Little Red

Chapter 1

"I'm not that scared little eight year old, Vince." I whisper, scratching just behind his ear. Vince was typically the protective one, and I didn't blame him. You could never predict what might happen in the shadiest parts of the forest.

However, today is my 16th birthday, which means absolutely nothing when your living with a pack of beautifully individual wolves.

I help myself up, patting Vince gently on the top of his head. "I'll be back soon." while Emma, another wolf brings me my satchel and my hood. "Thank you." I whisper, silently.

Turning to leave, I see the palace gates in the distance. Finally, flopping my hood over my head, I take my basket and begin my walk to the market.

---

My long legs start to ache as I reach a vendor selling juicy red apples.

"Five shillings, a dozen." The young man, not much older than I, called out, extending his incredibly long fingers to stroke the prized fruit.

"I'll take a bag, please." I spoke, handing over the coins and taking a bag. Just as I begin walking away, in the corner of my eye, I spot the king's men. I begin dashing through the crowds of people purchasing necessities in the market. Some grunt, others groan with stern mutters that would be inappropriate to repeat. Finally, a guard stands in my path before I manage to press on my breaks, so I end up stumbling into him. I collapse onto his lap while the guards enclose the perimeter.

"Miss. Nash." The guard grabs me by my armpits and begins carrying me to a wooden cart, that you usually see animals being transported by in the kingdom. The man who caught me stands at the side while another slams the door closed.

The clanking seems endless as I stare at the massive gaps between the wooden bars. If I'd been any stronger, I could have easily pried them open with my bare hands. When we reach the palace, a masked guard opens the bars and yanks me out.

They drag me into the maze of a palace until we enter the long white doors that leads to the throne room. I'm thrown onto the floor and my hood hits against my back. The king glances down at me with a sharp stare.

"Bow." Another guard says sternly as I get down and bow before the king.

"Miss.Audrey..." The king begins before I interrupt.

"The name is Little Red." I smirk. A guard draws a sword to my neck and I don't even flinch. They're just using you Red. Chill. I think.

"It doesn't matter what you prefer to be called. You've been summoned for questioning." He rushes a hand down his hair nervously. "Have you heard of the mass killings of my men in your forest?" The king spoke roughly ignoring my correction.

I shake my head. "No...Sir." The formality makes me almost gag. I'm pretty sure I lost a few years for a three letter word.

"Well my men have been raided several times in your area and if you don't find the beast who is doing this, then we are holding you responsible." He held out his staff. "If you kill this beast, then you may marry my son." Sudden gasps escape the mouths of many well dressed Victorians in the room.

I nod. "Yes, sir." My voice is shaky. A part of me hasn't yet thought about the last line of his offer.

"Leave." He commands and the men practically drag me out. "You have exactly three weeks to find that monster!" He shouts as soon as I reach the front doors leading out.

Sprinting past the hollow trees that surround the forest, I make my way back to my pack with caution.

----

I sit with Vince on the mushy earth beneath our feet. I flash to the words the king spoke so wisely about, as if he assumed I was a cannibal because I live "alone" in their understanding. I wasn't even aware of the situation back at the kingdom, and yet, something made it seem as if I knew.