What's next?

Hat or Head-turner?

"Would you rather be a hat or head-turner?"

Matt sighed heavily when seeing the card. Taylor looked up from his book with a questioning view. He understood when Matt lifted the card.

Taylor did not hear what Matt choose this time. He could only witness what happened after the card vanished. First, Matt started scratching his head. For a second, Taylor thought Matt got lice from the card, but he was proven wrong when a first blond strand crept out from under the hood, that was still deeply tugged over Matt’s face. The strand had a texture like silk but was also very thick and slightly waved. Another strand appeared and then another. More and more strands pushed out. At this time, the hood was already slowly lifting, leaving Taylor to believe that the couple strands he saw were only the tip of the iceberg. He was proven right. As if a valve has been opened, a thick mass of hair suddenly cascaded out of the hood, framing Matt’s face and growing longer until the hair pilled on the table in front of him. Taylor estimated that the hair probably reaches down to Matt’s butt when he was standing.

„You alright dude?“, Taylor asked carefully.

Matt looked at him. His eyes reflecting the apathy he already built up towards his predicament. He pulled back the hood.

„How bad is it?“

Taylors jaw dropped. Matt had not only grown hair. He now sported the dream of every woman. A thick mass of silky blond hair, perfectly styled into bouncing waves. It looked incredible healthy down all the way towards the tips and no matter how Matt moved his head, it always fell perfectly.

„What did the card say?“, Taylor asked.

„Would you rather be a hat or a head-turner“, Taylor answered.

„You don’t have to tell me what you choose. You will certainly turn heads with that“, he pointed at the hair, „if it wasn’t on YOUR head, I would actually adore that hair.“

Taylor shrugged his shoulders.

„Well unfortunately, it is on my head.“

He somehow managed to pull his hood back over his head, knowing that it would be impossible to completely hide his new feature. He still tried it though. But even the hair that was hanging out the front fell into perfect position and framed his face.

In silence, Matt and Taylor continued skimming through the books, hoping to find any clue. After hours of reading Matt suddenly stopped. He brushed a strand out of his face and focused on the page in front of him. It showed the same symbol, that he also copied from the cards.

„Hey Taylor, I think I found something.“

Taylor leaned over to Matt. He was briefly distracted by the smell of his new hair. It seemed they dispensed a soft floral odor. Matt got his attention back by gesturing in front of his face.

„Here it says: Would you rather curse… ancient punishment… blabla… affected transforms in Body and mind. In mind? Oh shit that makes it even worse.“, a cold shiver ran down Matt’s neck. What would happen when the cards started affecting his mind?!

„How can we stop it?“, Taylor asked him.

„Oh sorry… one of the strongest curses known… blabla… can only be lifted by the one who inflicted the curse. Fuck.“

„So we need to find the old woman.“, Taylor concluded, „any idea where she is?“

„No clue. Dude I am done for!“, panic could be heard in Matt’s voice. Taylor put an hand on his back, trying to comfort his friend.

„Calm down we will find a way. I have an idea but I have to make a couple calls. Let’s head back to the dorms for now. I‘m gettin hungry anyway.“

Matt looked at him with a faint smile. However, the smile was gone immediately when he closed the book and another card was laying on top.

„Would you rather…“