Silent Tale

Silent Tale

Papyrus was usually fond of hospitals. It was clean, organized, and the perfect place to help the sick and injured. It was an important part of any society, right next to the police.

'This hospital though...'

Papyrus wearily looked at the large three story building in front of them. The huge stone statue of a headless woman at the front was half crushed beyond recognition. The walls and iron fence were deteriorating from years of exposure by the elements. The yard and sides of the hospital were surrounded by overgrown vegetation that made the building more eerie and abandoned.

Usually hospitals, depending on how you looked at it, had an atmosphere of hope and promise. But the tall skeleton couldn't help but feel that something was... Wrong with this particular atmosphere.

Serif squeezed his hand a little tighter and Papyrus finally tore his gaze from the hospital to his chubby companion.

"You know... We don't have to stop by here. My legs are fine..."

Papyrus smiled shakily. "Please do not lie to me. Do not pretend to feel fine when you are obviously far from it." He pointed at Serif's trembling legs. "See! You are shaking in pain! Soon you won't be able to walk or run at all!"

Serif looked down at his legs. Though he had no skin, somehow they were covered in cuts and dark hand shaped bruises.

It turned out that the hands that tried to drag him into the ground did more damage than he initially thought. Running away from the hooked creatures immediately afterwards also didn't help.

Without treatment, his injuries were only going to get worse. He always did have poor self healing, and in this place, with no trace of magic in the air, he was fucked. Even now he was beginning to wince with every step he took.

Basically... He was slowing them down.

Though the tall monster absolutely refused to abandon or leave him behind, Serif knew it would only be a matter of time before he would be killed. Either from his injuries or the demons that lurked in this place.

"...You're right..." He admitted. "But what exactly are ya planning to find here?"

Papyrus smiled in relief as he lets go of Serif's hand and faces the shorter skeleton. "I'm glad you asked!"

He put both hands on his slim hips. "No doubt this place has been abandoned for many years... But! Perhaps we may find a first aid kit or ointments to heal your cuts! Even something as simple as bandages will be enough!" He gleams brightly before turning his attention to the ruins of the hospital.

He doesn't notice the way Serif almost immediately reaches to hold his hand again.

Hand in hand they walk to the decaying iron gates and push the door open. The tall monster winces when the creaking door cuts through the air, breaking the silence. He glances at the statue curiously before walking towards the building. The doors were broken off from the hinges so they had no difficulty entering.

Once they passed the doorway, Serif tightened his hold, making Papyrus wince in pain. He gives the shorter skeleton a questioning look. Serif doesn't answer, just stares at the ceiling with terrified eyes.

Confused, Papyrus looks up and gags.

Swinging steadily side to side was the corpse of a bloody, naked human girl.

The tall monster flinches before stumbling backwards, taking Serif with him. Staring cautiously at the corpse he gently leads the short skeleton into a long hallway filled with many doors. He forces himself to smile and points at the first door.

"H-hey...! P-p-perhaps one o-of these r-rooms have something w-we can use to fix your l-leg...!"

They searched the entire first floor of the building. Though they had not found any medical equipment, they did find a rather worn and faded pink bookbag. It had three still fresh apples, two cans of peaches, and a water bottle inside. Papyrus was reluctant to take the items at first, since he thought it could've belonged to that girl. He quickly chased that thought out of his head and promptly strapped the bag and all its contents on his back.

Not like she was going to use it any more...

The two continued their search on the second floor. They took the stairs since it didn't look like the elevator worked in this ancient building.

Opening the first door he saw, Papyrus was pleasantly surprised when he recognized it as some kind of break room.

'Interesting...'

In the first floor, the rooms were rather empty with the occasional desks, chairs, and tables. But this room was almost packed.

'Was the room always like this...? Or did someone move them here?'

Thinking once again about the girl, he shook his head and walked into the room, closing and locking the door behind them.

Serif, tired of walking, sat on top of a table while Papyrus searched the counters and drawers.

The tall skeleton opened each drawer slowly, trying not to go too fast for fear of missing something. Opening the last drawer he curiously watched five little brown bottles clink harmlessly with one another. Serif heard the sound as well and straightened as he tried to look over Papyrus' shoulder.

"Did you found something?"

Papyrus grabs a bottle and walks over to the chubby monster. "There are these little bottles in the last drawer." He passes the bottle to Serif as the short skeleton squints his eye sockets to read the tiny fonts.

"Health drink?" He mutters under his breath. "Think it's safe?"

