Little Red Riding Hood Never Forgives

Goodnight

19

Scarlet couldn't possibly have known. She couldn't possibly know how much pain, how much grieving would rise once the sun sunk. But she did. Scarlet knew, somewhere deep in her greatly troubled heart that something was going to happen, someone she loved would fall. Maybe the outcome of that wretched, venomous night could have been changed if only she knew more, if only she knew whose heart would stop.

But that, she did not know.

Her feet slapped against the brittle concrete, hair weaving into waves around her closed off face. Scarlet's eyes skimmed the sprawl of wheat that lay a few feet away. Soon, she would trek through the field to the very center, the very spot where she had committed her greatest sin. She knew she would have to face this burden soon enough, and that if she didn't go to it, it would come to her. And yet her feet just wouldn't move anymore.

"It'll be okay, Scar." Nick breathed softly in her ear.

Scarlet couldn't help but feel the burning itch to throw her arms around Nick's neck that came every time her mate was near. The proposal was the only good thing that had happened to Scarlet in weeks, and she was determined to live until the wedding, even though it wouldn't happen for a few more years.

"I know you're trying to help," Scarlet muttered, turning to Nick with eyebrows scrunched. "But I can't help but completely regard your sentiment as complete bull."

Nick smiled lopsidedly, not taking anything to offence. He even chuckled a little as he wrapped his arms around Scarlet, holding her gently.

"You're right, it's much better to think realistically. So, you want to be described as an 'intelligent, honorable girl' or as a 'totes hot and gorgeous chick' on your tombstone?" Nick grinned, though it was stretched.

Scarlet laughed bitterly, "The latter, definitely."

"Okay, lovebirds, game time." Sin glared at the two, although there was a softness to her usually steely glare. The upcoming events were resting on everyone's shoulders like heavy weights.

The five of them (Scarlet, Nick, Sin, Alex, and Ariel) gathered around in a small circle, their heads pressed together.

"So, what's the plan?" Ariel asked, even her normally chirpy attitude was watered down to a quiet lilt in her voice.

"How about we make it up as we go along, and don't get killed?" Alex jeered.

"Yeah, not the best idea," Scarlet snickered. When Alex found out about Nick's proposal he was silent for a minute, thoughtful. At first he looked a little disappointed, but a minute later he was asking for an invite to the reception. "Supposing we don't all get slaughtered tonight," he had joked. Scarlet was so very glad that Alex wasn't taking the proposal to heart and getting over their little...thing faster than Scarlet expected.

The group came up with a very basic and flimsy plan, since they didn't know exactly what was going to happen. It was all they had, and they decided to stick to it like a lifeline. In the end, the five teenagers gave each other long, sad hugs, each of them knowing that that may be the last time they get to embrace.

Despite the grim jokes that had lined the day, Scarlet was glad that her possible last day on earth was a decent one. She had finally found her mate, and even though she had found him long ago, now she was sure that Nick was the one. Now though, it was show time.

Scarlet's feet tangled in the wheat every other step she took, but instead of stumbling and taking a minute to get up as she used to, Scarlet pushed through the wheat field, yanking her foot up out of the knots ferociously. She could have Changed and easily sprinted through the field and take down Red, but that was how she had gotten here in the first place and Scarlet refused to fall into the trap of animalistic instincts. She was to remain level headed and human throughout the entire night, and then after that accomplishment maybe she could learn to keep her wolfish side but push the lust of lupine madness down, locking it in the darkest parts of her mind.