Okay, so the last thread like this was a few months ago, so I feel alright in starting up a new one. Basically, what twisted stories and dark tales can you come up with?
Before Christmas last year, I wrote a short story, based on Red Riding Hood, that was meant as a twisted modern interpretation of the old classic tale. Definitely not for kids, this version plays up the two original themes from the story, before the Brothers Grimm got their hands on it; i.e., sex and violence. After it was well recieved I wrote a second story, based on Hansel and Gretel, and now plan a series of stories set in the same over-arcing mythology based on traditional tales (I'm currently in the midst of planning for two stories that see Red Riding Hood end up in a mental asylum, where she meets Alice and the Mad Hatter, who tell her their tale of a warped and twisted Wonderland...).
Anyway, it got me thinking. What would other tales be like if they were twisted in some way? In my stories I simply take old fairy tales and bring them into the modern day while also taking thm back to their true, original mindfuck roots. But what if we did the same with more modern stories? Perhaps a psycho version of Pokemon, or a Nightmare Fuel take on something as innocent as Katamari Damacy?
So what I want to see is you guys taking whatever stories you want, and turning them into something twisted. Preferably not too NSFW, as the last time I posted a thread that was simply about Nightmare Fuel, it got locked. So keep it limited somewhat, and maybe in spoilers. But yeah, take whatever stories you want and twist them, and post the results here. It'll be interesting to see what people come up with
And just to show you my work as an example...
[small]In addition to the stories themselves, I've also written a screenplay for a short ten minute film of Red Riding Hood, and plan to do the same with Hansel and Gretel. The idea is that I can produce a short film with my university film-making society as a short project, since it would be interesting to try and make something like this as a sort of ongoing series in several different forms of media (it's quite an ambitious project on my part).[/small]
Before Christmas last year, I wrote a short story, based on Red Riding Hood, that was meant as a twisted modern interpretation of the old classic tale. Definitely not for kids, this version plays up the two original themes from the story, before the Brothers Grimm got their hands on it; i.e., sex and violence. After it was well recieved I wrote a second story, based on Hansel and Gretel, and now plan a series of stories set in the same over-arcing mythology based on traditional tales (I'm currently in the midst of planning for two stories that see Red Riding Hood end up in a mental asylum, where she meets Alice and the Mad Hatter, who tell her their tale of a warped and twisted Wonderland...).
Anyway, it got me thinking. What would other tales be like if they were twisted in some way? In my stories I simply take old fairy tales and bring them into the modern day while also taking thm back to their true, original mindfuck roots. But what if we did the same with more modern stories? Perhaps a psycho version of Pokemon, or a Nightmare Fuel take on something as innocent as Katamari Damacy?
So what I want to see is you guys taking whatever stories you want, and turning them into something twisted. Preferably not too NSFW, as the last time I posted a thread that was simply about Nightmare Fuel, it got locked. So keep it limited somewhat, and maybe in spoilers. But yeah, take whatever stories you want and twist them, and post the results here. It'll be interesting to see what people come up with
And just to show you my work as an example...
Red had always been told to stay out of the forest. She?d always stuck to that rule. Though her grandmother lived right in the middle, in a little old cottage surrounded by the trees, Red had never strayed off the beaten path. But she didn?t want to stick to rules forever. She was nineteen, she was a grown woman now. She didn?t need rules to keep her in check any more. So it was that she set off once more on her monthly visit to her grandmother. She was dressed in her normal gothic attire, with a red hood covering her long black hair, and carried the usual medicine and hamper, as always.
She knew it was wrong. She knew she shouldn?t do it. But Red didn?t care. For too long she?d lived by the rules of others. She wanted some fun and to see what was out there. So she left the path. Right there in the middle of the woods, she turned away from the track and entered the unknown.
It didn?t take long before she realised she was lost. There was nobody around to help, no signs to mark where she?d come from. Nothing but the same view of trees all around her. She sat down on a large tree stump and wondered what to do. She?d left her phone at home, she had no way of contacting anyone. There was nothing she could do.
?Excuse me, but I couldn?t help noticing you there alone. Are you lost?? The voice seemed to come from nowhere. Red looked around and noticed a beautiful girl, no older than Red herself, standing some distance away in the trees. The girl was the polar opposite of Red. Short, spiky blonde hair with a warm, open face. She wore dark heels with black leggings and a short 60?s style blue patterned dress. Very indie stereotype, Red thought. She walked across and sat down on the stump next to Red.
?Sorry if I startled you, you just seem like you might be lost.?
Despite having had the immortal lesson drummed in to her from an early age - don?t talk to strangers - Red felt oddly at ease. This girl didn?t seem like a bad sort, she looked around the same age as Red and seemed pretty friendly, if a little forward. ?Don?t worry about it,? she said. ?I, um, I was just on the path and I stepped off it for a moment. I?m sure I?ll be able to find my way back.?
?Are you certain? The woods are pretty big and the path?s not that easy to find. I can help if you want.?
Red was still a little unsure, though. She knew what her parents had always told her, and though she was now an adult she was still uneasy about placing her trust in a complete stranger. On the other hand, she was lost, and she didn?t know where the path was. Maybe this girl could help her.
?Okay, maybe I am lost. Do you know where to go from here??
The girl smiled, and stood up. She looked down at Red and said, ?It depends where you want to go.?
?What do you mean??
?Well, there are different paths, you see. The main path takes you to the town, or deeper into the woods. The other paths? well, who knows where they lead??
Maybe it was just her imagination, but Red felt that the last part of the sentence was a little sinister. Maybe it was just the words, or maybe it was the way the mystery girl had said it. But Red suddenly felt a chill in the air. She looked around nervously and gave a small shiver, something not lost on the newcomer.
?Something wrong??
?No, nothing.? Red wasn?t going to reveal her fears to a complete stranger. ?What?s your name, by the way??
?I should have mentioned that from the start, really, shouldn?t I? It?s Luna. You??
?I?m Scarlett, but all my friends just call me Red.?
?Red, huh? Nice name.? Luna smiled at this, then grabbed Red?s hand. ?How about we make a deal? You seem like a nice enough girl, Red. Where is it you want to go??
Red was suspicious, but she shrugged it off. ?I was heading to my grandmother?s house.?
?Oh, you mean the little cottage on the main path? I know where that is, I can get you there in about ten minutes, tops.?
?Really? What?s this deal then??
Luna smiled again, a secret smile that seemed to deny her friendly exterior. ?I can get you to where you want to go. But first, I want you to do something for me. Just one little thing.?
?And what?s that??
The smile became wider. ?A kiss. That?s all. Just a kiss.?
Red stood up and began to walk away. ?Forget it!? she called over her shoulder. ?Who the hell do you think you are? I can find my own bloody way, thank you very much.?
Luna watched her walk away. ?You?ll never find the path without my help! I?ll still be here when you decide to take me up on my little offer. Don?t worry, it won?t be as bad as it seems.?
Red stopped dead in her tracks. She knew that she wouldn?t be able to find her way back. She?d seen films like this, a bunch of students trapped in the woods, walking around in circles until they went mad with fear. She knew she had no choice. ?Do you seriously know where the path is??
?Of course. I wouldn?t say I did if I didn?t, now, would I??
?Well, I don?t know. I don?t know you. God, I don?t even know what the hell I?m doing here!? Red walked back to the stump and sat back down, with her head in her hands. ?Why did I have to leave the stupid bloody path, anyway? I should have just done what I was told to. But no, I had to leave the path, and now I?ve got some psycho lesbian blackmailing me for a stupid fucking kiss!?
Luna had been listening to Red?s rant in silence. Now she spoke up. ?It?s just one kiss, is that so hard? I promise you. I?ll take you to the path and I?ll leave you completely alone. Alright??
Red was in turmoil. She had to make a choice. After all, it was only a kiss. What harm could it do? ?God, I can?t believe I?m doing this. Alright. One kiss. That?s it.?
Luna smiled again, that same, strange smile that seemed to suggest a hint of darkness about her. ?Trust me. It?ll be enough.?
Luna leant forward and slipped her hands into Red?s open palms. She moved her head just a little closer to Red, her lips barely open and slightly pouting. Her mouth lightly brushed Red?s lower lip, just a touch. The kiss was tender, soft and gentle, nothing like Red had expected. She tried to pull away but found that she couldn?t. Luna?s kiss was like a drug that she couldn?t break free from, an addiction that slowly sucked her in until she lost herself in the feeling of euphoria. She was completely lost in the passion, an intense pleasure in the forbidden joys she was experiencing. Red had never thought she could feel like this before, least of all with another girl. It scared her, but at the same time, she was loving it. After what seemed like an age, yet still too soon, Luna pulled away and looked into Red?s eyes, smiling that smile again and holding her hands tightly. Red closed her eyes, wanting to relive the moment that had ended too quickly and feel the memory of that joy. Luna moved her lips close to Red?s ear and whispered, ?It doesn?t have to end. Not yet.?
Red smiled, matching Luna?s smile, and opened her eyes. ?What do you mean?? she whispered.
?There?s much more that I can show you. All you have to do is say the word. And I can teach you everything you want to know. I can make you feel so much more than this. All you need to do, is say yes.?
