Pov: Max

The rays of the sun made me squint.

- Is it morning already? So fast?

I rubbed my eyes, trying to get rid of the drowsiness.

- That's weird... I never dreamed anything. Apparently my theory
about sleeping in another AU turned out to be fruitless.

Max: *Yawns* What time is it now?

The phone showed 20:40.

- Exactly... I'm in another universe. I think it's not worth changing the time on the phone.

My body hurt a little because I was sleeping on the roof of a three-story building.

- So... Where should I start?

*Rumbling in the stomach*

I took a pack of protein pills out of my pocket and noticed that there were only three left.

- I hope that's enough for me.

After taking one pill, hunger no longer tormented.

- It's time to go down.

I tied the threads to the ledge of a nearby building and jumped, thereby slowly landing on the ground.

- It's good that there are no cameras in this area. I don't even remember the last time I saw them in such numbers.

There weren't many monsters on the street, unlike people.

- Hm... Looks like yesterday's news made them wary of each other. However, I don't really care.

While I was walking down the street, I was attracted by the conversation of strangers.

Guy 1: Did you see what happened at the conference yesterday?

Guy 2: Yes. I didn't think monsters could be so cruel.

Girl 1: Are you sure it's true?

Guy 1: I don't know. But if this monster king really killed those kids, then I think it's true.

Girl 2: Why did these monsters destroy the barrier at all? It would have been better if they had stayed there.

Girl 1: I think they did it for a reason. After all, if the monsters were cruel, they would attack us.

Guy 2: So you justify their actions!?

Girl 1: No I-

Girl 2: Even if they behave well, how do you know that monsters won't take advantage of this to kill us all!?

Girl 1: ...

Guy 1: Hey! Stop pushing her! You're scaring her!

Girl 2: But we just-

Guy 1: Enough is enough! Let's just forget about it, okay?

Girl 2: Okay.

Guy 2: Sorry. It's just that we're all on edge, so-

Guy 1: I understand. Let's go to some cafe instead? Are you with us?

Girl 1: ... Yes.

When they left, I was still standing in the same place.

- To justify actions...

These words made me think. No, I didn't care what they were talking about. Something else was bothering me.

- Are my actions justified?

For some reason, now I began to think about my actions.

- All I did was survive. With that, I had to kill monsters and people. But not for fun, but for self-defense. They always told me that I was a murderer, a maniac, a monster, an animal. I may not have always killed them, but what else could I do? Run away? I always do that. Hide? They may find me sooner or later. Ask for help? They will ask about me and my soul.

From such a stream of thoughts, I decided to sit on a bench.
- The Creator said it's okay to kill. The main thing is to do it as a last resort. Did I do wrong? But what else was I supposed to do? Even when they want to kill me, I have to kill too. Kill or be killed. This is the same rule that every timeline obeys. But I don't obey him.

I grabbed my head. Anyone would feel fear, anger, sadness, remorse, despair, but I didn't feel it. All that bothered me was the thoughts.

- Why did I just start thinking about it now? Why am I trying to find this shard? Do I really need this? Alpha and Error 404 need it. They are the causes of my concern. But what should I do? I can't get rid of them. They're too strong for me. Even with my soul, I can't beat them. Moreover, they are not the only reasons that bother me. Then what else is bothering me?

I gritted my teeth.

- The Creator... yes. The Creator was the only one who understood me. Thanks to him, I learned a lot. Unlike other creations, I was stronger and smarter. He was the one who decided what I should do. He was responsible for my life. And I always followed him. But now I'm on my own. And every time I try to kill someone, it ends the other way around. After all, I killed those who are weaker than me. But it was because of the lack of a soul.

Max: Now I understand everything.

- If I find the last shard, then I can become stronger again. But what am I going to do next? To organize raids on other AU to take food, money, medicines and so on? No. I have to find a place where no one will bother me.

Max: I need to find the last part.

This time I searched the area more thoroughly. I even had to use my speed to not miss anything. As a result, I accidentally stumbled upon some kind of event. Apparently it was in honor of Mettaton.

- How I don't want to go there.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Sans, Frisk, Asriel, Papyrus and Betty.

- Oh... They're here too... Maybe I should leave?

Frisk: Hi Max!

- It's too late.

I decided to approach them. Meanwhile, Papyrus had gone somewhere, and Betty was standing in line to get acquainted with Mettaton.

Max: Hi.

Asriel: Are you all right?

Max: Yes.

Asriel: You look upset.

Max: I'm fine.

Sans: But you don't look happy. You should smile.

Max: Why?

Sans: You know... After all, it is rare to reach such heights on the street.

Frisk: *Tries not to laugh*

Asriel: Sans!

Sans: What? I just...

Frisk: Do you guys hear that?

Asriel: M?

We saw that the crane started moving.

Asriel: What's happening? Are construction works going on now?

Frisk: I don't know.

Sans: Wait. Where is the Papyrus!?

