Frankie woke to the cold air seeping through the rusted vents. Her shirt was off, and the only thing covering her torso was a layer of worn bandages. Blinking, she glanced around the room—something was different. Darker. More unsettling.
The dim light revealed silhouettes of tables, chairs, machines, a bed... and a few posters she couldn't quite make out, all illuminated by dozens of flickering computer screens.
Sitting in front of the monitors was a short lizard, her back hunched over in focus. Some screens displayed security cameras monitoring the entire underground, while others calculated statistics or played some anime.
"Um... Doctor?" Frankie spoke up, her voice hoarse.
The lizard flinched visibly, and her glasses slid down her nose as she adjusted them. "Ah... you're awake." She paused the anime and game in a swift motion. "I wanted to bring you here, to give you new clothes—and maybe a bath..."
Frankie shifted, wincing as she sat up. Her stitches strained painfully, and she hissed in discomfort. "How long was I out?"
"Four hours," Alphys replied without hesitation.
Frankie's gaze flickered to the monitors—particularly the ones displaying security footage. "Do you, uh... usually spy on people?" She sniffed and wiped her nose.
Alphys glanced back at the screens, a flash of defensiveness crossing her face. "It's not spying, it's monitoring." She shot Frankie a sharp glare before turning away. She walked over to a nearby table, picked up a set of clothes, and tossed them toward Frankie. "I measured your size. I had these made for you."
It was a long-sleeved grey top, black high-waisted trousers, white underwear, and a white trench coat. Frankie raised an eyebrow, inspecting the clothes. "So, what, I'm gonna start working here?" She looked up at Alphys and snickered. "I don't know a lick of science or machinery! And you measured me? Do you know how creepy that is?"
Frankie started raising her voice, but Alphys didn't flinch.
"What? You're just gonna stare at me? Damn it, say something!" Frankie yelled, slamming her hand on the bed in frustration.
After a beat of silence, Alphys spoke, her voice sharp. "Are you done? I don't have time for this. Get up, get dressed, and meet me outside." That was it. No further explanation. She turned and walked out of the room.
Frankie watched her leave, disbelief flashing across her face. But as Alphys disappeared through the door, something else caught her eye. A red cane with a bird-shaped handle leaned against the wall. Was that for her?
Slowly, Frankie got up, wincing as her legs protested, and limped toward the cane. Her eyes never left the bold red.
It didn't seem like something Alphys would own—it looked far too tall for her to even hold. So, whose was it?
The cane reached up to Frankie's chest. She could use it as a staff if she wanted to. She leaned against the wood and looked back toward the bed, gathering her clothes before heading toward what she assumed was the bathroom.
When she stepped inside, she sighed in relief and closed the door behind her. The bathroom was dimly lit with pristine white tile walls. A single rectangular mirror hung above the sink, and a white rectangular curtain shielded a silver showerhead. The toilet sat to the side.
"Cozy..." Frankie muttered, peeling off her socks and jeans. She turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm up. In the meantime, her eyes drifted to the mirror, landing on her now-dirty bandages.
She sighed again, careful as she unwrapped them, wincing slightly.
After checking the temperature of the water with her hand, she stepped into the shower, letting the warm bristles cascade down her body. Her curly hair, once flattened halfway, now spiraled in loose waves that framed her face and cascaded down to the start of her spine.
Frankie closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She scratched her head, pushing the curls back, letting the water rush down over her face. For just a moment, everything felt calm. Peaceful.
Frankie limped out of the room, gripping the bold red cane for support. A few gasps sounded from the others nearby. Alphys, buried in a stack of papers, barely glanced up—until she saw it.
Her eyes widened. "Put that back."
Frankie straightened, gripping the cane tighter. "Why? Whose is it?"
Alphys didn't answer. She marched over, snatched the cane from Frankie's hand, and shoved it back into the room. Frankie stumbled but caught herself.
"You don't need it," Alphys muttered, voice clipped.
Before Frankie could argue, Alphys grabbed her arm and yanked her forward. Her grip was tight. Unyielding.
"Listen to me, and listen good." Alphys' voice was sharp—colder than Frankie had ever heard. She jabbed a clawed finger at the girl's chest. "Don't ever touch that cane again."
