The Dark Knight's Fire

You weren't late to school today, not after yesterday's events. Mom didn't even have to get you out of bed. You wanted to see all your new friends again.

Your classmates and teacher were surprised to see you to be first in the classroom, many speculated it had something to do with your forced cooperation with Susie yesterday and following disappearance. You'd never have enough time even if you wanted to tell them the story. Alphys was quick to start the lesson. She was prepared this time, she wouldn't have to send you to go fetch chalk. A whole box sat right on her desk, fresh from the store. The plastic it was still wrapped in made that very clear.

"A-alright!' She stammers, as everyone settles into their seats. Susie arrives right on time, and slowly strides over to her seat. She gives you a hefty pat-pat on your shoulder as she passes you. "Now that you're all in groups, I'm going to hand out boards, and you're going to make a plan for your project!" An awkward silence hangs over the classroom, as the teacher's instructions fall on indifferent ears. "A-and then you're going to show me!" ... "And I'll approve it!"

You watch Alphys' insecure eyes scan the whole classroom with scrutiny, before she finally gives up and starts passing out small blackboards and chalk for everyone to use. Berdly and Noelle immediately start transcribing their master plan, Temmie lays her chalk next to the egg on her desk and waits politely... and so on. When she finally gets to you and Susie at the back the class, she realizes she doesn't have enough blackboards for you.

As she stands there, stunned and empty handed, you look back at Susie. You can't see her eyes through her thick hair, but you can tell you've met her gaze, because her mouth turns up with a smirk and she gives you an unconvincing shrug.

Alphys looks to the front of the classroom, and her desk. She didn't forget any blackboards. "I..." The teacher trails off, looking back at you and Susie. "Must have forgotten some!" The yellow lizard chuckles nervously before instructing you further, "Okay, you guys might've disappeared yesterday! But because I didn't punish you, I can probably trust you now, right!?"

You hear Susie behind you give a noncommittal, "Sure."

"Alright!! Then, there should be spare boards in the closet." Susie doesn't waste any time at all, standing up immediately after Alphys is done talking. Arms crossed in front of herself, she hustles out of the room. By the time you manage to get out of your seat, the door is already shutting behind her.

You slowly get to your feat, but Alphys stops your advance to the door. "Um!" She interjects. Having gotten your attention, she continues. "Kris, please try not to disappear again, o-okay? If Susie is trying to blackmail you into doing things-- you don't have to agree! Even if--" Your lack of any strong reaction to her speaking seems to ruin her train of thought, and she trails off. "I just don't want to have to explain to your mom that I don't know where you are, okay?" You nod. Alphys seems placated.

Out in the hallway, you spot Susie from behind. She's standing still, waiting for you like last time. There's a strangely sweet yet acrid smell in the air. You doubt she'd wear any kind of perfume, but something feels off.

"You sure took your time." While still turned away from you, the monster uncrosses her arms and pulls something out from underneath the front of her shirt. It's a small chalkboard. In a swift motion, she busts the thing over her knee, letting half of it fall to the ground. She jams the other half into the doorjamb to the classroom. That'd make it hard to get in or out of the room. Just like yesterday, your classmates and teacher don't even bother investigating the noises outside, like when you were slammed into the locker. "That ought to keep them off our tails for a while."

Susie turns her head around to look at you. You manage to make out one of her eyes thanks to the angle. She seems to be eyeing you up, for some sort of reaction. You remain stoic, as usual. Good enough for her.

"Come on, let's go." She instructs you. The monster has no grip on you, but you still feel as though you're being dragged along. At the intersection of the hallway, she turns right instead of left, towards the closet. You hesitate for a moment. "This way, Kris. I gotta show you something."

Surprisingly, the door is held open for you. "Got a light?" Susie asks, casually leaning against the door. Now that you're in the sunlight, you can tell that there seems to be a weird collection of liquid along the walkway. It hasn't even rained recently. "Stupid question, I guess," Susie muses, at your silence.

Fumbling around with the pockets of her coat, Susie eventually procures a small plastic lighter. She flashes you a toothy grin. "Don't worry, Kris. I don't smoke. Watch this." Shielding the flame with her hand, Susie manages to strike a light. She bends down and holds it to the discoloration the ground, and that's when you realize. The puddles. That smell. Gasoline.

