Chapter 2

Piper watched Toriel in silence as she applied ice packs to her bruised back. She lay in one of Toriel’s spare beds as the monster worked on her, her upper half almost bare. They’d had to get rid of her tank-top since it was torn up beyond repair from her fall. Walking around in a bra wasn’t unusual for the spunky human, but she’d rather be covered up than so exposed before this stranger.

“Alright, my dear. That should help your bruises,” the motherly monster said cheerfully. “Are you hungry? I have some leftover butterscotch-cinnamon pie.”

“‘M allergic to cinnamon…”

“Oh! I’m so sorry-”

“Ya didn’t know.” She pushed herself up on her elbows to look at the goat-like monster better. “I’m lookin’ for someone.”

“You have told me that. Though I doubt I have seen them.” She gently pulled Piper’s unruly mane of long, brown hair back into a ponytail with a length of green ribbon. “Perhaps you could describe them for me?”

“Um… they got dark brown hair that’s pretty short… narrow eyes… a blue and purple sweater-”

Toriel froze. “Blue… and purple…?”

“Yeah…?” Her eyes widened and she sat up more. “Did ya see them?”

“... why does it matter to you?”

She frowned. “I have to find ‘em. They need me.”

The monster appeared to cringe slightly. “I thought that, too…”

“Ya don’t understand, lady!” Piper sat up quickly, ignoring the pain and the ice packs sliding off her back. “They need me! I was supposed to there for ‘em, but I was too late! I gotta bring ‘em home! Now did ya see them or not?!”

Toriel frowned, her eyes unreadable, before she answered. “Yes… They went through the exit a day or so ago…”

“Then I gotta go after them!” She tried to get up, but fell back onto the bed with a groan of pain as her injuries screamed at her and her nerves surged with pain.

The monster sighed and pushed her gently back onto the bed. “Not right now. You’re injured and you need to heal.”

“Screw that! I need to go find ‘em!”

“No. You’re injured and half naked. You’d freeze to death outside the Ruins.”

Piper growled, but didn’t get back up. She hated to admit that the monster was right.

“Good. You… You can go after them tomorrow, when you’ve rested.” Toriel left her bedside and headed for the door. “Please, stay put.”

The human didn’t reply, only silently watching her close the door. She lay down in the bed and sighed. Sleep sounded wonderful right now… so she closed her eyes and drifted off, allowing slumber to take her.

When she opened her eyes again, she could see that it was several hours later. The hallway lights were off. Toriel was probably asleep… which meant she couldn’t stop her from leaving.

She sat up and slowly got to her feet. It took her some time to steady herself before she padded silently towards the door. She stopped when saw a Tupperware box with a slice of pie in it. There was a note on it. She picked it up and read it.

‘Dear Piper, I wanted to make you something to help you feel better. So, I made you a butterscotch pie. I hope you enjoy it. -Toriel

She smiled softly, though didn't know what to go with it. Something in the back of her mind told her to put it into her pocket. When she did, her eyes widened as the pie disappeared from view.

Once she overcame her shock, she started on her journey to the door again. She peeked out and snuck into the other bedroom to see what else she could use.

Toriel was asleep in the bed, her back to the door. Piper would have left if she didn’t see a dresser drawer open with some clothes inside. She looked at Toriel ruefully before tiptoeing across the room. She froze when the monster shifted in her sleep, and moved again towards the drawer.

She dug through the clothes to find something warm. Toriel said it would be cold, and she wanted to be prepared. Her sights fell on an enormous pink sweater with Mr. Dad-Guy embroidered onto the front in thick black letters. She slipped it on and grabbed a scarf for her exposed neck, then slipped back out.

Piper quickly made her way down the stairs and started to run down the path towards the exit. Her pain would be worth it if she could find them before something bad happened to them.

She grinned when she saw the door, and her pace quickened. “Yes!” she shouted as she practically ran into the door, trying to push it open.

Nothing happened.

She tried to pull it open.

Nothing.

She growled angrily, trying again and again. Each time she failed, she grew angrier and angrier until, unable to contain herself, she punched the door with a mighty scream.

“The door is locked.” Piper quickly turned to see Toriel standing behind her. “I locked it after they left.”

“Unlock it. Now.”

“Do you really think you can survive out there? Monsters will kill you, like they’ve killed other humans.”

“I know of the tales. Kids went missing on the mountain. Musta’ fallen down here. But I ain’t a kid. Ya don’t know what I’ve lived through. This’ll be a cakewalk.” The human snarled, her hazel eyes bright with fury. “So unlock this door so we can go home!”

Toriel sighed and withdrew a key from the pocket of her nightdress. “Fine. But don’t come back.”

“Whatever. She took the key and unlocked the door. She tossed it back and looked at Toriel with an unreadable expression. “... Thanks for helping me…”

The monster smiled sadly. “You’re welcome. Be safe out there.”

“Eh. No promises.” She pushed open the doors and stepped into the darkness with her head held high. “I’m comin’, Frisk… please hold on…”