them.
They deposit gentle the guitar on the shelf on the opposite side of the closet and look around for anything to be used as a weapon. Their foot hit something and they almost tripped. They looked down… a Hockey stick!!
Perfect weapon for much needed exorcist and bashing parasites!!!
The soul was a coward, knowing the roles where reversed and now Kris was in control and it was in danger. It stay in the corner as much as possible. When Kris was distracted with Susie’s kind words of them the soul made it’s move.
It used the Santas on the shelf as a distraction, with Kris having to turned them off as to not alert the girls. Kris manage a couple hit, sending the soul flying, but the soul always got back up.
The soul never give up but Kris wouldn’t also despite getting more tired the longer that went on.
THUNK! THUNK! Went the hockey stick
THUNK!
String…
Kris froze and without a hesitation lunge at the soul. They hit again and again as they try not to hit the instrument as the soul hid behind it. They lunged again grasping the guitar with their arms protectively around it, as they landed on their back, the soul on their first, tight.
Susie open the door. Kris froze, pretending to be dead. She seem frustrated. “Hey, dumb ass!” she snarled whispering in a hushed tone.
“You’re purpose to look for clues!” she reminder them as she grab the guitar, before closing the door like nothing happened. Kris heard the two girls talk for a moment before leaving.
Kris started to panic. Susie shouldn’t see the code. They needed to act quickly. They inform their boss of the situation. They said they would be back soon.
Kris look at the soul in frustration, ignoring it’s attempt to give third degree burns. They shove in their chest, feeling the strings tighten, losing their balance for a moment. The soul pulsed in worry for their vessel. Kris scoffed. Of course, they would care about them. How else they would interact with it’s little playthings if they didn’t have a vessel?
“Kris”, Carol said levelly. She placed a hand on their shoulder. Kris felt a chill on their shoulder. Everything became quiet. Only the sound of Asgore muching on the food on the platter was sounding. Even the soul was waiting in anticipation.
“Turn off the Santa’s Claus. It saves battery” she simple said. Kris sigh in relief. It was just something that they could do. Not something impossible like Carol’s unusually high standards in everything. The soul pulsed again, in a different emotion that Kris had decided to name: “Fucking Bitch!”
“By the way” Carol started again, as Kris was ready to turn the knob to get out of the house with Susie. Kris resisted the urge to fidget with the hem of their shirt. “You are always welcome here”.
In the way she said it, Kris understood she was referring to the soul, the actual hero. Kris had no idea how the soul understood she was referring to them but it pulsed in alarm and suspicion. The soul clearly didn’t like Carol.
“We aren’t going to let that happened. Right?” Kris heard Susie said to no one, the music being drown out for a moment as they focus on. Making a promise in the air. Kris sigh. The prophesy couldn’t be stop. Susie would have to find this the hard way.
Kris wish it was that simple. They were also inspire by Gerson’ words. They now understand why Alvin was such nostalgic for his father. Kris and Susie would be happier if he was still alive and kicking. Teaching at school instead of Alphys.
He would possible be a lot of help in a time like this.
Even the soul was inspire by the old man’s words. Despite, that it wasn’t even shocked to discover the old man was actually dead all along. Kris was about to go to Susie but they were interrupted. It was a voice they recognized.
“...You promise…” it finished before the call was cut off. Even when Kris had a resemble of control of their own body, they were still nothing more than a puppet on a string.
Whatever was the soul, the Roaring Knight or Carol. Even when they were free someone else was always in control of them. No one even care about what Kris wanted or their feelings about the plan, other than their motives.
Kris sigh and went back on the bed, dragging their feet. They laid, gazing at the ceiling.
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
Kris sighed in frustration, before turning to look at the soul. It was making a ruckus, ever since being locked up. Which it was as loud and insufferable as the music and sounds downstairs. Kris couldn’t taking it anymore. Not the soul, nor the sounds of the convenience store guy “befriending” their mom.
Kris looked at the soul, with tired and angry eyes. Kris was tired of it. Tired of being a puppet out of their own will. Tired of being terrified of it. They would pay and do anything if they would be allowed to finally be free from it.
“Everything would have been easier. If you just disappear” Said Kris to the soul, which it stopped hitting the bars of the birds cage. The only thing that kept it in one spot. It’s attention on Kris, despite the fact that the music down was possible drown out the majority of what Kris was saying.
“I know you know I work with the Roaring Knight and Carol!” They said frustrated.
“I don’t know what you’re deal is but… It’s only a matter of time before you do to me what you did to Spamton!”
The soul was looking at their direction, like it was waiting for them to continue. Kris scoffed. “Why are you hesitating with me?” they asked.
“If you are worried… Don’t be! I am used of being a discarded and broken vessel!” they said in frustration. At those words the soul jumped in the air in surprised. They didn’t answer and never will. So why even try?
“I guess you would never let me be free” Kris said, putting their knees near their chest, their head low.
Suddenly light tremors break out. Kris jumped in surprised, every single furniture and trinket where moving out of it’s position in a gentle movement of an earthquake slely starting up. The lamp in a ceiling was moving sideways in a steady rhythm.
Despite the lights being turned off, they stared to flicker. From the nightstands to the ceiling even outside the door, in the hallway. Kris put their hands on the walls to stabilized themselves, despite laying down. Until everything stop.
The music downstairs stopped. Kris froze in anticipation. They heard the worried voices of their mother and the “convenience ” store guy. But they couldn’t made out what they were saying.
Kris got the feeling that they weren’t alone. The hair on their nape standing, their muscles tighten. Kris was sure that someone was near. Kris looked at the direction on the soul.
The cage had fell to it’s side, the cart being toppled over, the soul still inside. But it wasn’t the only one. Red strings were coiled around the soul and the string were attracted to the chest of a body. A humanoid body with red outline, the same shade as the soul’s crimson red.
The body was hunched over itself standing upright, dressed in an attire that College students in bad series were dressed, simple pants with a hoodie on and with an undershirt with collar.
The body flexed their fingers, before turning upright. Their back straighten, bones crackling as it did so. It’s head turned to face Kris. It lack any identified features.
Kris screamed.