Immediately, the orange flame jumps from the tiny lighter to the ground, the liquid lighting up in a thick blaze. Susie held the door not for you, but for the inferno to spread into the hallways, easily overtaking the hardwood floor, and branching out into each hallway. No wonder she was late. She was clearly busy.

You want to do something to stop it, but you know it's already too late. You'd just get yourself killed on the chemical fire, or inhale the smoke and die. Paralyzed by ice in your veins, you can only watch in horror as the fire also spreads along the lawn, jumping into the bushes just outside your classroom window. Aside from the door Susie blocked, the windows were their only other avenue of escape.

She lets the door swing shut, and grabs a red jerrycan from behind one of the pillars. "Wouldn't want to forget THIS."

"Time to go," the now-arsonist announces, hopping carefully over the flame to reach the safety of the sidewalk. She ushers you along with a firm, scalie hand on your shoulder, at a brisk speed-walk. "Don't think about it too much. Your mom's taking the little kids on a field trip anyway, so don't sweat it."

That does very little to quell your concerns, but Susie's firm grip hardly allows you to struggle. And besides, if you were caught now, you'd only be implicated. Anxiously, you cooperate. "I found a new place where we can get to the Dark World. Hurry it."

Susie leads you-- no, DRAGS you across the street. Instead of taking any sidewalks, she drags you right into the woods. As you disappear into the treeline, you hear the distant sound of the fire alarm inside the school going off. You stumble several times trying to keep up with Susie's longer strides, even with her pulling you along.

The walk through the woods is long, and it's a while of walking through the wilderness before you finally happen across what seems like a path. Susie doesn't take the silence to explain anything she's done, but you know better than to question her. Especially right now, when she's got such a tight grip on you. Your arm has long-since fallen asleep, and she seems to have no intention of easing up. "Almost there."

You wonder how Susie found this in the middle of the woods. At first, it seems to be a large mound in the middle of a clearing, but when the two of you reach the other side, the red doors are clear. Susie finally releases you to grab a crowbar off the ground in front of the doors.

Clearly, she has already been here. She places the jerrycan to the side before grabbing the tool with both hands, wedging it in-between the set of doors. The monster pushes on the crowbar to try to force the doors open, but to seemingly no avail. You get the feeling she's holding back. Before you can contemplate it further, she turns her head to look at you. "Give me a hand with this."

Although your entire arm is still tingling as feeling returns to it, you quickly agree. You place your hands over hers on the crowbar and prepare to push. However, she hesitates. Susie looks down at the crowbar. Your hands-- you're practically holding hands. She seems to notice the recognition on your face, as she cracks another one of her smirks. "Hey, Kris."

You don't reply, but she continues. "I knew you'd understand. Don't get used to me saying this, or anything, but you can be pretty awesome sometimes." Combined with the rest of today's events, you're left with some very conflicting feelings. Again, she interrupts you before you can reply by suddenly pushing on the crowbar. You don't even realize she's doing it, but the door suddenly creaks open without any effort on your part. "Thanks for the help."

Susie retrieves the empty jerrycan, and tosses it into the dark room within. You don't hear the plastic clatter and hit the ground. "See? What'd I tell you?" She turns to face you. It's then that you realize you hadn't let go of her hand, as she reverses the grip and holds them in hers. "We won't have to go to school anymore. You and I can come here every day." Her smile widens, showing off her sharp teeth. "We're going to have lots of awesome adventures, right?"

Considering all your options, you figure that nodding has the best chance of leaving you intact.

"Right. I..." Susie suddenly jerks you forwards, letting go of your hands and quickly wrapping her arms around you in a tight hug. Your feet are lifted off the ground, kicking for purchase but finding nothing as she raises you. You can't even squirm, her powerful arms are like a vice. Thankfully, your head is over her shoulder so you can breathe. She rests her head against yours, and holds you for much longer than what could be considered a platonic hug.

After an eternity, it's over. She brings you back to arms-length, with her hands on your shoulders as she gently places you down. "Now... let's go." Her hand slides down your arm, causing you to shiver. She grabs you by the hand again, and pulls you towards the door. There's no time to resist, before suddenly you're surrounded by darkness.

The only thing you know in this void is Susie, as she pulls you close to her chest. Together, you are...

Falling...

Falling...

Falling.

Susie whispers something into your ear...

"Thank you..."