chapter 3

Gentle firelight bathed the cozy kitchen and contributed to the old-fashioned charm of the room. The light brought out the rosy blush of Gabrielle's... no, Hansel's... no... Gretel's? It brought out Gretel's rosy cheeks and accentuated her contented smile which Miriam the Witch so adored. She waited until her guest finished her glass, then reached out to gently tousle her hair.

"I really ought to make sure you get some proper nutrition." The Witch said in her most motherly tone. "If I give you a little time to digest, do you think you can find room for my famous quiche?"

Gabrielle felt Miriam's hand on her head, looked her in the eyes, and whispered: "if we get out of here alive, I'll make room for a whole Thanksgiving feast if you like."

The girls looked around in wide-eyed disbelief, alert to their real selves in the unreal nightmare unfolding around them. Half of the diner was gone, replaced by the kitchen of an ancient oak cabin. Where there had been gleaming chrome and gauche plastic booths were instead polished hardwood counters and tasteful modern cooking surfaces. Miriam recognized it as the kitchen she wished for in her wildest dreams. Gabrielle backed up slowly until she was in Miriam's trembling, yet comforting arms.

They watch the diner-type windows contracted and folded in real-time, metamorphosing to match the cabin half. Candy-stripe colored drapes sprouted from thin air. The city street beyond was almost completely unchanged; only the slow-motion flapping of bird's wings suggested that the girls weren't looking at a massive photograph.

"She takes such good care of you..." A distant voice whispered into Gabrielle's ear. "Don't you want to be a good girl for her?"

"She's so soft hearted, don't you want to just eat her all up?" Whispered the voice into Miriam's ear. "Especially if her body was just as soft..."

"My hungry Halloween honeybun." Gretel-Gabrielle felt Miriam's gentle hands massaging her slim tummy. "My scrumptious growing girl. Let me love and pamper you."

"Yes... Love..." Miriam the Witch felt the swooning girl relax in her embrace.

...

Gabrielle woke on a pillowy mattress, tucked in and contented. Her head swam when she tried to remember where she was. The room was a cheerful, morning-lit oaken bedroom. The bed, windows, and tables were dressed in candy colors and patterns. Was this the house from the Halloween party? No, that was going to be at her friend's flat. No one she knew owned a place like this. Was this a bed-and-breakfast? She'd been talking to Miriam about taking a vacation together soon...

Miriam!

Gabrielle bolted upright, alert and terrified. Outside the main window was the early dawn sun... no, not dawn... it was the same dusk from the same Halloween evening as when she entered this twilight-zone nightmare situation. She'd gotten what felt like a full night's sleep while the rest of the world was still trick or treating. Looking up to the skylight Gabrielle spied an entirely new mystery... a clear, starlit night sky.

An uncharacteristic shadow haunted the far corner of the room. The room was too light for such a darkness, but it lingered in defiance of sense and physics. Gabrielle knew it was there, but couldn't bring herself to look at it, much less the figure lurking within...

"Gretel dear..." The Witch's alluring, motherly voice came from behind the door.

"Miss Miriam." It was Gabrielle who heard but Gretel who answered.

It was Gretel who sauntered up to the Witch for a hug while wearing only her bedclothes and panties. It was Gretel who bathed and dressed in freshly laundered lederhosen and wiggled happily out to breakfast. It was Gretel who seated herself in front of a rich spread of victuals and delectables.

"Such a precious girl." Said the Witch, touching Gretel's chin with one finger. "You're going to be my good little Gretel, aren't you? You're going to be obedient and greedy, and in return I'm going to make you as fat and happy as you could ever dream of."

Gretel smiled and nodded, as sweet and docile as a kitten. For just a moment Gabrielle understood what was going on; she knew what happened in the story she was being forced to emulate even though Gretel didn't. For just a moment Miriam's heart clenched painfully, knowing what the Witch intended to do; but she was powerless just then to stop herself. But then Gabrielle and Miriam were gone for a while.

Gabrielle didn't come back until Gretel had been stuffing herself day in and day out for a week. She came back while getting dressed in the morning, when she couldn't even fit into her panties...