Chapter 14: Vanessa Terror

Breakfast that next morning was thankfully normal. But the definition of 'normal' was very loose right now, seeing as we now had CC, Boss and Bow joining us as well. Boss can't even eat anything, he's a jar! How he's alive is a mystery to me! But anyway, I had bacon sandwiches for breakfast, courtesy of our resident cooking cat.

"Everything alright, dearies?" She addressed us all.

"Yep!" "Totally!" Hat and Bow responded respectively.

"Uh-huh." I nodded. Of course I didn't tell anybody about the nightmares I had, and because of that I got this feeling that CC was trying to stare right into my soul with those feline eyes of hers. Cats are adorable, but they can also be devious.

"A part of me was hoping losing your souls would lower that energy of yours, or at least the volume." Boss commented.

"And which part was that? One of your eyes or your nose? Which part shall I take?" I slyly threatened.

"Never mind..." He admitted defeat. He seemed to have mellowed out from the big bad mafia leader we fought, not that I'd tell him that.

"Well, I feel a little empty, but not that bad." Hat said.

"I guess souls aren't all that important!" Bow nodded.

'Don't say that so happily...' I groaned.

"Well, I can't say I'm an expert on the subject..." CC spoke up. "But those who work under Snatcher, who've given their souls up to him, they lack a certain...will, to do anything other then serve him."

"A soul is a person's spirit!" Boss declared. "To stand tall! To fight! It is a part of them that helps pick themselves back up when we are down! Our will to exist!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh." Hat said. "Well, we're never low, so we never need to pick ourselves up! So I guess we're all good!" Kill me now.

"But we should still get them back, RIGHT, Captain?" I prompted.

"We're gonna!" She insisted. "C'mon then! Let's go!"

"Onwards!" Bow cheered.

In case you couldn't tell, Bow seemed to have developed a 'follow Hat' mentality. My personal headcanon is that she thinks Hat must've been miserable with me at her side and needs to cheer her up. That or she's just the following type, but I doubt that if she pilots her own spaceship on her own.

The three of us landed back down in Subcon. I did not want to get used to this place, but it had gone from terrifying to...whimsical? No, mysterious! And at least there was-

"Hi, Tie!" Knit. Right on cue. Hanging down from a branch like Spiderman.

"Ahhhh!" Hat suddenly squealed. "Who's this!?"

"Oh, right. Guess you've never met." I realised. "Captain, this is Knit. Knit, Captain."

"You must be Hat." Knit flipped right-side up and extended a hand. "Nice to meet you."

"You are so CUTE!" Hat picked Knit up and squeezed her in a hug. "And soft!"

"Now, I see what you mean." Knit said to me.

"Careful of her hairpins, Captain." I told her as she released the little yarn girl.

"Hello there!" Bow then waved. "You really are adorable! My name is Bow! It's soooo nice to meet you!"

"Bow?" A hint of a sour look glinted in Knit's eyes, but I tapped her on the head, making her glance at me so I could give her a soft shake of my head, making her relent, and extend a mitten hand. "Nice to meet you...Bow." Bow happily shook her hand. Thankfully I don't think she paid any mind to our little exchange, but Knit gave me a look that asked me why I was sticking up for her.

"Awww, this would give me all the warm and fuzzies...if I cared." And cue Snatcher. Nothing if not fashionably late apparently.

"Hi, Snatcher!" Hat waved, almost cheerfully.

"Heya, kids. See, brat? Pleasantries don't cost anything." Snatcher said.

"Just our souls, apparently." I mumbled.

"Now, now! Don't need that attitude! Not when I'm letting you all stay together for this little errand!" Snatcher said.

"What?" This was not a good sign. At all. He'd said himself he'd looked at my soul, so he must know my weaknesses, which is why he kept my and Hat separate all this time. Why bring us all together now?

"And this one is super easy!" He laughed. "I just need you to visit a certain manor and...give it a good comb over. I've even placed the Time Piece in the attic as a goal! Aren't I nice?" He produced the contract. "Just sign here."

This reeked of suspicious. It was completely different from the other kinds of jobs he'd requested so far, and the picture of the manor...didn't look inviting. But again, no choice. Me and Hat signed.

