~{ Please Kill Me }~ (Read the description!!)

~ Chapter Twenty One ~

~ Alive and Dead ~

The day was ending, sun falling behind the trees. The air grew cold, the forest grew more and more silent with each day.

Almost as mocking them for dying.

Geno stood strong, holding the necklace Papyrus brought with him, in his hands.

"So... Tomte is locked inside?"

Ink sighs.
"Yes, me and Lust are working on a way to safely get him out."

Geno is silent for a second.
"I didn't knew... That spirit could be locked in it too..."

Ink walks closer to Geno.
"Yeah... I didn't knew either... Seems like Reaper tried and it worked."

Geno caresses the crystal.
"I'm so sorry... I should had taken you sooner. You must be so confused and scared."

Lust gets up, and walks to them.
"I read through the book... But there's not more info than we already know. Me and Catty even tried more books about dark magic Ink had with him. But there's nothing useful. The only way to free the spirit is to break the crystal... Which is of course with risk."

Ink thinks for a second.
"Well Tomte is a spirit... Not a soul. We don't know if he is even mortal. So... technically it shouldn't hurt him right?."

Geno sights.
"Well we don't really have any other option but risk it."

Geno takes a deep breath and digs one of his fingers into the crystal... After gathering some magic energy, he breathes out and breaks the crystal.

A big wave of magic shakes with the air, knocking Geno back and making him fall back. Ink covers his face and Lust just stares intensively.

For a second they can see the big spirit escape the crystal, and fly away.

"Oh god... At least he's fine."

Ink helps Geno get back up.
"Well... It's over now... Now let's go sleep. You need it."

(...)

Lust takes the guard, watching over the sleeping camp. Geno never really slept peacefully. But it's not like any of them did.

Only few people seem to have accepted the fact they might not wake up tomorrow. the rest is still willing to fight.

Lust notices that Alexander is still awake.
He hasn't been sleeping or eating much since he re-joined the group.

He also wasn't talking with anyone... Silently observing and nodding when someone asked him something. His cocky and strong believing behavior was gone.

Maybe he is just traumatized... Yeah that's probably it.

Lust makes his way through the camp, trying not to step on anyone... Norther was sleeping with Simon and Helen, prince Papyrus was sleeping just a few steps away from the king. Geno was resting against a tree, he said it was if he had to get up fast. And Ink with Catty were catching the last remnants of warmth right next to the campfire.

Lust sits down next to Alexander.
"Hello... How are you feeling?"

Alexander is silent at first, then answers.
"Could be better..."

Lust chuckles.
"Yeah it could be... Definitely. But, at least we are alive right?"

Alexander looks away. Lust knows he probably only made it worse.
"Hey... I know it's hard. It is... For all of us. But we will be out of here. I promise."

Alexander chuckles.
"Oh really? And how are you going to keep that promise?"

Lust stays silent. Just watching him.
"... I don't know."

"Exactly."
Said Alexander with venom in his voice, Lust feels bad now.

He gets up and walks back to sit next to Catty and Ink. If Alexander doesn't want his company that bad, then he won't get it.

(...)

In the morning, Lust and Ink prepare some cans for everyone while Geno tries to stretch and get his body working somehow.

Papyrus sits against a tree, going through the book of dark magic to try figuring out at least something... Really anything could be useful.

Gaster walks to him and sits next to him, still keeping space between them.
"Why are you ignoring me?"

Papyrus looks up from the book.
"You are asking me that?.. If you weren't so stubborn and selfish, I might not ignore you."

Gaster's eyes widen at that.
"Selfish? Wanting the best for my people is selfish?"

"What is 'the best' at banning and hating magic huh?"
Asks Papyrus, changing to another page.

"You ask me that? After everything that's happening here?! We are literally suffering and fighting for our lives due to your brother going mad, because of magic."

Papyrus grins.
"Oh really? And is it because of magic? Or is it because he is so insecure, and self hating, that he went mad from listening to a voice in his head?"

Before Gaster can open his mouth and protest, Papyrus cuts him off.
"Okay maybe Reaper went mad because of magic. But look at them. Look at Mr Geno, at Mr Lust and Ink. They are healing each other, they are taking care of each other. And they are taking care of us. Magic isn't meant to hurt. Just the bad one does. But there's bad in everything! It heals. It helps. It can make people happy. It took me just a few days... Just a few days to realize how fake this hatred was."

Gaster stares at Papyrus... Searching for words.
"And... even if you still hate magic... you owe them something. They feed you. After everything you did to them. Their friends, maybe even families suffered because you hate magic so much... Mr Geno took my brother in, and took care of him for so long. Even though he knew very well he is your son. They didn't forgive you. And I believe that would be wrong."

Gaster is silent... He doesn't know what to say.
"And you, are unable to even respect them. After everything they did for someone like you. I'm honestly disgusted I ever called you my father..."

With that Papyrus gets up and joins Ink by the fire, leaving Gaster with his thoughts and overwhelming guilt.
"Im so fucking stupid..."

-

Simon walks up to Alexander and leans against a tree next to him.
"You want some food?"

Alexander looks up at his friend.
"No... I'm fine."

Simon nods and takes a bite of his bread.
"You know... You are very good at this."

Alexander gives Simon a confused look.
"Good at what? Surviving?"

Simon shakes his head, but doesn't directly answer his question.
"You know, you made one mistake. Alexander... Never feared Death. He would rather die with Evan than stay alive."

...

He smiles.
"You are such a little smartass aren't you?"

~ End of Chapter Twenty one ~

Oh Soup... You were so close.

...

Fun fact about Evan and Alexander:
They were actually lovers, for a long time. But they kept their relationship out of their work.

Alexander is not the most... 'i want to live' person. In a situation where Evan would die and he wouldn't, he would probably kill himself.

That's how Simon so easily figured out it's a fake.