The Moon, chapter 47: Apocalypse Overture

After their emotions had calmed themselves, Susie and Hazel sat down at the dinner table and began to think of how to prepare for whatever would happen that night. First order of business was to make sure the people of hometown would be safe. However, this would require everyone to believe they were in danger at all. They decided that though showing every individual monster Susie's injuries and telling them her story would be effective, but not too fast, even with the town's reduced population. They began to wonder how someone would broadcast a message to everyone in the town, and where the residents would go when the message was sent out. Their only option was a loudspeaker atop the police station. Susie noticed it from time to time, but never had it been actually used. Perhaps it was non functional, but they reasoned that it couldn't hurt to check. This train of thought led them to the second action they needed to take.

Self defense.

Susie had the fire ax, of course, but to fully be prepared for whatever came her way, she needed more than just a simple close range weapon. She wasn't entirely sure if there was any sort of firearm at the station, but if she were to stand any chance against the moon creatures, she would need all the help she could get. She knew all too well how powerful the were. Any sort of long range weapon would be ideal, even if she wasn't able to handle it well due to her injuries. However, this conversation brought upon a strange thought that Susie hadn't thought of before. If what the thing in her vision said was real, and that she was basically already dead, then how much more damage could she take before her body gave out? If whatever was giving her life was in her head, would a decapitation kill her? Was it running through her veins, keeping her alive that way? And why did this all happen after she destroyed the heart?

No more getting sidetracked. Answers will come in time. Stay focused.

Next, and perhaps the most dangerous step, was to make sure the door south of town wasn't there anymore, and if it was, it would need to be blocked off. She knew what was down there, and she didn't want any of it crawling it's way back up. First step was to stop by the general store and see what could be used to block the door. Some sort of chain, perhaps? Would that even be enough? Maybe it would have to be welded shut? Would the general store even have something like that? All questions to be answered soon enough, she had hoped.

The plan went as follows. Susie and Hazel would wait until near sunset to head to the general store first to stock up on any supplies they would need, then head to the door to block it off. Next, they would scout out the police station and head inside, inspecting the broadcasting system and searching for any firearms or ammunition. The warning would be sent at dusk by Hazel, telling everyone to gather in the town hall, away from any windows if possible. The broadcast would be given under the veil of a severe snowstorm warning. Since the school got compromised, the town hall became the most structurally sound building in town. It was also one of the furthest away from the lake. She wasn't sure if it would be of much consequence considering the power the moon beings held, but an attempt needed to be made. When Hazel is busy warning everyone in town, Susie would prepare herself at the lake's side, and wait for whatever would come for her.

She was far from certain that she would succeed, but it was better than nothing. Once they had waited for sunset, and mentally prepared for whatever was to happen next, Susie attempted to grab the duffle bag that held the ax by the door. She found some difficulty lifting it up with only one arm's strength, however. Hazel offered to carry it for her, which she graciously accepted, though it caused her much discomfort to know she was so physically impaired. With their plan made and finalized, Susie and Hazel exited the front door, stepping into a thin layer of snow and breathing in the chilled morning air. The temperature change didn't affect Susie much, even in her relatively lightly clothed wardrobe. She began to notice that the feelings her body usually felt, pain, heat, cold, etcetera, were starting to get less and less intense.

She didn't want to admit it, but deep down she knew why.

The stillness of the town left Susie with a haunting sensation. Blankets of snow covered the ground, with the only indents in them only faintly visible. It felt as if the town was abandoned, as the only ambient noise seemed to come from the forest as reverberations of snapping branches echoed through the air. The buildings, for the most part, seemed unlit and devoid of life, standing only as monuments to the lives who once lived there. Knowing all that she knew, it was hard to take anything completely at face value. It felt as if something was constantly waiting around the corner for her, and it made her mind race. How had they not figured out what she'd done? Had they, and they were simply waiting for her to make a mistake? Was this a trap?

“Susie?”
“Hmm?”
“We're here. You doing okay?”
So lost in thought, Susie's brain didn't even register that they were now standing outside of the general store, crudely labeled “'Sans”
“Yeah, let's keep moving.”
“What's that on the door?”
Susie looked a bit closer at the front door to the store and found a note taped to it.
“went on a trip with bro, be back soon” was scribbled on the page in messy print.

Something told her that they wouldn't be back for a long time. Susie tried the door and, to her surprise, it was unlocked. Did he just forget, or did he really dislike being stuck here that much that he didn't care whether it got broken into? Hazel stood behind Susie quietly, keeping her head down. She probably didn't like what she read either. She was taking everything surprisingly well, considering the circumstances. As well as Susie had hoped, even if that didn't mean much. The general store was unlit and unpowered besides the food, as expected. Another thing Susie began to notice is that she didn't hunger for anything anymore. Nor did she feel a thirst for water or any sort of liquid. Feeling the more down to earth and, for a lack of a more subtle word, “alive” parts of her fade made her stomach churn. Or at least, the equivalent feeling of a lack of comfort.

“Well, what do we need?” Hazel asked, still a but down put by the letter on the door.
“A couple medical kits, and a chain with a padlock. Once we have those we'll head down to the station.”
“Alright.”
The two were about to head off in different directions before Hazel abruptly stopped.
“Susie?”
Susie's shoes squeaked on the floor as she turned to Hazel.
“Yeah?”
“P-Please stay safe.”
“I'll be fine.” Susie replied with a smile.

Hazel simply nodded before they went their separate ways. The light from the window was just enough for her to see the shelves, but the further towards the back of the store she went, the less luck she had with visibility. The dim light coupled with the silence of the store made the place feel isolated and lonely, even if she knew Hazel was there with her. Luckily, she was able to find a couple medical kits, before she had to explore any of the darker areas. She awkwardly held both in her arm and held them tightly to her chest.

“Hazel, I found some medkits. Any luck with chains or locks?”
The distant sound of rattling chains met her ears.
“Yeah, found a U lock with it. Chain's pretty large too, should hold the door closed well.”
“Good, now lets get out of here.”
“Yeah, this place is sorta creepy like this.”
Susie and Hazel met up once more, the both of them dropping their findings in the duffle bag along with the ax, and headed out the door. Not only was the temperature rather cold already, but the wind began to pick up as well, and it was getting more dark by the minute. They had to hurry up. Snow crunched beneath their feet as they ran towards the south of town, trying their best to waste no time getting to the door before anything bad happened. Once Susie reached the southernmost road of the town however, she found that the path she took to the door seemingly vanished, as if a bunch of trees had grown directly in it's stead.

“Are you sure it was here, Susie?” Hazel asked, seeming a bit worried.
“Yes, I'm sure, I-”
Susie sighed in frustration.
“Might as well just head to the station, I guess. No reason to get lost in the woods for something that might not even be there anymore.”
“I haven't seen a path there ever, actually, and every time I walk home I walk within view of where it should be. Maybe you were just lucky?”
“Nah, if I'm lucky, Undyne won't be at the police station.”
“What's wrong with Undyne?”
“She... We don't get along well. I did some stupid stuff as a kid and she kinda hasn't let go of it.”
“I hope that doesn't stop us from getting the message out.”

Only one way to find out.