Frisk helped you to the living room and sat you in front of the fire. The warmth of the flames seemed to reach into your soul and caress you gently. A happy sigh left your lips and you buried your head into your arms, absorbing the heat happily. A blanket fell around your shoulders and you glanced back at Frisk.

"You're skin is as cold as ice." Frisk murmured. "Are you sick?" He asked.

You shrugged and stared into the forever changing blooms of fire. "Maybe. That might be why I feel so brittle." You said bitterly.

A steaming cup of tea was placed before you and you smiled happily at Toriel. "Thanks Goat Mama." You said quietly, taking the cup in your hands.

She was flustered a moment before smiling. "That's an oddly charming nickname." She cooed.

Frisk elbowed you gently and looked at you with joyous eyes. 'You remembered her nickname,' He mouthed.

You grinned and drank a mouthful of tea. Green waves of magic seemed to waft from the magical tea, every sip filling you with warmth as much as it eased your pain. Toriel sure did know her remedies.

You quickly downed the cup and sat it to the side. You thanked Toriel and stood, blanket falling from your shoulder. "Thank you for healing me. I'm sorry to have been such an inconvenience." You apologized.

Toriel waved her hand submissively with a kind look on her face. "Do not trouble yourself child. I live taking care of children. I'm happy to help at any time."

You nodded and stretched, spine and joints popping as you loosened your tight muscles. An elongated groan shook your throat, followed by a yawn. Frisk giggled and Toriel joined.

"Go rest (Y/N), you'll be quiet tired after the commotion."

You wanted to argue deep down but right then it seemed like an incredibly good idea. You nodded and hugged both of them before trudging to your room. Eyes heavy from the soft warmth you'd just left, the cushy bed seemed all the more appetizing.

You dove into the bed and swaddled yourself in the folds of quilted heaven. Your eyes were near shut when a quiet caw alerted you to another presence. You sat up and looked around. Another caw broke the air and drew your eye to the top of the wardrobe. You squinted in the dim lighting, barely making out the small blur of a bird.

It flapped its wings and landed gently on the nightstand sitting adjacent to the bed. It's green eyes twinkled knowingly and you smiled, recognizing the bird despite the millions of crows that must share the same features up top.

"Oh, Hades?! I thought I scared your off!" You gaped.

He cawed softly and lowered his beak towards you. Grinning, you ran two fingers against it gently. "Sure are a beautiful bird..." You mused. "Thanks for sticking around."

He straightened his posture and sat on the dresser, closing his eyes. You laughed quietly and brought the blankets below your chin, letting the soft hest cradle you. "Yeah, I guess I'm a little tired too." You cooed softly, closing your eyes.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your feet padded repetitively as you walked through the vast black void. No sound echoed against the seemingly nonexistent walls. An unsettling chill tainted the air and you shivered, arms clutching one another. You looked down at yourself, not entirely believing it was actually was you. A white dress fell around you, awaying gently as you moved, and still going when you stopped. Where were you? What was happening?

"Hello?!" You called, the words continuing to grow quieter as the rolled away. "Can someone help me?!"

Your cries were met only with the ringing in your ears. Cold bit into your flesh and a shiver racked you. You gripped your arms tighter and tried to create friction, coming away with no success. Your heart sank as you turned, finding only the black void encircling you. You couldn't even tell if you'd completely turned around, or merely adjusted your vision by inches. In every direction, the same thing. No noise accompanied you but your own shallow breaths and the gentle thump of your heart.

A fear unknown to you filled your veins. Never before had you been so alone. It'd never been this quiet. Your ears longed for something new to listen to. Your eyes begged to see something other than this neverending dark. You continued to walk, quickly picking up speed. Your senses grasped desperately for anything living. Your heart pounded as the fear poisoned your body. Trying to fill the ringing of your ears, you cried out.

"Someone help me! Please! Someone help!" You cried.

Your chest ached as you ran. The void stretched on forever, no matter how far you went. Chest heaving, your limbs began to feel heavy as your head spun. Your feet stumbled over each other and you fell. As you sat on the ground, you drew in breath in gulps. Your eyes remained on your hands, terror filling you. Your voice softened to a hushed whisper, repeating your plees for help.

You squeezed your eyes shut and tried to think. This felt too real. This terror... this lonliness... it was torture.

You dissolved into shaking sobs, wanting nothing but to return to your world. Everything seemed to fall away from you as you tried to collect yourself.

"Kinda hard to be lost, huh?"

You jumped back and looked up. Your immediate reaction was relief. Your eyes snapped to the source of the newcomer, landing on a both friendly and threatening face.

"Reaper?" You said quietly, looking up at him. "What did you do?"

He smirked and sat down, folding his legs. You flinched away, the gaze in your eyes somewhat venomous. "Why am I here?" You spat.

