She felt like her body was about to explode into a ball of flames. Her throat felt so tight and each step made her feet feel like lead. It felt like a million eyes were looking down at her in the walls. A voice was screaming at her. She wanted to tear her hair out,her flesh off, everything that made her feel trapped.
She was so blinded by anger that it took her a moment to realize she finally made her way to the business office. The room where she had spent so many hours trying to prove to herself she was just like the rest of Fabletown. Someone who was deserving of having their name remembered for something good. Not being the damned bastard child of a fucking wolf. She made her way towards the old books she read a hundred times over and over again.
Once she reached for a book she realized her hands were bleeding. Was I balling my fist that tight? She asked herself. She huffed out a breath and shook her head. Quickly wiping her bloodied palms onto her sweatshirt then grabbing the book. She flipped through the pages as she always did, she liked to hear the sound of the pages, and made her way to her little corner.
A place where there was enough shadow to hide her but still just barely enough light to read. The cover read 'Little Red Riding Hood' , her parents' story. She had read the story over and over until she had it memorized and could read it out loud by memory. Thought this time... the book didn't comfort her. It didn't feel like she was reading about her parents.
It didn't feel like it was almost like her mom or dad were with her reading the story with her. Reading the story this time made her feel...alone. She used to herself as her mom . So light and beautiful but ever since...her mom...she saw herself more like her dad. The wolf. The villain in the fairytale.
Everyone had always looked at her strangely but after her mom passed everyone looked at her like she was her father. Just a monster waiting to snap. Maybe that's what she was. She looked back to her palms, still bloody and red. So red...she looked back to the book and saw an illustration of a wolf. It was large and had bright yellow eyes.
She could remember seeing her dad's eyes like that- seeing her eyes like that. A fiery yellow that didn't go away until she calmed down. She shut the book. A loud slam echoed through the office. She stood up and made her way to the center of the room. Desk here and there, a flying ship in the sky, a mirror, and more. None of that had her attention right now (maybe she'd go though Cranes desk and drink some of his cheap alcohol).
She took a quick look around before walking to a display case. It showed none other than the story of Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf. On the left it showed photos of her mother. So beautiful and radiant. Pup always thought her mom was the most beautiful fable of them all. Her red cape looked like it was made of the finest silks. Her eyes were such a pretty shade of brown, like her eyes were made of milk chocolate. There was a tapestry of her, it was the main centerpiece, that showed her mother walking through the forest holding a basket full of goodies.
On the right it showed her father. It was mainly old information about how he would devour people and feel havoc. Photos of wolves and only two photos of him currently were behind the glass. He too had a tapestry, but his was much darker. It was a large black wolf with bright yellow eyes that felt like it was walking out of the fabric that held it. A dark and grim forest was behind him. It felt like she was picking sides. Was there a side she could pick? Could she pick a side? Should she pick a side? A wolf and a woman. Predator and prey. Such an unlikely pairing. She looked back at her book and sighed. "Damn it...I really hope you two thought it was worth it..."
