Skeleton Simps (Erika's Perspective)

(Erika's Perspective)

I wondered what Mr. Arno and that other skeleton were talking about in the other room? They had been gone for quite a while. That skeleton did seem friendlier than the ones from earlier though. It was good to see Mr. Arno had friends. I was starting to think no one liked him.

There was still just one thing I didn't understand... Why were all these skeletons staring at me? Was there something on my face? I did bruise my forehead when I ran into that wall on the last floor.

I spoke up after a few awkward moments, "Um, are you guys okay?"

They continued staring, until one finally spoke up, "H-h-ello m-miss f-female."

Hmm, Why were these skeletons so nervous?

"Hi, my name is Erika. It's very nice to meet you. What's your name?" I asked.

"M-my n-name?" He repeated back to me.

"Yeah your name. Like what do your friends call you?"

"W-well my name is whatever you want it to be."

"Wait, what do you mean?" I asked, confused.

Another skeleton chimed in, "Me too... I'll let Miss Erika call me whatever she wants."

More Skeletons joined, "me too," "same here," "I'll do anything you say!"

"Uh...I still don’t really understand, but I'd be happy to be your friend." I said.

The skeletons simultaneously cheered. One skeleton let out a squealing noise that I didn't think was possible for a man to make.

They spoke among themselves.

"Miss Erika said she'd be my friend." "This is the happiest day of my life." "I think I'm going to cry."

Some skeletons were trying to pick up the garbage littered across the floor. It seemed like they were desperate to clean up everything in my line of sight.

That one skeleton that Mr. Arno went with, came back into the room, but he was alone and it looked like he changed out of the raggedy clothes he was wearing before. Now he was wearing what looked to be a fur robe.

"Um, excuse me. Where's Mr. Arno at?" I asked him.

"Oh Arno… He's actually… um… helping me with a bit of a favor. There was something though, he said you could help us with."

I never would have guessed Mr. Arno would go out of his way to do a favor for a friend. I guess I've only known him for a short time, so there's probably a lot about him I still don't know.

"Sure whatever you need, I'd be happy to help any way I can." I said.

"That's great to hear!... So, Arno and I were talking and he thought it would be great if you had multiple thralls rather than just one. He was saying how capable you were and that you would be able to transfer our seals all by yourself."

Wow, I had no Idea Mr. Arno had so much faith in me. Hopefully I could manage to do this seal ritual thingy by myself. I wouldn't want to let anyone down.

"Okay, I'll help you the best I can Mister... Um... What was your name?"

"My name is Craig, but you can call me whatever you want if you don't like that name."

"Oh no, your name is fine just as it is." I replied.

"Thank you so much Miss Erika. You are so kind." Mr. Craig said, getting down on one knee.

"If I remember right, there are a few things Mr. Arno used for the ritual. He used some sort of rock and this scroll thingy."

Mr. Craig pointed to one of his skeletons, "you, go get some rocks and paper for Miss Erika."

A few moments later the skeleton returned with the items. He laid down a few rolls of paper and a sack of rocks.

"Hmm... I think I'm going to need something to write with because the paper Mr. Arno had this same spiral thingy as my hand, drawn on it."

"Will this pen and inkwell Work?" A skeleton said, presenting them to me.

"I think so." I responded.

A crowd of skeletons formed around me. I took a seat at the table in the center of the room. It seemed like they put away their game they were playing earlier.

I took the pen and dipped it in the inkwell. I began attempting to trace the same symbol as the back of my hand. I couldn't quite get it exact, but it was probably close enough.

"I think for it to work, you have to like stand in front of me and then those rocks and paper should start to glow and move around and stuff."

Mr. Craig was first to step up. I grabbed a rock and held it in my hands. It was dark gray and very ordinary looking. It didn't exactly look like the one Mr. Arno had, but really aren't all rocks pretty much the same? I focused very hard on the piece of paper... Nothing.

Maybe Mr. Craig had to be the one to hold the rock. I handed him the stone.

"Try thinking about magic or something." I told him.

Still nothing...

"Uh... is everything alright Miss Erika." Craig asked, starting to get a bit impatient.

"Yeah… definitely… it's just taking me a bit to remember how it worked."

If I could just buy a bit of time until Mr. Arno got back, I'm sure he'd know what to do. Hopefully he's not too much lon-.

Mr. Arno suddenly stormed into the room. His dagger drawn in one hand and his staff in the other. He looked incredibly angry.

A few of the other skeletons ran at him. He used his dagger to behead one and the staff to knock a couple others to the ground.

"How did you get ou-!" Craig was cut off.

Arno came up to Craig and knocked him to the ground. He planted his foot on his rib cage. I was really confused about what was going on. Why was Mr. Arno so angry?