4 YEARS LATER~~~
“MaKenna!” I yelled, charging after her in a fit of aching legs and short breaths. Nevertheless, she was faster than I was, she always was, and I knew there would never be a moment in life where I’d be faster than she was. I was pretty sure if she were to break her leg, she’d still be able to run faster than I would.
“Catch me!” she challenged, her voice ringing in my ears like a choir of taunting sopranos.
“I can’t!” I gasped, slowing and falling backwards onto my backside. I took in the sweet air, so cold and crisp. In desperate breaths, I hyperventilated in short gulps of air. I watched her disappear into the trees, knowing she’d soon return, but for now and the following minutes, I would be alone in the deep woods behind my small village. I enjoyed and took in the scent of nature and eased back, feeling the branches and rocks bend with my back. The trees, like monsters or protectors, shielded most of the purple sky. Was the sun already setting? With brisk movements, I was on my feet and watching Kenna return in a glowering rush.
“I should go. Gram would kill me if she knew I was out this late,” I laughed and gave her a quick hug, which she promptly escaped from with a wry smile.
“Maybe you should.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to spend a few nights at my place?” I asked her and she quickly nodded with a brief expression of wonder.
“I’m pretty sure. Go home, Erin,” she gave my shoulder a slight push and turned, walking away with a laugh.
I’ve known Kenna maybe for two months and not once has she stepped foot anywhere near my home. Or my village. But she’s kept me company and provided friendship outside of Al and Drake. Turning my back to her and the woods, I took to running, quickening my steps to the beat of my heart and hurried home.
My breath came short as I slowed, reached the door, and pressed my bare palm against the splintered wood to ease it open quietly.
“Erin?” came the stern voice of Drake and I froze in my steps, caught, as was a deer in the headlights.
“Drake,” I recognized and turned slowly to my tall cousin with deep eyes saturated in sorrow.
“It’s dark.”
“Not quite.”
“It’s dangerous past dark.”
“I’m seventeen,” I reminded him dryly and sighed lightly, “Drake…I’m fine. I promise.”
“If you get hurt…”
“Then I get hurt. There’s nothing more to it. How many times have you come home, near death?”
“I can defend myself,” he said sharply and I reeled in defense.
“So can I!” I said.
“Hey, both of you, chill…,” Al said, his lightly curled hair spilling across his forehead.
I sighed, and started to back out of the living room and to my room, thinking that Gram must surely be fast asleep.
“Erin…though Drake is overreacting, I’d like to know where’ve you been, too,” Al pressured.
YOU ARE READING
The Girl with the Red Hood
Romance"The wolves had shared many very special and cherished memories with the village people and my family. They watched us grow up. They watched us take our first steps. They watched us learn out first words and leave for school our first day. They watc...