Not waiting for an answer he takes a huge sip, downing half its contents, much to Papyrus' annoyance.

Almost immediately he starts to sway dizzily. Papyrus quickly grabs Serif's shoulders to steady him. The short skeleton's pupils disappear for a few seconds before reappearing more strongly than before.

Papyrus looks in amazement as Serif's injuries start to heal. The cuts and bruises from before start to fade, returning to its healthy state once more. The short skeleton looks at his healed legs before jumping off the table and hesitantly walking a few steps. When he felt no pain he looks up at Papyrus with a lazy smile.

"It may taste like lemonade mixed with piss, but whatever was in that drink seemed to heal me."

Papyrus frowns at the other's choice of wording. "Be that as it may... You should be a little more careful. Who knows what was in this strange concoction..." Nevertheless, he puts the bottle in his bookbag. After a beat he walks over to the drawer and puts the rest of the little bottles inside as well.

Better to be safe than sorry...

Once he was finished he was about to question Serif whether they should leave or stay when he hears voices echoing outside their room. Listening intently he whispers. "Do you hear that?"

Serif immediately went still and held his breath. He remembered what happened last time the tall skeleton said that...

They first heard the panicked shoutings. Human screams and monsterly shrieks echoed under their feet. After a few seconds the noise seemed to be ringing throughout the entire second floor. Whatever it was, it was coming closer.

The two jumped when the doorknob jiggled frantically. When the person on the other side realized it was locked they started pounding on the door instead.

"Is somebody in there?! Please open the door!"

"Open the door! Please! If someone's in there please let us in!!"

Like a flash, the tall monster was already at the door. He turned the knob and two humans quickly went inside and slammed the door just as a third figure was about to come in. The young man and his female companion leaned heavily against the door as the being on the other side pounded mercilessly.

After a few heart stopping minutes it went quiet.

Once they thought the creature left the two humans hesitantly stood up and walked over to an empty wooden shelf. They appeared to have forgotten that they weren't alone.

Papyrus watched patiently as they used their combined strength to slide the shelf in front of the door, effectively blocking it. They stood back and sighed simultaneously in relief, most likely happy they were still alive.

Until Serif cleared his throat.

They both turned around, alarm in their features when they saw the skeletons. The female human hurriedly whipped out a pocket knife from her back pocket and aimed it right at the short monster. Serif's eyes widened in horror.

Papyrus instantly reacted.

The human girl cried out in pain when he grabbed her arm, twisted it until the weapon fell out, and violently threw her across the room. She hit the wall loudly and crumpled onto the floor.

Her companion tried to hold him back but Papyrus quickly turned around and sucker punched him in the gut. The human clutched his stomach and fell down with a painful 'oomph!' Serif, meanwhile, secretly grabbed the knife on the ground, shoved it in his pocket, and hurriedly stood next to Papyrus.

Once the tall skeleton realized what he had done, he began to blush and hurried to apologize.

"I-I am t-truly sorry! I did not mean to hurt you!! It's just that y-you were going to h-hurt my friend and I reacted-"

Serif looked at the stuttering monster in sympathy before focusing his attention on the two humans. The female was steadily rising to her feet, while the smaller male was helping her up. The latter looked up in surprise.

"W-wait! You two can talk?" The human male asked.

Papyrus stopped talking and slowly nodded while Serif glared at the human.

"Uh, yeah? We're monsters. Got a problem with it?"

The male winced at Serif's defensive response. "Please! Don't hurt us!" He looked worriedly at his female friend before looking back at them. "M-my sister was just scared! She didn't know you guys were monsters! Please believe me!"

Papyrus grins nervously. "A simple mistake I am sure!" Then claps happily. "Oh! Where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself!"

He took a few harmless steps foreward, ignoring the way the humans recoiled in fright. He put out his hand to politely help them to their feet. "My name is Papyrus and my friend over there-" He gestures to the chubby skeleton. "-is Serif!"

The sister glared, but the man smiled shakily and took the offered hand. "It's n-nice to meet you two... My name is Ben and my sister's name is April. S-sorry for a-almost hurting you..."

"It is alright! You simply acted without thinking!" Papyrus responded. "Besides, I attacked you as well, so I apologize for that."

Ben laughed awkwardly and fixed his glasses. "Please don't think badly about us. We didn't realize that monsters could look like skeletons." He gazes at them curiously. "In fact, this is the first time I've seen your kind before."

