Masked (A Hat In Time)

The Servant

I think we all know where this is going.

String? Ohoho, it's gotta be Bonestealer McMoonsprite.

Not yet.

There's someone else you have to meet first.

---

It was only when the two girls had set out to complete their contract that they realized that they had no idea where to go. They couldn't ask Snatcher since he'd teleported away. But with the help of some very helpful minions, the path was pointed out and the kids were on their way.

Hattie shivered as she looked around the forest. This was a part of it that they hadn't explored yet. The trees were much closer together and thicker. The path was thin and almost overgrown. There were mushrooms everywhere, yet no sign of any creatures like spiders or Dwellers. The only thing that kept them going in the right direction was the string.

A minion had led them to a tree with red string wrapped around it. The string was tied in a neat knot and extended to another tree, which extended to another, and so on. "Here you go, newbie," the minion said. "Just follow this string!"

The string was unnaturally long. They'd already been walking for about a minute, but the string still stretched on for what looked like forever. Hat Kid sighed. She glanced at Bow. "You wanna just sprint past this?" she asked.

Bow nodded, flipping her Sprint Hat on. She grinned at Hattie, holding up a badge. "Or...scooter past this?"

Hat Kid shared her grin. She pinned her Scooter Badge to her Sprint Hat and put it on. "Peck yeah."

A moment later, they were swerving through the trees on scooters, speeding past the red string. Every so often, Hattie had to adjust her course so she was still following the string.

After a while, there seemed to be an end. Hattie jumped off her scooter and let it disappear. Bow Kid followed a moment after, and the two were walking again on the path.

Hat Kid mentally reviewed the contract in her mind. There were only two objectives, right? Follow the string, then defeat the boss. Simple enough. We're almost done with the first task. She frowned, suddenly realizing that this would be their third fight in two days. Although, if she was being honest with herself, she never really got a chance to fight the Outlander.

Whatever. Hopefully, this guy...this "servant," as Snatcher had described him, wasn't going too much of a challenge.

They were getting closer and closer to the end of the string. Hattie could see the tree where it ended. She crept forward, a shudder running down her spine. Something prickled within her. It was the strange, hair-raising feeling of being watched.

Hat Kid could see something at the tree where the string ended. She peered closer.

It was a person.

Her eyes widened. She glanced at Bow. Is this the guy we have to fight? Bow's eyes were huge as well.

Hattie turned back to the person, trying to get a look at what he was doing. She wasn't at a good angle, but he appeared to tie the string on the tree. So this was the guy who'd spread all that string throughout the forest.

She quickly checked her contract. Sure enough, the box marked Follow the string was checked off.

Now all that's left is to defeat the boss.

Cautiously, Hat Kid switched to her Brewing Hat. Bow Kid noticed this and changed to her Time Stop hat. Maybe if they caught him off guard, they could take him out without a fight!