A Dimension in Time

Let's Make a Deal

☆*:.｡. Chapter 5 .｡.:*☆

Let's Make A Deal

Dawn struggled to get free, she kept failing at the binds that kept her in the trap. She kept hearing Bow and Hat's futile attempts in trying to free her with no avail nor success. Dawn could hear the winds howl, Hat's potions from her brewing Hat trying to reach her to tear or make a hole in the fabric, smash to the ground. The winds were deafeningly loud now, like a wolf howling for the rest of its pack. "HELP!" The snow queen screamed a cry, praying it wouldn't fall on deaf ears. "Somebody help! Hat! Bow! Please! Get me outta here!" The girls heard Dawn's screeching pleas, they were trying but nothing they did at that moment worked. She was out of their reach. "We're trying Dawn! We are! You're just out of our reach!" Hat exclaimed in desperation. Soon, Dawn felt the fabric tear away in horror. Hat and Bow watched Dawn scream, tumbling out of the trap and into a free fall. SLAM! Dawn's body hit the forest ground. The area around them turned dark, the calm skies were replaced with stormy ones that crackled with thunder. The top hat girl and ribbon-wearing girl ran to Dawn's aid; "Dawn! Are you okay!?" "Are you alright? Both girls asked simultaneously, talking over one another due to the sheer amount of panic. Before anyone else could say another word: he appeared. There, enveloped in the shadows, came a towering ghost that lunged his face at them, scaring them in the process. He seemed to take great delight in their futile attempts in escaping.

"AHHHHAHAHAHAHHAHHA!!" The ghastly figure boomed with a cackle that sent chills; Dawn swallowed hard, gazing at the ghoul in fear. His towering shadowy body, his glowing mouth and eyes, his distorted voice with an echo that was beguiling and boisterous enough to keep the trio silenced. "FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!" The ghost roared grimly. Dawn couldn't get a word in, it's not like she could, and it's not like she would either. She was completely paralyzed with fear. Hat and Bow stared at the ghoul, completely astonished and flabbergasted by the shade; yet, they stayed right by Dawn's side. The ghost started to roar with more of that eerie laugh of his. "You blew it! You totally screwed yourself! Nobody enters my home and leaves in one piece!" The ghost mocked the trio. Dawn's fear was slowly burning into anger, who did this guy think he was to think he could mock a bunch of kids?! How rude! "Tell you what though. Hang on a minute!" The spirit started with; "You get to live! That's right! Aren't you lucky?" The ghoul proudly announced, as if it was the best thing in the world. As if their lives on the line was a bet to watch unfold. "Normally I'd eat your soul and toss your body, but you're a lucky one! You won the lottery, because I just happen to be missing a brain dead servant!" Dawn jolted as her hair stood on end. She didn't WANT to sell her soul! She didn't want to die... The ghost didn't seem to care, their lives were a gamble he was going to take; there was nothing Dawn could do to stop him. The ghost began to speak once more, the sarcastic and grim tone still eerily present: "That's right! The old one got himself killed, his head popped off and now I need a new towel boy!" The ghoul announced with a wicked grin. Soon enough, a contract with a fountain pen appeared out of thin air.

"So tell you what, I've got a piece of paper here! Don't worry about the details! I just need you to sign right here at the bottom!" Dawn took the contract and then the fountain pen, her hands trembling. The girl took one look at the ghost and shook her head aggressively, refusing to sign the dotted line. "NO!" The ghoul stopped, his glowing eyes blinking at the girl. "No? What do you mean 'no'?" Hat Kid got in front of Dawn, protecting her from the ghoul. "We can't sign something we know nothing about! We don't even know who you are, not even your name." The ghost groaned, displeased and agitated. "Look: let's not get hasty, kid. It'd be a shame if you died so quickly." Bow then stood next to Hat. "Just because Dawn got into YOUR trap... d-doesn't mean you have to make her give her soul away." Bow gulped, where was this conversation even going? What was going on? Hat Kid watched Bow Kid let go of Dawn's shoulder, Dawn didn't even realize the ribboned haired child was even grasping it until she let go. "H-how about... we..." "Make a different deal." Hat Kid interrupted, finishing the general offer Bow Kid tried to convey. The ghost seemed intrigued by this, excited even at the thought of a new kind of deal. Yet that delight was twisted and made Dawn sick to her stomach. "Ooohhhh, go ahead kiddo. I'm all ears." The ghost pretended to gesture to his ears, to which he had none. Hat Kid firmly adjusted her top hat, hiding any trace of fear she had to sell her offer as best as she could. "How about... you let us sign it first. The trade offer is that you leave Dawn alone and let her live: NO eating her soul and tossing her corpse. You let us see what that contract has to offer, get your new servants to help you, and in exchange you leave Dawn alone. Now how does *that* sound for a deal?" Dawn's whole body froze... what did her mortal ears just let her listen to!? "H-Hat, Bow, no. Don't do this! Please! Let him take my soul instead... you can't do this. Why are you doing this...? Why?" Hat Kid turned around, giving the older girl a smile. Albeit, it was a forced one to hide her fear. "Because we care about you. That's why."