"Excellent! I'll open up the way there for you!" He cackled. "Have fun! Toodle-oo!" And once again he was gone.

"A manor, huh?" I mumbled. "Hey, Knit, what do you know abou...Knit?"

Knit's eyes were vibrating. He yarn body was loosening up and 'shivering' almost. She was scared.

"Knit, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Not there...you can't go there!" She gasped.

"Why, Knit? What's up with that place?"

"I...I...you just can't go! You can't!" She cried in distress.

"Just calm down, Knit." I spoke to her. "We need to. If it's something dangerous, we can handle it. I can protect you. You don't need to be-"

"No!" She gasped, stepping back. "I can't! I...I'm sorry!" She suddenly unravelled and returned to her butterfly form, and flew away.

"Wait! Knit!" I reached for her, but made no attempt to give chase. She was clearly scared, and I didn't want to pressure her in the end.

"What did you do?" Bow accused me, making me turn to her.

"I didn't do anything." I said. "Knit is scared of that manor for some reason. Seriously scared."

"It did look spooky." Hat said. "But whatever it is, we'll be okay, if we stick together! Let's go!"

"Captain-!" I tried to call out to her, but she was already off.

"Meanie." Bow commented, before she followed.

"Geez..." I sighed, looking back over my shoulder. "Knit..." But it was pointless, so I ran after the other two.


The path to the manor grew cold. So cold I wore my Spark Scarf just for the warmth of it as Hat put on her Ice Hat (She came up with the name, not me) as we were trudging through snow of all things, which was clearly wrong, as indicated by all the trees around us being the same as the forests.

'This snow is unnatural.' I came to the conclusion after some thinking. 'But how was it caused? I don't think Snatcher is the type who likes the cold. Does that mean something else caused it?'

"There it is! I see it!" Hat cried, causing me to look up and...oh boy.

It was a lot more intimidating in person. A large, gloomy manor completely covered in snow and ice, with hideous looking gargoyles perched outside. Lights were on in several rooms...so something was in.

"Definitely the place." Bow agreed.

"Hmmm...hold on." I swapped my scarf for the Bat Bow and used it to fly up to the very tip-top window, where I could peer inside, and low and behold, it was the attic. "Snatcher said he put the Time Piece in here. Maybe I could-"

Yes, my plan was to get the Time Piece immediately, unfortunately as soon as I attacked the window with my yo-yo, a powerful force suddenly pushed me back as I landed in the snow. And it was a dark, hateful force.

"Are you okay, Tie?" Hat asked as she ran over.

"I'm fine..." I groaned as I got up and brushed snow out of my hair. "Looks like we're gonna have to go up the old-fashioned away. Front door."

We approached the big double doors and pushed on them. Locked. So I tried pressing the doorbell. Nothing. Either it was broken, or...

"Somebody doesn't wanna let us in." I said.

"What makes you say that?" Bow sceptically asked.

"This is a house in the middle of a blizzard protected by negative emotion magic. You think someone sociable lives here?" I snarked, which made her pout at me.

"How are we gonna get in, then?" Hat pouted.

"Psst!" We looked to our right to see one of Snatcher's minions, a little shadowy goon, beckoning to us from the side of the house. We glanced at each other for a moment, before following him around the back of the house.

"You're here on orders from Snatcher, yes?" It said, as it opened up a hatch. "Here. This leads to the basement. You can enter through there."

"Okay! Thanks!" Hat beamed as she jumped in, followed by Bow. I gave the shadow a sceptical look, but jumped in anyway. It was a typical basement; damp, wet, filled with barrels and cobwebs, the usual.

"This way!" Hat gestured, and we walked up to a hatch and pushed open. We were in.

The inside of the manor was mostly dark red, with it being the wallpaper colour and the colour of the carpets, but mostly simple, made out of wood, wooden doors with golden handles, windows which showed the blizzard raging outside, a couple of potted plants. But the thing was, that it was cold. A slight chill hung in the air, which was odd for us being inside. And it was quiet.

"This is it." Hat confirmed as we stepped out, the front doors to our left. Sure enough, it was bolted shut.

"Now we just need to check everything, right?" Bow asked.

