Backfired
Frisk stalked through the back streets of the Under-City. Her brows furrowed in concentration. They sun was well overhead now as she continued through the winding alleyways toward her next destination. She had been surveying all of the Gambino’s usual hang out locations all morning until she had finally spotted on of Ludo’s footmen that she had recognized from the ambush. She was now tailing him closely, hoping that he would bring her to his boss. So far she hadn’t had much luck as she followed the man; it looked like he had taken the day off. All he had done was pick up his dry-cleaning and go grocery shopping as she watched him. She was about to give up and try to find someone else to track when suddenly the man started making his way to a particular seedy area of town. She perked up and trailed behind him staying well out of sight until they had come to some sort of night club. Frisk read the now unlit neon sign of the closed establishment as the man walked in through the front door. The Flamingo.
Frisk hadn’t realized that this club was under the Gambino’s management. They must have acquired it recently. She quickly darted through the street to hide behind a few empty bins in an alleyway across from the building. She settled back on her haunches as she watched the front door of the establishment with bated breath. If Ludo was in there, then he would have to come out eventually, and when he did frisk would be ready. She took out the pistol from its hiding place tucked in the waist band of her pants under her shirt and removed the safety before she cocked the hammer back. She then held it tightly in both her hands as she leaned her weight back against the wall. She felt her heart beat loud in her ears; the rhythm was strong and steady. She would only get one shot, and she was determined to make it count. She waited.
Hours past and nothing moved from within the club, but still Frisk watched. Then suddenly the door opened. Frisk breath hitched as she quickly aimed her weapon at the entrance way. She kept her hands firm and her arms solid as she waited for the men to exit. Four men emerged from the building. As Frisk studied their faces anger swelled in her chest. She recognized them all as the foot soldiers that had attacked Mittsy, and if all of them were here that could only mean that Ludo was also present. Just as she had predicted Ludo then strolled out into the sunlight after his men. He briefly barked a few orders at the group before the men turned away and headed out to the streets on whatever mission Ludo had just given them. Ludo stayed behind as he agitatedly puffed on a cigarette. Frisk eyes turned dark in rage at the sight of his sinister expression as she refined her aim, her target being his mouth. She wanted to make sure that she wiped that evil grin off of his face forever.
As Ludo leaned his weight back on the building wall, finishing up his smoke, Frisk knew that she had the perfect shot, it was now or never. She strengthened her grip on the gun and moved her finger to the trigger. She took a deep breath and then …nothing. She couldn’t get her herself to pull her finger back. Frisk angrily shook her head trying to shake away her hesitation as she re aimed the weapon. Her feury was boiling inside of her, screaming at her to fire, but she just couldn’t do it. She gritted her teeth and cursed herself silently as she tried again, but still her finger refused to move. Frisk seethed at herself as she was almost tempted to throw the gun away in anguish. She really was useless after all wasn’t she?
Suddenly something struck Frisk hard over the back of the head. She fell forward at the impact, dazed but not unconscious. She tried to get back up again, before a firm hand gripped the back of her short hair roughly, pulling her hard to her feet. Frisk struggled but felt herself being restrained.
“Bad move there girly.” A stern voice sounded from next to her ear. “you should have took that shot when you had the chance.”
Frisk stiffened at the voice. She recognized it immediately. As she forced her head to turn her breath hitched as she realized it was Ricky who had captured her. Frisk struggled more violently as Ricky began to drag her from the ally. In her scuffle her gun was launched from her grip. it slid out of sight behind one of the empty bins.
Ludo’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw his partner move toward him from the shadowed ally with the girl that he had just ordered all of his men to find, writhing in his grip. At the sight his wolfish grin immediately spread from ear to ear.
“Hey boss, look what I found digging around in the trash.” Ricky said as he fought Frisks wriggling form over to Ludo.