Red looked into Luna?s eyes and nodded, just once. ?Yes.? A whisper. Still holding Red?s hands, Luna drew them down to her breast, and slowly pulled the unresisting girl to the ground. Around them, the afternoon sun gradually began to fade.
Silence. When Red finally opened her eyes, she noticed an eerie silence, all around her. She looked around, but the dark was all-enveloping. Red remembered something, a fleeting memory from the day that seemed to fade as quickly as it had come to her. She tried to recall. She could remember a feeling, just a feeling of love and intense passion that had pervaded the entire afternoon. Her first and only love. She could remember fully now. She?d learned so much during the day, all other thoughts had been forgotten as she remembered the events of that perfect time. She?d never imagined in her wildest dreams (and they had been quite wild) that she would ever love another girl, nor that she would ever have that experience with a girl. Her first time. And it had been perfect.
As Red slowly recalled the memories from earlier, she began to realise something else, something important. Her grandmother! She had visited her grandmother in the forest cottage every month, on the same day, at the same time, for years. Ever since she was a little girl. It was night now, the forest was pitch black and the only light around was from a torch that Red?s mother had always made her carry. It was a precaution if she ever got lost and couldn?t get home before dark. Red checked the batteries and turned it on. It worked, thank God. She looked around and found she was alone, back on the path. Luna had kept her word then. The strange blonde girl had gone, vanished completely, but not before taking Red back to the path. Just as she?d said she would. Looking at the route ahead of her, she noticed a light through the trees. It had to be her grandmother?s cottage. Red set off at a run towards the light, knowing that her family would be worrying. She wasn?t far away from the cottage itself. Soon, she would be there.
Red reached the cottage in just a couple of minutes. But when she knocked on the door, there was no answer. Strange, she thought. And there was something else too. Red?s grandmother never left lights on in the house. She would always turn them off when leaving a room, to save on electricity bills. So why were so many lights turned on? Red started to worry. She took out the spare key from it?s hiding place in the flowerpot near the gate, and unlocked the front door. She wasn?t prepared for the sight that met her as she entered the building.
Blood was spattered on the walls. The floor was completely covered in gore, with puddles of blood everywhere. As Red walked around, she saw the same sight in the other rooms. Even upstairs, the sight was the same. The bathroom, the bedroom, even in the main kitchen. Visible on the furniture, draped over tables and chairs, were pieces of flesh, organs and lumps of meat. Red couldn?t take it any more. She stumbled outside to get some fresh air, but barely made it. As she ran out of the back door in the kitchen, she tripped on a lumpy mass that had been left strewn across the ground. She looked closer. It was her grandmother, the corpse ripped apart and the organs removed with a sharp knife. Lumps of flesh had been gouged out of the body?s arms and blood covered the remains so that they were just barely recognisable as Red?s grandmother. It was too much for Red. She ran to the well behind the house and vomited into the bucket that stood on top of the well cover. She kept vomiting until there was nothing left, until she was bringing up the acid in her stomach. Her throat hurt and she had nowhere to go but home. She didn?t have her phone, she couldn?t call for help. The cable for the landline inside the house had been cut. There was no way of contacting anybody. Red was completely alone.
She ran through the woods. She didn?t care about staying on the path anymore. She?d dropped her torch back at the house, but by now her eyes had adapted to the dark. She still couldn?t see much, but she could see just enough for her to avoid any major obstacles. Nevertheless, by the time she saw a light through the trees, like a campfire, Red was already bruised and scratched all over. She decided to head for the light. There had to be someone there who could help, someone with a phone perhaps, or who knew a way out of the forest. She moved into a clearing with an open fire in the middle. Red had no idea of the shock that she was about to receive.
Luna was there. Sitting alone by the fire, with her back to Red, she hadn?t noticed the bruised and bloody girl walking slowly towards her from behind. Red didn?t know what to say, what to do. The passion from hours before was all but forgotten, replaced by an insatiable curiosity and suspicion regarding Luna?s presence here. As Red moved closer to her she could see crimson spots on the bright blue dress the girl was wearing. She moved around, to stand between Luna and the fire.
?Why are you still here??
If Luna was alarmed by Red?s presence, she hid it well. ?So, you found me. Well done. Perhaps we can play again. I?m sure you enjoyed the - games - we played today, right??
?Where did you go when you left me?? Red wasn?t interested in idle chatter. She wanted answers. And she wanted them now.
?Cutting right to the chase. You weren?t so abrupt this afternoon. I enjoyed it more then. You?re no fun now.? Luna stifled a yawn and turned her back to Red and the fire, staring into the darkness.
?There?s blood on your dress, Luna. I want to know. Where did you go??
Luna waited for a few seconds, then turned back to look at Red, straight in the eyes. ?Did you enjoy the little gift I left you??
Red felt like tearing Luna?s arms from their sockets. She felt like ripping Luna limb from limb and spitting in her face, she wanted to destroy the girl who had made her feel love for the first time, for what the ***** had done. ?Who are you? Why did you kill my grandmother? What was she to you? Just give me a straight fucking answer! Tell me now, or I swear I?ll murder you right here, you fucking whore!? As she screamed at Luna, Red grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her to her feet, shaking her with every word. All the while, Luna just stared blankly ahead, as if nothing Red did to her could possibly matter.
?It?s no use now, Red. What?s done is done. I know you took the knife. I know you want to use it. Go ahead. It doesn?t matter now.?
Red had gone back to the house after she?d been sick. It had taken every ounce of strength to force herself to go back in there, but she had. She?d taken a long kitchen knife for protection, since she had no idea what was waiting for her in the darkness. It was tucked into her belt, over the skirt. The strength it had taken to go back into that slaughterhouse was nothing compared to the restraint she now had to focus on to stop her from stabbing Luna to death.
?I?m not like you. I?m nothing like you!?
?Say what you like, Red. I know you. You?re like me. You always will be. And I know you want to rip me apart and throw the bits into the fire, so just do it. It won?t make things better. But it?s a start.? Luna spoke calmly, as though what she had done had no effect on her whatsoever. It was a testament to her strength of character that she could look Red in the eye and still say those words. She knew she was facing death. And she didn?t care.
It didn?t take long for Red to finish the job. She couldn?t hold back the rage any longer. By the end of it, Luna was nothing but a pile of limbs and organs piled up next to the fire. Just like Red?s grandmother. Red threw the bits into the fire, then curled up and wept.
When the search party came across the cottage they only had to take a single glimpse through the open front door to see the carnage that had taken place. Soon the police were undertaking a massive manhunt, searching for the missing girl and the brutal murderer. When rescuers came across the clearing with the fire still burning brightly in the early hours of the morning, they found a young woman in goth dress covered in blood, laughing hysterically in front of the flames. Beside her was a head, just a head with short, spiky blonde hair. The police arrived on the scene almost instantly. As the girl was led towards the waiting police car, nobody noticed a girl in a bright blue vintage dress, black leggings, and high heels, smiling and staring into the flames.
She knew it was wrong. She knew she shouldn?t do it. But Red didn?t care. For too long she?d lived by the rules of others. She wanted some fun and to see what was out there. So she left the path. Right there in the middle of the woods, she turned away from the track and entered the unknown.
It didn?t take long before she realised she was lost. There was nobody around to help, no signs to mark where she?d come from. Nothing but the same view of trees all around her. She sat down on a large tree stump and wondered what to do. She?d left her phone at home, she had no way of contacting anyone. There was nothing she could do.
?Excuse me, but I couldn?t help noticing you there alone. Are you lost?? The voice seemed to come from nowhere. Red looked around and noticed a beautiful girl, no older than Red herself, standing some distance away in the trees. The girl was the polar opposite of Red. Short, spiky blonde hair with a warm, open face. She wore dark heels with black leggings and a short 60?s style blue patterned dress. Very indie stereotype, Red thought. She walked across and sat down on the stump next to Red.
?Sorry if I startled you, you just seem like you might be lost.?
Despite having had the immortal lesson drummed in to her from an early age - don?t talk to strangers - Red felt oddly at ease. This girl didn?t seem like a bad sort, she looked around the same age as Red and seemed pretty friendly, if a little forward. ?Don?t worry about it,? she said. ?I, um, I was just on the path and I stepped off it for a moment. I?m sure I?ll be able to find my way back.?
?Are you certain? The woods are pretty big and the path?s not that easy to find. I can help if you want.?
Red was still a little unsure, though. She knew what her parents had always told her, and though she was now an adult she was still uneasy about placing her trust in a complete stranger. On the other hand, she was lost, and she didn?t know where the path was. Maybe this girl could help her.
?Okay, maybe I am lost. Do you know where to go from here??
The girl smiled, and stood up. She looked down at Red and said, ?It depends where you want to go.?
?What do you mean??
?Well, there are different paths, you see. The main path takes you to the town, or deeper into the woods. The other paths? well, who knows where they lead??
Maybe it was just her imagination, but Red felt that the last part of the sentence was a little sinister. Maybe it was just the words, or maybe it was the way the mystery girl had said it. But Red suddenly felt a chill in the air. She looked around nervously and gave a small shiver, something not lost on the newcomer.
?Something wrong??
?No, nothing.? Red wasn?t going to reveal her fears to a complete stranger. ?What?s your name, by the way??
?I should have mentioned that from the start, really, shouldn?t I? It?s Luna. You??
?I?m Scarlett, but all my friends just call me Red.?
