canines & fabric [chapter 2]

     “Blanchette!”

    At the sound of her name, the said Red Riding Hood looked up from the tray of cookies. She let out a smile at the sight of Uncle Stoneheart, a rather muscular old man who would always flex his muscles and explain how he was incredibly skilled with smithing. If anyone wishes to see a real dwarf, then Stoneheart will be the perfect man to look at. With his braided beard and short but muscular build, Stoneheart was obviously a dwarf (though he was unlike those funny seven dwarves who were always following Snow White).

    “Good morning, Uncle Stoneheart.” Blanchette pointed at the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies on the tray. “I just finished baking some cookies. Come in and have some, it's on the house. Fresh and warm.”

    “Seriously? You're a kind lady if I do say so myself.” 

    Stoneheart let out a loud cackle, never shy over his own saliva flying out of his mouth. He didn't shy away from those free cookies and gobbled everything up. Blanchette was never surprised to see Stoneheart eating more than a portion for himself, considering how she knew him very well. 

    “So why are you here today? You would never come in here giving me a visit because you would be too busy dating Aunty Sam.” At the mention of Sam, Stoneheart’s face erupted in scarlet which didn't go unnoticed by her. Blanchette chuckled. “The Red Riding Hood’s bakery is always open for you but if you keep coming in without buying anything, that will make me really disappointed.”

    “Geez! Does our friendship revolve around money?”

    “Well, of course not.”

    “Then do me a favour, young lass.”

    Blanchette rolled her eyes. “If you keep asking me favours every single time you step into my bakery, I am going to tell Aunty Sam about how you're always pestering me.”

    Stoneheart immediately paled, this old man was certainly easy to read. “Come on, Blanchette. This is just a quick favour. I would do it myself if I could, but I can't—”

    “Because you have a plan with Aunty Sam?”

    “...Yes.”

    “Of course, I’m not surprised anymore.” Blanchette smiled out of amusement, finding it endearing to see the old Stoneheart having an innocent crush. “So, what did you want me to do?”

    “Here.”

    Stoneheart handed Blanchette a sheathed dagger. The leather sheath was a common item to be found in an antique shop perhaps but once Blanchette unsheathed it, she stared at the silver dagger in awe. The design was incredibly detailed as even the smallest carving was able to be done perfectly by Stoneheart and along with the small ruby embedded in the handle, Blanchette was certain that the dagger was priceless. The blade was sharp, able to rival a beast’s claws and it was so clean that Blanchette could see her own brown eyes staring back at her.

    “I need you to deliver it to someone.”

    “Did you make this?”

    “Aye! A dwarf is meant to smith weapons. This is nothing compared to what I've done in the past. Still can't believe that centuries have passed, and dwarves nowadays are no good at handling fire.” Stoneheart shook his head to get his mind out of the gutter. “Anyway, I need you to deliver that to the Big Bad Wolf.”

    Blanchette felt her entire soul crushed in shock.

    “What? Zeke? Why would he order a dagger from you when he is strong enough to send a whole building into chaos. Besides, is this made out of pure silver?” Blanchette frowned. “Shifters can't really touch pure silver, no?”

    “That's what I said, and I suggested iron or steel, but that boy insisted on pure silver. He doesn't even want me to mix other materials in to weaken the power. I don't know what he's going to do with it but if he is confident that he can use it, then so be it. My task is only to smith what my client wants.”

    “Can't you find someone else to deliver this to him? You know my situation and him is—”

    “But Persinette mentioned to ask you.”

    “Ugh, of course.”

    “Persinette said something about making it right and mending the relationship. So this is a good chance, no? Look, lass, I know a lover’s quarrel is hard to deal with but isn't communication important in a relationship nowadays?” 

    If it wasn't for Stoneheart’s cheeky grin, Blanchette would have gotten flustered and desperately tried to explain the situation to him. Despite his age and what he had been through for his story, Stoneheart would occasionally tease people. Perhaps he found it amusing but for Blanchette, all she could do was to roll her eyes.

    “Stop playing around or I’ll kick you out of my shop.”

    “Harsh. Anyway, you'll do it for me, won't you?”

    Blanchette smiled. “Leave it to me.”

    And so, the journey of Red Riding Hood began.

    Blanchette fiddled with Zeke’s business card in her hands to read the address, never did she think that she would actually use it. All Blanchette assumed was that she would keep it inside her purse, eventually long and forgotten. The young Red Riding Hood would have never thought to head to the wolf’s mouth willingly, especially after what had happened. She could hear her grandmother's voice nagging her from the back of her brain, lecturing and yelling at her for heading into her grave so early at a young age out of worry.

    “Let's see. It's just a few streets down.”

    Little did Red Riding Hood know that someone had been eyeing her from the darkness, the evil intention was rooted in their heart. Blanchette took a few steps forward and if it wasn't for her to suddenly pause in the middle of the pavement to keep the card away, blood would have stained her pretty red coat. She let out a yelp when something dropped down in front of her from the old apartment. The pot shattered into pieces and soil scattered all over the ground, the flowers no longer looked lively anymore. If her luck had been bad, the soil would be in a bath full of her blood. Blanchette quickly looked up to the apartment, unaware that she was being surrounded by curious passersby, and found nothing.

    Not even a ghost.

