Little Red

‘Hello?’ the word bounced off his surroundings and came back from every angle. There was no answer. He raised his arms and extended them fully to his front, his fingers searched for something to touch. Nothing offered itself. He moved his arms to the sides, performing a slow full rotation on his heels. Nathan stood in complete darkness; his location was unknown and seemed sparse. It was as if his eyes were closed, unable to be opened. He lowered his body down to one knee and placed his palms upon the ground. The snow bit at his bare flesh, numbing it instantly.

‘Shit’ he jumped.

He remained low and began to crawl forward, each time he advance a hand was placed up in front to feel for anything. Nothing appeared. His hands and knees felt the pain from his freezing surroundings, he began to feel his warmth breath as he exhaled, his cheeks absorbing the heat from his core.

The whistling increased to his front, the purr of an engine appearing gradually. He stood and made his way towards the noise, it grew as he neared it. The wall broke his advance and he stumbled rearwards as his face made a connection with the brick. He landed on his back side, the ground nipping at him. He gathered himself to his feet and felt the obstacle to his front, the surface felt rough against his skin. His hands brushed the wall in circles as he looked for a way past. The engine growled angrily as he placed his cheek to the brick. He stepped back and brought his leg mid height, stamping forward and striking the wall. He kicked harder, the aggression building inside him.

The dust obstructed his view as the wall collapsed into a pile of rubble. He wiped his eyes free of the particles, blowing through his nose as the dust blocked his nostrils. The snow fell upon his bare head, his brown greying hair becoming damp as the flakes melted. He attempted to store his inner heat by reaching for his jacket, aiming to pull it tight to his skin. His chilled finger tips caused his skin to flinch as they touched his naked torso. He shivered and a plume of warm air escaped his mouth. He was naked……….naked and freezing.

He collapsed to his knees and curled over into a ball shape, his spine arched to close his chest to his knees. The ground pinched his skin, he felt vulnerable and weak. The girl screamed as she was removed from the vehicle, the sound softly drowned out by the engine. Nathan raised his head, keeping his body tightly closed. His face stung, his lips started to crack under the arduous conditions. Small droplets of blood escaped the splitting skin, they landed by his knees and disappeared into the arctic floor. He could see the beast, its large frame dragged the girl from the depths of the van. He tried to call out to him……to distract him, but the words were silent. It was as if they froze when fired from his mouth. The second attempt also failed. He watched from a distance as the girl was position in front of the van, the headlights emitted a blinding light, amplified by their black surroundings. The thing approached her from the rear, its head lowering to hers. Nathan could hear the breathing of the Wolf, as if he were leaning into his own ears. He felt the warmth it brought, the tingling sensation it delivered. The words caused him to stiffen, his body seized to tremble. Run little red riding hood…run…run….run. He heard them clearly and so had the girl, she darted towards the illuminated trees. Nathan fought the freezing extremities and gathered himself to his feet, his skin becoming pale.

The music brought life to the quiet wood, animals stirred as they were awoken. He moved unsteadily to the van, his steps appeared short and he spotted the Wolf as he leapt into the darkness.

‘NO!’ he bellowed, the walls of tissue surrounding his lungs appeared to split as he forced the words over the music. He collapsed against the vans side, managing to stay on his feet he ran towards the girls choice of path, his aim was to get to the girl before it did………before it could pounce on to her weak shell.

He moved in a zigzag motion, unable to concentrate as the hypothermia sunk into his muscles causing them to seize. The music disappeared from behind him, the howl faded into the thick bark of the woods occupants. He saw the entrance to the white field, knowing that the girl would have entered here he moved with speed. She was out of sight……..her tracks ended where he stood. He searched with aching eyes……where are you...where did you go? The force knocked him down onto his side, his head thudding to the ground. The cold blades tore at his body, the pain numbed by the temperature. He could feel the warm liquid as it trickled from the wounds……his body shuddered as his life was slowly released. The slices kept coming, his arms and legs ripped open as the claw was thrust at him……he had no energy to fight, he felt useless.

His body was dragged several feet, he opened his eyes to the full moon. The scene was surreal………..it calmed him, warmed his bloodied skin. He never felt the killer’s knees as they were lowered against his biceps, his body now pinned to the sparkling sheet of white. The glimmer caught his eye as the blade was raised in the air, he moved to see it. The last breathe escaped his burning lungs, the sighing sound followed with the mist. The knife pierced his chest and broke through the rib cage; the cracking noise told him this. He watched from his place of death as the killer removed his beating heart, the red stuff pumped out onto his face and chest, the white snow was attacked by random arterial sprays.

Chapter Thirteen

The water ran down Nathans face, the refreshing liquid snaked its way down the contours of his ageing skin. He found himself needing a cigarette and became slightly agitated as he realised he didn’t have any. The dream had caused him to awaken rapidly, his heart pounded behind the bone guard. He rubbed his chest to make sure there was no damage then moved to the toilet of the Met Headquarters to freshen up. He tried to piece together yesterday’s events. He recalled the epiphany in the woods and talking with Jack in the car. He remembered lowering his chair………….then came the blank section. His reflection appeared older, the eyes sunken slightly and the skin cracking in places. It made him feel old and he moved towards the coffee machine slamming the door as he left. Jack met him in their un-assigned meeting place. He was midway through filling his cup.

‘Morning……..how did you sleep?’ rubbing his eyes

‘Like shit……..you?’

‘Same same’

‘Jack, what happened after we got in the car yesterday……I mean, how did I get back up to my office?’

‘You were out like a light. I woke you once we arrived here and you slumped up the stairs and headed straight into your office……….that’s the last I saw of you mate’.

‘Jesus…….I’m getting old’

Jack chuckled at his friends comment. He also felt the same but didn’t want to admit it. He hated that he looked older than Nathan, his mind was as young as it was in his twenties…..but his appearance showed his true self. They stood by the wall and rested their backs upon it, the hot coffee went down well. Jack removed his packet of cigarette’s and Nathan accepted the offer. They moved slowly to the nearest exit to light up and take in the satisfying drug.

The car park was dead, they stood by the doorway as it shielded them from the light wind. The lighter clicked as the flame was brought to life, Jack protected it with his hands and both men lent in to burn the white sticks.

‘Look, I think it’s wise that we keep your issues to ourselves mate. We don’t want any shit storms appearing mid case, especially if your past is brought to the surface’. Jack aimed to make the words sound concerning but Nathan could hear the direct order hidden inside them, he knew Jack wanted to close this case before retirement and also knew he would do anything in his power to achieve this.

‘I don’t plan on anything being leaked Jack. I’m the last person who needs that kind of information coming up’ he assured.

‘If the stories of the Golden Boy case were brought back to life, and not forgetting the mental issues you suffered……………well, let’s just say we would no longer be on the case!’ Jack flicked his smoke as the flame reached the butt, the wind tossed it far to his right. Nathan followed suit and watched as the small stick was blown away.

‘Don’t worry Jack…….nothing is going to damage this case….I promise.’

They headed back into the building, the door creaked to a close behind them.

Doctor Lime pulled his head back in through the window and closed it tight. The conversation he had