Scarlet's Descent Into Harm's Way

Scarlet's Descent Into Harm's Way CH-1

"Scarlet!" her mother yells from downstairs. "You need to hurry, darlin'"

"I'm coming, Mother." But, eighteen year-old Scarlet keeps brushing her wavy, auburn hair despite the urgent summoning. She tilts her head, gazing at her reflection in the mirror, admiring the sparkle in her rich, brown eyes. On the table beside her, a spindly ballerina twirls inside an open box. Soft notes encircle her.

Scarlet's body tenses as a flurry of knocks assault her door. "Yesss," she answers in a singsong cadence.

"Unlock this door, young lady," her mother barks. "I'm not asking you!"

Scarlet's shoulders slump, her peaceful moment in ruins. She saunters over to the door and slides the bolt back to allow entry. Her mother stands in the doorway, bedecked in a flowing emerald gown. Her hands are propped on her hips. Her lips pursed.

"Mother, I was just brushing my hai-"

"I know what you were doing. You're always in that mirror, as if it's to divulge to you that you are indeed the fairest of all the girls in the village."

"Am I not?"

"Yes," her mother deadpans. "But right now, I need you to take this care package to Nana."

"But I'm going to an All Hallows Eve party tonight," Scarlet pleads. "Can't I take it tomorrow."

"No honey. Nana's expecting it."

Scarlet places her brush on the bedside table and takes the basket from her mother's hands, flashing a wide smile. A wine bottle's thin neck juts from under one end of the cloth that covers the basket. Scarlet lifts the opposite end of the cloth, revealing freshly baked bread and homemade fig jam.

"This smells good. I sure hope it makes it all the way to Nana's house." The corners of Scarlet's mouth curl into a devilish grin. "I might just have a picnic along the way."

"No you won't either. The sun's going down, baby. You need to get to Nana's house by nightfall."

Scarlet sets the basket down long enough to grab her silky, hooded cloak. She wraps the black garment tightly around her slender shoulders and ties a loose knot at her neck. Wearing a sleeveless corseted bodice atop a long skirt, she flips the hood over her head. Her smoldering red tresses spill from the sides.

She grabs the basket and kisses her mother's cheek as she brushes past. Her mother runs to the door and calls out, "Don't take the wooded route. Wolves lurk these woods at dusk!"

Waving a dismissive hand over her shoulder, Scarlet skips through the gate and down the lane. She winks up at the setting sun. The sky looks like dragon's breath streaming across the field of lavender.

Scarlet stops for a moment when she reaches the turn off for the trail into the woods. The sign reads: "Harm's Way." She looks down the lane that continues on around the Black Forest. Then back toward the woods. Then back down the lane again. She tips her chin up to the sky, noting the sun's angle to the horizon. Psssht, I've been down this trail plenty of times... never seen any wolves.