Chapter Text
Chapter One
(3 years before The Incident)
You were fuming. On the drive from your second job with The Kleaning Kweens, you were so angry that you were sure that steam was coming from your ears. However, by the time you got to the first checkpoint, you were starting to feel nervous. Today would be your first time stepping foot on what used to be your family’s property, one your family lost back when Grandma Norma was in her twenties. You had tried, since you were a kid, to see the property, but had always been denied by whoever owned it. It was now owned by Monsters, part of the lands bought up after the Monsters escaped Mount Ebott. You had been denied entry once again, but tonight, you would be on the property.
The reason why was what made you fume. Your son, your sweet little two-year-old son, was being watched by strangers! Your roommate, Moros, was forced to confess that he had been taking your son out of your apartment and bringing him to a friend’s house when Carl started talking about an “Uncle Phobo”. At first, you thought Carl was having problems saying Papyrus, meaning the skeleton ghost who practically helped raise you, but Moros let it slip that he was really trying to say “Phobos”.
“And just who is Phobos,” you asked. Surely, if there was another ghost around, you would have seen it? Right?
“He’s a friend of mine,” said Moros. For a skeleton Monster, it was easy to figure out what Moros was thinking. With lips, flesh, or muscles, he was surprisingly expressive. And when you questioned him about this Phobos, he looked nervous.
You, of course, were angry. You had no idea who Phobos, or his brother Deimos, were or what kind of people they were. All Moros told you was that they were, like him, skeleton Monsters.
Skeletons dominated your life from your first memory. Papyrus, a ghost skeleton, had been your best, and often only, friend for all your life. No one else could see him, but he was always there for you, encouraging you to be your best. There was Father Gaster, a goopy skeleton that appeared to be melting into himself who lived in your closet. He would come out every night to tuck you in and read you stories. He stopped reading stories when he felt you were too old for them, but he still tucked you in, even though you were in your twenties by now.
Moros showed up in your apartment when Carl was six months old. Carl had been born at the exact moment the Monsters broke out of Mount Ebott, and you remember hearing the doctor complain that the greatest event of your time had happened, and he missed it. Moros just appeared one night, frightening you as he was suddenly in your bedroom doorway, his eye lights glowing blue and red, his clothes covered in dust, and a slightly unhinged smile on his skull. He frightened you, but he quickly introduced himself as your missing brother. Father Gaster and Papyrus had said much the same over the years, that you may be human-born, but you were meant for something more. Both approved of Moros, and your small family was now complete.
Your drive to pick up Carl would not be noticed by the guards in Ebbott City. You lived in the Monster controlled housing, and had to pass through check points to prove you belonged there. The City had been split after the Monsters arrived. Many humans fled and the government quickly erected a wall around the city. Only Humans were allowed to enter or exit, and there was talk about Monsters getting passports to travel to other places on Earth. Protests at the gates were a daily occurrence as both pro- and anti-Monster groups demanded the government saw things their way. Surprisingly, most of the humans who stayed in Ebott City were not the poor who had no way of just packing up and moving on. It was the powerful businesses who stayed: Havanish Inc, Automotion Nation, Garrett Gyms, and so on. The old money that built Ebott City.
You stayed because you couldn’t afford to leave. Your grandma was still here, trapped on the Human side of the city in a nursing home. You couldn’t leave her. Your family stayed, too. Your father was the CEO of Automotion Nation, a leading tech company that produced such gadgets like phones, computers, VR gear, and AI software. Maybe, you had a hope that with your family staying, things would start to heal between you all, but that hope was quickly squashed. Your family didn’t stay for you and Carl, they stayed because they saw this as an opportunity to fleece the Monsters. Clearly, creatures who were not up-to-date on the most modern technology or civilization would be easy to control.
The city was divided into four sections; the Human-only living consisted of the rich and powerful who stayed, the Monster-only living section where they took over the low-income apartments and small homes, the city proper for businesses, and the outskirts where the Monsters bought up lands for farming, living, and to protect the mountain. You had been in a low-income apartment before their escape, and you stayed. Many of your neighbors left, figuring they could start fresh somewhere else. The government paid for those leaving to find their new homes, and it was a high incentive to leave, but you still chose to stay.
