Hansel & gretel variation

Chapter 2 - Epilogue

A few days later, back in the village, Gretel was walking through the town square with Ellard loyally trotting behind her. Hansel had gone to gather wood with his father and his sister had been left to prepare the evening meal. There was a small chest of coins on their bed when they returned from the gingerbread cottage. It was not enough for them to retire, but it would make sure that they would never starve again if they could not gather enough wood.

Gretel stopped and looked at the cakes in the bakery, before shuddering and turning away to buy apples instead. As she paid for the fruit, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“On your own Gretel?” She rolled her eyes as she recognised Henry’s arrogant voice, but when she turned, her face was radiant with a sweet smile.

“Hey Henry,” she said with false cheerfulness.

“I see you have money today!” He smiled. “How did your poor father manage to afford apples.”

“Oh, I don’t get involved with my father’s business. Hansel helps with that. They are out together in the forest.” Gretel knew it was a mistake as soon as she said it.

“Really? So you are alone today! It is dangerous for a girl to wander the streets without a strong man to protect her.”

“I will be fine. I have my dog.”

“That pathetic thing?” Henry looked down at Ellard and laughed, but it seemed that the puppy understood as he proceeded to urinate up Henry’s leg. Gretel could not stifle her giggles.

Furious, Henry went to kick Ellard as hard as he could, but for just one split second, he saw the creature’s true nature. Gone was the scruffy pup, replaced with a huge, slobbering beast of pure evil. Henry let out a scream like a girl and trying to back away in a panic fell over his own leg, landing heavily in the dirt by the side of the cobbles. The Hellhound had ensured that nobody else had seen the transformation so all of the people in the square began laughing at Henry, mocking his fear of the tiny puppy playfully yapping and bouncing around beside Gretel.

Sat in her ethereal form, watching from the roof of a nearby inn, Drucilla smiled as she basked in Henry’s fear, anger and shame.