    She doubted herself for being so unlucky but really, Blanchette was truly wondering if she was that unlucky. In deep thoughts, she studied the white lilies. They reminded her of the same bouquet of flowers she had brought to her father’s funeral. White in contrast to the small black dress she once wore when she was younger. Something about the way those petals were curling downwards and the lifelessness in those dark green leaves churned Blanchette’s stomach. Blanchette wasn’t an idiot. She knew that someone must have thrown the pot of flowers down from above, nobody would be dumb enough to put a big pot on a ledge.

    “Hey, are you okay?” A passer-by asked.

    Without batting eyes towards the passersby nor the flowers any longer, she ran.

    For the first time in a while, the Red Riding Hood bolted as if she was being chased by a beast. She didn't even run when she saw the Big Bad Wolf and she didn't even try to fight back when she was almost nearing the wolf’s mouth. Yet right now, she was running and she wasn't sure what she was running away from. Funny thing was that she was running to the Big Bad Wolf now, something that Blanchette would never expect herself to do. The thought of putting so much effort into her jelly-like legs and the thought of her running away from something frightened Blanchette Red.

    She took a huge gasp of air as she stood among the pedestrians, eyes darting over to the red pedestrian signal head. Blanchette wanted to laugh at herself, wondering why she had been sprinting like a maniac. Was it because of those white lilies that reminded her of a funeral? Or was it because she thought someone had purposely thrown the pot of flower towards her?  

    ‘Stop being ridiculous.’ Blanchette reminded herself. ‘Maybe you’re thinking too much.’

    But something inside the back of her brain was nagging her. Perhaps she wasn’t thinking too much. After all, there was a possibility of her being the next target of a serial killer— Blanchette blinked in realisation and her lips parted in shock. She stood on the pavement as her shoulders gradually grew heavier and heavier, to the point where Blanchette could no longer breathe properly. Pedestrians walked past her, left and right, and despite being pushed around like a rag doll, Blanchette’s poor brain could only focus on one thing.

    The detestable murder.

    The dead body under the raindrops.

    Her bright red raincoat which literally screamed out to the murderer.

    The cold sweat behind her nape grew colder. Surely, there was no way the killer could actually see her? The police officers mentioned that they couldn’t find anyone suspicious around and Blanchette decided to trust their words completely but of course, she couldn’t possibly forget the most important information. Around the area, there were various shops, ranging from hotels, bars, malls to nightclubs. The murderer could have hid somewhere inside. Blanchette paused her thoughts for a second, pondering onto the next question that bothered her. 

    How could the killer not get suspected after killing someone under the rain? Even if they weren’t coated with blood, surely it would have been a sign to see someone drenched in rain, just like her.

    As the pedestrian signal head turned red, exactly like the colour of her raincoat, she had to wait for the green light once again. A part of her was wondering why she was thinking so much about the murder case. She wasn’t a detective, never will be, and she doubted she had the characteristics of a detective. Blanchette wasn’t incredibly smart and she certainly wasn’t cool like the famous detective. She was just the regular Red Riding Hood, someone average who was just trying to live her own life.

    But if the case involved her life, shouldn’t she—

    “Huh?”

    Blanchette felt herself falling forward, the foreign warmth on her back suddenly pushed her onto the road. Her legs stumbled forward involuntarily, her eyes widening in shock as she hurriedly turned around. She caught a glimpse of the culprit— a scrawny man with a thin cloth covering his eyes, certainly making it harder to recognise him but at that moment, Blanchette was certain she could remember his face just from the look of his nose and thin lips.

    A car honked loudly at Blanchette, its screech blaring louder than her cry for help. She couldn’t control her body, not until she fell onto the harsh road but even so, it was already too late. The car was getting closer and closer, threatening to steal her life away. The last thing she could see was the front of the car with the logo shimmering from the sunlight before she closed her eyes out of fear.

    The loud crash gathered all of the pedestrians around, their attention shifting from the yellow car and the lady in red. Tyre marks were left behind as the vehicle swerved to the left and crashed into the traffic light which was now bent slightly. Blanchette let out the breath that she didn’t realise she was holding onto, just like how she was gripping onto her dear life. She swore the car was an inch away from her body as the tyre literally went over her red coat that was now filthy with the tyre prints.

    “What the fuck is wrong with you!?” The driver let out a scream, getting out of the car in rage as he balled his hands into fists. “Don’t you know how to look at the signals? How are you going to compensate for the damages caused by you— Hey! You little— How can you run away after causing this huge traffic, you bastard!”

    Blanchette needed to see a familiar face, someone who wasn’t trying to secretly end her life just because she found a crime scene. She ran and even when her lungs were crying for air, Blanchette didn’t stop nor did she falter. When she arrived at where Zeke the Wolf was supposed to be, she did not hesitate to enter. Venator didn't seem to have a proper headquarters like a police station, all they had was simply a small office in a building, probably rented as well. Blanchette glanced back, unable to erase the heat from someone's gaze from the back of her head. She hurriedly climbed up those creaking wooden stairs, each creak sending a jolt of shudder down her sweaty spine. When she caught a sight of the word VENATOR on the horrendous signboard, Blanchette frantically knocked onto the door.

    Knock, knock.

    But there was no response.

