Chapter 10: The Passage

Vance cautiously pushed open the hidden passage in Toriel's room, revealing a narrow staircase that seemed to spiral endlessly downward. Each step groaned under his weight, the ancient wood worn smooth by time yet riddled with cracks. The air grew colder with each step, and cobwebs stretched across the walls, clinging to his clothes as he passed. Moss crept along the cracked stone, painting the walls with an eerie green sheen. It was clear to Vance that this passage had not been used in a very long time.

As he descended, his thoughts drifted to the Ruins' history. This was the first home of the Monsters after they were banished underground. He imagined the countless lives that must have passed through these halls. Even though he hadn't explored the entirety of the Ruins, it was hard to believe that this space could have accommodated the thousands—perhaps millions—of Monsters who had once lived here. His mind wandered back to Flowey's cryptic warning: "There's a dangerous place underground in the Ruins. Stay away from it."

The memory made him hesitate, his feet pausing mid-step. Was this the place Flowey had mentioned? The unease gnawed at him, but so did his curiosity. As the saying went, curiosity killed the cat, and Vance's love for exploring every corner of his favorite game spurred him onward.

Finally, the staircase ended, and Vance stepped into a cavernous darkness. It was so pitch black that he could barely see his hand in front of his face. His heart quickened as he noticed a fragile-looking bridge extending before him, its edges disappearing into the shadows. The abyss below the bridge seemed endless, the faintest echo of dripping water hinting at its unimaginable depth. Without a light source, he could only make out the bridge's silhouette, and the thought of continuing filled him with dread.

A voice broke through the oppressive silence as he stood there, debating whether to turn back. It came from no discernible direction, deep and resonant, yet somehow soft and questioning.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Vance froze, his breath caught in his throat. The voice sent a shiver down his spine. He squinted into the darkness, but no figure emerged. The words lingered in the air, their weight pressing down on him as he tried to find his voice to respond.

Feeling a faint twinge of aggressiveness from the voice's tone, Vance's Soul flickered to its silver hue for a brief moment. Swallowing his nerves, he managed to reply, "I... I came through a passage in Toriel's home. It led me here."

The voice hesitated, then spoke again, its tone shifting from suspicion to surprise. "Toriel? You mean the queen? She rarely comes down here. Only on occasion. No one aside from Dalv stays here anymore. Hmm… are you one of her helpers?"

Sensing the tension ease slightly, Vance decided to take the opportunity to save himself. "Yes," he said, technically not lying since he was a guest of Toriel's.

The voice's demeanor shifted entirely, excitement coloring its words. "Oh! I see! My apologies for the earlier hostility," it said warmly. "I don't like loud noises. My hearing is very sensitive, and your arrival startled me. This place is usually the quietest in the Ruins."

Relieved by the change in tone, Vance relaxed slightly. "It's okay," he replied, his curiosity growing. "Who… who are you?"

The voice chuckled softly, the sound reverberating through the darkness. "My name is Decibat. Or just Deci, if you prefer."

Vance hesitated for a moment before asking, "Deci, do you know any way to light up this area? It's so dark, I can't see anything."

Deci hummed thoughtfully before replying. "Ah, yes. This part of the Dark Ruins has been in disrepair for a long time. Many areas are broken or blocked off, including bridges and passages. Where you are now is actually a sealed-off section of the Ruins. The only ways out are through Toriel's path or by navigating a dark maze nearby although from what I'm sure Toriel's path is only a one-way streak as you can't open it back from this side. That maze leads to a dried-up riverbed that might offer another way out."

Vance took a few cautious steps back, heart pounding as he turned to look at the path he had walked earlier. He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he paid attention, the once-familiar passageway was no longer an open route. The exit he had used to get here was now sealed tight, the broken walls and debris forming an insurmountable barrier.

"Great," Vance muttered under his breath, trying to mask the panic rising in his chest. "Just perfect. As if it wasn't bad enough already." Vance's heart sank at the thought of traversing a maze in this pitch-black environment. "But… how am I supposed to get through if I can't see anything?" he asked.

