The Hood Tale

Hello. My name is Devilyn. But you may know me as the Big Bad Wolf. I guess I deserve that title. I murdered Little Red Cap, my best friend. Yes, she was my best friend. I called her Rose. Now, I tell you my story, not the silly old hunter's fake story. You don't have to believe my story, but here it is.

We began our friendship at the age of six. I was walking in my home, the woods. I spotted a red cape six year old girl. She wore a real dress and a white apron. In her hands was a woven basket. Her hair was curly, shiny, flaming red. The face was not visible. She stood there stiff as a statue. Maybe she heard me, and stopped. The girl turned around slowly. On the side I saw a frightful look. When she looked at me, she smiled sweetly. Her eyes were pure blue, stars were not worthy of being in. Her lips were filled with strawberry red color. Her smile was so perfect, angles that would make you cry of jealousy.

Her voice was as if there was a choir in her voice box. "Hello little dog." "What's your name? My name is Little Red Cap." I looked at her with interest. "I'm a vicious wolf. Why is your name Little Red Cap, and, why should I tell you my name?" Red Cap kept smiling. "I was made a red cape with a hood when I was born. I never take if off. I do not think you're vicious. You're kind, sweet and cute." She bent down and kissed me on the nose. I felt my face grow hot.

Red Cap opened her basket and pulled out a picnic blanket. "Would you care to join me for lunch?" I nodded and she laid the blanket down on the grass. We both sat upon it. Red Cap pulled out a plate of biscuits and a plate of chicken legs. She passed me a steaming chicken leg and a warm biscuit. "So, what is your name?" Before taking a bite I answered, "Devilyn." There was a pause. After Red Cap finished her biscuit, she said "May I call you Lynn?" I finished my third chicken leg. "Sure, may I call you Rose?" Red Cap wiped her face with a napkin, her skin impeccable (of course).

The sunset glistened between the sky and the land. Rose glanced at it. "Oh my, I'm late!" She packed up her picnic supplies. "I'm clearly sorry, but, I must go to my grandmother's house. "She turned to leave, her cape twirling around her. "Wait!" She turned her head to me, I then finished what I had to say, "May I walk you to your grandmother's house?" I walked up to her. We both walked together. It was as if I was escorting a beautiful princess. We talked about our life. She lived with her grandmother while her parents were no where to be found. I said I was also without parents. I was abandoned as most wolf pups are. Then we reached our final destination. Rose waved goodbye. "Rose, is there any chance I can play with you tomorrow?" Rose showed a bright twinkle in her eye. "Yes, of course."

The next day, we played all day until sunset. I waited for her at the farthest tree near her grandmother's house at sunrise. Our friendship bond could not be broken. Then a fatal day came. I waited that day by the farthest tree near the house. Rose walked out the door looking cheerful as ever. She twirled around gracefully before speaking. "My mother and father were found!" "I can go home!" She gave me a hug and twirled once more. Rose looked at my face of disappointment. Her smile slowly slipped off. "Aren't you happy for me?" I quickly smiled big. "Of course!" Rose smiled once more. If she was happy, I was happy. "But, I will leave you in good hands." She put her arms around my neck. "My grandmother is very sweet she will take care of you, Lynn." "I told her about this arrangement." I looked at her sideways. "Does she know I'm a wolf?" She let go. "Well, no. But, that's okay." She stood in front of me. "I'm going in three days, but, first I want to teach you to walk on two back paws. Give me your two front paws." She held out her hands. I took hers. The whole day I mastered walking. Rose looked at the sunset. "Well, you mastered it. Grandmother will not think of being ill to you. You shall meet her before I leave. Tomorrow, proper dance lessons"

The next day it was all ball room dancing. It got easy along the way. I was mesmerized by her dazzling eyes and flame dancing hair. I wanted the day to last. Before she walked through the door I said "When you leave, will I see you again?" "Certainly."

The next day I waited by the porch. Rose came out. She was startled. "Oh my!" You startled me, Lynn." "Sorry. Am I seeing her now?" "Yes, do come in." Rose waited for me to waltz in before she went in. The walls were cramped with paintings of flowers. There was one small couch and a wooly rug. The scent of sweet raisins filled the air. A kind of voice came around. "Little Red Cap, is that you?" "Yes grandmother, and also Lynn." "Let me see the young gentleman." I heard the sound of scraping slippers against the wooden floor. I braced myself.

