The Wolf's Den

Path 1: Adrieve, Chapter 13: Part 2

        "You are charged under four counts. To begin with, you tampered with Cinderella's story by prancing in with the red, red dress, drawing his attention to you instead of Cinderella, making her null and void, therefore erasing her existence. Have you anything to say to that?" Gretel said.

        "I meant to have him meet her eventually, but the hallways and the doors moved so fast that I never--"

        "But his thoughts were so consumed with you that he became evil and chose to make you his queen instead of Cinderella, thus making him suffer the consequences of you're mischief and selfishness," Hansel said. "To this, we charge you one count of story slaughter. As you cannot justify that, we will move to your second charge."

        "Your second charge is rudeness." Gretel paused, staring directly at Adrieve. "You barged into your third story without concern, and it was not yours to barge into. Your curses being misfortune due to your rudeness, never having true happiness, and choosing wrong as your final choice at the end of this trial is our evidence. You were banished from their story shortly thereafter. Have you anything to justify this?"

        Adrieve didn't answer, and Gretel continued.

        "You do not. Brother, note that down for me." Hansel nodded, having been scribing the trial the whole time. Looking back to Adrieve, Gretel frowned and shook her head slightly. "Then I will move on. Charge three: you killed Mr. Wolfe. Have you anything to justify this?"

        "He was going to eat me, it was self-defense! I didn't mean to kill him, all I wanted to do was injure him."

        "Hm. Very well. We'll consult Mr. Wolfe on this. Mr. Wolfe, do you second this justification?"

        Mr. Wolfe, appearing again, stared at Adrieve with a smirk and crossed arms over his chest before looking to Gretel. "I do not. She could have left the door handle on the inside to get assistance for his wound, which she did not bring up. It was vengeance."

        "Thank you, Mr. Wolfe. If we need you, we'll call for you again."

Mr. Wolfe nodded, once again gone. Gretel stared at Adrieve once more after looking to her brother to scribe what occurred with their witness. "Charge four, our last charge: you have been charged with falling for the host of our labyrinth and skewing the balance. Do you plead for this charge?"

        "No. I will not justify my actions in falling in love."

        "Very well, then. While you wait here, we will go discuss your fate. Do not move. Do not speak. Do not look at the wax figures in the other beds. Hansel, stay here but give me the scribed notes... Thank you. Keep an eye on her, brother."

        Gretel stood, and as Hansel, her guard, watched her stonily. Once Gretel left, she closed the broken door behind her while Adrieve awaited her verdict.