The Current Red Hood

Everybody’s family has a story and a secret that stays with the family. Most of them aren’t a huge deal but my family’s, well, it’s not something you’d expect to hear. You see, my family’s secret is that I am the descendent of little red riding hood.  Not just any descendent either, a direct descendent and the only one left after my parents.

                Or that would be the case, if my parents hadn’t died by the hands of the wolves. Yeah that’s right the wolf also has direct descendents except they are werewolves. Yeah, I know this all sounds crazy but it’s true. Our families have had dealings and run-ins for centuries. Each member of the red family is trained to kill werewolves. The werewolves are just taught how to survive and kill; this is what led me to my current situation.

                “Hey, slow down” I shouted after the teen boy. He had wolf ears pointing at the top of his head but humans couldn’t see them. I held a throwing knife in one hand and I aimed at the kid. I threw it and it landed straight in his leg. He fell down with a yelp and I pounced on him, handcuffing his hands together. It was understood that runners like me took them down and brought them into our council to be interrogated. Of course, if you accidentally killed one then it wasn’t that big of a deal either.

                “Please don’t kill me I’ve done nothing wrong” the kid whimpered. I scoffed, “As much as I don’t believe you, I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to bring you in for questioning.” The kid’s ears picked up and a smile came across his face. “He won’t be smiling for long” I thought.

                The interrogation process was usually painful but effective. Although, it wasn’t a big deal to me one way or another, is how I was suppose to act about it. A few of the red runners, what we call ourselves, enjoyed the sounds of the wolves’ pain. I, on the other hand, did not and neither did a couple of my friends. We took down the wolves for revenge; most of them had killed our family or friends, mix that in with the natural born hatred for one another and killing them becomes no big deal.

                As I said earlier, my parents died at the hands of the wolves so you can see where my distaste for them originates. Even with that I can’t handle the sounds of their torture. Some of the reds give me a hard time about it. Especially since I’m the direct descendent and suppose to take over the whole operation one day, and the list goes on and on. I would honestly be fine just staying as a runner but that’s not what the council wants, and everyone does as the council says, even me.

                Pulling the wolf up to his feet I grabbed my cell and speed dialed Casen to tell him to bring around the van. Pretty soon the ugly and rusted white van pulled around the corner and came to a stop. Casen went to the back and opened the back doors so the wolf could hop in. He had a look of distain on his face but that was it as I hopped in afterwards and shut the door.