Gretel

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Gretel picked out a piece of thin crust from her pocket and dropped it on the ground, repeating the process every few steps. Hansel held out his hand. “No, Hansel,” Gretel shoved the crust deeper in her oversized overalls. “We need the bread to guide us home. Who knows what dangers lie around the corner at night.” Hansel bit the inside of his cheek, knowing his twin sister was right but still wanting to protest. The two remained in silence for a while, searching the trees for anything edible. “Sis… Do you think we should go home? Father is probably waiting for us, and I’m already hungry.” “We won’t go home until we teach them a lesson. Step-mother probably hasn’t even noticed our absence. Lousy mother.” A wolf howled in the distance, and the twins clutched each other’s hands. The sun was beginning to set, but there was still plenty of daylight left. Gretel absentmindedly tore up pieces of bread with her other hand. Where was all the food in the forest? Hansel was still leading the way, though the two remained connected. Gretel’s twin brother was beginning to hit his growth spurt at 10, growing several inches taller than she and becoming much stronger. Though Gretel never cared for physical aspects, she grew to like reading books, constantly rereading the book her father had bought for her on her ninth birthday. The book taught her that there was nothing to fear, for a sharp mind is the strongest weapon a boy (or girl) could have. Hansel’s hand was shaking. Her poor brother was not as strong spirited as she was. [[Cheer Hansel up.]] [[Stay focused on leaving a trail.]]

“Cheer up Hansel. We’ll find food soon enough. Then we’ll be back on our feet and arrive at home right when the sun sets.” Gretel tried to make her voice sound more optimistic than she felt. Hansel looked back at his sister and grinned. “You’re right, sis. The forest is nice. What is that animal called?” The two continue to talk along the trail, Hansel pointing out various animals and plants that Gretel knew the name of. The twins were so focused on their little game that they barely noticed the darkness looming over them. Soon the two couldn't see their hands in front of their faces. [[Forge onwards.]] [[Return home.]]

Hansel will have to learn to cheer himself up. This was a lesson not only for Father and Step-mother, but for Hansel as well. The trail begins to darken and the twins forge onward in silence. Hansel points out a few trees, hoping that they would bear fruit, but to no avail. Eventually the trail begins to darken so much Gretel was unable to see her hands in front of her face. [[Forge onwards.]] [[Return home.]]

"We should continue onwards, we're getting close to something I can feel it." “I don't know sis. I think we should go home.” Gretel's legs begin to shake, though her mind continues to fight the all encompassing darkness. Hansel's words of caution begin to break your brittle bravery. “You're right. Let's go home. We can follow my- Oh no." Gretel dropped to her hands and knees, hoping that the darkness had tricked her into thinking the breadcrumbs disappeared, but no matter how closely she inspected, her temporary markers failed to appear. In front of her a Blackthorned Crow eyed her with a mocking yellow gaze. In the crow’s mouth was a breadcrumb. It cawed with victory before flying away into the dark pale-lit night. “Are we lost, sis?” “No we’re not, we can follow the trail back home.” “But there is no trail.” The twins had ventured deep into the forest, unaware that the well laid path they were trodding on turned into an overgrown land of wildlife. The trees here loomed over Gretel, imposing its tall stature and blocking the moon. A faint orange hue illuminated the area behind a group of trees. “Hansel! Look! That must be a fire from a nearby hut! Someone is living here, they will probably take us in for the night.” “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” [[Follow the light.]]

“Okay, I think it’s due time we returned. What do you think, Hansel?” “Yeah. We should go home.” “Luckily we have my- Oh no where is it?” Gretel dropped to her hands and knees, hoping that the darkness had tricked her into thinking the breadcrumbs disappeared, but no matter how closely she inspected, her temporary markers failed to appear. In front of her a Blackthorned Crow eyed her with a mocking yellow gaze. In the crow’s mouth was a breadcrumb. It cawed with victory before flying away into the dark pale-lit night. “Are we lost, sis?” “No we’re not, we can follow the trail back home.” “But there is no trail.” The twins had ventured deep into the forest, unaware that the well laid path they were trodding on turned into an overgrown land of wildlife. The trees here loomed over Gretel, imposing its tall stature and blocking the moon. A faint orange hue illuminated the area behind a group of trees. “Hansel! Look! That must be a fire from a nearby hut! Someone is living here, they will probably take us in for the night.” “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” [[Follow the light.]]

