Little Red Wolf

Chapter Four ~

Chapter Four~

 

 

 The morning air didn’t help unknot the tension that was gnawing at Rebecca’s restraint. Her face was burning along with her eyes as she fought off tears of hatred. Her hatred was directed at herself for slipping and leading the men to Grandmother, but she was also directing her hatred at the men who’d had to poke their noses where they didn’t belong.

 Mr. Ainsley was in front of Rebecca, his shoulders slumped although he twirled his axe with a casual ease that unnerved Rebecca. She wanted to see others screaming and crying the way she desperately wished that she could. But she needed to be strong. For Grandmother, she would be strong.

 Heavy footfalls jarred the ground and Rebecca’s thoughts, making her freeze mid-step.

 “What’s going on?” Rebecca turned to see Archer running towards her, his hair waving wildly in the wind. “Whoa, Red, are you ok?” Archer peered at her curiously, his lip pulling back in surprise. “Your eyes are doing something freaky.” His words weren’t meant to hurt Rebecca, but they did. However he was lacking the smirk he usually seemed to grace her with so she let it slide.

Rebecca did grimace at his words though, blinking her eyes slowly, in a way many would have thought as seductively or leisurely. Her reasoning was that perhaps if she kept her eyes closed longer than they were open nobody would notice the yellow that was undoubtedly taking up the center.  She opened her eyes and turned away from Archer, noticing how far Mr. Ainsley had travelled while she’d stopped.

 “Red?” Archer tried asking again, repeating the hated nickname. He reached for her just as she started to walk again and his hand jerked her shoulder back, setting her balance off and causing her to stumble. “Sorry,” Archer mumbled, his hands automatically moving to her forearms to help her regain her balance.

“Go away, Archer,” Rebecca finally managed to say, trying to keep her tone cool yet pleasant. “I have something I need to deal with.”

 “I didn’t ask what you were doing,” Archer pointed out, quickly falling into step with Rebecca as she hurried after Mr. Ainsley.  “I asked if you were ok.”

 Rebecca let out a sigh, her heart beating rapidly as she tried to think up the words that would accurately describe what she was feeling. “I’m not ok,” She said finally, leaving it at that.

 Archer opened his mouth to press on, but Rebecca hurried into the village square. In the middle of the square was a crowd of people, most wrapped in thick wool blankets and shawls to protect from the wind. The crowd murmured at Rebecca’s approach, and Rebecca could see the sympathy flying off their expressions.

“What’s happening?” Archer whispered, stepping right behind Rebecca.

 “They found my Grandmother buried in the woods,” Rebecca said, almost positive that she sounded like a robot. Emotion was starting to clog her throat, but she wouldn’t-couldn’t-let herself show it. Letting her emotions out was nearly the same as letting herself run wild.

Archer was speechless, his face paling considerably. “I-I’m sorry, Red,” he managed to say. “Do you want me to stay?”

 Rebecca opened her mouth to tell him no, but realized she couldn’t get the words out. Instead she reached for his hand and pulled him to her side. 

He’s just a comforting presence. When I’m around Archer, it’s easier to suppress.

Archer quirked an eyebrow, but didn’t protest at the contact. In fact, he seemed to realize what was running through Rebecca’s mind about him being a comfort, for he smiled faintly despite the situation they were walking into.

“Ironic isn’t it?” Archer mumbled quietly out of the corner of his mouth. “Just a few minutes ago, you were trying to get rid of me.”

Rebecca shot Archer a look and ignored him. She had noticed the irony and had been desperately wishing that Archer would overlook it.

“Ainsley what are you doing?” The mayor was standing in the middle of the square beside a crudely wrapped bundle that sent emotions spiralling through Rebecca. “She’s just a child.” He gestured angrily at Rebecca before shooting her an apologetic look. “No offense meant, Red,” he said softly. “This isn’t a matter for children.”

Rebecca squeezed Archer’s hands at the mayor’s words. “I’m sorry, sir,” She began trying to keep her emotions in check, “But this has just become a matter for a child. My mother isn’t here right now, and I am the only one…left…to deal with Grandmother’s remains.”

 This time it was Archer who squeezed her hand, and Rebecca was grateful to be able to focus on the light pressure of his fingers on hers. She was proud of herself for staying strong through her speech to the mayor, but she was also holding her breath because of her little slip. Luckily the men were all too preoccupied with the tiny amounts of pity they were expressing for the poor girl in front of them to listen to carefully to the words she actually spoke.

“You did good,” Archer murmured softly and Rebecca nodded, turning away from the mound that was Grandmother’s body.

 “I need a minute,” She told Archer gently, disentangling her hand from his and walking over to the body.

 She couldn’t bare to look at it, but she reached out a hand and touched the coarse blanket. Slowly, her fingers trembling, Rebecca pulled back the top of the blanket and squeezed her eyes so they were barely open.

 Even with a miniscule amount of looking at the face was enough. Rebecca replaced the blanket slowly and turned away, tears streaming down her cheeks in silence.

 Grandmother had been found.