Little Red Riding Hood...Kind of

Prologue

You all know the story of little Red riding hood...but do you really know how it goes? This is the real story of what happened to Red and you'll find that looks can be very deceiving. But let's start from the very very beginning, years before our story really picks up...

"Granny what are you always working on?" A ten year old girl asked curiously looking up from where she read a short book on the floor of her grandmother's cabin.

"Why it's my gift for you of course sweetheart." Her grandmother replied kindly from the table she at working away at the clothe.

"Really?!" The little girl asked excited before asking eagerly, "What is it? When are you giving it to me?" The grandmother smiled fondly before answer with a glint in her eyes that made her girl smile enthusiastically.

"That my dear is a secret but it is a gift for your eighteenth birthday." The young girl tilted her head to the side with confusion,

"Then...then why are you making it now?" The old women chuckled lovingly saying,

"So that I can put lots of love into it." The girl still looked slightly confused as to why it would take so much to do so but before she could question it again her grandmother stood up and came over to her, "It's going to be dark soon you better be on your way, we don't want you worrying your mother now do we." She grinned widely again as she nodded her head and stood up, putting her books back where she got them. The little girl hugged her granny, kissing her on the cheek before pulling on her shoes.

"Don't forget this darling, we don't want you getting a cold." Her grandmother reminded before wrapping a worn, simple red cloak around her, pulling the hood up over her head. She grinned in thanks before hurrying out with a wave. She skipped down the path and through the forest, slowing down when she arrived just outside the village. She waved and smiled at anyone she passed on her way over to her little house.

"Hey Red!" A little boys voice called out causing her to turn her head to the side quickly, her hood falling from the action. It was the town's huntsman's son. The two had easily become friends like the young girl did with most people in the village but even more so because he was only a year older than her.

"Hullo Archer!" She greeted happily as he came over to her.

"Were you at granny's again?" He asked curiously.

"Mhm. She even told me about the special she's going to give me when I'm all grown up!" Red replied excitedly with a large grin.

"Archer!" A large man called. It was the Huntsmen.

"Sorry Red, gotta go. Dad's taking me on a hunt." The boy explained before waving goodbye as he jogged back over to his father. She waved in return before finishing her journey home

"I'm home!" She declared, walking in to find her mother already cooking up dinner for the both of them.

"Hi honey, did you have a good time at grandmothers?" Her mother asked coming over to brush a lock of raven black hair behind her ear.

"Yup, and we ate the cookies you told me to bring. Granny said they were really good." She declared happily as she took her seat at the table.

"You didn't talk to anyone on the way back though, right?" Her mother asked to which she replied,

"I was Archer for a moment." Red was confused as to why her mother asked.

"But did you talk to anyone strange?" Mother asked wearily. Tilting her head to the side she answered,

"No. I didn't see anyone either." Her mother sighed a breath of relief and looked behind Red. The little girl turned to see her mother starring at the photo of her mother and her father. Red suddenly understood, it was the 8th anniversary of her father's death and her mother was always extra worried this time of the year.

The next morning Red woke to the sound of a terrified, heart broken sigh and along with her mother and the rest of the village that was not already outside, rushed through their front door. The blacksmith's wife was on the ground, crying, and being comforted by her eldest son who looked like he was going to cry as well.

The young girl looked around before her eyes caught on the wagon with the blacksmith laying in it, blood everywhere. Red's mother grabbed her arm and hurried her back into the house but before she made it back in she hear the many whispers,

"Found in the forest."

"Last night-animal attack."

"Just like back then."

"It's terrible. Another death."

Just like back then, Red thought as their cottage door closed. She knew exactly what they were talking about. Red might have been young and even younger when it happened but she's smart enough to know that their talking about her father. It's happened again, eight years later, another body mutilated by a wild beast. But no one knew this was just the start, not even little Red.