Hours later, as exhaustion overtook them, Hansel spotted a faint path cutting through the trees. “Look!” he exclaimed, his voice hoarse. “A way out.”

Gretel eyed it warily, her instincts flaring. The path was too neat, too deliberate. The undergrowth had been cleared as though someone—or something—had carved it out. “We don’t know where it leads,” she said.

“Anywhere is better than here,” Hansel replied, desperation clear in his voice. “We can’t just keep wandering.”

Reluctantly, Gretel nodded. “Stay close,” she said, gripping the stick she’d sharpened earlier. “And don’t trust anything you see.”

They followed the path, the faint light of the moon casting long shadows ahead of them. The air grew warmer, the oppressive chill of the forest fading. Hansel stumbled less, his breathing evening out. For the first time, he allowed himself to hope.

But Gretel remained tense. She caught glimpses of movement in the trees—faint flashes of red that disappeared as quickly as they came. The air smelled faintly of smoke, though no fire was visible. She tightened her grip on the stick, her sharp eyes scanning the forest.

As they rounded a bend in the path, a figure stepped into view. Mary stood before them, her red cloak vivid even in the dim light. Her hood was pushed back, revealing her angular face and sharp, predatory smile.

Hansel froze, his eyes wide. “It’s her,” he whispered, his voice trembling.

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Mary raised her hands, palms out, as if in surrender. “Don’t be afraid, little ones,” she said, her voice soft and sweet. “I’m here to help.”

Gretel stepped in front of Hansel, her posture defensive. “Who are you?”

“Just a traveler,” Mary replied smoothly. Her sharp eyes lingered on Gretel, then shifted to Hansel. “I saw you running through the forest. You looked lost.”

“We’re fine,” Gretel said, her tone clipped. “We don’t need help.”

Mary tilted her head, her smile widening. “Are you sure? You seem so tired. So hungry.” She gestured to a bundle slung over her shoulder. “I have food and water. You can rest, just for a while.”

Hansel’s stomach growled audibly, and he flushed with embarrassment. “We don’t know you,” he said hesitantly.

“True,” Mary said, her smile never faltering. “But I know this forest. It’s dangerous at night. Wolves, storms, worse things. Let me guide you to safety.”

Gretel narrowed her eyes. “Where were you going?”

Mary’s gaze flickered, just for a moment. “Home,” she said. “Not far from here. But I’d be happy to take you there.”

Gretel hesitated. Hansel tugged at her sleeve. “We should go,” he whispered. “We don’t have another choice.”

Before Gretel could reply, a faint crackling sound reached their ears. The air grew warmer, the faint smell of smoke intensifying. Gretel spun, her eyes widening as she saw a line of fire creeping through the forest behind them. The flames licked at the trees, growing higher and brighter, their heat a physical force.

“Run!” Mary’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. She pointed down the path. “This way!”

Hansel bolted without hesitation, his small frame disappearing into the shadows ahead. Gretel hesitated for only a moment before following, the roar of the flames driving her forward. Mary ran behind them, her red cloak billowing like a living thing.

The path twisted and turned, the fire closing in from all sides. Smoke filled the air, thick and choking, and Gretel’s vision blurred. She could hear Hansel coughing ahead, his footsteps growing slower.

“Keep going!” Mary shouted, her voice cutting through the haze. She caught up to Gretel, grabbing her arm and pulling her forward. “Don’t stop!”

Gretel’s instincts screamed at her to resist, but she was too exhausted to fight. The flames surged closer, their heat searing, and she let Mary guide her.