Did Maryrose think Hansel and Gretel were us and close the portal forever?

No. Yes. Maybe.

Ahhhhh!

How are we supposed to get home?

“This is a huge problem!” I cry. I kick the tree with the toe of my shoe. Ow.

“Let me try,” Jonah says, and knocks on the tree. Once. Twice. Three times.

No go.

“Spinny!” we hear from inside the cottage. “I’m sorry I got mad at you. I miss you. Let’s make up. Let me give you something yummy to eat. Do you want some kale? Where are you? I can’t smell you.”

Oh, terrific. Now the witch is awake. The portal isn’t working, and she’s awake.

“Run, guys, run!” I yell. “We have to get away!”

We bolt from the cake house into the forest, pushing branches out of our way as we go.

We hear her front door open. “Cauliflower!” the witch screeches. “Stop those kids!”

Cauliflower? I spot a beautiful snow-white bird soar through the sky. That’s Cauliflower? Is that the bird we saw protecting the fields? I think it is! Oh! It’s probably also the bird from the original story! The one who was supposed to bring Hansel and Gretel to the house in the first place! He — or she — must be working for the witch!

Patty is really bad at naming animals.

Suddenly, Cauliflower dives down toward Jonah.

Ah! No!!!!!

The bird grips the back of his hoodie in its beak.

“Let go!” I scream, running toward my brother. “Let go right now!”

Cauliflower flaps its wings and carries a squirming Jonah right over the trees and back toward the cake house.

“Stop!” I scream, even louder than before. Panting, I arrive right back at the house in time to see Cauliflower drop Jonah with a thud on the ground in front of Patty before flying off into the distance.

Shakily, Jonah stands up. He clutches his stomach … and throws up on the witch’s bare feet.

I feel bad for Jonah, but I have to say, the witch kind of deserved that.

“Gross,” Patty snaps.

“Sorry,” Jonah says sheepishly. “Too much candy.”

“Candy?” Patty says, grabbing him by the shoulders. “You were supposed to be drinking SMOOTHIES. Coming, girlie?” she adds, narrowing her ice-blue eyes at me. She tightens her grip on Jonah. “You won’t leave your brother all alone, will you?”

“No,” I admit.

“It’s time for breakfast. Forget kid casserole. I’m making a kid omelet!”

“That’s the most disgusting one yet,” Jonah says. “Do you at least use ketchup with that? Omelets should always be served with ketchup.”

“Are you really talking about ketchup at a time like this?” I ask. “Can we focus on the current problem? The problem being that Patty is about to cook us with a side of bacon?”

“I don’t eat bacon,” Patty reminds us. “I’m a vegetarian.”

I snort. “Right. Sorry. No pigs. Just humans.”

I take a step closer to the house, trying to think of how to get out of this.