Hanzel and Gretel remake

Narrative

Stage two – English

Hanzel and Gretel remake (Witches perspective)

Jake Hean

 

Prologue

“It’s beautiful” Mab uttered as she turned to face her husband, Mohan.

 They glared, wide eyed at the new cottage they had just built. The house was small, compact and as Mab described “Cosy”.

Mab was a young woman, with long wavy black hair, her dark eyes and petite body made her seem younger than she actually was. She was the perfect opposite to her husband, who was twice her size, with a lanky stance and short brown hair.

One feature stood out from the rest, the cottage was built from candy; soft treats, hard candy, cakes and biscuits were what Mab and her husband used to create the walls and roof. The door was made from a red biscuit carved into an entrance with gum drops used as the door knob, the windows made from clear sugar and the house being supported by candy canes. The walls were golden with the interiors made with rock hard icing which gave the cottage its magical feature.

They both stood, Mohan’s arm around Mab and then hugged. Feeling accomplished seeing their lifelong dream finally come to fruition.

 

Hanzel and Gretel: Mab’s perspective

Deep in the forest, the sound of birds woke Mab from her deep sleep. It was dark when she first opened her eyes, and she could barely make out her husband sitting on the other side of her bed lacing up his shoes.

“Is it that time already?” Mab muttered with irritation in her voice.

“Well, we’re nearly seventy Mab, not much longer and I won’t have to work, I’ll have to retire.” A look of sorrow struck Mohan’s face as he said those harsh words.

“I’ll be home soon. Take care my love.”

Soon after Mohan left for work, Mab dressed herself and completed her usual routine of cooking breakfast, feeding her cat and then bathing.

 

Lunch was just approaching and Mab decided to prepare some sandwiches with the ham from last night’s dinner, when she was interrupted by the sound of whispers.

“Here eat this Gretel y---“ Mab could only make out some of what was being spoken.

Quickly she grabbed her broom stick, it was the only thing she could think to grab at the time.

“WHO’S HERE TRESPASSING IN MY HOUSE?!” Mab shouted as she bust open the red biscuit door.

It was two children, gnawing at the house she had built with her husband 50 years ago.

Shocked, she said “Who are you? What are you doing here?

“Please ma’am, we’re lost in the woods and haven’t had anything to eat in days”

“Well… alright then, come inside and I’ll make you some food” Mab stated hesitantly.

The two ravenous children entered the candy house, and stepped into the living room. The house was warm and vibrant. The living room looked nicely furnished with a fireplace, two lounges and a bookshelf neatly placed in an orderly fashion.

“What are your names?” Mab asked politely, yet cautiously.

“I’m Hanzel” said the little boy, who was wearing a torn up black shirt with brown pants; although with the days in the forest, you could hardly call them pants anymore.

“and I’m Gretel” the blonde haired girl, dressed the same then echoed.

 

Mab had set them down in the living room and proceeded to prepare lunch for the two children and herself, still dazed and confused she gathered milk and pancakes with sugar, apples, and nuts.

She had just finished the meals and proceeded into the living room when she was stopped by Hanzel holding a knife and pointing it in her direction.

“Alright you old cow, gimme everything you have!”

“Please, Please, I don’t have anything! I’m just an old woman.”

“Not going to speak aye? Gretel throw her in the cat's cage until she opens up.”

Gretel rushed over and grabbed Mab by her hair and dragged her into the tiny cat’s cage. Unable to resist, Mab willingly did what her aggressors asked.

 

 “Tell us where the money is or by God I swear that will be the last meal you ever have.” roared Hanzel but Mab did not respond, she just looked down at the ground and became silent.

“Check her room, turn it inside out if you have to” Hanzel said demandingly to Gretel.

The young girl entered Mab’s room and was surprised to find that the room looked very average. A double bed, closet and giant mirror to the left of the room and a work station to the right decorated the couples room.

“I can’t see anything!” Gretel yelled from inside Mab’s room.

“Goddam it! Listen here you old cow you’d b..” the sound of the gum drop door knob turning stopped Hanzel from finishing his sentence.

It was Mohan returning from work!

Hanzel quickly ran to hide. He decided to follow his sister and go into Mab’s room.

Mohan walked through the door and immediately spied Mab entrapped in the cat's cage.

“What are you doing Mab? Have you finally lost your mind?”

“Quickly! Get me out of here! There are two children who are trying to rob us!”

In disbelief, Mohan rushed to the cat’s cage and freed Mab from her imprisonment.

“They’re in our room” Mab voiced cautiously.

“Alright you kids, out with ya. Your fun’s over.”

Mohan tip toed to his room and pressed his ear to the door where he heard nothing but silence.

He turned the knob and pushed open the door when suddenly Hanzel came rushing through and stabbed him in his upper thigh. 

Mohan plunged to the floor, seconds away from death when Mab made a run for the exit.

Hanzel caught up with her and tackled her to the ground.

He hopped on top of the seventy-year-old woman and continued to beat her with his fists until she was no longer breathing.

They were both dead.

“Oh my god, you actually did it! We’re going down for this!” Gretel anxiously said to Hanzel.

“No we’re not. I have an idea.”

Hanzel and Gretel then picked up the two dead bodies and placed them in the gigantic wood oven the senior couple had in their kitchen. They lit the oven and sat there staring as the flames engulfed the two bodies.

“It’s done. Now let’s get out of here”

 

The kingdoms guards later came to investigate the crime scene where the homicides had taken place. Hanzel and Gretel escaped being arrested by creating an elaborate story of how Mab, who they referred to as a witch, trapped them in a cage with intentions to eat them with her husband. Instead they found a way out of the cage and pushed the two in the wood oven from which they escaped for their lives.

From that day forward, Hanzel and Gretel were marked as heroes and were given land and titles by the King himself for their bravery and sacrifice.

 

The End.

 

Word count: 983