Hey uh why do I keep writing nice fluff chapters directly before the angst

Happy 20th chapter, by the way!!!

Aaaand as always, thanks to my beta reader!

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Snow crunched and twisted under Hat Kid's feet, and flurries blurred her sight. With her hat pulled protectively over her face and her hands clutching her cape to preserve warmth, she trudged toward the last place she wanted to go. She was sure Snatcher, just behind her, felt the same way.

Mentally, she recalled what she'd told Snatcher.

"Absolutely not." With eyes wide with furious disbelief, Snatcher sat up on the pillows. "No way we're going back to that place."

Hattie shot a glance back at him. Snatcher's arms were wrapped around him tightly, and his mouth was twisted in a scowl.

"Why not?" She asked. "Don't you want to get back to being a ghost?"

Snatcher protested, "Well, yes, but-"

"But what?"

Of course, Hat Kid had ideas of what he would say. Snatcher wouldn't think he was able to go back. Vanessa's manor was a place of horrific, impacting trauma for him. He wouldn't want to face that again after everything that had been dug up in the past couple of days. Really, Hat Kid didn't blame him.

"I can't do it," Snatcher grumbled, saying exactly what Hattie had been thinking. "I... I can't go back." He forced a wry smile. "Too much trauma, y'know?"

But, unfortunately for Snatcher, her plan depended on his trauma.

"That's the point. I'm hoping that returning to the place where you died will trigger something. Hopefully, your timeline will jump to the point where you died, and you turn into a ghost again. If it doesn't work with you, we'll try it with Elliot."

Snatcher's crown was clutched tightly in his palm. The moment Elliot had finished eating, Hat Kid swiped the crown and brought them back to Subcon.

Snatcher stared at her with horror. "That's INSANE, kiddo," he said, mouth gaping.

He probably still thought it was insane. But he was going through with it.

"It's worth it," Hat Kid answered. "Wouldn't you say so? Isn't anything worth it to be yourself again? Just a quick in and out. In the end, it'll all be okay."

At the time, she thought, It'll be worth it to get my soul back. She didn't say it out loud.

Snatcher pondered her proposal for a long moment. Finally, he threw up his hands. "Ugh!" he growled. "Okay, FINE."

So here they were.

With time against her, Hattie could trudge quicker through the snow than normal. Thanks to her Dweller Mask, she could bring herself and Snatcher through the barricades quicker. Now the manor was in the distance, just a bleary smudge in the blizzard's backdrop.

It was as frigid as she remembered. Hat Kid trod carefully across the frozen lake as best as she could. Every so often she'd slide, and her hands would automatically shoot out to catch herself. The wind would catch her cape and toss it away from her body, and she'd get blasted with freezing cold. She was constantly shivering despite her best efforts to stay warm.

Just the thought of going back made her shudder from something more than the pressing cold. Yeah, all of Subcon was spooky, but the mansion took it up to another level.

The seeping cold, the dungeon entry, the dimly lit halls, the frozen statues... everything about the manor screamed despair and death. It was horrid enough minus the crazy evil queen. But of course a creepy old lady had to live there too.

No, creepy wasn't the right word. A stronger word was needed. Horrifying? Bloodcurdling? Spine-chilling? Something along those lines.

The mansion was becoming clearer. Hat Kid inadvertently slowed, tremors wracking through her body. The snowfall had become harsher, the flakes slicing at her cheeks instead of falling gently. She paused, feeling her breath hitch and falter in the stinging cold. She pulled her cape tighter around her shoulders, but it offered no warmth or relief.

Hat Kid missed the warmth of her spaceship all of a sudden. She desperately missed the comfort of her room and Rumbi and her pillows. She should turn right around and go back. She should bury herself in her blankets and never come out again.

Maybe Snatcher was right when he said he couldn't do it. Heck, Hattie was starting to agree with him. I can't do it either. I can't. I can't-

Snatcher's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Are you okay?"

She flinched away from him, inadvertently letting go of the corners of her cape. She hadn't noticed he'd caught up to her. Now he was staring at her with a look of concern, something she didn't need or want from him. "I'm fine," she huffed, turning away. Hat Kid grabbed her cape again and wrapped herself in it, still shivering miserably.

"We don't have to do this," Snatcher stated, an edge in his voice.

"Yes, we do. We have to." Snatcher's reluctance reminded her of just how important it was that she get her soul back. Her time was ticking away with every second she stood still. So what if she had a couple days left? It didn't make her feel any better to sit around and do nothing. She had to at least try.