    Feeling the pressure getting to her, Blanchette took a deep breath and knocked once again, occasionally glancing down the stairs with a grimace. After the sixth knock, the door swung open and revealed a dishevelled Zeke. His hair was unkempt, strands sticking out here and there, and Blanchette immediately guessed that he was taking a quick nap before this. She knew she was right just from the way Zeke yawned.

    “I told you, we don't need it—”

    Stunned, Zeke stared at Blanchette in confusion.

    Expecting the Big Bad Wolf to slam the door shut in front of her face out of bewilderment, the Red Riding Hood quickly placed her foot in between the gap and leaned forward. Perplexed, Zeke stared into her dull eyes. He could catch the smell of the sweats sticking on the back of her neck and most importantly, Zeke could smell the fear on her. It reminded him of their first meeting, that moment when Zeke was about to bite onto her head. That fear of hers was fresh, perhaps intoxicating to the wrong people. 

    Blanchette didn’t change, not even the way she expressed her face in trepidation. 

    “Come on in.”

    And so the nervous Red Riding Hood finally placed her foot into the lair full of two beasts — the Big Bad Wolf and the Beast. The office was incredibly small, no doubt it couldn't fit two shifted beasts inside and she wondered how the place was still intact. From the sight of the creaking couch (with the cotton coming out due to a huge scratch) to the shedded fur in the corner of the office, even an idiot would know this place wasn't meant for a human to live in. Blanchette could catch the subtle smell of the beast which was carelessly washed over by the scented candles.

    “So you have a business here?” Zeke asked as he closed the door shut. “Have a seat. You want a drink?”

    Blanchette took a seat and just like how she sank into the couch, the realisation sank into her mind. She was in a room with Zeke, not even Beast was in sight. Just the two of them. Even so, she would still choose Zeke over a random stranger trying to kill her. With her life dangling on the line, what should she tell Zeke? Should she even tell Zeke in the first place? But who was Zeke in the first place for her to explain the horror in her life to him.

    He’s just the Big Bad Wolf and she’s just the Red Riding Hood.

    “I—” She hesitated. “Where's Beast? I've heard from Parsley that he is working together with you.”

    “Out right now. Red, any drink?”

    He had never called her by her first name, it had always been Red.

    Blanchette frowned from the way he mentioned her surname. “I— I'm fine. I'm just here to deliver this to you. Uncle Stoneheart told me to give this to you, he's busy right now to deliver it so he— Anyway, I did him a favour by coming here. He has a date with Aunty Sam and well, here I am. It's a silver dagger by the way, how are you going to use it? Don't tell me you're going to do something stupid with it.”

    “Red.”

    “What?”

    Zeke leaned against the kitchen counter which undeniably made the office even smaller than how it was supposed to be. The way he looked at her— no, the way he judged her with his eyes made Blanchette sink into the corner of the couch. He knew something. He always did, mainly because he’s the Big Bad Wolf.

    Most readers knew that the Big Bad Wolf was an observant beast through many, many, twisted fables even though the actual was slightly different. Just from a glimpse of Blanchette’s grandmother, he could remember the old lady’s appearance — round glasses, a nightcap, and a nightgown, all ready to head for bed. The fact that he was keen-eyed wasn't wrong. Indeed, Zeke could recall Blanchette’s grandmother’s face and even imitate her if he wanted to. So for Blanchette to hopelessly conceal her fear with her endless babble was pointless in front of Zeke’s eyes.

    “What happened?”

    Problem was, Blanchette Red knew very well that she couldn’t win against Zeke but she wasn’t willing to back down, especially not right now. Not when she was still debating with herself whether she should ask Zeke for advice. He was the right person to ask, no? He was practically cooperating with the police and he was suited for combat as per what Persinette had mentioned. Zeke the Wolf would know what to do if he was in her situation.

    But should she truly rely on him?

    “Nothing.”

    He crossed his arms and raised a brow. “Red. You know you’re lying.”

    “I know.”

    “Then just spill it out.”

    “It’s nothing that’s terrible.”

    Zeke would have laughed if Blanchette’s face wasn’t pale but he didn’t. Instead, he straightened himself and stood in front of her, his eyes burning a hole on her face. “Red, I don’t think you get it. You’re afraid of something. Or someone. I can practically smell the fear on you and,” He glanced at her red coat with a smudge of a tyre mark. “Your coat is dirty. Did something happen to you with a car?”

    “Look, I just don’t know if I should tell you. Because—” She pursed her lips.

    “Because I am the Big Bad Wolf?”

    She glared at him. “No. Because you’re not someone to me.”

    Zeke let out a soft sigh and an awkward silence soon followed after that. He didn’t let it get to his mind and poured Blanchette a cup of water. “Then treat this as my job. It is my job to help the police, yes. It is also my job to protect people like you from danger. Here, drink it and tell me from the very beginning. What happened that night?”

    Blanchette stared at the clear water with discomfort. “I saw a dead body. I didn’t see the face but I found it when I was out at night. Called the police as I stood around the crime scene so maybe the murderer saw me there. And then, he just decided to make me the next target. He dropped a pot of flowers onto me and then he pushed me to the road. It has to be the killer, I can’t think of anyone else with a reason to kill me. But something doesn’t make sense. I didn’t even see the killer’s face so why would he purposely hunt me down and risk showing his face? That would also only cause the police to draw a conclusion that it’s the same killer. Wouldn’t that be bad for him?”

