Hello Everyone! Me again. Just want to say "READ and REVIEW"! If you don't I might not continue. I mean if you don't, I won't know if anyone is reading. Heh. Anyhoo, this is a GretelxMuriel fic and I hope you enjoy it.

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Chapter One: Irony's a Bitch

Every muscle in his body was screaming, but he couldn't let himself stop. He had to keep going. Letting that bitch escape, was not on his list of things to do today. He couldn't allow himself to fail. So he kept on running. Hansel was fit for his age- twenty-six. He was of medium build and had honed his body for his craft. Witch hunting. He could not be unfit in a line of work like this. If he was he'd have been killed long ago. His dirty blond hair was cropped short and saturated in blood and sweat. Strong legs propelled him ever forward in his pursuit. His most recent battle had marred him with several injuries, yet he could not afford to pay them mind. Hansel pushed himself onward hoping to catch sight of the crone. It was a hard thing for most young men to be so keenly aware of everything, but Hansel had no trouble taking in his surroundings quickly. It was a skill he had learned to develope early on in his childhood. A skill he used now. He had been running toward the wire trap in hopes of cornering the witch there, or better yet, find her remains everywhere. The smell of pine needles faded into that of rotting flesh. He was near the trap. But his instinct told him she would not be there. Muriel, the damned dark witch, was too good for it. A Grand Witch like her couldn't be that easy to catch. So he slowed his pace to a fast jog trying to find a hint as to which direction she flew.

"Hansel!" A cry came out from in front of him. "Hansel!" It shouted again. Just as he was about to call back, Ben came into view. He had a ridiculous smile plastered on his face.

"Hansel! I got her! I hit her down right over there!" Ben pointed past the wire and grinned like mad man. Hansel flew toward the clearing with his shot-gun ready. When he broke the tree line, his eyes landed on a house. An old house made completely of candy. Though it was still standing it was in no way what it used to be. Without the witch to care for it, the candy began to melt away. It was filthy and weathered down. The rainbow door was blackened, and the gingerbread walls were cracking and falling apart.

"Your fucking kidding me!" Checking his shot-gun he cradled it against his shoulder. He moved his feet across the ground silently, hoping to hear any movement from the blasted witch. A twig snapped behind him and he spun around pointing his barrel right in Ben's face!

"Dammit Ben! Watch your footsteps!" he growled. Stupid boy needs a lesson in stealth... Hansel was about to say so when a pulse of blue slammed Ben into a tree! Quickly Hansel pivoted to the left and fired three shots! All missed the target but Hansel didn't mind. He threw himself into a side roll dodging several more blasts from the witch! He landed near Ben and grabbed the boy's collar. Dragging him several feet while simultaneously firing his weapon, Hansel managed to find cover for them behind an old fallen tree. He checked Ben for a pulse, and was relieved when he found one. Ben's torso was covered in one large burn. Hansel was crouched down next to him when another series of blasts pelted the other side of the old tree. Hearing the blasts halt for a moment Hansel peered over the edge and fired a couple rounds. He ducked just in time for a ball of blue fire to fly over his head. It landed at the base of a pine and blew it apart! Have to get away from Ben.

Moving swiftly, Hansel used a small circle of dead trees for cover. Blue whirred past his head as he made his way to a defensible position. He fired off two shots emptying his reserves. With no more ammo he had to think fast. He pulled his knife out and resigned himself to a close quarters battle. If I can get close enough. He leapt from his cover and began a zig zag toward the Grand Witch! Hansel rushed into a forward roll, and just barely coming out of it, Muriel jammed the heel of her boot into his skull! Recovering quickly, he moved into range. Tackling her to the forest floor they wrestled for the upper hand. Hansel came out on top with his blade mere inches from her throat. If his blessed ammo was gone, he'd use his blessed knife to saw her head off! She managed to hold off the blessed weapon by holding Hansel's wrist tightly. With her right hand she went for his throat! Hansel felt her long pointed nails dig into his flesh. Gasping he moved his left hand from her collar and slammed his elbow into her arm breaking the contact! Holding her wrist he used his knee to pin her chest down. Using the weight of his body, he pushed the knife into her neck. Her skin burned black and crimson flowed from her neck in a steady stream.

"Grrrwwaaaahhh!"

Not expecting Muriel to howl, Hansel was momentarily stunned by the primal sound. She used the moment to push the knife from her neck.

"Time's up bitch!"

Hansel was forcing the knife back closer when his wrist timer began to click. He looked in horror at it. An evil smirk formed on Muriel's face. With every click Hansel could feel his strength drain. Muriel began to thrash wildly underneath him, trying desperately to free herself! In a split second she had overpowered Hansel and threw him away from herself. Fumbling over his pants he reached for his holster. It wasn't on his thigh anymore. Hansel's vision began to blur. The Sugar Sickness burned through his veins making him gasp for air. Muriel stood up and straightened her clothes. Turning from her pale white and black rotted form to that of a normal human, she brushed her long ebony hair from her face. Using her boot she rolled Hansel on to his stomach. Spittle flew from his mouth as he tried to reach for his knife.

"Ah ah ah," she mocked, kicking it away from his fingers, "Oh, the ironies of life."

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Hey hey. Well? Let me know if I should keep going.^^