Little Red

Author's Note: This is my rendition of Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red, or Akai Chiisai, is much more gothic and melancholy! I didn't come up with some of these ideas, I just mixed in a bunch that I have heard.

The story starts in a large house, where orphans work their lives away under a cruel and selfish landlord.

"You filthy rats! Do better next time! What do you think I'm giving you food for? Bed, now! No dinner for you tonight!" The landlord's eyes filled with anger as he watched a little boy, haggard and skeletal, make his way to his ragged cot. "And you! Did I tell you that you could stop and look around! Get back to work, all of you! I don't care if you do go hungry. It's less mouths for me to feed!"

In the corner of the room, a little girl swept away, cleaning every little nook. She didn't look up once from her work.

One night, when all the other children had gone to bed, she asked the landlord a question. "Sir, did I ever have a mother?"

"What? Would you really like to know?" A grim smile flashed across his face as the little girl shook her head. "Well, in a cottage not far from here lived a woman, a whore who had so many children, she couldn't take care of them all! She had to strive to work hard for the little brats that she had. Then, one day, the townsmen found out and stole all of the children away from her!" His smile lingered seeing the look of horror on her face. "And that's how I wound up with you! Besides, I couldn't leave you cold and hungry could I?" He laughed in her poor face, slapped her across the cheek, and sent her to bed.

That night she spent on her cot, crying. She couldn't bear not knowing or having her mother there. She had to get out of this place. She had to leave.

"I'm going to go far away from here!" She sat next to her friend.

"But Akai, how will you survive?" she asked, frightened.

"I don't know. I suppose mother will take care of me. Think about it! Me, finally getting to see my mother."

Her friend's look of worry, turned into a look of sadness. For she had lived all of her life without a mother as well. She didn't think it fair for someone else to have one when she didn't! "I'll get you some food for your journey", said the friend. She hurried off to tell the landlord about Akai's plan.

That night, Akai awoke late. She went to the closet, pulled out her red cloak, and tied it around her neck. She grabbed her basket of cheese and bread, and went over to her friends bedside. "I will miss you, San." She then turned to the window, which she opened. A strong gust of wind ruffled her auburn hair. She quickly swung her legs over the windowsill and climbed out onto the wooden roof. She hurried over to the side of the house, where a trellis stood, filled with sweet, red roses. Taking one last look at her window, she started to descend.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm and her basket fell to the ground. She looked up into the eyes of the landlord. "But how?" Thinking quickly, she grabbed a rose thorn and embedded it deep into his skin. He cried out in pain, and withdrew his bleeding hand. Akai dropped the rest of the way down, landing on the soft grass. She picked up her basket and hurried down the forest path.

It was dark, so after running far enough, she laid herself down in a clearing and slept until afternoon.

She awoke to the bright sun spilling into the clearing. After a quick meal, she started down the path, hoping to get there before nightfall.

On down the path, she came to a fork in the road. One path was of needles, the other of pins. Upon deciding which path she should take, she heard a rustling behind her. "W-Who's there?" she called. Then, a wolf jumped out from behind a large patch of bushes. Akai screamed and fell back.

The wolf approached the whimpering girl. "I am very sorry, Little Red. I didn't mean to give you such a fright. Honestly!" Seeing the kindness in him, she let him help her up.

"Thank you, sir," she said, brushing the leaves off her dress.

"Where is your destination, Little Red?"

"I am going to my mother's house, whom I've never before seen. She lives in a cottage at the end of the path. I brought this milk and cheese to give her. I hope she accepts it!"

"And what brings you to this fork in the road?"

"I was just deciding which path to take! I wonder if you could help me."

"Oh sure! I know just the cottage you are talking about! Now, if you take the path of needles that will lead you straight to it, but it is dreadfully long! The path of pins is a shortcut that I have used many times before."

"Why thank you sir, how can I ever repay you?"

"Well, if you could let me accompany you on the journey."

"Very well! I would be honoured to have your company!"

"Just let me run home down the path of needles. You run along. I'm sure I will be able to catch up to you." Akai agreed, and started on her way down the path of pins.

Having laughed at her for believing his lie, the wolf scurried down the path of needles, which was a shortcut to the mother's house.

~~~

He arrived sooner than Akai, and slaughtered the mother. He stuffed the flesh in the cupboard, and the blood in a jar.

~~~

"Goodness! This path seems so long! And the wolf hasn't shown up yet! I hope he isn't lost!" She continued down the path until she came to a small cottage with a thatched roof.

Overcome with joy, she ran and knocked on the door. "Mother! Mother!" she called. "It is I, Akai!"

A weary voice came from within, "Oh yes dear! I have been waiting for you to come! Come in, come in!"

Akai entered the small cottage and sat her basket down on a small table. "Mother, where are you?"

"I am in the bedroom. I have had a serious ailment and am bedridden." Hearing her start to come in, he quickly said, "Dear, you must be hungry! Take some meat from the cupboard."

She gratefully accepted this and took the meat from the cupboard. While she was eating it, a raven came in through the window and perched itself on the table. "Little Red, you are eating your mother's flesh!" it said.

"Silly raven. Shoo!" She shooed the raven away and finished the meat. "Mother, I'm thirsty! Do you have anything to drink?"

"Yes dear! Get some wine from the jar!"

Akai took the jar and drank from it. While she was drinking, another raven flew in through the window and perched itself on the table. "You are drinking your mother's blood!" it said.

"Silly raven! Shoo!" Again, she shooed the raven away.

Having drunk and eaten her mother, she tiptoed into the bedroom with the basket. "Mother, I brought you some bread and cheese!"

"Oh thank you dear!" She emerged from the blankets and took the basket. "Come closer dear! Mother wants to hug you."

Akai went up to the beside and looked at her mother. "Mother, what big eyes you have!"

"The better to see you with, my dear."

"Mother, what big ears you have!"

"The better to hear you with, my dear."

"Mother, what a big nose you have!"

"The better to smell your young scent with, my dear."

"Mother, what big hands you have!"

"The better to hold you with, my dear."

"Mother, what big teeth you have!"

Getting tired of her talk, he decided it was now or never. "The better to eat you with my dear!" He pounced upon her, and devoured her body.

No one answered Akai's cried for help. Besides, what could you expect from a lonely old woman?