Cage Of Bones

Chapter 40: Links In A Chain

Author's Note: Meanwhile...at the legion of doom. (a.k.a, inside Papyrus' head)

Trigger warning(s): Uncensored language, depictions of imprisonment, hints of suicidal ideation, self-deprecation, life endangerment, implied past character death, attempted murder, use of bladed weaponry, use of firearms, use of weaponry in general, physical violence against another character, magical violence against another character, very obvious depictions of possession against one's will, blood, injury, talk regarding a chronic monster illness, medical speak, implied PTSD, and talk of imminent death. Please tread lightly.

(Updated edits on 8/5/23)

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Papyrus' eyes instantly snapped open as a shift was felt in the air; his head raising in alarm as much as possible despite the red string tied to his neck and limbs.

"H...Hello?" he asked, his voice raspy from the terrified sobbing he had just gotten finished doing.

"Is...someone there?"

Papyrus listened intently a moment before shaking his head with a sigh.

It was wishful thinking to believe someone else was coming to save him.

Only an idiot would've found a way to follow him in here.

Though to be perfectly honest, he still wasn't completely sure where "here" was. He knew it was his soul, to an extent, but being stuck inside his soul was a completely different experience from what he could have imagined. The stable and comforting walls of reality had been replaced by swirling blue and orange; specks of white floating in the air like dandelion puffs and black and red crackling in the ground completing the dream-like atmosphere. Despite the coloration, however, the inside of a soul looked more like a maze of corridors than an abstract landscape; with countless hallways practically mocking him from his unmovable position in the center of the "room."

Papyrus closed his eyes gently as he hung his head once more; his wrists twisting uncomfortably in these new binds he was tied to. After his recent "bout of rebellion" as Chara chose to call it, they decided to up his security to ensure that once his body reawakened, he would not be able to gain control again while they went off to take care of some unknown business in a different corner of his soul. He had felt so good about being able to stop himself from taking out Mocha he had completely forgotten they had the means to do that...

...Mocha...

Papyrus suppressed a whimper of defeat as he felt his lip quiver.

Mocha didn't deserve to get involved in this in the slightest, and yet he had been so willing to step in...so willing to try to save him...so willing to be there for him despite how dangerous it was.

How was that possible?

Papyrus still couldn't comprehend it.

He had messed up. Big time. Not just with him, but with everyone. The fact he still came back for him and believed there was still good left in him worth saving...

It made Papyrus feel like a disappointment...but also warmed the parts of his soul that were still his in a way he never felt before.

If he ever got out of here, he would have to give Mocha all of his thanks and more. His intervention was just enough to give him hope that he could break out of Chara's hold. Even if it was short-lived, it hopefully at least gave the others enough time to move him somewhere where he couldn't hurt anyone anymore.

Especially his brother...

Papyrus allowed his eyes to barely open as tears began to build; the person he was trying so desperately to not think about worming his way back into his head despite his mental protests.