Down the Winding Path

''Down the Winding Path'' [[START GAME]]

A single path cuts through the woods. It makes the journey easy. You start to relax and enjoy your surroundings. [[Listen to the Birds]] [[Pick a Flower]] [[Look at Mushrooms]] [[Go Deeper Into the Woods]]

You listen to the birds. They sing many things to you. "The faster path is not always the safest." "Flowers aren't just beautiful. They can heal and guide you to where you need to go." "Don't trust everything that you hear." [[Back|Into the Woods]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/birdsong.mp3"></audio></figure>

You see a pretty flower growing near the path. You pick it, thinking that it would make a fine gift for your sick grandmother. [[Back|Into the Woods]]

You continue down the path to your grandmother's house. The further you go, the quieter and darker it becomes. The birds are no longer singing. *Crunch* You freeze in terror at the sound that breaks through the silence. A man steps out from the brush. He is a [[Hunter]]. "What are you doing out in the woods on your own?" He calls you by your name. He looks at you as if he is not a stranger. Seeing your confusion, the Hunter introduces himself as a friend of your parents. "You have grown since I saw you last. Tell me, what are you doing out all alone in the woods?" You tell the Hunter about your sick grandmother. "Sick grandmother or no, it is still very dangerous to send children out on their own. [[The beast of the woods]] will eat you up if it finds you alone." Despite the Hunter's warnings, you decide to move foward. Reluctantly, he accepts this. "If you must continue, then hurry. The woods are dangerous at night." [[Continue Walking ]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/branch.mp3"></audio></figure>

You hurry down the path. You find yourself at a crossroads that was mentioned when you were sent on your way. Both paths reach the same destination, but they are very different. The path to your left is the longer way, but it is also the safest and the most beautiful with its flowers and sunlight. The path to your right is the shorter way, but it is rough and risky since beasts frequent the area. You try to decide which path is the best to choose. *Crunch* You freeze at the sound. Something big is in the forest. And it's coming closer. Then - "Child." A voice, weak and hoarse calls out to you. Something steps out into the path. You gasp. [[It's a Wolf.]] "Please...can you spare me some food?" She begs. [[Give Food]] [[Keep Your Distance]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/gravel.mp3"></audio></figure>

You give her some of the food in the basket. Grandmother shouldn't mind if the basket is one or two of sweets less. The Wolf in front of you is starving and hurt. The medicine is the important part anyways. The Wolf gobbles up everything that you offer. "Thank you, child," she says after she finishes. "I am moved by your kindness and generosity. I would like to return the favor. I noticed that you were lingering at the crossroads. I can help with that. Let me be your guide. Whichever path you choose to take, I will be there to ensure that you reach your destination safely." You can't believe your luck! With the Wolf's help, the quicker yet more dangerous path will be safe for you. And even with the safer and longer path, she can be pleasant company. [[Faster Path]] [[Flower Path]]

You remember the Hunter's words and keep your distance. You tell the Wolf that the food that you have is for your sick grandmother. You don't have any to spare. [[You feel guilty when you hear the Wolf's stomach gurgle.]] The Wolf tells you that she understands. She is familiar with your grandmother and knows of her sickness. She points you to the path with flowers and advises you to use them to help your grandmother get better. The Wolf leaves. [[Take the Wolf's Advice]] [[Ignore the Wolf's Advice]]

You go down the flower-filled path. It's pleasant and you manage to collect many flowers on your way. You eventually make it to your grandmother's house. [[Enter Grandmother's House ]]

You decide to go down the faster path. It's unused and covered in brambles. You trip and fall. You get badly hurt. [[Use Flower]] [[Save it for Later]]

You use the flower. It doesn't heal you completely, but your injury isn't as serious as before. Still, your injury made you lose a lot of time. You need to hurry before the sun sets. Somehow, you manage to reach your grandmother's house. [[Enter Grandmother's House ]]

Your injury slows you down to the point that the sun goes down before you reach your destination. The Wolf finds you, wounded and alone. She eats you up. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Easy Prey''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You enter your grandmother's house after your knocking goes unanswered. The door is unlocked. It's dark and quiet. Then, you hear a wet cough from the room deeper inside the house. You wander inside and see your grandmother huddled under the covers of her bed. "Grandmother, I have food and medicine for you," you call out to her, holding out your basket. "Mom and Dad are very worried about you." Weakly, your Grandmother [[greets]] you from her bed and thanks you for coming so far out into the woods. You come closer to the bed. [[Grandmother looks strange]]. "Dear child, I am weary and weak from the sickness. Can you help me eat what you've brought?" Your grandmother asks as her mouth stretches into a wide, sharp smile. [[Feed Her]] [[Don't Feed Her]]

You come closer to the bed with the basket. With shaking hands, you feed your grandmother. The snacks go down her maw with a single gulp. You know then that this imposter is not your grandmother. "Who are you?" You ask the creature in your grandmother's bed after she's finished. Your mouth feels dry. "What have you done to my grandmother?" Shedding her clothes, the Wolf reveals herself. "What a sharp child," she praises you. "And yet, you still fed me. For that, I thank you. I apologize for tricking you. I only wanted the food from your basket. Nothing more. As for your grandmother, the house was empty when I came." You wilt at the Wolf's words. Your grandmother isn't here after all. "I have gotten what I've come here for. I will not impose on you any longer," the Wolf tells you. "A wild creature like I do not belong under a roof." [[Go Outside of the House]]

You refuse to take a step closer to the bed. Whoever this is, you know that she isn't your grandmother. "Child?" "Grandmother, why does your voice sound so strange?" You ask, suspicion heavy on your tongue. She coughs. "It's because I'm sick, my child." "Your eyes are glowing, grandmother." "Why, thank you. It's too see my adorable grandchild better with." Her voice sounds strained despite her cheerful words. "But I am hungry. Child, would you please come closer so I can eat?" You hold the basket to your chest. "And your ears? Why are they so big?" "So I can hear all of your many questions." Annoyance makes her words sharp. "Now, the food -" "What about your teeth?" You gulp and take a step back. "Why are they so...sharp?" "..." "Grandmother?" ''"Better to eat you with, clever child!"'' The Wolf reveals herself and lunges at you. You scream and throw the basket at her face. You run out of the house, but the Wolf catches up with you within mere strides. She is a massive beast and you are only a child. Within seconds, you are pinned down. The Wolf's sharp teeth flash above your head. [[Call Out for Help]] [[Accept Your Fate]]

You lead the Wolf out of your grandmother's house. She thanks you once again for the food and wishes you luck on finding your grandmother. *Rustle* There is something else in the woods. [[The Hunter Arrives]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/branch.mp3"></audio></figure>

You call out for help, making the Wolf pause. Someone hears your cry. Armed with his axe, the Hunter steps out of the darkness of the woods. [[The Hunter readies his axe]]

You accepted your fate. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: A Passive Death''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

The Hunter steps out into the moonlight. He calls out your name before he sees the Wolf. To your surprise and fear, a terrible sound rips from the Wolf's throat as she looks at the Hunter with hatred. She steps off of your body to properly face the Hunter. "You vile beast!" He shouts with hatred and fear burning in his eyes. "Get away from that child!" The Hunter takes a step foward and lifts his axe. [["STOP"]] [["HELP! WOLF!"]] [[Jump in front of the Wolf]]

"HELP! WOLF!" The Hunter reacts quickly to your scream. He throws his axe at the Wolf and beheads her. There is so much blood. The Wolf's head lies in front of you away from her body. Her eyes stare back at you, glassy and unseeing. You shiver and let the Hunter lead you into your grandmother's house. [[The Hunter readies his axe]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Axe.mp3"></audio></figure>

"STOP!" By some miracle, both the Wolf and the Hunter listen to you. "Please...don't hurt the Wolf," you plead to the Hunter, "she helped me." You explain to the Hunter that the Wolf has not harmed you. You plead for him to spare the Wolf. "Do not be led astray by this beast's lies. It will eat you up just as it has done to your grandmother," the Hunter insists, glaring at the Wolf. Eager to prove the Wolf's innocence, you show the Hunter [[the note]]. After a moment, the Hunter speaks again. "I still do not think that it is safe for you to be with this beast." You tell the Hunter that you trust the Wolf. You won't let him hurt her. "It is at your own risk, then." Knowing that he can say no more to change your mind, the Hunter leaves you both. [[The Wolf]]

You jumped in front of the Wolf, taking the killing blow. You died instantly. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Think Before You Leap''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

"HELP! WOLF!" The Hunter reacts quickly to your scream. He throws his axe at the Wolf and beheads her. There is so much blood. The Wolf's head lies in front of you away from her body. Her eyes stare back at you, glassy and unseeing. You shiver and let the Hunter lead you into your grandmother's house. [[Return to Grandma's House]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Axe.mp3"></audio></figure>

After making sure that you are unharmed, the Hunter leaves you to wash away [[the blood from your face and hands]]. You look around the house for a rag. You find one in the kitchen. With the dirtied rag, you look around the house for more blood to clean. Your grandmother has to be somewhere. After looking around the house, you realize that no one is there. Instead, you find a note. Your Grandmother had left to get food and medicine from her friends. She mentions a location in the note. You go outside to talk to the Hunter. [[Talk to the Hunter]]

The Hunter is pleasantly surprised to hear that your grandmother is alive and well. "How fortunate," he rumbles warmly, "the beast did not reach her. I am familiar with the location. It is a day's worth of traveling from your grandmother's house. Since that's further than your parents planned to send you, you should go back home tomorrow morning." [[Go Home]] [[Continue the Journey]]

You decide to go back home. After a staying in the house for the rest of the night, you head back home. A shadow follows at a distance, though you can't be completely sure since you can only see it at the corner of your eye. ''Uncompleted End: Little Red Riding Hood Goes Home''

You insist that you need to continue the journey. You need to make sure your grandmother is safe. "Then I will go with you. This is not a journey for a child to take alone." After saying your farewells, the Hunter leaves you. You return to the empty house. You eat some food and wash up. You close all the windows tight. Despite the silence, you feel like there is something out there in the woods. To comfort yourself, you light the fireplace. [[Go to Bed|Go to Bed (Traditional Route)]]

You slip into bed. With the entire day catching up to you, sleep comes quickly. Tomorrow is another day... ''End of Chapter 1: Little Red Riding Hood'' [[Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel|Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel (H)]]

You choose to take the Faster Path. Just as you feared, the path is dark and dangerous. It's unused and covered in brambles, so you need to watch every step. You almost trip after a careless step, but the Wolf catches you by your hood and pulls you up. "Careful. A fall like that can hurt your legs, Child," she warns you and handles you like a misbehaving puppy. You thank her for saving you. The Wolf's great presence makes sure that nothing dangerous would try to hunt or attack you. The journey is exhausting, but you both make it to your grandmother's house unharmed. [[Step into Grandmother's House ]]

You pick some flowers on your way down the longer path. The path is pleasant and smooth. To pass the time, you start a conversation with the Wolf. You ask her about her favorite food. "Since prey is rare to come by, I eat what I can," she responds honestly. "All meat tastes the same to me." You ask her how that can be. There should be small animals in the woods to hunt and catch. "The Hunter," the Wolf says with a growl in her voice. "He kills more than he eats. He gathers more than he needs. These woods are dying because of him. Because of him, my poor cubs..." The Wolf falls silent and doesn't say any more. You desperately hope that the Wolf mistook some other terrible person as the Hunter. Surely, the Hunter who is friends with your parents wouldn't do those things. "I apologize. We should speak of lighter and happier things. Why don't you tell me about yourself, Child?" You talk about your family and your favorite things until your grandmother's house comes into view. [[Step into Grandmother's House ]]

When you reach your grandmother's doorstep, the sun had set and you only have the moon and stars as your light. It's cold. You offer the Wolf to come inside. She refuses. "Do not forget, Child, I am a beast. I will not be welcomed in there." You leave her outside and enter the house. You call out for your grandmother, but no one answers. Worried, you search for your grandmother. The bed is empty. The rooms are empty. The house is empty. You do not find your grandmother. Instead, you find a note. It tells you that your grandmother had left to get food and medicine from her friends. She mentions a location in the note. You go back outside. [[Go Out to Wolf]]

You inform Wolf that your grandmother isn't home. "A pity," the Wolf rumbles, "after all that effort you made to bring her food and medicine. If only she waited." You offer to give the Wolf the rest of the basket since your grandmother is not here to accept them. The Wolf brightens. "Truly? Thank you, Child!" In her excitement, she knocks you over and climbs on top of you to shower you with grateful wolf-kisses. *Oof* The Wolf is heavy. In that moment, someone steps out from the woods and calls out your name. [[The Hunter Arrives]]

"Thank you. Once again, you have saved my life." The Wolf looks at you with gratitude shining in her eyes. You know that you had made the right decision. "Allow me to accompany you for the rest of your journey. I will help you find your wayward grandmother. I promise." You feel relief. You don't want to make this journey alone. "Why don't you rest?" The Wolf suggests gently. "You will need your energy for your journey. I will guard your home [[from the shadows]]." [[Go to Bed|Go to Bed (Mercy Route)]]

You wash up and slip into bed. With the entire day catching up to you, sleep comes quickly. Tomorrow is another day... ''End of Chapter 1: Little Red Riding Hood'' [[Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel|Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel (W)]]

You wake up the next morning feeling completely refreshed and energized. The birds are singing a beautiful tune outside. You hop out of bed and wash your face. Your path foward is uncertain, but you are ready to continue your journey and find your grandmother. [[Before Leaving ]]

You wake up the next morning feeling exhausted and weary. Outside your window, the birds are silent as if sensing your heavy mood. Your sleep had been restless and filled with nightmares. Still, you are determined to go on and find your grandmother. You need to make sure that she's safe. You get out of bed to wash your face and get ready for the journey ahead. [[Getting Ready to Go]]

The Wolf greets you outside of your grandmother's house. "Finish up what is left of your preparation for the journey, child. I will be waiting for you until you are ready." [[You pick berries before you go.]] [[You catch sight of a bunch of mushrooms.]] What else should you do? [[Listen to the Birds|Listen to the Birds 2W]] [[Leave with Wolf]]

It's always good to have some extra snacks for the journey. You hope the Wolf will enjoy them too. You catch sight of a bush filled with colorful berries you've never seen before. Curious, you pick one. [[Eat the colorful berry.]] [[Drop it. You already have enough.|Before Leaving ]]

You set off down the path with the Wolf by your side. With only your grandmother's note and the Hunter's vague directions to guide you, the two of you quickly get lost. "I'm so sorry, Wolf," you apologize after you pass the same tree trunk for the third time. "I got us lost." [[You look at her in the eyes so she knows you mean it.]] "Do not fret, Child. I will find a path to take you to other humans. Perhaps, they will know the path to your grandmother." The Wolf scents the air. "I smell warmth and food." The Wolf scents the ground. "I smell leftover breadcrumbs and birds." She faces you. "Which scent would you like to follow?" [[Follow the Scent]] [[Follow the Breadcrumbs]]

You listen to the birds. They sing many things to you. "Always return what you take." "Berries can stave off hunger and are best shared." "Don't listen to your stomach, use your head." "Many listen to their fear over their head. Keep your eye on them." [[Back|Before Leaving ]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/birdsong.mp3"></audio></figure>

You're almost finished packing for the journey. But first, before you go... [[Re-read Grandma's Note]] [[Listen to the Birds|Listen to the Birds 2H]] [[Leave with the Hunter]]

You listen to the birds. They are mostly silent. ... "The forest is different with her gone." [[Back|Getting Ready to Go]]

You step out of your grandmother's house. The Hunter meets you outside. "Good morning. I hope you are ready to leave. If we want to reach the village in time, we need to head out soon. Are you ready?" You consider gathering some food for the trip. There are many berries and mushrooms you can pick and gather. [[Pick some berries]] [[Pick some mushrooms]] You tell the Hunter that you're ready. Both of you set out down the path. [[Head to the Village]]

You decide to follow the scent. Your stomach tightens in hunger at the thought of eating warm food. The Wolf leads you down an overgrown path. You wouldn't have noticed it without her. As you wander further, the scent of sweets become stronger. Your mouth begins to water. You're completely blown away when a house comes to view. But it's not just any house, it's a house completely made of sweets! A Candy House! [[Approach the Candy House]]

You decide to follow the breadcrumbs. You're curious. You wonder if the trail was left by very messy eaters. You hope that they would be able to point you to the village. The crumbs lead you and the Wolf [[away from the path]]. With her comforting presence at your side, you venture into the unknown. You both wade through the underbrush and jump over tree roots. The breadcrumbs become sparser and sparser the further you both went since the birds kept eating them up. Eventually, you come to a clearing. [[Two figures jump at your entrance.]] "Wh-Who's there?" One of them calls out. She's a child like you. "I'm armed! And we have no money or food! So don't try anything to us!" "G-Gretel!" A boy's voice cries out fearfully. "It's a wolf!" You admit, the Wolf's figure cuts an intimidating figure in the dark. You quickly assure the children that you and the Wolf don't mean any harm. "She's helping me find my grandmother," you explain to them. "We're both lost." You tell them the village's name and ask them if they know where that is. "That's our home," the girl - Gretel - informs you, no longer defensive. "Or it used to be until our parents left us here in the woods [[and never came back]]." Then, you hear their stomaches growling. Feeling a wave of compassion, you offer some of your berries to them. "Thank you. I'm Hansel," the boy offers timidly before gesturing to his sister, "and she's Gretel." [[Offer to Help the Lost Children]]

The journey is long, but the Hunter knows the path. You both reach the village where your grandmother should be before sunset. Once you reach the village, the Hunter turns to you and [[gives you two copper coins]]. "Get yourself a meal and a room at the nearest inn for now. I will ask for your grandmother." After the Hunter leaves, [[you do as he says]] and try to wait patiently. An entire day passes and the Hunter does not return for you. And yet you still wait. As you wait, you accidentally overhear a conversation. "Did you hear? The woodcutter's children disappeared in the forest yesterday near the //Beaten Road//." "How tragic." "You don't think it's [[the Witch in the Woods]], do you? I hear she loves eating children. Bet she'd even eat an adult with how terrible the famine is." The conversation continues, but you are too busy worrying. It has been over an hour and the Hunter hasn't returned. What if your grandmother was captured by the Witch? What if the Hunter was captured by the Witch? [[Go Find the Witch Without the Hunter]] [[Wait for the Hunter]]

You decide to head out on your own. Every second that you stay in the village is every second that your grandmother and the Hunter might be in the clutches of the Witch. You leave the inn and head into the woods. You follow the //Beaten Road// hoping that it would lead you to the Witch. The woods are quiet as you make your way down the unfamiliar path. [[You feel like there's something following you.]] But, no matter how many times you stop and look back, there is nothing there except your shadow. [[You consider speeding up just in case something is following you.]] You walk and you walk until a delicious scent hits your nose. Curious and a little hungry, you follow it away from the path. [[A Candy Cottage comes into view.]]

