Little Red

Short Story

It's late 2014, and winter is knocking on the back door. I crack my toes, before crowding my make-shift fire. The holes in my socks make it difficult to keep warm, but I huddle closer to the tin bucket full of paper and branches.
The holes in the ceiling let drops of water fall through, so I hover over the fire. It's the only dry spot in this abandoned old house. I look in the dirty reflection created by the water pooling the ground. It's almost amusing how foolish girls can be when they see a pretty face. My green eyes make girls feel comfortable. Safe. Add it with a charming smile and the stranger feels like a long lost friend.
"Tomorrow," I tell myself, "I will go to the city and find something to keep me warm this winter."

***

It's around noon by the time I reach the city. Already there are hundreds of people crowding, walking, all attempting to push through the pavement of flesh and bone.
A cool breeze squeezes between the bodies, and as it reaches me, it brings chills to my bones, making the hairs along my arm stand. It reminds me of last year; the way Alice's would do the same as I ran my hand along her body while she sobbed, eventually she stopped crying. They all stop crying. It used to feel heavy in my stomach, as though I was weighed down with stones. The more times I broke the naïve girls, the less I cared; and the more I began enjoying the company during Winter.
Now, I feel less like an animal, and more like a saviour.
Alice wasn't my first, but she was my favourite; with her long blonde hair, and pale skin...
I am looking for a naughty girl to save this year, one who deserves to be devoured. Not like Ella, she was a good little girl. She didn't scream nor cry when I finally consumed her.
As the memories of the bloody meat run through my mind, I watch a girl with black hair, and fair skin walk by. She reminded me of Alice. She was wearing a black mini skirt with a red jacket. The short skirt made her thighs show. She was not ashamed, not afraid. But she will be. She was going to be the next girl I devoured. Her coat makes her stand out in the crowd, red as blood. It catches my eyes, such a deep colour on a little girl. Little Red. My Little Red.
As she struts along her path in the city, I follow. I keep my distance. This girl isn't stupid like the other ones. She stays on her path. She doesn't wonder.
I pay close attention to my Little Red. She has plenty of flesh that I can hold at night, then eat once I am done with her.
Little Red walks into a sweet shop, a silly mistake. I move closer. She begins filling a basket full of sugar treats. The girl answers her phone. I continue watching; waiting; deviously smirking. The girl isn't smart. She made a mistake.
As my Little Red leaves, I continue to follow. I still need to be careful; too many people. I need to make sure nobody sees the wolf cornering his sheep.
I speed up my pace, standing close to her, and with the puddle that is creeping ahead, I know exactly how to stop her. In a city this big, this busy, it isn't uncommon for us to bump into someone in our rush to our destination.
I lightly push my body against Little Red, and she stumbles. With another carefully placed foot I trip Little Red, making her fall into the puddle. She momentarily sits in astonishment, then goes red in the face before jumping out of the puddle.
"Oh, I am dreadfully sorry. I am so clumsy!" I say, holding my arms near her, yet keeping the distance two strangers tend to have. I hold back a smile, watching her facial expressions. Her anger softens to amusement.
"It's okay, accidents happen." She laughs. Her sweet face shows her comfort, even as her jacket sticks to her skin, showing all the delectable curves and meat.
"Here, please, take my jacket," I take it off and wrap it around her. She doesn't flinch as I touch her, nor does she move away. "How about I take you to my house, dry off your clothes? I promise, it's not far from here."
She looks me in the eyes, and as I give her a small smile, she nods and we set off.
'I have her now,' I think to myself, as we head towards my home.
*** Little Red ***
At the arrival of his home, I begin to feel squeamish. What if it doesn't work? What if this isn't the sick bastard who killed then ate my sister, Alice? When the police came to our door, informing us they found what remains of my little sister, I became crazed. I knew I had to find the sicko who would do such a thing, and I was so glad that the police were willing to follow me today.
As I begin feeling the anger and fear swirl in my stomach, he holds onto me, and I begin to panic. I begin to fight against him. I don't want to be his next victim. I want to be the heroin; to avenge my sister.
He turns to me, and what was before a soft, handsome face, was now replaced with anger; the face of a true villain. His eyes gleamed with hatred and... "Oh my god..." I whisper, as I see the hunger in his eyes. 'I'm going to be his next meal' I think, before darkness cascades my eyes and I am no longer conscious.

The man was arrested for his crimes, and the woman survived. Although she never truly felt she avenged her sister, she was satisfied to know that the murderer and rapist was behind bars. In late 2015, the man then killed himself. The police were revolted in finding his body, with the words "Birth is a beautiful lie, and death is an inevitable truth," written along the side of his body. He wrote the words with his fingers, as they found flesh, fingernails and his bone grounded in the cement. His head scraped raw and the blood and flesh staining the walls, which was what killed the man in the end.