Little Red

and steady himself. He gripped the handle and turned it slowly, three…two…one…GO! The door swung outwards and he pushed past it, the torch from his phone illuminated parts of the steps. His eyes strained as the heavy black surrounded him, he couldn’t see anything that the light didn’t aim at…..the steps were taken steadily. The door lay open at the bottom, he approached the wall and leant against it. The torch popped around the door frame quickly, his eyes following it. He caught a glimpse of the den before he moved back into cover, again, he popped his head out to look. He decided it was clear and moved in, keeping his body low. The room was abandoned, he stood as the light landed upon the long cabinet. He scanned the objects upon it. His heart sunk when he came across the glass jars, their contents lay dead in the murky water. He searched the room, the painted walls coming to life under his guide.

‘Jesus’ his eyes met the chair. The blood lay in a solid pool underneath it, the spray from a strike clung to the wall. It hit him harder than he had expected, he gazed upon the red stuff, it belonged to his daughter. He knelt down and placed his fingers into the puddle, it was cold. He stood, pushing himself onwards. The Polaroid pictures were found upon the shelf, he removed them and looked over them, his stomach tightened and a surge of rage pulsed through him. The torch was projected upon the camera and the map behind it. He moved closer to study the monsters plans. The pins cast small shadows upon the detail as the light hovered over them, the numbers placed upon the heads. He located number three, he knew straight away what the map was, the killers chosen victim locations and the places he would kill them. The yellow pin sat upon his house, Megan’s safe place. He searched for the red pin. The woods were approximately forty to fifty minutes away, he estimated the distance and time from the grid squares upon the map. The pin sat at the top left corner of the feature, this was place he would do it, the place the beast would take his daughter’s life. He made a note of the grid and typed it into his phone. The room fell dark as he left, his feet pounding upon the stairs as he ran for the door.

The engine started and the wheels spun as he turned back on himself and headed for the woods.

***

Nathan sat in the departure lounge awaiting the call for his flight, he was nervous, not about flying, he was surprisingly calm about that. He was anxious to know what the outcome of the address was, he itched to call Richard, but decided against it, the good byes had been said and stronger than planned. He had fifteen minutes to kill, his eyes moving from his phone to the television screen above him, the flight numbers and gates flashing when called.

The phone vibrated and he nearly dropped it, he held it as steady as possible, the caller’s name displayed on the screen.

‘Hello, tell me its good news?’

‘Fucking right it is, I’ve been in the cunts house, freaky. I got the location of the wood where he’s taken Megan!’.

‘My god……this is it Richard, everything we’ve worked for!’

‘Do me a favour, give Jack the address of the house, just wait half an hour or so mate, give me some space!’

‘Okay, cheers Richard, look, I hope she’s alright, I mean, I’m sure she is, but remember, as soon as it’s done you open that envelope and do as it says…..please!’

‘I will mate, half an hour yeah’

‘Roger pal…..good luck!’

The call was ended. Nathan stood, his placed his palms either side of his head and rubbed his face. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, to yell his excitement for all to hear, he couldn’t stand still………he had done it, with help, but his mind was at ease now, he just hoped that Richard got there in time.

***

The snow hammered down upon the windscreen, the wipers swaying frantically to fight the blizzard. The low thud would occur as the rubber blades caught a small build-up of the white stuff, the wiper bouncing over the lump and landing upon the glass. His face moved closer as to aid his sight, the headlights fought to guide the way. His foot pushed the pedal as far as it would go, the back end of the car slid as he followed the bends of the country roads. His head throbbed in his temple, his pulse surged with adrenalin and anger, he had little time and the weather was on the Wolf’s side.

***

The van pulled into the desired location, the wheels rolled slowly to a stop. The engine was killed but the keys remained in their home, the ignition still keeping the power alive in the vehicle. Russell climbed from his seat, the cool wind kissed his skin and he sucked a chest full of fresh air through his mouth and nose. He loved the calm stage, the relaxing atmosphere and privacy of his sacred place. The trees surrounded him, the whispers swirled between the audience of wooden giants, his god in the sky glowed behind the slow moving clouds. He retrieved his bag, the mask and glove secured inside. He walked to the rear of the vehicle, the ground crunching below him as his boots caused the snow to crumble. He lowered the bag to his side and pulled the zip open, an animal darted to a safe place beneath the foliage, he turned to spy on its hiding place. The peeking light from above displayed his becoming, the head of the creature he believed himself to be. The grey fur danced as the wind caught it, the teeth smiled to him, the grin offered a smile of appreciation to its friend.

***

Richard attempted to read the GPS system on his phone, the arrow displaying his position jumped every few seconds as the satellite reception was blocked. He neared the wood, knowing that the closer he got the more likely his signal would be lost. He studied the map whilst tackling the awkward route, the weather making it harder to steer. He was close, his heart pumped behind the bone frame that guarded it, his legs twitched as he moved a foot back and forth from the accelerator to the brake pedal, commanding the vehicle through the demanding environment.

***

The mask held a warmth which he welcomed, through the eyes of the beast he could see things more clear. The trees held a darkness only found in nightmares, the sky offered a temporary light, the eerie beams entered his location as if the moon were shining down upon him only. The glove slipped onto his hand, his fingers stretched into their homes, the blades glistened in his light. The back doors of the van were opened, the clunk of the handle echoed around him. His prey lay in the corner, his shadow cast upon her as he approached the girl. She came to, disorientated by the chemical he used to put her to sleep. She panicked, unaware of her location and how she got there. The beast stood before her, its grin was unwelcoming and the fear engulfed her. The free hand gripped her ankle and he dragged her fighting body to the cold ground, he stood over her, the power surging within.

He pulled the shaking girl to her bare feet, the snow nipped at her toes and she moved as if the floor were made of glass. He ushered her to the front of the vehicle, her path illuminated by the headlights, the mouth of the woods awaiting her attempt of freedom. His free and sat upon her shoulder, his eyes gazing toward the sky……… nearly there…..nearly………there!

***

Richard gripped the steering wheel as the vehicle spun to one side, the ground caused his wheels to slip, he lost control for a moment. The panic shot through him and he clenched the wheel in front of him, the phone fell to the floor. He left it, the image of the GPS picture lodged in his mind. He was approaching the woods. He could feel it in the pit of his stomach.