Little Red

5

The bristling wind became unnoticed, even as it relentlessly brushed through my hair. It hadn't taken long for the guards to find Essie and me. She was merely taken to my father with a slap on her wrist. I, on the other hand, was taken to him.

Lance Clayton.

Up ahead, I noticed the building I was never given the privilege to go into. The guards held my arms tightly, painfully. I gritted my teeth in order to hold back a pathetic whimper.

Robotically, I walked forward. My mind, in contrast, was spinning and whirling with thoughts I couldn't keep up with. Killed Nathaniel Clayton? I couldn't even imagine myself kicking someone, let alone murdering them. Even seeing the bloodied rabbit had me feeling queasy. Any blood left me unsettled.

Yet, they, for some reason, believed I murdered the mayor's son.

I was led up stoned steps and into the front entrance of the main building. Inside was an opened area with clean marble floors and a golden archway up above. Ahead, I noticed a large seat, almost passable as a throne. Sitting in that chair was the man, himself. Guards hovered around the room, stoic as one would expect.

Click. Click. Click. The many shoes created a repugnant noise in the once quiet atmosphere. I was thrown forward, my front colliding against the hard ground. I pulled myself onto my knees in order to look at the man in charge.

Lance was peering down at me with scrutiny. Clean brown hair was slicked back professionally, matching with his well-tailored suit and shiny black shoes. At the sight of me, a sickening smirk rose on his lips.

"Sophia Jackson. Father of Benjamin Jackson. Do you know why you're here?" After my silence, Lance rose to stand, never tearing his menacing glare away from me. "You broke the rules, sweetheart."

I cringed at the nickname, considering he was old enough to be my father, and then some. My hands planted firmly on my thighs in an act to remain completely poised and proper. I had not intentions of digging any father into my grave, not that it mattered for me if he thought I killed his son.

"Your sister isn't very happy with you, you know." Finally looking away from me, Lance examined his nails. He was ambling toward me until he stood directly in front of me. I kept my eyes on his shoes. "In fact, she implored me to give you consequence. I quite agree with her. Don't you agree, Sophia? Don't you think you should be punished for your actions?"

"I didn't kill him."

His fingers curled into my hair, yanking me up to stand. Instantly, I watched his scorching gaze on me. "Liars deserve death. Murderers deserve death. The wolves will be happy feeding on you."

Sucking in a sharp breath, I desperately tried to fight my battle. "I didn't kill him," I breathed. "I swear. I didn't-"

A stinging sensation lit up on my cheek. Lance threw me back onto the ground and began stalking away from the crowd of guards. "Lock her up until the next full moon."

I winced. The guards hauled me up once again, leading me to a whole different building. The dungeon was small since they didn't keep criminals around too long. The sun's light ceased to exist in the confinement of the cell. I was thrown, once again, onto the cold floors and instantly locked up. Defeated, I slumped against the bricked walls and placed my hands over my face.

It simply wasn't fair. I didn't kill him. Why was I facing consequences for something I wasn't responsible for? Who killed him?

Those thoughts were eradicated from the one realization; I would be killed by the very wolves I had grown to fear.