Her figure appeared. She wore a pale pink dress with white flowers. Her hair was at the peak of gray. Yet, her skin bore no wrinkles. She had small circle glasses and a matching nightcap. In her hands, a rolling pin. On her feet were matching slippers. She dropped her rolling pin. Grandmother let out a frightened squeal. Quickly she picked up her rolling pin. She raised it over her head with both hands and let out a battle cry. What?! Is this woman crazy? Grandmother ran forward. I closed my eyes tight. "Stop!" I pried open my eyes. Rose was standing in front of me, arms outstretched. "You're not hurting Lynn! You promised to take care of him!" Grandmother stood there in shock. "You didn't tell me he was a mutt!" "Lynn is not a mutt, he's my friend! He is kind and sweet and pure hearted. I should expect you to be like that too with him!" Grandmother looked as if she was hit by a stone.

"Goodbye! Be nice Grandmother!" Rose waved happily goodbye. I held back my tears. Grandmother cried loudly annoying me. Rose disappeared out of sight, her cape twirling around her into the darkness of the woods. Grandmother and I turned to each other. I stood on two back paws. Grandmother was not impressed. She gave me a smug look. I returned it to her also. "I don't have to feed you. You can catch your own food." With that she ran inside and shut the door. Typical, crazy old women always are. And how fortunate, it started raining! Forget grandmother! I was back on four paws. I swiftly went into the woods, finding a hollow cave.

Nine years later, I lied upon the crunchy leaves. My hunger was ripping my insides. I could see my bones, I felt weak. Wicked old bat was ignoring me whenever I went by. I am sixteen now, just as Rose should be. Rose, she never left my mind. It was as if I loved her. Yes, that's it!! I love her! Yet, when will I see her again? Will she remember me? I thought I shall never know. If I could just see her once again, wait! I heard a sound coming from the north. I got off my lazy back and I ran toward the sound. I stopped and saw nothing and looked down at a stupid squirrel. Just my luck! I turned around angered. I was hungry now! The old woman was coughing up!

I reached the house. I scratched the door. I ripped and ripped and ripped. I managed to scratch an opening. I squeezed through the hole. Grandmother ran in looking furious. I said "Dang woman, how long can you live?" "How dare you, coming into my house like this!" "I shall have you killed by the hunter! Red Cap was always stupid. Making friends like you!" I jumped and

attacked her. "Help, Huntsman, Help!" "Nobody insults my Rose!" I bit her on the wrist. Blood trickled from her wrist into my mouth. My hunger was overwhelmed. I bit more and more. After much of inhuman eating I opened my true eyes. Grandmother was dead. It was entirely my fault! I saw only bones and small bits of skin. Cowering in fear, I ran out of the door never looking back.

What to do now? I did not know. I kept running until I stumbled and fell hard. I slowly got to my feet. Only a small scrape was left on my right shoulder blade. Blood tickled down my fur and skin. Carelessly I fell to lie down again. My hunger came back. I could still taste the tantalizing blood I've spilled. I closed my eyes, my heart beating fiercely, breathing hard to work.

"Are you alright?" I heard a choir of angels. My eyes fluttered open, there a familiar face appeared, a beautiful one. I smelled pure roses, red, silky hair, red velvet cape. Cape? Rose. I urged to get up. She gently pushed me back. "No, you must rest. That scrape is getting treatment." Rose dabbed my right shoulder with a napkin. With a woven basket in her left arm, she opened a brown bottle. Her eyes upon my shoulder, filled with kindness. My hunger roared with glee. I fought it off. Guilt came by. I killed her grandmother. Does she remember me?

"You remind me of someone. Someone I knew a long time ago," replied Rose. I'm not going to tell her. I don't know why. My instinct just told me so. I tried relaxing, but, it was hard. My left shoulder stiffed. There, Rose stood by my side dabbing my scrape. Seeing more closely, she looked a bit older.

