Shocks

"What's with that look Dream?" Blue's grin melted off his face, "I didn't scare you, did I?"

For a brief moment, I saw my friend. The confident, fun-loving skeleton that Ink and I spent time with. Then the I snapped back to reality.

"Let them go and we can talk this out." My voice cracked like a china plate.

Blue's expression showed he expected me to have a different answer. " Why? That's a human, Dream." He pointed at Core, who trembled at the sight of the match. "They're the ones who sent monsters underground in the first place. Then they come back to torture us more. Remember Chara? Everyone thought she was the 'angel' the legends spoke of. But no. I was the only one who saw through the facade. Chara wanted to take control and kill us off one by one. I'm going to stop her and any other human from hurting us ever again."

Chara heard enough. She jumped out from behind me and exclaimed, "None of that is true and you know it! You're the insane one!" She took a shaky breath and held her hand out to Blue. "Please let me help you, Sans. I don't want to see you hurt like this."

Blue almost took Chara's hand. But he retracted it and snickered at me. "I can't believe this, you too Dream? Wow, I guess I really am alone!" A single tear fell down his left cheekbone, "I am alone."

His aura hurt like a knife. I kneeled down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Blue smiled at the touch, then grabbed my hand. "Nice try, but you can't control me."

I don't know where he got the strength, but he managed to throw me against the wall. Chara screamed and charged at Blue with her knife. Blue summoned a bone to block it. Chara glanced over and shouted, "Save Papyrus and your friend! I can handle Sans."

I snuck over to Core and Papyrus. First things first, I took off Core's gag.

 Core coughed, "I knew you would come! I'm sorry that-" Core flinched as a stray bone flew past their head, "-that I got caught."

"You have nothing to apologize for," I said, unlocking the collar. It left a strange numbing feeling in my soul. I couldn't feel any emotions around me. Why was it so peaceful?

"Where did Blue get these?"

Core shrugged. "I don't know, but how about we talk about this later" They nodded towards the ongoing fight. Blue had a slash dripping down his face. Chara's eye was black and blue; her arm twisted at an awkward angle. Their injuries didn't seem to bother them though.

I snapped my bow apart and sliced off Core's ropes. Then Papyrus."Heh thanks," Papyrus gritted. His orange puffer was torn at the sleeves. This was the first time I'd seen him without a cigarette. It didn't sit well.

Blue stood with Chara's knife comfortable in his arm. He snarled at Papyrus and Core. "Fine then. I didn't want to do this," he scratched his match against the wall, "but it's all I got left."

 I realized it too late. Blue tossed the match on the severed rope. and flames erupted from the spot.

Chara screamed bloody murder. "RUN!" She grabbed Core's hand and ran to the tunnel. Core didn't protest, but they didn't look happy about it either. Papyrus yelled at his brother to move. Blue stood there like everything happening was only surreal. His laughter was unbearable.

"Papyrus, get out of here! I'll grab your brother!" I pushed him out of the way as a wall of fire spread to the spot where he was standing. An ember caught on my cape and damaged the edge.

 "Blue? BLUE? SHOUT IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!" No answer. I stepped through the fire as my eye caught a silver glint. The anti-magic collar somehow hadn't melted.

Take it, you'll need it. Trust me.

I don't why I did it, but I snatched the collar off the ground. The searing metal seeped through my gloves. At this point, I couldn't see any sign of Blue. I couldn't feel his emotions either.

No point in staying now, unless I wanted to join the ashes. I found the exit and didn't look back. Slamming the door of the sink, I finally caught my breath.

 The others made it mostly unharmed. Chara's injuries were by far the worst and were being bandaged by Core. They looked surprisingly calm for someone who was just held hostage. Papyrus lit up when he saw me. I couldn't bring myself to speak.

"He didn't make it," Papyrus kept his expression neutral, even though I felt the aura of shock and grief."I'm so sorry. Believe me, I looked. I understand if you can't forgive-"

"I don't blame you." Papyrus locked his eyes on the ground. "All I want to know is why. I know damn well it wasn't just an 'act of protection'. What was it that drove him to kill people?"

Should I tell him? You owe Blue. After all, it's your fault he's dead. 

"Remember Ink? The one with the paintbrush? Well, he found out about this new power and-"

"SO IT"S HIS FAULT?" An orange flame flickered in Papyrus's eye. He took a breath and chuckled, "Sorry, but tibia honest, I've never been a fan of that numbskull."

Chara facepalmed the arm that Core was bandaging up. The casting ripped in two.

Papyrus smirked as Core scolded Chara for moving. Their bickering made me smile.

"You know," Papyrus looked out the window, "it's getting late. How about you and Core stay the night? We can rent a movie or something."

Core popped up, "Can we watch that new one about the demon hotel?"

"Haven't heard of it, but sure."

Chara and Core chatted over characters while Papyrus pulled up the movie. I made myself comfortable on the couch between Papyrus and Core. He leaned over and whispered, "Thanks."

"No problem." I gazed out the window and did a double-take. A single red light stared through the window, but once I blinked, it was gone. Maybe I'm more tired than I thought.