Forgotten Phoenix (New Purpose Sequel)

Chapter 20- Rumors

(~Serif's POV + Time Skip~)

Roman's gone again. I've already searched all over the house for him. I have no clue as to when he left or where he could've gone.

'How could you lose him AGaIn?'

I open the front door and look outside. There's no footprints in the snow. If he left, it had to have been a while ago. It's the middle of the afternoon and I never even noticed until now. I let out a growl mixed with a groan.

I know something isn't right with him. I know my brother, maybe even more than Mama does. Roman's not a hotheaded jerk. He wouldn't just disappear every time he felt like it. Roman didn't break or undermine the things I cared about. He didn't keep secrets.

"Kid?" Dad's voice sounds out as well as footsteps coming down the stairs. I flinch, being caught red-handed with the front door wide open. I turn to him and quickly shut it behind my back. Dad pauses after getting down the last step. I immediately notice his pupils and hands shaking as he looks down at me.

I anxiously ask him, "Is Mama okay? Did something happen?" I try my best to avoid the whole topic of what I'm doing. Last time I tried to search for Roman, I got in trouble. Dad doesn't answer me. Instead, he quickly approaches me and bends down on his knees. We're now face to face with each other. His eye sockets are wide as he observes mine. Then, Dad's hands shakily cup around my face. "Your name.. It's Serif, isn't it?" He lets out a breathless chuckle. I place my hands over his, tilting my head in puzzlement while answering him, "Yeah..? B-But why are you asking that? What's going on?"

Dad smiles. "I.. I just want to get a good look at ya, that's all. Look at ya.. You're all grown up." He says gently. His demeanor has completely changed from this morning. Though, it's not like today has been normal at all.

'Dad can be weird sometimes.'

I give up on trying to understand everything. I simply smile with an exhausted sigh, "Okay Dad. Whatever you say." The next second after, I'm pulled into his tight embrace.

(~Blue's POV~)

It hurts my soul to think about it. The rumors are true. Monsters have indeed gone missing in Waterfall, being killed one by one. After some investigation, scattered piles of dust were found throughout the ecosystem. It's been heartbreaking to think about, to say the least.

My patrol was interrupted when I received the call. Undyne had wanted to speak with me. I didn't tell my brother that I had left Snowdin.

From her wall of camera monitors, we observe the underground. "Why did you need to speak to me?" "T-This..." The scientist clicks multiple keys on her control center. One of the cameras in Waterfall is pulled up to take majority of the screen. My eyes widen when I see Roman just wandering around freely.

'Where is my brother?! He was supposed to watch the kids!'

"S-Sans, you n-need to s-s-surrender t-them o-o-over to the Queen." Undyne says firmly. I look to her, stunned. What is she even saying? They haven't done anything wrong. Her voice is desperate as she pleas with me, "The c-child is d-d-dangerous, let alone t-t-there's a-a full-grown h-human that came with it!!! Please, t-think o-of the underground!! They m-must be brought in." I haven't been here long and yet I'm already overwhelmed with the conversation.

'I've heard enough.'

"I think we have bigger threats to focus on right now." I say in a rushed manner. My eyes don't leave the screen.

'For star's sake, my nephew is in Waterfall alone when there's a murderer on the loose! I have to get him home nOw-'

W-W-WhAT?!" Undyne's body trembles as she stares at me with disbelieving eyes. "There's no t-t-talking t-through this s-s-situation, S-Sans.. I thought t-that between y-you and P-Papyrus, y-you'd b-be the o-one to l-l-listen to reason! I'm speaking to y-you a-as a friend when I-I tell you t-to g-get rid of them. I watched them come f-from the ruins.. D-D-Did they f-force you to s-shelter them? I k-know they're s-s-staying with you. I know y-y-you don't like to f-fight b-but they are m-murderers-"