Deci let out a small laugh. "I figured as much. Here, catch this!" With a faint whooshing sound, something flew through the air and landed near Vance with a soft clatter. "It's an old staff," Deci explained. "Left behind by humans long ago. It should light up when powered by magic. Use it to guide your way."

Vance froze. "Magic?" he echoed nervously. He opened his mouth to explain that he didn't know how to use magic, but Deci continued, seemingly unaware.

"I can't join you directly, unfortunately," Deci said. "My wings don't have the stamina to carry me across the gap between us. But I'll meet you on the other side of the maze to help you navigate further."

Before Vance could protest, Deci added cheerfully, "Good luck! I'll see you soon!" The voice faded, leaving Vance standing alone in the oppressive darkness with the mysterious staff at his feet.

Vance stared at the staff in his hands, the intricate carvings glinting faintly in the dim light. He ran a thumb over its surface, feeling the grooves and wondering how he was supposed to make it work. "Now what am I supposed to do with this?" he muttered. "I don't know how to use magic."

As if in response to his frustration, a voice emerged in his mind—soft, feminine, and oddly familiar. "Focus… Pull from your soul. It's the source of all your power."

Vance froze, his eyes darting around. "Who…? Who's there?" he whispered, his voice quivering in the oppressive silence.

The voice continued, calm and unwavering, as though it hadn't heard his question. "You're overthinking it. Magic isn't some puzzle to solve—it's part of you. Feel your soul's energy and let it flow. Start by clearing your mind…"

Though startled, Vance hesitated, his gaze shifting to the faint silver glow emanating from his chest. The voice's calmness was oddly reassuring, and despite the strangeness of the situation, he decided to follow its advice. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, trying to focus on the flickering light of his soul.

Slowly, he felt warmth spread through his chest, radiating outward like ripples on a pond. The sensation extended to his arms, down to his hands, where it pooled and gathered. He opened his eyes to see a faint, shimmering glow forming in his palm—a silver lump of energy pulsating softly, like a heartbeat made of light.

"Is this… magic?" Vance whispered in awe. The energy felt alive, an extension of himself, and yet foreign at the same time. He looked at the staff, and almost instinctively, he pressed the glowing energy into it. The staff absorbed the light eagerly, its intricate carvings illuminating with a soft silver hue. A beam of light emerged from its tip, piercing through the darkness and revealing the decayed path ahead.

"Yes, that's it," the voice murmured, its tone faintly tinged with satisfaction.

Vance blinked, his heart racing. "Wait a minute! Who are you? And why are you in my head?" he demanded, looking around as though expecting an answer from the shadows.

There was no reply. The presence in his mind wavered, retreating like a tide pulling back into the ocean. The sudden emptiness it left behind was almost jarring, and Vance felt a pang of unease.

"Was that… someone's voice? Or am I losing it?" he muttered to himself, gripping the staff tightly. He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts aside. Whoever—or whatever—it was had helped him, and that was all that mattered for now.

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Nina took a tentative step forward, her hands trembling slightly as she watched Chara flicker, her form fading in and out of visibility. The sharp edge of Chara's usual demeanor made Nina hesitate, a flicker of fear rising in her chest. She'd only known Chara for a short time, but her first impression hadn't exactly been the most welcoming. Chara's mean streak, her biting words, and her sharp attitude had left Nina on edge from the very beginning. But now, seeing Chara like this, weak and flickering, Nina couldn't help but feel a pang of worry.

"Chara..." Nina's voice was soft, barely a whisper. She kept her distance, her eyes glued to the ground, afraid to make eye contact. "You're... fading again. Are you sure you're okay? You shouldn't be pushing yourself like this." She swallowed, anxiety twisting in her stomach. She wasn't sure if it was the fear of angering Chara or the genuine concern for her that had her voice trembling. "You're... you're not looking good."