Hattie forced herself to take a step. Her legs were leaden, and the snow was molasses. And everything was so, so, cold.

Snatcher moved forward with her, lingering in her peripheral vision. She side-eyed him, and he gazed back but said nothing. She turned away again as he sighed and fiddled with his cloak.

The consequences would be catastrophic if she didn't get her soul back. Maybe world-destroying, if it were taken that far. Hat Kid was terrified to think about it. She'd only ever read about those types of anomalies-

Reddish fabric suddenly fell over her head and obscured her vision, getting caught in her hat. She froze in her tracks and swung her arms wildly, trying to get whatever it was off her. "WHAT."

She swung her hands and pulled, throwing the fabric to the snow. With a start, she realized it was Snatcher's cloak. Hat Kid shot a look at him. He picked up the cloak again, folding it over his arms so it wouldn't further touch the snow, and held it out to her.

"Take it," he told her.

"Ew, no." She narrowed her eyes. "It has your cooties all over it."

Snatcher rolled his eyes but remained firm with his offer. "And? What would you rather have? Cooties or a frigid death?" With a sarcastic smile, he added, "If I had a choice, it would be the former."

Her brow furrowed. "But won't you be cold?"

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I'm sorry, are you concerned about me?" She glared at him, and he chuckled. "I'll be okay," he said. "Besides, I won't need it when I'm a ghost again."

"Right." Hat Kid removed her hat briefly and put the cloak on. She was glad her face was momentarily hidden under the fabric. Her expression might've revealed her uncertainty. She had no idea if her idea would work or not. She'd hate to return to the manor just to not make any progress.

Hattie smoothed out the cloak and put on her hat again. It was giant on her, and the cape dragged in the snow behind her. But the fabric was soft, thick, and warm. Her shivering subsided almost immediately. "...thanks," she murmured.

Snatcher acknowledged her with a nod before turning and continuing.

She gazed at their destination in the distance. Was Snatcher really so determined? Was he really going to put all his trust in an idea she wasn't sure about? It would be admirable if it wasn't so stupid.

Stupid but powerful. He'd just placed a heavy weight on her shoulders, something more than the nice cloak. His expectations for her were much too high. What if she wasn't able to fix things? Both of them would suffer.

And Snatcher would be so mad...

Like I care. I don't. I don't care.

Thoughtfully, she fingered the warm fabric of Snatcher's cloak around her.

But what if he cared?

No. No, he didn't. He would never.

That would only be more responsibility on her shoulders, and she couldn't handle that.

She had to handle it. She had to be strong enough. She had to.

Hat Kid closed her eyes and shook her head before continuing forward.

The manor loomed closer and closer as her thoughts drifted in and out. It seemed no time had passed at all when she and Snatcher found themselves standing in front of the dungeon doors.

"Is this really the only entrance?" Snatcher asked irritably. "Can't we bust through a window or something?"

"Too much work," Hat Kid replied. "Plus, the main door is snowed in. This one is unlocked, and we won't be expected to come in this way."

"That makes sense," Snatcher murmured. He shuddered, reaching toward the handle, but his hand trembled. After hesitating, he removed his hand again.

He didn't need to say anything. Hat Kid stepped up and opened the door for him.

Snatcher swallowed hard and stared into the depths. "Ladies first," he grumbled.

Hat Kid huffed and bumped him with her elbow. "Age before beauty," she retorted.

He gasped in indignation and bumped her back. "Are you implying I'm not beautiful?" he asked, flourishing with his hands.

"Yup." Hat Kid grinned at him.

Snatcher rolled his eyes and shoved her hat down over her eyes. Hat Kid gasped and shoved the brim back up. "Meanie," she huffed. Before Snatcher could argue, she stuck her tongue out and jumped through the dungeon doors.

The freezing cold water hit her immediately. Hat Kid stopped moving immediately, cringing. Snatcher's cloak dragged in the water and did nothing to help her. Sluggishly, she moved through the water, dragging her legs with every step. She kept her gaze low and away from the chains on the wall.

Somewhere behind her, Snatcher touched down as well, making continual splashes as he moved to follow.

She crept to the door and cracked it open. Just beyond, she caught a glimpse of the manor's dark hallways.

Hattie took a deep breath. She looked back at Snatcher. He'd paused in front of the chains. "Are you ready?" she asked.

He looked back and shook his head.

"Me neither," Hat Kid admitted, fully opening the door.