    Zeke could feel his heart thumping against his chest.

    “Him?”

    “I saw his face when he tried to push him onto the road.”

    “I don’t know the reason why he’s targeting you but, we can assume for now that it’s the killer from that night.” Zeke mentioned, oddly calm despite hearing the unexpected news from Blanchette. Perhaps he knew it all along by guessing and simply wanted those words to leave her mouth. He took out his phone and began typing some messages to his partner. “I will submit a report to the police station for you. Beast can handle it easily since Beauty is in the headquarters. Anyway, you wouldn’t be safe anywhere alone as of right now.”

    “Well, I know that. I can’t do anything about it. Wait, what are you hinting at?”

    He grinned from ear to ear, canines greeting Blanchette. “How would you feel hiring a bodyguard?”

    “Bodyguard? Are you pointing at yourself? Oh, of course.”

    “I’m not doing this because of you only. It’s also because of the killer. If there’s a way to catch him, it’s definitely through you. He will show himself sooner or later in front of you but for now, we should look for clues.” Zeke took his leather jacket and swiftly donned it, not forgetting the black gloves that he would use for a crime scene. “Let’s go to where you saw the dead body. Right now.”

    “Whoa, hold on. You’re going too fast here. Is this even legal?”

    The answer was probably no but Zeke the Wolf wasn’t someone who would adhere to the laws in the first place. If his way of justice went against the laws, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Zeke tearing the laws apart with his claws and canines. The layer hidden beneath Zeke’s proclaimed justice was invisible to many eyes but not to Blanchette. She knew he was doing this for the excitement, for the adrenaline that was pumped throughout his bloodstream. Zeke adored— he was addicted to getting his brain all chaotic with thoughts and assumptions.

    Zeke the Wolf, the Big Bad Wolf, was an addict to mystery especially when it involved a murder.

    “You.. Are you enjoying this?”

    Zeke, despite not smiling, was unable to hide the curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “Perhaps.”

    Blanchette didn’t know what to say. “Are you a mystery geek?”

    He raised his brow in confusion but he didn’t bat an eye at her question, perhaps he had gotten the same question from everyone else as well. “If that answer could get you to come and show me the crime scene, then sure.”

    Blanchette sat still, clasping her clammy hands together as she stared at the Big Bad Wolf. She knew Persinette wouldn’t hesitate to plead her to accept Zeke’s help but Blanchette knew Zeke wasn’t someone who would lend his help, just because he adored justice. He was a complicated man. Sure, he liked the idea of justice and anyone with good intentions would instantly lend their hand to help Blanchette. But Zeke was different. The main reason why he chose to help her was because of the adrenaline, the kick that he had been seeking out for years. It wasn’t because he was a so-called good person, that was probably the reason why he was working with Venator.

    Blanchette couldn’t help but to wonder if it was right to seek help from Zeke. 

    “How much?”

    Zeke tilted his head to the side. “There’s no need for that, you know.”

    “Because the adrenaline is enough for you?” She let out a heavy sigh as she stood up, her hand outstretched for a quick handshake. There was a part of her that wasn’t willing to willingly accept his help but Blanchette valued her life. She had to do this. “Fine, I will… work with you. But I’m not going to be doing anything dangerous. If you wish to do that, then you can do it alone. As you can see, unlike you, I don’t have gifts suited for combat.”

    Zeke smiled and shook her head. “I will deal with most of the things, don’t worry.”

༺═──────────────═༻

    “It’s somewhere around here.” 

    Blanchette mentioned as she stood in the middle of the alleyway, where the body was supposedly laying dead at. The smell of blood was gone, covered with the earthy scent left after the rain but perhaps to Zeke, the smell was still there. She could tell that Zeke was scrutinising every inch of the area, from the smell to the fine details left over on the ground. The yellow tapes left by the police were useless against Zeke who tore them into pieces, eagerly circling around the area.

    “You said you don’t know the victim?”

    She shook her head. “No.”

    “I will get the information from Beast then.” He took out his phone once again. “ Can you describe the man’s face again? I will check for someone similar in the database. I bet Beast could somehow get his hands onto it.”

    “He was wearing a cloth over his eyes so I couldn’t really describe his entire appearance. But his lips are thin and slightly chapped. Nose is slightly high and pretty prominent upon the first glance. I think I can recognise him once more if I get the chance to see him.” Blanchette inched closer to Zeke subconsciously, unaware that she was starting to feel uncomfortable around the crime scene. “Say, the patrolling officers said that they couldn’t find anyone suspicious around the area that night so do you think he could be hiding somewhere?”

    “That’s right. That’s why we’re going to the nightclub around here.” 

    “Sorry, what?”

    “It was raining that night, no? A nightclub is crowded with people who are either high on drugs or alcohol, nobody would bat an eye at someone who is drenched from the rain. There’s a high probability that he chose to be drenched in rain to wash away the blood. I can’t say without proper pictures but for now, I’m guessing that there’s a possibility of the murderer getting dirty from the blood.”

    “But we’re going to the nightclub now?”

    He cocked his eyebrow. “Of course. Why would we waste our time?

    “Blanchette!”