?Red, huh? Nice name.? Luna smiled at this, then grabbed Red?s hand. ?How about we make a deal? You seem like a nice enough girl, Red. Where is it you want to go??
Red was suspicious, but she shrugged it off. ?I was heading to my grandmother?s house.?
?Oh, you mean the little cottage on the main path? I know where that is, I can get you there in about ten minutes, tops.?
?Really? What?s this deal then??
Luna smiled again, a secret smile that seemed to deny her friendly exterior. ?I can get you to where you want to go. But first, I want you to do something for me. Just one little thing.?
?And what?s that??
The smile became wider. ?A kiss. That?s all. Just a kiss.?
Red stood up and began to walk away. ?Forget it!? she called over her shoulder. ?Who the hell do you think you are? I can find my own bloody way, thank you very much.?
Luna watched her walk away. ?You?ll never find the path without my help! I?ll still be here when you decide to take me up on my little offer. Don?t worry, it won?t be as bad as it seems.?
Red stopped dead in her tracks. She knew that she wouldn?t be able to find her way back. She?d seen films like this, a bunch of students trapped in the woods, walking around in circles until they went mad with fear. She knew she had no choice. ?Do you seriously know where the path is??
?Of course. I wouldn?t say I did if I didn?t, now, would I??
?Well, I don?t know. I don?t know you. God, I don?t even know what the hell I?m doing here!? Red walked back to the stump and sat back down, with her head in her hands. ?Why did I have to leave the stupid bloody path, anyway? I should have just done what I was told to. But no, I had to leave the path, and now I?ve got some psycho lesbian blackmailing me for a stupid fucking kiss!?
Luna had been listening to Red?s rant in silence. Now she spoke up. ?It?s just one kiss, is that so hard? I promise you. I?ll take you to the path and I?ll leave you completely alone. Alright??
Red was in turmoil. She had to make a choice. After all, it was only a kiss. What harm could it do? ?God, I can?t believe I?m doing this. Alright. One kiss. That?s it.?
Luna smiled again, that same, strange smile that seemed to suggest a hint of darkness about her. ?Trust me. It?ll be enough.?
Luna leant forward and slipped her hands into Red?s open palms. She moved her head just a little closer to Red, her lips barely open and slightly pouting. Her mouth lightly brushed Red?s lower lip, just a touch. The kiss was tender, soft and gentle, nothing like Red had expected. She tried to pull away but found that she couldn?t. Luna?s kiss was like a drug that she couldn?t break free from, an addiction that slowly sucked her in until she lost herself in the feeling of euphoria. She was completely lost in the passion, an intense pleasure in the forbidden joys she was experiencing. Red had never thought she could feel like this before, least of all with another girl. It scared her, but at the same time, she was loving it. After what seemed like an age, yet still too soon, Luna pulled away and looked into Red?s eyes, smiling that smile again and holding her hands tightly. Red closed her eyes, wanting to relive the moment that had ended too quickly and feel the memory of that joy. Luna moved her lips close to Red?s ear and whispered, ?It doesn?t have to end. Not yet.?
Red smiled, matching Luna?s smile, and opened her eyes. ?What do you mean?? she whispered.
?There?s much more that I can show you. All you have to do is say the word. And I can teach you everything you want to know. I can make you feel so much more than this. All you need to do, is say yes.?
Red looked into Luna?s eyes and nodded, just once. ?Yes.? A whisper. Still holding Red?s hands, Luna drew them down to her breast, and slowly pulled the unresisting girl to the ground. Around them, the afternoon sun gradually began to fade.
Silence. When Red finally opened her eyes, she noticed an eerie silence, all around her. She looked around, but the dark was all-enveloping. Red remembered something, a fleeting memory from the day that seemed to fade as quickly as it had come to her. She tried to recall. She could remember a feeling, just a feeling of love and intense passion that had pervaded the entire afternoon. Her first and only love. She could remember fully now. She?d learned so much during the day, all other thoughts had been forgotten as she remembered the events of that perfect time. She?d never imagined in her wildest dreams (and they had been quite wild) that she would ever love another girl, nor that she would ever have that experience with a girl. Her first time. And it had been perfect.
As Red slowly recalled the memories from earlier, she began to realise something else, something important. Her grandmother! She had visited her grandmother in the forest cottage every month, on the same day, at the same time, for years. Ever since she was a little girl. It was night now, the forest was pitch black and the only light around was from a torch that Red?s mother had always made her carry. It was a precaution if she ever got lost and couldn?t get home before dark. Red checked the batteries and turned it on. It worked, thank God. She looked around and found she was alone, back on the path. Luna had kept her word then. The strange blonde girl had gone, vanished completely, but not before taking Red back to the path. Just as she?d said she would. Looking at the route ahead of her, she noticed a light through the trees. It had to be her grandmother?s cottage. Red set off at a run towards the light, knowing that her family would be worrying. She wasn?t far away from the cottage itself. Soon, she would be there.
Red reached the cottage in just a couple of minutes. But when she knocked on the door, there was no answer. Strange, she thought. And there was something else too. Red?s grandmother never left lights on in the house. She would always turn them off when leaving a room, to save on electricity bills. So why were so many lights turned on? Red started to worry. She took out the spare key from it?s hiding place in the flowerpot near the gate, and unlocked the front door. She wasn?t prepared for the sight that met her as she entered the building.
Blood was spattered on the walls. The floor was completely covered in gore, with puddles of blood everywhere. As Red walked around, she saw the same sight in the other rooms. Even upstairs, the sight was the same. The bathroom, the bedroom, even in the main kitchen. Visible on the furniture, draped over tables and chairs, were pieces of flesh, organs and lumps of meat. Red couldn?t take it any more. She stumbled outside to get some fresh air, but barely made it. As she ran out of the back door in the kitchen, she tripped on a lumpy mass that had been left strewn across the ground. She looked closer. It was her grandmother, the corpse ripped apart and the organs removed with a sharp knife. Lumps of flesh had been gouged out of the body?s arms and blood covered the remains so that they were just barely recognisable as Red?s grandmother. It was too much for Red. She ran to the well behind the house and vomited into the bucket that stood on top of the well cover. She kept vomiting until there was nothing left, until she was bringing up the acid in her stomach. Her throat hurt and she had nowhere to go but home. She didn?t have her phone, she couldn?t call for help. The cable for the landline inside the house had been cut. There was no way of contacting anybody. Red was completely alone.
She ran through the woods. She didn?t care about staying on the path anymore. She?d dropped her torch back at the house, but by now her eyes had adapted to the dark. She still couldn?t see much, but she could see just enough for her to avoid any major obstacles. Nevertheless, by the time she saw a light through the trees, like a campfire, Red was already bruised and scratched all over. She decided to head for the light. There had to be someone there who could help, someone with a phone perhaps, or who knew a way out of the forest. She moved into a clearing with an open fire in the middle. Red had no idea of the shock that she was about to receive.
Luna was there. Sitting alone by the fire, with her back to Red, she hadn?t noticed the bruised and bloody girl walking slowly towards her from behind. Red didn?t know what to say, what to do. The passion from hours before was all but forgotten, replaced by an insatiable curiosity and suspicion regarding Luna?s presence here. As Red moved closer to her she could see crimson spots on the bright blue dress the girl was wearing. She moved around, to stand between Luna and the fire.
?Why are you still here??
If Luna was alarmed by Red?s presence, she hid it well. ?So, you found me. Well done. Perhaps we can play again. I?m sure you enjoyed the - games - we played today, right??
?Where did you go when you left me?? Red wasn?t interested in idle chatter. She wanted answers. And she wanted them now.
?Cutting right to the chase. You weren?t so abrupt this afternoon. I enjoyed it more then. You?re no fun now.? Luna stifled a yawn and turned her back to Red and the fire, staring into the darkness.
?There?s blood on your dress, Luna. I want to know. Where did you go??
Luna waited for a few seconds, then turned back to look at Red, straight in the eyes. ?Did you enjoy the little gift I left you??
Red felt like tearing Luna?s arms from their sockets. She felt like ripping Luna limb from limb and spitting in her face, she wanted to destroy the girl who had made her feel love for the first time, for what the ***** had done. ?Who are you? Why did you kill my grandmother? What was she to you? Just give me a straight fucking answer! Tell me now, or I swear I?ll murder you right here, you fucking whore!? As she screamed at Luna, Red grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her to her feet, shaking her with every word. All the while, Luna just stared blankly ahead, as if nothing Red did to her could possibly matter.
?It?s no use now, Red. What?s done is done. I know you took the knife. I know you want to use it. Go ahead. It doesn?t matter now.?
Red had gone back to the house after she?d been sick. It had taken every ounce of strength to force herself to go back in there, but she had. She?d taken a long kitchen knife for protection, since she had no idea what was waiting for her in the darkness. It was tucked into her belt, over the skirt. The strength it had taken to go back into that slaughterhouse was nothing compared to the restraint she now had to focus on to stop her from stabbing Luna to death.
?I?m not like you. I?m nothing like you!?
?Say what you like, Red. I know you. You?re like me. You always will be. And I know you want to rip me apart and throw the bits into the fire, so just do it. It won?t make things better. But it?s a start.? Luna spoke calmly, as though what she had done had no effect on her whatsoever. It was a testament to her strength of character that she could look Red in the eye and still say those words. She knew she was facing death. And she didn?t care.