Papyrus ponders about that for a bit. 'Now that I think about it... I have never seen another skeleton besides myself and Sans.' He looks at his monster companion and hurriedly adds. 'And of course Serif as well!'

"Not to ruin this little moment, but how did you two end up here?" Serif asks boredly.

"We originally came here for a vacation, but we took a wrong turn..." Ben stammered, and he motions at the space around them. "D-do you k-know what's going o-on here?"

Papyrus shook his head. "Unfortunately, we have found no reason as to why there are creatures here attacking us."

April snorted. "Why do you call them creatures? It's obvious those things are monsters." She eyes the two skeletons with disgust. "The REAL question is, why are your freakish friends attacking us? Do you just hate humans that much?"

"H-hate you...?" Papyrus repeated, eyes filled with hurt.

Serif snapped at her angrily. "In case your blind or just plain stupid those things out there are NOT our friends! They don't even resemble our kind! In fact..." The short skeleton grins emptily. "They look more like humans than monsters anyways."

The human girl quickly bares her teeth. "Well I'm -"

"April!" Ben hissed. "Just keep it to yourself." He gives her a pleading look.

"No!" She shouts, pulling her hand out of her brothers grip and points at Serif. "I don't know who the hell you think you're talking to, but don't you EVER speak to me like that!"

She points at Papyrus, making the tall skeleton startle. "And you! If you ever touch me like that again, I will fucking end you!"

"As if." Serif snorted, not at all impressed by her threats. "Shout all you want, it ain't gonna make ya tougher. Or scarier for that matter..."

The girl leaped at Serif with an animalistic shriek, determined to harm the short monster. Instinctively, Papyrus jumps in front of him.

Her brother tries to restrain her but in her mindless rage, she was much stronger.

"Y-you asshole!" She shrieked, writhing in her brother's grip. "You're not suppose to talk to women like that!"

"Oh now you're just pathetic." Serif scowled from the safety of the tall monster's back. "You humans and your gender issues..."

Papyrus felt his temper rise. He often prided himself as a monster who was not easily angered. Easy to irritate? Sort of. Easy to frustrate? Almost. But easy to anger to the point of resulting in violence? Never! Well, he didn't think that was true, until right now. All he wanted was to help these humans yet the sister continued to be hostile. She even tried to hurt his friend and had the audacity to claim that it was wrong for Serif to disrespect her simply because she happened to be female. How dare she demand respect but didn't even think she had to respect others. If Undyne were here she would have punched the human for that kind of arrogance.

"A-April! Stop it!" Ben whispered breathlessly. "We can't afford to fight right now! We should-"

He wasn't even halfway finished with his sentence before April turned around and expertly backhanded him across the face. The small human fell down and clutched his injured cheek as his glasses bounced off the floor.

Papyrus watched in shock as Ben instantly went silent and stayed on the floor, completely submissive. His sister towered over him with a look of warning, obviously daring him to fight back. This felt oddly familiar. It was like he was back in his living room, safe at home, secretly watching the animal documentaries when Sans wasn't around. The one where the predator catches its prey and the latter seemingly accepts its inevitable fate.

April glares at Ben in dark fury as he cautiously crawls backwards until he hits the wall, never breaking eye contact. The poor man was panting and sweating like an animal, and Papyrus couldn't blame him. Especially with the way his sister was glaring at him as he meekly stared back with such familiar fear that Papyrus made the connection quite easily.

He felt his vision blur with rage as his hands tightened to fists.

Despite what other monsters thought, Papyrus wasn't stupid.

It was obvious that this wasn't the first time this happened...

Without even thinking, Papyrus ran forward, launching himself like a bullet, and tackled the rather large female. She didn't even have time to protest before his fists were bashing her face in. Blood quickly painted her facial features rather beautifully, he briefly thought.

But it wasn't enough.

That honestly scared him. He wants to scream, to shout at April about hurting her own brother! He doesn't even WANT to hurt her at all but...

This FEELS right...

He grabs a hold of her short blonde hair and starts slamming the back of her head on the floor. It was like he was possessed. Never before in his entire life had he ever had this URGE to harm a living being like this. But he couldn't help it. This human had hurt her sibling.

... Maybe he was just in shock? Perhaps seeing a sentient, human being hurt another broke his version of reality, in some way?

Feeling blood sprinkle lightly across his face, he thought about his older brother. He wondered if Sans would ever beat him the way April did her own sibling. He quickly chased that ridiculous thought away.

