One of the Wretched

A Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Fanfic

Written by hanselswitch

Summary: Revenge is a dish best served cold. And the infamous witch hunters, Hansel and Gretel, are the main dish. Following the events after spoiling the plans of the black witch, Muriel, Hansel and Gretel move on with their hunting business as hunters despite the truth behind their past. The new knowledge they've gained since their hunt has made them stronger but will it protect them long enough? Their lives are, once again, threatened and when the famous hunters become the hunted once more, they figure out the hard was that this isn't just another ploy to harvest Gretel's heart. This is just a simple plan for revenge. But for what, exactly?

A/N: The events of this story take place after the movie's. There isn't much about the movie to spoil here but just as a fair warning, don't read if you're not a fan of reading it before watching the movie or getting itty bitty spoilers you'll complain about later. Just don't. Characters (except for originals) are not my own, sadly. It's been a long time since I've written a fanfic so please, be gentle mkay? Okay. Enjoy! Rated M because of reasons


Chapter One

The sound of their laughter filled their ears as they ran across the forest without a care.

"Anna, slow down!" a young girl squealed breathlessly, a smile gracing her features despite feeling winding as she ran through the dense woods. It wasn't a particularly sunny day and the sun rarely blessed this part of the area with warm light. The young girl looked ahead, the back of her friend, Anna, whose dark tresses trailed lightly behind her as she continued to run, looking back every so often and smiling delightfully when she saw she was feet ahead of her pursuers. "You'll have to be faster than that if you want to catch me, Gretel!" Anna exclaimed, laughing as she did.

Gretel was having a hard time navigating through the woods in her pale blue dress despite it not being so long and giving her enough freedom to dare venture in a game of chase in the woods. Their games were childish and plain and more often than not there was a competitive reason behind it. Despite her losing streak, Gretel was confident she'd be able to prove Anna wrong about who was the quickest.

The mud and slicks spots of the earth posed no detrimental to Anna's enthusiastic flight across the woods as she ran. She could smell the earth and wet grass beneath her and they calmed her. She peeked another glance behind her, smiling when she saw that Gretel was still a few feet behind and nowhere near catching up with her. "Give up yet?" Anna called out.

"Never!" Gretel called out.

Anna laughed at Gretel's determination but her lack of faith in her friend was gone when she looked ahead and ran straight into another figure, tumbling around the earth with arms securing her in place until they stopped. Young Anna landed on top a soft cushion that breathed in and out. She had her eyes closed and fingers grasped on the fabric of someone's shirt as she opened one eye and peered at the person she had just stumbled into. A young boy's laughter assured her he was okay and she sat up on her knees just as he did on his elbows, looking at her with a cocky grin and twinkle in his eyes.

"Gotcha." The young boy exclaimed excitedly.

Anna couldn't help but fold her arms and give him a pout. "Cheater." she said grudgingly and he ruffled her hair with his hand which she pushed away just as her face broke into a careless smile.

"Hansel?" Anna heard Gretel call out from afar and Anna looked behind her, losing sight of her friend after the toss and tumble she took against Hansel. "We got her, Gretel!" Hansel called out enthusiastically as he got up and dusted his trousers and vest from dead leaven and dirt. His sleeves were covered in dirt as was his trousers and face. Anna was sure her own dress and face had the same muddy appearance as his did.

He extended his hand out to her to help her up with a tender smile Anna was never prepared for. She stared at him for a moment before she glanced at his hand, her expression one of shocked disbelief. The smile had rendered her useless for a moment and she wondered why Hansel had that effect on her sometimes that she couldn't explain. "Come on, I'm not going to bite you." Hansel said, chuckling under his breath as he insistently shook his head to make her take it.

She blinked several times before she scowled and stuck her tongue out at him and took his hand. He lifted her up effortlessly and she proceeded to dust herself to keep herself occupied. "Are you ready, Princess Annie?" Hansel teased when Anna took a little bit too much time on dusting herself. She gave him a tight smile, never admitting that she liked his little pet name for her more than she did the Princess before it. "Princesses don't play in the mud." She retorted playfully.

"And they don't have dead leaves for a crown either." He teased back as he plucked a dead leaf from her hair. Anna grasped her head with both of her hands and shook the dead leaves out hastily. "Come on, your highness. Let's go get Gretel." Hansel said as he walked ahead of her. She quickly caught up to him but as soon as she did, they heard a distant cry.

