Ruby

ONCE, THERE WAS a little girl who always played in the woods. She was small and fair, with eyes full of wonder and innocence. Whenever she went out, she would always wear a red riding cloak.

"It's to protect yourself from the wolf, " said her grandmother.

Her big eyes twinkled with curiosity. "But what's a wolf, grandmama?" asked the little girl.

The old lady laughed. She explained what a wolf is: a big monster with bloodshot eyes and big fangs that wandered deep in the woods. "It'll eat you if you don't behave."

The first time, that warning gave chills to the little girl. It stayed unwanted in every corner of her head. She would always shut the windows of their cabin and let darkness spread inside like a veil of protection, sleep as soon as the sun hid in the horizon, and hide under her thick blanket. While, on the other side of the cabin, Grandmama went out to the market, leaving her alone. Forbidden to leave their abode, she spent her days cowering in fear.

But as her grandmother repeated the warning before she went to bed every night, the words lost their weight. It stood hollow inside her head. Until, both curiosity and excitement rose on the little girl's chest. It was a call for adventure. What's with wolves that her grandmother seems to be terrified of them more than she wants to admit?

The thought of proving her grandmother wrong—of going against her, lit something in the little girl's heart she didn't knew existed. She wanted to see a wolf and with her own eyes and see if her grandmother's greatest fear is true.

And so she did.

With the hope of finding one, the little girl would always visit the woods in secret, searching for the beast she longed to see. She'd go to the darkest corners, playing with her dolls in silence, secretly waiting for something to show up. Her grandmother goes outside during a full moon from morning before dark, giving her all the chance to go wherever she wants to. She'd wandered in the forest's pad, walking past trees after trees before the sun descends. She memorized every corner of the evergreen paradise as though it was her own abode.

But no monster came.

The little girl was heartbroken. All her little efforts of venturing out in secret every month was wasted. It has to be true, the little girl told herself, preparing to go out one last time. She was starting to get tired of waiting and waiting amidst evergreen trees with beetles running on her small legs.

One last time and she won't go to the woods ever again.

Streaks of orange stained the sky. The forest was as quiet as ever. Only the hummingbirds atop of branches could be heard. Dismayed, the little girl packed her things. Maybe it's time she listened to her grandmother. Maybe it was just a tale meant to frighten a child like her.

With a sigh, the little girl stood, brushing the dirt off her dress.

But then, something crackled beyond the bushes not too far away from her.

The little girl froze. It was followed by an unsettling howl, sending slithering chills down her spine. Both anticipation and fear crept to her skin, but a faint excitement lingered on her chest.

She went near a tree from where she heard the macabre sounds. Before she knew it, her secret. . . deepest desire came true.

A wolf.

She hid behind a thick bush, trying her best not to produce even the faintest of sounds. She was far away but near enough to see it. It didn't seem real at first. But the wolf turned around and continued to howl.

True enough, it was a monster. A huge one, taller than her by at least three heads. Thick fur covered its body, tinted with the color of dark ashes. But her grandmother had mentioned bloodshot eyes. This one in front of her had amber eyes, one that glowed even amongst the shadows. Her grandmother mentioned big fangs too, but this one didn't bare its fangs to her. It kept howling—a rhapsody from a sorrowed heart. Its eyes looked lonely. . . and empty. Desperate. Like it's begging for help.

That's when she saw that its paws were pinned to the ground. A trail of scarlet blood trickled down its thick fur, staining the brilliant green of the grass. The little girl gasped. That must have hurt a lot. . .

She shook her head. She had seen enough. She couldn't, shouldn't linger here any longer. She turned around, ready to leave, until she accidentally tripped on a rock. She didn't have a chance to hold back her squeal.

The big wolf stopped howling and turned to her. The world stopped. Her eyes met the wolf's melancholic eyes.

The little girl stood frozen on her spot. She knew this is going to be her last breath.

With strong anticipation of death, closed her eyes, waiting to be devoured by the monster before her.

But when she opened her eyes, the wolf only stared back.

It made the little girl uncomfortable, so she does the unthinkable.

Why run from the monster if you can befriend it instead?

"Uhm," the little girl mumbled. She thought of something so say. "Hello, Mr. Wolf." She smiled widely, just as how she smiles at her grandmother.

Slowly, she walked towards the lone wolf. It seems to anticipate her attempt to approach it, but before she could wait for its response, she caught the dimness of the sky from the corner of her eyes. The sun is about to descend.

She has to go home.

Hesitant to leave, she shot one last glance on the despairing wolf. Good bye, she said inside her head, hoping the wolf would hear her message. She grabbed her dolls and rushed towards home, hoping she would arrive before her grandmother comes home.

"My precious ruby." The little girl shivered upon hearing the familiar voice.

She turned around. To her horror, she saw her grandmother waiting for her at the forest's border. With a huge smile, she exclaimed, "Grandma, I saw a wolf!"

Since then, the little girl was kept hidden away from the woods.

But the little girl will never forget what she saw.

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Ruby
a modern retelling of little red riding hood.

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Copyright © 2020-2025 by elfraneur
Posted 07. 28. 20.
PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME.

This book includes strong themes of violence, and horror that may not be suitable for everyone. Please read at your own discretion.

Motivation and feedback are highly appreciated. The author is in need of dopamine and serotonin. . . and feedback. Definitely feedback.