“Ricky, I could kiss you!” Ludo replied gleefully as he gave out a happy laugh before sauntering over to meet his partner in the street. Ricky paused briefly, taken aback slightly at Ludo’s comment. He didn’t think he had ever seen his boss this happy before.
“Uh, I appreciate the gesture and all boss, but I think I would be better off with a raise.” He said. Ludo laughed hardily at his quip, his grin growing larger and larger the closer he got.
Oh he would most definitely be giving Ricky a raise, as well as a bonus, a big fat one. Ludo couldn’t even remember the last time he had been in such a good mood, but this time however, he wasn’t going to make the mistake of being merciful. No, this time he was going to make sure he finished what he started and leave no trail behind him to be followed. Ludo bent down to Frisks level, fixing her with a terrifying smile.
“Well little girl, you’re a lot more trouble then you seem now aren’t you?” He said in a deadly voice. Frisk just met his menacing smirk with a livid glare as she attempted to launch herself at him. Ricky’s eye brows shot up in surprise at the tiny girl’s sudden strength.
“Geez boss, she’s feisty.” He said as he tightened his hold. Ludo just chuckled as he led the way back to The Flamingo.
“She won’t be for long.” He said with a devilish smirk. “Bring her to the car Ricky we’re going to take our new friend for a ride.”
Ricky moved to drag Frisk to the car behind Ludo, but she fought him every step of the way. With a frustrated huff Ricky raised a fisted hand before bringing it down swiftly at the back of her head. Frisk went limp after one blow.
Sans was frantic as he took short cut upon shortcut through the city looking for Frisk.
“Stupid, stupid girl!” He growled angrily to himself as he continued to search for her hysterically. What the hell was she thinking? She was going to get herself killed if he didn’t find her soon…. Or maybe he was already too late.
Sans shook his head at that thought. No, he couldn’t think that way, there was still a chance the kid was ok. However, as he jumped to all of the regular hangouts of the Gambino’s his fragile hope began to crumble away when he still found no sign of Frisk anywhere.
Sans was beginning to feel the effects of his expended magic. His left eye socket was on fire. It burned painfully from the prolonged use. He knew he didn’t have too many jumps left in him, but he didn’t care as he took another shortcut, hopping through a tear in reality that only his left eye could see. He came out at the other end in front of The Flamingo, it was the last place Sans could think of to look as the Gambino’s had only recently repossessed it after Rosso missed his payment. Sans winced slightly at the memory of Rosso, and what the Gambino’s had done to him. The Gambino’s were cold and cruel. They didn’t give second chances. If they found Frisk, or if Frisk found them, then they would kill her without hesitation.
Sans scanned the area and felt his soul sink when he came up empty yet again. He exasperatedly clutched his hands to his eye socket. This wasn’t working. For all he knew he might have just missed her at one of the other locations he had already visited. He needed a better plan, something more efficient and more organized. Unfortunately there wasn’t time to think of any better way. Sans let out one more huff before he prepared to jump again. He would just have to double back and search all of the locations over and over, and pray that he would be lucky enough to somehow find her. Sans settled his burning left eye on yet another shortcut, but before he took a step toward it something glistened in the nearby ally way distracting his gaze.
Sans hesitantly stepped toward the alleyway, before moving aside the empty bin obstructing the object from his sight. As soon as his pinpricks fell to Frisks gun abandoned on the cobblestones, Sans felt dread creep up his spine. The safety was off and the hammer was cocked. She was preparing to fire, which meant that she had found Ludo.
Sans quickly leapt forward and grabbed at the gun opening up the cylinder to check if she had fired any rounds. When he saw that all the bullets were still accounted for, he almost let himself sigh with relief until he realized that if she hadn’t taken the shot then that meant someone had gotten to her before she could.
Sans snapped his gaze to the rest of the alleyway scanning it desperately for any other clues. He felt his pinpricks darken when they focused on a few drops of bright red crimson staining one of the dirty cobblestones of the ally. Blood. Frisk’s blood.
