Hopes let you live....

...try not to let this happen..

In the kingdom of Vanderdash, there is no more feared warriors than that of the Scarlet Guard. Protectors of the royal family, skilled assassins trained since childhood, They follow the crown, they enforce the crown. To many, the group cloaked in red is a greater symbol of the royal family's power than the kings crown itself. Citizens respect and fear the scarlet guard, the power they hold. But within the guard there is only one who installed that very same feeling into the rest. Head of the prince's royal guard, ruthless and cunning, rarely seen by the citizens themselves. They call her Red. An expert in poisons and deception, the small girl has brought armies to their knees without once lifting a blade. A vermillion haired monster hidden behind the face of a doll. ~~ I smiled up at the men, "Would you like a cookie?" They peered into the basket I held out, spotting the heart shaped treats. "They're cinnamon with apple Jam. I do promise they are to die for." The taller mans eyes narrowed, "did you give the poor fool dead on the road a cookie?" My lips parted, "a dead man? Oh my..do you think it is safe?" "..depends on who you are miss, why did you say you were in the woods again?" I smiled gently, "I didn't." He rose a brow. "I'm delivering these," I shook the basket a bit, "to my dearest grandmama." He hesitated for only a slight second, "oh. well. be careful then. These woods can be dangerous." I nodded once still holding out the basket, "so would you?" "Would we what?" I giggle a bit, "like a cookie silly." "Ah.." he scratched the back of his head, "sorry, I'm not too fond of apples." Damn it. I sighed softly, "strawberry next time then." "Right..." As I turned to go I looked up at the two tall men, "you be careful now too gentleman. There are wolves in these woods." They nodded rigidly as I spun and began to skip off, giggling to myself. He asked the wrong question. I didn't give the dead fool a cookie. I gave him two.

Bad boys: people view them as unfit fathers. Why? Well, their bad boy lifestyle of course. That's where Asher Cain comes in. Throughout his whole high school life, he was that mysterious bad boy player. Drugs, underage drinking, sleeping around.. That's what he got into. And then we have the innocent one: Juliet Harp. Juliet falls for his charm and ends up falling into bed with him too. It wasn't like a high school fling, it was more of a I've-just-got-out-of-a-relationship and I-want-to-have-a-one-night-stand sort of fling. That's essentially what it was, fresh out of high school and fresh out of a relationship. Juliet found herself in bed with Asher and then, a few months down the line, finds herself pregnant with his baby. They weren't ever really friends, just acquaintances. Well, Juliet dies when her daughter, Victoria, was only four. And you'll never guess which doorstep Victoria finds herself at? - Highest ranks in Short Story: #22 (21st December 2018) COVER CREDIT: peakybooo (so amazing, I cri)