"Right! This doesn't seem so bad!" Hat smiled.

'Something's wrong...' I thought. 'This doesn't feel right. I'm completely on edge. Like...something is watching me. This house is creeping me out.'

"Captain." She turned to me. "We need to be careful. This place isn't right."

"Don't be a spoilsport." Bow said. "Everything's fine, it's just a house."

"It's no problem, Tie." Hat said. "We'll be done in no time!"

'As usual, there's no reasoning. But I can't shake this feeling...'

We walked into what I could only assume was the main hall. I noted two doors opposite us, and another one down the hall on our side.

"Hmm." I happened to notice what appeared to be an ice statue. "Whoever lives here really likes the cold." Actually, it looked like there was something inside of it, but it was all fogged up...

"Wow, it's really coming down outside all of a sudden." Bow's observation distracted me, as a full-blown blizzard was now blowing. I took a glance out the window myself, skyward.

"The clouds have gotten dark...well, dark-ER." I told them. "Looks like a storm. On top of a blizzard." That didn't seem right.

"Luckily we're safe in here." Hat boasted.

Irony is horrible.

"Who's there!?"

We all jumped in fear as a horrible voice reverberated throughout the house in time with a clap of sudden thunder.

"What was-!?" Hat squeaked.

"Who dares enter my home!?" It came from that door at the end of the corridor! And I could hear footsteps approaching!

"Into the room, quickly!" I gestured as I pulled open the door closest to us, Hat running inside.

"Huh!?" Bow cried indignantly. The doorhandle on that door was turning!

"Complain later!" I seized her wrist and pulled her in, shutting the door as the other one opened. Bow pulled out of my grip with a hurt look.

"Who was that!?" Hat whispered to me.

"I'm guessing whoever lives here." I whispered back, pressing my ear to the door. "She does not seem happy."

"Well, we can take her on if she's a meanie, can't we?" Bow suggested.

"No. Something is wrong here." I strained to listen, and I could hear footsteps outside. I pressed my finger to my lips.

"Hey..." Hat whispered as she tapped me, and pointed to a key on top of a bookshelf.

"I'll get it." I whispered to her. "You keep an ear on the door."

We swapped positions as I put on my Bat Bow and flew up, grabbing the key, as quietly as I could, when we heard a creaking sound.

"The other door!" Bow hissed, pointing towards what looked like a kitchen. My eyes quickly fell on a grand piano. I pointed under it, and they got the message as we all crawled under it.

"I know you're in here!" The voice screeched horribly, as the footsteps drew closer. "Come out!"

I placed my free hand over my mouth, and the other two did the same. She was drawing closer. And, by peeking out from underneath the piano, I saw her.

A dark, hulking, figure made of shadow, hunched over, thin arms outstretched with claws for hands, spikes on her head, and enraged, glowing red eyes. As soon as she entered the room, I was bombarded by this murderous, hateful aura. It assaulted all of my senses, and made me completely tense up. It felt like someone was screaming at me in pure rage, pounding inside of my head. My entire body was yelling at me to run away, or scream, or cry.

I had to stay strong, and it seemed like Hat and Bow were as well, but she was right there, walking around the piano!

"Where are you?" She rasped angrily. "You can't escape this house, now that I know you're in here!"

I knew. I instinctively knew that if she caught me, I'd be dead.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye, that Bow looked like she was about to make a run for it. That wouldn't end well. I grabbed her leg to stop her from going, and she kicked me in the face with her other one. But I couldn't let go, she wouldn't make it with this...creature so close.

"When I get my hands on you..." She hissed, as she eventually went out the door, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

"You meanie! Meanie!" Bow wheezed as she lightly bopped me with her hands. I honestly couldn't blame her, she was scared and wanted to run but I made it so that she couldn't. Plus, it didn't hurt.

"Okay...okay..." Calm down, calm down and think. "We...need to go into the kitchen...then, we'll dash across the hallway to that room she came out of. If I know my locked doors, this key will open up the door to the next floor. If we're quick enough, we can avoid her."

"No way. I'm not going out there." Bow denied.

"Well what's your plan, then? Hide under a piano forever?"