It didn?t take long for Red to finish the job. She couldn?t hold back the rage any longer. By the end of it, Luna was nothing but a pile of limbs and organs piled up next to the fire. Just like Red?s grandmother. Red threw the bits into the fire, then curled up and wept.
When the search party came across the cottage they only had to take a single glimpse through the open front door to see the carnage that had taken place. Soon the police were undertaking a massive manhunt, searching for the missing girl and the brutal murderer. When rescuers came across the clearing with the fire still burning brightly in the early hours of the morning, they found a young woman in goth dress covered in blood, laughing hysterically in front of the flames. Beside her was a head, just a head with short, spiky blonde hair. The police arrived on the scene almost instantly. As the girl was led towards the waiting police car, nobody noticed a girl in a bright blue vintage dress, black leggings, and high heels, smiling and staring into the flames.
Gretel lay awake staring into the darkness. Through the floor she could hear her parents arguing again. Things were always the same, every night, she?d lie in bed and listen to the raised voices from below. Things had never been this bad before, and it scared her.
It was the middle of summer, so naturally it was pretty hot. Gretel was nineteen, with long red hair, green eyes, and pale skin. She was quite tall, moderately pretty, but her looks had often earned her nothing but scorn from those who knew her. She?d endured school with good grace though, despite the constant taunts about her paleness and her hair colour. She was the sort of person to keep her feelings inside, rather than talking about them. Gretel had learned from an early age to stay hidden and to avoid unwanted attention.
In the room next to hers, Gretel?s brother was sleeping. Hansel and Gretel were twins, though they were nothing alike. They?d been named after the characters from the story, since it was the very first thing either of them remembered. Their father would read the fairytale to them every night before putting them to bed. Hansel was also tall, but with short black hair and dark eyes. He?d had a much easier ride through life than his sister, making friends easily and generally being able to deal with any tough situations by simply ignoring the problem until it went away. While Gretel worked hard and was quite the overachiever, Hansel just sailed through things and didn?t exactly worry too much about the future. University had never interested him. So it was a surprise to all when Gretel, who had been on course for a top place in Oxford or Cambridge, decided to take a gap year and stay home for a while. People then expected her to travel, maybe Europe or East Asia, but she just stayed home, working in the local shop and living an easy life. Hansel had never been interested in getting great grades, he didn?t care about exams or anything. He worked at the same shop as his sister and he?d been there for almost a year and a half now. Gretel, just as long. Any ambitions either of them may have had, however, had been put on hold with the recession.
When the credit crunch came along, the family had been hit pretty badly. Hansel and Gretel were lucky to keep their jobs, while their father was sacked from his managerial position with a local construction firm. Their mother, who worked as a secretary for the same company, was on reduced pay, and things had never been so bad for them. Now, every night, they?d argue about money and how they would support their children. Gretel had considered moving out, to make things easier, but her chance had gone. When she?d mentioned it to her parents, her mother had just stormed out and her father had told her to stop being so stupid. The truth was, in a small market town, there weren?t many opportunities for a young woman, and Gretel had given up her chance for a degree and a career. She?d have to wait another year before she could reapply to any universities, and competition would be fierce. So for now, she was stuck. Besides, she had far more pressing reasons to stay home. To stay with her family. To stay close to her brother. All Gretel truly cared about now was family. So she decided to stay.
?We can?t do this anymore. We have to think about the future.? Gretel?s mother was speaking now. ?Have you had any luck yet??
?No. There?s just nothing out there now, there?s nothing I can do anymore. My unemployment benefits run out next month, if I don?t find any work by then?? Gretel?s father had been trying to find work for almost six months now and yet there wasn?t anything left on the market. He knew there wouldn?t be any opportunities locally, but perhaps in one of the bigger towns, nearby?
?It?s not going to come to that. I?ve been thinking. We can?t afford to keep those two any longer.?
?What are you talking about? Are you saying we need to throw them out??
?Of course not. Come into the back room, these ceilings are much too thin??
The voices died away. Gretel had been listening to her parents talking every night for weeks, but she had never thought that they knew. She hadn?t realised her parents knew how thin the walls and ceilings were in their house. She put it out of mind, and let the darkness envelop her. Within five minutes she was fast asleep.
Gretel?s mother brought her husband into the dining room at the back of the house. It was directly under their own room, so it was much harder for their children to eavesdrop.
?The thing is, we can?t afford to keep them here any more. If Gretel had just accepted that offer from Oxford things would have been much easier. She?d have a student loan, she?d have a place to stay, and she wouldn?t be costing us every damn penny that we can spare.?
?What are you saying, dear? That we should throw Gretel out? If anything Hansel?s the one who costs us all the money we have. He just lounges around and does nothing, his job barely covers the internet bills he costs us?? Hansel was dearly loved by his father, as was Gretel. However, he was often a source of disappointment in his parents, especially because of his laziness.
?I?m not saying we need to throw either of them out. But if everything goes alright, they won?t be costing us anything again.? There was an ominous tone to her voice, that made her husband nervous.
?What are you talking about??
?You remember when we went to Cyprus five years ago? I took the opportunity to take out life insurance policies on the whole family. You remember, right??
?Yes, of course, you? wait, what are you suggesting??
?Me? I?m not suggesting anything. Except that, it might be better for us if that money was in our bank account, instead of sitting in some insurance company?s books, don?t you agree?? Gretel?s mother was now smiling at her husband, her eyes gleaming.
?Well, yes, of course, but even so? how are we supposed to get that money? It?s life insurance, and what you?re saying, it?s not like burning down a pub to claim the insurance. Do you realise what you?re saying??
?Of course I do. We need money, now. Things are bad, if you can?t find a job soon then we are going to starve. The government isn?t going to help, there are plenty of families even worse off than we are??
?Yes, but none of those families have to resort to murder!?
?Don?t think of it as murder. Think of it as? an investment.?
In the end, Gretel?s father relented. He didn?t like it, but his wife had chosen a husband well-suited to her. She was strong willed and usually got her own way, while he was much weaker and would often go along with whatever she told him to do. He?d always been weak willed. He argued with her, true. After all, killing one?s own children was the worst crime he could imagine, especially for no purpose save for money. But he couldn?t back down. She would always get her way, in the end.
Hansel was already sitting at the table eating his breakfast when Gretel came downstairs. He?d put on a pair of ripped jeans, and a baggy black Ramones T-shirt. It was too hot for anything else. Gretel was dressed too, in jeans and a black ?meme? T-shirt.
?Nice shirt,? said Hansel as Gretel sat down. She ignored him and began to pour herself a bowl of cereal. On top of the cabinet in the corner, the TV was showing a news channel. Gretel hadn?t really followed the story, but the previous day a girl had gone missing in the woods near the small town where Gretel and her family lived. The only thing of any real interest to Gretel regarding the news story was that the girl in question was around the same age as her and Hansel. She figured that a girl of nineteen wouldn?t really need people fussing over her, so there was little real point to a massive police hunt and search parties. Still, it didn?t affect her, either way. She just watched the rest of the morning news and ate her breakfast in peace.
The door opened, and Gretel?s father walked into the room. His face was gaunt, and he looked tired, as if he?d spent the entire night awake.
?When you finish your breakfast, we?re going out.? He didn?t elaborate, and Gretel could see it was pointless to argue. She was puzzled, as her brother was, but before either of them had a chance to ask what he wanted them for, their father had gone.
?What do you reckon all that was about then?? Hansel asked his sister.
?No idea, but he looked really tired. I heard them talking again last night.?
?God, don?t you have anything better to do in bed than listen to Mum and Dad??
?Yeah, I sleep,? she sneered. ?I don?t have a disgusting little mind like you.?
?Yeah, well, maybe you should get out more, maybe then you?d have a bit more fun.?
?Is the breakfast table any place to be discussing this?? Besides, she thought, why should I go anywhere when everything I want is right here?
?Look, let?s just forget it now, Sis. Dad?s probably waiting for us. Let?s go see what he wants, yeah??
They left their bowls in the sink and went outside. Their father was already in the car, ready to drive off. He watched Hansel and Gretel as they got in the back seats, then backed out of the driveway. As they drove out of the town, Hansel felt compelled to ask his father a question.
?So, where are we going, Dad??
?I?ll tell you soon. Just wait.?
And that was all he would say. Gretel looked out of the windows and noticed that they were on the main road out of town, passing through the forest towards the motorway. They weren?t going too far, were they? Her father carried on along this road , past the motorway junction, and deeper into the woods, for most of the morning. In the early afternoon, they finally stopped.
?Get out of the car.?
Gretel, and Hansel too, were both extremely surprised by their father?s strange behaviour. Why had he driven them this far out of the town, and what was going to happen now? They both got out and stood together next to the car, as their father walked around the vehicle towards them.
?I know you?re probably confused right now, and I don?t blame you. But I don?t have any choice.?
This time, Gretel spoke. ?What the hell is going on, Dad? Why have you driven us out here??
For a while, her father was silent. Then, he took a deep breath, and started to speak again. ?Your mother has told me to kill you.?
There was nothing but silence. Then Hansel said, ?This is a joke, right? You?re just kidding, aren?t you??