While they were talking among themselves, I lost sight of Betty.

- Something is wrong here...

And just now I noticed Jessica Grey standing nearby with a gun in her hand.

- What is the head of AMD doing here? Is she allowed to walk around with a gun?

Asriel: Look!

Asriel pointed up and the crane stopped above us... To drop the iron beams.

Frisk: Watch out!

I was going to use telekinesis, but Sans beat me to it.

Sans: Leave soon, I won't be able to hold on for long!

Frisk: Faster! Get out of here, everyone!

People and monsters began to run away in a hurry.

- I knew I shouldn't come here.

Asriel: We need to get out of here!

I noticed Jessica pointing the gun in the direction of Sans.

Frisk: Max let's go!

Frisk grabbed my arm, but I stayed where I was. Time seemed to slow down. I began to think convulsively.

- If I run away, then Sans will suffer as well as the others. If I use telekinesis, only he will suffer. But will I be able to support the weight of these beams? Why am I even thinking about it? I have to survive.

I pushed Frisk away from me.

Frisk: Max! What are you doing!?

- Maybe it's wrong, but I have to try.

Max: Go away.

Frisk: What!?

Max: Go away.

I ran towards Sans.

Frisk: Sans careful!

However, Sans didn't hear him and I knocked him down.

*Shot*

*The sound of metal falling*

Fortunately, the shot didn't hit me and I was unharmed.

Sans: Kid.

Sans looked at me with a very displeased look.

Sans: Are you all right with your head?
Max: Yes.

He became angry.

Sans: Then why did you do it!? We almost got hurt because of you!

Max: I was trying to save you.

Sans: What?

That made him even angrier.

Sans: Are you kidding me!? I was actually trying to save you all!

Max: Jessica Grey was going to shoot you. If I ran away, you'd get hurt or die.

Sans looked at me in disbelief.

Sans: What are you talking about?

I pointed in the direction of Jessica, but there was no one there.

Sans: ...

Max: Sans, she was there. I saw her.

Sans: *Sighs* You know what? Forget. Just forget about it.

Sans noticed how his brother was captured by the police.

Sans: Oh no...

As soon as he started walking towards them, Frisk and Asriel came up to me.

Frisk: Max, why didn't you run away?

Asriel: You could have been hurt, too.

- And what should I tell them?

Max: ... I did what I had to do.

After these words Frisk got angry.

Frisk: So you did it on purpose!?

Max: I'm not...

Frisk: I don't want to hear anything. Let's go Asriel.

When they left, I noticed that Betty shook her head in displeasure.

- And where did it come from? She was nowhere to be found.

Soon she left too and I was left alone.

- Did I only make it worse? Maybe I should have run away after all?

I didn't really feel guilty about this situation. I just couldn't figure out what was going on.

- And yet why did Jessica Grey do it? Did she really want to put them in danger? Or maybe it was a coincidence and she only wanted to hurt Sans?

Max: I understand nothing.

- Maybe I should stay away from them. Given the consequences of this event, they are unlikely to want to see me again.

It was already getting dark. Since my phone was not showing the time correctly, I decided to go to bed.

- I have to sleep on the roof again.

As I walked to the outskirts of the city, my gaze stopped at the AMD building.

- Maybe it's worth the risk?

Some thoughts appeared in my head about the fact that I could find the missing part of the soul there.

- Hm... This building doesn't look guarded. However, the cameras are still working.

I didn't have time for a plan, so I put a hood on my head and decided to go to extreme measures. I used the orange and green part of the soul at the same time.

- Just like in the good old days.

*Boom*

Using the shield at such a speed, I tore down the door and looked around.

- Nobody seems to be.

Guard: Hey! What are you doin- Argh!

I shot him in the eyes. He immediately grabbed them trying to cope with the pain. In a matter of seconds, I knocked him to the floor and kicked him in the face a couple of times.

I checked his pulse.

- He seems to be alive. I hope he didn't recognize me.

I didn't stay at the entrance and went up.

- If they have any information about my fragment, then there must be some information here.

I noticed that the door to Jessica's office was open. When I looked inside, there was no one there.

- Maybe I'll find something here?
Opening each drawer, I found only some folders, records and photos.

- Nothing useful. Stop. And what is this?

I noticed some pink liquid under my foot. Then she grabbed me and threw me into the wall.

Max: Ah!

The blow was not strong, but I could not immediately get to my feet.

Betty: Well well and who do we have here?

Betty was standing by the door, smiling. There was a pink ball with her.

Max: What are you doing here? And what is this thing?

Betty: This is my friend Kumu. Kumu meets. This is your dinner.

Kumu: *Licking his lips*

Max: Dinner? Do you want to feed me to your beast?

Betty: No. I'm going to feed him your soul.

Max: You can try.

I opened my eyes and my soul lit up.

Betty: Wow... Your soul looks interesting, but it seems to me that you lack one color.

