Forbidden Pass

Merry Red Riding Hood

[EDITED]

Flawless skin.

Silky black curls.

Cherry red lips.

That is the only thing that I see while I was in the grocery store. The girl in the red hood that flowed down to her hips. She is looking at some red apples that is the same color of her hood, her hazel eyes staring at the glossy fruit she is holding as her lips pursed into a smile. Her skin looks fair, so soft to the touch, though I never let my finger get in contact with that alluring skin.

Suddenly her eyes manage to find mine. Her eyes isn't big and round, but she is breathtaking in other way. Her thin lips smile at me and she place the apple back to where it was. She turn away, walking with her hips swayed along with her hood; her black leggings hugging her feature matched with her dark brown boots.

I am bewitched. I couldn't set my eyes off her. The smell of freshly picked apples intoxicated my nostrils. I quietly followed her from behind, hiding behind poles and small trees; I watch her walking away with a woven basket swinging at her right hand. She walks, I follow. I want to talk to her, I want to befriend with her. I want to hear her voice. I follow her all the way to the end of the neighborhood, until we reach at the Forbidden Pass.

I see her standing in between the two birch trees, lowering her head down as both of her hands holding onto the basket. A few seconds later, she enters the forest, and I got out from my hiding. Is she a visitor from the city? Does she comes here often? I have to find out. This might be my last chance to meet her.

I walk my way towards the forest, ask for permission, then I enter the thick wilderness. But that time, happens to be the time that I regret on doing.

I walk deeper into the forest, looking for a certain red hood girl wandering in the forest. The forest has an astonishing view; lush green shrubs, tall trees, and a scent of nature. Who would've thought such place could be so superstitiously dangerous?

Then, I saw her. Walking aimlessly in the middle of the forest, enjoying her time looking at the scenery. I don't want to surprise her, so I walk carefully towards the red hooded girl. The sounds of the dead leaves underneath me startle her, so she stopped walking and turned around to see me, standing where I was and I laughed nervously. I could see she is being cautious, her brow raised at me with a frown on her face. My sweat dropped from my temple down to my chin. I should make a good first impression, I thought.

"H-Hi..." I wave at her, but she isn't replying to my friendly gesture. I gulp down the lump in my throat, and scratch at the back of my head.

"S-Sorry... I didn't mean to follow you, but I saw you were walking here alone; so I was following to make sure you are safe." I stutter. She suddenly smile at me and gaze through my eyes with her shining irises.

"You were the guy at the grocery store, weren't you?" Her voice is as sweet as honey, I was drawn to her more. I nod sheepishly at her, happy that she recognize me.

"W-Would you mind if I.... follow you home?" Her eyes softened at me and she giggle. It is the most wonderful thing I ever hear. She holds her basket in her left hand and nods at me.

"I wouldn't mind. But are you sure you are willing to follow me home? You can't turn back." She ask me, but I shake my head; telling her that I am sure of my decision. I'm willing to risk my safety to send her back home safely.

"I can't let a beautiful girl like you to walk in the Forbidden Pass alone. There might be weird creatures out there." I reason to her. Her face falter for a moment, but then she smile again and beckon me to walk with her.

"I suppose you are right."

We walk and walk, talk to each other, and I ask her questions to know her better.

"What is your name?" Is my first question. She doesn't answer immediately, then she speak,

"Merry." It is a nice name, I thought. Then I ask her again.

"Where do you live?" She hesitate. She shake her head, not wanting to answer the question.

"If I tell you, I would ruin the surprise. Didn't you tell me you want to follow me back home?" is all she could say; I chuckled at her statement, despite the shyness, she was attractive in her own way.

"Mysterious, I like it." She giggles at me.

"So, do you come to the neighbourhood often?" I asked her, scratching at the back of my neck. I was being a nervous wreck. She only giggles. It sounds so adorable.

"You mean visiting the grocery store? Well, not unless I'm out of ingredients."

"Ingredients?"

"You know, apples, asparagus, all those kinds of things."

"You mean you cook?" Her eyes met mine, it holds seduction in her stare, which got myself some butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

"That's not the right question to win a girl's heart, you know?" She teased. I gulp down a lump in my throat.

"Well, at least you know one of the ways to win a man's heart." She giggle as she look away from me. I could see that she was blushing.

It is an awkward silence, until her question caught me off-guard.

"Do you like pies?" She ask in an innocent way. I got dumbfounded at first, but then I smile at her.

"I love them. Especially the ones that have meat in it." I answer. She giggles.

"Me too. I usually make them when I have a visitor." She speak, we both got silent for a while, until I lean a bit closer to her with a suggestive smile.

"So, you think you can make one for me? " I look at her, she only smile at me, but this time it looks creepy.

"Of course. I'll make you some. But my pies are different than any other."

"Oh? How different?" She looks away, giggling. My sweat dropped.

"Do you like organs?" I am dumbstruck.

"O-Organs?" She nods.

"Kidneys, lungs, those kinds." I went mute. It was a weird question, but some people eat animal organs, so I don't mind much about the question.

"I never tasted one before, so I can't be sure if I like them or not."

"Oh, don't worry; I'm sure you're gonna like them. Especially hearts... those are such a cuisine..!" She keeps on giggling the whole journey, and I don't like it at all. She suddenly lost the shine in her eyes, her mouth twisted into a gruesome wicked smile, and her giggles... it sounds more like a cackle. It is awkward for me.

Everything changed so fast, and I want to turn back and run away, but how? I realized that I am making a big mistake that I never thought it would happen.

We reach at a dilapidated cabin, and I got curious. I didn't know there is a cabin inside the forest. I turn to look at her, confusion in my face, but as I am about to do that, suddenly something hit directly on my forehead. I fall onto the forest floor, still blunt on what is happening right now. Pain surged on my head, I am getting dizzy by the minute.

My vision is blurry, but I could still see the two black leggings and a pair of dark brown boots, standing in front of me with a small bloodied axe in her right hand. Then she put the axe back into her woven basket, walking her way towards me and hold my leg. She start to drag me towards the cabin. Panic fills throughout my body, I start to struggle as hard as I can. But her grip is surprisigly strong, I can't shake her off.

"W-What are you doing?" I stammer, fear is evident in my tone of voice.

"You are my guest of honor. You should come and have a taste of my cooking. They're the best in the forest." She drag me closer and closer to the cabin. What comes next got me a shiver down my spine.

"I'm gonna make minced meat pie. You're in it."
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Rule Number Two :

Do not talk to the residents.