    At the sound of her name, the said Red Riding Hood looked up from the tray of cookies. She let out a smile at the sight of Uncle Stoneheart, a rather muscular old man who would always flex his muscles and explain how he was incredibly skilled with smithing. If anyone wishes to see a real dwarf, then Stoneheart will be the perfect man to look at. With his braided beard and short but muscular build,  Stoneheart was obviously a dwarf (though he was unlike those funny seven dwarves who were always following Snow White).

    “Good morning, Uncle Stoneheart.” Blanchette pointed at the fresh baked chocolate chip cookies on the tray. “I just finished baking some cookies. Come in and have some, it's on the house. Fresh and warm.”

    “Seriously? You're a kind lady if I do say so myself.” 

    Stoneheart let out a loud cackle, never shy over his own saliva flying out of his mouth. He didn't shy away from those free cookies and gobbled everything up. Blanchette was never surprised to see Stoneheart eating more than a portion for himself, considering how she knew him very well. 

    “So why are you here today? You would never come in here giving me a visit because you would be too busy dating Aunty Sam.” At the mention of Sam, Stoneheart’s face erupted in scarlet which didn't go unnoticed by her. Blanchette chuckled. “The Red Riding Hood’s bakery is always open for you but if you keep coming in without buying anything, that would make me really disappointed.”

    “Geez! Does our friendship revolve around money?”

    “Well, of course not.”

    “Then do me a favour, young lass.”

    Blanchette rolled her eyes. “If you keep asking me favours every single time you step into my bakery, I am going to tell Aunty Sam about how you're always pestering me.”

    Stoneheart immediately paled, this old man was certainly easy to read. “Come on, Blanchette. This is just a quick favour. I would do it myself if I could but I can't—”

    “Because you have a plan with Aunty Sam?”

    “...Yes.”

    “Of course, I’m not surprised anymore.” Blanchette smiled out of amusement, finding it endearing to see the old Stoneheart having an innocent crush. “So, what did you want me to do?”

    “Here.”

    Stoneheart handed Blanchette a sheathed dagger. The leather sheath was a common item to be found in an antique shop perhaps but once Blanchette unsheathed it, she stared at the silver dagger in awe. The design was incredibly detailed as even the smallest carving was able to be done perfectly by Stoneheart and along with the small ruby embedded in the handle, Blanchette was certain that the dagger was priceless. The blade was sharp, able to rival a beast’s claws and it was so clean that Blanchette could see her own brown eyes staring back at her.

    “I need you to deliver it to someone.”

    “Did you make this?”

    “Aye! A dwarf is meant to smith weapons. This is nothing compared to what I've done in the past. Still can't believe that centuries have passed and dwarves nowadays are no good at handling fire.” Stoneheart shook his head to get his mind out of the gutter. “Anyway, I need you to deliver that to the Big Bad Wolf.”

    Blanchette felt her entire soul crushed in shock.

    “What? Zeke? Why would he order a dagger from you when he is strong enough to send a whole building into chaos. Besides, is this made out of pure silver?” Blanchette frowned. “Shifters can't really touch pure silver, no?”

    “That's what I said and I suggested iron or steel but that boy insisted on pure silver. He doesn't even want me to mix other materials in to weaken the power. I don't know what he's going to do with it but if he is confident that he can use it, then so be it. My task is only to smith what my client wants.”

    “Can't you find someone else to deliver this to him? You know my situation and him is—”

    “But Persinette mentioned to ask you.”

    “Ugh, of course.”

    “Persinette said something about making it right and mending the relationship. So this is a good chance, no? Look, lass, I know a lover’s quarrel is hard to deal with but isn't communication important in a relationship nowadays?” 

    If it wasn't for Stoneheart’s cheeky grin, Blanchette would have gotten flustered and desperately tried to explain the situation to him. Despite his age and what he had been through for his story, Stoneheart would occasionally tease people. Perhaps he found it amusing but for Blanchette, all she could do was to roll her eyes.

    “Stop playing around or I’ll kick you out of my shop.”

    “Harsh. Anyway, you'll do it for me, won't you?”

    Blanchette smiled. “Leave it to me.”

    And so, the journey of Red Riding Hood began.

    Blanchette fiddled with Zeke’s business card in her hands to read the address, never did she think that she would actually use it. All Blanchette assumed was that she would keep it inside her purse, eventually long and forgotten. The young Red Riding Hood would have never thought to head to the wolf’s mouth willingly, especially after what had happened. She could hear her grandmother's voice nagging her from the back of her brain, lecturing and yelling at her for heading into her grave so early at a young age out of worry.

    “Let's see. It's just a few streets down.”

    Little did Red Riding Hood know that someone had been eyeing her from the darkness, the evil intention was rooted in their heart. Blanchette took a few steps forward and if it wasn't for her to suddenly pause in the middle of the pavement to keep the card away, blood would have stained her pretty red coat. She let out a yelp when something dropped down in front of her from the old apartment. The pot shattered into pieces and soil scattered all over the ground, the flowers no longer looked lively anymore. If her luck had been bad, the soil would be in a bath full of her blood. Blanchette quickly looked up to the apartment, unaware that she was being surrounded by curious passersby, and found nothing.

    Not even a ghost.

