A smack followed by a cry.
Looks like Hansel and Gretel didn’t make it out after all.
Gently pushing the front door open, I duck past the low entry. Goosebumps break out as the warmth of a fire washes over my dew-covered skin.
Inside, the cottage is more claustrophobic than cozy, with chairs and tables crammed in every available corner of the living room. Dirty mugs and filthy dishes are stacked precariously next to the sink while cobwebs and dust mites cover every nook and cranny in sight.
Keeping the door open a crack, I inhale a breath of fresh air before acknowledging the boy weeping in the corner, cradling his cheek as though it was recently slapped. His purple beanie is askew, the floppy hat barely covering the frizzy pieces of blonde hair peeking out the front.
“Who the fuck are you?”
The man standing in the middle of the living room looks at me with a ferocious scowl. His brows are thick and bushy, their colour surprisingly dark compared to the long white beard brushing his beer belly.
“I’m looking for the Gem Doctor.”
“That’s not what I asked.” He growls, gripping the broomstick as though he might be tempted to use it on me, “Answer the question or get the fuck out of my house.”
“O-Our house.” Rubbing his bloodshot eyes, the younger one glances at me, “This is our house.”
“Dopey, was I talking to you?”
More tears bubble up and spill down the boy’s cheeks.
“I-I-I’m s-sorry-
“Nothing to be sorry for, mate.” Interrupting the power trip, I turn my attention towards the angry one, “As I said before, I’m looking for the Doctor. If you can’t help me, I’ll just find him myself.”
Blazing eyes pinch together as undersized hands clench threateningly.
“How dare you come walking in here, dripping water all over our clean floors, barking orders like you own the place. Do you know how hard it is to get this idiot,” Jabbing a finger in the young one’s direction, he triggers another bout of tears, “To do a task as simple as brooming? The imbecile doesn’t know his head from his ass-
“Enough.” An old, weathered voice echoes from down the stairs, “Grab a cup of coffee and put some sugar in it. Grumpy doesn’t look good on anybody, but especially not you, Gerald.”
Gerald glowers at the elderly man slowly making his way up the stairs.
Barely reaching four feet tall, the eldest Hoffmann brother assesses me through the reading glasses perched on the end of his nose. Circular in nature, the frame of his optics match the rounded shoulders and paunchy belly that doesn’t quite fit under his flaming red t-shirt.
“And what do we have here.” Ambling closer, Doc squints at me from behind his glasses, “A wolf who got caught in the rain. Are you looking to blow our house down or just a dry place to stay?”
Grumpy Gerald snorts, “Looks more like wet dog if you ask me. Strays aren’t welcome here.”
“I love strays.” The one huddled in the corner pipes up, his eyes crinkling as a smile breaks clear across his face, “Can we keep him?”
“I’m not for sale.”
Doc chuckles softly, “Nor would we purchase if you were. Run along now, Dorian. Get yourself cleaned up and ready for supper.”
That dick was calling him Dopey on purpose.
“Okay.” Blushing slightly, Dorian stands up and shuffles past me. Unlike his brothers, the boy’s oversized hoodie hangs loose over a lanky frame, one that comes all the way up to my shoulders.
Catching my curious stare, Doc smiles knowingly, “Dorian and Sylvie were the only ones who took after our mother. The rest of us pulled dwarfism from the genetic lottery.”
“Only Dopey could ruin the genetic line.” Sneering at Dorian’s retreating form, Gerald throws the broomstick in his direction, “Stupid idiot took the height and left the brain cells behind.”
The tip of the handle catches the back of Dorian’s sneakers and sends the kid flying. Falling face first into the dirtyfloorboards, he doesn’t get a chance to catch his breath before the older men start snickering.
“Our youngest brother was born prematurely, so he’s a little... slower with his mental capacity.” Smothering a laugh with a cough, Doc shakes his head with a smile, “Keeps us entertained if nothing else.”