Sans bent down and touched the red stain. The blood coated his fingertips a brilliant red against stark white bone. There wasn’t a lot of it, but enough to indicate that there had been a struggle. It was still wet witch meant that she had been taken recently. There was still a chance that he could find her. He could still bring her home.
Sans quickly pocketed the weapon before he spun around on his heels preparing himself to take a different shortcut then before. Ludo had gotten to Frisk before she could get to him, which meant that if Sans wanted to find Frisk he would have to find Ludo first. Sans stepped through the tear emerging moments later in front of MTT Casino Royal. He needed information on the Gambino’s and he needed it quick.
Sans stormed through the front doors, past the gambling area and through the lounge. He pushed his way past the bellhops, and threw Mettaton’s security out of his way as he burst through the robots main office doors. Mettaton sat at his desk in slight shock at the skeletons sudden and dramatic appearance, before his eyes narrowed in annoyance.
“What are you doing here?” He demanded. Sans strutted over to Mettaton’s desk.
“I need information.” He said. Mettaton raised a questioning eyebrow.
“What information?” He asked.
“The Gambino’s, I need to know where Ludo is.” Sans continued. Mettaton sneered at the mere mention of the underboss’ name.
“Ha! I have absolutely no business with that rude low life.” Mettaton snipped. “And if you want me to cooperate you will also watch your attitude Sans. You may be Asgore’s consigliere but that doesn’t give you any special privileges in my casino.” He continued with a huff.
“Honestly, between your bad manners and Ludo’s complete disregard for common courtesy, I have had quite enough of frankly insulting surprise visits for one week.” Mettaton said. Sans slammed his hands down on Mettaton’s desk, effectively silencing the robot.
“Ludo was here?” He asked, fixing Mettaton with a dark stare. Mettaton gulped lightly before regaining his composure.
“He came in a few days ago.” Mettaton replied.
“Why?” Sans demanded.
“He was asking about that brat Asgore hired.” Mettaton answered, the sneer returning to his face at the thought of Frisk. “He said something about his boss looking for a new contact, though I told him he was wasting his time, that she was nothing but a street rat.” Sans clenched his fists on top of the desk.
“You told him who she was?!” Sans questioned, his voice growing more and more menacing with each passing moment. Mettaton blinked in shock staring wide eyed at the skeleton before him.
“I did nothing of the sort!” He retorted quickly. “I just stated that her reputation was blown out of proportion, I didn’t give him her name or any other information for that matter.” He said.
“You gave him exactly what he needed to find out who she was, and now if she dies it’s on your hands!” Sans growled. Mettaon furrowed his brow in confusion.
“Wh- what do you mean by that?” He asked.
“It means that you are going to help me find out where ludo took the kid, or so help me I am going to disassemble you screw by screw, capuche?” Sans replied, his cyan pupil bursting to life in his pitch black socket. Mettaton shrunk down in his chair.
“I- I have immunity! I have protection from Asgore!” He stuttered. Sans just chuckled darkly.
“You really think you’re going to keep that immunity when Asgore finds out that you just sold out one of his employees to the Gambino’s, the Pansies biggest enemy?” He asked. “Do you honestly think he will still protect you after he learns that you have been playing nice with Mittsy’s murderer?”
“I didn’t know.” Mettaton whimpered.
“You better Start talking Pal, if you plan on keeping your pretty little position on Asgore’s good side.” Sans demanded.
Mettaton stumbled out of his seat, before making his way to the elegant mahogany book shelf across the room. He then proceeded to grab a ledger from off of its shelf, before he began flipping nervously through the pages.
“I - I don’t know where Ludo would have taken the girl, but I can give you the faces and names of his underlings. A lot of them gamble here. I have there records in order to keep tabs on their debt. They will know where he is.” Mettaton stuttered as he made his way back to the desk, presenting the binder to Sans.
