Our Last Hope

Chapter 12

   "Luna, was it"?

    "They're gone".

   "The fire, it was too strong"..

   "We found a note, miraculous it wasn't burnt".

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   I open my eyes with little trouble. While facing the couch cushions my thoughts already began to race. What time is it? When did I fall asleep? What happened last night?

   I grasp my shoulders lightly while sitting up and quickly notice something hanging off of me. I turn my head and pull the hanging item towards me. It was a blue jacket. Its hood was lined with fur and it smelled oddly sweet.

   As if I had been drowsy this whole time, the memories flood back to me and I feel my cheeks flush a quiet red. While comprehending last nights memories I pull my legs onto the couch, also moving his jacket closer to my face.

   As I thought about it, my heart seemed to thaw and flutter from a never ending winter. I felt embarrassed but I felt more compelled and confused overall. Why was he being so kind? Is he alright? I didn't mean to fall asleep on him last night- in a literal and metaphorical sense.

   The sweet scent wrapped around me while I indulged in the foreign emotions. "Ketchup," I whispered to myself as I finally pinpointed the scent. As I almost made my way out of this couch cushion I stopped to listen to the surrounding sounds.

                              —=-=-=-=-

   "Maybe I had hoped to hear Papyrus come down from upstairs or even hear Sans greet me. But.. It didn't hear a single thing for the time"

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   I looked around after a minute of listening before hearing a loud clatter in the kitchen. I quickly pulled everything off of me, ready to make my way to the noise. I froze when I felt myself shaking though. My breathing heightened in pace and I hesitate to go by the now softer sounds.

   I took a glance back at the couch to see Sans's jacket. I disliked the idea of depending on such an item but at the moment I could only remember the warmth and odd emotions it had given me.

I grabbed the jacket and took quick, cautious strides into the kitchen only to see piles of bones.

   "Huh"?

   My eyebrow felt stuck in a questioning stance at the sight before me. A white, fluffy, tiny dog lying in a pile of bones. Why are their bones in their cabinet? Were they keeping a dog captive? Was Sans and Papyrus dognappers for historical revenge? Okay.. That last one was obviously.. *Hopefully.. Not true.

                             —=-=-=-=-

   "The giant sink had storage of bones stored in it. This white dog was trying to gnaw on multiple bones at once. Its small mouth could barely hold onto one of them".
                             —=-=-=-=-

   I felt relieved to see that this wreckage was caused by such a tiny animal.

   LUNA, YOU'RE AWAK-"..! Papyrus had just walked into the front door to the mess. I could feel my heart jump at the sound of his voice. I felt dizzy and my vision started to blur as I clenched my chest. My heart wouldn't stop pounding.

   He will think I made this mess, and he won't believe me if I defend myself. I don't want to get hurt again, I didn't do anything wrong. He is going to shout louder than before, he will..

   Wait.. I took a deep breath. It's only Papyrus. It's only Papy. It's alright, it's okay, it's okay..

   "HUMAN, I'M SORRY, ARE YOU OKAY.."? His voice shown no hostility. It sounded quieter, hushed compared to his usual tone. I took another deep breath and held my own hand before turning towards him.

   With a nervous smile on my face I reply, "Hey Papyrus, no need to be sorry, I'm the one who made such a m-".

   I then looked into his eyes and stopped. With his usual attire but a different emotion. His face, concerned and guilty.

   "Hey, hey.. What's wrong.."?

   I'm being such a nuisance. I'm so fake. I'm an idiot. You're hurting him.

   "HUMAN, WHY DO YOU LIE?"

   A shiver ran down my spine and I felt frozen, even with a gaze as innocent as his own.

   Why do I lie? Lie.. Is it so obvious? I thought I was doing okay up to know.. Is it bad? Why does he sound that way? I'm.. Sorry..

                             —=-=-=-=-
   "Because no matter how many times I'd tell the truth, it won't be accepted. No matter how many times I lie, I will always do more harm than good"

   "At least, that's what I could've said. Instead, I said, -"

                             —=-=-=-=-

   "I'm tired" I look down, letting the shadows envelop my emotion. I added, "and.. Sleep doesn't fix it".

   He didn't say anything, so I smiled and waved my hands expressively.

   "Oh, no, no, it's nothing to worry about though. I'm alright- but this dog made a lot of ruckuses and opened your.. Bone storage"? That seem to have distracted him.

   "OH, YES! THIS IS TOBY, HE IS VERY TROUBLESOME".

   Papyrus walks up to Toby and the dog instantly knew his role. The dog scrambled and clawed the bones trying to get out of Papyrus's reach. Toby quickly ran out of the mess and before I knew it there was a dog behind my legs. It seems he was using me as a shield.

   "UH, HUMAN, DO YOU KNOW THIS DOG ALREADY"?

   "No, no, I don't. H-heh he doesn't seem to like leaving your house".

   Papyrus glanced at me and back at the dog almost as if in thought. I decided to focus my attention on the fluffy, hostile dog behind me.

   Slowly I made my presence more known to him and leaned down to his height. He looked at me, tense and without malice. I gave a gentle smile and reached out towards him. Surprisingly, he ran his forehead into my hand with much ease. Now, here we are, Toby the dog and Luna the human. Maybe this family could grow a little bigger from here on.