Another Tragic Love Story

Chapter 2

Second chapter. READYSETGO!

Frightened Red held out her knife, shielding her face, and closing her eyes tightly. A low growl could be heard faintly. It was the growl of the predator. Red's eyes sprung open, holding fear behind two heavy windows to her soul. Two red slits glowed in the darkness of the forest as she peered behind the tree towards the entrance of the small clearing. The air was wet and sticky, causing leaves and branches to stick to Red's hair and limbs.Small traces of light shone from the other side of the forest, almost looking like a fairytale in this dark nightmare. She swallowed back thick saliva, and stood straight, preparing for the worst,

"Who are you?" She asked her voice waivering. She earned a small, dark chuckle from the tall figure walking towards her.

"I think you know that, girl," He sneered, disappearing from her view. She turned around, and breathed a sigh of relief until she realized he had appeared in front of her..

The so-called-man was almost a full foot taller than her. His red eyes seemed to pierce through Reds skin burning holes into her skull. She pressed her back firmly against the tree, not wanting to take her eyes away from those of the killer. The man took another step forward, slamming his fist by her head on the tree.

"Better get to Granny's before the wolf eats you all up," His voice was a husk whisper in her ear as he hovered over her.

"Then you're going to have to move, sir," She said in a polite voice, swallowing the concerned squeak that tried its best to fight through.. Confidence was failing, and she was pretty sure her heart was too.

The man's hand grabbed the girl's knife pulling it out of her hand. Red realized he wasn't wearing a shirt, only pants. Sweat clung tightly to his skin, like white sand. His cheeks were well-defined, an infinite smirk plastered to his face.

"It's not like you're going to use this; it's not silver or golden," He examined it, turning the kitchen knife in his hand, "normal iron. Useless out here." He threw the knife behind him, the metal sinking into the ground. Red's heartbeat accelerated way past normal, but not just from the fear building up. All of his actions drew her in, making her cheeks burn up to a Red Apple Crisp."Take a left when you get to the clearing, and that should get you there." The man blinked, the smirk wiping away from his face. His eyes widened a bit, and he removed his hand from over her head. He backed into the shadows, seeming to disappear from what her mortal-eyes could see. She didn't doubt he was still watching her, though.

Red's heart beat faster as she sped the opposite direction. The fog was clearing, and her vision was returning. Holding onto her cloak she swung it over her shoulders and pulled her hood up. Her running pace turned into a quick walk when she got to the opening, taking a short break to catch her breath. Red went to the left path, and quickly walked. Her heart dropped as she saw the sun setting in the distance. The light fog blurred everything over colors of the sky blending together in pink and orange swirls.

After walking for a while, Red finally made it to the small town her grandmother lived in. Croehx Grassland. She took a deep breath, the familiar scent filling her nostrils. It reminded her of her younger years, when she was just a little girl.

"Be careful!" Her Granny, Grandma Lucia, used to exclaim to the red-headed devil. Red used to mess with her livestock on the family ranch. Kicking chickens, pulling pigtails... If you could think of something cruel, she probably did it.

Red walked down the dirt path, her now-soiled boots kicking small pebbles up behind her. She picked off a leaf, maybe the 10th one so far, from her leg and threw it to her right.

She opened the front door to her Granny's house, the old wood creaking. Red cupped her hands to her mouth.

"I'm here!" She yelled, her voice echoing throughout the small house. Her grandmother set down the small tin-pan she was holding, and came out of the kitchen. She appeared in the path of the doorway, her blond hair pulled up into a ponytail. Her face was surprisingly young and elegant, for a 65-year-old. In fact, it hadn't changed much since she was 7. Grandma Lucia opened her arms as Red hugged her.