"Why hello Clarice, so nice of you to drop by."

Chrisk firmly pressed his back to the paneling to the door, barely able to see the swaying figure sitting at the other end of the room in the darkness, bright white dots staring at him.

"Aw, you don't have to be scared, I'm not gonna hurt ya." The figure chuckled darkly. Chrisk didn't budge.

"Is that any way to treat a friend? Come over here and shake my hand."

He could see the figure move and a limb stretch towards him, a glimmering white smile behind it, Chrisk swallowed hard. He felt uneasy around this person (the darkness wasn't helping either) and he didn't know whether they were a monster or not, but he felt the same feeling with Sans and Toriel. Conflicting each other but also in a complimentary dance. Were they friend or foe? Could they be trusted? Chrisk slowly walked towards the figure, the only sound being the light taps of his feet against the floor, Chrisk could feel his heart shudder as he outstretched his own hand but the figure suddenly pulled him down into a bodily hold.

"Oooo you're so small!" The figure squealed.

The figure hugged him tightly, an iron grip keeping his arms plastered to his sides, Chrisk gasped sharply as he squirmed to escape but this only caused the figure to loosen his grip by a minute fraction. The figure was cold though, sub-zero like he was out in the snow for too long, and it sent a shiver up his spine.

"I scared ya didn't I? Sorry but your face looks so funny right now," the figure laughed, "Oh Clarence if only you could see it. Anyway, you must be wondering who I am and why I have you here, my name's Roman and I have you here because well it's relevant to the plot."

Chrisk tilted his head in confusion.

"Oh yeah, you wouldn't understand, only crazy people like me know, and whoever writes your story, kuhuhuhu," Chrisk really didn't think this man was sane, "anyway, but if you must know why I have you here it's because I have to tell you something very important. Plus those mean monsters outside might've gobbled you up like a Christmas turkey." The figure - Roman - hugged him tighter.

Chrisk could feel his lungs capsizing in his chest from the strength of Roman's hold on him, how this man was so strong was unknown but being on the receiving end of his strength was painful. His body started to go limp and his lips blue, his breathing bated, Roman noticed his quiet friend more quiet than before and started to gain a hint of worry.

"Aw, are you sleepy little one?" Roman cooed, but when he saw the slightest tinge of blue on the lips of the smaller boy he fully released him, "sorry, you humans are so fragile I almost forgot!"

Chrisk pried himself from the figure and panted hard, harsh coughs leaving him as he felt a metallic taste at the back of his throat, Roman leaned forward and moved his hair.

"You're a strong one y'know, don't forget that, even when people say you're not," Roman's tone suddenly lost its cheerfulness and replaced with a serious one, "and this strength is going to help you get through this mess. But enough of that serious talk lemme tell you what I wanted to before this paragraph gets too long."

Roman gently grabbed his face and pulled him closer, his fingers were hard and bony, cold, and made his cheeks go numb. The white dots moved until they were at the side of his face, he could feel his breath on his ear as he spoke lowly.

"Beware the man that sees with no eyes." His voice took a sudden dark turn, the sound alone made Chrisk's heart stutter in its routine rhythm.

The figure pulled away and he saw one of the dots close and open quickly, as if winking, "Oh, I'm sorry to make you frown but that's all I have to say. I know, I don't want you to leave either but you must, for the plot! The damn plot must progress!"

Chrisk felt himself being quickly helped to stand, he felt himself being pushed towards the door, blabbing some nonsense and laughing loudly until he pushed him through the door. Making sure he was still in the darkness of the room.

"Oh and if you see and shiny things keep em for me okay? I love shiny things! Kuhuhuhu."

Then he shut the door with a slam. Chrisk stood dumbfounded as he stared at the closed door, he couldn't process what had happened. Just who was that man, or monster? And who was this man that saw with no eyes? Chrisk looked up and down the hall, the monsters he saw before were gone and it was as quiet as before, he continued his path from before while his mind was still wrapped in the past conversation with the mysterious male. The only person he could think of that fit that description was Sans (as his sockets were black and void), he even felt a disturbing aura around him when he first encountered him, but Roman had this same aura, so was he actually not supposed to trust Sans after all? Chrisk didn't know what to believe. Was Sans untrustworthy, that he would kill him and his friends in cold blood? Or was Roman lying, trying to work against other monsters so he could have his soul for himself?

