Alive

Ch. 6 The Fall

I couldn't sleep the night prior, as usual; I felt terrible for treating Susie the way I did. She's definitely going to resent me for a long time, I have to make it up to her. I didn't know how, but I knew I'd find a way. The fact that I'm worried for Susie the most makes me feel a tingly sensation in my chest. (Skip forward to school) I'm sitting at my desk, still planning how I could make it all up to Susie. Everyone has arrived at school except Kris and Susie, all I could do is worry for my friends. Dr. Alphys walked into the classroom and announced for us to partner up. I wasn't interested in partnering with anyone, so I talked to Alphys about it. "Excuse me, Dr. Alphys. I was wondering. With Kris and Susie being late, is it ok if I'm partners with them?" Dr. Alphys looked unsure to me and said "I don't know about that, Brian. Have you asked everyone to be your partner?" I let out a sigh "Please, Dr. Alphys. I... I need this." I gave puppy eyes in my effort to make, Dr. Alphys looked guilty "Ok, y-you can be their partners, b-but if neither of them show up, you'll just have t-to find someone else." I left the conversation with a smile on my face and sat down on my seat. I've waited a few minutes, I played tic-tac-toe against myself to pass the time, then Kris walked through the door. Alphys was surprised "K-Kris! We thought you weren't coming. We're doing group projects this month.... uhhh... why don't you partner up with Brian? He doesn't have one." Kris walked over to my desk and greeted me, I replied "Hey, Kris. Have trouble sleeping again?" Kris nodded at my question, "Don't sweat it, Kris. Me too. I hurt Susie's feelings and... I felt guilty. I wish-" Then Susie barged through the class door, the class fell dead silent. "Am I late?" Susie said to Alphys, she replied nervously "Oh n-no! You're fine! We were just ch-choosing partners for the next project and.... umm... Susie you're with Kris and Brian!" Susie looked over at Kris, but then me. I could see Susie grit her teeth and clench her fists, I smiled nervously and waved. "... Great." Susie said. There was more silence and then Dr. Alphys spoke "Now that everyone is here! I can write the assignment!" Alphys walked over to the chalkboard to write, but she couldn't find the chalk. "Uh... h-has anyone seen the chalk? This is the third time it's gone missing, and... y-you all know I can't start class without some!" There was more silence, Alphys expected for someone to answer. "H-how about this... if no one answers, then everyone is in trouble!" No one answered, Alphys even held a countdown, but still, no one answered. Alphys eventually gave up and asked Susie to go to the utility closet to get some more. "Whatever." Susie replied, then she left to get the chalk. Alphys turned to me and Kris "Kris, Brian. Could you two go with Susie? Just to make sure she stays out of trouble, you both are her partners after all." Kris and I both nodded and made our way out the door.

As we went out the door, I spoke to Kris "If Susie tries to kill you or me, we'll have each others backs, right?" Kris nodded, I responded "Cool, same here." We both began to walk shortly, but stopped at the sight of Susie eating the chalk from class. Susie caught us staring, we caught her by surprise but she was relieved it wasn't a teacher. "...Brian...Kris... didn't see you guys there."Susie said. "Hey, you guys didn't see anything just now, did you?" Kris was silent, but I wasn't going to stand and say nothing. "Susie. I have to be honest, as a friend. I saw... we saw you eat the chalk." Susie clenched her fist again. "I figured you'd croak, Brian." Susie began walking towards us, me and Kris began walking backwards until we hit the lockers. "Great." I said under my breath. Susie came up to me and Kris "Hey." Susie said as she placed her hands on me and Kris' shoulder. "Let me tell you guys a secret." I spoke up before she could do anything "Susie, you have every right to be mad at me, but why treat Kris this way?" Susie slammed us both against the lockers and said "Because quiet people piss me off." I felt a little aggressive at the pain I felt, I'd be damned if was I going to let Susie put another hole in my jacket. I pulled Susie's hand off of me and Kris, I pushed her and she went back a few feet. "Susie... you have no right to bully. I know you're hurt and I'm here for you." Susie scoffed at my comment "Like hell you care! All I wanted was some money to work up a dinner for US!" I was surprised at what Susie said, I was speechless. "Yeah! I've been doing it in secret! I never could afford a proper dinner, so I borrowed money from you to set up for it! I thought I could actually be friends with you, so I tried to care! I still have it even!" Susie reached into her pocket and pulled out 60 G, she threw it at my chest; Susie was shaking with anger. I walked up to Susie to her comfort "Susie, I-" I was interrupted by Susie "Get the hell away from me! Let's just get the damn chalk...!" Susie walked off. I felt terrible, but Kris gave me a pat on my back to make me feel better, it didn't work that well. We walked to the closet and met up with Susie along the way. The closet door opened suddenly and left the three of us feeling creeped out. "Uh... guys..." Susie said "is it just me or... is it really dark in there?" There was a small silence, then I said "Maybe, there's a switch? What's a little darkness anyway?" I walked into the closet, it was darker than I thought "C-c'mon, it's n-not that bad. Just need some light." I began reaching in the darkness for something, anything. Kris and Susie walked in and began searching, too. "I can't find anything! It's like the walls don't end!" I said, then Susie commented "What kind of closet is this big?! You know what? Screw it. Let's just go!" Susie began walking to the door but it suddenly closed on her. "Hey! Who's doing this?! Berdly, I swear if that's you, I'm going to kill you!" There was papers on the ground that began to move by a tremor in the floor. "The floor is..." Susie stopped talking as soon as the floor began to collapse and the three of us began to fall. I blacked out and woke up next to Kris, who was flat on their stomach in armor and had blue skin. I looked at myself, my skin was an unnatural orange, and my clothes have been replaced with armor as well. It looked like something off of the human game "For Honor" when I play as one of the knights. I went to Kris to wake them up, "Kris! Are you ok?! C'mon say something... or... just something that tells me you're alive!" Kris stood up, dusted themselves off, and gave the a-okay to me. "Alright, good." I said "I'm going to ignore the fact that we changed clothes and worry about finding Susie! Are you with me?" Kris thought for a moment, turned to me, and nodded. We were off to find Susie, hopefully she's still alive.