Mt. Ebott

It earned itself quite a reputation..

Stories circulated around town of the tale of the infamous mountain. It was a place that very few would explore and traverse in, and majority of those who do, never make it out. Uttering even the name of the place is enough to cause shivers to people around the area..

If the mountains tall appearance does not make you fear it, then the scary tales surrounding the place surely will.

However, it's not unlikely for me to wander around the mountains alone, wanting nothing more than to bask in my space, away from the negativity around me. The scenery of the city behind those thick walls of leaves from the trees does it's wonders to distract myself from my initial emotions.

The mountain itself wasn't breath taking but it wasn't hideous, scary nor a labyrinth filled with trees and twisted vines. It was just that, a mountain that had stood tall for millennials to come. Aside from the eye catching rumors about it, there really isn't anything interesting about it...

Still, that doesn't mean that the mountain is free from obstacles, like any other mountains, it has it's confusing turns and directions, especially if you're exploring it for the very first time. The mountain is isolated, it's reputation prevents anyone from getting to know the place, perhaps that's why i found it as my personal sanctuary..

"I know right? Scary, there's definitely something paranormal happening in that mountain." My friend says in full confidence, the nod from her other peer only cemented that. "I don't think it's too bad.." I tried to retort. They raised their brows at me, an incredulous look overtaking them "Why's that? Have you been there before to know?"

Silence.

"Oh... no way, Kariya...!"

Ah it's that look on their eyes again.

Exploring the lonely mass of land became my favorite way of recharging my thoughts and forgetting about... Well, everything... Considering how often those walks occur, i found myself getting to know every path. I never understood the stories people made about Mt. Ebott, i find myself back to my home and it doesn't seem like a part of me is missing every visit i take.

I didn't fear the potential of going missing or loosing my sense of direction, i knew the mountain like the back of my hand, there's nothing to worry about.

So now i ask myself, why?

Why am i falling down?

I didn't mean it, i just..

Everything was just so overwhelming. I didn't realize the time i had spent in the mountains, I didn't notice the sun setting below the horizon, I didn't notice the warm air slowly cooling down, the way my skin grew bumps from the temperature. But i couldn't calm down, i couldn't calm the ache of my chest and the ringing of my ears that lead to my breathing to quicken painfully, I couldn't calm the way i was desperately gasping for air but ever breath that i took didn't feel enough.

I couldn't get myself to realize where i was stepping, and by the time that i do.

I had already started plummetting down from the hole found in the grounds of the mountains. The wind hitting my face was suffocating as i tried to muster up everything that i could to scream, to hold on to something, to call out to someone, anyone! i don't want this.

Why did i-

I don't want this.

Stop falling.

Grab something, anything!

Through my shut eyes, i could tell that i was falling closer

And closer

And closer into the ground, was this how i was going to die? No... not yet, I don't want to die yet!

I bring every strength i could to place my arms behind my head and brace myself for the impact that i knew was inevitable, but i still had hope.

I squeezed my eyes further as slowly, my life started to play out in my head, until the very events that lead up to this point..my friends, my teachers... My parents...

Oh..

Now i remember why I'm doing this.

All the previous adrenaline pumping through my veins felt as though it left my body just as quickly. I sighed one last time, simply accepting my end as the light from the other side of the hole i had initially fell through started to grow smaller as i descended farther into the abyss.

I let go to the last ounce of hope i had left and allowed my body to relax for the inevitable, letting go of my head as i soon accepted that, i can't escape from it. The hole i had fell from soon became smaller and smaller as the distance between us became farther. Mustering up the last breath i could take, i closed my eyes once more and braced myself for the impact.

Nothing.

Rather, it almost felt like nothing. I landed on something... Soft? I couldn't quite describe how to feel about it. My body felt incredibly numb all over, was it from the adrenaline? Or was it the fact that i had accepted my death far too quickly? I peeled my eyes open to take my time and scan my surroundings.

I was laying on a pile of golden flowers, each one warm and colorful, i wonder how many were there that it softened my fall that well..

i was surrounded with rocks, arching vines and dirt, and not near from me is where i had come from, the sun was barely peaking at me as i looked up, was it getting dark soon?

I wondered as i gave all of my strength to stand up, my knees trembled slightly but i was able to keep myself upright and start walking, but not even a few steps in, i stumbled forward and nearly fell into the ground, my foot tripped over something.

I turned my head around and saw a familiar object between my feet, i sat up and scanned it, properly this time.

It's my guitar.

What is it doing here? How did it keep in shape after that fall?

I am still alive myself but... Still. I picked it up and held it into my arms, clinging into it as anxiety strike me.

I'm stuck in the underground, with nothing but my guitar... Great! I looked up, the height where i had fallen from intimidated me, it's practically impossible to climb my way back into the surface, not to mention, I have nothing else other than a damn guitar for goodness sake. I sucked in as much breath as i could before yelling for someone to help me. Was my voice even reaching that far out? Is anyone even wandering up the mountains to be able to hear me?

"Is anyone there!?" I called once more

But no one came.

My stomach drops as the feeling of dread loomed over me as my eyes began to water and my lips to tremble. It felt like an eternity calling for someone out there to help, but much to my dismay, no response...

