"I wasn't running away!" Rapunzel cried.
"I just wanted to see my parents!
Please don't hurt them.
They didn't see me!"
"You broke your promise!" The witch snarled.
She dragged Rapunzel away.
The boy ran after them.
"Stop! Let her go!"
The boy grabbed Rapunzel's hand.
But the witch shoved him aside.
She pulled off her shawl.
Then she tossed it on the ground.
She pushed Rapunzel onto the shawl.
Whoosh! They flew out of the city.
"Where are we going?" Rapunzel cried.
"To a safe place!" the witch said.
Soon they were deep in the forest.
Rapunzel saw a tower with no door.
They flew in through a window.
The witch laughed. "Welcome to your new home!"
Rapunzel shivered.
It was a cold, dark room.
She wrapped her long braid around herself.
"Witch, you cannot leave me here," Rapunzel said.
"You are old and tired.
You cannot tend the garden by yourself.
And you need my help with the potions."
The witch shrugged.
"I will bring work for you each day.
You can mix potions here.
And I can tend the garden by myself."
Rapunzel glared at her. "You are so mean.
You stole me from my parents.
But I will always love them while you . . .
You have no one who loves you!"
The witch looked shocked.
Slowly she lifted her finger.
"Go ahead!" Rapunzel cried.
"Do it! Turn me into a hedgehog!"
But the witch dropped her hand.
"I'll be back tomorrow!" she growled.
Then she flew off into the dark forest.
Rapunzel fell to her knees. "Oh, Prickle!"
She sobbed and pulled the hedgehog from her pocket.
"We are trapped in this tower forever!"