There was a new human in town. Nobody knew who they were, or where they had come from. But they had a name.
Echo.
Somehow, the player had weaseled their way out of getting their vessel taken from them. That was… a problem. Without Kris to rein in the player, they would be free to act how they wanted. There was nothing that could be done, however. And after all, how much trouble could one feisty SOUL be?
“E- Echo! You’re here! Oh, but everyone’s already in their groups…” Dr. Alphys said.
*State the obvious?
*Can’t I just be in a group of three? Echo pointed out.
“I guess that would work…” Alphys said. “Anyone willing to let Echo into their group?”
There were murmurs in the classroom. Berdly shook his head. Jockington wavered, but didn’t speak up. Echo rolled their eyes and walked over to Kris.
*Echo asked if they could join Kris and Susie’s group.
“Oh, great. Weirdo kid wants to join our group.” Susie said.
“I don’t know…” Kris said.
*Echo asked very nicely. Susie was not impressed.
*Kris was swayed! Kris will let Echo join their group!
“Oh, alright. But you’re doing one third of the work like the rest of us, okay?”
*Echo promised to even do the work Susie didn’t.
*Kris liked that!
Alphys turned back to the board. “Uh oh… I don’t have my chalk. You know I can’t start my lesson without my chalk! Somebody needs to go get more chalk from the old closet.”
“I will.” Susie said.
“Er… okay.” Alphys said. After Susie left, she turned to Kris. “Kris, you should… go with her. Make sure she’s… um… actually getting the chalk.”
*Echo volunteered to go instead of Kris.
“Fine.” Kris said.
Echo left the room, door swinging shut behind them.
Outside in the hall, Susie turned around to see Echo behind them. She paused, a piece of half-eaten chalk still in her mouth.
“What are YOU staring at, weirdo?” She growled.
Echo didn’t answer her. Susie stepped closer to them, looming threateningly.
“You think you’re so cool, don’t you? You act like you own this town, even though you’ve only just moved here… but I’m sure you already want me gone, don’t you? That’s why you followed me. You’re trying to get me in trouble. Well it’s not going to work. Got anything to say to that, huh, weirdo?”
Echo remained silent.
“You silent types… you really PISS ME OFF. You think just because you’re not talking, I can’t tell exactly what you’re thinking? Well, how do you feel about LOSING YOUR FACE?!?”
Susie grabbed Echo by the hem of their hoodie and pinned them to the wall. Echo didn’t even seem scared.
She was about to do something REALLY drastic (the details of which she had not yet figured out) when Echo held up a hand. In their clenched fist was a piece of chalk. As Susie watched, they raised their hand up to their mouth and bit off a piece, chewed it and swallowed it.
A gesture of solidarity.
Susie dropped Echo. “Well I suppose I could make an exception for a fellow chalk eater. Let’s go… get some more chalk. For Alphys’ class.”
*Just let me get something, Echo said.
Echo came back with a tin of mints in their hand.
“What’s that for?” Susie questioned.
*You know, to hide the fact that we’ve been eating chalk?
“Oh, yeah. Good idea.” Susie said.
They both walked to the closet and entered it. The door swung shut behind them.
“Um, shouldn’t there be more… closet… in here?” Susie asked.
The floor started to shake. Susie grabbed onto Echo instinctively, then quickly let go.
*Echo grins wickedly.
The floor dropped out from under them and they fell.
)