As the smoothness of the carefully-carved path gave way to the harsh edges of a small mountain, and a gust of wind turned the tunnel ahead into a shrieking maw, a surge of adrenaline and dread turned Frisk’s pulse into a pounding tide.

The dull red glare of the firelit ceiling loomed high above, turning the buildings and machines into ominous silhouettes, and closer – far, far too close – a smaller but vastly more perilous figure stood motionless on the mountaintop.

A spark of anger flared through the fog of fear, and this time the curl of their toes whispered of a desire to use the shoes they gripped for a purpose other than running away.

The edge of pain in the monster’s voice cut through the haze of rage like a spear, and the memories that followed it warped what remained of their indignation into gut-twisting guilt.

It was clear that Undyne was going to wait until Frisk made the first move. Still, the human hesitated, caught between a retreat that offered no escape and a battle they didn’t know how to wage.

​“Understand, human?”

Undyne’s stern, frigid voice cut through their thoughts, and they nodded numbly, trembling as they absorbed the enormity of the revelation.

The king of the Underground wanted them dead, and there was nowhere they could go where people wouldn’t be trying to fulfill his command.

“This is your only chance at redemption,” Undyne continued, her golden eye burning a hole in the child’s reeling mind. “Give up your soul… or I’ll tear it from your body.”