Sans quickly snatched it and flipped through the pages, memorizing the faces and names of Ludo’s goons. After he was finished he promptly stood up and made his way to exit Mettaton’s office.
“Wait!” Mettaton called after him. “Does this mean we' re square? You won’t let Asgore know about all this?” Mettaton asked a pleading tone in his voice.
“If the girl lives, then you will have nothing to worry about.” Sans replied darkly, before continuing out the door.
Frisk’s head pounded painfully as she groggily opened her eyes. She winced at the sudden brightness as she squinted at her surroundings. It looked like she was in some sort of shack. The floors and walls were wood and were weathered with age. The room she was in was empty save for a desk and a few crates. The windows were all covered up with boards or sheets, which would have left her in darkness if it wasn’t for the annoyingly bright light bulb positioned in the ceiling right above her head. Frisk tried to move but found her hands and feet had been tied to the arms and legs of the chair that she was sitting in.
As her clouded mind slowly began to clear, the direness of her current situation began to sink in. She was in trouble, a lot of trouble. Frisk began to struggle. She tried to work at the binds holding down her hands hoping to loosen the knots. If she could just get one hand free then she would be able to escape.
“You really are a lively little thing aren't you?” a playful voice sounded from a shadowed corner. Frisk snapped he gaze to the stranger in the room. She narrowed her eyes when she realized it was Ludo. His smile seemed to widen at Frisks angry expression.
“You know, you really should have took my mercy and fled Ebott while you had the chance.” He drawled. “If you had then you at least would have made it much more difficult for me to find you, but instead you made it so much easier for me Frisk.” He laughed.
Frisk stiffened when she heard Ludo say her name. He knew. He knew who she was. He knew that she was working for the Pansies. He knew everything. Ludos smile grew into a menacing grin. As he casually strolled closer to Frisk tied to the chair.
“So little girl, you ready to tell me who you snitched to about what you saw in the alley?” He asked as he let an icy eye stare down at Frisks small form. He placed a hand firmly on the back rail of the chair as he loomed over her.
“If you cooperate, I won’t drag out your suffering. I’ll make it nice and quick just like I did for your friend, you have my word.” He sneered as he made the action of crossing his heart with his index finger.
Frisk met his cold glare with her own determined one as she pursed her lips tightly together. She wasn’t going to tell Ludo anything. Ludo raised an eyebrow at her defiance as he let out a low chuckle.
“Oh I see, you must be the strong silent type.” He said as he backed himself off of Frisks chair. “I guess we’ll just have to fix that.” He growled.
Ludo then spun around and struck Frisk hard across the face. Frisk saw stars as she felt the sting of pain blossom over her cheek. Ludo then grabbed her by the hair and wrenched her head back forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Let me make something clear to you girly. I am not a patient man.” He said, his tone growing more and more threatening. “I want names, I want faces, and I want them now, and if you won’t give them to me willingly, then I will find a way to take them from you.” He spat before letting go of her hair and allowing her face to fall forward. Frisk took only a moment to allow her vision to clear before she returned her disobedient stare to Ludo once again. Ludo’s grin twitched as he narrowed his eyes at her in slight annoyance.
“Fine you want it the hard way? Then the hard way it is.” He said as he hit her again.
Leroy Thompson sauntered through the busy market square, keeping his eyes peeled as he scanned through the bustling crowd. He grumbled to himself in frustration. How was he supposed to find a puny pipsqueak in this sea of endless faces? Ebott was a large city after all, he didn’t know what his boss was thinking just ordering all of his men to search for one insignificant girl.
Leroy sighed heavily. He didn’t understand why Ludo was so worked up. Wasn’t the brat just a nobody street rat like Ludo had said? But, he supposed his boss had always been the cautious type. He guessed that after Ludo had come down from his good mood after they had successfully offed that mouse monster a few days ago, he had decided against his original decision to spare the girl. Leroy couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt at the thought. If he did find the girl he would be bringing her to her death. Ludo didn’t keep people alive for long after he got his hands on them.
