Night fell as well as rain over Mafia Town. Hattie had her umbrella ready right as she broke through the storm clouds. Landing on the Observatory Deck, she opened up her contract to take another look at it.

All she has to do is get to one of Snatcher's handmade Time Pieces, which she will begin to call Deathwish Time Pieces for convenience, and defeat some UFOs. Aside the 65 second timer, that doesn't seem to hard.

She tapped her top hat and it sensed the Deathwish Time Piece...at the clock tower in the Market Plaza? If it was all the way over there, then why does she need to start at the Observatory Deck?

"Burn some paintings, unclog a toilet, deliver some mail, oh you thought my contracts were so easy back then." Hattie jolted and turned around, seeing Snatcher behind her. He was floating with his arms folded behind his head and a smug grin showing. What was he doing here?

"Your Time Piece may be over at the tower, but there's only one way to reach it." He then picks up Hattie, having her yelp as he only held her by the cape. Dangling very high in the air by only her cape was discomforting to say the least. She then heard Snatcher darkly chuckling as he lifted her close to his field of vision and motioned the path ahead. What Hattie saw made her eyes go wide with disbelief.

It was practically an obstacle course of death ahead of her. The obstacles she did for the Time Piece from that Science Mafioso were there, but there was much more to it. Now there was a cannon that would shoot her to more obstacles. Those UFOs the contract mentioned were everywhere. There has to be around 7 of them floating along her path. Not to mention there were wrecking balls over small platforms, angry Mafioso, and a firework missile launcher near where the Deathwish Time Piece was.

Snatcher was not serious about having her achieving this contract.

He then drops her back on the Observatory Deck. "Time's ticking, kiddo. Get to it!"

Oh cod, he's serious.

But Hattie shook her head, pushing away her doubt. She's been through Mu's castle traps when she took the Time Pieces. Surely this won't be harder than that.

With that confidence boost, Hattie took off. Her diving skills were going to be needed to reach some unreachable platforms. Surely though, she cannot take out all UFOs and do this whole mess of a course in less than 65 seconds.

She can come back to that bonus later. Right now, she needed to at least get her main objective done and maybe the first bonus along the way. Luckily, she knew how to take out the UFOs. She quickly dashed under the first one, having it fall and try to hit her, then she whacked it, poofing it into pons. They were basically defective props from Grooves' set, so she has learned. ...That makes her wonder how Snatcher got a hold of them.

Getting through the obstacles at the start and taking out the three UFOs wasn't too challenging. It was after the cannon where things got difficult.

Once again, her diving skills were practically saving her life. Falling from the height she was at would result in some serious injuries. She could pull out her umbrella, but getting back up to where she was earlier would take more time than it should for this contract.

She managed to slip past one angry Mafioso trying to beat her up, but saw a wrecking ball coming right at her. "YIKES!" She rapidly switched to her Time Stop Hat and jumped while pushing the clock piece on her hat. All time slowed down while she narrowly dodged the wrecking ball behind her. She quickly jumped past the second platform with another wrecking ball, just as the time limit on her Time Stop Hat powers ended.

A couple more angry Mafioso were waiting for her, but she had no time to deal with them. Jumping up, she narrowly dodged a falling UFO. With one solid whack, it was gone.

She then hopped onto a patio umbrella, springing her high in the air. She then had to go to two more, each one on a towering stack of crates. One was swaying, obviously unbalanced. Hattie really needed to time that one.

She was so close now! She could see the Deathwish Time Piece glowing on the plank in front of the clock tower. Only two UFOs to deal with as well. She quickly began walking along the banner tightropes provided for her as she headed for the platforms.

But then she spotted two sparkling firework rockets heading right for her. More homing missiles?

"Oh, give me a break!" She quickly dove to the platform, right as they exploded where she was last. She quickly took out the UFOs and dove for the Deathwish Time Piece. One rocket did fire right at her in mid-air, knocking the wind out of her and into the Deathwish Time Piece.

As she managed to grab it, her body slammed against the clock tower and fell on the plank. She sat up as best as she could, then screamed as two more missiles came right at her. She rolled off the plank just as they hit where she was, exploding the plank to bits. She quickly pulled out her umbrella and stopped herself right before she hit the hard ground.

On her knees and with the wind knocked out of her, she took a moment to control her breathing. That was insane...and not in a good way. But, at least she was done. Yeah, no way was she doing that again to try and do it faster. She was lucky to do it and make it out alive.

Staggering to her feet, sore from getting hit by the rocket and the wall, she pulled out her Time Piece and flew back up to her ship. As she was leaving, a glitchy figure in the shadows watched her go.

Back on the ship, Hattie rolled up the contract and walked to her room, keeping the Deathwish Time Piece tucked under her arm. It was late and it's been a really long day for Hattie. She didn't want to do anything else except sleep for the night. With her luck, when she wakes up, Snatcher won't be as much of a jerk.

Snatcher was sitting in his usual spot, looking kind of smug. "What a way to finish, kiddo. Practically almost went out with a bang! Hahahahahahaha!"

Hattie frowned and set down the mostly complete contract and Deathwish Time Piece in front of him. "I'm going to bed."

"Bed? Kid, you've got a lot more to do if you wanna keep your soul."

"It's late, Snatcher. I need sleep."

Snatcher paused, then shrugged. "Alright, kiddo. Go on and take a break."

Hattie blinked. Was he really okay with it? To answer her question, he added, "No, I don't mind. I have an eternity! You're the one that should be worried."

Hattie frowned once more. She was too tired to even come up with a sassy comeback. All she could manage was a dismissive wave as she went to her closet to grab a pair of pajamas. She then went into her secret pillow fort to change.

Once dressed, she clapped twice, turning off the lights. The only things keeping this room lit now was DJ Grooves' gift of glow-in-the-dark star stickers on the ceiling and the candle she lit for a side task contract.

She then hopped into bed, welcoming its comfort to her aching body. However, she soon learned that someone else wasn't going to rest. After ten minutes of tossing and turning, her eyes flutter open a little, then open wide. Snatcher was still there.

Just sitting there.

...Watching her.

"...Aren't you going to sleep?"

"Don't need to, kiddo." He still kept that creepy smile and his golden eyes locked on her. Even from where she was lying down, she could still see him twitch every once or twice. There was no way she was sleeping with these conditions.

Letting out a groan of annoyance, she climbs out of bed. She then grabs her pillow and an extra blanket she had underneath the bed. Leaving her room, she faintly heard Snatcher chuckle.

She then looked to the burger cushion in the Main Hub and laid down on it. Luckily, Mu was up in the attic with Cookie. Hattie will just have to take over the burger cushion for tonight.

Rumbi, now concerned seeing their master not in bed like she should be, drove up to her, gently nudging her feet. Hattie looked down at Rumbi, who was quietly beeping with concern. She showed a tired smile as she patted Rumbi's top.

"I'll be fine, bud. Better out here than in there with Snatcher being a creepy jerk." She then adjusted herself into a more comfortable position on the cushion. Rumbi quietly drove to her side, nuzzling against her other leg.

Hattie managed a more warm smile as her eyes drooped close. She gently pet the top of Rumbi and said, "Don't worry, buddy. Maybe things will be better tomorrow."

With her trusty Rumbi staying by her side, Hattie soon fell asleep.

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Sorry this chapter was a little short. I've already outlined what is to come up until Subcon Forest as of now though. For now, take care and see you in the next chapter soon. x)