    She doubted herself for being so unlucky but really, Blanchette was truly wondering if she was that unlucky. In deep thoughts, she studied the white lilies. They reminded her of the same bouquet of flowers she had brought to her father’s funeral. White in contrast to the small black dress she once wore when she was younger. Something about the way those petals were curling downwards and the lifelessness in those dark green leaves churned Blanchette’s stomach. Blanchette wasn’t an idiot. She knew that someone must have thrown the pot of flowers down from above, nobody would be dumb enough to put a big pot on a ledge.

    “Hey, are you okay?” A passer-by asked.

    Without batting eyes towards the passersby nor the flowers any longer, she ran.

    For the first time in a while, the Red Riding Hood bolted as if she was being chased by a beast. She didn't even run when she saw the Big Bad Wolf and she didn't even try to fight back when she was almost nearing the wolf’s mouth. Yet right now, she was running and she wasn't sure what she was running away from. Funny thing was that she was running to the Big Bad Wolf now, something that Blanchette would never expect herself to do. The thought of putting so much effort into her jelly-like legs and the thought of her running away from something frightened Blanchette Red.

    She took a huge gasp of air as she stood among the pedestrians, eyes darting over to the red pedestrian signal head. Blanchette wanted to laugh at herself, wondering why she had been sprinting like a maniac. Was it because of those white lilies that reminded her of a funeral? Or was it because she thought someone had purposely thrown the pot of flower towards her?  

    ‘Stop being ridiculous.’ Blanchette reminded herself. ‘Maybe you’re thinking too much.’

    But something inside the back of her brain was nagging her. Perhaps she wasn’t thinking too much. After all, there was a possibility of her being the next target of a serial killer— Blanchette blinked in realisation and her lips parted in shock. She stood on the pavement as her shoulders gradually grew heavier and heavier, to the point where Blanchette could no longer breathe properly. Pedestrians walked past her, left and right, and despite being pushed around like a rag doll, Blanchette’s poor brain could only focus on one thing.

    The detestable murder.

    The dead body under the raindrops.

    Her bright red raincoat which literally screamed out to the murderer.

    The cold sweat behind her nape grew colder. Surely, there was no way the killer could actually see her? The police officers mentioned that they couldn’t find anyone suspicious around and Blanchette decided to trust their words completely but of course, she couldn’t possibly forget the most important information. Around the area, there were various shops, ranging from hotels, bars, malls to nightclubs. The murderer could have hid somewhere inside. Blanchette paused her thoughts for a second, pondering onto the next question that bothered her. 

    How could the killer not get suspected after killing someone under the rain? Even if they weren’t coated with blood, surely it would have been a sign to see someone drenched in rain, just like her.

    As the pedestrian signal head turned red, exactly like the colour of her raincoat, she had to wait for the green light once again. A part of her was wondering why she was thinking so much about the murder case. She wasn’t a detective, never will be, and she doubted she had the characteristics of a detective. Blanchette wasn’t incredibly smart and she certainly wasn’t cool like the famous detective. She was just the regular Red Riding Hood, someone average who was just trying to live her own life.

    But if the case involved her life, shouldn’t she—

    “Huh?”

    Blanchette felt herself falling forward, the foreign warmth on her back suddenly pushed her onto the road. Her legs stumbled forward involuntarily, her eyes widening in shock as she hurriedly turned around. She caught a glimpse of the culprit— a scrawny man with a thin cloth covering his eyes, certainly making it harder to recognise him but at that moment, Blanchette was certain she could remember his face just from the look of his nose and thin lips.

    A car honked loudly at Blanchette, its screech blaring louder than her cry for help. She couldn’t control her body, not until she fell onto the harsh road but even so, it was already too late. The car was getting closer and closer, threatening to steal her life away. The last thing she could see was the front of the car with the logo shimmering from the sunlight before she closed her eyes out of fear.

    The loud crash gathered all of the pedestrians around, their attention shifting from the yellow car and the lady in red. Tyre marks were left behind as the vehicle swerved to the left and crashed into the traffic light which was now bent slightly. Blanchette let out the breath that she didn’t realise she was holding onto, just like how she was gripping onto her dear life. She swore the car was an inch away from her body as the tyre literally went over her red coat that was now filthy with the tyre prints.

    “What the fuck is wrong with you!?” The driver let out a scream, getting out of the car in rage as he balled his hands into fists. “Don’t you know how to look at the signals? How are you going to compensate for the damages caused by you— Hey! You little— How can you run away after causing this huge traffic, you bastard!”

    Blanchette needed to see a familiar face, someone who wasn’t trying to secretly end her life just because she found a crime scene. She ran and even when her lungs were crying for air, Blanchette didn’t stop nor did she falter. When she arrived at where Zeke the Wolf was supposed to be, she did not hesitate to enter. Venator didn't seem to have a proper headquarters like a police station, all they had was simply a small office in a building, probably rented as well. Blanchette glanced back, unable to erase the heat from someone's gaze from the back of her head. She hurriedly climbed up those creaking wooden stairs, each creak sending a jolt of shudder down her sweaty spine. When she caught a sight of the word VENATOR on the horrendous signboard, Blanchette frantically knocked onto the door.

    Knock, knock.

    But there was no response.

    Feeling the pressure getting to her, Blanchette took a deep breath and knocked once again, occasionally glancing down the stairs with a grimace. After the sixth knock, the door swung open and revealed a dishevelled Zeke. His hair was unkempt, strands sticking out here and there, and Blanchette immediately guessed that he was taking a quick nap before this. She knew she was right just from the way Zeke yawned.