"Maybe."

"Think here. We just need to make a break for it. We don't even need to avoid her, just outrun her."

"I can't." We both looked at Hat. "I'm...I'm really scared. I've never been so scared before. My body feels all funny, like it's jelly, and I don't want to move...I'm really, really, scared...!" Tears pricked at her eyes as she squeezed them tight.

I was scared too. Whatever that woman was, she was brimming with malice and evil aura. Just being near her, it took everything I had not to cry. I was genuinely afraid, and full of fear.

But Hat was more scared then me. And it was up to me to protect her.

"Here." I handed her the key. "You can do it, Captain. You're incredible like that. I know you can do it. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're okay." I crawled out from underneath the piano.

"What are you doing?" Bow breathed.

"You two, do what I said. I'm going to distract her." I told them.

"No, Tie! You can't do that!" Hat pleaded.

"I'll be okay, Captain. I promise." I told her. "But you two need to go on!" I then ran towards the door.

"Tie!" Hat called out as quietly as possible.

"C'mon, Hat." Bow helped her out from udner the piano as they went into the kitchen.

I stood in front of the door, reaching for the handle, but I froze. I didn't want to do this. I was so scared.

'You have to protect her, you have to protect her.' I told myself, psyching myself up, as I pushed open the door.

There she was. At the opposite end of the hall, in front of the kitchen door. My body immediately felt that aura again. I tried to yell out, to catch her attention, but my voice got caught in my throat, choking from how scared I was. And she was reaching for the handle!

In a moment of desperation, I slammed the door shut, and her head instantly snapped towards me, her red eyes glowing angrily.

"There you are!" She screamed as she charged towards me.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" I genuinely screamed as I threw open the door again and ran inside, her footsteps thundering after me. I glanced into the kitchen, and it seemed the two of them had already run across the hallway.

"How dare you!?" She burst through the door towards me. "Invade my home!?"

In panic, I threw on the Spark Scarf and attempted to zap her with lightning, but I hit the piano instead, causing it to collapse.

'There's no way I could have missed!' My mind was working overtime as she was coming towards me. 'How did...is that aura causing me to subconsciously avoid her, even when attacking!?'

"Don't you dare run!" She lunged at me, and I Cannonball jumped across the kitchen, causing her to stab her claws into the wall, and leave a long scratch mark as she pulled herself out. "You insolent child!"

I shoved open the door and ran across the hallway into what appeared to be a parlour. A door leading upwards was to my left, already open it would seem.

"You will regret..." I whipped around, and she was right behind me. "Ever setting foot in here!"

"Gaaaahhhh!" In a moment of panic I backpedalled as fast as my legs would work and slammed myself against the wall. I had trapped myself. She was now between me and the staircase, as well as the other door.

"I will make you pay..." She rasped, as she reached a claw towards me. Her aura was overpowering, and I could feel the cold of her limb as it stretched towards my neck!

I quickly threw on the Necro Necklace and used it to turn into a ghost. Her claw phased past me and froze to the wall, sticking her there, and I scrunched my eyes shut as I ran right through her and towards the stairs.

"What!?" She snapped her neck towards me. "A ghost!? No...you used magic! Graaaargh!" She tried to pull her claw out of the wall, but to no avail, and I ran up as fast as I could. "Get back here, you...!" I couldn't hear what that last part was, but I could tell it wasn't very nice.

I eventually reached the second floor. Another long hallway; two doors on the left and one on the right.

"Hat? Bow? Where are you?" I called, but no response.

Suddenly, I heard the shattering of ice and the stomping of feet behind me. She was running up the stairs!

'I need to hide!' I dove into the nearest room. A bedroom, with a four poster bed and a wardrobe. I quickly spun around and kept my eye on the door as I backed away slowly. I could still hear her coming up the stairs.

But then I backed into something. Something cold. What was it? Another block of ice? I turned around, and I had to clamp my hands over my mouth to prevent myself from screaming.

There was someone frozen in the ice! A figure, made out of cloth, with a cute little face frozen in terror. The life gone from his eyes. Dead.

I was going to be sick. She killed people and kept them here! Frozen, forever! That meant that the one downstairs was-! And she was going to do the same to us!