As the truth began to sink in, the siblings fell silent. Their father spoke again. ?You remember when we went abroad a few years ago? Your mother took out life insurance policies for all of us. Now she?s decided, since we can barely afford to pay the bills, it?s time to make a claim. She told me to kill you, but I?m not going to. I have no idea what she thinks she?s doing, but I refuse to help her with this. So I told her I?d bring you into the woods to do it.?
Gretel was shocked to the core. ?What the hell are you both playing at? You think we?re going to believe this??
?You don?t have a choice. If you go back home, you?re dead. And so am I. If I go back now I can tell her it?s done. She was planning to report you as missing, and then when your bodies were found she?d make the claim. I can delay her, I can get away. Here.?
Gretel took a step back as her father came towards her, but stopped when she saw what was in his hand. ?What are you doing??
?It?s just something to keep you going. Five hundred pounds. It should be enough to keep you going for a few days. There?s a hotel not far from here, but I can?t take you or else somebody will realise there?s something going on. Go there, wait for me. I?ll try and meet you as soon as I can. We can get away together, I just need to sort things out back home, then I?ll be back.? He pressed the money into Gretel?s hand and stepped back. ?I?m giving you this to keep safe. I?m trusting you because I know how it?ll just burn a hole in Hansel?s pocket. You?ve always been the more sensible one,. Look after your brother. I?ll see you soon, I promise.?
And without any more words, he got back in the car and drove away.
?So, what happens now?? Hansel had heard everything, and yet he seemed fine. It didn?t seem to surprise him that his own mother could want him dead. But Gretel knew better. She?d always known what he was like, ever since he was a child Hansel had taken a while to show emotion. He just wasn?t the sort to get emotional over anything. One of their few similarities. She had no doubt that he was feeling some sense of betrayal and anger, deep inside, but he just wasn?t showing it.
It was getting dark. The twins had debated for a while what they planned to do, but Gretel had won. She didn?t see any need to go to the hotel and wait. She?d decided on a course of action, and she was going to follow it through. It wouldn?t take more than a day to walk home. There, she would confront her mother. She wanted to know why her own mother would ever consider doing such an evil thing as murdering her own children. And, though she would never have told Hansel, she wanted revenge. Gretel thought back to when they were little children. She?d always had a fascination for the world around her. And part of that involved playing outside, in the grass and near the edges of the woods. Nobody had ever suspected her of it, but she?d been fascinated for a while with death. She would take a magnifying glass out and set insects on fire, and rip the wings off butterflies. She realised now how terribly cliche her actions had been. But the mentality had stayed with her all through her life. A morbid curiosity regarding death and murder had pervaded her thoughts all along, ever since childhood. She had even made plans to study criminal psychology, before choosing to stay at home with her brother. And it was those thoughts that drove her now. Gretel would go home. And her mother would pay.
Hansel had argued against it. He?d been able to sense what his sister was thinking all along, ever since they were children. He?d understood her in a way nobody else ever could. Even down to the darker thoughts that she had, and so when she had argued that the two of them return home, he knew exactly what she was planning. But he knew better than to try and dissuade her. He argued, true, but with little real hope that it would do any good. That was another way in which Gretel and her mother were alike. They were both incredibly headstrong. So Hansel had made it look like he was fighting, but really he was perfectly aware he had no chance. He?d grown accustomed to seeing his sister get her own way. So they?d begun the journey home, making it most of the way before it started to get dark. They were following an old path rather than following the road. They couldn?t risk anyone noticing them and informing the police, otherwise Gretel?s plans would be completely unravelled. Hansel was still trying to figure out a way to avoid an unnecessary violence. He realised his sister had a need to get things off her chest and to find some closure from their mother. But he couldn?t condone the sort of retaliation she was suggesting. But regardless of what action was taken, Hansel still knew that they needed to get home.
Ahead of them the path was less clear. They could barely see where they were going any more, until suddenly Hansel called out to his sister. ?Can you see? There?s lights over there.?
Gretel strained her eyes to see where Hansel was, and then looked in the direction he was pointing. Some distance away, barely visible through the trees, were bright lights glaring in the darkness. As they moved closer to the source they realised it was a house. The path they had been following ran alongside an old driveway, which Gretel realised must lead to the main road where their father had driven them that morning. Both of them knew what it meant. They needed something to eat, they needed a drink, and they needed somewhere to sleep. There wasn?t anywhere outside to find those things. So this was a blessing for them. They made their way along the drive, around the bend between the trees, and towards the front door.
The house was actually a small cottage, with a separate garage building to one side. The gravel driveway led up to a separate patio that served as the main entrance to the house. Hansel and Gretel walked towards the door and knocked on the lion?s head knocker. They could hear footsteps inside as whoever was inside the house came to answer.
?Let me do the talking, alright?? said Gretel.
?Sure.?
The door opened to show a short, middle-aged woman with greying hair standing in the doorway. She wore glasses and looked to Hansel like the sort of person you wish had been your primary school teacher when you were little.
?Can I help you?? She looked from one to the other, puzzled at why two teenagers should be knocking on her door in the middle of the night. Gretel answered as though she?d been preparing for the question.
?Yes, I?m afraid my brother and I were camping with some friends and we got lost. We need somewhere to stay for the night so we can search for them in the morning.?
?Well, don?t worry, you can come in, and you can use the phone too. Is there anyone you can call to let them know you?re okay??
?No, sorry, we can?t get any signal in the forest. We?re stuck until morning.?
?Well, it?s a little unorthodox, but alright. I?ll sort out a room for you both. Should I let the police know too? It might help when you?re looking for your friends. There?ve been rumours of a killer out there, best to make sure your friends are safe, yes??
?Yes, of course. Thank you so much for this.?
As the woman turned away Hansel glanced at his sister and saw the look on her face. It was the same look that she?d had when discussing their mother earlier. He could see instantly what she was planning to do, and realised he had to put a stop to it now.
?What are you going to do?? he whispered to Gretel.
?You know what. She?s going to call the police, and they?ll drag us back home, and then Mum will kill us. We?ve got no choice.?
?There?s always a bloody choice, Gret. There?s no need for this.?
?Do you want to get killed? There?s your fucking choice. Either she rings the police and we end up dead, or she doesn?t and things go as planned.?
?You should have said no when she asked you.?
?And then what? That would have made us look more suspicious. You do the talking next time then,? Gretel sneered.
Hansel ignored her. ?I won?t let you do this.?
?It?s too late. I?ve made my choice. You can either go with me, or not. But don?t you dare tell me what I will and won?t do.?
As the siblings argued, the woman had retreated to the back room to find some spare sheets. As she left she overheard Hansel, apparently backing down to Gretel?s arguments. She didn?t understand what was being discussed, but nevertheless decided to see if everything was alright.
?What?s the matter, my dears? Is there a problem??
?No,? replied Gretel. ?Everything?s fine, thanks.?
?That?s good then. I?ll just go up and sort a room out, then??
While the woman had been in the back, Gretel had managed to persuade Hansel that they didn?t have any choice. She had spoken to him at length about the consequences of the woman calling the police, and eventually managed to make him see her point of view. Gretel had essentially done what she was best at, essentially manipulating those around her until they agreed with her. Hansel didn?t like it, but he had gone along with the plan regarding his own parents. If he could support his sister in that, what was one more life compared to their safety and their revenge?
As the woman started to walk upstairs, Gretel was devising a plan. She walked through the main hallway to a kitchen, where she picked up a long sharp knife from a knife block. She then followed the woman upstairs and entered the small bedroom that was currently being prepared for her and Hansel. She crept up slowly behind the woman, quietly so as to avoid being discovered. When she was close, she moved quickly, grabbing the woman from behind and bringing the knife round in one clean sweep. The knife slashed against the woman?s throat, blood spurting out onto the bed. None landed on Gretel. As she dropped the knife onto the bed she realised exactly what she?d done. It was a strange feeling. Horror in parts, the feeling of revulsion that she could possibly do something like that to another human. Exhilaration, a sort of mental high at the deed. She had been bloodthirsty and ruthless, reasoning with herself that no other option was available. She realised too late that there were plenty of other paths she could have taken to protect both her and her brother. But there was no use in complaining now. It was done. On the whole, despite the feelings of disgust that Gretel had, she couldn?t deny that she had enjoyed the kill. She knew that she would enjoy killing her own mother. And it scared her.
Morning. Hansel was still asleep, but Gretel had trouble even closing her eyes. She couldn?t stop thinking about what she had done the night before. Hansel had refused to speak even a single word to her afterwards. She knew he felt guilty about letting her do it, and she didn?t blame him. He had every right to be angry at her. She realised that she had, in the end, enjoyed the feeling of power, the rush that she?d had when cutting bare skin and slicing through the flesh. It had been over in seconds, but she still felt good. It worried her. Was she some kind of psychopath, a vicious killer with no regard for human life? Gretel thought back to her childhood, relatively normal, save for her morbid obsession with death. Ripping wings from butterflies and cutting open worms to see if they could survive. She?d loved dissection in Biology, slicing open a pig?s heart to study the inside. She?d been the only one who enjoyed it. Were all of these simply signals of what she would become in the future?
