Beware of Women in Athleisure Wear

They were thin and hungry when their (loving) father led them deep into the forest. Two days later, they're weary, dehydrated and thoroughly lost.

Sunshine reflecting off metal and glass attracts them like magpies. Shine means people. People means survival, probably.

They don't articulate this, (cognitive functions suffering due to a lack of glucose) but they feel it. Legs aching, and scratched by brambles, they draw closer.

The building looks like a giant window, plastered with posters depicting nearly-naked folks with improbable muscles, and 50% OFF YOUR SUMMER BODY!

A trim, age-indeterminate woman is bending herself into weird shapes on a strip of well-kept grass. She definitely drank something green for breakfast and hasn't eaten bread for years. She's wearing a miniscule amount of skin-tight clothing. The back of her trousers is ruched to accentuate her gluteus maximus. Her breasts are covered with bits of string. She turns, smiling.

"Hello, children! Are you lost? Hungry?"

Gretel scowls, pulling back. Hansel is looking anywhere but the string.

"Yes, miss," he says. "Very hungry."

"Poor dears! Come in. I'll get you water."

Gretel followed her brother. Reluctant, but even more loathe to stay outside alone.

The door clangs shut, unnecessarily foreboding.

Once hydrated, Arachné encourages them to hit the showers. Afterwards, wrapped in fluffy white towels, they find matching athletic wear has replaced their dirndl and lederhosen.

"Your clothes are being laundered and mended," Arachné explains. Hansel accepted this, just as he did the SuperBerry Protein Smoothie handed to him. Gretel scrunches her nose.

"Join me for a run," Arachné purrs, practically falling out of her string. Hansel goggles, nodding and slurping on his smoothie.

"You'll soon be addicted to runners' high!" she enthuses, showing him how to work the treadmill.

He runs in a daze, gazing at her muscular haunches. Afterwards, famished, he follows her to a nourishing spread. "Help yourself! Plenty of protein! And don't skimp on the pasta!" She gives Gretel a Ryvita cracker with avocado and a some tap water.

Gretel marches over to her brother.

"Don't you see what she's doing? She's fattening you up! To eat you!"

Arachné snorts. "Nobody leaves fat," she says.

She does not, however, deny the cannibalism accusation.

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Author's Note:

Word count: 366

(NB. This excludes the title, subtitle, and authors note.)

Submitted on Friday 23rd August at 19:02

A Year of Stories: I'm writing (and submitting, here) a story every day this year. This one continues my 236 day streak since 1st January.

Please consider lending your support to the other creators on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They're putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

Thank you

Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed!

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

Here's anotehr one worth looking at, probably: The Prepper

A recent Runner Up placement for one of my Wanky Poems:

Another recent challenge entry:

Here's my look back at July:

Here are my reflections on the recent nonet challenge:

Here is my current Dollar Challenge:

And now for something completely different:

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Thank you again!