'Oh sugar! Oh crumpets! Peck!' My mind swore in fear.

Click!

The door! I leapt into the wardrobe as she walked into the room.

"When I get my hands on you...you'll go right in the kitchen!" She gnashed at the air, stomping around the room.

I desperately clutched my mouth. I needed to think. I could avoid her entirely with my Necro Necklace, but I could only use it for up to five seconds, and it needed to recharge afterwards. So I needed to save it, I needed to wait until she left the room, but if she opened the wardrobe, I'd use it to run past her and-

I was so scared! I was terrified! This was different then my past, I could die here! And currently, I was trapped in a wardrobe with nowhere to go! I wasn't claustrophobic, but this was probably what it was like. I missed Captain, I missed CC and Roombi and Knit. I even missed Boss! And of course, despite EVERYTHING...I still missed everyone back home. I couldn't handle this! I was breaking down...

"I'll find you, in the end..." I heard her hiss, before I heard a door open, and she left.

I collapsed out of the wardrobe and took deep, shaky breaths. 'Calm! Calm...! I can't be calm!' My heart was pounding furiously. My head was swimming. 'Get it together! You have to find Hat! You can't let that witch find her first! Get up! For Hat!'

I struggled, but I did get back up. I looked around, there appeared to be a box on the bedside. I opened it.

'To Vanessa'? I read. Was that her name? And this little keepsake box filled with products...it was surprisingly well-kept in comparison to everything else.

I then heard a door open elsewhere. She had left the room next to this one, and I took it as my cue to run in. And it was...a nursery? Toys, baby wallpaper, even a cot, everything was there.

"Tiiiie…!" I looked over and saw Hat and Bow crawl out from under the cot.

"Captain!" Thank everything good she was okay! "Are you alright?"

"I think so..." She said. "Tie, she took it. She took the key to the attic."

"Really?" You've got to be kidding me. "Where did she go?"

She merely pointed towards another door. Alright...

"Okay, I'll go get it." I told her. "You and Bow stay here."

"Mm-hm..." She nodded as Bow cuddled and comforted her.

I opened the door and found myself facing another one. Slowly pushing it open, I saw this was a bathroom. And she was in the shower. Sitting on a counter, right on the other side of the room, was a key.

'Noooope!' I shut the door and leaned on it. 'I can't do this! I can't do that! She's right there! She knows I want that key!' I slid down the door, and buried my head in my knees. 'I can't...I can't...!'

I had always counted on myself, because I had nobody else to count on. All I can ever remember is if I wanted something done, I had to do it myself, so I had learned to do things for me. It was selfish, and it didn't justify anything, but I had always done it like that.

But right here, right now, I couldn't count on myself. I was paralyzed with fear. And I wished just once...just ONCE...I had somebody to count on. I couldn't put that pressure on Hat or Bow, they were already so scared...and I KNOW it was horrible and selfish...but I just wanted somebody else to help me! Please!

...There was nobody like that. Right now, that somebody was me. I'm the one who needs to help Hat. And Bow too. I needed to be the one they depended on. And it was hard, it was terrifying...but I had to do it.

I stood up, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

As I tiptoed in, I noticed writing on the mirror, and I held a scream in when I thought it was written in blood, but it was just lipstick: 'MY PRINCE HAS GONE'

'Who is this witch?' I couldn't help but think, as I slowly began crawling towards the key. There was another figure frozen in the corner, thunder bellowed outside the window, the blizzard persisted, the shower ran, and the shadowed, hulking figure sighed beneath it.

'Grab it and run! Grab it and run!' I told myself, as I reached for the key.

The figure then reached out her claw for a towel that wasn't there. And when she realised there wasn't one-!

I grabbed the key and ran for dear life as she poked her head out.

"YOU!" Vanessa roared as I slammed the door behind me and ran into the nursery.

"Hat! Bow!" I yelled at them. "We need to run! Now!"

There was an almighty crash as Vanessa broke down the door, her red eyes instantly fixed on us. "More of you!?"

"Run!" Hat shrieked as we bolted for the door opposite the one to the bedroom, as Vanessa...went back through the door she came through?

