Guiltale

Guiltale Chapter Nineteen: SOUL Searching

Chara watched me inquisitively as I split my hair down the middle, tying up one side so I could braid the other without random strands interweaving with the wrong side. The ghost grabbed her own hair for a moment, then got distracted by her translucent hand.

"You have a plan, right? For what we're doing? We need to find Harlow."

I stopped, thinking, then closed my eyes and began braiding again.

"I know. But I do worry now that all we're going to find is a... body." I said matter-of-factly, tying up my left side so I could begin braiding my right.

Chara was taken aback. "You seem... oddly fine with that..."

I pursed my lips, sighing. "I accepted that reality a while ago... we weren't all that close anymore, but I really do have to find them, I... I couldn't live with myself if I didn't. But regardless of that, I don't think-"

"Wait. You thought they were dead before you even climbed Mt. Ebott..." Chara's eyes softened. "But you said you wanted to save them?"

"I was trying to be... gentle about it. Or maybe I was lying to myself... I don't know. If this 'Undyne' character is as ferocious as people make her out to be, and there are other royal guards even a bit like her, then..." I trailed off, pausing my plaiting again. Chara's brows were furrowed. "Harlow is - was - physically weaker than me. She wouldn't be able to FIGHT or dodge attacks the way I can. Harlow was a bit of a shut-in – someone who doesn't go outside often, er..."

"I think I get what you mean. Comme un casanier, hein?"

I finished up my braid, tying the end finally. "Er... yeah, sure? But yeah, they weren't very active... anyway, we were coming to the inn for something, right?"

"Hmm...? There's been so many things happening that- oh right! We were going to call mère to ask about this third Gaster frère et sœur?"

I got up and turned to her, tilting my head as I reached for my phone.

"Oh! Mes apologies, I forget you do not know pas le française ..."

I smiled, looking at the shriveled yellow rose sticking out of my backpack. "My mother did."

Chara gasped. I ignored her and finished dialing Toriel on my phone.

...

...

"Hello? Is that you, my child? Are you all right? Are you coming back already?"

"Hello! Yes, sort of, and no."

Toriel hummed. "...you are only doing... sort of all right? Nobody has hurt you too badly, have they?"

I gave a half smile at my patched boot.

"...nope. How are you doing? Not too lonely, are you?"