"Sunset? I must go!" She packed the first aid materials. "It is better now I suppose you can walk now." I stood up; no pain came by my shoulder. "Where are my manners, I did not say hello. Hello little girl" lied I. "Where might you be going on such a day?" "Well, to my grandmother's house. I have brung her whiskey and fresh bread to liven up her spirits." She plied open her basket flap showing the inside. "Oh, no" screamed my thoughts. "But, wait! Don't you want to see the flowers?" I showed her the flowers near by. "The sun goes slowly when setting." She picked a wild flower. "I guess a little delay." Rose picked a bushel of flowers. I watched her still fearing of what might happen.

Suddenly she stopped. Wait! What am I doing? Thank you Mr. Wolf, Lynn will love these. But, grandmother is very impatient. Mother said no delay or go a stray from the path." My hunger came back. Rose brushed off her dress. "Goodbye, Mr. Wolf." "Goodbye Little Girl," I managed to say. She was taking the long way. Great, I'll take the short way for reasons still unknown.

I raced as fast as the wind could take me. I hope time was with me. I was dodging all the dead tress, stepping on the pointy dead leaves. Thank goodness! I made it before her. I rushed into the house, shutting the door. But, what should I do? Pose! I pulled the skeletal body into the closet. I grabbed spare pink clothes from her dresser. I struggled to put them on as quickly as I can. "Grandmother?" I fiercely jumped into the creaky bed pulling the bed covered up to my eyes. "Come in." I said in a false tone. Rose opened the door.

"You sound sick grandmother. Where is Lynn? I'm dying to see him again." I coughed. "It's just a cold. Dear Lynn is out for fresh air." "Oh." She walked over to the bed. "I have brought you whiskey and bread." "Thank you, dearest." Rose put the basket on the end of the bed and walked over to me. "My. What big eyes you have, grandmother." I made up things as I replied, "All the better to see you with, my dear." "My. What big ears you have." My hunger growled with anger. "All the better to hear you with, my dear." "My. What large hands and long arms you have." "All the better to, uh, hug you with, dearest." Pulling down the covers, I smiled, showing my white teeth. My hunger showed its impatience by making my stomach growl. Rose took one step back. "My. What sharp teeth you have, grandmother." Fear was in her voice. There, my hunger overcame me. "All the better to EAT YOU!" I pounced. Rose screamed "Lynn!" I could not get through. My teeth met with her left forearm, biting harder and harder, blood gushing out. "Lynn, stop!" She yelled. Her tears fell fast. My biting went up to her shoulder. Yet, she would not hit me. She was merely pushing me and pleading. "Lynn, Please, Stop! You're hurting me!" I tried with all my might to fight my beastly way. My biting went up to her neck. Rose screamed in pain. Yes, I fought if off! I stopped. Unfortunately, she was bleeding fast and losing lots of blood. "Oh no." Rose was near death. What could I do? "No! Rose, I'm sorry. Why did this have to happen? It's all my fault!" Whining in pain she laid her soft hand upon my shoulder. "No, it's not your fault. It wasn't you who bit me. You look starved to death. Grandmother must have kicked you out. I should be the one to blame." "Don't say that! It's my fault you're going to die." Tears began to well up stinging painfully. I held them back. "Don't cry, Lynn. But you must do something for me. I forgive you, even though it's not your fault. Please kill me." "No! I'm not going to murder my best friend in the world?" "Do it for me, Lynn. This pain is so much torture. Please end it." The tears easily came out my eyes. I should not let her suffer anymore. I leaned forward, opened my mouth and forced myself to bite her neck. It ended. Rose was dead.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. I stepped away from her. Suddenly the door burst open. I turned around. A man stood there dressed in huntsmen clothes. He looked furious and sad. His voice was harsh and soft. "I saw the whole thing. The grandmother made me tail you when you first left. I thought you were her friend, "he pointed to Rose's corpse. "Hunger is no excuse for murder. Even if you starved, go before I call the hunt!" Not needed to be told twice, I walked toward the open door. I stopped at the doorway. "On her gravestone, can you write something for me?" The huntsman turned "Yes?" I told him then left.

Days later I returned to the haunting house. My eyes looked upon two grave stones. I had pure red and white roses. I swiftly stood beside Rose's grave stone. Tears once again welled up. Wiping the tears away I left the roses upon the grave dirt. I turned, stopped, and looked back. I read: In loving memory of an angel, sweet and kind, Little Red Riding hood.

THE END