The fire burned low in the hearth as Hansel sat cross-legged on the rug, his wooden carving held tightly in his hands. Gretel leaned against the doorway, her arms crossed, her face a mixture of anger and defiance. Rosina sat nearby, her sharp eyes fixed on Hansel, her expression calm but attentive.

“She knew everything,” Hansel began quietly. “Every step we took, she was already there. It was like… like she’d been watching us the whole time.”

Rosina tilted her head, her voice careful. “And yet you’re here. Alive.”

“Because of the bear,” Hansel said softly. “She would’ve caught us if it hadn’t been for the bear.”

Gretel shifted, her voice cutting through the quiet. “It killed her. Tore her apart. She didn’t stand a chance.”

Rosina’s silver brows lifted slightly. “The bear saved you?”

Hansel nodded. “It came out of nowhere. Just as she was closing in, it attacked her. She didn’t even have time to fight back.”

“The bear didn’t save you by accident,” Rosina murmured, her tone thoughtful. “It’s tied to this house—and to this forest. But Mary wasn’t hunting you by chance. Someone told her where to find you.”

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Hansel’s face darkened, and Gretel stepped forward, her voice trembling with anger. “Adelheid,” she spat. “It had to be her.”

Rosina’s sharp gaze shifted to Gretel. “Who is Adelheid?”

Gretel’s fists clenched tightly at her sides. “My mother. Hansel’s stepmother. She’s hated him since the day she married our father.”

Rosina leaned back, her hands curling into fists in her lap. The firelight flickered across her face, emphasizing the storm brewing in her eyes.

“To abandon your own children,” Rosina said softly, her voice low and dangerous. “It’s beyond cruel. But you survived. And now, you’re here.”

“For how long?” Gretel demanded. “What if they come back? What if they send someone worse?”

Rosina straightened, her voice firm and commanding. “Let them try. This house is not defenseless. Neither are you.”

Gretel’s glare faltered, though her fists remained tight. Hansel looked at Rosina, his voice trembling with gratitude. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For protecting us.”

Rosina reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been through more than any child should ever endure. But you’re stronger than you know. Both of you.”

As the room settled into silence, Rosina turned her gaze to the flames, her thoughts swirling like the smoke curling into the chimney.

Their own mother figure hired the Redcap. I should kill her, too, Rosina thought, the idea slipping unbidden into her mind. They don’t deserve to breathe after what they’ve done to these children.

Shaking her head, she forced the thought down, locking it away before it could take root.

The fire hissed softly, the shadows on the walls flickering as if they were listening to Rosina's thoughts.