Hansel and Gretel

One day, Hansel and Gretel found themselves abandoned in the woods on a cold winter day. It was dark, and they could barely see past the trees.

The trail of breadcrumbs Gretel threw down before was gone, lost within the dirt.

"You idiot!" Hansel had yelled at her. "You've gotten us lost and wasted the last of our food!"

"Don't blame me!" Gretel yelled back. "At least I had a plan!"

The two continued to bicker and walk until a branch snapped in front of them. They stopped moving, and a woman came out from behind a tree.

"I couldn't help but hear you, children. Why are you out here in the cold?"

Gretel shuddered, suddenly realizing how cold and hungry she was. "Our father left us out here with only the clothes on our backs."

"Oh my! Please, children, come and stay with me for the night. I think you'll find my house to be pleasant."

Seeing no other choice, the two agreed and followed her, weaving in and out of the trees.

They got to her cabin and the kids gasped.

"Goodness! Is this house-?"

"Yes," The woman smiled. "Everything is edible and made of sweets." She twisted the gumdrop door handle open. "Please, would you come in?"

_ _ _

They slept in the woman's cabin for three nights before anything happened.

The children were picking at the gingerbread wall as the woman rolled out dough.

"What are you making?" Hansel asked. You could basically see the drool coming out.

"Careful Hansel," His sister snickered. "That candy is quite sharp, and it'd be a shame you eat yourself to death."

"A pie. Although I'm not sure what type."

"Have you ever had mincemeat pie?" Gretel piped up. "We've only ever had it once, but it was oh so delectable."

The woman pondered it for a moment. "Is it alright if you two go out and get the meat? I'm afraid I'm not much of a hunter, even with the deer in this forest."

"That's perfectly fine," Gretel answered. "Our father taught us how to hunt and even prepare meat, so we should have no trouble catching prey."

_ _ _

A few hours later, the two came back and an already-skinned chunk of meat.

"However did you two get so much meat out of a deer? As far as I'm aware, they're the only creatures out here."

Gretel smiled. "We found a plump and lazy one. Barely even ran."

She hesitantly took the meat from Hansel's wet hands and started to cut it up.

_ _ _

"This pie is just great! Right Hansel?"

The boy just nodded, as he was too busy shoveling the meat into his mouth. His sister kicked under the table and he slowed down to a normal eating pace.

"What do you think ma'am."

The woman hadn't done more than stab her fork into the crust. "Apologizes. I'm not hungry right now."

The kids looked at each other for a moment then nodded, before turning back to her.

"I need to use the restroom, please excuse me." Gretel stood up and pushed her chair in.

Hansel swallowed the last bite on his plate. "Are you going to finish your slice?"

She slid her plate across the table. He smiled but didn't start eating yet.

"Thank you very much for all of this ma'am." Hansel took a piece into his mouth. "My sister and I appreciate all of this, but I'm afraid it won't work out."

From behind her chair, the woman felt immense pain in her back and looked down to see the end of a sharp candy prodding out of her chest.

"My sister and I just prefer meat. I'm sure you'll taste as sweet as father did."

"C'mon Hansel," Gretel said from the kitchen. "I know there's some pie crust left."