She tried to put it out of mind. It wouldn?t go away, though she reasoned to herself that it would make killing her mother much easier later on. Not that she felt any better about that. She woke Hansel, then went down to the kitchen to find something to eat. Stealing from the dead. Her crimes were just getting worse and worse. There was one thing they needed to steal, though. Outside, in the detached garage, there was a car that had belonged to the woman before her untimely death. It was a Land Rover, Gretel had seen it the night before. She?d gone for a walk to clear her head, and on impulse took the keys from the mantelpiece in the hallway to have a look inside the garage. The keys for the vehicle itself had been on the same ring, and she?d realised they had the perfect way of getting home quickly. Though Hansel had never passed his test, his sister was competent enough to drive home provided she knew the way to go. After washing and eating a quick breakfast, the two of them took the car and headed back home.
It was just after noon when they arrived. Their father had taken them quite a distance to avoid their mother?s wrath. It had paid off. As far as their mother was aware, both Hansel and Gretel were dead, their bodies lying in the middle of the woods. She had already called the Missing Persons Unit with the local police, who were out in the woods searching for them now. The hunt was quite serious. The morning that the twins had been left by the side of the road, police had discovered a body in a cottage in the middle of the woods. Hours later, they had found another, apparently missing, girl sitting by a fire, burning a second body. Though she had been arrested at the scene there were concerns that Hansel and Gretel had fallen prey to the same fate as the other two victims. Search parties were in the forest looking all over for them. They wouldn?t find them though. In all the confusion, nobody had considered that the pair of them would try and find their way home. Their mother thought them dead, their father thought them safe in a hotel, and the police thought they were in the woods somewhere. So it didn?t take much for them to sneak into the house around the back. Officers from the MPU had just left the house, as Gretel parked the stolen Land Rover in a little cul-de-sac around the corner from her home. She and her brother walked around to the house, climbing over a fence to enter their back garden. They wandered into the kitchen, as their mother entered the room.
?So. He didn?t have the bottle to do it then??
?Obviously not.? Gretel sneered at her mother. ?Why didn?t you do it yourself??
?I don?t have to answer to you.?
?Yes you do, Mother. You wanted us dead. You could have done it yourself, why send him to do it instead? Didn?t have the nerve??
?Don?t you dare speak to me like that, young lady, or I?ll??
?You?ll what?? Gretel laughed. ?You?ll kill us? You couldn?t do it before and you won?t do it now. You?re too weak.?
?Weak??
?Stop it, please. Just stop, okay?? Hansel began to plead with his sister. He could see that everything would go downhill extremely fast if he didn?t put a stop to it now.
?Listen to your brother, dear. Everything will be fine. It?ll all be alright.?
Gretel hesitated. She recognised what her mother was doing. It was one of the ways they were alike. They were both brilliant manipulators, able to twist anyone and anything to do or think what they liked. But Gretel knew that she was the stronger. She didn?t have as much experience, but she had done worse things than her mother. She had been through the fire and came out stronger for it. The murder she had committed had only strengthened her resolve.
?I?m just like you, you know? At least you got something right, Mum.?
Just then, the door opened and Gretel?s father stepped into the room.
?I heard voices, is everything?? He stopped when he saw the twins standing there. His wife began to speak.
?You see now, what you?ve done? You see how much you have cost this family? You didn?t have the guts to do what I asked, so now you can finish the job.?
?Here? Right here, right now??
?Yes, here. I trusted you, my dear. And you betrayed me. So you can prove to me now that you aren?t a spineless coward, or I?ll do it myself.?
Gretel knew that she had to take control. ?You can?t, Mother. Otherwise you?d have done it yourself. I told you. You?re too weak.?
?Weak? I?ll prove to you just how weak I am.? As she said this, Gretel?s mother walked calmly towards her husband and took his hand. In a single seamless movement, she twisted it around and held him in a vice-like grip, so that any attempt to escape would result in him breaking his arm. With her free hand, she picked up a knife from the counter and held it against his throat. ?This is what happens when you betray my trust.? And then he was dead, a single deep cut right across his throat. In a flash, Gretel realised where she got it from. How she could be so detached from everyone, how she was able to kill without a thought, manipulate everyone, and why she was so obsessed with death. Her mother was exactly the same. She?d gotten it all from her.
Ignoring Hansel?s screams of anger, Gretel turned on her mother.
?I can see now. I was wrong. You are strong, Mum. Because I?m strong too. I killed someone last night and I felt so good doing it. And that terrifies me. But I know where I get it from.?
?And where is that, my daughter??
?You. Me and you, we?re completely the same. Exactly alike. So I guess it won?t matter too much when I kill you.?
It was over quickly. Hansel would try to block it out, though he realised that he never could. It was all too clear in his mind. But Gretel wouldn?t even try to forget. It would be something to draw on whenever she felt weak. Something to help her stay strong in the darker times ahead. She would remember how she ran across the room and into her mother. How she fought for control of the weapon, how she wrested the knife from her mother?s grip, and how she plunged it into her chest repeatedly, caring nothing for her mother?s cries of pain and anguish. In times to come it would help her kill again and again, whenever she had to, just to survive. She would recall how she ran, with Hansel following, back into the woods nearby and away from the slaughter.
They just kept on running. And they didn?t stop.
It was the middle of summer, so naturally it was pretty hot. Gretel was nineteen, with long red hair, green eyes, and pale skin. She was quite tall, moderately pretty, but her looks had often earned her nothing but scorn from those who knew her. She?d endured school with good grace though, despite the constant taunts about her paleness and her hair colour. She was the sort of person to keep her feelings inside, rather than talking about them. Gretel had learned from an early age to stay hidden and to avoid unwanted attention.
In the room next to hers, Gretel?s brother was sleeping. Hansel and Gretel were twins, though they were nothing alike. They?d been named after the characters from the story, since it was the very first thing either of them remembered. Their father would read the fairytale to them every night before putting them to bed. Hansel was also tall, but with short black hair and dark eyes. He?d had a much easier ride through life than his sister, making friends easily and generally being able to deal with any tough situations by simply ignoring the problem until it went away. While Gretel worked hard and was quite the overachiever, Hansel just sailed through things and didn?t exactly worry too much about the future. University had never interested him. So it was a surprise to all when Gretel, who had been on course for a top place in Oxford or Cambridge, decided to take a gap year and stay home for a while. People then expected her to travel, maybe Europe or East Asia, but she just stayed home, working in the local shop and living an easy life. Hansel had never been interested in getting great grades, he didn?t care about exams or anything. He worked at the same shop as his sister and he?d been there for almost a year and a half now. Gretel, just as long. Any ambitions either of them may have had, however, had been put on hold with the recession.
When the credit crunch came along, the family had been hit pretty badly. Hansel and Gretel were lucky to keep their jobs, while their father was sacked from his managerial position with a local construction firm. Their mother, who worked as a secretary for the same company, was on reduced pay, and things had never been so bad for them. Now, every night, they?d argue about money and how they would support their children. Gretel had considered moving out, to make things easier, but her chance had gone. When she?d mentioned it to her parents, her mother had just stormed out and her father had told her to stop being so stupid. The truth was, in a small market town, there weren?t many opportunities for a young woman, and Gretel had given up her chance for a degree and a career. She?d have to wait another year before she could reapply to any universities, and competition would be fierce. So for now, she was stuck. Besides, she had far more pressing reasons to stay home. To stay with her family. To stay close to her brother. All Gretel truly cared about now was family. So she decided to stay.
?We can?t do this anymore. We have to think about the future.? Gretel?s mother was speaking now. ?Have you had any luck yet??
?No. There?s just nothing out there now, there?s nothing I can do anymore. My unemployment benefits run out next month, if I don?t find any work by then?? Gretel?s father had been trying to find work for almost six months now and yet there wasn?t anything left on the market. He knew there wouldn?t be any opportunities locally, but perhaps in one of the bigger towns, nearby?
?It?s not going to come to that. I?ve been thinking. We can?t afford to keep those two any longer.?
?What are you talking about? Are you saying we need to throw them out??
?Of course not. Come into the back room, these ceilings are much too thin??
The voices died away. Gretel had been listening to her parents talking every night for weeks, but she had never thought that they knew. She hadn?t realised her parents knew how thin the walls and ceilings were in their house. She put it out of mind, and let the darkness envelop her. Within five minutes she was fast asleep.
Gretel?s mother brought her husband into the dining room at the back of the house. It was directly under their own room, so it was much harder for their children to eavesdrop.
?The thing is, we can?t afford to keep them here any more. If Gretel had just accepted that offer from Oxford things would have been much easier. She?d have a student loan, she?d have a place to stay, and she wouldn?t be costing us every damn penny that we can spare.?
?What are you saying, dear? That we should throw Gretel out? If anything Hansel?s the one who costs us all the money we have. He just lounges around and does nothing, his job barely covers the internet bills he costs us?? Hansel was dearly loved by his father, as was Gretel. However, he was often a source of disappointment in his parents, especially because of his laziness.
?I?m not saying we need to throw either of them out. But if everything goes alright, they won?t be costing us anything again.? There was an ominous tone to her voice, that made her husband nervous.
?What are you talking about??
?You remember when we went to Cyprus five years ago? I took the opportunity to take out life insurance policies on the whole family. You remember, right??
?Yes, of course, you? wait, what are you suggesting??
?Me? I?m not suggesting anything. Except that, it might be better for us if that money was in our bank account, instead of sitting in some insurance company?s books, don?t you agree?? Gretel?s mother was now smiling at her husband, her eyes gleaming.