Newfound excitement gave the two the energy to race towards their solace, loud footsteps scaring away the scurrying creatures of the night. The light became brighter, revealing a house made completely of gingerbread, gumdrop buttons lining the edges sealed with frosting. Hansel gasped and ran to the house, plucking a large section of the wall and shoving it into his mouth with delight. “Hansel don’t just eat things in the forest! We don’t know if it’s poisonous or not!” “How can something so delicious be poisonous? Try it sis!” Watching her twin brother devour several sections of the house, Gretel found her stomach rumbling. If nothing has happened to her brother, surely it’s safe to eat? And so, Gretel joined Hansel in eating several sections of the house, before the two became so exhausted they passed out next to one another in a sugary slumber. [[Wake up.]]

The cold hard floor wakes Gretel up, aching from what felt like several days of slumber. Gretel opens her eyes, inspecting her new surroundings. Metal bars surround her, bound tightly to a circular section of the floor, made out of the same metal. Several bones are scattered, though Gretel isn't sure whether they were human or not. Outside of her prison is a large room made of gingerbread walls, lined with large gumdrops and chocolate chips. How many days have passed? Gretel stares at her thin arms, turning them over. They were nearly half the size of when she had left the house. Her stomach rumbled, and she feared she may have called whoever or whatever resided in the house. Where was Hansel? Gretel's panic began to set in as she stared at the bones. This was no time to panic, she must escape and find Hansel. [[Investigate your surroundings.]] [[Leave.]]

Now extremely thin from however many days left unfed, Gretel manages to slip between the bars of the cage. She slides through and slowly opens the chocolate door, careful not to make any noise. [[Continue. ->Main Hall]]

The room is featureless, except for a few gumdrops that have fallen from the walls. Everything was made of candy except for the cage keeping Gretel in. Several bones are scattered throughout the floor of the cage, though Gretel refuses to touch the bones. The cage keeping her in resembles a large birdcage. [[Leave.]]

The chocolate door swings open to a large room with a chandelier made of rock candy. A large fireplace lines the walls, though the wood remained unlit. Paintings decorated the walls, though they are too abstract for Gretel to understand. [[The Bedroom]] [[The Kitchen]] [[The Dining Room]] [[The Closet]] [[The Entrance]]

<<switch $witch>> <<case 0>> A faint humming can be heard on the other side of this door, crackling and cackling. The sound of water can be heard sloshing back and forth, like the waves on the ocean followed by a swift pop! Gretel's hands freeze up on the door, unwilling to enter the room. [[Main Hall]]\ <<case 1>> Gretel places her ear against the door, listening for the tell tale singing of the Witch. She waits for what seems to be decades before entering the kitchen with a creak. [[Enter the Kitchen]]\ <<default>> Gretel places her ear against the door. The humming has returned. Gretel missed her chance to enter the kitchen. [[Main Hall]] <</switch>>

<<switch $ooze>> <<case 1>> Gretel heaves the bowl full of liquid ooze onto the door and at first nothing happens. She suppresses a panicked yelp, but soon enough the ooze begins to eat away at the chocolate door. She looks around before running through the door, escaping. [[Escape]] <<default>> The large chocolate doors loom over Gretel. She pushes against the door, but her body is too weak to open it. [[Main Hall]] <</switch>>

A small an enclosed space, left bare and dusty besides a small shelf and the cage in which Gretel was kept. Bones lay strewn on the floor of Gretel's cage, whether or not they are human, she doesn't know. [[Grab a bone]] [[Look at the shelves]] [[Sleep (End the Day)]] [[Main Hall]]

