In a dark forest, a puppet named Pinocchio finds himself pursued by two assassins intent on capturing him. Desperate for safety, he spots a small white house and races towards it, hoping to escape. Upon arrival, he knocks frantically, but receives no response. A ghostly child with blue hair appears at the window, revealing that everyone inside is dead, including herself. She informs him that she is waiting for her bier, and then vanishes, leaving Pinocchio alone and vulnerable. The assassins catch up to him, threatening to force him to open his mouth. When they attempt to stab him, their knives break against his hard wooden body. Frustrated, they decide to hang him from a tree called the Big Oak. They tie his arms, place a noose around his neck, and leave him to die, mocking him as they walk away. As Pinocchio hangs, a fierce wind begins to blow, causing him to swing violently. He struggles for breath, feeling death approaching. In his final moments, he recalls his father and cries out for him, but no help arrives. Overcome by the noose, he loses consciousness, hanging lifelessly from the tree.
By Carlo Collodi · First published 1881 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure