Determination (Charisk) [OUTDATED]

76 - IT WAS ABANDONED

(FRISK POV)

     It's obvious that Chara had another 'vision'. I'm not stupid, and she's a bad liar. But as to exactly what she saw... I'm not sure. Whatever it was, it was enough to make Chara want to avoid shortcuts.

     "Ugh, it's too hot." Chara slipped her Jacket off and tied it around her waist. "How do you deal with the heat so well?"

     "Arizona scrapyard, remember?" She held my hand.

     "You know..."

     "Hm?"

     "Since you climbed on and played with burning hot sheet metal—"

     "It wasn't just sheet metal, but sure, go on."

     "How come your hands aren't burned or calloused in any way? They're  still super soft and smooth." She squeezed my hand slightly harder.

     "I... dunno. Magic would probably be the easiest explanation."

     "Mm."

     "You don't seem satisfied with that answer." She waved it off.

     "Never mind, it's not that important. What is important, is this." Chara pointed to a wall, worse for wear, that was blocking our path.

     Turns out, we had ended up past where I had fought with Pyrope. And after a few minutes of walking, there was a large, dilapidated building.

     "It's an old factory," Chara explained. "Usually people use the elevators to go around but..."

     "We can't really do that."

     "Maybe Alphys can help?"

     "I'll check." I called Alphys. One ring... two rings... three rings... "No answer." Chara popped her back and did a couple other stretches.

"Hmm..." She inspected the shut door. "Maybe if I can..." She put her hands on the edges of the dark metal doorframe. Thin sparks of purple electricity ran across the wall. A bead of sweat ran down her cheek. Suddenly, the door opened loudly, before being forcefully kept open by glowing purple wires. "Hff.. hff... gimmie a sec.. that took a lot out of me." She put her hands on her knees.

"Hey," I put my hand on her shoulder. Her crimson red eyes glittered in the warm glow of Hotland. "Don't push yourself, Magic takes a lot of energy. Er, so I've heard." She wiped the sweat of her forehead and dusted off the front of her shorts.

"Alright, I'm good now." She looked into the dark factory. "Spooky factory, here we come."

. . .

     We walked through room after room of static conveyor belts, walls made of rusted pipes, and metal presses with no metal to press. The place was like a maze. Dead end after dead end, completely in the dark.

     "Chara.. this place gives me the creeps." My voice echoed the empty halls.

     "Yeah. Me too." Chara was silent for a few seconds. "Maybe we should turn back, find another way around the factory."

     "Why?"

     "I don't know... I just have a bad feeling." Chara blinked a few times. "Wait a minute."

     "Do you think it's..."

     "Yeah." We looked down the dark hallway. There was a single room. "A ward." We started to move forward. Chara held onto my sleeve, relying on my ESP to guide us through the dark. We turned into the room.