Her Cookies Were to Die For

A Gift

The forest was dark and humid as thunder clapped across the sky. It was going to rain soon, but Snatcher certainly didn't mind. Silently, he floated about the boundaries of his forest, making sure that everything that belonged to him was in order.

The Dwellers watched him from afar and cocked their heads. Snatcher paid them no mind, and tried to even pay less attention to the ice on a freezing walkway. The walkway to Vanessa's manor.

The ghost growled and spat towards that general direction before crossing his arms and huffing. He hated that place in his forest- oh, how he hated it so.

"Boss, boss...! Hey, boss, stop!"

Snatcher turned to see one of his cloaked minions running towards him, a gift box tied with a red bow in its small hands.

"What?" Snatcher murmured irritably, his lip curling up at the object in the minion's hands.

"it's for you. A gift- from Queen Vanessa. I'm supposed to give it to you."

"I don't want it," Snatcher hissed. "Throw it over the cliff, keep it, I don't care. Get rid of it! I don't want anything from the likes of her."

The minion stared at Snatcher unblinking.

"Well, don't ya wanna know what's in there?"

"No! Get rid of it, you FOOL!" Thunder clapped across the sky dramatically with a streak of pink lightening, as if Snatcher himself had willed it to do so.

And with that, the ghost turned his back and swiftly darted away. He couldn't believe this. After all of this time, Vanessa was trying to give him gifts? After she chained him in the dungeon until he starved to death? After everything that she did to him....? Oh, no. Snatcher wasn't having that. He wanted nothing to do with that witch now, and that was that.

Snatcher let out a sigh once his was in his cozy armchair. He just wanted to pull out a good book and forget about the dumb gift entirely. However, that was when he saw it.

Sitting on his bookshelf was a white gift box, tied with a red ribbon.

"Are you kidding me...?" he growled as he stormed up out of his chair, grabbing the box off of the shelf between his claws. He was about to toss it directly out of his doorway when he noticed something on the top of the box- a note.

Snatcher held it in his claws and narrowed his eyes as he began to read.

My dearest prince,

I am so sorry about what happened so long ago. I was young then, and knew not what I did. I know that things will never be the same. But please, take what resides in this box as a heartfelt apology.

Sincerely and always yours,

Queen Vanessa

Snatcher immediately crumpled up the note in his claws and let out a deep, aggravated sigh. Whatever was in that box would fix nothing. He didn't care if it was a box full of people willing to sign their souls away- absolutely NOTHING could fix the fact that Vanessa murdered him, and on top of that, broke his heart by not believing him.

However, his curiosity got the best of him. Tossing the note aside, Snatcher pulled the ribbon on the box, and took the lid off of it. Immediately, a warm, sweet aroma filled his senses. In the bottom of that box was Vanessa's homemade, chocolate chip cookies.

Of course she wouldn't send me bacon, now would she? Snatcher mused to himself as he pulled one of the sweets out of the box, easing himself back into his chair. Without a second thought, he popped it into his fanged mouth.

Snatcher would never admit it out loud, or even to himself, but he still did love the taste of Vanessa's cookies, and sometimes even missed them. Regardless of the fact that he wasn't forgiving the queen any time soon, Snatcher continued to eat the chocolatey treats as he read one of his many books; tonight's being one called How to Make Kids Go Away: A Sequel to How to Kill Kids.

After reading for quite some time, Snatcher sensed a disturbance coming from outside of his hallow home. Something was making a racket out in the woods, and Snatcher had an idea of exactly who it could be. Rolling his eyes, the shadowy ghost poked his head outside of his home, and looked up. Sure enough, on the branches above, he could see the Hat Kid dangling for dear life.

"Kid, didn't I tell you to get lost?" Snatcher called. "You're gonna get yourself killed up there. Wait- maybe you should stay up there! Ahahahahaaaa!"

After laughing at his own mean humor, Snatcher found himself out of breath. In an instant, he was woozy. Was the forest beginning to spin...?

Carefully, the ghost made his way back over to his chair and flopped into it, closing his yellow eyes. He didn't have the energy to chase the kid around, or offer her any new contracts right now. In fact, he couldn't if he wanted to. In all honesty, Snatcher felt awful...which sort of jarred him. Ghosts weren't supposed to be able to feel awful, were they?

"Snatcher?"

The ghost opened one eye to see Hat Kid standing in front of him, her umbrella in her hand. The ghost let out a groan.

"What?" he growled rather irritably. "I don't have anything for you, kid. Our business is concluded- now scram. You have all the time pieces from me."

"No...I'm not here for those. I was just playin' on your tree, and wanted to come say hi to my BFF!" Hat said with a grin.

Snatcher rolled his eyes at the child. No matter what he did, he just couldn't seem to get the kid to go away! No matter what, she just came back over, and over, and over, and over...

"Where's your book?" Hat asked as she jumped up onto the arm of Snatcher's chair and sat down. "You're always reading, why not now? Oooh, it smells like cookies in here! Did you bake some?"

"Kid, you're asking me too many questions right now," Snatcher grumbled, pressing his claws against his forehead.

"Can you please just...go away? I really don't want company right now."

"Why?"

"Because I don't!"

Snatcher could feel himself growing more irritated by the minute. He didn't feel right- his body was actually a bit sore, and he was feeling far more tired than usual. He didn't need this kid annoying him right now within the confines of his own home- truly, he just wanted to be alone. For once, he didn't even want to read. He just wanted to sleep.

"Oh, wait...you look kinda funny."

Snatcher let out a huff and slammed his fists on the armrests of his chair.

"Kid, did you just come here to pester and insult me, or what?!" he snapped. "Of COURSE I look funny. I'm DEAD."

Snatcher was ready to pick up that kid and toss her out his doorway. He didn't feel well, and this added annoyance certainly wasn't helping anything.

"Nono, I mean your color is weird. You're normally really purple but...you look like you're turning blue," Hat said as she placed one of her small hands on Snatcher's.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Blue? Kid, I already told you, blue doesn't suit me," Snatcher groaned, pulling his hand out from underneath Hat Kid's. With claws still pressed to his forehead, he slipped out his doorway, and looked down at the mote that surrounded his home.

Sure enough, what Hat Kid had said was true. His cheeks were turning a dark blue hue. That had certainly never happened before.

Hat kid stepped over to the ghost, careful not to fall into the water.

"Maybe you're sick. Can ghosts get sick?"

Snatcher shook his head.

"No, that would be dumb. And impossible."