She showed me the shard.

- That's bad enough.

Max: Give it back.

Betty: Hmm... What do you say Kumu?

Kumu licked his lips again. That meant he wanted his snack.

Betty: He seems hungry.

Max: Betty. Please give it to me.

She continued to smile and slowly brought the shard to her Kumu.

- What should I do? I do not know what she is capable of. Moreover, I have no chance against her and her pet.

Max: Listen... Can we make a deal?

Betty raised an eyebrow questioningly, but still smiling.

Betty: I'm listening.

Her hand was literally a centimeter from the mouth of the Kumu.

Max: What do I have to do to get you to give me the shard?

Betty: What do you think I want?

- And what should I answer? People like her want anything.

Max: I don't know. You probably want power.

Betty: That's right.

She took her hand away from her pet.

Betty: But I don't just want power...

She started clutching the shard in her hand.

Max: Aah! Stop. Hold on.

Betty: I want to sow enmity between monsters and humans.

Max: Okay, I get it. Just stop.

Betty: Why? You're only bothering me.

Max: I can help you.

Betty: Help? With what?

Max: I'll do anything. Just please give me the shard.

She looked at me with disbelief for a while, but then that cheerful smile appeared on her face.

Betty: Good!

She hid the shard in her clothes.

Betty: As soon as my plan comes to fruition, then you will get it back. Do you understand?

Max: But...

Betty: Do you understand me?

She asked with a tight smile.

Max: Yes.

Betty: Great. Now follow me.

I had to obey her and follow her.

- I knew that someone had taken the fragment. But why is it at Betty's?

Max: Tell me, how did you guess that it was mine?

Betty: Oh! It's pretty simple here. When I found this part of the soul, at first I didn't know who it belonged to. But when you appeared, this "fragment" began to emit a strange pulsation.

Max: And why didn't you destroy it earlier or give it to your pet?

Betty: Because there are no owners with a pink soul.

Max: How do you know that?

She looked at me with a calm smile.

Betty: It doesn't matter. The main thing is to be happy that you are still alive.

- While my part is with you, there is no reason for joy here.

Soon we entered one of the rooms. There were screens showing different parts of the city. On the other side of the door lay the head of AMD.

- She seems to be unconscious.

Betty: Looks like they've already left.

She noticed the broken gun. The one from which Jessica Grey shot.

Max: What happened here?

Betty: I don't know. I think it's worth asking her.

Jessica: Argh! What happened?

And only now she noticed us.

Betty: Hi Jessica!

Jessica: Betty they noticed me and I...

Betty: Yes... I see what happened.

Then she looked at me and frowned.

Jessica: What is he doing here?

Betty: Oh! This is my new partner! And strangely enough, he expressed a desire to help me in the implementation of my plan. Right?

- Partner? Sounds pretty creepy.

Jessica: Okay. And what now?

Betty: Now...

She turned away for a second and her eyes became brighter.

Betty: Now I need to pick up the bottle of hate.

Jessica: I promised to keep it.

Betty: Oh! I think you misunderstood me.

Suddenly, Kumu grabbed Jessica by the neck and pressed her against the wall.

Betty: I don't need your consent. I'll just pick it up myself.

Jessica: No. No need! Please help me!

She turned to me for help. I didn't comply with her request, so I just stood there.

Jessica: Please! Don't let her do it!

Betty looked at me with a smile.

Betty: Don't forget what we talked about.

- I know, so when the opportunity arises, I will do what I have to.

Pov: Error

Error: How boring...

Player: ...

Error: What? You won't even say anything?

Player: ...

As soon as I pulled the strings, this hacker groaned weakly in pain.

Error: Tsk. You're pathetic. Even tormenting you has become boring. Can you still tell me where your friend is?

Player: ...

Error: I thought so.

Suddenly Error 404 appeared in front of me.

Error 404: Did he tell you anything?

Error: Nope.

Error 404: Clear. Can you take control of it?

Error: Yeah. His abilities are pretty limitless. You should have seen how he dealt with that crybaby.

Error 404: Are you talking about Asriel?

Error: Yes. More precisely, what's left of it.

Player: ... Bastard...

Error: M? What are you saying there?

Player: *Moans in pain* Bas-tard

Error: Yes, yes. I've heard that before. Come up with something new.

Error 404: Are you probably bored here?

Error: Yeah. Can you let me ruin a couple of AU?

Error 404: No. Better get to know your old friend.

Error: What other friend?

Error 404: I think you know him.

Error: No. No, no, no! Not him!

Error 404: Sorry, but I promised that I would help him in exchange for him helping me.

Error: Seriously!? And you're going to leave me here with him!?

Error 404: Yeah. Okay, don't get bored. I'll be back soon.

Error: Oh... It doesn't get any easier from hour to hour.

(If that Sans is alive. Here the plot, unlike Glitchtale, will be slightly different. So I advise you to be more careful. Because I warned you.)

2957 words