The goat woman did say he was in the Soul Knights, sworn to give their allegiance to their master/s, whoever that may be, and pledged to take any measures to fulfill their wishes with no hesitation. But again, Sans didn't seem like that, the type to do anything for anyone, and the goat woman herself seemed to be doubtful of what she claimed now. Chrisk continued to walk down the hall, pondering still on who or what to believe. It seemed as if trust may not be very present in this house...

***

Heavy footsteps tread a forbidden path, an unknown purpose willing them forward, a silent voice whispering in their ears the path they must take, but the one taking these steps could barely hear them. A limp invaded his right leg as he continued, passing sickly creatures with matted hair that whimpered and whined as they passed, the man rose a brow at them before diverting from his path, slowly walking to one of them as they were abandoned by the others of its kind. The man stalked the cowering creature, slowly backing it to the wall with no escape, he stooped to their level, a sharp repetitive whine ripped from the creature's throat as he stretched a hand to it. The creature curled into itself, waiting for its life to be taken from them when they were met with a soft gloved hand rubbing its head. They looked at the man in shock but mostly confusion, he smiled warmly at it while continuing the affectionate touch, they were very confused. The others that hid behind the wall were equally confused, no one ever wants to pet them.

The man smiled even wider and scratched its head, all shock and confusion instantly left the creature as it indulged in the man's touches, he glanced to his side where the others were and smiled at them, motioning for them to come closer. They still looked fearful of him despite the warmth in his smile and the display of affection towards their kind until the smallest of them happily ran towards him, panting and jumping at him playfully while he played with it with his free hand. The others looked among themselves, could they really trust him? Eventually, they slowly crawled towards the trio, the man smiled once more, elated the creatures finally joined in on the fun, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Another round of heavy footsteps sounded, quick, a low growl sounded before one of the creatures was suddenly launched to the side, propelled by an unknown force, and jolting the group of the new figure's invasive presence.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!?"

The man looked up to see a large woman in front of him, maroon hair trailed her body in a feathered cascade, her scales a greyish blue and a scowl on her face that could break glass with one glance. The other creatures hid behind the man as he stood, his grin never leaving his face.

"HELLO THERE UNDYNE!" The man shouted, his voice deep but shrill as he was shouting.

"Christ Papyrus, stop with the fucking shouting." The woman - Undyne - scowled once more.

"Sorry," he cleared his throat, "hello there Undyne. What brings you by?"

"That's none of your business. Why are you playing with these disgusting freaks?" She said in an offensive tone.

"I just wanted to, they seemed lonely so I thought I could be their friend. Everyone needs a friend every once in a while."

"Friends? With these freaks? You gotta be kidding me. How could you possibly want to be friends with these...things?" The creatures cowered even more behind Papyrus.

"That's not very nice."

"Do I look nice to you? *sighs* you still haven't answered my question."

Papyrus tilted his head to the side before rubbing his head, "I...forgot."

Undyne gave him a distasteful look, "you forgot." Papyrus smiled weakly.

She rolled her eyes and huffed, "in another case, Azgore wants everyone to kill those humans on sight and bring their souls to him. So we can begin the ritual, in case you forgot that as well." She growled.

"Right, of course! How could I?!" He laughed nervously.

Undyne shook her head, "And make sure these guys don't follow you back, the King doesn't like the sight of them."

"Of course, how could I forget..."

Undyne huffed before walking away, her dull red hair fluttering behind her before she disappeared around the corner. Papyrus sighed deeply and relaxed his shoulders, a wave of worry washing over him as he turned to the huddled group around the poor creature that was kicked before, whimpering in pain and shuddering. He could see its chest deformed, like one of its ribs was trying to come out, and it seemed like it would. He knelt beside the creature and held their head in his hands, his face turned blank as he snapped its neck. The other creatures looked on in bewilderment, did he just kill one of their own?

Papyrus then picked up the now limp body of the once living creature, holding it tenderly in bridal style, and walked away, his face still stone cold.