rning that she had been out? It had felt like a lifetime since then. She wouldn’t s

braided her wet locks into two tight braids and pulled on a grey knit beanie. The nights were growing co

th agape, and snoring loudly. Her long hair was unbound and flowed around the back of the chair like kelp in the ocean, swaying slight

’s heartbeat was Willow’s. The wind in the trees was the breath in her lungs. She belonged here.

boys just because she could. She kept to herself. Nothing had changed she realized. She had maybe one friend and she had moved a

favorite of the Vikings who brought us here on one of their voyages. We liked it so much, we stayed. There is more room to run here, to roam. D

rners of her eyes. She missed her mother dearly. It had been nearly twenty years since she was

. She stood before the gate of the Estates. Careful not to touch it or catch the attention of any

e rest of the house dark. She wondered, moodily, if he had brought that girl home with him

eone so evil

stened. She could only hear the rustling of the forest, no human sounds. She stood and brushed her hands on

eling the burn on her hip from this morning. She froze on the other side, glancing t

mpic gymnasts, Willow quickly scaled the fireplace and pulled herself onto his balcony. She pressed her bod

attoo against her ribcage. She buried her face in her hands, feeling stupid and

e staring at a picture of my family and I’ll leave.” She took a de

s a large bed, a dresser, a desk by the doors, and a bookcase. Three other doors lead from the room. She saw that there w

is face, the other in shadow. Her heart caught in her chest as she w

y would feel like, pr

the face and arms. His feet stumble over roots. His heart threatens to escape his chest as he pumps his legs h

he pushes himself to his feet and continues on. The forest is dark except the bright full moon shining above, mocking him as he falt

use with black shutters. He knows he has seen it somewhere before, but he cannot

asleep in, his cotton briefs and a thin tee shirt. His feet are covered in grass, they are cold and aching. If it was a dream, how was he able to fee

wolf stalks from the tree line, it’s back arched. It’s the large

ike them.” The wolf lunges, it’s

a cry, his han

st below him. Everything was as it should be. There were no shadows of murderous wolves or of anything aside from the n

ing until he went back to sleep. She tried to slow her breathing with a few deep breaths but all she was rewarded wit

t. She couldn’t imagine his face if he had caught her watching him like she was some

aused and listened, he had shut his door and latched it. Waiting for a beat before moving, she happened

nd peered in. It was a wolf head mounted about the fireplace, the words “Who’s afraid of the big bad wol

lf’s head burned into her brain. She mourned for whoever that had been, for the head has to b

She knew her grandmother wouldn’t. She would die here and be buried next to her husband

a stranger beneath their branches. The Brochades were terrible, awful people. All Red Hoods were. She

s eyes. She sneaked quietly back into the house. She felt as if she had been gone for hours but really it had only been two. Her gran

ng in, she kept hearing what G

ot lik