"Hey, don't blame me. It's your fault you're not in a much nicer place about now." He said calmly.

"Why am I here?" You repeated.

Reaper looked at you nonchalantly, leaning towards you closely. "You're in purgatory Lost. You haven't moved on yet."

You fell silent, pushing yourself into an upright position. "You stuck me in hell because I wouldn't let you take me?" You hissed.

He put his hands up on defense. "Sorry, I don't have anything to do with this. I just reel souls in."

You fell silent and watched him, looking for any signs he was lying. When finding none, you drew your legs to your stomach and buried your face. Reaper sat quietly, watching as you avoided eye contact. You knew deep down you were thankful he'd appeared but you weren't about to announce it.

"Can you help me get out of here?" You asked stubbornly, not looking at him.

Reaper smiled. "Sorry Lost, but I can't help you there. All I can do is bring you back to the land of the dead."

"I'm not dead!" You hissed.

"Really, because it seems you're quite literally toe to toe with death."

"I'm not dying until my job is done! I really wish you'd stop talking to me like I'm gone."

He fell silent under your sour gaze and watched you struggle against your temper. Your brow furrowed as you thought. You'd already had the conversation a million times prior, but every time doubt lingered. You weren't meant to die, right? You had to help the underground. This was your fate. You couldn't stop there.

"You remember that dream you had yesterday?" Reaper asked softly.

You lifted your head slightly and looked at him. "How'd you know about my dream?"

"I've been keeping an eye socket on ya. Tori's DEAD-ly worried about ya."

"Mom was worr-" You wanted to ask about Toriel but shook your head. "Never mind. What about my dream?"

Reaper's face fell slightly and it almost seemed like worry was somewhere in his features. "And you remember your condition when you woke up?"

"Well no shit. Broken ribs aren't easily forgotten." You sneered.

He chuckled and pushed his hood down. It seemed to be a nervous gesture.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Well, it means a bit more than that. Your body is unstable."

Your cheeks reddened and you snapped at him. "Just because I have a temper doesn't mean I'm unstable!"

Reaper laughed, leaning back with an arm grasping his gut. "I'm not talking emotion, Lost! I'm talking about physically."

"Oh..." You muttered. "Continue."

Still smirking, he explained. "Your physical form isn't supposed to be the way it is. It's trying to return to its final stage, the one you died in."

"I'm not-"

"Not dead, got it. Do you wanna know why you got hurt or not?"

Your mouth closed immediately and you nodded. You shifted so you sat on your knees, facing him. After taking a deep breath, he continued.

"It's as simple as this. You're soul is inflicting damage on your body to return it to its original state. When you forced a reset, it repaired your body via magic you didn't have. It's merely releasing the magic."

You were silent, processing the information. "My body... is falling apart..." You whispered. Your hand gripped your gut, the memory of your death blow returning. "What happens when I face my death blow?" You asked, voice shaking.

Reaper was quiet, and you raised your eyes to his. "When you face that blow, you'll have no choice but to die..."

You furrowed your brow, voice raising into a yell. "What?! What if I can't make it in time?!"

He was silent, averting his gaze. "After your body detriortates, your soul will have no choice but to move on. If you don't, your soul will be pulled into hell."

"Can't you do something about that?! You control the collection of the dead right?!"

"Sorry Lost, but after that I loose control of the care."

Your face was red with anger and worry. Standing abruptly, you looked down at the hooded skeleton. "Then I'll have to move faster."

Reaper laughed and stood, leaning on his scythe. "You don't get it, do you? Everytime you relive a battle, a certain wound will reopen. Without that demonic child to numb and cradle your wounds while they possess you, you'll have to live with the pain of them. And I'm pretty sure you won't be able to heal every day. You'll be torturing yourself! Do you know how much that'll tear up Tori?!"

You ignored him and turned your back. "I don't care. I have a job to finish. I'll free them."

Your eyes closed and a foreign power hummed in your body. You could feel your soul propel from your chest but didn't risk opening your eyes and ruining your concentration.

Warmth filled you and feeling returned to your fingers. You acted as though knowing the entire time how this worked. A hidden power within you, you never knew. Your body started to return its consiousness but you opened your eyes gently and gazed at Reaper.

"It's a beautiful day outside.

Crows are cawing, lilies are in bloom.

I have a job in this world, I'll finish it.

Even if I burn in hell..."

Light shattered the cold black, like glass against a sidewalk. It was as if the sun itself pried away the dark. Petals fell from an unknown source. In a blinding flash, the scenery around you changed, replaced by a tall green field. You stood under the leafy shade of an oak tree, wild blowing your hair. Your eyes drank in the sight happily and you blinked again as your soul seemed to fall back into your body.

When your eyes opened again, you were left alone, staring at the ceiling of your bedroom once again, your words repeating in your mind.

Even if I burn in hell...