Frankie swallowed, nodding quickly.
"From now on, you'll learn medicine and science under me," Alphys continued. "You'll follow a strict schedule. You'll do as I say. And you will never—ever—go into my room again. Got it?"
Frankie hesitated, then mumbled, "Yes... doctor."
Alphys stepped back, adjusting her coat like nothing had happened. "Good. Let's start." Without another word, she turned and walked off.
Frankie lingered, glancing back at the room. The cane sat where Alphys had left it, its bold red practically glowing in the dim light.
Whose was it? And why did Alphys react like that?She didn't have time to think. With a quiet breath, she forced herself to follow.
Alphys led her into the operating room.
"Why are we here?" Frankie asked, scanning the dimly lit space.
Before she got an answer, the doors on the other side slammed open. A group of large monsters barged in, dragging a scrawny kid who kicked and thrashed, his screams raw with panic.
Frankie's stomach twisted. "Doctor, what the—"
"Get the tools," Alphys said, unfazed. "You'll be operating on him."
Frankie's breath hitched. "What? I don't know how to— I thought you were going to teach me!"
"This is how you learn." Alphys' tone was cool, almost bored. "I'll be right here giving you instructions when you need them—"
The kid's screams grew louder, cutting her off. Alphys sighed in irritation.
The two larger monsters nodded and went to work.
Frankie flinched as fists met flesh. The kid's screams were quickly drowned out by wet, sickening cracks as they pounded his face in. The sound of breaking bone echoed off the metal walls. Blood splattered onto the floor in thick, sluggish drops.
Frankie wanted to turn away. She wanted to run.
"Don't look away," Alphys said casually. "If you do, this will be you next."
Her breath came in sharp, rapid gasps. Her fingers curled into the hem of her coat, knuckles white. She couldn't move—couldn't even blink—as the boy's body twitched and convulsed under the monsters' fists.
Alphys watched her closely, eyes sharp behind her glasses. Calculating.
Frankie's shoulders shook.
Her hair had grown longer, curlier. The white trench coat she wore now boasted bloodstains along the hem—old, dried, permanent. Dark circles had settled under her eyes, and a pair of square glasses sat perched on her nose, a sign of age and exhaustion.
She didn't call Alphys "Doctor" anymore. There was no doctor. Just Alphys. And frankly, Frankie was tired of this life.
Frankie pushed her hair back as she walked into the lab, hands shoved deep in her pockets, fingers fidgeting with her room key.
She cocked her head lazily, searching for the voice that dared utter her name. A small rodent-like monster skipped toward her.
"Emphany," Frankie drawled. "What a pleasure." Her shoulders rose and dropped in an exaggerated shrug.
Emphany twirled a small braid between her fingers. "So, um, the doctor wants to see you—ehe." She grinned nervously. "She said she has another delivery for you to pick up."
Frankie clapped her hands together, leaning in with a grin. "Oh! Greeeaaat."
Emphany beamed, clearly misreading the sarcasm. "Okay!" She clutched her binder a little tighter as Frankie brushed past her.
Then, Frankie paused. "Oh, and Emphany?" The rodent turned, expectant. Frankie flashed her a sweet smile. "Go fuck yourself."
She walked away without another word, leaving Emphany standing there, shocked and maybe a little flustered.
Frankie shoved open Alphys' door without knocking. She'd stopped caring about courtesy a long time ago. After all, Alphys wasn't going to kill her. Not her best doctor. Not her little go-getter.
"What now, Alphys?" she drawled, leaning against the wall. "I just got back from a 'delivery'—and you're already sending me on another? Give me a fucking break."
Her eyes flicked toward the empty space where the red cane had once stood. The owner had picked it up a month after she arrived.
"You don't need a break," Alphys said, adjusting her cracked glasses. "And the delivery is in Snowdin."
Frankie pushed off the wall. "Snowdin? Where the hell is that?"
"Past Waterfall." Alphys handed her a picture of the deliver-ee.
Frankie frowned, glancing between the photo and Alphys. "So let me get this straight. You want me to go on a week-long trip to this frozen dump, search for some asshole, and then drag him all the way back? That's gonna take at least a month, if I'm lucky." Her voice dripped with passive aggression.