[[Stay in the Inn]] ...but you don't have enough money for another night. [[Ask Around for the Hunter]] Maybe someone knows where he went. [[Go Find the Witch Without the Hunter]] It's better than waiting and worrying.

But your parents taught you to never take what isn't yours without permission. You hold yourself back. Instead, you come up to the door and knock on it. "Hello? Is anyone there? I'm a bit lost and I need some directions, please." After the first three knocks, the door swings open. [[Someone steps out]]. A woman. "Lost, you say? What traveler gets lost in this part of the woods?" Her gaze lands on you. "A Child? And a Wolf?" She looks over both of you with a sharp, considering eye as if measuring your weights and sizes. Then, she makes a decision. "Well. At least you didn't try to eat my house. Why don't you come in for a meal?" The meal was warm and filling. Your host, while not gentle with her words or expressions, is generous. Even the Wolf, who chose not to enter the house, was given a bowl full of food to feast on. "Why would you want to go to a village like that?" Your host wonders when you tell her where you're trying to go. [[Ask for Grandma]]

You reach out and snap a piece from the house and take a bite. Delicious. The Wolf takes a bite from a fence. ''"What are you doing to my house?!'' You and the Wolf jump at the shout. The door swings open, revealing [[an enraged woman]]. "My house! Eaten! [[''Again!'']] All my hard work, ruined!" [[Apologize]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Eat.mp3"></audio></figure>

"We're sorry. Your house smelled so good. We couldn't resist," you say, stomach curling with guilt. "And what would sorry do about it?" The woman demands. "My house is still eaten! If you're truly sorry, then work for it!" You immedaitely agree, eager to make up for your misdeed. Seeing your earnestness and genuine remorse, the woman relaxes. "Well, you didn't eat too much, so I will only require a day's worth of work. I already have two naughty children working off their debt, so I don't want any more crowding in my house. Would you like to tend to Hansel's leg or help Gretel in the kitchen?" [[Join Hansel in Prison]] [[Join Gretel in Kitchen]]

"Would you like to join us?" You offer. "We're going to the same place and it's safer in numbers." The siblings accept. Since it's already night and you have already traveled a long way, you rest at the clearing with the Wolf for the night. She is warm and comforting. Hansel and Gretel quickly fall asleep against her fur. "To be uncertain of a parent's love is a very frightening thing for a child," the Wolf rumbles to herself. "Poor children." "And to parents?" You can't help but ask. "What is their greatest fear?" "Losing their children. [[That is our greatest fear]]." Exhausted, you fall asleep not long after Hansel and Gretel. The next day, the Wolf leads all of you towards the smell of food that she had caught earlier in your travels. To your collective surprise, the scent leads to a house made out of candy! [[Approach the Candy House (H+G)]]

You and the Wolf approach the Candy House. Gingerbread, gumdrops, cookies, and other baked sweets decorate the house. Your fingers itch to snap a small piece off and taste it - just a small one. [[Knock on the Door]] [[Eat the Candy House]]

All of your mouths water at the smell of Gingerbread, gumdrops, cookies, and other baked sweets. As if in a trance, Hansel and Gretel step towards the house, hands outstretched to snap a piece of the edible house. You have the same urge too. [[Eat Candy House]] [[Stop Siblings from Eating]]

You tell your host about your mission and your grandmother. You show her the note. "Oh! You're ''her'' grandchild! You should have just said! She and I are good friends. She dropped by only two nights ago with a terrible sickness that needed to be cured. I dropped her off to our other friend. I can take you to her tomorrow." Then, she frowns. "I would offer you a place to stay, but I can't house any guests at the moment." You assure her that it's fine and asks if you could sleep outside of her house for the night. She gives you her permission and fills your basket with treats as an apology. [[Meet the Wolf outside]]

You reach out and snap a piece from the house and take a bite. Delicious. Hansel and Gretel feast from the walls and the fence. Even the Wolf takes a bite. ''"What are you doing to my house?!'' All of you jump at the enraged voice. The door swings open, revealing [[an incensed woman]]. Hansel drops the treat in his hands. "The Witch of the Woods!" He takes a step back in fear. He missteps and falls down, twisting his ankle. You and Gretel go over to him to help him up. He doesn't take his eyes away from the Witch despite his pain. "They say you eat children." "How rude!" "We're sorry. Your house smelled so good. We couldn't resist," you say, stomach curling with guilt. "And what would sorry do about it?" The Witch demands. "My house is still eaten! If you're truly sorry, then work for it!" [[Do the Work]] [[Try to Run]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Eat.mp3"></audio></figure>

But you ignore your desire and remember what your parents taught you: don't take or eat things that don't belong to you. You stop Hansel and Gretel. "Wait. Someone might be living here. It would be rude to eat something that doesn't belong to us." Hansel, remembering himself, shamefully pulls his hand back. Gretel, on the other hand is stubborn. "Who leaves out a Candy House in the middle of the woods? It's asking to be eaten. If not by us, then by the birds and other wild animals. I bet the owner of the house is long gone." As if to prove her wrong, the door of the Candy House slowly opens. *Creak* [[A woman]] steps out. "I hear voices outside my house. Who's making all that racket?!" Then, her gaze lands on all of you. "Children? And a Wolf?" She looks over all of you with a sharp, considering eye as if measuring your weights and sizes. Then, she makes a decision. "Well. At least you didn't try to eat my house. Why don't you come in for a meal?" [[Meal with the Witch]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/creak.mp3"></audio></figure>

Gingerbread, gumdrops, cookies, and other baked sweets decorate the house. Your fingers itch to snap a small piece off and taste it - just a small one. But you restrain yourself, remembering the stories about the Witch of the Woods. She lures children into her home to eat them. You need to be careful. You step up to the door and knock on it. "Hello? Is anyone there? I'm looking for someone and I'm hoping that you can help me." After the first three knocks, the door swings open. [[The Witch steps out]]. "Lost, you say? What traveler gets lost in this part of the woods?" Her gaze lands on you. "A child all on their own? Goodness, where are your parents?" "Not here, Miss," you tell her honestly. She looks over you with a sharp, considering eye as if measuring your weight and size. "Why don't you come in for a meal? You look like skin and bones, child! Perhaps I can help you find what you are looking for." Afraid of what she might do to you if you refused, you accepted her offer. [[Have a Meal with the Witch]]

"You're Hansel, right? Gretel mentioned you." "Gretel did? Really?" You come closer into the prison. You can see that Gretel's brother is completely bedridden. His foot is wrapped and it looks hurt. Still, [[he looks well-fed and healthy.]] And he's happy to hear about his sister. "Are you here to save us?" Hansel asks hopefully. You nod. "I'm going to try my best. Have you seen a man wearing a fur pelt cloak?" "Yes! He's the nice man who tried to save us from the Witch!" Hansel nods enthusiastically before pointing to the bed on the other side of the room. "He's right there!" [[Check on the Hunter]]

You assure the girl that you already know that this is the Witch's House. You traveled far with your Guardian to find your grandmother. You tell her that you're here to help. You introduce yourself and ask for her name. [["My name is Gretel."]] You ask her if she's seen a large man with fur pelt cloak. Gretel nods. "Yes. Your friend tried to save us. He broke down the door, but the Witch was too powerful. He's imprisoned with my brother, Hansel." Gretel tells you where the Hunter and her brother is. She urges you to leave before the Witch returns. You follow Gretel's directions and reach [[the "prison."]] You open the door. [["Hansel?"]]

You take the basket out to the Wolf and tell her what your host told you. Meanwhile, the Wolf sniffs at your basket curiously. "This scent...this isn't just that woman's scent on these pastries. The other scent smells...younger. A child? Maybe more?" "Children? She didn't mention having any children. I didn't see anyone else in the house either. Are you sure?" You ask the Wolf. "My nose is never wrong," the Wolf asserts, looking at the Candy House with wariness. "That woman is hiding something." [[Find Out What She's Hiding]]

You sneak back into the house. With the woman nowhere in sight, you are able to wander deeper down the hallways. You end up in the kitchen where you bump into an exhausted girl. She looks at you, horrified. "Oh no! The Witch of the Woods took another child! Does this mean she's going to eat Hansel today? I knew I should've done more to stop her! I should've - I should've //pushed her into the closest fire the moment I had the chance!"// "Kidnap? Eat Hansel?" You repeat, completely befuddled. The girl grabs you by the shoulders. "So she doesn't know you're here yet? Run away before she finds you! She'll eat you up!" [[The Witch Finds You Both]]

You decide to help nurse Hansel's foot. He had twisted it when he tried to run away from the Witch of the Woods and is currently locked up in [[a 'prison']]. Hansel, despite being frightened, seems to be doing well. You introduce yourself to him and assure him that he and Gretel are almost finished with paying back the Witch. You tell him that you decided to help him heal. Instead of being relieved and happy, Hansel looks worried. "Can you help my sister instead? Gretel usually works hard, but she isn't happy with our situation. She tends to act first and think after. I'm worried she might do something that might make things worse. You being there with her could make things better. Please? I promise my foot isn't that bad." [[Tend Hansel's Foot First]] [[Join Gretel in Kitchen]]

You decide to help Gretel out in the kitchen. The girl is relieved to have an extra pair of hands help her out in the kitchen after days of working on her own. The woman - [[the Witch of the Woods, as Gretel calls her]] - gives you both a long list of chores. Everything goes well at first. But then, Gretel burns an entire batch of cookies. The Witch loses her temper and yells at Gretel for her carelessness. "What a waste of food! I should just eat up your lazy brother instead! All those days doing nothing but eating and sleeping must have fattened him up enough to make up for everything you burned, you fool girl!" Turning back to check the state of her oven, the Witch does not notice the look that crosses Gretel's eyes. You know that the Witch's words are said in anger and not meant as the truth, but Gretel does not feel the same. She's afraid for her brother. She takes a step foward. [[Stop her]] [[Don't stop her]]

The meal was warm and filling. Your host, while not gentle with her words or expressions, is generous. Even the Wolf, who chose not to enter the house, was given a bowl full of food to feast on. "Are you the Witch of the Woods?" Hansel asks her curiously before his sister pinches him for his words. Your host, thankfully, reacts with braying sort of laughter at his question. "And if I am?" She asks him. "But you're not old! Or ugly!" Gretel bursts out, making your host laugh even more. Then, a look of alarm and fear flashes across Gretel's face. "Are you trying to fatten us up to eat us?" Your host, the Witch of the Woods, shakes her head. "Really, the stories that come from the mouths of the fearful. Me? Eating children? I would rather eat a boot. And let me tell you, young lady, that not all witches are old and ugly - or even a woman for that matter." "Then what do you want from us? You can't be giving us all this food for free. Everything has a price." Gretel insists. The Witch of the Woods hums. "Smart child. You are correct. Everything has a price. That is how my magic works. Now...I always needed housesitters and apprentices, so that is what I will require from all of you. In return, you can live under this roof and eat your meals." While Hansel and Gretel happily accept the price and the unexpected job offer, you tell the Witch of the Woods about your mission and your grandmother. You show her the note. "Oh! You're ''her'' grandchild! You should have just said! She and I are good friends. She dropped by only two nights ago with a terrible sickness that needed to be cured. I dropped her off to our other friend, the Witch of the Tower. I can take you to her tomorrow. For now, finish your food. There are chores to be done before the sun sets." [[Stay the Night (Mercy Route)]]

You all run from the house. The Witch of the Woods yells something and you feel your heart stutter in your chest. From the corner of your eye, you see Hansel and Gretel fall over too. As your world slowly goes dark, the Witch of the Woods stands over you and tsks. "So, you weren't really sorry after all." (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Actions Speak Louder than Words''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You agree to the Witch's terms. Hansel can't help with his twisted ankle, so he's kept locked up in a guest room-turned-prison cell. The Wolf remains outside, ever ready to spirit you and the siblings away at the sign of any danger. You and Gretel work every day until your hands and feet are sore. While you do your best to complete every chore the best you can, Gretel purposefully leaves a task incomplete or carelessly done, angry about her situation. You think the Witch notices, but she doens't say a word. On your last day, Gretel burns an entire batch of cookies. The Witch loses her temper and yells at Gretel for her carelessness. "What a waste of food! I should just eat up your lazy brother instead! All those days doing nothing but eating and sleeping must have fattened him up enough to make up for everything you burned, you fool girl!" Turning back to check the state of her oven, the Witch does not notice the look that crosses Gretel's eyes. You know that the Witch's words are said in anger and not meant as the truth, but Gretel does not feel the same. She's afraid for her brother. She takes a step foward. [[Stop her]] [[Don't Stop Gretel]] [[Push the Witch Out of the Way]]

After the long day, the Witch of the Woods takes you to a guest room with a single bed. You slip under the covers and blow out the candle at your bedside. You let sleep take you. Tomorrow is another day... ''End of Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel'' [[Chapter 3: Rapunzel|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (W+W)]]

You step in between the Witch and Gretel. "I'll bake the next batch. I think Gretel is just tired," you offer. Thankfully, the Witch is annoyed enough to send her away. Gretel immediately rushes over to the guest room to check on her brother. You dutifully keep silent and do your best not to make any mistakes that would reignite the Witch's temper. "Child," she says suddenly, making you jump, "[[would you like to be my apprentice?]]"

Gretel looks at you with haunted eyes. "She was going to eat Hansel. I did what I had to do to protect my brother." She turns back to her brother and refuses to say any more. [[Reunite with the Wolf]]

The smell eventually becomes too unbearable. You and the siblings leave the house after packing up some of the food and [[anything that looks valuable]]. The Wolf waits for all of you outside. "Child, what happened?" She asks you. You bury your face into her fur, eyes wet with tears. "It's too terrible to say. Can we leave?" The Wolf takes all of you away from the house. She runs and runs until the sun sets. You can still smell the burning stench. You think you see something following all of you in the dark, though it might be in your head. "Try to go to sleep, child," the Wolf murmurs. Hansel and Gretel are already asleep. You wonder how they can sleep so soundly after what happened. "Sleep," she says again. [[Sleep Under the Stars|Sleep Under the Stars (Mercy Route)]]

You curl up at the Wolf's side for warmth. You look up to the stars and try to forget all the terrible things that happened today. You close your eyes and try to sleep. Tomorrow is another day... ''End of Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel'' [[Chapter 3: Rapunzel|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (W+HG)]]

You don't stop her. You stare in mute horror as Gretel shoves the Witch head-first into the oven. She slams the iron door shut. The screams that follow are terrible. But you don't stop Gretel. You stay where you are until the screams stop. [[Reunite with the Wolf]]

The meal was warm and filling. Still, you keep your guard up. You make sure to keep the Hunter's profile as vague as possible just in case she has him. When she denies seeing the Hunter, you move on to asking about the next person you're looking for. [[You ask the Witch about your Grandmother]]

When you're not helping Gretel with her chores, the Witch teaches you different ways to mix herbs into food and sweets with [[her book full of notes at hand]]. She helps you make the healing salve for both the Hunter and Hansel. [[The Hunter is reluctantly grateful for the food and medicine.]] Faster than naturally possible, their injuries heal until they are able to walk around on their own. The longer you stay under her roof without being harmed, the more you trust her. On the last day, the Witch sends Hansel and Gretel off with a basket filled to the brim with food. The Hunter is at their side. "I will return tomorrow after bringing them back to their family," he promises you. You stay in the Witch's Candy House that night. [[Stay the Night|Stay the Night (Traditional Route)]]

You tell the Witch about your mission and your grandmother. You show her the note. "Oh! You're ''her'' grandchild! You should have just said! She and I are good friends. She dropped by only two nights ago with a terrible sickness that needed to be cured. I dropped her off to our other friend. I can take you to her tomorrow." Then, she frowns. "I would offer you a place to stay, but I can't house any guests at the moment. But you're free to stay a little longer. Please, eat some more. I'll go fetch you some more tea." The Witch leaves you alone to your thoughts. You want to trust her and believe that your grandmother is safe with her other friend, but you need proof. You decide to explore the house and look for some clues. *CRASH* A terrible crash resounds through the house. It sounds like glass breaking. [[Follow the Noise]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/glass.mp3"></audio></figure>

You don't stop her. It's as if you're frozen in place. You stare in mute horror as Gretel shoves the Witch head-first into the oven. She slams the iron door shut. The screams that follow were terrible. But you don't stop Gretel. You stay where you are until the screams stop. [[You step out of the house.]]

You slip under the covers and blow out the candle at your bedside. Today had been an adventure. You let sleep take you. Tomorrow is another day... ''End of Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel'' [[Chapter 3: Rapunzel|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (H+W)]]

The countless stars blink overhead. You curl up by the campfire with Hansel and Gretel. The Hunter stays awake to keep watch. You try to go to sleep. Tomorrow is another day... ''End of Chapter 2: Hansel and Gretel'' [[Chapter 3: Rapunzel|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (H+HG)]]

Everything the Shadow spouted was a lie. You don't even want to consider that it was speaking the truth. Wolves, witches, and shadows are bad and the people you sided with are good. They are all heroes by their own right. They conquered evil and saved your life again and again. And now, it's your turn to save yourself. With the knife, you cut yourself free from the belly of the beast. You crawl out of the darkness and watch as the Shadow curls into itself. You climb back up to your feet. "It's hopeless," it tells you even at its weakest. "You can never be rid of me. You might have won this time, but it's only a temporary victory. When I recover, the chase will start all over again." You shudder at its words. You hear someone call your name. Hope leaps in your chest when you recogize your grandmother's voice. Desperately, you start to run towards the sound. You run away from the Shadow and its terrible promise. You run until the dark forest is behind you. You run until you see the light. You run until you're in your grandmother's arms. --- ''Traditional End''

You brace yourself for the worst. "I want you to do an errand for me," the Shadow decided. "...That's it?" You ask it. "You won't eat me or torture me or whatever you do with the people you chase and catch?" If the Shadow could smile, you think it would. "I wouldn't be so relieved so soon. You haven't even asked me what the errand is." "What do you want me to do?" In response to that, your entire world spins and you find yourself standing in front of the edge of the woods near your home. You look around in confusion. "Familiar, isn't it? It should be. This is where it all started. Now, I want you to take some food and medicine to your grandmother." "But I already did that." "You won't remember," the Shadow tells you gleefully. "You'll just go through the same motions and mistakes again and again." //"That's not fair. You're setting me up to fail,"// you want to tell the Shadow, but you're already forgetting. In the end, all you remember is that your grandmother is sick and that you're off to visit her with food and medicine. You start to walk down the path. --- ''Winding End''

"Almost," the Shadow murmurs, "you were almost there. You listened. You did. Until the very last moment. Why didn't you listen?" You shiver as the Shadow comes close. The air turns cold and you can see your breath. You don't respond or look at it. You refuse to. "But you have come so far. Further than you grandmother. Because of that, I will give you a choice." You don't look up from the ground. "First choice: you can accept my help and go back. You can choose differently. Second Choice: you can accept your defeat." "Now, what will you choose?" [[Accept the Shadow's Help|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (W+W)]] [[You resign yourself to defeat.]]

