Crimson Hood

T H R E E

         

Smoke infiltrated my nostrils as it made its way inside my lungs. I snapped up and coughed out the disgusting taste of the black toxic. After my small coughing fit, I peeled my eyes opened to see me set beside a small camp-fire that seemed to have put itself out. The time of day was bright out as the rays of sun weaved through the tall trees and found its way back to burning off my skin. The leaves attached to the trees rustled in the slight breeze, the grass danced away with the leaves. Surprisingly I could hear faint chirps of birds.

I rubbed at my head where I had landed on it and pulled away with dried up blood on my fingertips. I glanced around. I was in a forest. I wasn't in this setting before I had passed out. That wolf must have dragged me here in preparation for his breakfast. I jumped up quickly. Where was that wolf? Wherever it was I wasn't going to be here to find out.

I slowly stalked away from the fireplace then made a break for the road I could see in the distance. As I drew closer, the image of a small building caught my eyes. Almost resembling a box, the building was small and rectangular with a red painted door and shattered windows. Despite how bright the sun was, I noticed the glow of light filtering from inside the building.

My eyes widened as an emotion I haven't felt in a while – joy – filled my body. My focus was now on the building that resembled a convenience store.

The red doors snapped open as if on command once I reach the perimeter. I hesitantly took a step forward as to be cautious of anything out of the ordinary. The shelves were empty yet had old cans sitting on their side. Rubble from the ceiling occupied some corners as well as plastic wrappers from various sweets and junk that has been sold in this store.

There was no one here. The inside was silent; no different to outside. Mice squeaked and travelled back and forth with articles of food. The occasional splooshing sound of water dropping and hitting the floor rang around me. No human noises what so ever.

The pang of disappointment that ran through me was much. I had expected someone to be here. Maybe they could have helped me find my pet and a way back into town safely.

"Refried beans." I read out loud inspecting the dented can beans that was lying on the shelf.

The sound of a door nearby hitting the cracked wall hard startled me. I dropped the can into a pile of rubble and crouched behind a shelf.

"I'm tired of eating refried beans Neal, can we hunt for actual food?" A miserable, high-pitched voice complained.

"Sallie, we'll get there when we have the chance. For now, we have to stick with what we got." This Neal person said.

I popped out of my hiding spot to see the backs of two grown people. From where I stood they were both wearing brown shirts that looked stained with grease and sweat. The male had a blue baseball cap on while the female wore a weird piece of material around her neck. It resembled tribal print and had a small charm dangling off it.

Why is she wearing a collar? Is she his...

My hands covered my mouth to suppress the laugh that wanted to come out.

Their clothing tattered in several places with what looked like a poor repair job. The male had a pickaxe in his hands which he was twirling around like it weight lighter than a feather. The woman had a small sheath on her waist and by the looks of it, held a dagger of some sort.

I contemplated whether I wanted to make myself known when the shelf I was leaning on creaked under my pressure and lost one if its bolts that held up the shelve with the canned beans. One by one they fell emitting a loud clanking sound once it hit the rock floor.