    “I told you, we don't need it—”

    Stunned, Zeke stared at Blanchette in confusion.

    Expecting the Big Bad Wolf to slam the door shut in front of her face out of bewilderment, the Red Riding Hood quickly placed her foot in between the gap and leaned forward. Perplexed, Zeke stared into her dull eyes. He could catch the smell of the sweats sticking on the back of her neck and most importantly, Zeke could smell the fear on her. It reminded him of their first meeting, that moment when Zeke was about to bite onto her head. That fear of hers was fresh, perhaps intoxicating to the wrong people. 

    Blanchette didn’t change, not even the way she expressed her face in trepidation. 

    “Come on in.”

    And so the nervous Red Riding Hood finally placed her foot into the lair full of two beasts — the Big Bad Wolf and the Beast. The office was incredibly small, no doubt it couldn't fit two shifted beasts inside and she wondered how the place was still intact. From the sight of the creaking couch (with the cotton coming out due to a huge scratch) to the shedded fur in the corner of the office, even an idiot would know this place wasn't meant for a human to live in. Blanchette could catch the subtle smell of the beast which was carelessly washed over by the scented candles.

    “So you have a business here?” Zeke asked as he closed the door shut. “Have a seat. You want a drink?”

    Blanchette took a seat and just like how she sank into the couch, the realisation sank into her mind. She was in a room with Zeke, not even Beast was in sight. Just the two of them. Even so, she would still choose Zeke over a random stranger trying to kill her. With her life dangling on the line, what should she tell Zeke? Should she even tell Zeke in the first place? But who was Zeke in the first place for her to explain the horror in her life to him.

    He’s just the Big Bad Wolf and she’s just the Red Riding Hood.

    “I—” She hesitated. “Where's Beast? I've heard from Parsley that he is working together with you.”

    “Out right now. Red, any drink?”

    He had never called her by her first name, it had always been Red.

    Blanchette frowned from the way he mentioned her surname. “I— I'm fine. I'm just here to deliver this to you. Uncle Stoneheart told me to give this to you, he's busy right now to deliver it so he— Anyway, I did him a favour by coming here. He has a date with Aunty Sam and well, here I am. It's a silver dagger by the way, how are you going to use it? Don't tell me you're going to do something stupid with it.”

    “Red.”

    “What?”

    Zeke leaned against the kitchen counter which undeniably made the office even smaller than how it was supposed to be. The way he looked at her— no, the way he judged her with his eyes made Blanchette sink into the corner of the couch. He knew something. He always did, mainly because he’s the Big Bad Wolf.

    Most readers knew that the Big Bad Wolf was an observant beast through many, many, twisted fables even though the actual was slightly different. Just from a glimpse of Blanchette’s grandmother, he could remember the old lady’s appearance — round glasses, a nightcap, and a nightgown, all ready to head for bed. The fact that he was keen-eyed wasn't wrong. Indeed, Zeke could recall Blanchette’s grandmother’s face and even imitate her if he wanted to. So for Blanchette to hopelessly conceal her fear with her endless babble was pointless in front of Zeke’s eyes.

    “What happened?”

    Problem was, Blanchette Red knew very well that she couldn’t win against Zeke but she wasn’t willing to back down, especially not right now. Not when she was still debating with herself whether she should ask Zeke for advice. He was the right person to ask, no? He was practically cooperating with the police and he was suited for combat as per what Persinette had mentioned. Zeke the Wolf would know what to do if he was in her situation.

    But should she truly rely on him?

    “Nothing.”

    He crossed his arms and raised a brow. “Red. You know you’re lying.”

    “I know.”

    “Then just spill it out.”

    “It’s nothing that’s terrible.”

    Zeke would have laughed if Blanchette’s face wasn’t pale but he didn’t. Instead, he straightened himself and stood in front of her, his eyes burning a hole on her face. “Red, I don’t think you get it. You’re afraid of something. Or someone. I can practically smell the fear on you and,” He glanced at her red coat with a smudge of a tyre mark. “Your coat is dirty. Did something happen to you with a car?”

    “Look, I just don’t know if I should tell you. Because—” She pursed her lips.

    “Because I am the Big Bad Wolf?”

    She glared at him. “No. Because you’re not someone to me.”

    Zeke let out a soft sigh and an awkward silence soon followed after that. He didn’t let it get to his mind and poured Blanchette a cup of water. “Then treat this as my job. It is my job to help the police, yes. It is also my job to protect people like you from danger. Here, drink it and tell me from the very beginning. What happened that night?”

    Blanchette stared at the clear water with discomfort. “I saw a dead body. I didn’t see the face but I found it when I was out at night. Called the police as I stood around the crime scene so maybe the murderer saw me there. And then, he just decided to make me the next target. He dropped a pot of flowers onto me and then he pushed me to the road. It has to be the killer, I can’t think of anyone else with a reason to kill me. But something doesn’t make sense. I didn’t even see the killer’s face so why would he purposely hunt me down and risk showing his face? That would also only cause the police to draw a conclusion that it’s the same killer. Wouldn’t that be bad for him?”

    Zeke could feel his heart thumping against his chest.

    “Him?”

