by Neo Edmund
“Look what you’ve done.” Ragnarök said. “Now we shall see how you deal with the others.”
Red’s mind was void of rational thought as she looked at Grenda and Dote. They were on the far end of the chamber, hands glowing brightly, and ready to strike. The world went into slow motion as Red dashed their way, dodging and leaping clear of their mystical attacks. She would destroy them both in only seconds, and there wasn’t a thing that could stop her.
All was lost until the voice of the first Red Riding spoke in Red’s mind, “You must let go of your rage. Once you fall down the path of darkness, there will be no turning back. Call on the power of the Alpha and you will see another path.”
True to her word, the Alpha that came before Red showed her an answer that she had not considered. As she soared over the wave of mystical energy, her eyes fixed on the glowing amulet around Grenda’s neck.
“I understand.”
Red hit the ground and dove, rolling back to her feet. Ethan was staggering toward her on his broken leg. He swung his axe with brutal force. She dodged the attack and tackled him to the floor. With both hands, she gripped the thick silver chain binding the amulet to his neck.
She tried with all of her might to snap it in two, but the spellcraft used to create it was too powerful. Her arms then began to glow with mystical power, giving her so much strength that it felt like she could have ripped a hole in the earth itself.
With a furious roar, she finally broke the chain.
In a single blink, Ethan’s eyes returned to normal. He abruptly fell to the floor, clutching his injured leg. “Red, what’s happening here?”
Red flung the broken amulet into the moon gate, hitting Ragnarök in the face. “I’m just about to stop evil from winning the night.”
“This is not over, Alpha!” Ragnarök roared.
Red looked at the clock. A full minute remained. “You’re right. I gotta work fast.”
Moving at inhuman speed, Red dashed over to Ash. He was still lying on the floor, clinging to his injured abdomen. He reached up and tried to stop Red as she grabbed the amulet around his neck. With a mighty pull, she ripped the chain off his throat.
“Red, I feel like I’m going to hurl,” Ash said.
“Hang tough, Ash. It’s almost over.”
Grenda fired a blast of black lightning as Red dashed toward Prince. He made a feeble attempt to stab her with his rapier. She bashed the weapon from his hands and twisted his arm around his back. With a quick yank, she ripped the amulet off his neck. Prince went limp and dropped to the floor.
“Just a little bit longer, Ragnarök,” said Red.
Armed with Prince’s rapier, Red dashed toward Dote and Grenda. They blasted searing blue flames her way. Red clawed up a wall and executed a spiraling somersault. She could feel the blazing heat of the flames as she soared across the chamber.
Red landed in front of Dote and thrust the rapier into her amulet, shattering it to dust. In a single continuous motion, she spun the blade around and destroyed the amulet around Grenda’s neck. Grenda and Dote collapsed to their knees, disoriented and gasping in exhaustion.
Red dropped the rapier and looked to the gate. “It’s over, Ragnarök. You’ve failed.”
The clock was counting down from 33 seconds.
“Well played, Alpha Huntress,” Wolfgang said from behind. Red turned just as he was approaching the Alpha Stone.
“Wolfgang, you’re alive.”
“You didn’t think a few scratches were going to take me out?”
Wolfgang picked up Red’s sword from the floor.
Red took a nervous gulp. “What are you doing?”
Wolfgang tapped the tip of the sword on the Alpha stone. “The power was supposed to be mine. I could bust this stone open and fight you for it right here and now.”
“Do it, Wolfgang. Do it now.” Ragnarök yelled. “It’s not too late to free me. Together, we can bring glory to the Helheim name.” Wolfgang placed a hand on the Alpha Stone. Its immense power flowed through his hand. “That’s just what my mother and father would want me to do.”
“Wolf Boy, please don’t do this,” Red begged.
“I’m only doing what has to be done.” Wolfgang raised the sword high above his head and slammed the blade into the Alpha Stone, smashing it into a thousand tiny glowing shards.
“Impossible.” Red felt the Alpha Power leaving her body. She watched in dread as a glowing vortex began to swirl above her head. “Destroy her and free me.” Ragnarök screeched out. “I only have seconds left.”
Red looked at Wolfgang with tear soaked eyes. “If this is what you want, I won’t stop you.”
Wolfgang pointed the sword at Red. “There’s only one thing I want from you.” He dropped the weapon and grabbed Red around the waist. He kissed her with all the love and passion he had in his heart.
Ragnarök roared. “You will suffer for this treachery, Wolfgang Helheim.”
The remaining seconds that the gate would stay open ticked away.
“Alpha Huntress, you will see me again.” An inferno of flames consumed Ragnarök and sucked him back into his lunar prison.
The vortex around the gate faded away.
Wolfgang stepped back as the Alpha Power swirled around Red. When it entered her body, her eyes ignited with a blaze of glowing energy that lit the chamber. She let out a furious howl so loud it rattled the walls.
Then, in a flash, it was all over.
Wolfgang gazed into Red’s eyes. “You did it, Red Riding. With the Alpha Stone destroyed, nobody can ever try to take the power from you again.”
Red placed a loving hand on Wolfgang’s face. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Wolfgang of the Riding Clan. You’ve brought great honor to your name.”
Gazing into his eyes, Red recalled that she had yet to understand the strange connection that trailed all the way back to their childhood. She turned to see Grenda, Ethan, Ash, and Dote were smiling at her. They were bruised and beaten, but very much alive. One after another, they kneeled down and bowed their heads in respect.
Red stood tall and proud. “I thank you all for your valiant courage. We have won the night, but the real war has yet to even begin.”
They all looked up to the clock, which was now at—
4 YEARS /11 MONTHS / 364 DAYS
23 HOURS / 57 MINUTES / 9 SECONDS
“We can worry about that another day," Grenda said. “I think it’s time for a big ol’ group hug.”
Red embraced her friends and family in love and victory. It was by far the finest moment of her life. One that she believed, without a doubt, was all real. There was such a thing as a perfect day, and she was living it in all its glory.
Prince stumbled over and joined the group, alive and looking quite bewildered. “Did I miss anything important?”
“My pretty man!” Dote shrieked with joy and kissed Prince quite affectionately.
Red turned and placed a hand on the moonstone marked II Skoll and Hati. She could feel a strange vibration that told her two lunar deities would soon arrive in Wayward. They would unleash chaos the likes of which Red couldn’t begin to imagine. With Ragnarök still alive and the final fate of Ice Seether unclear, she would need to embark upon a quest to locate the true Omega Gem.
“I’m ready to face it all,” She said, straightening with confidence.
While the path ahead was paved with uncertainty, Red knew that no matter how perilous the journey would become, she would always have the love and strength of her clan of family and friends to help her through the darkest of hours. With them by her side, she would stand tall and proud as the High Protector of Wayward Woods, the Alpha Huntress forever known as Red Riding.
THE END
To Be Continued
A Tale of Red Riding
Fate of the Big Bad Wolf
Book 2
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Riding Hood