Like Fire! Hellfire!
Salem shrank back in her seat a bit as Grillby flat out ignored Sans and leaned in to take a closer look at her. He said something again, but not being able to understand any of it, Salem stayed quiet. Sans visibly turned red, though whether that was from anger or what Grillby said, Salem had no idea. Grillby reached out a hand and tried to take off Salem's hood, but she quickly dodged and slipped out of her seat. Taking a few steps back, she made sure to keep her head down so no one could actually see her face. Grillby made some sort of weird laugh and looked over to Sans. Leaning on the bar, Grillby spoke to Sans a bit and looked to be having the best time.
"what? buy her? the hell ya want that runt for?.... how much we talkin'?
"Sans."
"just hold on, hold on honey, i'm curious here..."
"SANS!"
"heh, yeah yeah. im just kiddin brat. she ain't for sale grillbz! n' she's worth more than that ya flamin' shit..."
Salem watched the two converse in confusion. Grillby wanted to buy her?! What the actual fuck?! As if taking that as a challenge, the fire elemental pulled out a rather hefty bag of gold. Sans started sweating a bit, being obviously tempted by the sheer amount of gold being offered to him. Seeing Sans' resolve weaken, Grillby pulled out another bag of gold. Sans' eyes went dark a moment before he reached out and grabbed the money.
"WHAT?! Sans!"
"sorry toots, he even offered to clear my tab. meet your new owner kiddo. see ya 'round grillbz."
Pocketing the two bags of gold, Sans gave a wave and spun on his heel. Without even looking back, the skeleton walked out of the restaurant with a smug smile. Clenching her fists, Salem was about to run after the bastard when a flaming hand picked her up by her waist. Struggling like a wild animal, Salem vowed to kick Sans' ass the next time she saw him. Seeming to not especially want to deal with a screaming child, Grillby quickly took Salem into the back and locked her in a small closet.
Not that Salem was any good at telling time, but she figured she was in there for at least a good three hours before the flame brain came back. By then Salem had tired herself out from thinking of ways to get back at Sans. In fact, Salem was practically asleep when she felt herself being dragged out of the closet. By the time she knew what was happening, she was already chained to the floor. Looking down at the steel cuff latched around her ankle, Salem realized she would be getting nowhere unless she died.
"Okay... So which way do I go out this time?"
Unfortunately, despite only whispering, Grillby overheard her. Yanking her by her arm rather painfully, Grillby growled threateningly at Salem. It was clear he would be keeping a close eye on her for the rest of the night. Well shit. Sighing to herself, Salem just kinda sat down in the corner by the juke box. Grillby always seemed to be watching her, even when he was actually doing his job. Every now and then, a monster would look at Salem in slight interest and talk to Grillby in hushed tones. Scrunching up her nose, Salem did her best to not listen. Hugging herself, Salem finally realized that she didn't have Mercy with her. Where did he go? The stuffed animal was nowhere to be seen in the restaurant. Sadly realizing that Grillby most likely threw it away, the small girl crawled into the space between the juke box and the wall. Grillby could still see her, oddly enough, but at least no one else really paid her much mind there.
"Drink up baby, look at the stars. I'll kiss you again, between the bars. Where I'm seein' ya there, with your hands in the air. You're waiting to finally be caught... The people, you've been before. That you don't want around anymore. Or they push and shove, and won't bend to your will. I'll keep them still..."
Salem sung to herself under her breath. She didn't quite remember all the lyrics, but what she did remember seemed to fit the situation. She always did like the song "Between the Bars", though she liked the version by the "Civil Wars" the best. The girl contemplated pulling out her phone to listen to the song properly, but decided against it. She didn't want anyone taking her phone. For multiple reasons. Continuing to just hum to herself now, Salem watched as the long hours passed. Monsters came and went, some drunk, and some just angry. A few would talk to Grillby while looking at her, but always seemed to leave looking upset. Salem really didn't want to know what they were talking about. It was probably about her, and that wasn't a good thing.
Pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them, Salem watched the bar from under her hood. Growing tired, Salem rested her head on her knees and drifted off into a fitful sleep. Now, she didn't have nightmares. Salem never had nightmares. But she did have a hard time staying asleep. Waking up again, Salem found the bar to be empty and almost completely dark. The only light came from the juke box next to her and from the kitchen. Salem could make out some noises coming from back there, but didn't bother to investigate. That is, until she heard a loud crash.
In wary apprehension, Salem stuffed herself further back between the wall and the jukebox to help better hide herself. More violent noises came from the back kitchen until the door blasted open. Ducking her head low and closing her eyes tight, Salem hid and hoped that whatever happened would be quick. The girl stayed silent as footsteps roamed the bar as if looking for something. By now, Salem noticed the smell of smoke and realized how hot it was getting. The place was on fire. And she was shackled to the damned floor. Paling a bit, Salem tried to keep calm. Burning to death was not her ideal way to die here. Maybe Grillby would show up and put out the fire? Or let her go? Heh, funny. But surely he would care that his restaurant was burning to the ground right? He wouldn't just let it turn to ash, right?!
Hearing the footsteps get closer, Salem chanced looking around from her hiding place and gasped to find two feet in front of her. Flinching back, Salem covered her head with her hands and waited for something, anything, to happen. What she wasn't expecting was a deep and familiar laugh.
"what? no thank you?"
Snapping her eyes open and looking up at none other than Sans, Salem didn't know whether to laugh or scream. She chose the later.
"What the actual fuck Sans?! What do you want now? You already sold me! Now you're gonna watch me die? Just go away..."
"and here i thought you'd be glad i came to see ya, honey. common, get up. the fire is spreadin'. it's gettin' a little too hot to handle in here."
"Heh, I'd love to just walk out with ya buddy... But I'm a little tied up at the moment."
With a completely straight face, Salem pulled at the chain connecting her to the bar. Dropping it on the floor with a loud clang, Salem stood up and moved past Sans to the bar. Maybe it would be quicker if she doused herself in alcohol? Shuffling through the bottles, Salem noticed a flash of red and suddenly a demonic goat skull was floating in front of her. Widening her eyes, Salem almost screamed when it shot a laser. Instead of hitting her, it shot the chain trapping her. With another red flash, the skull was gone and Sans was grinning an asshole.
"Well... I guess we can go then..."
"eh, hold on a min honey. there's something else i want first."
Raising a brow, Salem watched Sans walk over to the safe and bust it open. Grabbing all the money he could, Sans turned back to Salem and headed towards the door.
"Really? The money? Are you sure you even wanted to save me?"
"what?! he fuckin owes me a refund for that shit sevice. and honestly, grillbs still didn't pay me enough for ya..."
"I feel so honored. If ya just pulled down my hood and showed I was human he might have paid you triple. Dumb ass..."
"well it's a little late for that idea ain't it honey? 'sides, didn't want em ta know..."
Salem rolled her eyes and followed after Sans. Now outside the establishment, the two started to run towards Waterfall. As they ran, Salem wondered something.
"Hey, why didn't Grilby show up when the place went up in flames?"
"guess ya could say he was already a lil burnt out. don't worry 'bout it. we won't be seein' him anymore."
"Wait... Did... Did you kill him?!"
"so what if i did?"
"Wow... I didn't think you had it in you..."
"excuse me brat?!"
"I'm just saying I didn't think you would kill for me. I'm flattered~"
"don't be stupid. i only wanted the money. ya just happened to still be there."
"Riiight. Which is why you were looking around instead of heading straight to the safe... Gotcha."
"oh shut up kid!"
Giggling to herself, Salem continued to run towards Waterfall with a blushing and angry Sans at her heels.