My name is Frisk.

Fail. Death. Reset.

I'm filled with determination.

Fail. Death. Reset.

"Every time you die, your friends forget you a little more," Flowey cackled, wrapping his thorny vines around me. "Soon you'll be nothing."

Fail. Death. Reset. Fail. Death. Reset.

The more I fail, the more I lose them. But I can't give up. The SOULS of every monster are on the line.

Fail.
Death.
Reset.

And then Flowey was gone. I was standing alone in a snow-filled forest, skeletal trees reaching for the sky around me. I lifted my hands. They had turned a pasty shade of gray. My sweater had a washed-out quality to it, as if all the color was slowly being sapped away.

After falling into the Underground, there was almost nothing I wouldn't believe anymore. I'm the seventh human child to fall here. In this cave, monsters live and roam free. Most of them are peaceful and friendly, but every once in a while I come across one who wants to kill me and take my SOUL. I was on a quest to return to the surface, and to free all monsters in the process. Along the way I had befriended Papyrus, Sans, Toriel, Undyne, and Alphys. But never had I seen the color drain from a person or monster.

"I've got to call Toriel," I sighed, walking down the snowy path in no particular direction. "Maybe she can help."

I pulled out my phone and dialed Toriel. I kept walking, listening to it as it rang. In the past she had acted like a mother to me, helping me when things went bad.

Nobody picked up.

"Fine. Alphys, then."

I dialed Alphys. She had been just as helpful deactivating puzzles for me, even if she was a very nervous person.

"H-Hello?" Alphys asked across the phone.

"Alphys! I need your help," I said.

"I-I'm sorry, do I know you?" Alphys asked.

"This isn't a good time for jokes," I sighed. "I was fighting Flowey, but now I'm suddenly here and I've turned all gray and washed out. Do you know what's going on?"

"W-Who is this?"

"Frisk. It's Frisk. Anyway, do you know what's going on?"

"I don't know who you are, or h-how you know my name, b-but I think you might have the wrong number."

The phone clicked as the call ended.

I stopped walking, staring at my phone. Alphys had acted as if she didn't have any idea who I was. And she was acting extremely nervous. Had something happened to her? Maybe Flowey had kidnapped her, which was why she was acting so strange.

Glancing ahead, I realized I had reached the edge of the forest. Ahead of me was Snowdin. I hurried forward, pocketing my phone as I did so. Papyrus and Sans lived in Snowdin. If anyone could help me, it would be them.

Monsters turned to watch as I walked past. I heard several whispers as they moved back and out of my way.

They have the nerve to stare at me? I could turn them to dust where they stand, I thought. Instantly I regretted it. Since when had I ever been a violent person? I went through the entire Underground without hurting anyone. What was wrong with me?

I finally reached Papyrus and Sans's house, a towering log cabin with two mail boxes in front. I knocked on the door.

After a moment it opened, flooding the porch with light. Papyrus was standing there, smiling down expectantly.

"Hello! I am the great Papyrus!" he announced. "How wise of you to come to me for aid, young lady!"

"Papyrus, it's me," I said. "Listen, I think Alphys might be in trouble."

"Alphys? My brother Sans was talking to her not too long ago. Have you met her?"

"Of course I have. Remember? We were all together when I confronted King Asgore."

"You've met King Asgore? And you say I was there? Now you really must introduce yourself!"

A sinking feeling was forming in my stomach, but I pushed it aside.

"Papyrus, it's me. Frisk! The seventh human! We're friends."

"A human?" Papyrus gasped. "And you say we're friends? I'm sorry, that can't be. I capture humans with extraordinary puzzles and take them to the King. I'm going to be a member of the royal guard, you know!"

"Where's Sans?" I asked before Papyrus could really get going.

"He went into the forest with his joke book like always, looking for something," Papyrus answered. "I think it was his lost disk. Now, human, prepare to be captured!"

Strike before you're struck. Kill him! my mind screamed. I shook my head, trying to clear it. Papyrus was my friend! Why would I hurt him?

Papyrus had taken a step back, a frightened and uncomfortable expression on his face. I realized my hands were clenched into fists. I backed away and broke into a run, following the river.

"Human, wait!" Papyrus called after me. I ignored him. It seemed like Flowey was telling the truth. I had died so many times that nobody remembered me anymore.

It was like I never existed.