Sans would NEVER hit or treat him like this.

He felt someone grabbing his wrists and he stopped almost immediately, similar to that of a machine. His empty eye sockets met Serif's panicked white pupils.

"Pap ... You can stop now... You're going to kill her at this rate..."

Papyrus numbly looked down at the young woman and blanched. Her face was barely recognizable. No doubt he had broken her nose and she would need many stitches. Her face was already beginning to bloat to the point that she couldn't even open her eyes.

'... I did all this...?'

He slowly got up and stumbled to his feet. His delicate blood soaked hands trembled, whether in fear or exhaustion, he didn't know.

He turned his blank gaze to the only conscious human in the room. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean for that to happen..."

Said human just looks at him with baffling confusion. Was this guy serious? Who beats the ever living fuck out of someone and say they don't mean it? He hears enough of that bullshit from his sister!

'But this monster doesn't seem the type to attack another person without a reason...' Ben's traitorous inner voice tells him. 'He basically fought for you, dumbass! He stood up for someone as worthless as you! It's not like you were gonna fight for yourself!'

While the human seemed to be debating with himself, the tall skeleton reaches into his bookbag and pulls out a worn small brown bottle. Instead of giving it to Ben by hand he merely puts it on a nearby table and sits on the floor across from the human. Serif slumps to the space next to him.

"After she wakes up give her that medicine." He paused, cocking his head to the side. "You should take a sip as well, for your injured cheek."

Ben does not reply. Papyrus gives April's body an impassive glance. "You should really think about leaving her or at the very least talk to her about how she treats you. You do not deserve this, no one does."

Ben looks at Papyrus as if he was just seeing him for the first time. "Leave her?! B-but I'm her brother! I'm a man! I have to take care of her!" His voice cracks terribly at the end, clearly not believing his own words.

"... Is that what you really think? Papyrus replies back with an almost impatient scoff. "Did you figure that out on your own, or did someone put that belief on you? Siblings, no matter what gender or age, are supposed to take care of each other! They're suppose to love you! Trust you! Respect you!" Ben shudders at each word and awkwardly looks away. Papyrus visibly deflates.

"... It seems to me that you're more afraid of your sister than anything..."

Ben glares at the skeleton and was surprised when the skeleton just patiently stares right back. He had every right to hate this monster, nobody would blame him for feeling that way. After all, this guy just beat his sister half to death, why shouldn't he feel anger?

But as he searched his emotions he realizes he has no negative feelings towards Papyrus. Maybe he was just too tired to feel angry? Or perhaps it was the way the skeleton was staring at him? Even without eyes, Papyrus still managed to look at him with honest concern and such childlike innocence that he doesn't even find it in himself to hate the tall monster.

How could he get angry at a person who clearly doesn't understand his own actions?

Ben gives Papyrus a guilty look and quickly focused his attention on the floor, unable to look at the skeleton in the eye. The silence afterwards is defining.

The mood is broken when the door practically shatters open. The empty bookshelf flies across the room and breaks into a million sharp wooden pieces. Ben and Serif scream in fear as they all hurriedly try to put some distance between them and the door.

Everyone immediately sprang up and quickly huddled together when a familiar figure crawled inside.

'I-It's the girl! The one h-hanging on the c-ceiling!' Papyrus thought in frozen horror and at the same time he hears Ben scream that it was the 'thing that chased us here!'

The woman, now clearly not so dead, turned her head in the direction of the screams. The thick rope hanging around her neck whipped violently as she stood up straighter and stared at her future victims. Papyrus wished she had stayed crouched. At least when she was on her knees they couldn't really see much of her body because of her long, dark hair.

But when she stood up, they could see everything wrong and grotesque about this girl. Her entire lower jaw was missing, as if it was forcefully ripped off. Her tongue was hanging out, swaying side to side as blood dripped down like saliva. She was still naked, of course, though it was obvious that she didn't mind or cared in the slightest. Her entire upper and lower body was exposed, revealing her decaying breasts and genitalia. Her putrid white skin was covered in bloody scratches and oozing open sores. Her sharp metal claws were wet with fresh blood, like she had just finished killing another innocent victim and was ready to add three more to her list.

Papyrus pulled out the knife from the pocket of his blood red jacket. It gleamed menacingly in the rather dark room, and the girl's grey eyes immediately trained on it. She lost interest in Ben, Serif, and even April (who was still passed out on the floor). She stared at the knife for a few seconds before releasing an inhuman howl and darting forward, Papyrus ran forward as well, meeting her halfway.