"There's the door to the attic!" Bow pointed at it.

"Hold on!" I stopped her.

There was a horrible crunch as Vanessa's claw dug into the corner of the hallway, and she pulled herself into the hallway, between us and the door.

"None of you are leaving here! I'll kill you all!" She shrieked.

"Back into the nursery!" Bow cried.

"No you won't!" Vanessa slashed the wall, causing the door to completely freeze over.

"Nonononononono!" I desperately tugged at the handle, but it was frozen shut.

"You have some nerve, trying to deceive me! Violating the sanctity of my home!" She pointed at us with a clawed finger as she stomped towards us slowly. "You cannot hide, and there's nowhere left to run!"

She was right. We were backed against the wall, there was nowhere else left to run. We were trapped, and she was coming closer slowly, because she knew we were helpless!

'Is this it!? Are we...going to die!?' I couldn't help but think, as she drew closer, closer... 'Is this how it ends!? Think, you stupid idiot! Think!'

I clutched my Necro Necklace. It could only turn me into a ghost, and there was no way I was going to abandon Hat, or Bow for that matter. 'There must be something I can do! There has to be! I have to save them!' Hat and Bow were clutching each other, terrified. 'I can't let them die! THINK YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF TRASH!'

In desperation, an answer presented itself to me.

"Captain!" I grabbed her by the shoulders and made her look at me. "We're always okay in the end, right? Right?"

"U-Uh-huh..." She nodded, completely scared.

"That's not gonna change, okay!? You're gonna be okay! I'm gonna be okay!" I told her. "But you have to do what I say, yeah!?"

"Y-Yeah...!" She nodded.

I took my Necro Necklace off and put it on her, activating it to make her turn into a ghost. "RUN, HAT!"

"I...I believe in you, Tie!" Hat said as she ran right through Vanessa, causing her to hiss in frustration.

"You too, Bow!" I thrust the key into her hands. "Run!" Then, I charged right at Vanessa.

"Do you think you can get away from me!?" She roared as she reached for me. I put on the Bat Bow and flew over her.

But she reached up and grabbed me by the throat.

"Now...Bow...!" I thrashed around, the wings flapping uselessly. Whilst she was busy strangling me, Bow ran right past her.

This was my plan. I'd sacrifice myself so that Hat and Bow could get away. The Bat Bow was my last chance, and it had failed. The wings were beginning to freeze over.

'Please...don't look back...!' I begged, as I saw Hat and Bow run up the stairs.

'As long as you're safe...' I was growing cold... 'That's all...that matters...' So...cold...

...

"...I see. So that's how it is." Vanessa suddenly spoke.

She released me, and the frost faded as the Bat Bow returned to normal. I coughed and gasped for air, rubbing my freezing throat. Then I stared up at Vanessa. She was looking down at me. The murderous aura was suddenly gone.

"That girl...the one with the hat...the other one with the bow...and you." She spoke in a turn that certainly wasn't softer, but more...reminiscent? "I can see it between the three of you...something I saw a long time ago."

I didn't dare speak, but I was still scared. Why? Why did she stop? What did she mean?

"You and I...we are the same." Vanessa said. "We share the same pain. The same loss. We have both been hurt the same way. Perhaps you don't even realise it yet, but this is what happened before, in a long-forgotten fairy tale."

What on earth was she talking about? How could I, and someone like her, be the same!?

"You will lose her. And the pain of that happening will never truly heal. That hole in your heart will eat away at you for eternity. You will never truly be the same again." She placed a claw on my shoulder. It was freezing cold. I tensed up as I stared into her bloody eyes, and she stared back.

"You have my...deepest sympathies."

And with that, she walked away, down the corridors, and down the stairs.

I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding, and clutched a hand against my chest. Miraculously, I was alive.

'What in space was that? What was she talking about? What did she mean?' Too many thoughts were swimming through my head.

"Tie!" I stopped as Hat and Bow ran towards me, the latter carrying the Time Piece.

"C-Captain." I shakily stood up.

"You did it! You scared her off!" She beamed proudly, as she held out my Necro Necklace to me. "You are so cool!"

