The Last Grimm_Red's Hood

by H. L. Wampler

  “I’m going shopping, mom.”

  “Mmm,” she said without looking up.

  “I was abducted by aliens last night, and they implanted an embryo in my womb. Your first grandchild is going to be a human-alien hybrid.”

  She looked up at me and arched her eyebrows.

  “Just making sure you heard me.”

  “I heard.”

  “Okay, have fun with your book. Bye, mom.”

  She looked back down at her reading material.

  A woman of a thousand words. I thought while rolling my eyes.

  I quickly jumped in my car and headed down route fifty-one. I had no idea where I was going or what I wanted to wear. All I knew was that I had to get something sexy and new.

  As I passed by Rostraver Airport I noticed a streak of silver flash past my car. I quickly slammed on my breaks, thankful that the roads were deserted, and pulled onto the shoulder. I grabbed the axe out of my purse and ran through the snowy field looking for whatever it was I saw. I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea to go chasing things through fields, but my courage got the best of me. My heart thumped, and my stomach had moved to my throat. It was slowly dawning on me that this could be a bad idea.

  As I scanned the field I didn’t see anything moving.

  “I know you’re here! Come out!” I screamed.

  No answer except the howling wind.

  I spun around looking in every direction. Only snow swirled around in the wind. I turned to go back to my car when I felt a weight on my back that sent me flying forward. I landed face first in a snow bank and as I turned onto my back trying to breath a large silver paw pressed down on my chest. It was such a tremendous weight that what air I had managed to suck into my deflated lungs whooshed right back out. The paw wasn’t an ordinary paw; the damn thing was the size of my head. I stared up at a snarling snout. The hot, nasty breath blew against my face. I couldn’t take my eyes off the dangling drool that landed with a sickening splash onto my neck. The eyes were golden yellow, and there was a hairless scar going across the left eye which was slightly clouded over. I had to only guess it was blind, or at least partially blind in that eye.

  “Don’t move, girl.”

  “Y-you talk?”

  “Of course I do,” it snarled.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “The wolf from the story of course.”

  “What do you want?”

  “You.”

  “M-me?”

  “Yes, Grimm. You’re the last of your kind. The last that needs to go.”

  “You’re going to eat me, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, but not right now. The great queen forbids us from eating you before the battle.”

  “Us?”

  “Yes, those I created when I came here.”

  “You created them?”

  “Of course, you silly girl. The story only has one wolf in it.”

  “Who brought you out?”

  “The great queen.”

  I kept stretching my fingers out trying to reach the axe with remained just inches out of my grasp. I stretched as much as I could, but the wolf’s paw was too heavy.

  “Stop trying to get that little toy. It won’t do you any good. You can’t fight me.”

  “But Connor said…”

  “Connor? Humans don’t know about me.”

  “He’s the huntsman.”

  “The huntsman? He can’t do anything. I’ll do to him what I did to his father.” the beast's hot breath assaulted my face as he laughed.

  “You killed his father?”

  “Swallowed him in one bite,” the silver wolf snapped.

  I looked into his eyes, terror all over my face.

  “You’re scared. That’s good. You’re smart, and you know what’s coming,” he leaned in so that his snout was next to my ear, “I will have the pleasure of eating you.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I lay there motionless. I thought I was going to pee myself. The massive wolf pushed off against my chest and bound away. By time I got to my feet and looked around he was long gone. My legs were wobbly, and after taking a few steps I lurched forward and vomited. I gripped the axe, and forced my wobbly legs to carry my body to the car; which seemed like it was a million miles away. Why was it so far away?

  As I jumped into the driver seat I locked the doors and grabbed my phone.

  “What do you need, babe?”

  “I saw the wolf,” I said.

  “Where?”

  “By Rostraver Airport.”

  “What happened?”

  “I stopped my car and confronted it.”

  “You did what? Are you stupid?”

  I was taken aback by that, “Excuse me?”

  “Are you trying to kill yourself? Why would you confront one of the wolves by yourself?”

  “I had the axe.”

  “But you have no training, Abigail! How did you get away?”

  “It let me go.”

  “Why?”

  “He said the great queen ordered the pack to not hurt me until the battle.”

  “He said? The great queen?”

  "Yeah, it can talk. It was the weirdest thing ever," I said.

  “I guess she’s the great evil that’s here. Connor, only one wolf is a fairy tale.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, the silver wolf was brought here from the story and he turned people into those killing machines.”

  “That’s interesting.” he was quiet for a bit, “This is why I need to be with you. I need to protect you.”

  “He said you can’t.”

  “He said what?”

  “He said that he’ll eat you like he ate…” I let my voice trail off.

  “That bastard. Did he have a scar above his left eye?”

  “Yes.”

  “That was from me. The asshole must have forgotten that. Don’t worry. I will protect you. Nothing will hurt you, or eat you.”

  “Okay.”

  “Well go do what you were doing, and I’ll see you tonight. Be careful, please.”

  “I will. I’ll go home as soon as I’m finished doing what I have to do.”