I gathered every courage as i could and started looking around again. My eyes locked into a pathway leading... somewhere. I shiver crawled up my spine, doesn't all horror movies start like this? The sunlight from the surface is unable to reach the path as the shadows overtakes the underground moving forward.

No use stalling around like this.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and started to walk slowly. The air blows against my ears, as though whispering the possibilities of horrors that awaits me from the other side of the room. The ground crunched beneath my shoes, echoing with each step, until i reached the end of the pathway.

There's an entrance, and peaking into the room inside of it lies another patch of grass, a small and healthy flower, resting in the middle. It's petals are gold, much like the ones that saved you, and avoid your death. The surroundings are pitch black, and only a mysterious light casting above it.

Curious, i wonder how this flower is able to grow and live here, is someone taking care of it? Or is water and actual sunlight able to travel down here?

I doubt it..

As i approached the plant careful it spoke to me.

Wait... Spoke?

"Howdy! I'm Flowey, Flowey the Flower!" I blinked twice, staring at the talking flower, dumbfounded. 'Shit, maybe I didn't survive that fall unscathed. I hit my head too hard in the ground, I'm hallucinating!' i thought to myself but it spoke to me once again after examining my (obviously hysterical) expression.

"Hmmm... You're new to the Underground aren't cha? Golly, you must be confused! Someone ought to teach you how things work around here! I guess little old me has to do."

It spoke with enthusiasm, the bright smile on it's face (?) further complimented the cheerful demeanor that the flower was showing me.

"Ready? Here we go!"

Without waiting for my answer, i feel my entire soul nearly jump from my body. I was still alive just... Disoriented from myself. After orienting myself from my surroundings once again, i notice a maroon colored heart floating near my chest. "See that heart? That is your soul, the very culmination of your being!" It explained to me. I took my time to move and try things out before it continued.

"Your soul starts off weak, but can grow if you gain a lot of LV." Lv? Level? Like videogames? But as though reading my mind, it answers my question, it's gleeful grin unwavering. "What does LV stand for? Why, LOVE of course! You want some LOVE don't you? Don't worry, I'll share some with you?"

The flower winks playfully, which didn't help my state of confusion in one bit. "Down here, love is shared through little white... Friendliness pellets." It's tone wavers slightly, the quick pause in between his words wasn't unnoticeable, small pellets float around it, spinning erratically in place before it starts to head towards my direction as the flower spoke.

"Are you ready? Move around! Get as many as you can." I hesitantly raised my arms, the instructions were unclear, should i grab it? (Un)fortunately for me, I didn't need to ponder for long.

The moment my skin touched one of the pellet, i immediately reel back as surges of pain courses through my whole body, i quickly hiss and clutch my arm, a pathetic attempt to stop the excruciating agony. I looked up in confusion and horror as the flowers face morphs from it's cheerful expression to a more sinister and horrifying one.

"You idiot! In this world, it's KILL or BE KILLED, why would ANYONE pass up an opportunity like this!?" In a blink of an eye, the pellets surrounded me, not a single one of my direction allowed a window for escape. "DIE."

The palettes slowly closed the distance between itself and me, if I don't die here and miraculously survive, i would wish i didn't. The flower laughed maliciously as it watched my demise with a sadistic glint in it's eyes.

Am i really going to die like this? I raised my arms to cover my head, an act to protect myself that i and the creature in front of me know, is futile. And when i was so sure of my death for the second time that day, nothing came of it. Slowly, i opened my eyes open and the bullets around me miraculously vanished, the flower and i shared the same expression, confusion.

As a fireball immediately appeared next to the creature and just as quickly threw the flower back, earning a loud yell in turn. I turned my head to the source the fire and came face to face with a taller creature, instead of a flower, it's stature resembles that of a goat as it wore a  long robe. Then, it spoke.

"What a terrible creature, torturing such a poor, innocent youth." My body relaxing involuntarily upon hearing it's voice. It was soft, calm and soothing as it carried a nurturing aura. It fixes it's gaze towards me, and i could feel myself let out a breath that i had not know i was holding this whole time. "Ah, do not be afraid, my child."

"I am Toriel, caretaker of the Ruins, i pass through this place everyday to see if anyone has fallen down." Everyday? This must be a normal occurrence then...  "You are the first human to come here in a long time." Close enough...

"Come! I will guide you through the catacombs." She smiles warmly towards me, despite my mind being plagued with doubts, i set it aside... I don't know where to go, the only way to be able to survive at least a little longer is through the guidance of someone else. I have to trust someone, even if it's a gamble.

"This way." She turns around, until her back is facing me before walking towards another pathway i had not noticed before. I allowed myself to exhale and follow along her steps, my heartbeat gradually calming down after my near death experience.

"You idiot! In this world it's KILL or be KILLED."

My mind wanders off to the words of the flower earlier, is it being serious? Underground...here, do they follow such rules and build their 'world' in such foundations, or was it said so it could justify its vile actions...

Dammit, I should've died on that fall.

(Word count: 2266)

(This chapter is un-proof-read)