Alphys barely looked at her. "When you find him, extract his heart and bring it here."
Frankie scoffed. "Fuck you."
"Emphany will give you money and a cooler. Get to it."
"I really hate you, you know that?"
Alphys only hummed in response as Frankie stormed out.
Outside, Emphany stood there, wallet and cooler in hand. "F-Frankie—!"
"Still go fuck yourself!" Frankie sang in a mocking, sing-song voice, flashing her a fake smile as she snatched the items from her.
Emphany stuttered, taken aback, but Frankie didn't wait to hear whatever she was about to say. She shoved open the heavy metal doors and let them slam shut behind her with a resounding clang.
She stomped up the stone steps, her scowl deepening with every step. When she finally reached the top, she stopped, staring into the gaping mouth of a dark tunnel.
"Never gets any creepier..." she muttered, pulling out her flashlight.
Her boots clanked against the stone floor, the sound bouncing off the cavernous walls. Every step soured her mood further. A gust of warm wind howled through the tunnels, making her groan.
Everything echoed—the rhythmic thud of her footsteps, the cooler bumping against her leg, the distant hum of ventilation systems, and the murmured whispers of the homeless lurking in the shadows.
Soon, she reached a familiar crossroads—three massive tunnels stretching into darkness. One led to Waterfall. The others? A mystery. Alphys had forbidden her from ever exploring them, and despite her curiosity, she obeyed. Eventually, she got used to always taking the same path.
She sighed and headed down the tunnel she knew best. The passage stretched endlessly, vines curling down from the ceiling, their tendrils swaying in the damp air. Moss clung to the walls, thriving in the perpetual dimness.
With a flick of her flashlight, Frankie pressed forward.
The water in the tunnel started to rise, slowly at first—just a small puddle—but soon it expanded into a full lake. A log bridge, old yet sturdy, stretched across the water, a structure that had been there long before Frankie's time. Alphys had once told her it was built centuries ago. Yet, despite its age, the bridge looked remarkably well-maintained.
As Frankie hurried across, the bridge creaked and rumbled under her weight. That was when a sudden, bright light hit her face. She quickly turned off her flashlight and shielded her eyes with her arm. To her surprise, this part of the underground had natural light, allowing crops and plants to thrive.
The people of Waterfall worshiped this light like a god, revering it as a blessing. It was strange, though—after all, they had a king, Asgore, but he never cared for this place, or Hotland, or even Snowdin. Alphys had told Frankie once that, during her time serving under her master, she'd met the king.
Alphys wasn't much for storytelling, nor was she fond of speaking to Frankie at all, but when the mood struck, she would share a bit of her past.
"Wanna hear a story?" Alphys had asked one day after watching Frankie absentmindedly roll her pen.
Frankie perked up, grinning. "Seriously? Yeah! Tell me!"
A smile that was reminiscent of her youthful days spread across Alphys' face. "I met the king once," she said softly.
Frankie leaned in, intrigued. "The king? What was he like?"
Alphys leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I was a teenager, like you. I worked under my best friend's father. He took me to the fancy part of the underground—New Home. The king and queen had just had their heir."
She closed her eyes for a moment, lost in thought. "The streets were cleaner, people were kinder..." Alphys sighed, sitting up straight again. "But then... something happened to the royal family. They've never been the same since." She looked distant as if the memory weighed heavily on her.
"...Doctor?" Frankie started, but Alphys immediately raised a hand, silencing her.
"It's nothing," Alphys said quickly, her cold demeanor returning. "Get back to work."
With that, Alphys stood up and walked away, the conversation over.
frankie sighs and continues to walk on the bridge, from a far distance she could see waterfall's town surrounded by the endless deep blue, a siloette with a hood stood on a boat humming a song "hey rp" frankie gave them a lopsided smile
"oh! frankie! what a pleasure, though i didn't expect you to come back so quickly..." the look down at the cooler "a quick delivery? ...that's new" the commented slowly
"yeah.." frankie dropped down onto the boat "don't go to the usual spot go to the port... gotta get a few supplies" she shifted slightly "as you wish" river person nodded and took off
frankie stared into the water, lost in thought, this was gonna be one hell of a trip
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