Enemy Fire

Chapter 1

Footfalls ricocheted off the empty walls, the darkness parting before the child's torch. The sound of her running was harmonized by her heavy breathing, accented by her desperate tears. She ran one way, then the other way, desperately attempting to find a way out. She couldn't be lost...how was she lost? She knew this place like the back of her hand, yet... A noise behind her made the child yelp and drop her torch. It rolled down the slanted ground, away from the girl, leaving a trail of glowing ash and embers behind it. The child let out a small laugh of relief. She knew where she was now. Then the torch stopped rolling. It had been halted by someone's foot. The girl froze in fear and slowly looked up. The fire illuminated the glistening red eyes of her demon. The demon grinned, flashing her knife. The girl backed up, her heart racing, making her short of breath.

"You should have listened to me the first time. Now look what you've done." The demon cooed with a laugh. "Don't cry, Frisk. I'm doing you a favor! I can end your life here, and you won't have to see anyone else die." The child, Frisk, shook her head vigorously, summoning the strength to stand up straight.

"This isn't r-real! This is all just a b-bad dream! It's not real! It's just in my head!" Frisk insisted, her voice rising in panic. The demon laughed, finding the child's denial amusing.

"Is that so? Well then, Frisk, tell me..." She sprung forward, moving so fast Frisk barely had anytime to react. The child was pinned against the wall, a knife against her throat. "Does this feel fake?" The demon hissed, maniacal in her smile and murderous in the light of her eyes. The flames of the torch illuminated her face in horrifying ways. A tear slid down Frisk's cheek.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Chara...I couldn't...I tried...I'm sorry..." She cried softly, squeezing her eyes closed and waiting for the end. The demon, Chara, hesitated. Her grip on Frisk loosened, and the child cautiously opened her eyes, surprised. Chara stepped away from her, looking away. Frisk trembled as she reached out a hand to the girl. Chara's eyes flashed dangerously and she swiped the knife in front of her, making Frisk yank her hand back.

"Never apologize to me!" She snarled. Frisk backed away from the demon again, inching her way to the door behind her. "You're weak...you're weak!" Chara cried, advancing on Frisk. The child turned and ran, but Chara just kept walking forward, her voice filled with pained rage. Frisk didn't risk looking back as she sprinted for the door.

"When are you going to fight back?! You IDIOT!" Frisk pulled open the door then slammed it closed behind her, making sure it was locked. The frigid air didn't even register as the harsh wind ripped through her torn clothes. She just kept running. She shouldn't have gone back... Frisk kept running, her muscles crying for her to rest. She couldn't afford to stop. She sprinted through the snow, the iced powder crunching beneath her feet. She had to find her friends. Frisk almost cried for joy when she saw the lights of Snowdin up ahead. She found new strength and put on speed. She reached the door to Sans and Papyrus's house, and knocked, frantic in fear. She needed help... The door opened and Frisk opened her mouth to speak, but screamed instead. She scrambled backwards in horror, covering her mouth as tears watered in her eyes. In front of her, the two skeletons fell to their knees and dissolved into dust. Standing in the doorway behind them, was Chara. She smirked, tilting her head slightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want to speak with them?" She wondered, her voice dripping with dark satire. Frisk scrambled to her feet and stumbled through the town, blinded by her panic and tears.

"Help! Someone help!" She cried desperately. Cold breath tickled Frisk's ear and she froze.

"But nobody came." Chara whispered, raising her closed fist over Frisk's head. Confused and slightly apprehensive, Frisk looked up at it. Chara opened her hand and dust fell all over Frisk, getting in her eyes and mouth, choking her. Chara laughed viciously as Frisk struggled away from her, coughing and spluttering, stumbling as she tried to get the dust out of her eyes and off her clothes.