I forced my eyes open. It's white, it's all white. So white.
"FRISK!" I sit up and turn my head, someone suddenly swinging their arms around my shoulders. I recognised the weirdly cut hair, even if it was a bit longer. She was sobbing onto my chest. A taller boy walked in and I knew who it was. But he himself was different.
After five minutes of the most heartbreaking sobs I've heard in awhile, she pulled away and placed a hand on my face, caressing my cheek. Parka's eyes were droopy and tired looking. I don't like her looking like this. One thing I immediately noticed was the lack of Chara hugs. The second was scars. A lot of them. Parka and Chara's wrists were covered with them. They had bandages all over, bruises adding a purple and brown hint to their skin.
What happened to them while I was gone?
Parka rolled her sleeves back up, noticing me staring. Chara leaned against the door frame.
"Can you walk?" He asked. Selfishness' eyes drifted towards Chara. She glared at him, a piercing one.
"Not even a hello for them?" She tched and crossed her arms. Chara groaned, waving at me while wincing. Parka's arms dropped, turning to me and smiling again.
"Are you up to go home?"
"I..I think so." I finally stuttered out some words. My throat was dry. Chara's foot was tapping without a rhythm, he seemed impatient. Parka pinched the brim of her nose and exhaled, "Stop being so impatient. They just woke up."
"And you cried all over them."
Parka balled her fists tightly by her side, walking briskly to Chara and looking up into his eyes.
I think he's a bit taller.
She stared into his eyes,
"They have been suspected dead for eleven months, you asshole." Spit came from her mouth and Chara wiped it from his chin. Parka spun on her heels and clapped her hands.
"Are you hungry, Frisk?"
I don't like this. I don't like how they're acting. Why are they so angry? Why are they so different?
What happened?
The hospital signed me out after three hours of waiting. Chara started threatening the works, Parka had to cover his mouth on multiple occasions. The drive home in Chara's new car was weird. Parka was in the backseat with me. They didn't talk to each other at all. I noticed a scar on Chara's neck. There was also a slightly bloody cut on Parka's eyebrow.
Whatever happened was recent, and I need to do something about that.
The house was cold. It seemed someone had punched the heater and the air conditioner. There were dirty dishes piled up in the sink and a shattered glass on the bench.
I got tucked in by Parka, she gave me a motherly kiss on the forehead before Chara came over and hugged me with a, "I'm sorry, Frisk. It's good to have you back."
I could tell he missed me. But he's so angry now. The determination to my determination smiled a genuine smile and ruffled my hair. It was just like before I was in a coma and before Asriel.... Asriel died.
Chara walked to the guest room and Parka walked to their room. It was late, I'm guessing they're sleeping in different rooms now. Before, they couldn't be apart without being worried. But now, all they wanted to do was stay apart.
I woke up in the middle of the night to an argument. It sounded like they were trying to be quiet.
"Can you lighten up?"
"No. I can't. I can't get used to seeing their face again without him."
"Chara." Parka sounded annoyed but understanding. I tried not to move too much while rolling over. I saw them standing in the hallway, looking at each other. Parka was biting her nails and looking up into Chara's eyes, he was leaning against the wall with his hands in his jean pockets.
"This... it's not about you, Chara. It's about the kid. It's about Frisk."
"Don't talk about them like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're their mother." Chara sighed angrily. Parka's eyebrows fell from the furrowed, angry look before to a sadder one.
"I'm the closest thing they've ever had. Toriel left them to us, abandoning them for her own selfishness."
In a sudden movement, Chara had pinned Parka against the wall with a punch. One thing I noticed was the lack of her flinching.
"Don't you dare talk about selfishness like that. Not with that soul of yours."
Parka sighed, shoving him off.
"I'm acting like this because they've already had a terrible childhood, can't we make them feel home again?"
"Look at the state of this place. We should just send them to the monsters. That way they would be.. safe."
Sparring. They've been fighting each other for months.
"Safe? Safe from what? Us?"
"Don't act like you hate the idea."
Chara glared down at her, who was glaring right back up at him.
"They should have a choice." Parka muttered. Chara ran fingers through his hair and leaned back on the wall again with a thud. She folded her arms and tilted her head up.
"We can't just avoid our problems by shipping off Frisk."
"Then why don't we fix ourselves? Y'know, like how we said we would after two months."
"Parka."
"Three months."
"Parka."
"Or four months, or five, or si—"
Chara stormed off to his room, not letting Parka finish her complaints. Parka sighed furiously and lightly punched the wall.
Morning came in an awful hurry. I didn't get much sleep. Their words spun around in my head, repeating over and over.
What have they done to themselves?
"Good morning." Chara's voice scared the crap out of me. He gave me a smile. I had to pretend that I didn't know what happened last night.
"How'd you sleep?"
"Didn't." He said with a small chuckle. Chara downed three different pills, some vitamins.
I got off the couch and gave him a hug. He pet my head again. I don't like this new Chara.
"Chara. Can I see your soul?"
"Woaaah, that's a bit personal!" Chara laughed and squatted down next to me.
"Apologies." I spoke blankly before turning around and going back to the couch.
This place I'm in. It feels horrible. I feel horrible. Looking into the eyes of my suffering friends and hearing them fight is horrible.
I need... I need to save them.
"Good morning." Parka walked in with the same greeting Chara said. I waved and turned on the TV. Parka gave her once boyfriend a mere glance before making a cup of coffee for herself. Chara lingered in the kitchen before sitting next to me. Parka sat on the other side of me.
I eventually got sick of the silence and got off the couch, sitting on the small table in front.
"Spill." Was all I said. The two of them looked at eachother and shifted apart.
"Let's let Chara speak first. He's the one with all the rage boiled up inside. Trying to touch him feels like sticking my hand in a pool of fried oil." Parka smiled bitterly.
"He's grieving, Parka." I soothed, but to no avail.
"We're all grieving." Her words sounded slightly slurred and she spoke in an almost speedy tone, tracing a circle on her palm. I nodded.
"Chara, go ahead."
"Asriel is dead." He started. Parka shifted on the couch uncomfortably, clasping her hands together. I composed myself, breathing slowly and quietly.
"I know, Chara. I know."
"And why are you so CALM about it?" Chara asked, his voice raising.
"I'm not ca—"
"WHY DO YOU GET TO BE SO PEACED TOGETHER AND COLLECTED?!" Parka covered her ears at Chara's yelling. Soon he was standing over me.
"I assure you, Chara–"
"IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!"
With the step of a foot, I was standing up. The glass table had shattered from where I'd hit it.
"I CARE, CHARA! BUT I'M NOT SULKING LIKE A COMPLETE MORON."
Parka was rendered speechless, Chara had fallen back onto the couch.
"I mean, look at this place." I say, pointing around at all the mess.
"You fell apart and wrecked the place. Someone you loved died so you had to break something."
Parka uncovered her ears at my words and her face dropped.
"Is..." My surroundings catch up with me, and I take in a hard breath. My voice cracked,
"Is this what Asriel would've wanted for us?"
Chara immediately got up and grabbed his jacket from the door, putting it on. A heavy sigh escaped from my lips, I sat back down on the couch as Parka got up.
"Chara?"
"I need to go."
"Chara, please-"
"Parka," He turned his head towards her, tears in his eyes,
"I need to.. think for awhile. Clear my head. I haven't done that in a long time."
Parka's extended arm folds down to her side. She stops talking and nods. As Chara leaves selfishness speaks with a sigh,
"C—Come back home. Please."
I failed my friends again.
Of course I did.