You ask the Hunter to tell you more about the "beast of the woods". "It is a wolf too great in size to be natural. It's hunger even more so. It is a creature that is never satisfied," he tells you. "And that makes this beast dangerous. It tells lies. Do not trust it." [[Back|Go Deeper Into the Woods]]

The Hunter reads the note and frowns. He recognizes the location and gives you the directions to reach the village. [[Back|"STOP"]]

You shiver at her words, glancing at the darkness. You think you see something move and hide behind a tree. [[Back|The Wolf]]

Her voice sounds so familiar...you don't know where you've heard it before. You have a bad feeling. [[Back|Enter Grandmother's House ]]

This might be the first time you're meeting your grandmother, but her eyes, ears, and hands look so strange. They're too big and furry. Something is wrong. [[Back|Enter Grandmother's House ]]

Get it off. Get it off. Get it off. Get it off. Get it off. Get it off. Get it off. Get it off - [[Back|Return to Grandma's House]]

You re-read your grandmother's note. You tuck the note away back into your pocket. You hope that she's safe. [[Back|Getting Ready to Go]]

The Witch of the Woods. Many of the villagers whisper that she is a terrifying old woman who loved to lure children into her house so she could eat them up. No one except the desperate journey deep into the woods because of her. But there is a famine and families are getting desperate. Children have been disappearing in the woods more often than not. [[Back|Head to the Village]]

Your parents had told you many times never to stray from the path. But you are already so lost and you need to find your grandmother. Taking the route away from the path can't make anything worse. Right? [[Back|Follow the Breadcrumbs]]

You overhear a whispered conversation: "Gretel, they might be coming back." "This is the third time they left us here...and it's the furthest it's ever been. They're not coming back for us, Hansel." You pretend you didn't hear anything. [[Back|Follow the Breadcrumbs]]

You think about the Hunter's fur pelt cloak. You think a terrible thought that doesn't go away no matter how much you try. The pelts that made up the cloak were small. You don't continue the conversation after that. [[Back|Offer to Help the Lost Children]]

From what you can see, it used to be a guest room. [[Back|Join Hansel in Prison]]

It smells like something is burning. [[Back|Tend Hansel's Foot First]]

You take a book. It looks old and important. The spine is worn and some of the pages are dog-eared. It's a book that was well-used and well-loved. Guilt makes your stomach heavy and your throat tight. You wish you could've done more. [[Back|Reunite with the Wolf]]

"Apprentice?" "Yes. I need extra hands in the kitchen. That girl Gretel too. I like her fire, though her ability to do her chores needs work." You thank the Witch for her generosity, but you decline. You tell the Witch of the Woods about your mission and your grandmother. You show her the note. "Oh! You're ''her'' grandchild! You should have just said! She and I are good friends. She dropped by only two nights ago with a terrible sickness that needed to be cured. I dropped her off to our other friend, the Witch of the Tower. I can take you to her tomorrow. For now, finish your chores." [[Stay the Night|Stay the Night (Mercy Route)]]

"Why do you call her a Witch?" You ask Gretel. "She isn't the nicest, but she's fair." "Don't let her trick you," Gretel warns you. "I've heard about her in my village. Many of the children disappeared in the woods because of her. She ate them all! I'm sure of it!" [[Back|Join Gretel in Kitchen]]

The coins feel heavy in your hands. It's two days worth of the money that your parents make that the Hunter is giving you without much thought. Selling furs and meats must make a lot of money. [[Back|Head to the Village]]

You follow the noise. You end up in the kitchen where you bump into an exhausted girl. She looks at you, horrified. "Oh no! The Witch of the Woods took another child! Does this mean she's going to eat Hansel today?" "Kidnap? Eat Hansel?" You repeat, completely befuddled. The girl grabs you by the shoulders. "So she doesn't know you're here yet? Run away before she finds you! She'll eat you up!" [[Explain to Gretel Why You're There.]]

You rush over to the Hunter's side. The Hunter, who had towered over many people in size, is now covered in bandages from head to toe. He is strapped to the bed. You're almost certain that his axe-arm and legs are broken. "Child..." He wheezes. "Hunter, what happened to you?" "The Witch...she was too strong..." You feel your throat close in terror at the Hunter's words. The Hunter, who had slain the gigantic Wolf with his own hands could not overpower the Witch of the Woods. "Child, my axe." He shakily gestures over to a closet door with a twitch of his fingers. You find his weapon inside. "Take it and do what has to be done." [[Confront the Witch]]

You drop the axe and sob into your hands. You don't want to kill anyone. "There you go, child." The Witch comforts you. Her flour-covered hands stain your head, but you don't care. "That Hunter pressured you to do the deed, didn't he? That coward. I should just throw him out and feed him to the wolves." You feel a flash of fear for the Hunter at her words. You know he will die if she does what she says. "I'm very sorry for what the Hunter's done to you, but please let him stay and get better. He's protected me the entire journey here. I'll do the work like Gretel. I promise," you tell the Witch sincerely. "Very well, then," The Witch sighs. "Would you like to tend to Hansel's leg or help Gretel in the kitchen?" You decide to help Gretel out in the kitchen. Everything goes well at first. But then, Gretel burns an entire batch of cookies one day. The Witch loses her temper and yells at Gretel for her carelessness. "What a waste of food! I should just eat up your lazy brother instead! All those days doing nothing but eating and sleeping must have fattened him up enough to make up for everything you burned, you fool girl!" Turning back to check the state of her oven, the Witch does not notice the look that crosses Gretel's eyes.She's afraid for her brother. She takes a step foward. [[Stop Gretel]] [[Stay Silent]] [[Push the Witch Out of the Way|Out of the Way2]]

The moment you are alone, you burst into tears. She's dead. She's dead. The Witch is dead. And you watched her die. *Rustle* [[Something peers back at you from the darkness.]] You blink back your tears and it's gone as if it was never there in the first place. But you know it was there. The Hunter and the siblings step out of the house. You overhear Gretel telling her brother what happened in a shaky voice. [["Good job."]] The Hunter praises her. "A Good Witch is a dead Witch. You did what you had to do to protect your brother from a dangerous Witch. You have achieved what well-trained Witch Hunters struggled to do." The Hunter looks back at the Candy House. "Let us leave this cursed lands." You all make camp at a clearing. After Hansel and Gretel fall asleep, you talk to the Hunter. [["The Witch said she was my grandmother's friend."]] You confess. "She knew where my grandmother went." "We will find her, child," the Hunter assures you. "For now, rest. You have endured a great ordeal" [[Sleep Under the Stars|Sleep Under the Stars (Traditional Route)]]

[["Have you seen the Hunter?"]] [["Can you tell me more about the Witch of the Woods?"]] [["The Woodcutter's Children?"]] [[Wait for the Hunter]]

At the corner of your eye, you think you see something move. It's too quick for you to catch. It happens every time you make a sudden turn down the path. [[Back|Go Find the Witch Without the Hunter]]

"The Hunter?" Many villagers look confused at your question. Then, a villager lights up with understanding. "Oh! You mean the //Witch Hunter//! The one with the fur pelt cloak, yes? I saw him." [["Where did he go?"]]

"The Witch Hunter took a request to take down the Witch of the Woods. He hasn't come back since." The villager looks at you with pity. "Witch hunting is a dangerous business. She most likely already eaten him up like she did those kids." [[Ask Around for the Hunter]]

"I suppose she's all right for a witch," the Hunter grumbles as you ladle another spoonfull of soup into his mouth. His injury looks better. [[Back|"Yes, I would like to learn."]]

You swear you could see something, but it quickly shifts to hide from your sight. You feel a shiver run down your spine. [[Back|You step out of the house.]]

Gretel's uncertainty and guilt melts into pride at the Hunter's praise. "That's right! I protected Hansel. No one will hurt us anymore." [[Back|You step out of the house.]]

"The Witch must have been lying," the Hunter grunts, "for that would make your grandmother a Witch-friend or even a Witch." "Yes," you hear yourself say, "she lied. My grandmother is not a Witch." [[Back|You step out of the house.]]

"Don't go chasing after dangerous stories," a villager scolds you at your question. "The Witch of the Woods is a person who draws power from eating children. Do not chase after her." [[Back|Ask Around for the Hunter]]

"Yes," a villager sighs, "Hansel and Gretel. They used to play with my children after they finished forraging for food for the family. Good kids, the both of them. It's a pity that they were snatched away by the Witch of the Woods. I'm certain that their parents are devastated. They haven't shown their faces ever since they lost their children." [[Back|Ask Around for the Hunter]]

Unfortunately, the two copper coins isn't enough to cover a room and a meal. You decide to purchase a room. [[Back|Head to the Village]]

From what you can see, it used to be a guest room. [[Back|Explain to Gretel Why You're There.]]

But hopefully, not well-fed and healthy enough to be eaten. [[Back|"Hansel?"]]

You decide to stay in the Inn for a little longer. After a little pleading, the Innkeeper allows you to stay one more day even though you no longer have any coins to give. He sends you to the cheapest room without a lock. When night falls, your door slams open. You're grabbed from your bed and tossed into a cage. You slam your hands against the bars. "Let me out! Let me out!" You cry, but no one listens. As you're taken away, you see the Innkeeper accepts a bag of coins. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Taken and Sold''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You leave the prison with the axe to confront the Witch. You find her at the dining room she left you in. "Now, what are you going to do with that, child?" The Witch sounds more curious than afraid. "I thought that we were beginning to be good friends." "I will not let you eat Hansel and Gretel," you tell her, trying to sound brave. The axe feels heavy. You don't want to do this, but you feel like you have to. "Really, the stories that come from the mouths of the fearful," The Witch of the Woods scoffs. "Me? Eating children? I would rather eat a boot. That girl omitted the most important parts of the story. She and her brother ate my house and she is now working here to pay off that debt. "What about Hansel's leg? It's hurt." "Hansel fell on his own and hurt his leg on his own." "And the Hunter? He looks like he did more than fall and hurt himself on his own," you challenge. "If a large man broke into your home with the intention of killing you, wouldn't you defend yourself?" You remember the Wolf. You know that you would too if you were her. Everything she's saying sounds so reasonable. But can you trust the Witch's words? What if she's trying to trick you? [[Swing the Axe]] [[Offer to Help]]

You decide not the trust the Witch and swing the axe. The Witch avoids your swing and throws you back into the wall. You hit your head and everything goes dark. ''(text-colour:red)[Bad End: Playing Hunter]'' --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Axe.mp3"></audio></figure>

"This book was handed down in my family from mother to daughter for generations," the Witch tells you. To your disappointment, it's mostly filled with recipes instead of spells. She laughs at your expression. "There are some magic spells here and there, but I am first and foremost a baker." [[Back|"Yes, I would like to learn."]]

You wake up, feeling well-rested. Distantly from an open window, you hear the faint calls of songbirds greeting the morning. [[Listen to the Birds|Listen to the Birds (W+W)]] When you leave the room, you're hit with the scents of breakfast. Hansel and Gretel are already awake, setting up the table. They greet you happily as you take a seat. Not long after, the Witch of the Woods comes with breakfast. After you are done with breakfast, you gather up your things and meet the Witch and the Wolf outside of the Candy House. [["Is everything in order?"]]

You wake up exhausted and miserable. Your sleep had been cold and restless despite the comfort the Wolf had given you the night before. Hansel and Gretel look just as stricken and haunted by yesterday's events. You leave them all briefly to wash your face by the river near the clearing you slept. Over your head, you hear the fluttering of wings. [[Listen to the Birds|Listen to the Birds (W+HG)]] You return to the Wolf and the siblings. The Wolf asks you where you would like to go from there. "Do you know where your Grandmother might be, child? Or have you found a clue in the Witch's House?" You remember the book you found and pull it out of your basket. [["I found this."]]

You wake up, feeling well-rested. Distantly from an open window, you hear the faint calls of songbirds greeting the morning. [[Listen to the Birds|Listen to the Birds (H+W)]] When you leave the room, you're hit with the scents of breakfast. The Hunter gruffly greets you at the dining table as you take a seat. Not long after, the Witch of the Woods comes with breakfast. After you are done with breakfast, you gather up your things and meet the Witch and the Hunter outside of the Candy House. [["Are you ready, Child?"]]

You wake up exhausted and miserable. Your sleep had been cold and restless despite sleeping near the campfire. You leave the campsite briefly to wash your face by the river near the clearing you slept. Over your head, you hear the fluttering of wings. [[Listen to the Birds|Listen to the Birds (H+HG)]] You return to the camp to see everyone awake. [[See what Hansel is doing]] [[See what Gretel is doing]] [[Read the spellbook]] [[Speak with the Hunter]]

"Yes." Satisfied, the Witch of the Woods takes out a large spellbook. She flips through the pages until she reached one of the earmarked ones. ''"Transportation Spell,"'' it reads. "Child, since you have a closer connection to your Grandmother than I, you should cast it" You're shocked. "Me?" "Yes, you. Now, give me your hand." Impatiently, she holds out her hand for you to take. You do. The Witch tells you to repeat what she says. The words are easy. In a heartbeat, you find yourself in a completely different place with the Witch and the Wolf by your side. "Congratulations," the Witch praises you with a smile, "you've performed your first magic spell." You can't help but grin. [[You feel something thrumming from your fingertips to your toes.]] The Wolf's ears prick up, catching a sound that you and the Witch are unable to hear. "Quiet," she rumbles, "there is a group of humans not far from here. We should be cautious. We do not know who they are or what they might want from us." You strain your ears and hear the sounds of distant conversation. Despite the Wolf's warning, your curiosity gets the better of you and you sneak towards the faint noise. From behind the bushes, you catch sight of a young man attempting to speak to a group of people. "...help...maiden...witch..." You distantly catch. [[You choose to continue hiding behind the bushes.]] [[You approach the group.]]

Hansel and Gretel crowd you as you open the spellbook. There is a letter tucked in between one of the pages. [[Read the letter]] [[Skim the pages]] An earmarked page in the book catches your eye. ''"Spell of Transportation"'', it reads. The instructions look simple enough to follow. As long as you have a location in mind, the spell would take you there. [[Read the spell]]

"Yes." Satisfied, the Witch of the Woods takes out a large spellbook. She flips through the pages until she reached one of the earmarked ones. ''"Transportation Spell,"'' it reads. "Child, since you have a closer connection to your Grandmother than I, you should cast it" You're shocked. "Me?" "Yes, you. Now, give me your hand." Impatiently, she holds out her hand for you to take. You do. The Witch tells you to repeat what she says. The words are easy. In a heartbeat, you find yourself in a completely different place with the Witch and the Hunter by your side. [["This is magic?"]] "Yes, it is. Congratulations," the Witch praises you with a smile, "you've performed your first magic spell." You can't help but grin. "Magic can be useful and convenient," The Hunter states with surprise. Hee looks reluctantly impressed. "You did well, child." The three of you slowly make your way through the forest. You all come upon a campsite. You catch sight of [[a young man]] attempting to speak to a group of people. Wary, the Hunter and the Witch usher you to hide behind bushes. "...help...maiden...Rapunzel...witch...Mother Gothel..." You catch. You inch forward to hear the conversation better only to step on a stick, catching everyone's attention. [[Let them approach you]] [[Leave before they see you]]

You look through the book and mark every page that looks useful. You come across a page with a spell for quick transportation. [[Try the Transportation Spell]] To your disappointment, it doesn't work. You decide to move to an easier spell. [[Light the Campfire]] The campfire that the Hunter had stamped out ignites. Gretel jumps at your show of magic and looks at you suspiciously. Hansel, on the other hand, looks enthralled. [["Do you think I can do it too?"]] He asks you. You shrug and hand him the Spellbook. In no time, he learns a spell. Hansel laughs and claps. "Perhaps...magic is not evil. It can simply be tied to the heart of the user," the Hunter concedes. "But now, we know where we need to go to find your grandmother. Let us depart." [[Head to Location in Spellbook]]

You remember the Wolf's warning and decide to keep your distance. Being this close to the group of strangers was dangerous enough. But you were curious. What are they talking about? "Please! There is a maiden in danger!" A young man pleads. The people surrounding him remain completely unsympathetic. "That awful witch who calls herself her mother has her locked up in a tower! You //have to// help me save her!" "We're Witch Hunters. And the old lady you're talking about? Gothel? She's just an old lady who really likes her vegetables and is protective of her daughter. Sorry, but we won't be taking the job." You pale at the speaker's words. A Witch Hunter! That's not good! You have to leave before they see the Witch and the Wolf. [[You sneak away from the campsite.]]

You stumble out into the clearing with the intention to speak with the group. Concerned, the Witch and Wolf follow after you. Fearful of the Wolf's large appearance, the group attacks her. The Witch comes to the Wolf's defense, causing a greater stir. The group, it turns out, are a gathering of Witch Hunters. They kill the Wolf. They capture you and the Witch of the Woods, tying you both to the stake and lighting it on fire. Throughout it all, the Witch pleads for them to at least spare you. They don't. They're too afraid. You both burn. ''(text-colour:red)[Bad End: Burned at the Stake]'' --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fire.mp3"></audio></figure>

The Witch scolds you for your recklessess when you return and scolds you even more when you tell her about the Witch Hunters. "Witch Hunters! Around here! We need to leave immediately before they find us!" Hopping onto the Wolf's back, you all make a quiet and quick escape to where the Witch of the Tower, her friend, lives. When the Wolf makes it out of the forest, you find yourself in awe at the sight stretched in front of you. [[Rows and rows of vegtables, herbs, and flowers of all kinds decorate the land.]] It's the biggest garden you've ever seen! [[You see a tower standing at a distance.]] Eventually, you all come across the hunched-over figure tending to a shrub. The Witch of the Woods calls out to her friend. "Mother Gothel!" [[An old woman]] looks up from her gardening. Her pinched expression lightens at the sight of the Witch. "Why, if it isn't the Witch of the Woods! What are you doing back so soon? You came by only recently!" "That's part of the reason why I'm here," the Witch admits as she slides off the Wolf's back. "We need your help." Mother Gothel looks you all up and down. "That, you do. Why don't you all come inside for a cup of tea?" [[You gratefully accept her offer.]]

