Part 1:
We decided to head for the candy house.
It was the only place to search.
Hopefully, we would find Maximillian.
Or at least not die.
It was the only place to search.
Hopefully, we would find Maximillian.
Or at least not die.
We swung open the front door.
Living room. Pretty normal. Couch, easy chair, lace doilies(!), oval rug.
The kitchen. That's where it got ugly.
Rows of knives - every kind, every type - hung on the walls. Knives and strainers and beaters and you name it. Each hanging in an angular pose.
White cupboards also stood out, flanking a matching countertop that was scratched and slashed.
These knives had seen some use.
Living room. Pretty normal. Couch, easy chair, lace doilies(!), oval rug.
The kitchen. That's where it got ugly.
Rows of knives - every kind, every type - hung on the walls. Knives and strainers and beaters and you name it. Each hanging in an angular pose.
White cupboards also stood out, flanking a matching countertop that was scratched and slashed.
These knives had seen some use.
Beyond the kitchen was a flight of stairs.
The stairs led to a cavernous attic. Cobwebs and darkness owned the room.
At least until our eyes adjusted.
And we noticed.
Along one wall was a row of cages, all empty.
On the opposite side we saw … dogs. What used to be dogs.
Dogs of chocolate. Of caramel. Red candy. Peanut butter. Each shellacked with a thick glaze.
The attic was warm, but none of the dog-statues melted. And none of the faces looked happy.
Then we heard a whimper.
It came from the last cage at the end, near the far corner.
That cage had an occupant!
We hustled across the attic, crouched down and peered between the bars.
I recognized the sad, furry face of Maximillian.
The stairs led to a cavernous attic. Cobwebs and darkness owned the room.
At least until our eyes adjusted.
And we noticed.
Along one wall was a row of cages, all empty.
On the opposite side we saw … dogs. What used to be dogs.
Dogs of chocolate. Of caramel. Red candy. Peanut butter. Each shellacked with a thick glaze.
The attic was warm, but none of the dog-statues melted. And none of the faces looked happy.
Then we heard a whimper.
It came from the last cage at the end, near the far corner.
That cage had an occupant!
We hustled across the attic, crouched down and peered between the bars.
I recognized the sad, furry face of Maximillian.
“What next?” Dale asked, referring to the padlock on the cage’s latch.
“Come on!”
We ran back downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed as many knives as we could carry.
I started with a fearsome-looking serrated blade. For about ten minutes I sawed the lock on top of the cage.
In the end, I ruined much of the witch’s good cutlery.
Totally worth it.
At last, the lock broke apart.
The door flew open and Maximilian burst out.
We ran back outside with Maxie at our heels, licking syrup from Dale's rump as we ran.
I tried not to think about all the dogs left behind.
“Come on!”
We ran back downstairs to the kitchen and grabbed as many knives as we could carry.
I started with a fearsome-looking serrated blade. For about ten minutes I sawed the lock on top of the cage.
In the end, I ruined much of the witch’s good cutlery.
Totally worth it.
At last, the lock broke apart.
The door flew open and Maximilian burst out.
We ran back outside with Maxie at our heels, licking syrup from Dale's rump as we ran.
I tried not to think about all the dogs left behind.
The house's occupant had quickly regained composure.
We found the witchy woman now back on her feet, looking quite ready to get in my face.
“You’re not taking that creature anywhere,” she yelled, stretching out the last word – “Ann-eee-wherrre” – in dramatic fashion.
Dale whispered at me from the corner of his mouth.
“Josephine! It’s coming back. My power. Just distract her a second more and I can blink us home.”
I pushed down my smile and started working on distracting.
We found the witchy woman now back on her feet, looking quite ready to get in my face.
“You’re not taking that creature anywhere,” she yelled, stretching out the last word – “Ann-eee-wherrre” – in dramatic fashion.
Dale whispered at me from the corner of his mouth.
“Josephine! It’s coming back. My power. Just distract her a second more and I can blink us home.”
I pushed down my smile and started working on distracting.