?Well, yes, of course, but even so? how are we supposed to get that money? It?s life insurance, and what you?re saying, it?s not like burning down a pub to claim the insurance. Do you realise what you?re saying??
?Of course I do. We need money, now. Things are bad, if you can?t find a job soon then we are going to starve. The government isn?t going to help, there are plenty of families even worse off than we are??
?Yes, but none of those families have to resort to murder!?
?Don?t think of it as murder. Think of it as? an investment.?
In the end, Gretel?s father relented. He didn?t like it, but his wife had chosen a husband well-suited to her. She was strong willed and usually got her own way, while he was much weaker and would often go along with whatever she told him to do. He?d always been weak willed. He argued with her, true. After all, killing one?s own children was the worst crime he could imagine, especially for no purpose save for money. But he couldn?t back down. She would always get her way, in the end.
Hansel was already sitting at the table eating his breakfast when Gretel came downstairs. He?d put on a pair of ripped jeans, and a baggy black Ramones T-shirt. It was too hot for anything else. Gretel was dressed too, in jeans and a black ?meme? T-shirt.
?Nice shirt,? said Hansel as Gretel sat down. She ignored him and began to pour herself a bowl of cereal. On top of the cabinet in the corner, the TV was showing a news channel. Gretel hadn?t really followed the story, but the previous day a girl had gone missing in the woods near the small town where Gretel and her family lived. The only thing of any real interest to Gretel regarding the news story was that the girl in question was around the same age as her and Hansel. She figured that a girl of nineteen wouldn?t really need people fussing over her, so there was little real point to a massive police hunt and search parties. Still, it didn?t affect her, either way. She just watched the rest of the morning news and ate her breakfast in peace.
The door opened, and Gretel?s father walked into the room. His face was gaunt, and he looked tired, as if he?d spent the entire night awake.
?When you finish your breakfast, we?re going out.? He didn?t elaborate, and Gretel could see it was pointless to argue. She was puzzled, as her brother was, but before either of them had a chance to ask what he wanted them for, their father had gone.
?What do you reckon all that was about then?? Hansel asked his sister.
?No idea, but he looked really tired. I heard them talking again last night.?
?God, don?t you have anything better to do in bed than listen to Mum and Dad??
?Yeah, I sleep,? she sneered. ?I don?t have a disgusting little mind like you.?
?Yeah, well, maybe you should get out more, maybe then you?d have a bit more fun.?
?Is the breakfast table any place to be discussing this?? Besides, she thought, why should I go anywhere when everything I want is right here?
?Look, let?s just forget it now, Sis. Dad?s probably waiting for us. Let?s go see what he wants, yeah??
They left their bowls in the sink and went outside. Their father was already in the car, ready to drive off. He watched Hansel and Gretel as they got in the back seats, then backed out of the driveway. As they drove out of the town, Hansel felt compelled to ask his father a question.
?So, where are we going, Dad??
?I?ll tell you soon. Just wait.?
And that was all he would say. Gretel looked out of the windows and noticed that they were on the main road out of town, passing through the forest towards the motorway. They weren?t going too far, were they? Her father carried on along this road , past the motorway junction, and deeper into the woods, for most of the morning. In the early afternoon, they finally stopped.
?Get out of the car.?
Gretel, and Hansel too, were both extremely surprised by their father?s strange behaviour. Why had he driven them this far out of the town, and what was going to happen now? They both got out and stood together next to the car, as their father walked around the vehicle towards them.
?I know you?re probably confused right now, and I don?t blame you. But I don?t have any choice.?
This time, Gretel spoke. ?What the hell is going on, Dad? Why have you driven us out here??
For a while, her father was silent. Then, he took a deep breath, and started to speak again. ?Your mother has told me to kill you.?
There was nothing but silence. Then Hansel said, ?This is a joke, right? You?re just kidding, aren?t you??
As the truth began to sink in, the siblings fell silent. Their father spoke again. ?You remember when we went abroad a few years ago? Your mother took out life insurance policies for all of us. Now she?s decided, since we can barely afford to pay the bills, it?s time to make a claim. She told me to kill you, but I?m not going to. I have no idea what she thinks she?s doing, but I refuse to help her with this. So I told her I?d bring you into the woods to do it.?
Gretel was shocked to the core. ?What the hell are you both playing at? You think we?re going to believe this??
?You don?t have a choice. If you go back home, you?re dead. And so am I. If I go back now I can tell her it?s done. She was planning to report you as missing, and then when your bodies were found she?d make the claim. I can delay her, I can get away. Here.?
Gretel took a step back as her father came towards her, but stopped when she saw what was in his hand. ?What are you doing??
?It?s just something to keep you going. Five hundred pounds. It should be enough to keep you going for a few days. There?s a hotel not far from here, but I can?t take you or else somebody will realise there?s something going on. Go there, wait for me. I?ll try and meet you as soon as I can. We can get away together, I just need to sort things out back home, then I?ll be back.? He pressed the money into Gretel?s hand and stepped back. ?I?m giving you this to keep safe. I?m trusting you because I know how it?ll just burn a hole in Hansel?s pocket. You?ve always been the more sensible one,. Look after your brother. I?ll see you soon, I promise.?
And without any more words, he got back in the car and drove away.
?So, what happens now?? Hansel had heard everything, and yet he seemed fine. It didn?t seem to surprise him that his own mother could want him dead. But Gretel knew better. She?d always known what he was like, ever since he was a child Hansel had taken a while to show emotion. He just wasn?t the sort to get emotional over anything. One of their few similarities. She had no doubt that he was feeling some sense of betrayal and anger, deep inside, but he just wasn?t showing it.
It was getting dark. The twins had debated for a while what they planned to do, but Gretel had won. She didn?t see any need to go to the hotel and wait. She?d decided on a course of action, and she was going to follow it through. It wouldn?t take more than a day to walk home. There, she would confront her mother. She wanted to know why her own mother would ever consider doing such an evil thing as murdering her own children. And, though she would never have told Hansel, she wanted revenge. Gretel thought back to when they were little children. She?d always had a fascination for the world around her. And part of that involved playing outside, in the grass and near the edges of the woods. Nobody had ever suspected her of it, but she?d been fascinated for a while with death. She would take a magnifying glass out and set insects on fire, and rip the wings off butterflies. She realised now how terribly cliche her actions had been. But the mentality had stayed with her all through her life. A morbid curiosity regarding death and murder had pervaded her thoughts all along, ever since childhood. She had even made plans to study criminal psychology, before choosing to stay at home with her brother. And it was those thoughts that drove her now. Gretel would go home. And her mother would pay.
Hansel had argued against it. He?d been able to sense what his sister was thinking all along, ever since they were children. He?d understood her in a way nobody else ever could. Even down to the darker thoughts that she had, and so when she had argued that the two of them return home, he knew exactly what she was planning. But he knew better than to try and dissuade her. He argued, true, but with little real hope that it would do any good. That was another way in which Gretel and her mother were alike. They were both incredibly headstrong. So Hansel had made it look like he was fighting, but really he was perfectly aware he had no chance. He?d grown accustomed to seeing his sister get her own way. So they?d begun the journey home, making it most of the way before it started to get dark. They were following an old path rather than following the road. They couldn?t risk anyone noticing them and informing the police, otherwise Gretel?s plans would be completely unravelled. Hansel was still trying to figure out a way to avoid an unnecessary violence. He realised his sister had a need to get things off her chest and to find some closure from their mother. But he couldn?t condone the sort of retaliation she was suggesting. But regardless of what action was taken, Hansel still knew that they needed to get home.
Ahead of them the path was less clear. They could barely see where they were going any more, until suddenly Hansel called out to his sister. ?Can you see? There?s lights over there.?
Gretel strained her eyes to see where Hansel was, and then looked in the direction he was pointing. Some distance away, barely visible through the trees, were bright lights glaring in the darkness. As they moved closer to the source they realised it was a house. The path they had been following ran alongside an old driveway, which Gretel realised must lead to the main road where their father had driven them that morning. Both of them knew what it meant. They needed something to eat, they needed a drink, and they needed somewhere to sleep. There wasn?t anywhere outside to find those things. So this was a blessing for them. They made their way along the drive, around the bend between the trees, and towards the front door.
The house was actually a small cottage, with a separate garage building to one side. The gravel driveway led up to a separate patio that served as the main entrance to the house. Hansel and Gretel walked towards the door and knocked on the lion?s head knocker. They could hear footsteps inside as whoever was inside the house came to answer.
?Let me do the talking, alright?? said Gretel.
?Sure.?
The door opened to show a short, middle-aged woman with greying hair standing in the doorway. She wore glasses and looked to Hansel like the sort of person you wish had been your primary school teacher when you were little.
?Can I help you?? She looked from one to the other, puzzled at why two teenagers should be knocking on her door in the middle of the night. Gretel answered as though she?d been preparing for the question.
?Yes, I?m afraid my brother and I were camping with some friends and we got lost. We need somewhere to stay for the night so we can search for them in the morning.?
?Well, don?t worry, you can come in, and you can use the phone too. Is there anyone you can call to let them know you?re okay??
?No, sorry, we can?t get any signal in the forest. We?re stuck until morning.?
