The trio arrived at the town.

  “This place looks wonderful!” Betty said.

  “Yeah, definitely,” Doper replied as he stepped down from the demibat.

  “Okay, Benny, you can go now,” Betty said.

  The demibat vanished into thin air.

  “So, where are we going?” Betty asked.

  “Oh no — you’re not going anywhere with us. Me and Frisk have business to deal with,” Doper answered. “You can go home now.”

  “I mean, we might need her help,” Frisk said. “We don’t know what we’re up against.”

  “Exactly. We can’t risk it. She could get hurt… or worse.”

  “Yea bu—”

  “Hey, I don’t remember asking you two to decide for me,” Betty interrupted.

  “Kid, I don’t care what you want,” Doper said firmly. “You are not coming with us, and that’s final.”

  “You’re not my dad! You can’t order me around!”

  “Okay, how about we calm down a bit?” Frisk stepped in.

  “Listen, kid, I think he’s right — you can’t come with us. It’s dangerous.”

  “You know what? Fine! You’re no fun anyway!” Betty snapped before turning and walking away.

  “Tell me about it,” Frisk muttered.

  “Alright. Let’s go,” Doper said.

  The Heaven Gate

  “You have returned, my children,” Father Orion said. “I see you have the blood.”

  “Whatever. Let’s go, Frisk,” Doper said.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming, Mr. Dad,” Frisk replied.

  Frisk stepped toward the Gate of Heaven.

  “What do I do now?” she asked.

  Doper handed her the orb.

  “It says you should draw a circle — broken in seven places.”

  “But how? With what? It’s a stone.”

  “I don’t know. It’s not like I’m an expert.”

  Frisk scraped the orb across the ground.

  A bright glowing trail followed its movement.

  “I guess that’s figured out,” she muttered.

  Doper studied the ancient writings carved into the walls, confusion growing across his face.

  The moment Frisk finished the circle, the ground began to tremble.

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  “What’s going on?!” Frisk yelled.

  A blinding light burst from the center of the circle.

  The gate opened.

  Silence followed.

  “Is this it…?” Frisk asked quietly.

  “I hope so. Let’s head in,” Doper replied.

  They stepped into the portal.

  Unnoticed, a shadow moved near the wall.

  Betty slipped inside just before the gate sealed shut.

  The Other Side

  Doper and Frisk emerged into a hall identical to the last — yet something felt wrong.

  “What? Nothing happened?!” Frisk said in confusion.

  “What… I don’t get it,” Doper muttered.

  He stared at the floor, thinking.

  The seven pieces…

  “I think I get it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The circle represented the realms leading to our destination.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “This is another realm. There has to be another gate here leading to the next one.”

  “You’re saying we have to do all of this aga—”

  The gate behind them suddenly shattered.

  Betty was thrown forward by the blast.

  “Ouch!” she groaned, hitting the ground.

  “Soooo…” she said awkwardly, smiling at them. “How’s it going?”

  “Didn’t we tell you a thousand times specifically not to follow us here?!” Doper yelled.

  “I’m sorry! I thought you might need my help.”

  “Don’t you get it?! It’s dange—”

  “Guys, please calm down,” Frisk interrupted. “Now that she’s here, we can’t leave her. What’s done is done. We need to find the other gate.”

  “WHO’S THERE?!” a voice shouted from outside the hall.

  “Shit,” Doper muttered.

  A figure appeared at the entrance.

  “Who are you?” the stranger asked.

  “Oh thank God someone’s here — we need your help,” Frisk said immediately.

  Doper froze.

  “D… Darius,” he whispered.

  “Do we know each other?” Darius asked.

  Outside the Hall

  “Do you know this guy?” Frisk asked.

  Doper remained silent.

  “Dude, wake up,” Frisk said, poking him.

  “Does he do that often?” Betty asked.

  “Not really,” Frisk replied.

  “Would you two tell me who the hell you are and why you needed my help?” Darius said.

  “Oh, we were looking for a gate — like the one inside that hall,” Frisk explained.

  “That hall has stood in the middle of this desert for millennia,” Darius said. “But I think I’ve heard of another one that way.” He pointed north.

  “Okay, thank you,” Frisk said.

  “Hey, what are you even doing in the middle of this desert anyway?” Betty asked.

  “Kid, that’s none of your business.”

  “Actually, now that I think about it, it’s weird you’re just here. Is there a village nearby or something?” Frisk asked.

  “You can say I’m ageless, if that satisfies you.”

  “Not really, but I assume you won’t say anything more.”

  “Correct. Now walk off.”

  The trio continued into the desert.

  “Doper, what happened back there?” Frisk asked.

  “It’s… nothing.”

  “Come on, just say it.”

  “It’s really nothing. Stop pushing it.”

  “This guy really is no fun,” Betty whispered.

  “Tell me about it,” Frisk replied.

  Betty summoned the demibat.

  The trio mounted the creature and rode north across the desert sands.

  The wind howled around them as they disappeared into the distance.

  “Hey, Doper,” Frisk said.

  “What is it?” he replied.

  “Are you still not going to explain what happened back there?”

  “I said it’s nothing.”

  “Nothing my butt. You stood there like a corn cob — I almost thought you died.”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  Frisk and Betty exchanged a look, both staring at him.

  “Fucking fine. Goddamn it.”

  Frisk and Betty high-fived.

  “A couple thousand years ago… I had a friend,” Doper began. “He was like me — almost like me.”

  Flashback

  “Doper, would you rather stick a corn up your—” Darius began before being interrupted.

  “If you say another word, I’ll stick my sword through your heart. You’re drunk as hell,” Doper cut in.

  “Okay, man, it was just a joke. Calm down.”

  Darius leaned back against a crumbling wall, laughing to himself.

  “Hey, how long are you planning to stay in this deserted village? We’ve been here for months at this point.”

  “Yeah? So what’s your point?” Darius replied. “It’s not like there’s somewhere else we could go.”

  “There is. Another village, maybe.”

  “Why would we want to do that?”

  “Because we’re almost out of food and water, and there’s no sign of human contact here.”

  “It’s not like you need food. And hey — I’m here.”

  “First, you need food, not me. Second, I said human. You’re a menace to society.”

  “Ha. Ha. Very funny,” Darius replied sarcastically.

  “Whatever. You’re way too drunk.”

  The wind swept through the empty streets.

  Silence settled over the abandoned village.

  Then—

  A cursed human appeared without warning.

  It struck Darius the moment his guard dropped.

  It tore through his chest.

  Doper turned just in time to witness it.

  His only friend—

  being torn apart before his eyes.

  And then—