Red and the Wolf

A Modern Little Red Riding Hood Ida's friends called her Red. It wasn't because of her hair. It was because she wore red almost every day. Red jackets. Red dresses. Red boots. If it came in red, Ida probably owned it. On a bright Saturday morning, she stood outside her apartment building with a travel bag in one hand. Her girlfriend Annie stood beside her. Annie was a police officer. She was smart. Protective. And sometimes a little too protective. "You could just move in with me already," Annie said. Red laughed. "You ask me every week." "Because I get the same answer every week." "And what answer is that?" Annie folded her arms. "'Not yet, Annie. I like my independence.'" Red grinned. "I do." "You know I love that about you." "I know." Annie stepped closer. "Then marry me someday and be independent from my apartment." Red burst out laughing. "You are impossible." "I've been told that." They shared a quick kiss. Then Annie's expression became serious. "There is something else." Red immediately noticed the change. "What is it?" "The Wolf." Red sighed. "The criminal from the news?" "Yes." Annie nodded. "He has attacked several women already." "They still don't know who he is?" "No." "Do they know where he is?" "No." "Then he could be anywhere." "Exactly." Annie pointed toward the road leading out of the city. "Your mother's house is isolated." "I know." "Promise me you'll be careful." Red squeezed Annie's hand. "I know those woods better than anyone." "That's not a promise." "Fine." Red smiled. "I promise." Annie looked unconvinced. But she nodded. "Good." Red picked up her bag. "Anything you'd like me to tell your future mother-in-law?" Annie rolled her eyes. "You did that on purpose." "Maybe." With a wave, Red headed toward her car. Annie watched her leave. Something felt wrong. Very wrong. Annie stood there for several seconds after Red drove away. Then she looked toward the woods in the distance. Her instincts rarely failed her. And today they were screaming. "Please be careful, Red." Far away, Red's car disappeared down the highway. Toward the forest. Toward Mary's house. And toward danger. The drive took nearly an hour. Soon the city was gone. Tall trees surrounded the narrow road. Red smiled. She loved this place. The forest had always felt like home. Finally she saw the small cottage ahead. Smoke rose from the chimney. "Mom is probably making tea already." She parked and grabbed her supplies. Then she started walking toward the house. She had no idea someone else had arrived first. Mary was humming softly while arranging flowers. Life in the woods was quiet. Sometimes lonely. But peaceful. Then there was a knock at the door. Mary frowned. "That's strange." Red was not supposed to arrive for another twenty minutes. The knock came again. Mary walked toward the door. And opened it. A stranger stood outside. He smiled politely. "Sorry to bother you, ma'am." Mary hesitated. "Can I help you?" The stranger glanced toward the forest. "My car broke down." Mary looked uncertain. The man appeared harmless. At first glance. "I was wondering if I could use your phone." Mary slowly nodded. "All right." She stepped aside. "Come in." The stranger smiled. "Thank you." As he entered the cottage, his eyes carefully examined every room. Every door. Every window. Every possible escape. The Wolf had found his next victim. The stranger sat at Mary's kitchen table. Mary poured tea into two cups. "Milk?" "Please." Mary handed him a cup. The stranger smiled. "You live out here alone?" Mary nodded. "My daughter visits often." "You must be proud of her." "I am." Mary smiled warmly. "She's stubborn." The stranger laughed. "I know the type." Mary sipped her tea. The stranger did not. Instead, he watched her. Studied her. Measured her. The room suddenly felt colder. Mary shifted in her chair. Something about him no longer felt right. "Did you call for help?" she asked. The stranger set down his cup. "No." Mary frowned. "What do you mean?" The smile disappeared. Slowly. Completely. "I never intended to." Mary's heart skipped. She pushed back from the table. The stranger stood. "Stay back." He took a step forward. Mary took a step back. "Who are you?" The man's eyes hardened. "The newspapers call me the Wolf." Mary froze. For a moment she could not breathe. Then she turned and ran. Mary reached the hallway. The Wolf caught her arm. She cried out. He pulled her back. "No!" Mary struggled. She kicked. She fought. But he was stronger. The Wolf lifted her off her feet. "Let me go!" He carried her toward the bedroom. "You should have stayed seated." Mary continued fighting. Then suddenly— A voice echoed from outside. "Mom! I'm here!" The Wolf stopped. His eyes widened. Another woman. A smile slowly spread across his face. "Interesting." Mary felt a wave of terror. "No..." The Wolf looked toward the front door. Then toward Mary. "Your daughter just arrived." Mary tried to scream. The Wolf covered her mouth. "Perfect." "Mom?" Red's voice came again. "Mom, are you home?" The Wolf quickly tied Mary's wrists. Mary desperately shook her head. The Wolf dragged her toward the closet. "No..." The word barely escaped her lips. The Wolf shoved her inside. Then he closed the door. Mary heard the lock click. "Mom?" The voice sounded closer now. The Wolf thought quickly. Then he answered. Using a rough imitation of a woman's voice. "In here!" Mary stared in horror through a crack in the closet door. The voice was terrible. Surely Red would notice. Surely. Outside, Red frowned. That did not sound like her mother. Not even close. "Mom?" "Yes?" "Are you okay?" The Wolf cleared his throat. "I have a cold." Red blinked. "A cold?" "Very bad." "Since when?" "Yesterday." Red frowned harder. Something