Little Red

circles were next to one and other, joined by a small line. The oblong behind them donned a black hat, the stick lines came from the small circles and finished at the bottom of the window.

‘Holy shit!’ blurted Nathan, she saw him……..she fucking saw him.

***

The van turned up the narrow track, the headlights finding the means of access. The Wolf had been here, before the first girl was taken. He had found several good locations to perform his art. This was one of them.

To his memory the track continued for fifty to seventy five metres, then ended as the woods density became an obstacle. He rocked from side to side as the wheels negotiated the uneven route. The moon crept slowly to reveal itself fully. He had checked ahead for the forecast, the internet site revealed the night as a full moon result, its period of waning had come to an end. The branches above helped the moon to hide as the vehicle moved under them. The headlights became less intense as the block of tall resting trees stood in their path. He stopped the van and climbed out of the door. His boots created a crunch as they landed in the carpet of snow below. He inhaled the fresh air, nipping his throat slightly as he exhaled, a perfect night.

He moved to the passenger side and removed several items from the foot well. His boots left behind prints several inches into the glistening powder. He didn’t worry, the snow fall was due to increase a little after midnight and his tracks would be covered.

He listened to the scurrying of tiny feet as he made his way to the back, the twinkling of tiny eyes appearing and vanishing into the depths of the wood. The light bang from the inside of the vehicle told him that his girl was now awake, the tissue placed to her face had less Chloroform than previously. She had been unconscious for a little over half an hour now. He lowered the bag to the ground and unzipped it. The mask starred back at him from the bottom of its home. The eyes looked into his, its menacing smile displayed the variety of different sized teeth. He leant over and retrieved it.

The doors were pulled open and Abby shuffled rearwards attempting to find a concealed hiding place. The monster was partially hidden by the shadow of the door. The moon’s light fought through the foliage above him, displaying one side of the mask. He called her to him with a curled finger, she didn’t move. He tilted his head to one side, the large mouth caught the light, its teeth displayed.

Abby shook with a fear she had never known. The girl had been pulled from her safe place and thrown into a dungeon of horror. She had been drugged and moved, waking up in a strange place not knowing how she got there. She now gazed upon a beast she had read about once, but not believed in. The confusion overwhelmed her mind as if a thick rain cloud had been cast in her brain. The finger beckoned her once more, again she remained still.

The Wolf climbed into the van, his weight pushed the large frame down upon the suspension; the girl moved with the motion. He reached down with a long arm and gripped her bare ankle. The girl was dragged to the rear, her fingers clawing at the wooden surface to find a point to hold on to. Her nails offered a screech as they scraped the wood away, the splinters pierced her flesh.

The Wolf pulled her down onto the snow and forced her body to the ground squashing her head. She screamed.

Grabbing her shoulders he lifted her to her feet, the cold ground stinging her bare skin. The red cloak was fastened with a brown button, the collar wrapping around her bruised neck. Abby pulled it as tight as she could, keeping the cold out and hiding her body to the beast. He walked her to the front of the van. The headlights showed her the path into the woods. The mouth of light was surrounded by darkness, waiting to swallow the delicate child. He stood behind her holding her body against his, the heart beat bellowed through her fragile frame, he shuddered as he felt the beat increase.

The wood was harbouring a sinister darkness and the creatures lay in wait observing the show. The nose brushed past her cheek, she felt the warmth of his breathe upon her face.

‘You are free……………run ……run…..run, as fast as you can little red riding hood……………RUN!’ he whispered to her.

The girl bolted to the wood, her shadow danced upon the large trees as she moved quickly. The Wolf smiled behind his mask as he moved to the driver’s door and he pulled it open, he reached toward the CD player fixed to the dashboard. The music stormed the peaceful woodland, the howl causing some animals to stir. Howwwwwwwlllll………., who’s that I see walking in these woods………..why it’s little red riding hood……..hey there little red riding hood…..you sure are looking good……you’re everything a big bad wolf could want……………..

The Wolf pushed his hand into the glove and the slim blades glimmered on his fingers.

The chase was on.

Abby moved as fast as her legs could go. She struggled to keep upright as her body leant forward with the momentum. Her hands were wafting any obstruction from her front as she began to enter complete darkness. The cracking of twigs sent shivers through her cold body, her legs breaking the branches as she made contact with them. The music surrounded her, bouncing from tree to tree. The wildlife dispersed as she awoke them. Though her surroundings were something she had seen in her nightmares, she kept moving……….the fear pushed her.

The Wolf was close on her trail, the sounds of rustling and the cracking of branches told him her position. He stalked quickly, more of a slight leap than a run. He panted wildly and his breath appeared before his face in puffs of smoke. He moved with the music, singing the song in his head as he chased his prey. He could smell her…………..he knew it was the fear that was oozing from her cold damp skin.

She ran blind, unable to see her hands in front of her. She had fallen several times, the snow had numbed her feet and she struggled to place her footing. Her lungs begged for more air, straining within her skinny body. The small light guided her and she spotted it to her front. A car… house maybe?

The adrenalin coursed through his veins. The music had become faint now, he knew he was close…….his heart pumping violently. He could hear her breathing, gasping as she fought the obstacles in her chosen path.

Abby neared the wood line and the crisp white field lay in front. Her eyes were fixated on her path as she avoided any obstructions that could slow her down. The moon appeared from the cover of the tree tops, she squinted as it burned her eyes. The crack of a branch alerted her, she turned as the beast had pounced and her body was sent to the ground with force. He had her………….his kill. The familiar sensation engulfed him and he shuddered as it passed through his limbs, gasping over his prey.

The sky was a sheet of black, the clusters of stars twinkled with the brilliance of the moon. He dragged her bleeding body so that they sat under the large light above them. He had dug his claws into her leg, shredding the soft pale skin. She whimpered as he laid her flat on her back. The snow attacked her bare skin, numbing her completely. The Wolf stood over the girl, the power surging as he calmed his breathing to a relaxed state. He knew he could take his time, she was exhausted, he could tell. He opened the red cloak and revealed her young body to the moon as it reached its fullest. His knees dropped onto her open arms, wedging her upon the ground. The glove was removed and he produced the knife from its sheaf. It shone under the moon, glimmered in his eyes. He raised it to the sky and howled.

Chapter Ten

Jack lowered himself into the car, he sighed as his body crumpled onto the driver’s seat. The engine growled as he started it, the headlights came to life.

The car pulled out from the parking space and rolled down the road, the night pulled in steadily and Nathan looked up towards the sky. He gazed at the brilliance the moon held and the light it offered.

‘It’ll take about fifteen minutes to get to the first victim’s house’ Nathan nodded as Jack provided the