Hansel was quicker to react while Anna was stunned for a moment until she heard Hansel cry out for his sister in a desperate fashion. "Gretel!" he called out and ran out into the woods, leaving Anna behind before she quickly reacted and ran behind him, unable to believe his quick reaction and even quick retreat to his sister. Anna wasn't even sure if the scream had belonged to Gretel but Hansel seemed positive it was the sound of his sister.

Both Anna and Hansel stopped in the spot they believed they heard the cry and he looked around frantically, calling out to his sister. "Hansel! Down here!" they heard Gretel and both Anna and Hansel looked down toward the edge of a ravine. One particular spot looked like there'd been a mud slide and Anna figured Gretel had been standing precariously on the edge as she waited for them. The soft earth was soaked in water and the added weight was too much and it broke free. At the bottom, near a small river lake, they saw Gretel covered in mud and looking a bit shaken. She looked up at them, fear in her eyes.

Hansel, once more, broke into quick action and slid down the ravine effortlessly towards his sister, leaving Anna behind as she took her time to come down, not wanting to risk a sprained or broken ankle. When Hansel got there, Gretel seemed on the verge of tears. Anna heard their hushed tones as she looked around her, wondering where they were and how would they get back. It would be dark soon and she prayed Gretel was hurt too badly that they couldn't move. However, Anna may have prayed much too late when she heard Gretel's agonized yelp.

Hansel had been trying to help her up on her feet but one foot gave way and she fell back, holding back her tears and cries for help. She began to shake her head uncontrollably. "I can't! It hurts…" she said, choking on her tears and frustration. Hansel looked around frantically just as Anna made her way over and immediately knelt beside her friend and taking a good look at Gretel's foot. She was covered in dirt and Anna wasn't sure if the bone was broken or not. If it was, there was the looming threat that if she didn't get it examined quickly enough Gretel may not be able to walk on that foot normally again.

Anna's knowledge in healing was limited to what her aunt taught her and even with the little she did know, it wouldn't be enough for help her friend. "We need to get her out of here." Hansel said. Anna looked up at him and then waved a hand around them. "We're in a ravine, Hansel. Climbing back up is pointless and I'm familiar with these parts of the woods." Anna said her tone on the brink of panicking.

Anna's comment didn't stop Hansel as he began to claw his way up. The earth gave and he would slide back down as he kicked the dirt in frustration. Anna was concentrated on Gretel's leg and had blocked Hansel's vain attempts to grab purchase of the muddy earth. If neither of them had climbed down, one of them could've gone and gotten help but now they couldn't and Anna was left without a choice.

She smiled at Gretel softly. "Don't worry, I'll make it better." She assured her and Gretel stared at her, perplexed about what Anna was talking about. Anna could only offer another small smile before she grabbed hold of Gretel's ankle and foot. Gretel hissed in pain and behind her, Hansel had stopped his useless attempts.

"Anna, stop it! You're hurting her!" Hansel cried out, moving towards them and hovering over Anna as he was unsure about what to do or how to best get Anna away.

"Hansel, wait!" Gretel said and Hansel looked at his sister with confusion.

The siblings heard their friend chant silently in words they couldn't understand. Her eyes were closed and Gretel felt warmth hit her, the pain ebbing away slowly until it was nearly gone. Gretel looked up at her brother who was stunned and confused still, seeking his sister out for an explanation as to what was going on. When Anna gently let go of her foot and smiled at Gretel, Hansel quickly knelt beside them, looking at his sister worriedly. "What did she do? What did you do?" he asked, looking at both girls for an explanation.

Anna stood up and both brother and sister looked up at her, expecting answers. She extended her hand out to Gretel who stared at Anna's hand as if she had snakes for fingers. "I-I can't!" Gretel exclaimed.

Anna rolled her eyes and took her friend's hand and pulled her up. Gretel tried to fight back but despite her struggles, Anna was stronger and before she knew, she was standing on both feet, the pain on her left foot gone. Hansel stared at Gretel incredulously and Anna smiled proudly. "See, I told you I would make it better." Anna said cheerfully.

"Anna!"

Anna's bright expression melted into shock as she looked up and saw her aunt, Eleanora and beside her, Hansel's and Gretel's mother, Adrianna. Eleanora looked disapprovingly of Anna and Adrianna's expression was much more controlled than Eleanora's but Anna could see the fear in the other woman's eyes. Anna looked back at Hansel and Gretel who looked relieved to see the women while Anna dreaded the fact that she may have just broken her chances of remaining here with her friends.