was strange. Very strange. "You sound different," Red called. The Wolf remained hidden inside the bedroom. "Terrible cold." "Oh." "Come in." Red hesitated. "The door is open." For a moment she considered leaving. Then she shook her head. She was being silly. It was probably just a cold. She opened the door. "Mom?" No answer. Red stepped inside. The cottage seemed unusually quiet. "Mom?" The voice came from the bedroom. "In here." Red slowly walked down the hallway. She set down the groceries. Then the magazines. Then she reached the bedroom door. Something felt wrong. Every instinct told her to turn around. But it was already too late. The bedroom door slowly opened. And Red stepped inside. Unaware that the Wolf was hiding behind it. Waiting. Watching. Ready to strike. Outside the cottage, another car had just arrived. Annie stepped out. She looked toward the house. Then she heard voices. Her expression darkened. Something was very wrong. Annie moved quietly through the trees. She felt foolish for following Red. But not foolish enough to leave. As she approached the cottage, she heard voices. One belonged to Red. The other... Annie stopped. That was not Mary. She had met Mary several times. The voice was wrong. Very wrong. Annie crouched beneath a window. She listened. "Mom, why are you still in bed?" Red asked. "I feel awful." The voice sounded strained. Forced. Fake. Annie's stomach tightened. Something was happening inside. Slowly she drew her pistol. Then she moved toward the front door. Inside the bedroom, Red looked around. The curtains were closed. The room seemed darker than usual. "Mom?" Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her. Red gasped. "What—" The Wolf slammed the door shut. Red struggled immediately. "Let me go!" The Wolf laughed. "Your mother said the same thing." Fear shot through her. "My mother?" The Wolf pushed her onto the bed. "She's nearby." Red's eyes widened. "You touched her?" The Wolf smiled. "You should be worried about yourself." Red kicked at him. The Wolf grabbed her wrists. "You fight harder than she did." "Go to hell." The Wolf laughed again. "Maybe later." Red continued struggling. She refused to give up. Then the bedroom door burst open. "Police!" The Wolf froze. Annie stood in the doorway. Gun aimed directly at him. "Move away from her." The Wolf's eyes narrowed. For a second he considered fighting. Then he saw Annie's expression. She was not bluffing. Slowly he released Red. Red scrambled off the bed. "Annie!" Annie never took her eyes off the Wolf. "Are you hurt?" "I'm okay." "Good." The Wolf suddenly lunged. Bad decision. Annie moved instantly. She drove him to the floor. The struggle lasted only seconds. Then the handcuffs clicked shut. The Wolf cursed. Annie tightened the cuffs. Red sat on the edge of the bed. Still catching her breath. Annie knelt beside her. "You okay?" Red nodded. "Now I am." Annie smiled. Then she kissed her forehead. The Wolf groaned. "Can you two do that later?" "No," Annie said. Then she called for backup. A faint banging sound echoed through the room. Everyone stopped. "Did you hear that?" Red asked. The banging came again. From the closet. Annie frowned. Then she opened it. "Mom!" Mary almost fell forward. Red rushed to her. They hugged tightly. For a moment neither woman said a word. Then Mary pulled back. "I am so glad to see you." "I'm glad to see you too." A short time later the Wolf sat handcuffed in a chair while they waited for backup. Mary insisted on making tea. Again. Annie laughed. "You've been kidnapped and tied up." "And?" "And you're making tea." Mary shrugged. "It helps." Soon the three women sat around the kitchen table. For the first time all day, things felt normal. Then Mary noticed something. The way Annie looked at Red. The way Red looked back. Mary raised an eyebrow. "Oh." Red nearly choked on her tea. "Oh?" Mary smiled. "You two are together." Red glanced at Annie. Then back at her mother. "Yes." Mary's smile widened. "Well, it's about time." Red blinked. "That's your reaction?" "Of course." Mary reached across the table and squeezed her daughter's hand. "If she makes you happy, then I'm happy." Annie smiled. "Thank you." Mary looked at Annie. "You know, she talks about you constantly." "Mom!" "It's true." Annie laughed. Red buried her face in her hands. Mary grinned. Then Annie gently took Red's hand. "There is one thing." Red looked up. "What?" "Now that I've saved you from a serial criminal..." "Oh no." "...can we finally live together?" Mary immediately pointed at Annie. "Good question." "Mom!" "I'm just saying." Red shook her head. Both women were staring at her. Waiting. Finally she laughed. "Fine." Annie blinked. "Fine?" "I'll move in." Annie nearly knocked over her chair standing up. "Really?" "Really." Annie wrapped her in a hug. Mary applauded. Then Red pointed at her mother. "One condition." Mary sighed. "I knew there would be one." "You're moving back to town." Mary looked toward the forest outside. Then toward the police car arriving in the distance. Then toward the handcuffed Wolf. "Honestly?" "Yes?" "That seems reasonable." Everyone laughed. Moments later police officers arrived and took the Wolf away. As the patrol cars disappeared down the road, Red leaned against Annie. Annie wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Mary raised her teacup. "To family." Red smiled. "To family." Annie nodded. "To family." And for the first time that day, the forest felt peaceful again. The End. A Story by Germaine Corbeau - Click here for links to all Germaine Corbeau Stories! Quick 👏 Guide: 0 = I got lost! - 1-4 = Nice font... nice images. - 5-9=Read a bit. Nice try!, 10-14=Okay... Pretty good!, 15-19=I actually enjoyed this! - 20=Absolutely legendary!