You can tell that all of it had been raised with love. [[Back|You sneak away from the campsite.]]

It's a lonely structure without a door in sight. While the rest of the garden is filled with vibrant plants of all shapes and sizes, the land around the tower is bare and empty with only grass and thorn bushes growing around it. For a moment, you think about the young man in the woods and what he said about the kidnapped girl but then you dismissed it. Who would trap a person in a tower without any doors? [[Back|You sneak away from the campsite.]]

As you and the Witch enter Mother Gothel's house, the Wolf leaves to hunt her own meal. Mother Gothel offers you fruits and vegtables picked fresh from the garden. She also offers you tea. [[You ask Mother Gothel where your Grandmother went.]]

"Away," Mother Gothel tells you vaguely, "far away. It's best to just go back home, child. Your Grandmother would not want you to come out this far for her." You ask Mother Gothel to tell you more. You feel as if she's hiding something from you. Eventually, she gives in. "Child, your grandmother wasn't ill, she was cursed." "Cursed? With what? By who?" The Witch of the Woods turns pale. She looks terrified. "Don't tell me...the Shadow?" You ask what the Shadow is. Mother Gothel sets down her teacup firmly. "I will not speak of such things any further. You are too young, child. Forget you even heard of it and leave it to the adults." [[Push for Mother Gothel to tell you more.]] [[Leave it be. It sounds dangerous.]]

It takes a bit of prodding and pleading, but Mother Gothel eventually gives in. She tells you about the Shadow. The Shadow is a curse that hounds at the ankles of whoever it sets its eyes on. It is fear and evil itself. No one knows why it starts chasing a person. Or what happens when it catches said unfortunate person. And no matter how the cursed person runs, the Shadow always catches them. Always. "No one knows what it is. Not truly," Mother Gothel tells you. "Only what it can do. And that makes it dangerous. Your Grandmother has run and hidden from the Shadow for her entire life. But now, it has caught up to her." You shiver. "There, isn't that frightening? Let's not speak of such things any longer. You may stay here and explore my home and garden as much as you please. I only have one request. ''Do not go near the tower.''" [[Explore the Garden]]

Mother Gothel shifts the topic to lighter things before she shoos you away from the kitchen. You may stay here and explore my home and garden as much as you please," she tells you. "I only have one request. ''Do not go near the tower.''" Before you leave, the Witch takes you aside and quietly tells you about the Shadow. The Shadow is a curse that hounds at the ankles of whoever it sets its eyes on. It is fear and evil itself. No one knows why it starts chasing a person. Or what happens when it catches said unfortunate person. And no matter how the cursed person runs, the Shadow always catches them. Always. "I know it's frightening," the Witch says apologetically when she sees the terror on your face, "but you needed to know." Then, she sends you off. [[Explore the Garden]]

You step outside and start to explore the garden. You admire the giant carrots and cabbages. Your head spins at the many, vibrant colors of the flowers. Your mouth waters at the sight of [[the fresh, ripe berries.]] Along the way, you come across the Wolf, looking more content than she's ever been. You jump and squeak when you see the blood on her maw and her freshly-caught meal at her feet. "Do not be afraid, child. I will not turn my teeth on you. As you can see, my belly is full with food." The Wolf tilts her head. "Are you frightened?" You tell her that you are afraid. Death and blood are frightening things. Killing is wrong and cruel. The Wolf rumbles at your words. "I have a lesson for you, child. [[Will you listen?]]" Whether you listened to her lesson or not, she concludes with a familiar warning. "Do not forget, child. I am a wild creature. I do not follow the same laws as you. Now, run along and play. These gardens are safe." You do as she says, wandering further and further into the garden. Before you know it, you're near the tower. Remembering Mother Gothel's request, you start to turn around. The sound of a voice stops you. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" Someone...is at the tower? Curious, you take a closer look. You come close enough to see someone climb into the tower window. [[Come Closer]] [[Go to Mother Gothel]]

You come closer. You walk up to the foot of the tower where you hear the voices clearly. A young woman's voice and a familiar voice are talking. "...come with me...Gothel...get away..." The familiar voice pleads. [[Stay and Listen More]] [[Return to the Cottage]]

You decide to go back to Mother Gothel. With the Wolf's help, you rush back faster than it would've taken you by foot. You go to Mother Gothel and tell her what you heard. Instead of being upset at you for being so close to the tower, Mother Gothel is afraid. "That foolish child!" With a speed unnatural for her age, Mother Gothel rushes out of the cottage at full-speed, leaving you, the Wolf, and the Witch behind. [[Follow Mother Gothel]] [[Stay Behind]]

You listen a little more. "Once I get you out of this tower, I'll show you the world," the familiar voice promises. "We just have to escape before the w- your mother notices." The young woman's response is too faint to hear. Eventually, the familiar voice tells the young woman that he needs to leave, but that he will return soon. With the help of some rope - //hair,// you realize - he climbs back down. It's the young man who tried to enslist the help of the Witch Hunters! You hide before he can see you. When he's completely gone, you dart back to the front of the tower. [[Call out to Rapunzel]]

You return to the Cottage. With the Wolf's help, you rush back faster than it would've taken you by foot. You go to Mother Gothel and tell her what you heard. Instead of being upset at you for being so close to the tower, Mother Gothel is afraid. With a speed unnatural for her age, Mother Gothel rushes out of the cottage at full-speed, leaving you, the Wolf, and the Witch behind. [[Follow Mother Gothel]] [[Stay Behind]]

The Wolf tells you and the Witch to climb onto her back. She rushes after Mother Gothel and stops at the foot of the tower. To your surprise, you see Mother Gothel climb up a rope of blonde hair hanging from the tower window. [[Climb up after Mother Gothel]]

You stay behind with the Witch of the Woods. She does her best to comfort you as you both wait for your host to return. Eventually, [[Mother Gothel returns, red-faced and upset.]]

You and the Witch of the Woods start climbing up after her. On your way up, you feel something land on your neck. [[You consider swatting it away.]] When you make it to the top, you see Mother Gothel scolding [[a beautiful young woman with golden hair.]] The Witch of the Woods stares at the sight in disbelief. "Gothel, what is this? Don't tell me that [[the rumors]] of you taking a child is true?" Mother Gothel glares at the Witch for that. "Rapunzel is //my// daughter. Those thieves knew the cost of stealing my rampions. They tossed their infant daughter at me when I came for them. They all but abandoned her to save their own skins!" She stops and takes a calming breath. "I love her. I would do anything to keep her safe. Even take care of [[one, measly Prince]]." To your horror, Mother Gothel takes out garden shears from her pocket and cuts Rapunzel's hair. The young woman covers her face and sobs. "I shall send you far, far away where no Prince will try to take you away from me. A house in the middle of a desert will do." [[Defend Rapunzel]] [[Watch Silently]]

"This is magic?" You marvel. "I'm doing this?" "Of course you can, child. Magic is in all of us. Now wait until you find your true passion like I have. Then it will truly be your own." [[Back|"Is everything in order?"]]

You grab onto the long, beautiful hair and start to climb. You marvel at how it holds your weight. The higher your climb, the more uneasy you feel. [[Your grip nearly slips on your way up.]] You make it to the top somehow. "My Prince?" A gentle voice calls out from within the tower. "You're back earlier than you said you would be. I - who are you?" You know instantly that the young woman in front of you is [[Rapunzel]]. [[You introduce yourself to Rapunzel]]

Your breath catches. You accidentally look down. You try not to feel sick. It's a long drop from here. You turn your gaze upwards before your fear consumes you. You can only go up. A bug lands on your neck. You feel it bite you. [[Swat it away]] [[Ignore It|Call out to Rapunzel]]

When the surprise wears off, Rapunzel introduces herself too and asks you what you're doing in her tower. You tell her that you are a guest of Mother Gothel's. You tell her what you saw and heard at the foot of the tower. At that, she pleads with you to not tell her mother. "Please, mother wouldn't understand. She never lets me out of the tower. She says the world outside is too dangerous for me." You feel sorry for Rapunzel. She looks healthy and safe, but she's also trapped. A life without any friends or adventures seem like a very lonely one. You assure her that you won't go and tell Mother Gothel and admit that you aren't supposed to be here. Thrilled that her secret is safe and that she has a new person to talk to, Rapunzel pulls you over to a chair and asks you questions about the world outside. At her request, [[you tell her about your adventures.]] Rapunzel listens to it all. "Oh, your stories sound even more exciting than the Prince's!" "The Prince?" You repeat. "Yes, I'd like to learn more about this Prince," someone else speaks up, making you and Rapunzel whirl around in alarm. [["Mother Gothel!"]]

"Thank you for coming to me so quickly, child. You have saved me quite a bit of trouble. But I cannot continue hosting you. I will not allow you to go after your grandmother on your own. It's too dangerous. It's best that I send you back home where you will be safe." You don't have the chance to speak up against her decision. Mother Gothel pokes your forehead and, within a blink, you find yourself at the edge of the woods near your home. ''Uncompleted End: Sent Home''

You tell her about your adventures - the errand that started it all and the many people you met on the way - and you tell her about the world outside. Looking back at it all, so much has happened. You wonder if your parents are worried. You hope that they aren't too upset with you. [[Back|You introduce yourself to Rapunzel]]

You listen to the birds. They are louder than the last time. "Tread carefully around the fearful." "Question pretty words. They might be lies." ''"He's close. Be cautious."'' [[Back|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (W+HG)]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/birdsong.mp3"></audio></figure>

You shout for Mother Gothel to stop. You tell her that, out of everyone, //she's// the one hurting Rapunzel. To your relief, the magic forming in Mother Gothel's hands fizzle out. Unfortunately, the anger in her eyes stay. "What do you expect me to do? Hm? Let a stranger continue breaking into my home and fill my daughter's head with fantasies and silly ideas? Let my daughter's actions remain unpunished? What power do //you// have here, child?" "I think it's important to know what //Rapunzel// wants," you insist. Then, you turn to Rapunzel. [[Ask Rapunzel what she wants]]

You're frozen, uncertain on what to do. You decide to let things play out. The Witch of the Woods, on the other hand, is vocal about her displeasure. "Gothel! Think of what you are doing! Stop it this instant!" "You have no power here, Witch of the Woods," Mother Gothel says severely. "My decisions within my lands are my own. My decisions concerning my family are my own. Do not meddle." In the end, the Witch of the Woods throws up her hands, powerless to help. "I will not take any part of this!" she shouts before using magic to leave the tower. She leaves you alone. "You, child, help me cast the spell and I will help you find your grandmother. I will even help you defend yourself from Shadow. All I ask is for your help." [[Help Mother Gothel]]

"Mother Gothel, Mother Gothel, //please// don't hurt him!" Rapunzel pleads. "He did nothing wrong! He only visited to tell me about the things outside of the tower, nothing more! [[The Prince]] is my friend!" "Foolish child. Do not lie. You were willing to leave this tower and run away with him." Mother Gothel sighs when Rapunzel loudly denies this. "What a pity. If you had warned me of him sooner, I would have found more peaceful ways to drive him away, but you leave me with no choice now." To your horror, Mother Gothel takes out garden shears from her pocket and cuts Rapunzel's hair. The young woman covers her face and sobs. "You wish to leave this tower and see the world outside your tower? I will grant that wish." Mother Gothel's hands begin to glow with magic. "I shall send you far, far away where no Prince will try to take you away from me. A house in the middle of a desert will do." Then, she turns to you. "I told you not to come near the tower." Mother Gothel does not scream at you. She does not have to. There is a storm within her eyes that spoke of a quiet but powerful anger. You wilt in shame at breaking her one request. "...but I will let it slide since you are the grandchild of my friend. Help me cast the spell and I will help you find your grandmother. I will even help you defend yourself from Shadow. All I ask is for your help." [[Help Mother Gothel]] [[Ask Rapunzel what she wants]]

You decide to help Mother Gothel. You try not to feel too terrible when you help cast the spell. Rapunzel will be safe and comfortable. And the Prince...well, he //did// try to hire Witch Hunters to hurt Mother Gothel, so you think that whatever Mother Gothel plans for him isn't too terrible in comparison. She promised Rapunzel not to kill him, after all. After Rapunzel is gone, Mother Gothel helps you climb down the tower and sends you off back to the Cottage. You wait in front of the door until Mother Gothel finally returns. "It's done," she tells you simply. "Now, what would you like to know?" [["Tell me everything."]]

Rapunzel is at a loss. "No one...no one has ever asked me that before. Not Mother Gothel. Not the Prince. Do you really want to know what I want?" You assure her that you do. It is her life that's being spoken about, after all. "I...don't want to leave with the Prince forever. I just want to see the world outside the tower. I want to meet more people." She turns and faces her mother. "Mother Gothel...I want to live. And I can't do that stuck in here." The Witch of the Woods steps forward. "There, you heard your daughter. She wants out. I might not have power here, but Rapunzel has a voice too. Let her out, Mother Gothel. Listen to her for once." Mother Gothel does so with a sour expression on her face. With her magic, she lets a beanstalk twist and grow into a slide. Rapunzel looks at her surroundings with awe. "Mother Gothel, it's so beautiful! I've never seen your garden like this before!" Mother Gothel's expression softens. "Perhaps...I have been wrong to keep you in one place. We shall talk back in my cottage." Then, her expression becomes harsh when she looks at you and the Witch of the Woods. "Only us. My guests have overstayed their welcome." Taking her daughter's hand, Mother Gothel storms away. "Well," the Witch of the Woods sighs, "what's done is done." The Wolf, who had been waiting for your return, comes over to you. You bury your face into the Wolf's fur for comfort. [["Did I do the right thing?]]

The Shadow is a force of nature. No one has managed to banish it or successfully run from it for long. Your grandmother ran the longest only because of a spell she created. "''The Spell of Concealment''," Mother Gothel tells you. "It works only when the caster is alone and far away from others." So that was why your grandmother lived in the middle of the woods. "I will also teach you ''The Spell of Protection.'' With these spells, you will stand a chance. If you are quick, you can find your grandmother and flee from the Shadow." Under Mother Gothel's guidance, you learn the spells. You memorize the words and gestures. You swallow your fear. You have to save your grandmother. When you've learned all that Mother Gothel could teach you, she points you to the direction your grandmother left. The path leads to another forest where no sunlight or moonlight shines through. [[Prepare to leave]]

Rapunzel is running towards you. "Wait!" She shouts again. "Please, don't go just yet!" After she catches her breath, she thanks you profusely for your help. "If you didn't defend me, Mother Gothel would have sent me far, far away and I would've never spoken my thoughts. It might not be perfect or happy now, but she's starting to listen to me." Rapunzel hands you something. [[It's a small flower]]. You thank her and weave it into your basket's handle. "Oh! I heard from Mother Gothel that you're looking for your grandmother? I'm not sure that this will help, but I saw an old woman pass by my tower. She was coughing and running away from something. It was so dark that I couldn't see what it was. It looked like a - "Shadow?" The Witch of the Woods finishes Rapunzel's sentence with a grave expression on her face. "Do you know which direction she was running?" Rapunzel points. "She went that way." You thank Rapunzel for her help. After she leaves, you turn to the Witch of the Woods. [["The Shadow has Grandmother, doesn't it?"]]

"You did your best, child," the Wolf assures you. "From what I heard, you only made Mother Gothel listen to her pup. Her anger is understandable. The hardest thing a mother can do is let her child go out into the world unprotected. And yet, it is necessary. A mother's protection does not last forever and a child needs to learn." "It is time to move on," the Witch of the Woods decides. "You did well, child. We can find your grandmother on our own. Let's find a safe place to stay before the sun goes down and we lose our light!" You start to climb onto the Wolf's back before you're stopped by a shout. [["Please, wait!"]]

"Yes, it does," the Witch of the Woods confirms. "Or, at least, it's very close to catching her." Your throat feels heavy. "But she's not gone. Right?" "No. I would feel it in the air if the Shadow took her life." You let out a sigh of relief. "''But...''your grandmother does not have much time," she warns you. "The fewer people who face the Shadow, the greater their chances are. Let me try to save your grandmother. You are young and unprepared. It isn't fair to leave something like this on your shoulders. I can send you back home where it's safe." [[Go back home]] [[Move forward]]

You decide to turn back and go home. It's too scary to face something so dark and terrible my yourself. With a simple spell, the Witch of the Woods sends you back home. ''Uncompleted End: Going Back Home''

You refuse to leave. You've come all this way to make sure that your grandmother was safe. You can't turn back now. You follow the direction Rapunzel pointed to. The path leads to another forest where no sunlight or moonlight shines through. You shiver at the darkness ahead. The Witch of the Woods sighs. "I respect your decision to go. But remember, you should not bear everything on your own." With a gesture of her hand, she summons a small ball of light. She hands it to you. It doesn't burn you. Instead, it fills you with warmth and comfort. "There. To light your way." The Wolf nuzzles your hands. "Remember my lessons to you. Thank you for your kindness," she rumbles, "and your food. Be well, child." [[Off to Grandmother|Off to Grandmother (Mercy Route)]]

Mother Gothel helps you [[pack]]. "Remember, run and hide when you can," she warns you. "The Shadow has not set its sights on you yet. Not completely. If it ever finds you, protect yourself. //Do not listen to it.//" You promise you won't. "You can go back home, child. No one should take this journey alone." You thank Mother Gothel for her help. You leave her cottage with the Witch of the Woods and the Wolf. They take you away as far as they can. When you're all at the edge of the woods, the Wolf stops. The Witch of the Woods helps you off and asks you if you would like her to come with you. You shake your head. You need to face the Shadow alone. The Wolf nuzzles your hands. "Thank you for your kindness," she rumbles, "and your food. Be well, child." [[Off to Grandmother|Off to Grandmother (Incomplete Route)]]

You turn away and start your walking down the path alone. You walk into the darkness with a faint light and a freshly-picked flower. ''End of Chapter 3: Rapunzel'' [[Final Chapter: The Shadow|Final Chapter: The Shadow (True)]]

You turn away and start your walking down the path alone. You light the lantern with shaky hands and walk into the darkness. ''End of Chapter 3: Rapunzel'' [[Final Chapter: The Shadow|Final Chapter: The Shadow (Mercy)]]

You listen to the birds. They are louder than the last time. "Do your best with what you have." "Somtimes, no matter what your choose, the end is the same." ''"He's close. Be cautious."'' [[Back|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (H+W)]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/birdsong.mp3"></audio></figure>

You listen to the birds. You hear nothing. ... You're left feeling uneasy. [[Back|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (H+HG)]]

You unfold the letter and read its contents. It's addressed to the Witch of the Woods. The writer thanks her for dropping off 'their dear friend' so promptly. The note mentions a location and urges the Witch of the Woods to come by and visit more. It's signed by "Mother Gothel". You think they're talking about your grandmother. [[Back|"I found this."]]