You had to pass through a checkpoint leaving the city and entering the Monster sections. Monsters had their own check points, and you’ve done this for so long that the guards knew you on sight. You would have to pass by where Moros said Carl would be waiting, so there would be little deviation on your path.
As you passed through the gates of the property, your anger had melted into nervousness. You barely noticed the sign over the gates, the new name of the property. All you saw was the long, winding road lined with ancient, twisted trees, draped with stringy Spanish moss. It was dark, already nearly 3 AM. Your second job with the Kleaning Kweens was from 11 PM to 2 AM, starting after your shift at the Pyre Tavern, a Monster run establishment. You were exhausted and wanted only to pick up your son, drive home, and go to sleep. You’d yell at Moros in the morning.
The main house comes into view at the end of the long drive. You park your old, beat up car by the large carport. Before you could walk up to the front of the huge Greek revival home, three figures block you; two short and one tall. You recognize two of the figures from your jobs. Standing to the left was Blackberry Lord, the guard dog of Havanish Inc. He was about your height, a skeleton with sharp bones, deep grooves over his left eye socket, blue eye lights, and pointed teeth. He was out of uniform, and given the time of night that wasn’t surprising. Instead, he wore casual black jeans and a red tank top. You were sure that there were marks on his bones, but there were too many shadows to be sure. You knew him from the times you cleaned the office building with The Kleaning Kweens.
“Skates? What are you doing here?” The tall skeleton to the right moved a bit in front of the other two. Edge Fell worked as the head chef at the Pyre Tavern where you waitressed. He was tall, pointed bones cutting an impressive figure. Like Blackberry, he, too, had deep wounds across his right eye socket, piercing red eye lights, sharp teeth, and clawed hands. He still wore his chef’s clothes, and probably only got home moments before you arrived.
“Chef Edge,” you said. You turned your attention to the third member, the man in the middle, the one in charge. He looked so much like Moros that he could have been his twin. However, you knew Moros, and this man’s lazy demeanor did not lull you into a false sense of security. He may look harmless, but you knew Moros was anything but, and thus, so was he. This skeleton was short, a little shorter than you, with soft, rounded bones and blunt teeth. He watched you with blue eye lights and a lazy smile.
“I’m here to pick up my son,” you said.
“He’s not here,” said the middle man. You shivered at how similar he sounded to Moros, too. You knew who this was, you had spoken to him only once on the phone when you asked to get on the property back when he bought the land. Sans was not interested in humans on his land.
“I know he is. M-”
“I know who is on my property and who is not,” Sans snapped. The other two skeletons both took a step away from him. It was clear who was in control. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, Human, but you have five minutes to get off my property before I call for the guard.”
“My son -”
“He isn’t here, Skates,” said Edge. “Go home.” He walked over to you. “You’re tired, Skates. Look at you, you’re practically asleep on your feet. Go home and rest. I’m sure your son is already there. Didn’t you tell me your roommate watches your kid? At your apartment? You’re not thinking straight. Go home, Skates, and sleep.”
You wanted to argue. You knew Carl was on the property, but you weren’t sure exactly where. You turned pleading eyes to Edge. “I just want my son.”
“He’s most likely at your apartment,” Edge said. “Go on home.”
There was no way you’d win, and you were not interested in calling the guard. This was Monster territory, and that made you the outsider. If the guard were called, they would be more interested in keeping the safety of the Monsters, their own kind. You’d be dragged off to jail, and who would take care of Carl then? With a sigh of defeat, you turned and got back in your car. You turned the key in the ignition…
…and nothing. With a curse, you tried again. Nothing. Your stupid car was not starting. You felt like crying. It must look like you were stalling or pushing your luck. You didn’t want to be arrested. All you wanted was your son! You had to get home and send Papyrus out to find Moros and tell him what happened.