  “Don’t confront any more wolves. And what exactly are you doing?”

  “I won’t and don’t worry. It’s a surprise.”

  I hung up the phone, and continued cautiously on my way to wherever it was I was going. I couldn’t help but cry. Since meeting Connor and being told about being the last Grimm I cry a lot. More than I usually do. In fact, I was becoming less and less independent, and turning more and more into a blubbering fool. I wanted to be around him more. I was not being myself, and I fully blamed Connor.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  I sat in the parking lot of the mall, gripping the steering wheel, just watching the people go from their cars to the doors. They had no idea what was going on in the world. They had their blinders on as they went about their lives. I almost felt bad for them. Almost. You couldn’t really blame them for their ignorance. They didn’t even know. When they grew up reading the fairy tales, were told that they were fake once they were adults, and that was it; real was real and fake was fake. That’s how I thought. I finally forced myself to get out of the car and faced the bitter cold. I hurried inside and into the closest store.

  As I stood at one of the many clothing racks I couldn’t help but kept looking over my shoulder. I was so scared that at any moment I’d see those golden eyes piercing my soul. Or see that snarling snout clamping down on my throat. I could not get my heart into shopping, which was unusual for me. I pushed one dress after the other around barely glancing at them. I finally gave up, and grabbed a knee-length black number in my size, and headed for the shoes.

  I hoped that shoe therapy would help calm my nerves. After all I was in a crowded mall. Nothing was going to attack me in a crowded location. I perused the shoe section searching for something that stuck out at me. Anything really. However, they all seemed to blend together in a sea of
blacks and whites with the occasional sequined pump. I stopped at the end of the wall of shoes. Sitting about half way up were a pair of bright red, satin pumps. They were a deep red with beautiful rhinestones on the toes. I grabbed the shoe and went in search of a sales associate to find a size eight for me.

  I sat on the little bench with a tiny nylon sock on while examining the shoe on my foot. They were perfect. I took my finds to the closest register, and waited to be checked out. I continued looking over my shoulder just waiting for something to attack me. Or at least chase me.

  “Are you alright, miss?” the sales clerk asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Hmm? Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “You sure? You seem kind of on edge,” she eyed me suspiciously.

  “Oh, I have a big date tonight. I want to make sure the boyfriend doesn’t see the new outfit.”

  “Okay.”

  I took a second to really look at the sales associate. Despite her having a high pitched voice, she wasn’t a young teenager. She was actually middle aged with obviously-dyed black hair. Her gray eyes flitted around, always watching people. She struck me as one of those types that had to survive on drama and the apparent drama here was catching shop lifters, or at least accusing someone of it. I handed over my credit card, and stood there biting my lip.

  “That’s some dress,” she said.

  “Yeah. I thought it was nice,” I mumbled.

  I took a quick peek at what she was wearing, a shirt that was too tight, and ill fitting. The buttons were straining to keep her bosom covered, and I could see the muffin top that her pants created popping through the bottom of the shirt. The woman was a hot mess.

  She gave me a snide smile, I grabbed my bag, and vacated the store before she could make another comment or ask another question.

  I kept the doors of my car locked and the windows up the entire way home. The only thing on the roads was the brown slush left over from the plow trucks. I was anxious to get home and get ready. I had very high hopes that Connor would at least be able to keep my mind off the wolf, and the impending death that was apparently coming my way.

  I couldn’t wait to get home. It seemed to take forever to get to my street. I looked around the yard like a paranoid psycho. When I did get to my room, I was happy for the solitude. I knew mom wouldn’t bother me, and I could take my time getting ready. Well, take my time as long as I was finished in an hour and a half. I hadn’t realized that I spent so much time shopping. I stared at the black dress and red shoes sitting on my bed. For not really paying attention to the dress, it was smoking hot. The back of it was cut out, and there were rhinestone accents around the waist. It would look amazing with the shoes I bought, and I didn’t even do it on purpose. I sat at my vanity, plugged in everything for my hai,r and pulled out my makeup. I had no idea what I was going to do. I sat there staring in the mirror. I had never been so nervous about anything. I wanted to look perfect for him. Weighing my options I turned to the straightener and curling iron. I went to town on my hair and face.

  Once I was satisfied I turned to my clothes. I hoped that the dress looked as good one me as it did sitting there.

  I heard the tale-tell sound of rocks under tires and ran to the window. Connor’s BMW was coming down the drive way. My heart fluttered a bit, and I quickly shoved some clothes into my black and blue messenger back. As a second thought, I tucked the silver axe in with the clothes. Instead of my regular clunky shoes, I grabbed my trail running sneakers.

  “Hello, Elaine. Is Abigail ready.”

  “Probably.”

  “Hi, Connor!” I smiled from the top of the stairs.

  “Abigail, you look amazing,” he said breathlessly as I descended the stairs.

  Even my mom smiled. As I grabbed my jacket, she hugged me. It was the first time in a long time that she just hugged me.

  “You look beautiful, honey,” she held me tighter, the soft, fleece blanket felt amazing around my back.

