Little Red Riding Hood Never Forgives

Thorns

14

"Who's 'Granny'?"

Scarlet tensed and couldn't help but growl slightly, she was sick of having to repeat her explanations of the vague hints Red had given her over and over. For the second time it was Ariel who wasn't paying attention. The petite bratty redhead didn't seem to ever pay attention.

"Granny," Scarlet gritted her teeth, "is the hint Red, the demon child who has been messing with me for a while now, gave me. It's not much but it's a lead. Now does anyone know a Granny?"

"I'm into older women, but not that older." Alex smirked.

"Of course the first thing you say after nearly being killed is that." Sin sneered.

Nick shifted nervously, "Well, I'd heard about some grandmother who kind of... went over the edge when her granddaughter died. But I never realized Red was that girl."

Scarlet nodded, she felt the block of guilt that permanently resided in her stomach harden. She was the one to blame for the grandmother's insanity. It was her fault. Everything was.

She needed to stop feeling sorry for herself. As much as she wanted to curl up into a little ball and cry her eyes and guilt out, she couldn't. It was time to move.

"Do you know where she is?" Scarlet asked Nick softly.

He frowned, "I'm not sure, but I heard the rumour back at the town square, near the vendor booths."

"So, what you're saying is that someone at the vendor booths knows about this Granny?" Sin stood up, edging slowly towards the door.

Nick nodded, deep in thought, "I think that it was Lilith who mentioned it."

"Lilith, as in the produce vendor?" Scarlet perked up after hearing a name from her old life.

Nick smiled, "Yeah, she gave us free fruits and veggies, the ones that are a week old. She's a real sweet lady."

"So we're going to the market to hear some stale gossip from some Goldie oldie?" Alex wrinkled his nose, "That's not exactly how I wanted to spend my day."

Sin rolled her eyes, "We'll leave at dawn, that way we'll have plenty of time to get dressed in clean clothes, eat, and trek to town." Sin nodded, pleased with her plan. "Hit the sack, everybody."

Scarlet soon lay in the rickety bed, gazing up a the ceiling, letting her mind wander into every horrific what if she could come up with. It had been months since she'd been to town, or even around people who didn't know her secret.What if she slipped up and lost control? Questions burned the lull of sleep away from her mind and Scarlet stirred restlessly for the hours ahead.

It seemed that Scarlet had slept for mere seconds when Nick was already rousing her.

"Wake up, Scar. It's time to go." Nick whispered as he shook her gently.

Scarlet snapped at him but quickly jerked her head away, beads of sweat already forming on her forehead.

"S-sorry," Scarlet gasped, grasping her head as she regained her focus.

Nick just nodded calmly, "I know."

Scarlet always awoke in a fit of animalistic rage, a side affect of being part wolf. She felt shaky, her mind spinning from the remembrance of the challenge ahead. She sat up slowly, then turning, hopped off the bed. Pacing for a moment and wringing her hands, Scarlet finally spoke with Nick.

"What if they're there?" She looked up with forlorn eyes.

He shrugged, "Then we'll deal with it."