I've always expected this of them. I never knew they'd go through with it, though.

They probably hated me. I bet that's why they left.

I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

Don't do this. Don't leave me.

You can't leave. Not yet.

Stay with me, please?

...

Please don't go, Chara..

--

"Asriel? You okay?"

I opened my eyes and saw them. I never thought I'd be so happy to see them. 

They poked my face. "Come on, get up! We still have things to do!"

That's right. I forgot that we still needed to help Mom and Dad. I got up off the ground and dusted myself off. "Well, that's the last time I'm sleeping on dirt," I said jokingly, with a smile. They laughed a little. "You're pretty funny sometimes, y'know?"

Then I noticed. Their expression looked different from what I was used to. It was kinda... scary..

They caught me staring and I quickly turned away, thoughts racing through my head. 

Then things got a little creepy.

"Do you ever wish that there wasn't so many others? Like, everybody gets on my nerves sometimes, bothering me with all their stupid questions and pushing me around. They aren't the boss of me, what right do they have to make me do things?"

I stayed silent. But only for a few moments.

"... Are you okay?"

"What? Of c ourse! Never better!" They said that with a creepy grin on their face. This... was not normal.

"I... I don't believe you.. This isn't like you, Chara."

"... Has anybody ever treated you like you were different? Like you were some demon that was going to kill everyone? Have you ever been told that you weren't who you thought you were, how you weren't normal?"

"Chara..."

"Do you know what it feels like to be outcast from society, to be shunned and hated by all?"

I stopped talking.

"... Of course not. Why would you? You're special, you have to be loved by everyone! You're part of the royal family! Who doesn't love you?!" I took a few steps back as they kept shouting at me, telling me all these things that I didn't understand. Why were they acting so... so terribly?

"Haha, I bet if anybody hurt you, they'd be killed in a second! Poof! Turned to dust just like that!"

They were breathing heavily now, shaking visibly.

"I bet it feels nice... Being loved... Being treated like some kind of special treasure."

"..."

"Yeah.. I bet it feels real good.. Ha... haha... hahaha! You don't know a thing! You're a fuckin' idiot, you know that?! I bet you don't understand half of what I'm talking about!" That was when I started breaking down.

"Chara.... Why are you saying these things? Why are you being so mean to me? Did I do something wrong..?"

"Yes!! You messed up by fucking existing!! Why are you so goddamn perfect?! Why can't I be treated like you?! Why does everybody throw me away like motherfucking garbage?! WHY CAN'T I JUST GET SOME FUCKING RESPECT FOR ONCE IN MY FUCKING SHIT LIFE?!"

They kept yelling, and tears started rolling down their face. I was both terrified.. and I felt horrible for them.

"Chara... I'm sorry.." I took a few steps forward, right up to them, and hugged them. "I don't hate you..."

They stopped. They stopped almost completely. They quit shaking, they became silent, their breathing became regular again.

"I don't understand what you're going through, but I'm still here for you... I'm really sorry.."

They started sobbing, and hugged me back tightly. "I'm sorry too... I didn't mean it..."

That all changed.

-One week later-

I don't think they ever really returned to their old self after that. They were quieter, they hardly spoke to me, and they spent most of their time in their room.

A few days after what happened, Dad got really sick. I think I helped in the cause of what happened.

But Chara was the one who told me to with them. I didn't know that buttercups were poisonous.

I never told, though.

After all, friends keep secrets.

.. Right?