You skim the pages. To your disappointment, it's mostly filled with recipes instead of spells. [[Back|"I found this."]]

You read the spell. You didn't think anything would happen. You've never done magic before. But then, within a blink, you find yourself somewhere completely different. The Wolf, Hansel, and Gretel were transported with you. "Wow!" Hansel enthuses. "I never knew you could do magic!" "I never knew I could either." The Wolf's ears prick up, catching a sound that you and the siblings are unable to hear. "Quiet," she rumbles, "there is a group of humans not far from here. We should be cautious. We do not know who they are or what they might want from us." You strain your ears and hear the sounds of distant conversation. Despite the Wolf's warning, your curiosity gets the better of you and you sneak towards the faint noise. Hansel and Gretel follow. From behind the bushes, you catch sight of a young man attempting to speak to a group of people. "...help...maiden...witch..." You distantly catch. Next to you, Gretel gasps. [["That's the Prince!"]] She whispers with excitement. "We should meet him!" "The Wolf said to be careful and hide," Hansel insists. "We don't know if they're safe." [[Listen in on the Prince]] [[Approach the Prince]]

You agree with Hansel. You all decide to keep your distance. Being this close to the group of strangers was dangerous enough. But you were curious. What are they talking about? "Please! There is a maiden in danger!" A Prince pleads. The people surrounding him remain completely unsympathetic. "That awful witch who calls herself her mother has her locked up in a tower! You //have to// help me save her!" "We're Witch Hunters. And the old lady you're talking about? Gothel, who lives just outside these woods? She's just an old lady who really likes her vegetables and is protective of her daughter. Sorry, but we won't be taking the job." [[Approach the Prince]] [[Head away from the Campsite]]

You can't help your curiosity. You've never met a Prince before. The Wolf remain hiding in the woods as the three of you quietly wander out into the campsite. You catch the tail end of the conversation. "Please! There is a maiden in danger!" The Prince pleads. The people surrounding him remain completely unsympathetic. "That awful witch who calls herself her mother has her locked up in a tower! You //have to// help me save her!" "The old lady you're talking about? Gothel, who lives just outside these woods? She's just an old lady who really likes her vegetables and is protective of her daughter. Sorry, but we won't be taking the job." The Prince continues to plead. "Please, anyone, help me save Rapunzel!" [[Agree to help him]] [[Head away from the Campsite]]

Both siblings looked moved by the Prince's plight and his strong feelings for the trapped damsel in the tower. [[Back|Agree to help him]]

You speak up. You offer to help. Hansel and Gretel immediately agree with you. "We can bring back proof that Rapunzel is trapped and that Mother Gothel is a witch," Gretel insists. "And when we do, you'll help the Prince." The people in the campsite are still skeptical, but they agree to remain in the area for one more day. The Prince is overjoyed at the opportunity. He profusely thanks the three of you and promises to repay you for your help. The Prince animatedly talks to all of you about Rapunzel and the circumstances that led him to meeting her. [[Hansel and Gretel hang onto every word.]] The Prince informs all of you that the best and safest way to gather proof is through Rapunzel. He hands you a note for you to deliver to her and gives you specific directions to follow. The three of you leave the camp and return to the Wolf. While wary of the Witch Hunters and the Prince, she takes you all to the tower. She waits at the bottom as the three of you call out to Rapunzel. [["Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!"]]

When the Wolf makes it out of the forest, you find yourself in awe at the sight stretched in front of you. Stretched throughout the land near the tower is [[the biggest garden you've ever seen.]] Behind you, Hansel and Gretel look around with loud cries of amazement. "Gretel, Gretel, look at that carrot over there! It's almost the size of my arm!" "I see it, Hansel! Look at that squash over there!" Eventually, [[you come across a gardener.]] She was working on gathering some rampions when the Wolf draws near. She regards all of you suspiciously. "Yes? What do you want? And no, the vegtables are not for sale." You introduce yourself and tell Mother Gothel about your grandmother. [[You show Mother Gothel the note.]] "Oh! You're ''her'' grandchild! She and I are long time friends." She invites you and the siblings to come inside and have some tea. [[Have Tea with Mother Gothel]]

Someone throws down a golden rope from within the tower. When you touch it, you realize it's hair. You tell the siblings to keep a lookout while you climb up and deliver the message. You grab onto the long, beautiful hair and start to climb. You marvel at how it holds your weight. The higher your climb, the more uneasy you feel. [["Don't look down!"]] Hansel calls out from the bottom, which doesn't help. Somehow, though, you make it to the top. When, you climb through the window, you come face-to-face with the owner of the hair. [[The blonde woman blinks in surprise at the sight of you.]] She must be Rapunzel. "You're not the Prince." You introduce yourself to her. [[Deliver the Prince's message]]

You've heard enough. You recognize Mother Gothel's name from the note in the letter. Friend of the Witch of the Woods or not, the "old lady" might know where your grandmother is and you don't want to get involved with anyone who wants to possibly hurt her. Fortunately, the conversation revealed to you her location, so that's where you will go. Hansel and Gretel follow you when you sneak back to the Wolf. You all climb onto her back and leave. [[Go visit Mother Gothel]]

You can tell that all of it had been raised with love. [[Back|Go visit Mother Gothel]]

You accept Mother Gothel's offer. To your surprise, both Hansel and Gretel take that offer too. Mother Gothel assigns different tasks to all of you. The work isn't too impossible or taxing. It's small things like helping tend to sick plants in the garden or going out into the nearby village for errands. Hansel and Gretel enjoy their work. The Wolf remains outside, enjoying the bounty of the forest and relaxing in the shade of Mother Gothel's bigger flowers. In one of her errands to the village, Gretel returns, upset. She had encountered the Prince again in the market. [["That Prince is a liar!"]] She cries out. "He said so many terrible things about Mother Gothel. He keeps telling everyone that Rapunzel is trapped in a tower and needs to be saved!" "But we never met Rapunzel," Hansel reminds his sister. "Not once. Maybe she really is trapped in a tower as he said." "Trapped or protected from guys like the Prince?" Gretel crosses her arms. [["Mother Gothel isn't like the other Witch. She's //good//."]] She turns to you. "We have to tell her what the Prince is trying to do." [[Tell her about the Prince]]

When you and the siblings tell Mother Gothel about the Prince, her face pales with fright before reddening with anger. With a speed unnatural for her age, Mother Gothel rushes out of the cottage at full-speed, leaving the three of you behind. With no way to follow her, you all wait for her in the cottage. Eventually, she returns with a grim expression on her face. "What happened?" Hansel dares to ask. "He isn't dead. That is all you need to know," Mother Gothel says shortly. But when she sees the stricken looks on Hansel and Gretel's faces, she gentles. "Because of you, my daughter is safe." She then turns to you. "I have not been honest with you, child. I know where your grandmother is. But to go where she fled is dangerous. Are you certain that you want to find your grandmother?" You nod. "I see." Mother Gothel doesn't look surprised. [["I will help you prepare to face the Shadow."]]

You all gratefully accept her offer and follow her to her cottage. Hansel and Gretel are pleasantly surprised to see that Mother Gothel's home and meals are different from the Witch of the Woods. The cottage looks like any other normal cottage and the snacks she offers are all freshly picked from her garden. You ask Mother Gothel again about the whereabouts of your grandmother. "Away," Mother Gothel tells you vaguely, "far away. It's best to just go back home, child. Your Grandmother would not want you to come out this far for her." You ask Mother Gothel to tell you more. You feel as if she's hiding something from you. Eventually, she gives in. "Child, your grandmother wasn't ill, she was cursed." "Cursed? With what? By who?" With great reluctance, [[Mother Gothel tells you about the Shadow.]] [[You've seen it before.]] You tell Mother Gothel so. She pales. "You best hope that it was just a vision, child. You do not know how dangerous it is to catch the attention of the Shadow." You decide to change the subject. [["Do you know where my grandmother is now?"]]

Mother Gothel's weariness leaves her at the handwriting of your grandmother's note. The change makes Hansel and Gretel relax. [[Back|Go visit Mother Gothel]]

Mother Gothel shakes her head and apologizes. Your grandmother did not tell her where she would flee. At first, she tries to convince you to return home. When you refuse, Mother Gothel offers to prepare a tracking spell that may help you. "It will take some time," she warns you. "Until then, you may stay under my roof, but not for free." [[Work for food and shelter]]

"That Prince claims that Rapunzel is his one, true love but he's already engaged to another Princess! He's the worst!" Gretel fumes. [[Back|Work for food and shelter]]

"I will teach you ''The Spell of Protection.'' With this spell, you will stand a chance. If you are quick, you can find your grandmother and flee from the Shadow." Under Mother Gothel's guidance, you learn the spells. You memorize the words and gestures. You swallow your fear. You have to save your grandmother. When you've learned all that Mother Gothel could teach you, she points you to the direction your grandmother left. The path leads to another forest where no sunlight or moonlight shines through. "But you do not need to leave right this instant. Why not stay until the sun goes down? You can go meet my daughter, Rapunzel." [[You visit Rapunzel.]]

You head to the tower. There is a ladder hanging from the only window of the tower. [[On your way up, a bug lands on your neck.]] At the top, you meet [[Mother Gothel's daughter.]] Rapunzel is quiet when you greet her. She doesn't react to the meal you deliver. She simply stares out of the window. [[A thought enters your mind.]] It's gone as quickly as it came. You climb back down. The Wolf meets you at the bottom. [[You speak with the Wolf]]

Did you do the right thing? [[Back|You visit Rapunzel.]]

"I'm leaving soon," you tell the Wolf. "And I have to go alone. Will you be all right?" "I will be fine, child. These lands are bountiful in prey and crop. I will want for nothing here," the Wolf tells you. "Do not worry about me. I am not the one who is ready to let you go alone." "Was telling Mother Gothel right?" You can't help but ask the Wolf. "It doesn't feel right after seeinng Rapunzel. She looks so sad." "The results are not your responsibility. The decision was in Mother Gothel's hands in the end. She chose what she thought was right for her daughter. As a mother, I respect her for her ferocity in keeping her pup safe. As a wild creature, I sympathize with her child, who will never know freedom." The Wolf nudges you to get onto her back. "I will take you back to the cottage. And I will take you as far as you need me to take you until we need to part, child." The Wolf takes you to the cottage where Mother Gothel and the siblings are waiting for you. [["Are you ready?"]]

You think you saw something the night after you witnessed the Witch of the Woods burned to death. There was a slight shift in the woods as if something was there in the dark. It could have been nothing but you're not so sure. [[Back|Have Tea with Mother Gothel]]

Hansel and Gretel come forward first. Both brother and sister hug you and thank you for helping them. [[They hand you your basket.]] "Remember, run and hide when you can," Mother Gothel warns you. "The Shadow has not set its sights on you yet. Not completely. If it ever finds you, protect yourself. //Do not listen to it.//" You promise you won't. "You can go back home, child. No one should take this journey alone." You thank Mother Gothel for her help. You leave her cottage with the Wolf. They take you away as far as they can. When you're all at the edge of the woods, the Wolf stops. She nuzzles your hands after you slide off of her back. "Thank you for your kindness," she rumbles, "and your food. Be well, child." [[Off to Grandmother|Off the Grandmother (Winding Route: Mothers)]]

You turn away and start your walking down the path alone. Clutching onto your basket, you walk into the darkness. ''End of Chapter 3: Rapunzel'' [[Final Chapter: The Shadow|Final Chapter: The Shadow (Mothers)]]

You hand her the Prince's messagee. [[Rapunzel looks happy.]] She asks you about the world outside. You promise her that you will tell her about your adventures later. For now, you don't have much time and need to bring back proof of magic and witchcraft so the Prince could save her from the tower. [[Rapunzel cuts a lock of her hair.]] You thank her for her help and promise to come back with help. [[You climb down the Tower.]]

Rapunzel looks out of her window with hope in her expression. [[Back|Deliver the Prince's message]]

It's long and it takes a while to gather up and tuck into your basket. [[Back|Deliver the Prince's message]]

Once you reach the bottom, Hansel and Gretel recieve you with relieved smiles. You tell Hansel and Gretel about Rapunzel. You tell them about the room in the tower and how much she wanted to leave. "I knew it! Rapunzel is trapped by that witch, Mother Gothel!" Gretel says. "We need to save her!" Hansel agrees. [[The Wolf expresses her doubts.]] She goes completely unheard by the siblings. [[You catch sight of Mother Gothel.]] You tell everyone to hide behind the tower before the witch sees you. You all wait until she climbs up the tower to make your escape. You can't be caught now. [[Return to the Prince with Rapunzel's Hair.]]

"We do not have the entire story. Did they not say that Rapunzel is Mother Gothel's child? Perhaps she is only a concerned mother." [[Back|You climb down the Tower.]]

The three of you return to the camp. The Prince recieves the three of you excitedly. You show everyone in the camp Rapunzel's hair as proof that she is being kept captive by magic and needs to be saved. This time, the people at the campsite listens. "Mother Gothel is a witch!" "What the Prince said was true!" "We need to burn the witch!" Your happiness turns into worry at the last shout. You insist that there is no need to burn anyone. Rapunzel needs to be saved. No one has to get hurt. But no one listens to you. To your horror, you find out that the campsite belongs to a group of Witch Hunters. And now that they know Mother Gothel is a witch, they will hunt her down and burn her. [[Try to warn Mother Gothel]] [[Wait with Hansel and Gretel]]

Hansel and Gretel decide to stay in the camp. You disagree. Witch or not, Mother Gothel needs to be warned. You decide to try and sneak away and reach the Wolf. You're caught before you both make it out. You're brought back to the campsite. The Witch Hunters take the Wolf away to be locked up. While Gretel's admiration does not falter, Hansel begins to share your nervousness. The three of you wait in a tent while the others leave. You all wait for a long time. Then, the wait is broken by the sound of shouting. [[You look outside with a heavy heart.]]

You decide to wait with Hansel and Gretel. It's best to leave things to the adults. Gretel's eyes shine with admiration as she watches the Witch Hunters prepare their torches and weapons. You and Hansel are more nervous. During their preparation, someone finds the Wolf. It takes all three of you pleading with the Prince to have her spared. The Witch Hunters take her away to be locked up. While Gretel's admiration does not falter, Hansel begins to share your nervousness. The three of you wait in a tent while the others leave. You all wait for a long time. Then, the wait is broken by the sound of shouting. [[You look outside with a heavy heart.]]

You see Mother Gothel struggling in the grips of the Witch Hunters. They tie her to a tree and leave her there. You step out of the tent and approach her. Mother Gothel's wild eyes land on you when you draw near. [[You apologize to Mother Gothel.]]

"And why," Mother Gothel rasps, "do you feel that all of this is your fault?" You tell her everything. You tell her about the Prince and your part in bringing Rapunzel's hair. You tell her about the Witch of the Woods. [["Poor girl, she didn't deserve that."]] Mother Gothel shakes her head. You apologize to her again. "Because of you, my garden is burnt to the ground and I will soon burn too. Because of you, my poor daughter will be whisked away by a fickle prince into this dangerous, unfamiliar world. I would curse you, child, but you are already cursed. The Shadow follows you just as it had followed your grandmother." [["The Shadow?"]] Mother Gothel briefly tells you about the Shadow, but the Witch Hunters pull you away before she could tell you more. They gag her so she wouldn't spit out more witchcraft. They begin to pile firewood near her feet. One of the Witch Hunters tell you to turn away. You don't. They set down one of their torches. [[She burned.]] [[You look away]]

The Witch of the Woods had been Mother Gothel's friend. Remembering this fact fills you with guilt. You look down in shame. [[Back|You apologize to Mother Gothel.]]

It was terrible. Even through her gag, you hear Mother Gothel scream. She didn't deserve to be burned like this. It wasn't supposed to be this way. [[Back|You apologize to Mother Gothel.]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fire.mp3"></audio></figure>

You find the Wolf and you set her free. You climb onto her back and she bolts. From a distance, [[you catch sight of Rapunzel in the Prince's arms.]] As you both escape, you catch sight of something flee into the trees. A Shadow. "We need to chase it!" You cry out to the Wolf. "It will lead me to Grandmother!" [[Chase after the Shadow.]]

The Wolf gives chase. The Shadow is fast, but the Wolf is just as fast. She chases it until it darts into a dark forest. The Wolf stops and refuses to go any further. "There is something dark in the woods. It is not safe there," she tells you. "It is wise to stop and turn back. But you refuse. You tell the Wolf that you will go on by yourself. "If I leave, the Shadow will only start chasing me. I have no choice." You thank her for her help. The Wolf nuzzles your hands after you slide off of her back. "Thank you for your kindness," she rumbles, "and your food. Be well, child." [[Off to Grandmother|Off to Grandmother (Winding Route: Fire)]]

You turn away and start your walking down the path alone. With Gretel's matchsticks sitting heavy in your pocket, you walk into the darkness. ''End of Chapter 3: Rapunzel'' [[Final Chapter: The Shadow|Final Chapter: The Shadow (Fire)]]

The young woman looks beautiful. Despite her simple attire, she seems to shine. She wears no shoes. From head to toe, her skin shows no blemishes - no cuts, no bruises, and no callouses. Her blonde hair looks as if it was haphazardly cut. She sits with the Prince on the saddle. You can't see the expression on her face clearly, but you think you hear a sob. It might just be the sound of the wind. [[Back|You search for the Wolf.]]

