This is my submission to Frightful Fairy Tales Contest. Goldilocks and the Three Bears. And these bears don't eat porridge.

Word count: 500

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"I'm hungy!" the small bear complained as he and his two bigger friends returned to the small cottage they shared in the woods.

"You could always eat the porridge," the large bear bellowed.

The small bear shoved him as hard as he could, although that was barely noticeable to his giant of a companion. "Har har, very funny."

"Someone has eaten from our table!" the middle-sized bear suddenly exclaimed. "Everything is gone!"

Indeed, all three bowls were empty. Gone was the chocolate porridge, the strawberry pudding and their ultimate bait, the super-sweet caramel sauce.

"Didn't anyone put traps up before we left?!" the small bear announced, frustrated.

"Quiet," the middle-sized bear hushed him. There was a small pair of shoes placed next to the front door and a child-sized pink coat draped over the back of one of the chairs at the table. His muzzle twisted into a wicked grin. "It looks like our guest is still here."

They searched the first floor and – finding nothing – continued to the bedroom upstairs. There they found a little girl with golden hair asleep in the small bear's bed.

"Aww, she's a cute one," the large bear whispered.

The girl stirred, like sensing she was being watched. Then she opened her eyes and saw the three bears.

Her first reaction was a horrified gasp. "I...I'm sorry! I didn't mean to intrude! But...but...I ran away from home and I was hungry and tired and-"

"Hush, hush." The middle-sized bear patted her head gently. "Silly little Goldilocks. Don't be scared. We're happy that you're here."

"The food was just waiting for a guest just like you too," the large bear added.

A ray of hope lit up her face. "Really?"

"Really." The small bear nodded. "Why don't you come to the kitchen and we'll make you something to eat? You must be hungry after your nap again."

"Oh, I'm not really hungry..."

"Not even for pancakes with lots of maple syrup and strawberry jam?" The small bear smiled as the girl didn't protest. "That's what I thought. Right this way."

She practically hopped down the stairs in eager anticipation. The bears followed and even brought her a soft pillow to make the middle-sized bear's chair a little more comfortable for her.

"My parents really thought they could lock me up until I clean up my room," the girl complained to the small bear sitting across the dinner table from her. "Can you believe it? So I ran away. They'll be sorry when they realize I'm gone."

"I'm sure they will." The small bear looked over his shoulder at the middle-sized bear working at the kitchen counter. Then he nodded to the large bear behind the girl.

The large bear placed his heavy paws on her shoulders. Forcefully, to keep her still. The middle-sized bear turned around and approached them with a large, sharpened knife. Just perfect for cutting up tender flesh.

"They will...because they will never see you again."

Silly little Goldilocks indeed.