Flickering Lights

After the brothers' and her checkups were finished, Colletta immediately texted Hex to come over to talk about getting the curse on Red. She and Apoth waited for Hex to come into Apoth's guestroom.

"The edgy bastard of a skeleton is confirmed to be cursed," Hex dryly said, making jazz hands.

"Lovely, and did you eliminate the curse on him?" Colletta crossed her arms as she plopped down on the guest bed.

"No, I couldn't." He ruffled his hair wildly. "The bastard was locked up in his room with chains and all."

"Surely you could've kidnapped him and undo the curse if he was locked up. What's stopping you from doing it?" Apoth pointed out, eyebrows furrowing lightly. Colletta barely manages to hold back a snarl at the skeletons' actions. Red may be a danger, but being chained up like a wild beast disturbs her greatly.

"Two annoying problems. One, little bastard is being constantly watched by a skeleton on rotation. Two..." He trailed off, eyeing Colletta before sighing. "The type of curse requires your blood to purify it. Those damn serpent scheibers... I'm not sure how they got their hands on such powerful curses, but once I get my hands on them... Mihehe," he darkly chuckled.

"That's annoying..." She groaned. "Do you want to do this now so we can get this over with, or later?"

"I suggest we do this now. I have more than enough on my plate." Apoth rubbed his forehead tiredly.

"Yeah, let's do this now. We'll be in and out of that house in no time." Hex took out several things at once, an invisibility cloak, magic dampener, and scent blocker. The other two followed his action, took out their items, and wore them. Immediately, everyone is invisible. Colletta could barely feel or smell anything from them.

"Let's go, they should be swapping guards soon." Then, Hex leaps out of the window. The other two follow suit. The journey to the original Sans' house was tense and silent. No one spoke at all as the mission comes first.

The night was quiet except for the few people and monsters milling around. The moon and stars were hidden behind the clouds, enveloping the entire cityscape in darkness. Soon, the trio finally reached the house near the forest.

They soundlessly travel to the window in Red's room, making sure they leave no tracks. Colletta peered through the glass pane to see Red chained from wrists to ankles in the room. His red eye light shifted left and right every couple of seconds. Red magic sweat beaded along his skull as he panted heavily in exertion.

Muffled voices were coming from the door before all went quiet. The door creaked open, letting a sliver of light illuminate the dark room. A Papyrus with scars over his left eye socket donning black and red clothes entered the room, closing the door behind him with a click.

Edge, her mind helpfully supplies. Her eyes linger on his tired expression. She couldn't see his hardened and wary self, only a broken and vulnerable monster.

"Sans," he whispered in a defeated manner. Colletta shifts on her feet as she watches on. It was uncomfortable to see the prideful Edge look so... weak. Exhausted. Hopeless.

Red only lets out a warning snarl. Edge flinches at the action. "I Hate Seeing You Like This," he started, "What happened? When did you become... this feral?" He sounded near tears. "I'm sorry," he warbled, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being a shit brother to you. I'm sorry..."

He laid his head on Red's bed. The chained monster only stares, clarity slowly coming back only to recede to mania. Edge who was observing his brother slumped down as the tiny hope in his eyes was extinguished.

"I'm sorry, Sans. I knew something was wrong with your soul, yet I just sat back and watched it devour you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he continuously spews out apologies like they are mantras.