Free Fiction: The Regrettel

The Regrettel

“Have you reached a verdict?”

A woman in a large bonnet stood. “We have, Your Honor. We find the defendant … guilty!”

The room clamored with muttered protests.

“This case,” the judge started, “has disturbed me from the moment I heard of it.” He pointed at the defendant. “You cremated a legally blind old woman while she was still alive, and you have the audacity to claim her as a cannibal in your defense? And what’s worse, you’re only a child!” The corpulent man adjusted his powdered white wig and cleared his throat. “Your actions and lack of evidence has left me no choice. You are sentenced to life at the Grimm Institute for the Mentally Warped.”

He banged the gavel. “Case dismissed!”

The young defendant sobbed into her hands as cameras flashed all around her.

“Don’t worry, Gretel,” her brother cried. “I won’t let anything happen to you!”

As security dragged the despondent girl away, a tall man took her place, wearing a plaid button-up. An officer placed a large swing axe on top of the evidence table—crusted with dry blood.

“Now then,” the judge continued. “You’re accused of gutting a protected species of wolf. How do you plead?”