Luck of the Draw

Being the sheriff of a small German village is a thankless job, especially when it comes time for the annual lottery where the villagers must send one of their children into the woods as a sacrifice to the witch that lives there.

Only this year, there's been a change: she wants two.

And unlucky Sheriff John has to live with the results: brother and sister Hansel and Gretel have been chosen in a blind draw.

"Luck of the Draw" is a fairy tale retelling from an unexpected point of view as we see the toll this terrible act has taken on the man who has to oversee the event every year. How much can one man take? When does he reach his limit and what is he prepared to do about it?

"Luck of the Draw" was originally published in HORROR CAROUSEL in Spring, 2005.