Red

RED - 6

He didn't come back for me for a long time.

At one point while I was waiting, I was genuinely worried. I mean, I didn't want him to die. He was... I don't know. I just know that I don't want him to die. Snow is my best friend. She'll listen to me. And Cindy to her. Aurora's a plain ass b*tch so I don't need to worry about convincing her.

But when he did eventually come back, he came back panting. I had hidden myself among the shadows of the darkening sky, which seemed to have worked, seeing as he hasn't spotted me yet.

"Took you long enough" I joked, finally stepping out and into the little light that was left. He looked up at me, a wisp of a smile on his face as he stood up straight and wiped the corner of his mouth.

"Sorry I kept you waiting, kitten. Some of us have prior engagements then to just sit around all day and wait" he quipped. I rolled my eyes and stepped closer to him until I could see the path of footprints that he left behind.

"Someone could follow there and find us, you know"

He looked back over his shoulder before he turned back to me and gave me a shrug, "Even pros make mistakes sometimes, Red. Give me a break already" At that, I rolled ,y eyes again before he began walking. I turned and followed.

"Where are we going?" I continued to trudge forth and he moved some low branches of trees out of my way.

"To Cinderella, like you said"

I felt a smile start to tug at the corners of my lips as he held another low branch out of my way for me, "Really?"

"Well, it's like you said," he began, his breath still a little short, "You can help me stay a live"

"You said that I was full of hope. You said dying could be fun"

Again, he shrugged his shoulders and moved another branch out of my way for me, "I have a lot more living that I want to do first"

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"Her castle is right through here" I poibted up ahead and through some brush, and I looked back over my shoulder in time to catch Will's nod.

"You sure they won't shoot me?"

I scoffed nonchalently, "Of course they wont shoot you. You'll be with me"

"Whose to say that they won't shoot you too?" he fired back, mocking my scoff.

"We'll just have to find that out for ourselves" I retorted back over my shouldee before I started moving.

"Stay close," I called back over my shoulder as we approached the clearing up ahead, "If you're too far behind, they'll think you're hunting me. You have a history of stalking me, need I remind you"

"You need not to," I could practically feel him rolling his eyes at me, "This should do the trick"

I was about to turn and ask what he was going on about now when I felt his hand slip into mine, his fingers locking with mine.

I looked down at our hands before looking up at him, taking notice of the cheeky grin upon his lips, "This way they'll know for sure not to shoot me," he raised his other hand in a tsking motion, "Can't have them pulling there guns on me now can we"

I turned forward and tried to settle the blush that was starting to heat up my cheeks and neck, "Whatever. Let's just go before I shoot you myself"

We entered the grounds of Cinderella's palace in minutes, out in the open for everyone to see. We stepped onto the cobblestone pathway leading up to the main gates, and once in the sights of everyone, guards had there guns, bows and arrows drawn at us.

Instantly Will's hand that was holding mine tightened, his arm raising goosebumps and he walked more closely to me.

"Ruby..." his voice was steady yet unsure, and I stayed silent, only tugging him along the large pathway as the ends of the rifles and arrows kept pinned to us, unsure of whether we were a threat or not.

"Keep close" I mumbled to him as he began tugging on my hand, trying to slow me down.

"Rubes.." He said again, trying to get me to stop walking, but we were almost at the main entrance.

"C'mon, hurry up" I mumbled again, ignoring him.

"I don't think..."

"We're almost there, Twilight"

"Ruby, stop. They're gunna pull-"

"They won't. Just, keep walking" I told him calmly. I knew that they would alert Cindy about who was approaching and I knew that Snow would be with her. I knew that we would be alright.

And I was right.

We made it to the front doors of the castle, where two soliders stood guarding.

"Whom wishes to pass?" one of them asked me, and Will's muscles tensed again, stepping slightly behind me, his grip on my hand being tight.

"Tell Cindy and Snow that Ruby Red is here," the guard took a good look at Will, shifting the position of his gun, "Ruby Red plus one"

In a couple of minutes, with hesitant looks the guards threw at Will, we entered the large double door of the palace.

"See?" I turned to look at Will as the double doors closed behind us, "That wasn't so bad"

He looked anywhere but at me, his muscles still tense.

"Relax," I gave his hand a squeeze and with my free one I cupped the base of his jaw, "I told you they wouldn't hurt you"

"Those guns never left me, Ruby. Neither did the arrows," he still wasn't calming down, "If one of the soldiers slipped up then I could be-"

"Alive. You're alive, Will. So stop fretting"

When he finally did look at me, his eyes were dark. Darker then usual.

He was hiding something from me.

I tilted my head to get a better look into his eyes and I frowned, "Will... are you-"

"Red!" A happy squeal drew my attention to behind me and I let go of Will, catching Snow just in time as she embraced me.

"I missed you so so so so so much!" she smiled, pulling away to smile at me before she embraced me once again.

"It's been so long! Ugh, I don't know why you insist on being in the woods 24/7! Always being chased by that—holy shit!"

Finally realizing Will being behind me, she abruptly pulled me back from him.

"Snow, this is-"

"I know who that is," she had her head held high, her voice a little stingy, "What is he doing here, is what I want to know"

Will took a step back, his eyes still dark, "No, Snow. It's okay," I pulled away from her to stand infront of Will, "He's okay. He's needs out help. Your help"