Gretel turned to Hansel, her voice urgent. “We can’t stay here. If that bear—”

A thunderous roar drowned out her words, followed by a blood-curdling scream. Both children froze, their eyes wide with terror.

“What was that?” Hansel whispered, clutching Gretel’s arm.

Gretel didn’t answer. She moved toward the back of the room, her sharp eyes scanning for another exit. “Help me find a way out,” she said, her tone clipped. “We need to be ready.”

Hansel nodded, though his hands trembled as he began searching the walls for any hidden doors or windows. Outside, the sounds of the fight grew more violent, the growls and snarls of the bear mingling with Mary’s furious cries.

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Suddenly, the door rattled violently, as though something had slammed against it. Hansel yelped, stumbling backward. Gretel grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the farthest corner of the room.

“We’re not waiting to find out who wins,” she said firmly. “We move now.”

“But where do we go?” Hansel asked, his voice breaking. “There’s no way out!”

Gretel glanced around, her mind racing. Her gaze fell on a small, ornate chest tucked against the wall. She grabbed Hansel’s arm and pulled him toward it. “In here,” she said, yanking the lid open. “We’ll hide until it’s over.”

Hansel hesitated, his face pale. “What if she finds us?”

“Then we fight,” Gretel said, her voice hardening. “But right now, we need to stay alive.”

Reluctantly, Hansel climbed into the chest, pulling his knees to his chest. Gretel followed, pulling the lid shut just as another roar echoed through the clearing. The siblings held their breath, their hearts pounding as the battle outside raged on.