Though Leroy had done a lot of bad things in his life, he never thought that killing a young girl would make the list. He had thought that Ludo would have some sort of moral conscious. He had thought that he would have to draw the line somewhere, but after five years of working under the Gambino’s underboss, he soon figured out that it wasn’t the case. In the end it didn’t matter if they were men women or children, Ludo would cut them down if they got in his way, and Leroy definitely didn’t want to be the next in line, which is why he ignored his guilt and continued to follow his orders. Better the girl then him. Besides, if he did find her maybe his boss would reward him with a raise. Leroy smiled at the thought of a nice fat bonus being included with his nice fat pay check. Money was money after all, blood stained or not it would still buy him all of the things that he wanted in life. Leroy hurried to leave the market square when he found that the girl wasn’t there. Maybe she would be by the harbor, or maybe the park? He shrugged as he decided to check both areas.
As he walked down the street, he couldn’t help but feel like someone was watching him. Leroy narrowed his eyes as he continued to nonchalantly saunter through the now empty road way. He discreetly placed his hand under his overcoat and griped at his gun on his belt when he heard footsteps following behind him. Leroy kept up his pace, before he darted in to a narrow ally way and spun around pointing the revolver at the street behind him, only there was no one there. Leroy lowered his weapon confused.
“Heheh, guess again pal.” He heard a voice echo from behind him. Leroy almost dropped his weapon as he swiftly turned his head to the voice where a short skeleton stood lazing his weight against the ally way wall.
How did he get in front of him? Leroy was certain that the footsteps were coming at him from behind. Leroy shook away the questions angrily. It didn’t matter how he got there, the only thing that mattered was that the monster bit his bullet. Leroy raised his gun and aimed it at the skeleton. The monster however didn’t seem fazed in the slightest as he simply raised a brow bone unimpressed by Leroy’s threat.
“Really friend?” The monster asked, his ever-present skeletal smile growing a tad larger. “Is that any way to greet a new pal?” He said as he extended his left arm out in Leroy’s direction.
Sans then snapped his index finger upward before Leroy’s gun was surrounded in an aura of blue and ripped right out of his hand. Leroy stared in shock at the monster after he was stripped of his weapon. Sans only chuckled lightly in response.
“Now, whattdya say we try this again? My name is Sans, Sans the skeleton.” Sans said with a smirk extending the other phalanges of his left hand, presenting Leroy with an offered handshake.
“I believe that you and I can help each other out.” He continued. Leroy stood dumbfounded at Sans outstretched skeletal hand in complete confusion.
“What?” He managed to squeak. Sans grinned.
“You’re interested in finding the street rat from the alleyways aren’t you?” Sans asked. “Well it just so happens that I’m interested in finding her to, and I figure two heads are better than one, so whaddya say we help each other out? I scratch your back and you scratch mine?” He continued. Leroy hesitantly stepped forward, fixing the monster with suspicious eyes.
“What do you need her for?” He asked. Sans shrugged.
“I’m from a rival gang of the Pansies, the dog squad. I was hoping to get some info out of her before she got picked up by your gang." He answered. Leroy raised an eyebrow.
“How did you know that the Gambinio’s were after her?” He questioned, still not convinced. Sans let out a light laugh.
“Buddy, common every human gang in Ebott is after her .” Sans replied. Leroy furrowed his brow as he continued to eye the skeleton. Could he really trust him? He was a monster after all, but Leroy guessed that if Sans had wanted him dead he would have killed him already, and he couldn’t deny the fact that he was at the end of his rope when it came to leads on the brats whereabouts. Maybe the universe was finally showing him a good turn. Mabey he would still be able to get that bonus after all.
“Well pal, don’t leave me hanging here.” Sans urged stretching his hand out further, wiggling his finger bones impatiently. Leroy grinned smugly,
"Alright monster it’s a deal." He said as he clasped Sans hand firmly. Sans smile went wicked as soon as he grasped Leroy’s hand. He then tightened his grip and fixed Leroy with dark sinister eye sockets.