  “Thanks, mom.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she winked while walking back down the hall to the office.

  I laughed. That woman was something else. I paused in the doorway watching her walk down the hallway and to the office. I knew she was going to just sit at the desk reading all night. I worried that the wolf would somehow track down my scent, or have followed me. My thoughts immediately went to mom. I had no idea if she was going to be safe, or if I should even tell her. I couldn’t help but feel as though I was being super paranoid. She would be fine. She had to be fine.

  I did not have too much time to dwell on mom and her anti-social tendencies, because a pair of halogen headlights blinded me. I squinted and tried to see who had such ridiculously bright headlights.

  “Automatic starter. Sorry,” he smiled at me and extended his hand for me to take. The same surge of electric feeling ran through my body.

  Chapter Thirty

  Connor held the door open for me, and I was surprised as I slid into the passenger seat. It was heated up so my bum was roasty toasty. There was a familiar song playing softly, but I couldn’t remember the name of it. It was soft and soothing; just the right thing for such a stressful day. The car seemed quiet. I didn’t know what to say. I was actually nervous.

  “That is an amazing dress,” Connor said softly.

  “Thank you,” I blushed.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a black dress look so amazing before,” he reached over running his hand up and down my bare back.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself. You look amazing in blue; it really brings out your eyes.”

  “Mm hmm,” he smiled.

  “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Oh come on,” I begged.

  “Nope, not telling you.”

  I sat there pouting, hoping that would change his mind, but it didn’t. He was stubborn. I sat there staring out the window watching as the darkness of the suburbs changed to the bright lights of the city. Well, as bright as Pittsburgh got. At the light he made a right down Carson Street instead of going across the West End Bridge.

  “Station Square?”

  “Nope,” he smiled, “Put this on.”

  I took a black blind fold off him, “Really?”

  “Yes, really.”

  “Okay,” I slid it over my head and sat there.

  It felt weird sitting there blind. I tried telling where we were, but that wasn’t happening. I was lost.

  “So, do you know where you are?”

  “I have no idea,” I laughed.

  “Good. We’ll be there in about five minutes as long as there isn’t a lot of traffic.”

  “It is Saturday.”

  “I know. It’s a good thing I made reservations.”

  “Oh, fancy enough for reservations eh?”

  “You know it,” he grabbed my hand and squeezed.

  “I’m excited.”

  “I know. Your palms are sweaty.”

  I snagged my hand away and wiped it on my dress.

  “Don’t worry, I’m excited too.”

  “You are?” I turned my blind folded head towards him with a big smile.

  “Of course. It’s our first real date.”

  “I guess it is.”

  A few short minutes later the BMW was coming to a stop. I sat there waiting. I wasn’t sure if I should take the blind fold off or not. My answer came when my door was opened, and I felt Connor’s warm, soft hand take mine in his. He helped me onto the curb and took the blind fold off.

  “Overture?”

  “Ever been here?” he asked.

  “No, but I’ve heard amazing things about it!”

  “Well, I got us the best table in the house.”

  “I don’t know how you do it.”

  I took his arm and we went in. The hostess was tall, blonde, and gorgeous. She eyed up Connor and then gave me the stink eye. Apparently one person did not think I was his equivalent. She was probably right. I felt amazing, but
did I really match him?

  “Do I look okay?” I whispered to Connor.

  “You look absolutely amazing.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “The hostess gave me a dirty look. I thought, maybe I was under dressed or something was wrong with me.”

  “She’s jealous.”

  “Of what?”

  “You,” he smiled.

  “Oh,” I blushed and looked down.

  He pulled my seat out for me, and I got a bit of a better look at him in the dim light than I did in the dark car. He had on a tighter sky blue, button down shirt, and black slacks. The shirt brought out his amazing blue eyes, and accentuated his biceps and pectorals perfectly. His shaggy hair looked like he took gel and messed it up. My mouth must have dropped open because he started laughing.

  “Sorry,” I blushed again.

  “I’m the one who should be staring at you like that.”

  “Oh please, Connor. You look, just wow.”

  “Hi, I’m Candy, and I’ll be your waitress this evening. Can I interest either of you in a drink?”

  “I’ll do a Pinot Noir. You can choose the brand,” he smiled up at the waitress, “You know what, bring us a bottle to split. Does Pinot sound good?”

  “Perfect,” I said.

  “Okay,” the waitress said quietly.

  She left without even asking for my I.D.

  “How do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Get people to do what you want. She didn’t even ask for my I.D.”

  “Love, you don’t look under twenty-two.”

  “Oh, that’s good then.”

  We drank the wine, and nibbled on the bread for a good half hour. I didn’t even notice when our entrees arrived. I was so wrapped up in Connor.

  “Abigail.”

  “What?”

  “About what happened earlier, are you going to be okay when we do have to fight them?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be alright. I was scared, but I’ll be okay,” I swirled my wine around staring at it as it spun around the glass, “What are we going to do about the wolves?”

  “Fight them of course.”

  “We can’t kill them. At least none besides the silver one.”