?Well, it?s a little unorthodox, but alright. I?ll sort out a room for you both. Should I let the police know too? It might help when you?re looking for your friends. There?ve been rumours of a killer out there, best to make sure your friends are safe, yes??
?Yes, of course. Thank you so much for this.?
As the woman turned away Hansel glanced at his sister and saw the look on her face. It was the same look that she?d had when discussing their mother earlier. He could see instantly what she was planning to do, and realised he had to put a stop to it now.
?What are you going to do?? he whispered to Gretel.
?You know what. She?s going to call the police, and they?ll drag us back home, and then Mum will kill us. We?ve got no choice.?
?There?s always a bloody choice, Gret. There?s no need for this.?
?Do you want to get killed? There?s your fucking choice. Either she rings the police and we end up dead, or she doesn?t and things go as planned.?
?You should have said no when she asked you.?
?And then what? That would have made us look more suspicious. You do the talking next time then,? Gretel sneered.
Hansel ignored her. ?I won?t let you do this.?
?It?s too late. I?ve made my choice. You can either go with me, or not. But don?t you dare tell me what I will and won?t do.?
As the siblings argued, the woman had retreated to the back room to find some spare sheets. As she left she overheard Hansel, apparently backing down to Gretel?s arguments. She didn?t understand what was being discussed, but nevertheless decided to see if everything was alright.
?What?s the matter, my dears? Is there a problem??
?No,? replied Gretel. ?Everything?s fine, thanks.?
?That?s good then. I?ll just go up and sort a room out, then??
While the woman had been in the back, Gretel had managed to persuade Hansel that they didn?t have any choice. She had spoken to him at length about the consequences of the woman calling the police, and eventually managed to make him see her point of view. Gretel had essentially done what she was best at, essentially manipulating those around her until they agreed with her. Hansel didn?t like it, but he had gone along with the plan regarding his own parents. If he could support his sister in that, what was one more life compared to their safety and their revenge?
As the woman started to walk upstairs, Gretel was devising a plan. She walked through the main hallway to a kitchen, where she picked up a long sharp knife from a knife block. She then followed the woman upstairs and entered the small bedroom that was currently being prepared for her and Hansel. She crept up slowly behind the woman, quietly so as to avoid being discovered. When she was close, she moved quickly, grabbing the woman from behind and bringing the knife round in one clean sweep. The knife slashed against the woman?s throat, blood spurting out onto the bed. None landed on Gretel. As she dropped the knife onto the bed she realised exactly what she?d done. It was a strange feeling. Horror in parts, the feeling of revulsion that she could possibly do something like that to another human. Exhilaration, a sort of mental high at the deed. She had been bloodthirsty and ruthless, reasoning with herself that no other option was available. She realised too late that there were plenty of other paths she could have taken to protect both her and her brother. But there was no use in complaining now. It was done. On the whole, despite the feelings of disgust that Gretel had, she couldn?t deny that she had enjoyed the kill. She knew that she would enjoy killing her own mother. And it scared her.
Morning. Hansel was still asleep, but Gretel had trouble even closing her eyes. She couldn?t stop thinking about what she had done the night before. Hansel had refused to speak even a single word to her afterwards. She knew he felt guilty about letting her do it, and she didn?t blame him. He had every right to be angry at her. She realised that she had, in the end, enjoyed the feeling of power, the rush that she?d had when cutting bare skin and slicing through the flesh. It had been over in seconds, but she still felt good. It worried her. Was she some kind of psychopath, a vicious killer with no regard for human life? Gretel thought back to her childhood, relatively normal, save for her morbid obsession with death. Ripping wings from butterflies and cutting open worms to see if they could survive. She?d loved dissection in Biology, slicing open a pig?s heart to study the inside. She?d been the only one who enjoyed it. Were all of these simply signals of what she would become in the future?
She tried to put it out of mind. It wouldn?t go away, though she reasoned to herself that it would make killing her mother much easier later on. Not that she felt any better about that. She woke Hansel, then went down to the kitchen to find something to eat. Stealing from the dead. Her crimes were just getting worse and worse. There was one thing they needed to steal, though. Outside, in the detached garage, there was a car that had belonged to the woman before her untimely death. It was a Land Rover, Gretel had seen it the night before. She?d gone for a walk to clear her head, and on impulse took the keys from the mantelpiece in the hallway to have a look inside the garage. The keys for the vehicle itself had been on the same ring, and she?d realised they had the perfect way of getting home quickly. Though Hansel had never passed his test, his sister was competent enough to drive home provided she knew the way to go. After washing and eating a quick breakfast, the two of them took the car and headed back home.
It was just after noon when they arrived. Their father had taken them quite a distance to avoid their mother?s wrath. It had paid off. As far as their mother was aware, both Hansel and Gretel were dead, their bodies lying in the middle of the woods. She had already called the Missing Persons Unit with the local police, who were out in the woods searching for them now. The hunt was quite serious. The morning that the twins had been left by the side of the road, police had discovered a body in a cottage in the middle of the woods. Hours later, they had found another, apparently missing, girl sitting by a fire, burning a second body. Though she had been arrested at the scene there were concerns that Hansel and Gretel had fallen prey to the same fate as the other two victims. Search parties were in the forest looking all over for them. They wouldn?t find them though. In all the confusion, nobody had considered that the pair of them would try and find their way home. Their mother thought them dead, their father thought them safe in a hotel, and the police thought they were in the woods somewhere. So it didn?t take much for them to sneak into the house around the back. Officers from the MPU had just left the house, as Gretel parked the stolen Land Rover in a little cul-de-sac around the corner from her home. She and her brother walked around to the house, climbing over a fence to enter their back garden. They wandered into the kitchen, as their mother entered the room.
?So. He didn?t have the bottle to do it then??
?Obviously not.? Gretel sneered at her mother. ?Why didn?t you do it yourself??
?I don?t have to answer to you.?
?Yes you do, Mother. You wanted us dead. You could have done it yourself, why send him to do it instead? Didn?t have the nerve??
?Don?t you dare speak to me like that, young lady, or I?ll??
?You?ll what?? Gretel laughed. ?You?ll kill us? You couldn?t do it before and you won?t do it now. You?re too weak.?
?Weak??
?Stop it, please. Just stop, okay?? Hansel began to plead with his sister. He could see that everything would go downhill extremely fast if he didn?t put a stop to it now.
?Listen to your brother, dear. Everything will be fine. It?ll all be alright.?
Gretel hesitated. She recognised what her mother was doing. It was one of the ways they were alike. They were both brilliant manipulators, able to twist anyone and anything to do or think what they liked. But Gretel knew that she was the stronger. She didn?t have as much experience, but she had done worse things than her mother. She had been through the fire and came out stronger for it. The murder she had committed had only strengthened her resolve.
?I?m just like you, you know? At least you got something right, Mum.?
Just then, the door opened and Gretel?s father stepped into the room.
?I heard voices, is everything?? He stopped when he saw the twins standing there. His wife began to speak.
?You see now, what you?ve done? You see how much you have cost this family? You didn?t have the guts to do what I asked, so now you can finish the job.?
?Here? Right here, right now??
?Yes, here. I trusted you, my dear. And you betrayed me. So you can prove to me now that you aren?t a spineless coward, or I?ll do it myself.?
Gretel knew that she had to take control. ?You can?t, Mother. Otherwise you?d have done it yourself. I told you. You?re too weak.?
?Weak? I?ll prove to you just how weak I am.? As she said this, Gretel?s mother walked calmly towards her husband and took his hand. In a single seamless movement, she twisted it around and held him in a vice-like grip, so that any attempt to escape would result in him breaking his arm. With her free hand, she picked up a knife from the counter and held it against his throat. ?This is what happens when you betray my trust.? And then he was dead, a single deep cut right across his throat. In a flash, Gretel realised where she got it from. How she could be so detached from everyone, how she was able to kill without a thought, manipulate everyone, and why she was so obsessed with death. Her mother was exactly the same. She?d gotten it all from her.
Ignoring Hansel?s screams of anger, Gretel turned on her mother.
?I can see now. I was wrong. You are strong, Mum. Because I?m strong too. I killed someone last night and I felt so good doing it. And that terrifies me. But I know where I get it from.?
?And where is that, my daughter??
?You. Me and you, we?re completely the same. Exactly alike. So I guess it won?t matter too much when I kill you.?
It was over quickly. Hansel would try to block it out, though he realised that he never could. It was all too clear in his mind. But Gretel wouldn?t even try to forget. It would be something to draw on whenever she felt weak. Something to help her stay strong in the darker times ahead. She would remember how she ran across the room and into her mother. How she fought for control of the weapon, how she wrested the knife from her mother?s grip, and how she plunged it into her chest repeatedly, caring nothing for her mother?s cries of pain and anguish. In times to come it would help her kill again and again, whenever she had to, just to survive. She would recall how she ran, with Hansel following, back into the woods nearby and away from the slaughter.
They just kept on running. And they didn?t stop.
[small]In addition to the stories themselves, I've also written a screenplay for a short ten minute film of Red Riding Hood, and plan to do the same with Hansel and Gretel. The idea is that I can produce a short film with my university film-making society as a short project, since it would be interesting to try and make something like this as a sort of ongoing series in several different forms of media (it's quite an ambitious project on my part
).[/small]
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