“Glad we could come to a mutual arrangement.” He said as his cyan eye burst to life. Leroy didn’t even get a chance to scream as Sans pulled him through a short cut.
When Leroy finally opened his eyes again he found that he was no longer in the alleyway by the market square in Ebott instead he was standing at least 250 feet in the art on a rickety platform held up by a crane in the shipping yard.
Leroy’s breath hitched as he stood rigid, suspended above the ocean. The wind ripped through his hair and howled in his ears as the waves growled and swirled beneath him like a pack of hungry wolves ready to tear him apart.
“Now that’s funny, how did you end up way over there?” He heard Sans drawl from across the platform.
Leroy snapped his terrified gaze to the skeleton who was standing with his hands laxity in his pockets on the other end of the plank flashing Leroy a lazy smile.
“Wh- what did you do?!” Leroy demanded his eyes wild with fear. Sans just chuckled dryly.
“I thought we should go to a more private place to chat.” He responded. “And see, this place is as private as it gets. There’s no one around for miles.” he continued. “No one can hear us, even if we scream our lungs out.” Sans said casting Leroy a menacing grin.
“You want to put it to the test?” Sans asked darkly. Leroy scowled at the skeleton. He shouldn’t have trusted him; he should have known better then to take the word of a monster.
“You rotten liar.” Leroy sneered. Sans shrugged.
“I said I would help you out, if you helped me out.” Sans replied. “So tell me what I need to know and I’ll help you down.” He said tossing Leroy a sly wink.
“I ain’t telling you shit!” Leroy seethed from his end of the platform and sans just flashed him an unimpressed look.
“What was that pal? I didn’t quite catch what you said?” He replied as he took a prominent step forward on the plank toward Leroy. “Let me just get a little closer to you and you can try telling me that again.” Sans said smugly. As he stepped forward the platform began to shift, tilting in Leroy’s direction. Leroy almost lost his balance at the shift, nearly being tossed in to the hungry ocean below.
“Stop! Stop!” He begged. “You’re throwing the balance off! Go back!” Sans tilted his head to the side as he held his foot out in front of him as if contemplating taking another step forward.
“How a boat you start talking and will sea how things float ?” Sans replied. Or maybe they won’t float at all?” He continued.
“Wh- what do you want to know?” Leroy asked his voice breaking with fear.
“I want to know where your boss is.” Sans said.
“I don’t know where he is!” Leroy shouted back. Sans tutted and shook his head disappointedly.
“You know, I have this sinking feeling that you’re not being entirely honest with me here Leroy.” Sans said as he took yet another prominent step forward causing the platform to tilt even more. Leroy fell to his knees, trying desperately to stay on the plank.
“Please, don’t come any closer.” He begged, but Sans only huffed dryly back.
“How’s about I give you one more chance to bail yourself out of this pot of hot water .” Sans replied. “I’ll ask you another question.”
“Where would you have taken the girl if you had found her?” He demanded.
“There’s a shack that Ludo likes to take people to be interrogated.” Leroy whimpered as he trembled on the edge of the platform. Sans took a step backward. Leroy felt relief as the platform began to right itself.
“Where is this shack?” Sans continued to question.
“It’s by the old train car grounds, it’s an abandoned station. It closed a couple of years ago. We were instructed to take her there if we found her.” Leroy said. Sans then took another step backwards completely leveling out the platform once again. Leroy let out a shaky breath as he grounded himself on the now straightened plank.
“Thanks pal that helps me out quite a lot.” Sans said turning his back to Leroy. “Now, I’ll keep up my end of the bargain and let you down.” He said as he ignited his left eye once again, before stepping through another one of his short cuts back to Ebott.
“Hope you can swim.” He shot over his shoulder as he disappeared. Leaving his end of the platform un weighted.