"...Th-Thanks Captain." I took the necklace back, trying to hide how much I was shaking. "I told you we'd be okay in the end, didn't I?"

"Naturally!" She was back to her old self, thank space. "Boy, I'm glad this is all over! C'mon, the window upstairs opens from the inside, we can get out that way and teleport back!"

"Yeah...of course..." I breathed, controlling the shaking in my legs, as I followed them.


We teleported back onto the ship, as Bow put the Time Piece in the vault.

"Welp! I'm not sleeping tonight!" Hat declared a little too cheerfully. "Guess it's an all-nighter! In the meantime, lunch! I think we deserve something big for that, right, Bow?"

"Definitely!" Bow nodded furiously. "I just want to forget this whole thing!"

"Deliciousness cures all!" Hat declared, skipping towards the kitchen.

"I'm...gonna be a minute." I told them as I rubbed my arm.

"Okay! But be quick, or we'll eat everything!" Hat said as they went in.

Slowly and steadily, I moved over to a beanbag, and fell into it.

'I almost died...' I thought. 'Snatcher...he sent us in there expecting us to die. He was trying to get rid of us that pecking basketcase! When I see him I'll...I'll...!'

I didn't have any energy left to get angry. I was mentally exhausted.

'Vanessa...she sad that she and I were the same.' I thought. 'The same pain, and loss...she lost someone precious to her, like I feel like I'm losing Hat. And the pain she mentioned...I admit, when I think about Hat and Bow, it really hurts. Does that mean...I really am like Vanessa? Am I going to become like her?'

I shook my head. That thought terrified me. I didn't want to be like that. But...even so...a thought remained.

'Maybe I really should have died there.'


And with that, Vanessa's manor has been covered. Obviously it is a stand out in the game, being y'know, a SURVIVAL HORROR inside a platformer, so I wanted to make this chapter memeorable as well, by making it suspenseful, emotional, and the longest one yet! Hope it was a good one.

Also, this chapter has a special profile pic for this chapter only! It's Knit! Isn't she lovely! As always, it is made by the wonderful Konan720, and I love it just like all the others! If you wanna see this lovely picture of Knit, check out Konan720 on DeviantArt, also check out her own AHiT stories. Thank you as always!

Now then, we got several questions since last chapter, so let's get right to it!

Tie: More letters for us here.

Bow: Hello!

Tie:...Why's Bow here?

Hat: Why not?

Tie: Okay...well then, first letter is from-!...

Hat: Tie? What's wrong?

Tie: Nothing, nothing...it's from Konan720. She asks what our favourite fruits are.

Hat: Fruits? Bleh!

Bow: Gross!

Tie: You say that, but pizza and pasta have tomatoes in them.

Hat: That's different.

Tie: Seriously though, answer properly. This is an important sender.

Hat: Oh, alright...I like...strawberries, I guess. Strawberry syrup.

Bow: I quite like blueberries, if anything.

Tie: I like the standard stuff; apples, bananas, oranges. But if I had to pick one, I'd say cucumbers. Give a satisfying crunch.

Hat: No more icky talk! Next question!

Tie: This one is from Happiness studios, let's see if I can word this correctly...have we ever seen films that seemed like they were for all ages, but were actually for adults?

Hat: You mean like Studio Ghibli films?

Tie: I guess. Hmm...I'd say Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Videogame references and all.

Hat: I say both Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal fall under that category. They give children trauma!

Bow: Robocop and The Terminator. I came for cool robot movies not...body horror.

Tie: Next letter before we begin bringing up bad memories. This one is exclusively for Hat, actually.

Hat: Really!?

Tie: Yes. nico2411 asks what you think of me and Bow.

Hat: Oh, that all? Well, Bow is a really great friend! It's been so long since I've seen another member of my species that isn't Tie, so it's really great fun!

Bow: Awwwwwww, thanks, Hat!

Hat: And Tie? He's my Cadet-

Tie: Vice-Captain.

Hat: So he's reliable, if a bit grumpy, and is always helping me out, so I'm grateful to it. But as to why he's with me, and what my overall opinion of him is, that's...a secret!

Tie: Of course.

Bow: Boo! I wanted to know too!

That's all the questions for now! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter...things get real. See you then!