Twisted Wishes - When Fairytale Dreams Turn Dark

Chapter 8: A Sweet Escape

I act without thinking. My hand releases the child and I roll at the woman's feet. She stumbles and falls sprawling to the ground. Hans and Gareth are frightened in the middle of their stride.

"Go," I yell at them and scramble to my feet. Behind me the girl screams and runs towards me with a candy cane in her hand. The point has been sharpened and now serves as a weapon.

She sticks it at me but misses, barely. The witch is also up now and goes to the window. Gareth's foot is stuck behind the hook and Hans pulls on his brother to get it loose.

The child takes advantage of my brief distraction and sticks the stick in my shoulder. I hiss and stagger back. Blood drips down my arm and onto the floor.

Valerian enters the doorway and takes in the chaos. Then he comes to me and grabs the girl. His eyes drill into mine and the order comes to me.

I sprint to the witch holding Gareth and push her aside. She screams and lets go of him. I untie the fabric and the boys run off.

The witch charges toward me, curling her fingers into claws. Her long nails are as sharp as the candy cane.

I kick the woman in the stomach and turn around her. She moves faster than I would have thought for someone her age. With wild hand movements she lunges at me and I am lured back.

My heart is beating in my throat and my thoughts are racing in all directions. Then my back hits the wall and I see the oven next to me. I quickly turn back to my attacker and duck to avoid her claws. My hands reach out and grab her wrists.

She opens her mouth, revealing a row of razor-sharp teeth. Her breath blows in my face and black saliva splashes on my cheeks.

Nausea sets in and I suppress the urge to gag at the sweet smell.

Valerian just knocks the girl unconscious and then turns to me. My shoulder is screaming in pain and I don't know how long I have before my left arm gives out.

My eyes quickly catch Valerian's and then I push the witch away from me with the last of my strength. She stumbles back and regains her balance.

Quickly I grab the handle of the oven and open the thing. The witch runs towards me, her black eyes glowing red and she snaps at me like a shark. Valerian runs after her and just when the witch is with me Valerian gives her a good push to the right and she tumbles into the oven. Her scream becomes deafening and awakens her granddaughter.

She looks from Valerian and me to the oven where the sound is coming from and screams like her grandmother. I slam the door and together with Valerian we flee outside.

Hansel and Gareth are waiting for us. They cheer as soon as we leave the cottage and then circle around us. Relief overwhelms me and I feel like lying down.

Valerian sees me swinging on my legs and supports me by putting an arm around me. Maybe it's also a bit because of the blood loss because I suddenly feel lightheaded.

A high-pitched scream comes from behind us and we turn as one to the sound. Then we start running.

Valerian is on my right and Hans and Gareth on my left. We run from the crazy kid on our heels.

The grass under our feet gets longer and a castle comes into view. Valerian leads us there without hesitation.

Above the great gate is a rose engraved in the tower. It appears on the flags and the colored glass. When we are closer the gates open for us and we are inside.

With a loud bang the heavy doors close and we are shrouded in darkness.