Realizations

My heart, which logically shouldn't be there, pounded rapidly in my chest. "How?" I wondered, but before I could process what had happened, a ball passed through me, rebounded off the wall, and returned to the children playing nearby. Laughter filled the air as the eight kids kicked the ball back and forth, their playful voices blending with the sounds of a bustling alley.

Confusion swirled in my mind as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. "Where am I?" I pondered aloud.

"Let's see... buildings, shops, people... it looks like a city to me," Ice-cream chimed in with a hint of sarcasm.

I rolled my eyes but halted the motion halfway. "Why is the sky so dark?" I questioned. Ice-cream followed my gaze and noticed the abnormality too. "Must be in England," Ice-cream joked, but I shook my head. "No, I don't think it's just clouds causing the darkness. And judging by the noises and lighting, it's not night or even afternoon."

Ice-cream stretched his metaphorical form. "What's the last thing you remember? Maybe it will help clarify things," he suggested.

I closed my eyes, attempting to recall my memories. Snow turning dark below me, excruciating pain coursing through my body, and a looming, otherworldly figure overhead. I reopened my eyes, gasping for breath. "What...?" I struggled to find the words. Ice-cream looked at me, confusion etched on his face.

"I... I saw monsters," I finally managed to utter, my voice trembling. "We're in the underground. But if this is Snowdin, then..." I paused, realizing the implications. "Millennia must have passed... which means that everyone I care about... they're most likely..."

A heavy weight settled within me, an icy coldness permeating my being. I walked toward the mouth of the alley and, as I reached it, found myself amidst a flowing river of... people? The rest of the day unfolded like a detached observer, as I wandered through the city, feeling disconnected from the bustling life around me. I witnessed children joyfully chasing after sweets, couples engaged in passionate embraces, and shop owners haggling over bread prices. It all felt surreal, as if I were watching an animated movie rather than experiencing reality.

As time passed, the chill within me intensified, accompanied by an overwhelming fatigue. Streetlights flickered on, the number of people thinned, and a weary ghost leaned against a wall.

"What am I supposed to do? Will I wander the earth until the end of time?" I contemplated, finding the prospect unappealing.

"I don't know about you, but I'm going to sleep," Ice-cream declared. "That's a good idea, but where? I can't sleep outside," I replied. Ice-cream offered a suggestion, "Then go into someone's house. It's not like they're going to see you."

I pondered the idea, unsure at first, but eventually shrugged in resignation. "Sure."

Taking a step toward the wall I leaned against, I phased through it and found myself in a cozy little home. "Go to the bedroom," Ice-cream instructed, his voice taking on an eerie tone. Weary and drained, I complied. Upon entering the bedroom, I noticed a woman with brown fur and floppy ears exiting. Ignoring her, I walked through the door and spotted a child, resembling a dog, lying in his bed.

"Approach his side," Ice-cream commanded. Fatigue made me compliant, and I stumbled toward the bedside, struggling to maintain my balance. "Good, very good," a monstrous voice resonated behind me, accompanied by a cracking noise and a faint pain in my heart. Suddenly, a massive, black paw engulfed my entire field of vision. And then, darkness consumed me once again.