Red

Knock-Knock

     The apartment was big and spacious, twice the size of the last one I lived in. The floors were a dark cherry wood and the walls had a nice cream color to them. The kitchen was tiled and—Oh my Happily Ever After! There's granite countertops!

My heart exploded with happiness, this is everything I dreamed of and more. I was free, finally free.

The master bedroom was carpeted and the walls were painted a deep burgundy color, the second room across the hall was the same way except a bit smaller. Both had closets the size of my old kitchen.

I walked further in the master bedroom, noticing the en suite bathroom that I overlooked. But then a note on my nightstand caught my eye.

Red,

I hope this apartment is what you wanted, I know it might look too much but I know the building owner personally and he gave it too me for a less than reasonable price. I hope you'll do well here and I speak for everyone when I say that we'll miss you. Have a nice life, Red.

Love,
Ichabod Crane.

I smile and fall back in my soft bed. When my back hits the sheets I close my eyes and fall asleep.

***

"Rose Steele?"

"Yes!" I jump up from my hard waiting room chair, the receptionist smiled after giving me a one over.

"Mr. Deacon, will see you now." Her voice was friendly, yet incredibly forced. It kinda made me feel uneasy.

She led me down a dimly lit corridor, ahead of me was a large empty desk and a just as large door. She opened it quickly, barely letting me step through before shutting it. I cleared my throat, smoothed out my skirt, and took a seat at one of the office chairs.

A young man sat in front of me, mid-twenties with blonde hair, blue eyes. Nice bone structure, you know, the works.

He leaned forward and studied me closely, his eyes running all over my body, seemingly memorizing every detail of myself.

Finally, his eyes narrowed and he said, "No."

"Excuse me?" I scowled at him.

He sat back in his chair, smiling coyly, "I don't think you'll like my explanation."

I scoff slightly, "Tell me sir. What is it about me that has you so off-kilter?"

His smile broadened, "Tell me Miss Steele. Why did you apply for this position?"

My voice goes taut, "You avoided my question."

"You're avoiding mine," he said, eyebrows raised in amusement.

I sat up straighter, pulling my waistcoat tighter around my shoulders. "I applied because I've recently graduated collage with a masters in business management. I think that degree qualifies me for a receptionist position." My tone seem to cut his skin by the way he flinched back.

A small smirk sat on my lips.

He cleared his throat, "Well, I see your intentions are clear then."

"I don't understand," I said slowly.

"Do you find me attractive, Miss Steele?" He said, smirking back at me.

I scoffed, "Why would I? You just got good genes when it came to bone structure, so yes. I find your skeleton attractive, just not the meat and skin part of you."

He burst into laughter, childish giggles filled the room as he leaning back in his chair. Howling at the roof. Eventually he regained what little composure he had left, wiping tears from his eye he said, "Welcome to Deacon Enterprises, Miss Steele. You start Monday at six, I look forward to seeing you soon."

Even though I didn't know what the hell happened in there, I accepted the job and left the office with my heart pounding in my ears.

I made it back home a little past five, I was in such a good that I decided that I would cook myself a nice dinner tonight.

I open the fridge and grab a New York Strip steak that I had been saving for a special occasion. Smiling to myself I open the package and drop the steak into a bowl full of marinade. I set that aside and begun cutting up some onions and bell peppers. I hum a small tune, I like to cook, it was one of the things that helped forget who I am.

I hear a knock at the door, I stop what I'm doing and peer over the breakfast nook to look at the door. Nobody ever knocks on my door.

I gulp and walk slowly towards the door, with my knife in hand. I reached for the door handle and slowly twisted it open. The person behind it shot at me in a blur. I gasped and ducked out of the way before they could grab me.

They whipped around and launched at me again, I run back at them swinging my knife at their abdomen. He growled and seized my wrist snapping it backwards, I bite my lip to keep from screaming. I draw my fist back and shoot it out, hoping to hit him anywhere that could cause a lot of pain.

The fist was caught before I slammed against my apartment wall, pain flared in my back. I groan, my head falling back against the wall as I tried to catch my breath. I'm pinned.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I spat, glaring into Amber eyes of the man who had me trapped.

His smirk was still wolfish, memories flood my brain. I shivered. "Can't an old friend drop in for a visit every once in a while?" Velvety smooth, chilling to the bone, a stab to the heart his voice was.

I chuckle dryly, "You and I both know that we are something far from friendship." I wiggle my toes slightly, trying to see if my feet were pinned at all. I smiled on the inside to find they aren't.

I played him as best I could. I try to push him away from me, which gets me slammed against the wall a second time. "Why are you here!" I screamed. Writhing every which way.

He sighed, "Red, if you keep squirming like that you won't be here very much longer." His voice was raspy and strained.  I took my chance.

I kick my leg out, swiping it underneath him. Bigby crashed to the ground, barely taking me with him. I jump over his body, and run into the kitchen. I rip open the silverware drawer, searching through it trying to find another knife.

"C'mon, Red. I just want to talk," Bigby groaned from the living room. My heart painfully contracted, then my eyes flickered to the stove where a frying pan sat. I snatch it off the stove and wield it close to my body like a bat.

I laugh dryly and turn around, "Really? Do you want me to remind you of our past conversations? Unpleasant things happen when our words mix with one another's Bigby."

He sauntered out of the shadows and into the yellow kitchen light, his eyes glowing gold. His head cocked giving him an animalistic look, I tightened my grip on the pan.

Bigby breathes in and releases a growl, "I'm tired of the running and chasing, Red. I'm tired of being monster."

I chuck the pan at him and scream, "YOU'RE TIRED! YOU'RE FUCKING TIRED!" I run my hands through my hair frantically. He opened his mouth to spew more nonsense, I held up my hand to shut him up.

I jabbed a finger at him, "You have no idea what it feels like to be tired. I've been running from you most of my life, now you want too barge into my apartment. Call it quits. Then what? We sing kumbaya, and braid each other's hair? We can't be friends, we can't even be cordial, because what you did was unforgivable. You are a monster Bigby, one that needs to be put down."

I choke back some tears that formed in my eyes, I didn't want him here. I don't want him in my life so why does he want to wiggle his way in? Only to watch me squirm.

"Red?"

I sigh, closing my eyes and pointing towards the door.

"Get out, dog," I sneered.

He scoffed and stomped to the door, pulling it open he says darkly, "Fine Red. If you want a monster, I'll give you a fucking monster." He slammed the door.

I dropped to my knees and wailed, all those years of fear and anguish she'd through my tears. Old screams became loud choked sobs. And like all those times before, I didn't hold them back.