You let them approach you. They recognize the Hunter and greet him with smiles. You hear the Witch of the Woods hiss under her breath. //"Witch Hunters."// They bring the three of you into the fold, offering you a place near the fire. One of them gestures to a young man. "You should listen to the stories that our Prince here is telling." "The Prince?" You pipe up. You've never met a //prince// before. [[Listen to the Prince's story]]

You stumble back and flee before anyone could see or catch you. The Witch and the Hunter quickly follow after you. "We should go back. I think I recognize someone there," the Hunter tells you once you slow down. "I think that was the Prince." The Witch of the Woods disagrees. "Running away was wise. We can't be sure who they are. We have places to go. Let's go to Mother Gothel's." [[Go back]] [[Follow the Witch]]

The Hunter accepts the Prince's request, much to the interest of the rest of the campsite. Later, when you're all on your way out, the Witch of the Woods confronts the Hunter. "You just accepted a request to hunt a witch! Mother Gothel is //my friend//! The exact friend we're visiting!" "I did not accept to hunt down a witch. I accepted the request because a girl might be in danger," the Hunter tells her patiently. "I will listen to your friend's side of the story first. I will not hurt her if she is willing to release the girl if things are truly how the Prince told it. Is that not fair?" Though she's not happy about it, the Witch of the Woods conceeds since it did sound fair. She leads you and the Hunter through the woods and into the biggest garden you've ever seen. [[The garden is vast and beautiful.]] [[The Tower looms over you as you pass it.]] [[From a distance, you see an old woman.]] The Witch of the Woods calls out to her friend. "Mother Gothel!" The old woman looks up from her gardening. Her pinched expression lightens at the sight of the Witch. "Why, if it isn't the Witch of the Woods! What are you doing back so soon? You came by only recently!" "That's part of the reason why I'm here," the Witch admits. "We need your help." Mother Gothel looks you all up and down. "That, you do. Why don't you all come inside for a cup of tea?" [[You all accept her generous offer.]]

The Prince speaks. He talks about a tower in the middle of a garden. He speaks about the girl trapped at the top of it. He speaks about the witch who keeps her captive, Mother Gothel. The Witch of the Woods has a sour look on her face when the Prince mentions this 'Mother Gothel'. When the Prince finishes his story, he pleads to the Hunter to take him seriously. "Please," he begs, "help me save Rapunzel!" [[Have the Hunter accept the Prince's request]] [[Politely decline]]

You decide to go back. Now that the fear is out of your system, you're curious. Once you all return to the campsite, the Hunter announces himself. The people there recognize the Hunter and greet him with smiles. You hear the Witch of the Woods hiss under her breath. //"Witch Hunters."// They bring the three of you into the fold, offering you a place near the fire. One of them gestures to a young man. "You should listen to the stories that our Prince here is telling." "The Prince?" You pipe up. You've never met a //prince// before. [[Listen to the Prince's story]]

The Witch leads you and the Hunter through the woods and into the biggest garden you've ever seen. [[What a beautiful garden.]] [[You notice a Tower at a distance]] [["Gothel? Gothel! Are you there?]] The Witch of the Woods calls out to her friend. An old woman looks up from her gardening. Her pinched expression lightens at the sight of the Witch. "Why, if it isn't the Witch of the Woods! What are you doing back so soon? You came by only recently!" "That's part of the reason why I'm here," the Witch admits. "We need your help." Mother Gothel looks you all up and down. "That, you do. Why don't you all come inside for a cup of tea?" [[Enter the Cottage for a meal]]

You all politely decline the Prince's request. "We have places to be. We wish you luck on your endeavor," the Hunter tells him with a respectful nod. [[Follow the Witch]]

You can tell that all of it had been raised with love. [[Back|Have the Hunter accept the Prince's request]]

You can tell that all of it had been raised with love. [[Back|Follow the Witch]]

As you all sit at the table inside Mother Gothel's Cottage, the Witch of the Woods casually asks about Rapunzel's health. "Rapunzel is doing well," Mother Gothel answers with a proud smile. "She has grown beautifully." The Hunter asks if Rapunzel would be joining the table. [[Mother Gothel tells him that she was too shy.]] You ask Mother Gothel again about the whereabouts of your grandmother. "Away," Mother Gothel tells you vaguely, "far away. It's best to just go back home, child. Your Grandmother would not want you to come out this far for her." You ask Mother Gothel to tell you more. You feel as if she's hiding something from you. Eventually, she gives in. [["Your grandmother wasn't sick. She was cursed."]] Mother Gothel briefly tells you about the Shadow before refusing to say any more. "There is no need for young children to know about things so terrible." The Hunter agrees with Mother Gothel and thanks her for her hospitality. He offers to help her around her cottage and garden if she needs it. Mother Gothel accepts his offer. Mother Gothel then opens up her entire garden for you to explore. She only has one request: [["Please stay away from the tower."]] [[You leave with the Witch to explore.]]

The Shadow is a curse that hounds at the ankles of whoever it sets its eyes on. It is fear and evil itself. No one knows why it starts chasing a person. Or what happens when it catches said unfortunate person. And no matter how the cursed person runs, the Shadow always catches them. Always. "No one knows what it is. Not truly," Mother Gothel tells you. "Only what it can do. And that makes it dangerous. Your Grandmother has run and hidden from the Shadow for her entire life. But now, it has caught up to her." You shiver. [[Back|You all accept her generous offer.]]

The Hunter frowns at that. He doesn't ask any more questions about Rapunzel. [[Back|You all accept her generous offer.]]

You and the Hunter share a look. The Witch of the Woods looks down, disappointed. [[Back|You all accept her generous offer.]]

You step outside and start to explore the garden with the Witch of the Woods at your side. You admire the giant carrots and cabbages. Your head spins at the many, vibrant colors of the flowers. Your mouth waters at [[the sight of the fresh, ripe berries.]] The Witch ushers you further into the garden. It takes you a moment to realize that she is leading you towards the tower. "I need to see it for myself," the Witch of the Woods tells you. "I need to see if that girl is truly in there." Once you both reach the tower, the Witch holds out her hand. You take it. [[The Witch and you go up the tower.]]

With magic, the Witch lifts you both up to the only window of the tower. It isn't empty. "Hello," a beautiful, young woman greets you both. [["My name is Rapunzel."]] The Witch of the Woods does not smile, but she is gentle with Rapunzel. She introduces you both as friends of Mother Gothel. She asks Rapunzel questions, which she eagerly answers. You both learn that Rapunzel has never been hurt or experienced hunger. You both also learn that Rapunzel has never left the tower her entire life. The Prince had been telling the truth. Rapunzel is trapped. The Witch thanks Rapunzel for her time and answers. She takes your hand and leaves the tower. Once both of your feet hits the ground, the Witch starts marching off to the cottage. She slams open the door and glares at the old woman inside. [["Gothel, what is a girl doing locked up in that tower?"]]

Mother Gothel is immediately upset that the Witch broke the rules of her house. The Witch is upset that Mother Gothel has her own daughter locked up in a tower. They shout at each other so loudly that it shakes the cottage. Then, the Witch accidentally mentions the Prince. At this, Mother Gothel's face turns red. "That foolish girl!" With a speed unnatural for her age, Mother Gothel rushes out of the cottage at full-speed. The Witch of the Woods quickly follows after her. The Hunter, who had been on his way back to the cottage with firewood, meets you at the entrance. He sees the look on your face. "What happened?" "Mother Gothel found out about the Prince!" You tell the Hunter quickly. "She's heading to the tower!" [[You both run after Mother Gothel and the Witch.]]

By the time that you and the Hunter reach the tower, you can hear shouting coming from the top. To your surprise, you see the Prince trying to climb up a golden rope. You stop him before he tries to climb up the tower. The Hunter tells the Prince to stay put. "We'll take care of this, your highness," he assures him before he starts to climb up the tower with you clinging onto his back. The golden rope, you discover, is actually Rapunzel's hair. In no time, you both make it to the top. [[You enter the Tower]]

Rapunzel is on the ground, sobbing into her hands. Mother Gothel and the Witch continue to argue. Their hands frizzle with magic. The Hunter sets aside his axe and steps in to calm them both down. He attempts to reason with Mother Gothel. The conversation comes to a halt when you hear a grunt. To your horror, you recognize that it is the Prince trying to climb up Rapunzel's hair. Before anyone can stop her, Mother Gothel rushes over to the tower's window and glares down at the Prince. The magic in her hands sparks and crackles dangerously. "Gothel, no!" The Witch of the Woods shouts in dismay. Mother Gothel does not listen to her. ''"You! Fickle, spoiled boy! This is all your doing!"'' She shrieks as she readies her magic to send it at the Prince. [[You take the axe]] [[You leave the axe alone]]

It feels heavy in your hands. You have to act. You have to choose. [[You chop off Rapunzel's hair]] [[You chop off Mother Gothel's hands]]

The axe easily cuts through Rapunzel's hair. With a frightened shout, the Prince falls. The spell that Mother Gothel sends at his way barely misses him. He lands on the thorny bushes at the bottom of the tower with a pained cry. The Hunter tugs the axe away from your shaking hands and the Witch takes Mother Gothel. You try not to feel sick. You look down and freeze. [[A dark figure stands near the Prince's body.]] It eventually looks away from you and runs. Your eyes follow it until it's out of sight. The Witch of the Woods creates a door and a set of stairs in the tower to make it easier to go up and down. "None of that hair-climbing nonesense." To your relief, the Prince isn't dead. The Witch looks over his wounds and declares that they are not fatal. [[The Prince will live.]] [[You tell the Hunter and the Witch that you need to leave.]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Axe.mp3"></audio></figure>

You pale at the sound that the axe makes. You pale even further at Mother Gothel's scream. But the magic in her hands fizzles out and the Prince is safe. The Hunter tugs the axe away from your shaking hands and the Witch takes Mother Gothel. You try not to feel sick. You look down and freeze. [[You see the Shadow looking up to you from the bottom of the tower.]] It eventually looks away from you and runs. Your eyes follow it until it's out of sight. [[Mother Gothel will live.]] Rapunzel tends to her wounds while the Witch of the Woods creates a door and a set of stairs in the tower to make it easier to go up and down. "None of that hair-climbing nonesense." [[You tell the Hunter and the Witch that you need to leave.]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Axe.mp3"></audio></figure>

It looks up at you. You can tell that this is the Shadow that had been chasing after your grandmother. Even though you can't see its face, you can tell that it's laughing at you. [[Back|You chop off Mother Gothel's hands]]

The Witch wraps up Mother Gothel's wounds and stops the bleeding. She will never be able to perform magic or garden again. [[Back|You chop off Mother Gothel's hands]]

The Witch wraps bandages over the Prince's eyes. Even though his broken leg may heal with time, he will never be able to see again. [[Back|You chop off Rapunzel's hair]]

The Hunter and the Witch listen as you talk about your distant encounter with the Shadow. You lead them down the path the Shadow took before you reach the edge of the woods. When they both offer to come with you, you tell them that this is a journey you must take alone. The Witch of the Woods sighs. "I respect your decision to go. But remember, you should not bear everything on your own." With a gesture of her hand, she summons a small ball of light. She hands it to you. It doesn't burn you. Instead, it fills you with warmth and comfort. "There. To light your way." The Hunter takes off his fur cloak and wraps it around you. It fills you with a different kind of comfort. "You have changed the way I have seen the world. Thank you and be safe, child. I will wait here for your return." [[Off to Grandmother|Off to Grandmother (Winding Route: Cut)]]

You turn away and start your walking down the path alone. You walk into the darkness with a faint light in your hands and a fur pelt around your shoulders. ''End of Chapter 3: Rapunzel'' [[Final Chapter: The Shadow|Final Chapter: The Shadow (Cut)]]

After you take a seat, you ask Mother Gothel again about the whereabouts of your grandmother. "Away," Mother Gothel tells you vaguely, "far away. It's best to just go back home, child. Your Grandmother would not want you to come out this far for her." You ask Mother Gothel to tell you more. You feel as if she's hiding something from you. Eventually, she gives in. "Your grandmother wasn't sick. She was cursed." Mother Gothel briefly tells you [[about the Shadow]] before refusing to say any more. "There is no need for young children to know about things so terrible." You decide to change the subject. [[You ask Mother Gothel if she has a daughter.]]

"Yes, I have a daughter," Mother Gothel answers with a fond smile. "Her name is Rapunzel. I love her more than anything in the world. She's a bit shy, so she won't be joining us. Why do you ask, child?" [[You tell her what you know.]]

You tell her about the campsite and what you overheard. Your descriptions are vague, bu it reveals enough. At this, Mother Gothel's face pales with horror. With a speed unnatural for her age, Mother Gothel rushes out of the cottage at full-speed. The Witch of the Woods quickly follows after her. [[You follow the Witch and Mother Gothel to the Tower]]

You follow after the Witch and Mother Gothel. The Hunter follows closely behind. By the time that you and the Hunter reach the tower, you can hear shouting coming from the top. Using the rope hanging out of the tower's window, you and the Hunter climb up the tower. The golden rope, you discover, is actually Rapunzel's hair. As the Hunter climbs up with you hanging off of him, a bug lands on your neck and bites you. [[You consider swatting it.]] In no time, you both make it to the top. Inside, you see Mother Gothel yelling at a distraught, young woman. [["Rapunzel!"]] She shouts. "Tell me the truth, foolish girl! Has an outsider entered this tower?" Tearfully, Rapunzel confesses everything. She tells her mother about the Prince and his visits. She tells her mother about the many promises that the Prince made to her. Then, just after Rapunzel finishes her confession, [[you hear someone call out Rapunzel's name.]]

To your horror, you recognize that it is the Prince calling out to her. Before anyone can stop her, Mother Gothel rushes over to the tower's window and glares down at the Prince, who was trying to climb up Rapunzel's hair. The magic in her hands sparks and crackles dangerously. "Gothel, no!" The Witch of the Woods shouts in dismay. Mother Gothel does not listen to her. ''"You! Fickle, spoiled boy! This is all your doing!"'' She shrieks as she readies her magic to send it at the Prince. [[You look from Mother Gothel to the Prince]]

You don't know what to do. You don't want to see someone hurt in front of you. What can you do? Then, you see an axe propped up on the wall near you. The Hunter had set it aside when he entered the tower room. [[You take the axe]] [[You don't take the axe]]

Mother Gothel's magic turns into a bolt of lightning that hits the Prince. It's so powerful that it hits the tower too. The structure crumbles with all of you in it. You die under the rubble. (text-colour:red)[Bad End: Bystander] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You see Hansel gathering food for the road. His bag is filled with berries and nuts. You help him gather the food. You see some cookies in the bottom of his bag. You cover them up with what you find. [[Back|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (H+HG)]]

Gretel excitedly shows you the new hunting knife the Hunter gave her. "With this, I'll catch us food and protect us from witches!" She tells you proudly. "I'm going to be strong like the Hunter when I grow up!" [[Back|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (H+HG)]]

The Hunter greets you when you approach him. He informs you that Hansel and Gretel had agreed to accompany you both in your quest to find your grandmother. He asks you if you know where she might have gone. "Did that Witch tell you anything? Did she leave behind a clue?" [[Show him the spellbook]] [[Hide the spellbook]]

Your hands and voice shakes when you reveal the Spellbook, its contents, and your Grandmother's connection to magic. After the Witch and her terrible fate, you're afraid of how the Hunter might react to the connection your grandmother has to magic. At first, the Hunter is shocked. You know that he has a high opinion of your grandmother, so her connection to witches and magic must be unexpected. Then, his expression turns thoughtful. To your surprise, the Hunter hands you back the Spellbook. He encourages you to read the spells and try casting them. [[Read the Spellbook]]

You hide the Spellbook and the letter. You don't know why, but you feel afraid and ashamed to show him the proof that connects your grandmother to magic and witches. You're afraid of what he might do to her. You're afraid of what he might do to you. Instead, you lie and say that the Witch of the Woods mentioned a location and a name, "Mother Gothel". The Hunter recognizes the location. He tells you to finish packing up so you can all leave as soon as possible. [[Travel by foot to the location]]

You all travel by foot. The journey was difficult, but you make it to the location within a day's travel. You all cross paths with a campsite full of people who seems to recognize the Hunter. They bring all of you into the fold, offering you a place near the fire. One of them gestures [[to a young man.]] "You should listen to the story that our Prince here is telling." The Prince speaks. He talks about a tower in the middle of a garden. He speaks about the girl trapped at the top of it. He speaks about the witch who keeps her captive, Mother Gothel. You perk up at that name. It was the name written on the letter! When the Prince finishes his story, he pleads to the Hunter to take him seriously. "Please," he begs, "help me save Rapunzel!" The Hunter glances at you. He wants your opinion. [[Accept the Request]] [[Reject the Request]]

You all travel by foot. With your ability to light campfires and Hansel's ability to grow more food, the journey is not as strenuous as it could have been. You all cross paths with another campsite who seems to recognize the Hunter, but he keeps all conversation short and moves on quickly. "Witch Hunters," he explains shortly when all three of you ask. Eventually, you leave the woods and into a garden. [["It's the biggest garden in the world!"]] Gretel cries out in awe. [[From a distance, you see an old woman tending to the vegtables.]] [[Approach the Gardener]]

You read the ''Spell of Transportation'' out loud. You feel a light tug but nothing else happens. You read the page again and realize that it's a complicated spell that works better with two magic casters. [[Back|Read the Spellbook]]

You read the ''Spell of Fire'' out loud. The campfire lights itself. "This is magic?" You marvel. "I'm doing this?" "Yes, this is magic," the Hunter confirms. "But this is also fire. Don't play with it. Or it will spread." [[Listen to him|Read the Spellbook]] [[Fuel the Fire More]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fire.mp3"></audio></figure>

You hand Hansel the book. He reads the spells out loud and, to his happiness, he successfully casts the ''Spell of Growth''. "I never knew magic can be so amazing!" He gushes as flowers grow from the ground. [[Back|Read the Spellbook]]

You approach the Gardener. This must be Mother Gothel. She regards all of you suspiciously. "Yes? What do you want? And no, the vegtables are not for sale." You introduce yourself and tell Mother Gothel about your grandmother. You show Mother Gothel the note. "Oh! You're ''her'' grandchild! She and I are long time friends." She invites you and your companions to come inside and have some tea. As you seat yourself at her table, you ask Mother Gothel again about the whereabouts of your grandmother. "Away," Mother Gothel tells you vaguely, "far away. It's best to just go back home, child. Your Grandmother would not want you to come out this far for her." You ask Mother Gothel to tell you more. You feel as if she's hiding something from you. Eventually, she gives in. "Your grandmother wasn't sick. She was cursed." "Cursed?" "Yes. [[A terrible curse.]] I did my best to help her since she had been an old friend, but I could only offer temporary protection." You ask her where your grandmother has gone. Mother Gothel apologizes and tells you that she does not know. At first, she tries to convince you to return home. When you refuse, Mother Gothel offers to prepare a tracking spell that may help you. "It will take some time," she warns you. "Until then, you may stay under my roof, but not for free." [[Accept her offer and stay]]

You can tell that all of it had been raised with love. [[Back|Head to Location in Spellbook]]