He ducked under her claws and slashed her face, managing to cut a clean swipe right across her eyes. She stumbled backwards and he quickly kicked her across the chest, sending her flying backwards.

Unfortunately, she didn't seem to need her eyesight to continue fighting. Flipping upward she shook her head wildly before charging forward. Instead of fighting back, Papyrus turns around and runs towards the counter, quickly puts both hands on the top and flips elegantly over to the other side. The mutant girl followed the skeleton's footsteps at a dangerous speed, relying only on her hearing. Since she was blind, she wasn't able to see the counter and painfully crashed with it. She quickly climbed over it like a spider, and randomly slashed at the empty air around her. Perhaps she thought she would eventually slice the skeleton.

Papyrus edged away from her, as her claws just barely managed to graze his jacket. Already there was a long cut across his chest, but luckily it only cut the bloody jacket and not any of his ribs. Back against the drawers, he remained quiet and still, intending to trick the girl into thinking he was dead.

"Papyrus! Are you okay!?"

Papyrus winced as the girl straightened and quickly turned to the direction of the voice. Ben paled, terribly regretting his decision while the chubby skeleton glared at the poor human.

"Seriously...?" Serif muttered under his breath.

Forgetting all about Papyrus, the girl shrieks in their direction before jumping over the counter, determined to slice the monster and human.

Before she even makes it to the other side, her head snaps backwards and collides painfully on the sharp side of the counter. Once she recovers, however, she starts thrashing violently to be released.

Knife clenched between his teeth, Papyrus shifts his position to hold onto the rope on her neck more firmly. His shoes slide across the wet bloody floor, but he puts one feet on the counter and is locked in place.

Spitting the knife out of his mouth, Papyrus yells out. "Ben! Take your sister and go! Serif go with them! I don't know how long I can hold her!"

Ben nods and hurriedly starts dragging his sister out the door but not before giving Papyrus a sorrowful look. Serif angrily shakes his head.

"NO! No fuckin' way! I'm n-not gonna leave you here by yourself!"

"Serif! This is no time to argue!" Papyrus feels his hands loosen and tightens his hold on the grimy rope. "You have to leave! NOW!"

Serif looks at Papyrus with panicked desperation and opens his mouth to say something but yelps in surprise when the demonic girl swipes at him, just managing to cut the front of his jacket.

"O-ok! I'll l-leave!" The short skeleton finally chokes out. "B-but you h-have to PROMISE to find me! Promise me that you'll find me!"

Papyrus looks right into Serif's eyes, ignoring the violent girl for a while and smiles shakily. "I promise! I promise I will find you! Now please go!"

Seemingly content the short monster turns without another word and runs out the room.

'It's just me and you now...'

Papyrus lets the rope glide over his fingers, just enough to allow the girl to trip over herself, before yanking it with all his remaining strength. The demon's body flies backwards, body practically stretched out across the counter.

Papyrus flies into action. Quickly grabbing the knife from the ground he closes his eyes and stabs the girl right between the eyes. He panics when he feels that her movements are not slowing down so he continues stabbing. He doesn't even open his eyes to see where he's stabbing at, too terrified to think that he'll stop if he actually sees what he's doing.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

His hands and sleeves are soaking wet. So is his face. Everything feels wet. And it smells awful, and it sounds disgusting, and-

He stops when he realizes that the girl has stopped moving. She must've stopped ages ago...

He opens his eyes and screams. The knife shakes and falls out of his grasp, cluddering to the bloody tiled floor.

"U-U-Undyne...? H-how... N-no..." He shakes his head. Tears mixed with blood race down his face. He couldn't believe it... He refuses to believe it!

Where the girl once laid, now remained the corpse of his best friend. Blank yellow eyes gazed emptily into his, the spark now gone. There were holes all over her upper body, where he had repeatedly stabbed her to the point of mutilation. Her thin red hair blended well with the blood rapidly flooding the counter.

The poor skeleton blinks. His heart and soul feel like their slowing down. His brain is hazy and his stomach churns, even though he possesses neither of the two. He wants to throw up. He wants to cry until he can't breathe. He wants..

Everything blurs when he closes his eyes. The world is in slow motion and quickly turning grey. He's aware that his head is resting on the wet counter and he's holding onto the hand of his dead friend. The last thing he sees is Undyne's blank stare before everything turns black.

He wants... to go home.