Snowdin Town. A play on words. Snowed in Town to Snowdin Town. If you're tired, stay at the hotel. Because everyone there is dead. If you're hungry, drop by Grillby's. Because everyone there is dead. If you want to read or learn, go to the library. Because everyone there is dead. Sorry. I mean the 'librarby'. The sign is misspelled. The guy who wrote it is dead. Then, if you get bored, you get to watch the skeletons do their thing. Two of them. A tall one and a short one. They appeared out of nowhere a few years ago. None of us know quite from where. And who's to tell or know, anyway? We're all dead. However, there are rumors... That they're next to die.

When Lily ran off to find Sans and Papyrus, I mowed through the town. Every last person. Whether if it got me LV or not. It was satisfying... I couldn't help but feel good about myself when Lily came back. For her sake, I hid my knife and acted as if nothing happened. It was only a dust plague and everyone stayed home, Lily. Only a dust plague... Everyone is at home.

"SABON! Hey! I couldn't find Sans or Papyrus anywhere... They've disappeared just like everyone else... Don't suppose this is some kind of epidemic, is it?! The evil dust of... dustiness!" she exclaimed looking around.

I looked over towards Sans and Papyrus's house wondering where they could have possibly gone. Chara seemed to be wondering as well. Everything was new to her. The way I was doing this run was obviously very amusing for her. Pleasing Chara would please me.

Lily looked around. "When I got here, there were some people around... I guess they went home when all the shops closed... It feels so eerie here... I don't like it, Sabon... This place is always so lively, and now it feels... dead..." When she said this, she stood closer to me and clung to my arm anxiously. Like a scared little sister. I wrapped an arm around her to just... play along.

"Aw, Sabon... You don't have to comfort me! I'm perfectly okay! Besides, you're totally not my type anyway," she told me.

I killed your type earlier.

Shadow... Kill her now!! There's literally no one here!!

And if Sans comes back...?

... Stop making excuses, fraidy-cat.

Lily seemed to be despairing from the fact she couldn't figure out where Sans and Papyrus were, so I shot another glance towards their house. Gently guiding Lily towards the house, I formed a plan in my mind.

She trusts me. Worry not, Chara. I can simply accomplish my goal tonight while she's asleep.

Fine!! But it has to be tonight!

I wondered what would've happened if Lily figured out what was going on in my mind as we walked through the snow. I dared not to think about it.

"The door is locked, but I have the key. I can open the door," Lily said as she got the key out of her pocket and unlocked the door. We went into the dark house and got the lights turned on. Lily plopped down onto the couch and turned on the TV to watch something. I looked at what she was watching from over her shoulder.

"Huh? Oh! Sabon, you know Mettaton, right? He's this super cool star in the Underground! He does every kind of show you can possibly think of. Dramas, news, anime, sci-fi, suspense, cooking, opera, you name it! Right now he's doing the news, so I'm going to watch that. Feel free to watch with me," Lily said to me. I nodded and sat next to her.

The show started and Mettaton had a serious look for the first time... He was standing beside Muffet who had a nasty glare on her face. "Everyone... An important message has just come in with extreme importance... Reports have come in from the spiders of the Ruins that a genocide has occurred there with no survivors... This genocide took place earlier today... this morning."

Muffet inserted herself into the picture and took Mettaton's microphone. "All of my best contributors to our industry of spider pastries have been killed today! This will not be forgiven and we will find the culprit!"

Mettaton looked annoyed and took back the microphone. "Yes... Thank you for your statement... Everyone, listen well. The culprit's whereabouts remain unknown, so they may very well be sitting near you this very second... Be very aware... The spiders have informed us that the culprit looks like--"

I clicked the TV off as fast as I could to prevent Lily from figuring out it was me. She looked completely spooked from the news broadcast and looked over to me. "Why'd you turn it off...?"

I looked towards the ground with a guilty expression. I was faking my face, but she bought it. Upon seeing my face, Lily shook her head sadly.

"The spiders in the Ruins said that everyone there died... You came from the Ruins, didn't you? I'll bet you're upset that all of your friends and family were all killed... You're lucky that you were able to escape..."

Upon hearing her trust in me, a sudden jab of emotions struck my heart. I felt horrible. I felt sick... I clenched my chest with a look of regret sprawled across my face. How could I...? What was I thinking?!

Shadow..., what are you doing...?

I... I don't like this anymore...

No, Shadow. We are freeing the monsters. All of them. Whether if you like it or not. Now keep your mouth shut and DO YOUR JOB.

But Chara... Let me stop... Let me reset... I want to start over...

*sighs* Listen, even if you want to reset, you can't. Because if you get any ideas of resetting... I'll take control of your body. I'll choke the life out of you while I possess your body and continue relentlessly killing. Shadow, there's no way out of this.

But... I don't...

Relax, Shadow. It's only genocide...

Only...

When she said that, a mysterious acceptance came over me. Yes. It was only genocide. Nothing terrible. Freeing souls from the grasps of life. But from the depths of my soul, I could still feel the intense guilt twisting and writhing within me... begging for me to stop.

In the middle of my swarm of emotions, I felt someone's warm embrace around me... Comforting me... Lily. She was comforting me..., a murderer. Internally shuddering at the thought, I lightly hugged her back. It hurt. I was lying. Everything was a lie. And... No one in the Underground was in as much danger as she was right this moment. I didn't want to hurt her... I wanted to be Sabon... not Shadow.

"You're going to be alright now, Sabon... I promise that you'll be safe here... I mean, if that killer makes it to Snowdin, I'll defend everyone with my life! Even you!" she told me with confidence in her voice. I felt another stab of emotions. How could Lily make me feel so... horrible?

She waited for me to withdraw from the hug first. As soon as I did, I saw her smile warmly at me. After seeing her trust and friendliness, I came to a decision...

Mercy.

Mercy?!?! What's wrong with you?! She must die!

But Lily won't give me any LV or EXP. Killing her would be for nothing!

Shadow..., she'll stop you if she figures out what you've been doing... And you know she will.

I have the save points. If she figures it out, I'll go back and do it again... I just... can't... kill her.

I see... Well, if she's here..., I suppose that will make things more interesting! BUT... If anything happens that I don't like... I WILL possess you... and Lily... will be as good as dead ~ =)

. . . I understand.

Good.

Amazed that I was able to gain Chara's approval without a fight, I kept my mouth shut. Mercy. My only mercy. Lily... I laid down onto the couch and rested my head down onto her lap.

Upon seeing my action, her cheeks burned red from surprise. "Wh-What are you doing?!"

Looking up to her face, I gave her a sincere, truthful gaze. I promised her... I wasn't about to throw away that promise now.

Maria...

Maria... Maria...? I knew Maria wouldn't be happy with me... Not now... Not after all of this... It was too late to save myself. To save my soul. But... I figured... I could at least save someone else's...

For the first time since the run started... I said something that brought a smile to someone's face. The first thing I ever said to Lily. The first thing...

"Lily..., I promise that no one in the Underground will harm you... Not while I'm here. No one..."

...

...

...

No one will hurt you, Lily.

Not even me.

I promise...