Chara's gaze snapped to Nina, her usual sharpness in her eyes. "I'm fine," she snapped, though her voice lacked its usual bite. It was faint, barely a whisper. "Quit worrying, Nina. I'm not going anywhere."

Nina flinched at the harshness in Chara's words, but she couldn't stop the worry that gnawed at her. She'd never really been good at standing up to people, especially not to someone like Chara, who could make her feel small with just a look. Still, she couldn't just stay silent.

"B-but... you're getting weaker, Chara," Nina stammered, her voice small and shaky. "You've been pushing yourself too hard... and... I don't understand. How did you even... connect with Vance like that?" Her eyes flickered nervously toward Chara, unsure if she should even ask. "You didn't know you could do that, right?"

Chara let out a quiet, almost inaudible laugh, though it held none of the warmth Nina was hoping for. "Don't act so surprised, Nina," she muttered, her form wavering slightly. "I didn't know I could either. But something about Vance's soul... it just called to me. Like I needed to reach him. And when I did..." She trailed off, her eyes distant, almost thoughtful, before she snapped back to reality. "Doesn't matter. It's done. I helped him. That's all that matters."

Nina shifted nervously, her feet shuffling on the ground as she hesitated to ask the next question. She was scared of Chara's temper, scared of the way the other specter had treated her before, but she couldn't help it. Her curiosity got the better of her.

"Why... why did you even do it? I mean, you hardly know him. And, um... you're still fading, and I don't... I don't want you to disappear, Chara. You're... you're the only one I can talk to." Her voice broke on the last sentence, her vulnerability slipping through despite her best efforts to keep it hidden. "I don't... I don't want to be alone."

Chara's eyes softened for a moment, but the sharp edge in her voice didn't waver. "You're annoying, you know that? Always acting like I'm your lifeline or something," she said, though there was a faint trace of something warmer beneath the sarcasm. "But fine, if it makes you feel better, I'm not disappearing. Not yet. And stop acting like I'm your only hope. You should be able to handle things on your own."

Nina nodded quickly, but her eyes betrayed her, still filled with concern. "I... I don't know if I can," she admitted quietly, her voice small and almost pleading. "You... you don't know what it's like. To not have anyone to talk to. To... to not have anyone who understands." She bit her lip, a wave of vulnerability crashing over her that she couldn't quite hold back.

Chara gave a low sigh, her form flickering again, but she didn't snap at Nina. "I don't have time for this, but..." She trailed off, as if considering something, her voice softening just a fraction. "I'm not here to be your crutch, Nina. But I won't disappear. Not unless I want to. And as for Vance... I have my reasons. Maybe I don't know him, but I felt... something. I'm not about to let that go to waste."

Nina's breath caught in her throat as she watched Chara's form slowly stabilize, though still faint. "Thank you," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if Chara would hear it. "I'm... I'm just glad you're not going anywhere." She hesitated for a moment, her thoughts racing, before she added, "But... just take care of yourself, okay?"

Chara's eyes narrowed slightly, her usual sharpness returning. "I'll take care of myself, Nina. You just... don't get too attached." Her voice was teasing, but there was an undercurrent of something softer, something more protective that Nina couldn't quite place.

Nina nodded quickly, though she still wasn't sure where she stood with Chara. There was a part of her that feared the other specter, afraid of the sharp words and the unpredictable nature of Chara's mood. But another part, the part that feared being alone, clung to the tiny flicker of kindness she saw in Chara's actions. Despite everything, she didn't want Chara to fade, because without her, Nina didn't know how she'd face the world—or the unknown person they were both tied to now, Vance.

"Okay," Nina said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I won't get attached. But... I still need you here."

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As Vance turned his attention back to the path ahead, the light from his staff flickered, illuminating the broken bridge before him. Jagged edges and wide gaps marred the ancient structure, and below it stretched an abyss so deep that even the staff's glow couldn't pierce the darkness. Each step he took was cautious, the creak of the weathered wood beneath his feet echoing through the silence.

