Frank Hardy took one last look at the kitchen behind him. There’s nothing more to be had here. It’s time to go, he acknowledged. He took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped into the next room. As usual, the door closed behind him, leaving him standing, and the setting of the new room spread mockingly before him.

Frank knew immediately that this room was different.

The difference was in the starkness of the lighting, the way everything centered at the showpiece set, Frank knew, intentionally in the middle of the room. From where he stood, he thought it looked like a doll house of some sort. He walked towards it.

The ‘doll house’ was made of gingerbread set on top of a large butterscotch table, again with intricate artwork adorning its sides.

It was a gingerbread house.

He noted there was a book stand next to the model and went over to it. There was a huge book made out of creamy colored solidified sugar, and there were words smelted in red into the thick brittle sugared slabs. The title on the cover read:

Hansel and Gretel

Frank carefully flipped the book open, and the story, written in thick cursive script, read:

Once upon a time, next to a great forest, lived two happy siblings. Their names were Hansel and Gretel. They had wonderful parents, neighbors and friends.

One day, something happened and the forest turned dark and evil. Friends and neighbors started to sicken and weaken and starve. A group of elders came together and decided a sacrifice was needed to appease the Great Forest Gods, and Hansel was chosen.

The poor parents could not bring themselves to abandon their firstborn son in the forest. But the elders proclaimed: if they would not do it, then more would sicken and starve.

Hansel and Gretel overheard the entire conversation. Gretel thought that her brother was doomed and began to cry bitterly. But Hansel said: Don’t worry, I know what to do. With that, Hansel got up and sneaked out of the house. He returned with a roll of thread so thin it was almost invisible.

So came morning and the father, with a heavy heart, gave Hansel a piece of gingerbread and took him into the forest. After they had walked a little way, Hansel stopped to look back towards the house.

The father said: Hansel, why are you looking back? Pay attention now and keep up with me.

Hansel said: I am looking at Gretel waving goodbye to me.

However, Hansel had not been looking at Gretel. Instead he tied one end of the thread to a branch, and he let the thread unroll as he followed his father deeper into the forest.

They arrived in the middle of the woods, and the father said: Hansel, gather some wood, and I will make a fire so we won’t freeze.

When the flames were burning well, the father said: Lie down by the fire and sleep. I will go into the woods to cut down trees. Wait until I come back and get you.

So Hansel sat by the fire and waited. Midday came and went and soon it was night. His father did not return. So when the moon came up, Hansel took out his roll of thread and followed the thread home.

The parents were overjoyed to see Hansel, but the elders were not, and they said: Tomorrow you must take him deeper into the woods, so he cannot find his way home. Otherwise there will be no help for us.

Again Hansel and Gretel overheard the conversation.

That night Hansel got up and wanted to go and get another roll of thread, but he when he got to the door, he found that it was locked. Still he comforted Gretel and said: Don’t worry, sister, I will find my way home.

The next morning his father gave him another piece of gingerbread and again took him into the forest. After they had walked a little way, Hansel again stopped to look back towards the house.

The father said: Hansel, why are you looking back? Pay attention now and keep up with me.

Hansel said: I am looking at Gretel waving goodbye to me.

And Hansel broke his gingerbread into crumbs and carefully threw out the crumbs as he followed his father into the forest.

Again they arrived in the middle of the forest, his father again left him there after helping him build a fire. And Hansel waited until night, but no one came for him.

When the moon came out again, Hansel looked for the crumbs, but they were gone, eaten by the creatures of the forest. Hansel thought he could still find his way home, but was soon lost in the depths of the forest.

The moon set. The sun rose. It set, and the moon rose again.

Hansel was starving, for he had nothing but a few wild berries since the morning his father took him from his home.

Then lo and behold! Before him, bathed in the pale moonlight, sat a house made entirely of gingerbread. He knew because he could smell it. He made his way towards it and helped himself to a piece of gingerbread window ledge followed by the sweets that decorated the windows and doors.

Soon he was sated. But he could not help but be curious what lay beyond the door and in the house. Slowly, he opened the door and went in.

Hansel never came out again.

It is said that he is still searching for his way home today.

To be continued…

Frank stepped back from the book stand. He could not help the unease that started and slowly built as he read the story. By the time he finished, his hands were cold, clammy and sticky.

He knew the story was…different.

And the ending was…not an ending.

The room suddenly felt chilled.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.