    “I saw his face when he tried to push him onto the road.”

    “I don’t know the reason why he’s targeting you but, we can assume for now that it’s the killer from that night.” Zeke mentioned, oddly calm despite hearing the unexpected news from Blanchette. Perhaps he knew it all along by guessing and simply wanted those words to leave her mouth. He took out his phone and began typing some messages to his partner. “I will submit a report to the police station for you. Beast can handle it easily since Beauty is in the headquarters. Anyway, you wouldn’t be safe anywhere alone as of right now.”

    “Well, I know that. I can’t do anything about it. Wait, what are you hinting at?”

    He grinned from ear to ear, canines greeting Blanchette. “How would you feel hiring a bodyguard?”

    “Bodyguard? Are you pointing at yourself? Oh, of course.”

    “I’m not doing this because of you only. It’s also because of the killer. If there’s a way to catch him, it’s definitely through you. He will show himself sooner or later in front of you but for now, we should look for clues.” Zeke took his leather jacket and swiftly donned it, not forgetting the black gloves that he would use for a crime scene. “Let’s go to where you saw the dead body. Right now.”

    “Whoa, hold on. You’re going too fast here. Is this even legal?”

    The answer was probably no but Zeke the Wolf wasn’t someone who would adhere to the laws in the first place. If his way of justice went against the laws, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Zeke tearing the laws apart with his claws and canines. The layer hidden beneath Zeke’s proclaimed justice was invisible to many eyes but not to Blanchette. She knew he was doing this for the excitement, for the adrenaline that was pumped throughout his bloodstream. Zeke adored— he was addicted to getting his brain all chaotic with thoughts and assumptions.

    Zeke the Wolf, the Big Bad Wolf, was an addict to mystery especially when it involved a murder.

    “You.. Are you enjoying this?”

    Zeke, despite not smiling, was unable to hide the curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “Perhaps.”

    Blanchette didn’t know what to say. “Are you a mystery geek?”

    He raised his brow in confusion but he didn’t bat an eye at her question, perhaps he had gotten the same question from everyone else as well. “If that answer could get you to come and show me the crime scene, then sure.”

    Blanchette sat still, clasping her clammy hands together as she stared at the Big Bad Wolf. She knew Persinette wouldn’t hesitate to plead her to accept Zeke’s help but Blanchette knew Zeke wasn’t someone who would lend his help, just because he adored justice. He was a complicated man. Sure, he liked the idea of justice and anyone with good intentions would instantly lend their hand to help Blanchette. But Zeke was different. The main reason why he chose to help her was because of the adrenaline, the kick that he had been seeking out for years. It wasn’t because he was a so-called good person, that was probably the reason why he was working with Venator.

    Blanchette couldn’t help but to wonder if it was right to seek help from Zeke. 

    “How much?”

    Zeke tilted his head to the side. “There’s no need for that, you know.”

    “Because the adrenaline is enough for you?” She let out a heavy sigh as she stood up, her hand outstretched for a quick handshake. There was a part of her that wasn’t willing to willingly accept his help but Blanchette valued her life. She had to do this. “Fine, I will… work with you. But I’m not going to be doing anything dangerous. If you wish to do that, then you can do it alone. As you can see, unlike you, I don’t have gifts suited for combat.”

    Zeke smiled and shook her head. “I will deal with most of the things, don’t worry.”

༺═──────────────═༻

    “It’s somewhere around here.” 

    Blanchette mentioned as she stood in the middle of the alleyway, where the body was supposedly laying dead at. The smell of blood was gone, covered with the earthy scent left after the rain but perhaps to Zeke, the smell was still there. She could tell that Zeke was scrutinising every inch of the area, from the smell to the fine details left over on the ground. The yellow tapes left by the police were useless against Zeke who tore them into pieces, eagerly circling around the area.

    “You said you don’t know the victim?”

    She shook her head. “No.”

    “I will get the information from Beast then.” He took out his phone once again. “ Can you describe the man’s face again? I will check for someone similar in the database. I bet Beast could somehow get his hands onto it.”

    “He was wearing a cloth over his eyes so I couldn’t really describe his entire appearance. But his lips are thin and slightly chapped. Nose is slightly high and pretty prominent upon the first glance. I think I can recognise him once more if I get the chance to see him.” Blanchette inched closer to Zeke subconsciously, unaware that she was starting to feel uncomfortable around the crime scene. “Say, the patrolling officers said that they couldn’t find anyone suspicious around the area that night so do you think he could be hiding somewhere?”

    “That’s right. That’s why we’re going to the nightclub around here.” 

    “Sorry, what?”

    “It was raining that night, no? A nightclub is crowded with people who are either high on drugs or alcohol, nobody would bat an eye at someone who is drenched from the rain. There’s a high probability that he chose to be drenched in rain to wash away the blood. I can’t say without proper pictures but for now, I’m guessing that there’s a possibility of the murderer getting dirty from the blood.”

    “But we’re going to the nightclub now?”

    He cocked his eyebrow. “Of course. Why would we waste our time? Are you still holding onto the dagger I've requested?” When Blanchette nodded in response, he nodded back. "Good, keep it. I'm sure that Gretel wouldn't mind you using it for now."

"Wait. Why would I use it now? And Gretel was the one asking for this?"

"That's a story for another day, Red."