You accept Mother Gothel's offer. To your surprise, the Hunter, Hansel, and Gretel take that offer too. The Hunter volunteers to do the heavy work, which Mother Gothel accepts. Mother Gothel assigns different tasks to the children. The work isn't too impossible or taxing. It's small things like helping tend to sick plants in the garden or going out into the nearby village for errands. Hansel and Gretel enjoy their work. When Mother Gothel learns of your ability to cast spells, she teaches you and Hansel the ''Spell of Banishment'' to deal with the worst of weeds. During your breaks, Mother Gothel then opens up her entire garden for all of you to explore. She only has one request: "Stay away from the tower." You follow the rule as best you can and avoid the tower. Hansel and Gretel does the same. But then, one day, you hear someone singing. [[Follow the Singing]]

Your curiosity draws you closer and closer to the tower. [[From afar, you see a young woman in the tower.]] You run away before she could catch sight of you. The Hunter has a grim expression as you tell him what you saw. You half expect him to take his axe and march over to Mother Gothel. He doesn't. Instead, he turns to you and asks you what you want to do. You decide to confront Mother Gothel. The Hunter promises to stay by your side just in case something happens. [[Ask Mother Gothel to explain herself]]

The young woman looking out from the window looks beautiful. Despite her simple attire, she seems to shine. Her skin shows no blemishes - no cuts, no bruises, and no callouses. She sings very beautifully. She looks a little lonely. [[Back|Follow the Singing]]

You speak to Mother Gothel. At first, she is furious at you for going against her request. Her face reddens in anger as she scolds you for breaking her rules. The Hunter speaks up and asks her why she has a girl trapped in a tower. "Rapunzel is my //daughter//, not a captive! And she is in there to be kept safe from the dangers of the world!" "I understand your fears. It is not my place to meddle in family affairs. Still, you should check on your daughter," the Hunter advises calmly. "If the child could see and hear her, there may have been other people who has too." Mother Gothel's face pales and she agrees. [[Visit Rapunzel's Tower]]

All of you drop by the tower. To your surprise, the tower has no stairs leading up to the room. Instead, Mother Gothel calls out to her daughter to throw down her hair. She climbs up Rapunzel's hair. The Hunter decides to return to the cottage and explain everything to Hansel and Gretel. You decide to stay and wait. When Mother Gothel finally descends from the tower, her face is filled with panic. "We must return to the cottage! I need to put up defenses! There has been an outsider claiming to be the Prince visiting my daughter!" "Too late for that, witch!" Before you know it, you and Mother Gothel are surrounded. You recognize the people around you to be the Witch Hunters you had encountered briefly before. [[Leading them is a young man.]] "Halt, witch! As the Prince of these lands, I demand that you release Rapunzel! If you do, I promise that your death will be swift and painless!" [[Ask the Prince to stop]]

You beg the Prince to stop what he is doing. He does not listen to you. "I must slay you," the Prince insists to Mother Gothel. "That is how the world is. Good must slay the evil to save the innocent. Only then will there be a happy ending." You have to act. [[Chant the Spell of Growth]] [[Chant the Spell of Fire]] [[Chant the Spell of Banishment]] [[Do not do magic]]

You cast the ''Spell of Growth''. For a moment, you think that the spell didn't work. Then, before you know it, there is an overgrowth of vines and thorns. The Witch Hunters and the Prince are gone. Buried and smothered by the plants. [[From a distance, you see the Shadow.]] Mother Gothel lets out a hiss at the sight of it and quickly leads you away. You both make it to the cottage where the Hunter and the siblings take you in. You tell them all what happened. [[You all recover]]

You chant the ''Spell of Fire''. Your desperation fuels the spell to burn bright and big. Around you, many voices cry out in pain and despair as your fire grows and grows. "Stop it!" Mother Gothel cries out, afraid. "Child, you must stop!" But you cannot. You wanted to but the spell has grown too large for you to control. Eventually, the fire consumes the rest of you. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Don't Play with Fire''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fire.mp3"></audio></figure>

You cast the ''Spell of Banishment''. For a moment, you think that the spell didn't work. Then, within a blink, the Witch Hunters and the Prince are gone. [[A lone figure stands a distance away.]] Mother Gothel lets out a hiss at the sight of it and quickly leads you away. You both make it to the cottage where the Hunter and the siblings take you in. You tell them all what happened. [[You all recover]]

You do not use a spell. Fear stops you from using the spells you've learned. [[Let the Witch Hunters Take You]]

You and Mother Gothel rest and recover after the ordeal. The casting the spell took more out of you than you thought. [[The Hunter apologizes.]] [[Hansel and Gretel wish to stay.]] After they hear about Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel stubbornly insist that Gothel's daughter should roam around as she pleases. While Mother Gothel is still wary of letting her daughter out, she allows the siblings to visit her. [[Eventually, you come with them too.]] Rapunzel is happy to have more visitors. Sometimes, she speaks about the Prince and mourns that he no longer visits her. [[None of you tell her the truth.]] Eventually, Mother Gothel approaches you and talks to you about the Shadow you saw. "The Shadow is drawn to acts of violence. It has marked you, child. Or perhaps, it already has. I do not know everything that you have done, but you are no longer safe here. You need to find your grandmother. Saving her is your last chance now." [[Mother Gothel tells you where to find your Grandmother]]

"Mother Gothel promised to teach me magic!" Hansel cheers. "She says I have a green thumb and natural talent!" Gretel is a little more subdued. "I want to use my hands to help, not hurt," she tells you. "I'm going to stay here and help Mother Gothel's garden grow." [[Back|You all recover]]

"I have been narrow-minded. I let fear cloud my mind and judgement. Child, do not grow up and follow me in my mistakes." For some reason, the Hunter is looking at his own pelt when he says this. [[Back|You all recover]]

She points you to the direction your grandmother left. The path leads to another forest where no sunlight or moonlight shines through. Before you leave, she teaches you ''The Spell of Protection''. "With this spell, you will stand a chance. If you are quick, you can find your grandmother and flee from the Shadow." Mother Gothel tells you. Under Mother Gothel's guidance, you learn the spell. You memorize the words and gestures. You swallow your fear. You have to save your grandmother. When you prepare to leave, Hansel and Gretel hand you a your basket, now filled with greens for your journey. The Hunter leads you to the forest. Before you part with him, he takes off his fur cloak and wraps it around you. It fills you with comfort. "You have changed the way I have seen the world. Thank you and be safe, child. I will wait here for your return." [[Off to Grandmother|Off to Grandmother (Winding Route: Erase)]]

It watches you with a tilted head. You can tell that this is the Shadow that had been chasing after your grandmother. Even though you can't see its face, you can tell that it's laughing at you. [[Back|Chant the Spell of Growth]]

It's kinder that she never knows what happened to the Prince. At least, that's what Mother Gothel tells you. [[Back|You all recover]]

You turn away and start your walking down the path alone. You walk into the darkness with a tight grip on your basket and a fur pelt around your shoulders. ''End of Chapter 3: Rapunzel'' [[Final Chapter: The Shadow|Final Chapter: The Shadow (Erase)]]

You encourage the Hunter the accept the request. For all you know, your grandmother might be trapped too! Maybe your grandmother was tricked! Hansel and Gretel agree with you too. They were moved by the Prince's story and his deep feelings for the trapped girl. The Prince thanks you all profusely. The other Witch Hunters decide to come with you. [[Get to know the Witch Hunters]]

You shake your head. At that, the Hunter rejects the request and leaves the camp. After you're far enough, Gretel demands why you didn't want to help the Prince. [[You tell the Hunter, Hansel, and Gretel about the Spellbook.]] You hand it to the Hunter to read. At first, the Hunter is shocked. You know that he has a high opinion of your grandmother, so her connection to witches and magic must be unexpected. Then, his expression turns thoughtful. To your surprise, the Hunter hands you back the Spellbook. He tells you that this does not change anything. "Perhaps...magic is not evil. It can simply be tied to the heart of the user," the Hunter concedes. "But now, we know where we need to go to find your grandmother. Let us continue." [[Continue to Mother Gothel's]]

Your hands and voice shakes when you reveal the Spellbook, its contents, and your Grandmother's connection to magic. [[Back|Reject the Request]]

While Hansel shyly keeps to himself, Gretel is quick to make friends with the Witch Hunters. Jokingly, they call her a little [[Witch Hunter in Training]] with how she soaks up the information that they share with her. You shudder at what you hear and hide the Spellbook further into your basket. The Witch Hunters share the rumors they heard surrounding Mother Gothel. Namely, [[The Couple]] who used to live near her. [[Practice Magic]] [[Sneaking to the Tower]]

A poor couple who used to live nearby Mother Gothel's garden lost their infant daughter the day she was born. They had long moved away, but before then, they insisted that their daughter had been stolen away by a witch. [[Back|Get to know the Witch Hunters]]

You sneak into Mother Gothel's garden. Despite yourself, you regard your surroundings with awe. It's the biggest garden you've ever seen! You don't think you recognize half of the vegtables and fruits that you see. Eventually, all of you reach the tower. [[Call Out to Rapunzel]]

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" The Prince calls out. To your surprise, a braid of the longest golden hair you've ever seen is thrown from the tower's only window. The Prince then turns to the siblings and you, holding out a rope. "I need one of you to climb up to the top with the rope so Rapunzel can get down. Meanwhile, the rest of us will hunt down the witch." You volunteer to be the one to climb up the tower. Even though it's clear that your grandmother isn't locked in the tower with Rapunzel, she might know something. The climb is a perilous one. [[You slip once.]] Once you reach the top, you come face-to-face with someone. She must be Rapunzel. You introduce yourself [[to the woman in the tower.]] You explain to her why you are here and show her the rope. While excited, Rapunzel warns you that her mother is coming soon and that you should go back down and hide before Mother Gothel catches sight of you. Before you climb down, you ask her if she's seen or heard about your grandmother. Rapunzel apologizes and tells you that she hasn't. [[Climb back down]]

You climb back down. Hansel and Gretel meet you at the bottom. You warn them about Mother Gothel's approach and tell them to run. You decide to stay behind. Just as Rapunzel warned you, Mother Gothel comes not long after the siblings fled. You do your best to hide yourself behind the tower. [[You take a peek.]] Unfortunately, your curiosity is what gets you caught. "Who's there? Who are you, intruder?" Mother Gothel demands. You take a breath and step out from behind the tower. [[Introduce yourself to Mother Gothel ]]

When you tell Mother Gothel who you are, she relaxes and smiles at you. You are surprised by her sudden warmth. She tells you that she is a friend of your grandmother and she confirmed that your grandmother had stopped by her house not long ago. She looks at you with pity when you ask if your grandmother recovered from her sickness. "Child, your grandmother wasn't ill, she was cursed. She is being hunted by the Shadow as we speak." [["Cursed?"]] Mother Gothel points you to the direction your grandmother left. The path leads to another forest where no sunlight or moonlight shines through. She warns you that facing the Shadow would be dangerous and that your grandmother may be lost already. She advises you to return home. You're unsure if she's telling you the truth. Before you can ask her more, Witch Hunters surround the both of you with the Prince leading them. They intend to capture Mother Gothel and kill her. [[Ask the Prince to stop]] [[Let the Witch Hunters Take You]] [[Protect Mother Gothel]]

You skim the pages. To your disappointment, it's mostly filled with recipes instead of spells. A letter slides out from between the pages. You unfold the letter and read its contents. It's addressed to the Witch of the Woods. The writer thanks her for dropping off 'their dear friend' so promptly. The note mentions a location and urges the Witch of the Woods to come by and visit more. It's signed by "Mother Gothel". You think they're talking about your grandmother. [[Back|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (H+HG)]]

Curious, you decide to see if you can use the magic in the spellbook. Surely, it would help you face Mother Gothel. You sneak off alone when the group stops to take a break. You manage to cast ''The Spell of Growth'' and ''The Spell of Fire'' before you're caught by Gretel. S She asks you what you're doing. [[Tell Gretel the Truth]] [[Lie to Gretel]]

At your confession, Gretel rears back from you and looks at you as if you are a stranger. Before you can explain further, she flees from you and tells the first Witch Hunter she sees. She points at you accusingly as the Witch Hunters take you away to excecute you properly like they do with all things magical. The Hunter tries to speak to your defense but remains unheard. You die burning at the stake. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: White Lies Exist for a Reason''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You lie to Gretel. You make a quick excuse. You sigh in relief when she believes you. You don't feel ready to tell the truth yet. Not when she agrees with the Witch Hunters' teachings. [[Sneaking to the Tower]]

Gretel took to the Witch Hunters like a duckling would imprint onto the first living being it sees. She soaks in their stories and lessons. [[Back|Get to know the Witch Hunters]]

You leave Mother Gothel's side. Now that you are no longer there, the Witch Hunters capture her. As they take her away, Mother Gothel shouts at you to speak in her defense. [[You don't answer.]] You're too afraid to. Later, as you try to block out the sound of screams and the smell of burning, [[you see the Shadow.]] You nearly miss it, but it's there. After it sees you looking at it, it flees to the forest Mother Gothel had pointed to. The Hunter finds you, curled up on the ground. [[The Hunter leads you away.]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fire.mp3"></audio></figure>

You take a step in front of Mother Gothel and defend her. You try to reason with the Witch Hunters and convince them that she isn't a witch. They don't believe you and cut you down. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: You and What Army?''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You have no choice. [[Back|Let the Witch Hunters Take You]]

The Hunter brings you to Hansel and Gretel. You tell all of them what happened and what you learned about your grandmother and her curse. You tell them that you saw the Shadow run to where your grandmother had fled. The Hunter offers to hunt down the curse and save your grandmother. Gretel chimes in that she would help too, eager to use the Witch Hunters' lessons on something evil. Hansel remains quiet. You reject their offers to help. [[You tell them all that you have to face the Curse alone.]]

The Hunter decides to take you to the forest. Hansel and Gretel come along. Right at the edge of the dark woods, you stop to say your goodbyes. The siblings wish you luck and give you gifts. Gretel gives you her hunting knife so you would be safe. Hansel gives you something wrapped in fabric. You take a peek and gasp. It the Spellbook. It must've fallen out of your basket at some point. "I didn't tell anyone," Hansel promises to you with a whisper. "I hope it helps you save your grandmother." You slip it into your basket. When you turn to The Hunter, he takes off his fur cloak and wraps it around you. It fills you with comfort. "You have changed the way I have seen the world. Thank you and be safe, child. I will wait here for your return." [[Off to Grandmother|Off to Grandmother (Traditional Route)]]

You turn away and start your walking down the path alone. With the fur pelt over your shoulders and the knife in your hand, you walk into the darkness. ''End of Chapter 3: Rapunzel'' [[Final Chapter: The Shadow|Final Chapter: The Shadow (Traditional)]]

"Death is a frightening concept to young humans. I understand. It is the unknown. It takes your loved ones. It is the end. But is it truly? With this prey's death, it is able to sustain me enough to live another day. And when death finally takes me, my body will feed the plants around us. Causing death is only cruel when done for cruelty's sake in the law of the wild. But that is not to say that death is always necessary. Mercy and compassion is also important, especially for young humans." "Grow. Learn. Listen." [[Back|Explore the Garden]]

Mother Gothel slips dried fruits, toasted vegetables, a small lantern, and flint stones into your basket. [[Back|Prepare to leave]]

"It's not much, but it's the first flower I picked ever since stepping out of the tower," Rapunzel tells you. "I'm going to pick many more and learn all their names!" [["Please, wait!"]]

Though harsh in appearance, Mother Gothel has nurtured Hansel and Gretel's talent at tending the gardens. Not once had she threatened to eat them or put them in a cage. She even offered the siblings to stay as long as they wanted when she heard about their situation. In Gretel's books, that means that she is good. [[Back|Work for food and shelter]]

Inside, they slipped in a few vegetables and the Spellbook. "Just in case," Hansel whispers to you. [[Back|"Are you ready?"]]

The Shadow is a curse that hounds at the ankles of whoever it sets its eyes on. It is fear and evil itself. No one knows why it starts chasing a person. Or what happens when it catches said unfortunate person. And no matter how the cursed person runs, the Shadow always catches them. Always. "No one knows what it is. Not truly," Mother Gothel tells you. "Only what it can do. And that makes it dangerous. Your Grandmother has run and hidden from the Shadow for her entire life. But now, it has caught up to her." "It will catch up to you too." [[Back|You apologize to Mother Gothel.]]

Eventually, you leave the woods and into a garden. "It's [[the biggest garden in the world!]]" Gretel cries out in awe. From a distance, you see [[an old woman tending to the vegtables.]] [[Approach the Gardener]]

You can tell that all of it had been raised with love. [[Back|Continue to Mother Gothel's]]

You can't watch anymore. You break out of the Witch Hunter's hold and run to the tent where Hansel and Gretel are. You tearfully tell them what you saw outside. "Good," Gretel says fiercely. "Witches should burn before they kidnap and eat more people than they already have." Hansel is more sympathetic. "That's terrible." You tell them that you can't stay. You tell them that you need to go now to find your grandmother. The siblings wish you luck and send you away with gifts. Gretel gives you three matchsticks. Hansel gives you a key. "I took it from the Witch Hunters," he whispers to you. "You can get the Wolf out. Tell her 'thank you' for taking good care of us. I hope you find your grandmother. [[You search for the Wolf.]]

You call for your grandmother. No one answers. It isn't until you are in the darkest part of the forest when the Shadow finds you. To your horror, it knows your name. It calls for you over and over as you start to run. Fruitlessly, you cast the ''Spell of Concealment.'' You know that it is far too late for the spell to work since the Shadow is so close. Still, you hope that it helps you as you continue to weave through the trees. Eventually, you are forced into a dead end. "Look at me," the Shadow cajoles, "speak with me. I only want to talk." You don't listen. You can't the Shadow only lies. [[Cast the Spell of Protection]]

You call for your grandmother. No one answers. It isn't until you are in the darkest part of the forest when the Shadow finds you. To your horror, it knows your name. It calls for you over and over as you start to run. You weave through the trees, hoping that you could lose the Shadow before it catches you. As you run, you call for your grandmother again and again. Eventually, you meet a dead end. "Look at me," the Shadow cajoles, "speak with me. I only want to talk." You take a deep, calming breath and turn around. [[Speak with the Shadow]]

You call for your grandmother. No one answers. It isn't until you are in the darkest part of the forest when the Shadow finds you. To your horror, it knows your name. It calls for you over and over as you start to run. You weave through the forest, eager to lose the Shadow. To slow it down, you throw some of the vegetables in your basket over your shoulder, hoping that it would either hit or trip it. It does neither. Eventually, you meet a dead end. "Look at me," the Shadow cajoles, "speak with me. I only want to talk." [[Instead of listening, you take out the spellbook.]]