<<if visited() < 2>> Gretel slowly pushes the door open, revealing a bed bigger than she has ever seen. Next to the bed a portly boy with chocolate around his face slouches over a birdcage prison much like the one Gretel just escaped from. The boy's eyes are clenched shut and he has his back to the bars on the far end of the room, shivering. "Hansel?" Hansel's eyes shoot open and he begins to cry upon seeing his twin sister. "Oh sister! Sister! I thought you were dead! How did you get out? Where is the witch? You have to leave! If she knows you're still alive she will surely kill you." "Hansel! Don't worry I'll get you out of here." "No! Surely the Witch will hear you. She is in the Kitchen nearby. Leave now! While you can. I do not have long." Gretel closes her eyes, trying her best to devise a plan to save both herself and her brother. [["Can you get the Witch out of the kitchen?"]] <<else>> Hansel is seated in his cage, rubbing his belly. As Gretel opens the door Hansel's head perks up in fear, then relief as he sees his twin sister. "Have you found a way out yet, sister?" <<if $investigate < 1>>\ [["Can you get the Witch out of the kitchen?"]] <</if>>\ [[Main Hall]] <</if>>

<<set $day to 0>> <<set $ooze to 0>> <<set $gFood to 0>> <<set $hFood to 0>> <<set $rat to 0>> <<set $bone to 0>> <<set $map to 0>> <<set $stool to 0>> <<set $investigate to 0>> <<set $witch to 0>>

Gretel heaves and sighs as she runs as fast as her legs can carry her, but adrenaline can only push her so far. She falls to the ground, slowly closing her eyes, wishing that her brother were here. To be continued...

A large dinner table longer than any table Gretel has ever seen extends down the center of the room. Plates and cutlery is laid out neatly for every pretzel chair. There is a soft squeaking from the corner of the room. [[Take the Stool]] [[Main Hall]]

<<switch $bone>> <<case 1>> Gretel eyes the cage, chock full of bare appendages. It's already unsettling carrying one, Gretel won't take more than she needs.\ <<default>> With a quick swipe and puff of dust, Gretel grabs a bone and stuffs it into her overalls. It may be useful later. <<set $bone to 1>>\ <</switch>> [[Return -> previous()]]

<<switch $stool>> <<case 1>>\ Placing the stool down and carefully balancing, Gretel looks on top of the shelf to see a small sheet of parchment, marked with various trails and patterns. She stuffs the parchment into her overalls, grinning with triumph. <<set $map to 1>> <<set $stool to 2>>\ <<case 2>> Gretel uses the stool to look on the shelf again. Nothing but dusty candy here. <<default>> Despite going on her tippy toes, Gretel is //not quite// tall enough to reach the top of the shelf. She lands back down on her heels with a huff.\ <</switch>> [[Return -> previous()]]

Gretel leans over next to the wall adjacent to the kitchen. If she strains, she can hear the humming and cackling of the Witch. "Can you get the Witch out of the kitchen, Hansel?" Hansel sticks his finger in his mouth, pondering. "She talks to me every night. Maybe I could ask her to leave?" [[There must be a better idea.]] <<if hasVisited("The Dining Room")>>\ [[Talk about the squeaking in the Dining Room]] <</if>>

<<switch $stool>> <<case 0>> Gretel grabs a small stool and stuffs it into... her overalls? She somehow fits it all in there. <<set $stool to 1>>\ <<default>> Gretel pats the pocket of her overalls, stuffed with the stool. So this is what a pregnant lady feels like.\ <</switch>> [[Return ->The Dining Room]]

"I think there might be something in the Dining Room. Perhaps you can tell the Witch to investigate that during the next day, and I can sneak into the Kitchen while she does that." Hansel beams. "That's a great idea! I'll do that." <<set $investigate to 1>> [[Return ->The Bedroom]]

"She needs a reason to leave the Kitchen... Stay here Hansel, I'm going to think of something." Hansel cocks his head, then grins. "You always do, sister." [[Return ->The Bedroom]]

According to her survival book, sleep is one of the most important factors for a survivalist. Gretel tries her best to sleep, despite the cold hard floor and bones accompanying her. <<set $day +=1>> [[The next day ->The Closet]] <<if $investigate is 1>> <<set $witch to 1>> <<set $investigate to 2>>

In the kitchen is a large cauldron, bubbling and spilling liquid ooze. The kitchen is much warmer than the rest of the house, but none of the icing keeping the house together is melting. <<if $ooze is 0>> [[Grab the boiling ooze]]\ <</if>> [[Main Hall]]

Grabbing a large bowl and carefully using the ladle already in the cauldron, Gretel fills up the bowl with boiling liquid. It bubbles and pops with a greenish hue. This should be hot enough to melt the entrance door, though she may not have much time. <<set $ooze to 1>> [[Return -> previous()]]