Gingerbread House

Note: This is a story-prompt for imposter_dude.

$20 Patreon Directory

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“Moose, get back here!” Emma shouted as she ran through the woods in search of her German Shepherd. It seemed like only moments before that she could hear his yips and panting, but she seemed to have lost all sense of direction. Emma stopped and gripped her knees, panting as she tried to catch her breath. She looked around at her surroundings, finding only foliage in all directions. She could no longer tell which way she had come from, or which way Moose had gone. Somehow she had gotten herself lost, and this camping trip was turning out to be a disaster.

Not knowing what else to do, Emma proceeded forward. She walked and walked, for what seemed like hours, hoping to find something unique or familiar. But in the never ending forestry, there was little to distinguish one location from another. “Moose!” she cried out until her voice went hoarse. For the third time, Emma tried her compass, but it just spun ceaselessly, as though there was some magnetic disruption.

She couldn’t even see the sky above her, the leaves so thick and encompassing. It was getting dark. Emma dropped to her knees. In her hurry to pursue her dog, she had managed to leave some of her things at her campsite, the lighter included. Without fire, there would be no warmth or visibility, and nothing to fend off wild animals. She’d be surprised if she survived the night. Emma drew her knees up to her chest and buried her face against them. Her eyes started to sting but she was determined not to cry.

She must have been imagining it, but she thought she could detect a sugary aroma in the air.

“Hello?” called out an unfamiliar voice.

Emma jolted at the sound. She immediately got to her feet, looking wildly around, until she spotted a middle-age woman at the edge of the clearing, and to her utter relief, Moose as well! The woman was clutching his leash, keeping the dog at her side even as he tugged for freedom. The same leash that had slipped from Emma’s fingers hours earlier.

“Oh my god, you found him,” Emma stammered. “Thank you so much.” She hurried over, accepting the leash from the middle-aged woman’s hand.

“It was no trouble. He found me on my evening walk. Didn’t seem like a stray. I’m lucky I found you, it’s already getting dark. And it gets quite cold and night.”

Emma nodded as she rubbed Moose’s furry head. He grinned and drooled, tail wagging. “He got a little lost. Well, I think we both did,” she added, looking around, then back to the woman. “I’m Emma.”

“My name is Annette. You’re a long way from town.”

“Yeah, this started off as a camping trip. But Moose escaped, and well, my compass started to malfunction.”

“It happens from time to time. Why don’t you spend the night at my house? Then I could lead you back in the morning.”

“That would be great,” said Emma appreciatively.

Annette led her about half a mile through the forest, the sweet aroma seeming to grow until they turned a bend in the faint dirt path and came upon an entire house made of gingerbread! Emma was almost certain she had lost her mind. It smelled delicious, and Emma felt herself starting to salivate. “Is this — real? I mean, how is this even…” She trailed off, at a loss for words.

“Oh, you’d be surprised of the things we’re capable of when we put our minds to it,” Annette said with a grin. “I’m a bit of a baker. I hope you have a sweet tooth.”

Emma did. Though she was a thin woman of twenty-five, she had always been a fan of sweets and never turned down dessert. Certain that she had died and gone to heaven, she followed Annette into the warm house that smelled like vanilla and butter cream. The interior was cozy and full of pastry-themed furniture. True to her word, Annette had a cake baking in the oven, in addition to various pastries covering the kitchen table and counters.

“Dig in,” Annette invited. “It gets lonely out here. I rarely have a guest to try out my creations.”

Emma tasted everything. Living at home with a large family, and often serving as caretaker to her younger siblings, she rarely got the chance to indulge herself like this. Her parents were always practical in their spending, and seldom purchased anything aside from the occasional piece of sugar cane as a treat for the family.

Annette was an amazing baker. Everything tasted as delicious as it looked. There were breads, croissants, cakes, and pies. The pastries were covered in glazes, icings, and whipped toppings, or injected with thick custards and jellies. Everything had a different flavor and consistency, different toppings and decorations. Emma ate and ate, Annette encouraging her all along. Emma knew she wouldn’t get this opportunity again, so she positively stuffed her face.

By morning, she was terribly bloated and had a minor belly ache, but it was worth it. Emma had managed to doze at times between eating, but hadn’t even employed the guest room Annette had offered her. She had practically been up pigging out all night.

“My, do you have a healthy appetite,” Annette remarked as she scrambled some eggs on the stove for breakfast. “It’s a shame to see you go. I almost wish you could stay longer. It’s been such a lovely time having you and dear Moose.”

The dog in question was happily writhing around on the floor, trying to get a good back-scratch in.

“I wish I could stay too,” Emma mused aloud.

“Well that should settle it, then. Why not indulge me with your company for just another day?”

One more day? No harm in that. It certainly beat camping. “Why not?” said Emma.

Annette beamed as she lowered a large plate piled with eggs, sausages, and pancakes onto the kitchen table in front of Emma. “Bon appétit.”