You call for your grandmother. No one answers. It isn't until you are in the darkest part of the forest when you come across the Shadow. You almost miss it since the shadows of the forest hid it well. You wonder if it had been here the entire time. "Where is my grandmother?" You demand. "Tell me what you've done to her!" The Shadow laughs at your demand and refuses to answer. [[You light a matchstick to bring light to the darkness.]]

You call for your grandmother. No one answers. It isn't until you are in the darkest part of the forest when you come across the Shadow. You almost miss it since the shadows of the forest hid it well. You wonder if it had been here the entire time. "Where is my grandmother?" You demand. "Tell me what you've done to her!" The Shadow laughs at your demand and refuses to answer. You raise up the ball of light the Witch had gifted you. [["Step into the light and talk to me."]]

You call for your grandmother. No one answers. It isn't until you are in the darkest part of the forest when the Shadow finds you. To your horror, it knows your name. It calls for you over and over as you start to run. You weave through the forest, eager to lose the Shadow. To slow it down, you throw some of the vegetables in your basket over your shoulder, hoping that it would either hit or trip it. It does neither. Eventually, you meet a dead end. "Look at me," the Shadow cajoles, "speak with me. I only want to talk." You cast the ''Spell of Protection''. [[You look up to see if the spell worked.]]

You call for your grandmother. No one answers. It isn't until you are in the darkest part of the forest when the Shadow finds you. To your horror, it knows your name. It calls for you over and over as you start to run. You weave through the trees, hoping to lose the Shadow as you run. But it's close. You can hear its breath right at your ear no matter how fast you run. Eventually, you meet a dead end. "Look at me," the Shadow cajoles, "speak with me. I only want to talk." It's lying. You know it's lying because of the mocking laughter in its voice. The Shadow is a curse that has followed you ever since the beginning. It is a monster that wants to catch you. You can't run anymore, but you can fight. [[Take out Gretel's Knife]]

"You're me," you gasp. "I am everyone," the Shadow corrects you. "I am the part of them that they don't want to see or talk about. But you looked and listened. Why? Aren't you afraid?" "I am," you admit, "but ignoring all the terrible truths in the world won't do me any good. It didn't do Grandmother any good either, did it?" "No, it hasn't. But you are the only one in your family who realized that. Your ancestor was afraid of the darkness inside themself and cut me out of them and anyone in their bloodline who would come after." "What now?" You can't help but ask the Shadow. You no longer feel threatened now that you've recognized the Shadow for what it truly is. "I give your Grandmother back and send you back home." Within a blink, you are no longer standing in the dark forest, but on a familiar path. You can see your Grandmother's House far ahead of you. "Go on," the Shadow encourages. "Your Grandmother will be inside safe and sound." You take a step forward before you stop and turn around. You hold out your hand to the Shadow. "Come with me. I can't just leave you behind and forget you. It wouldn't make sense. You're me." "It won't be easy having me around," the Shadow warns you as it takes you hand. You know it won't be. Still, you will continue to grow, learn, and listen. And so, with your Shadow, you run towards your Grandmother's House. There's light coming from the open doorway and you hear your Grandmother welcoming you home. --- ''Mercy End''

A barrier springs up around you just as you had practiced with Mother Gothel. You let out a breath of relief and you feel a little safer. "A Protective Spell?" The Shadow comments, more amused than upset. It sets you right back on edge. "A very good one too. But not enough. Spells do not work on me. I am unavoidable." [[The Shadow steps through the barrier.]]

[[You almost recoil with shock at what you see.]] In front of the faint light, you behold the Shadow in its truest form. No tree or distance hides the Shadow from you now. It is all things terrible and forbidden. It is despair and the spluttering of the final candle before all goes into darkness. It is the maw of a hungry creature, dripping with lifeblood. Then, the Shadow speaks. "I'm surprised. No one ever stopped before," it admits. Its voice sounds like whispers behind closed doors and the slam of a book closed too quickly. It almost makes you flinch, but you've faced worse before. Now is not the time to act. Now is the time to //listen.// The Shadow tilts its head. "Why aren't you afraid of me? I can tell you about all the terrible things in the world. I can show you all the horrible things your parents try to hide away from your young eyes and ears. Why aren't you running?" "Because running won't help me. It fixed nothing for my grandmother and everyone else before her." You take a step forward. To your surprise, the Shadow steps back. Curious, you take another step forward. The Shadow steps back again. You lift a hand. The Shadow does the same. [[You realize the truth.]]

You take out Gretel's knife and look up. You recoil at what you see. In front of the faint light, [[you behold the Shadow in its truest form.]] No tree or distance hides the Shadow from you now. It is all things terrible and forbidden. It is despair and the spluttering of the final candle before all goes into darkness. It is the maw of a hungry creature, dripping with lifeblood. Mustering up the courage that you do not feel, you brandish the knife. "Stay back!" In response to that, the Shadow opens its terrible mouth and laughs. "How brave. How heroic. Look at you fulfilling the role of the White Knight against the Terrible Dragon," the Shadow applauds you mockingly. "Will you cut me in half like the Hunter did to the Wolf? Or will you burn me like the Witch of the Woods and Mother Gothel?" You refuse to listen to the Shadow and the poison it spat. This makes it angry. To your horror, it starts to writhe and shift into something else. "Did you know that the pelt you wear is made from a litter of wolf pups that the Hunter mercilessly killed? Did you know that the Witch of the Woods' threat to eat Hansel was empty? Did you know that Mother Gothel loved Rapunzel more than anything? That's the problem with you. You never //asked// or //listened//, did you?" The Shadow now looks like the Wolf. It circles you and licks its teeth. "Too late now. I've caught you." The large form of a wolf lunges at you and swallows you whole. [[You refused to let it end there.]]

Fearfully, you cast the ''The Spell of Protection'' and hide behind the barrier. You cast ''The Spell of Fire'' to give you some light in the darkness. [[You recoil at what you see.]] In front of the faint light, you behold the Shadow in its truest form. No tree or distance hides the Shadow from you now. It is all things terrible and forbidden. It is despair and the spluttering of the final candle before all goes into darkness. It is the maw of a hungry creature, dripping with lifeblood. Outside of the barrier, the Shadow opens its terrible mouth and speaks again. It taunts you for your inaction as the Witch of the Woods burned. It mockingly croons at how you clung onto the protection of opinions of the Wolf and Mother Gothel. "You're nothing without a mother-figure to tell you what to do and to hide behind, are you? They aren't here to protect you now. Your own mother isn't here to protect you either. I wonder, has she even noticed that you were gone?" You teared up at the last part as the Shadow continued to rip into your fears. You feel so small and helpless. Then, as if to twist the knife, the Shadow easily steps through the barrier, tearing away the only comfort you have left. You are now alone and trapped with the monster with nowhere left to run and hide. "I caught you," the Shadow sings gleefully. [[You resign yourself to defeat.]]

[[You recoil at what you see.|You recoil2]] In front of the faint light, you behold the Shadow in its truest form. No tree or distance hides the Shadow from you now. It is all things terrible and forbidden. It is despair and the spluttering of the final candle before all goes into darkness. It is the maw of a hungry creature, dripping with lifeblood. Then, the Shadow opens its terrible mouth and speaks again. "How very brave of you to face me alone like this," it mocks you as it comes closer. It stops before it gets too close to the light, seemingly repelled by it. "Fire. How fitting. Those witches burned to death, didn't they? And you //bravely// stood by and did nothing. Twice." The Shadow blows out your matchstick. You hastily light another one. "What will you do ''now?'' Light me on fire? I can't burn." The Shadow blows a matchstick again. You light the final one. "Look at you. Unable to act even with your life on the line. Does fear choke you so much?" The Shadow blows the last one out. The final barrier between you and the Shadow is now gone. And you are alone in the dark. "I caught you," the Shadow sings gleefully. [[You resign yourself to defeat.]]

After a moment of hesitation, the Shadow obeys. [[You recoil at what you see.|You recoil3]] In front of the faint light, you behold the Shadow in its truest form. No tree or distance hides the Shadow from you now. It is all things terrible and forbidden. It is despair and the spluttering of the final candle before all goes into darkness. It is the maw of a hungry creature, dripping with lifeblood. Then, the Shadow opens its terrible mouth and speaks again. "How very brave of you to face me alone like this," it mocks you as it comes closer. It stops before it gets too close to the light, seemingly repelled by it. "But were you brave when you let your Hunter cut down the starving Wolf?" A chill goes down your spine. "She tried to eat me. She wanted to kill me." The Shadow is dismissive of your excuses. "She was hungry and you refused to feed her many times. Of course she would try to eat you at her most desperate. But you didn't care, did you? You let him split her into two with the same axe you used at the tower." You look down at your hands. As if it senses your shame, the ball of light in your hands starts to flicker. "And the Hunter isn't innocent either," the Shadow continues as it points to the pelt around your shoulders. "Did you know he killed the Wolf's pups to make that? And now, you shoulder his guilt by wearing it too." At that, the light in your hands goes out. "I caught you," the Shadow sings gleefully. [[You resign yourself to defeat.]]

Thankfully, it did. The barrier surrounds you perfectly. [[When you look beyond it, you recoil at what you see.]] In front of the faint light, you behold the Shadow in its truest form. No tree or distance hides the Shadow from you now. It is all things terrible and forbidden. It is despair and the spluttering of the final candle before all goes into darkness. It is the maw of a hungry creature, dripping with lifeblood. Then, the Shadow opens its terrible mouth and speaks again. "Very talented for someone who only started to learn magic. Tell me, how powerful did it make you feel when you made the bad Witch Hunters go away?" You insist that it was necessary. That they would have hurt you and Mother Gothel. "Perhaps," the Shadow allows, "like how it was necessary for the Witch of the Woods to burn and for the Wolf to be cleaved into two." "And the Hunter isn't innocent either," the Shadow continues as it points to the pelt around your shoulders. "Did you know he killed the Wolf's pups to make that? And now, you shoulder his guilt by wearing it too." Then, as if to twist the knife, the Shadow easily steps through the barrier, tearing away the only comfort you have left. You are now alone and trapped with the monster with nowhere left to run and hide. "I caught you," the Shadow sings gleefully. [[You resign yourself to defeat.]]

"Really, the stories that come from the mouths of the fearful," The Witch of the Woods suddenly speaks up, making you both jump. "Me? Eating children? I would rather eat a boot. Now, it's not good to omit important parts of the story, Gretel. You and your brother ate my house and you are now working here to pay off that debt. You only have one day left, so let's not do anything to add any more work." Gretel glares fiercely at the Witch. You think you can understand the situation a little better now. Still, you feel a little sorry for Gretel. You offer to help the siblings pay off their debt by doing some work. "Very well, then," The Witch of the Woods sighs. "I will halve their final day of work with your contribution. Would you like to tend to Hansel's leg or help Gretel in the kitchen?" You consider your options. It would be easier to go to Hansel and tend to his wounds, but it looks like Gretel would neeed more help around the house. [[Join Hansel in Prison]] [[Join Gretel in Kitchen]]

As you rewrap his ankle, you start smelling [[something strange]]. Hansel notices it too. Then, the screaming starts. It's loud and terrible. Hansel grabs your sleeve and starts to sob. ''THUMP'' The door swings open violently. On the other side is Gretel. Hansel lets out a cry of relief at the sight of his sister. "Gretel! You're okay!" You're not as relieved. If Gretel is fine, then who screamed? [["What did you do?!"]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/thump.mp3"></audio></figure>

You listen to the birds. They sing many things to you. "Tread carefully around the fearful." "Sometimes, doing good and right are different things." "Listen. Listen as you've always done." [[Back|Chapter 3: Rapunzel (W+W)]] <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls autoplay src="https://anneylee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/birdsong.mp3"></audio></figure>

You see some mushrooms growing at the base of a tree. They look like the ones your mother would gather and bring back home. You remember her warning you to never pick and eat any random mushroom since they might be poisonous. But these should be fine, right? They're familiar, after all. [[Eat the Mushroom]] [[Leave it|Into the Woods]]

You pick and eat a mushroom. At first, nothing happens. Then, you start to feel dizzy and sick. You start throwing up and choking. Your limbs grow so weak that you fall onto the ground. You weakly call for help, but no one comes. Not until it's too late. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Food Poisoning''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

Maybe you can spare one pastry? You don't feel comfortable giving the Wolf the entire basket, but one or two should be enough to ease your guilt even though it wouldn't be enough to ease the Wolf's appetite. Your grandmother doesn't need //all// of them, does she? [[Offer the Wolf One Cookie]] [[Stay True to Your Decision|Keep Your Distance]]

You offer the Wolf one cookie. She finishes the single pastry with a gulp. But that isn't enough. She shoves her head into the basket to eat more. [[Jerk Back]] [[Let the Wolf Eat More]]

You jerk back from the Wolf, bringing the basket with you. Enraged by the sudden denial of food, the Wolf starts to growl and snap at you. She takes your hand clean off as she rips the basket from your hands. The Wolf gorges on the contents of the basket as you bleed out. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Don't Take Away Food from the Starving''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

The Wolf gobbles up everything that you offer. Thankfully, she leaves behind enough for your grandmother. "Thank you, child," she says after she finishes. "I am moved by your kindness and generosity. I would like to return the favor. I noticed that you were lingering at the crossroads. I can help with that. Let me be your guide. Whichever path you choose to take, I will be there to ensure that you reach your destination safely." You can't believe your luck! With the Wolf's help, the quicker yet more dangerous path will be safe for you. And even with the safer and longer path, she can be pleasant company. [[Faster Path]] [[Flower Path]]

The mushrooms look like the ones your mother would gather and bring back home. You remember her warning you to never pick and eat any random mushroom since they might be poisonous. But these should be fine, right? They're familiar, after all. [[Eat the Mushroom|Eat Mushroom2]] [[Leave It|Before Leaving ]]

You pick and eat a mushroom. At first, nothing happens. Then, you start to feel dizzy and sick. You start throwing up and choking. Your limbs grow so weak that you fall onto the ground. You weakly call for help. The Wolf licks your face and tries to help you with no avail. You are gone before she can howl for help. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Food Poisoning''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You eat the unfamiliar berry. It tastes sweet and tart in your mouth. At first, nothing happens. Then, you start to feel dizzy and sick. You start throwing up and choking. Your limbs grow so weak that you fall onto the ground. You weakly call for help. The Wolf licks your face and tries to help you with no avail. You are gone before she can howl for help. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Food Poisoning''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

It's always good to have some extra snacks for the journey. You hope the Hunter will enjoy them too. You catch sight of a bush filled with colorful berries you've never seen before. Curious, you pick one. [[Try a Colorful Berry]] [[Drop it. You already have enough.|Leave with the Hunter]]

You pick and eat a mushroom. At first, nothing happens. Then, you start to feel dizzy and sick. You start throwing up and choking. Your limbs grow so weak that you fall onto the ground. You weakly call for help. The Hunter goes to you immediately. He sees the mushroom in your hand and pales. No matter what he does after that, it's already too late. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Food Poisoning''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You eat the unfamiliar berry. It tastes sweet and tart in your mouth. At first, nothing happens. Then, you start to feel dizzy and sick. You start throwing up and choking. Your limbs grow so weak that you fall onto the ground. You weakly call for help. The Hunter goes to you immediately. He sees the berry in your hand and pales. No matter what he does after that, it's already too late. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Food Poisoning''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

But the path is not smooth. You might fall if you're not careful. [[[Back|Go Find the Witch Without the Hunter]] [[Speed Up Anyways]]

You pick up your pace. In your carelessness, you trip over a tree root. You feel your ankle roll and crack. As you grapple with the sharp pain, you try to get up and continue traveling. The injury makes you slow. Even if you turn back, you wouldn't be able to make it back before exhaustion and hunger takes you. The only way is forward. You limp through the forest and call out for help. Something comes, but it isn't human. Your scream is cut off before it leaves your throat. (text-colour:red)[Bad End: Sitting Duck] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You push the Witch out of the way just when Gretel goes to push her. She pushes you into the oven instead. You start to scream as the fire burns through your clothes and your hair. It eats at your skin and fills your lungs with smoke. By the time the Witch drags you out of the fire, you're too far gone to save. (text-colour:red)[Bad End: You're Toast] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

The Wolf stiffens at your look. "Please, Child, do not look me in the eyes. For my kind, that is a threat and a challenge. I understand that this mistake is done because of your youth and ignorance, but do not do it again or my instincts will tell me to attack you. Remember, I am a wild creature. I do not follow the laws of humans." [[Listen to Her|Leave with Wolf]] [[Continue Staring]]

When you don't stop your staring, the Wolf takes it as a challenge. She bears her teeth at you and snarls. When you still don't look away, she jumps on top of you and tears out your throat. (text-colour:red)[Bad End: Poking the Wolf] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You recognize some of the berries as the ones Mother Gothel shared with you. You remember their sweet taste. There are some berries that look unfamiliar. You consider picking them and having a taste. Mother Gothel never gave you permission to pick and eat from her garden, but she hadn't forbidden it either. Should you? [[Try a Colorful Berry|Try Berry4]] [[Back|Explore the Garden]]

You eat the unfamiliar berry. It tastes sweet and tart in your mouth. At first, nothing happens. Then, you start to feel dizzy and sick. You start throwing up and choking. Your limbs grow so weak that you fall onto the ground. You weakly call for help. No one comes. Not until it's too late. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Food Poisoning''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

You try to swat the bug away. By doing do, your grip slips. You only have a moment of complete and utter horror before you fall to your death. ''(text-colour:red)[Bad End: Don't Let Go]'' --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

[[Swat it away|Swat2]] [[Ignore It|Climb up after Mother Gothel]]

[[Swat it Away|Swat3]] [[Ignore It|You visit Rapunzel.]]

You quickly snatch some from the bushes and consider plopping them into your mouth. [[Plop one into your mouth]] [[Drop them|You leave with the Witch to explore.]]

You eat the unfamiliar berry. It tastes sweet and tart in your mouth. At first, nothing happens. Then, you start to feel dizzy and sick. You start throwing up and choking. Your limbs grow so weak that you fall onto the ground. The Witch tries to help you up. She asks you what happened. You can't answer. By the time the Witch realizes the cause of your choking, it's too late. (text-colour:red)[''Bad End: Food Poisoning''] --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]

[[Swat it away|Swat5]] [[You decide that it's better not to.|You follow the Witch and Mother Gothel to the Tower]]

Despite the Hunter's warning, you decide to test your limits. You make the fire burn brighter and bigger. By the time you hear the Hunter barking at you to stop, you can't control it anymore. The fire engulfs the entire camp and you with it. ''(text-colour:red)[Bad End: Stop When You Can]'' --- //Press the left arrow key to go back to the previous option// Or [[RESTART|START GAME]]