The oppressive stillness of the ruins pressed down on him, broken only by the faint drip of water somewhere in the distance. And yet, despite the quiet, he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't truly alone. The voice... it had felt too real, too close, to be a figment of his imagination.

His brow furrowed as a strange, unsettling familiarity tugged at the edges of his thoughts. The way the voice had guided him, the way it had seemed to reach into his very soul—it stirred something deep inside him. Memories, vague and elusive, danced just beyond his grasp. Memories that didn't feel like his own, but somehow felt... important.

He stopped for a moment, rubbing his temple as if trying to shake the fog from his mind. "Focus, Vance," he muttered to himself, trying to ground himself in the present. "Figure out the creepy voices later. Right now, you've got a maze to get through."

Vance shook his head again, forcing himself to stay focused. His staff pulsed with a soft glow as he channeled his magic through it, the light cutting through the heavy darkness that clung to the path ahead. The eerie quiet of the maze pressed in on him from all sides, but he had a direction now—he just had to follow the path that Decibat had suggested earlier. The dark maze twisted around him, the path ahead illuminated only by his staff's light, guiding him through the labyrinthine ruins.

As he stepped cautiously into the next stretch of the maze, the oppressive silence seemed even thicker, wrapping around him like a suffocating blanket. The glowing staff cast long, flickering shadows against the walls, and despite his focus on the path ahead, the feeling of being watched intensified with every step. He couldn't shake the odd sensation that the walls themselves were closing in.

He kept moving forward, his steps deliberate, when a sudden noise shattered the stillness. A low, rumbling sound echoed through the narrow passage. Vance froze, his heart skipping a beat. The noise came again, closer this time—like something large and heavy shifting, scraping against stone.

His grip tightened around the staff as he cautiously turned in the direction of the sound. The light from the staff wavered slightly as his pulse quickened, his breath shallow in the thick, stagnant air. The shadows seemed to shift, twisting unnaturally, and in that moment, he knew something was coming.

Then, suddenly, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.

It was small, barely reaching his waist, and at first glance, it almost seemed... cute? A round, plump shape with soft yellow kernels covering its body, the creature's form resembled something between a corn cob and a piece of candy corn. Its bright yellow body was gleaming in the dim light, and tufts of wilted green husks sprouted from the top of its head, adding to the odd, yet strangely appealing look.

But despite its outwardly harmless appearance, there was something distinctly unsettling about it. The small creature's face was locked in a deep frown, its features twisted into an expression of quiet resentment rather than sweetness. Its black, hollow eyes stared at him with a sharp intensity, devoid of any warmth. It looked... emo, for lack of a better word. Its slumped posture and the general sadness emanating from it made it seem as though the creature carried some deep, unseen burden.

"A human here?" the creature muttered in a low, raspy voice, the words tinged with bitterness. It shook its head slowly, as though disappointed or resentful of Vance's presence. "I can't let you get past me. Not again... at least not without a little payback."

Vance's breath caught in his throat. He had expected something dangerous—something to challenge him in this maze—but not this. The corn monster's sad, forlorn demeanor felt almost out of place here, yet its hostility was unmistakable.

The creature's arms, made of thin, stalk-like limbs, hung loosely by its sides, but as it spoke, they twitched as if ready to strike. It took a small, deliberate step forward, its tiny stalk legs moving with surprising speed.

"I've been left behind too many times," the corn monster muttered bitterly. "No one ever notices me, and I can't let you slip by, not again."

Vance instinctively took a step back, the staff glowing brighter as he readied himself. Despite the monster's almost tragic appearance, its anger felt very real, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

The creature's gloomy eyes locked onto his, and it gave a low, mournful groan, as if preparing to charge. "You'll pay for overlooking me," it hissed under its breath, its face twisting in a grimace.

Vance tensed, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what to do. The strange creature was clearly dangerous, despite how... off it looked, and there was no time to waste.