You tried the car once more, only to be rewarded with the squeal of an uncooperative motor. Hot tears stung your eyes and you knew you were just embarrassing yourself. Maybe you could ask Edge to drive you home? Maybe Sans wouldn’t call the guard?
A light tapping on the driver’s side window got her attention. Standing outside her car was another skeleton. How many lived on this property? He was tall like Edge, but had the rounded, soft look of Sans. He wore a pinstripe suit and a fedora. His eye lights were a soft orange-yellow.
“Hi, there. Got car troubles?”
You nodded and heard Edge say, “Skate’s car is very unreliable. You might have to, uh, jump it, Cognac.”
The tall skeleton nodded. “I’ll take a look at this baby.” He turned and yelled, “Hey, Whiskey, dash home and get me a lantern and my tool box.” A short and very stout skeleton in a pinstripe suit nodded and vanished. In a flash, he was back and handed the items to the tall skeleton.
“Pop the hood, darling,” he said. You did so and the tall skeleton took off his suit coat and rolled up his sleeves. He went to work, looking over your engine, muttering to himself. In a few minutes, he was done and closed the hood of your car. “Okay, darling, try it again.”
You did and your car started up. “Oh, thank you!”
He smiled and handed you his card. “Bring her here in the morning, darling. I only put a band-aid over your issue. And, don’t worry about pay. This one will be on the house. Name’s Cognac, so ask for me.” He winked and took a step back. You could only nod and drive away.
When you got home, Moros was waiting for you. He did not look happy, but, then again, neither were you. You would have been angrier if you weren’t so exhausted.
“I saw everything,” he said. “I didn’t think Vanilla was going to stop you like that. Sorry, sis.”
“Where is Carl,” you demanded.
“Asleep in the bed,” he said. “I got him out of there as soon as I saw Vanilla make you leave. I’ll figure something out.”
“I don’t want Carl going there,” you said as you went to the bedroom. There, on the bed, slept Carl. Your precious little boy. He was cuddling his stuffed bunny, thumb in his mouth. You smiled and walked over, gently pulling the thumb out. He grumbled in his sleep and rolled over, never waking up.
“I really wanted you to meet Deimos and Phobos,” Moros said. “They’re my hunting buddies. I really think you’d get along with them.” You refused to answer. Moros promised to not bring Carl to his friends until after you had a chance to meet them.
The next day, you brought your car to the Side Car Garage for Cognac to work on it. A few days later, Moros told you that there was a secret second entrance to the property, one that would lead right to the home of Deimos and Phobos. You finally got to meet his two friends, and it did nothing to quell your fear for your son.
There was something off about Deimos and Phobos. Their bones were twisted and sharp, broken in places and discolored. Phobos was tall, much taller than Edge and Cognac, with small orange eye lights, jagged teeth, and a lanky, looping walk. Deimos was taller than you, but shorter than Edge, with a huge gaping hole in the left side of his skull and a strange way of watching everyone around him. He was a predator, you knew that. You just prayed that you were never what he hunted.
Phobos, despite his appearance, was happy and open, welcoming you and Carl into their home. Carl was at ease around them, eager to show you the kitchen where Phobos was teaching him how to cook. Moros promised you that Carl was safe, as did Phobos. Deimos refused to talk to you.
After that, you set up a new rhythm to your life. Moros would bring Carl to Deimos and Phobos, and you’d drive to the second entrance to pick him up at night. Phobos often would give you a plate of food, complaining that he didn’t think you ate enough. Eventually, Deimos started talking to you, but mostly to just tell you to drive safe. You never asked what they hunted with Moros. You wanted to believe it was deer and rabbits in the mountain, but there was something in the back of your mind that said it was best to not know.
Cognac continued to fix up your crappy car. He was always the only one to work on it, and he was very fair about the prices. More often than not, he’d ask for food and drinks instead of money. It became a regular sight to have you pull up for a car inspection and pay with homemade gifts of bread, cookies, casseroles, or bring him a case of beer or a bottle of cognac.