In a little house by the forest lived a little girl called little Red Riding Hood with her mother. The girl´s grandmother was very ill, and Little Red Riding Hood was sent through the forest with a basket to cheer the old woman up. This did not bother Little Red Riding Hood, for she had walked the path many times before.
She left early in the morning with the basket swinging on her arm. Gaily strolling through the woods, as the sun rose higher, Little Red Riding Hood spotted some flowers, not far away from the path. Remembering her promise to stay on the path, but just as quickly regarding it, Little Red Riding Hood looked thoughtfully on the flowers. Contemplating whether or not to pick the flowers, she encountered a ragged, wolf-like man, wearing only a filthy loincloth.
"Where are you off to, my pretty?" the man asked.
"I'm off to see my ill grandmother. But I was wondering if I should pick some flowers, as to cheer her up slightly." Little Red Riding Hood truthfully answered.
"Is she ill, poor dear? Then you must bring her some flowers. Pry, where does your grandmother live?" the Wolfman asked, producing a smiled that seemed to hurt quite a lot.
"In the cottage by the lake."
The Wolfman´s smile widened as he plotted his evil scheme.
"Then I must be going. And don't forget to collect the prettiest flowers for your dear granny."
Then he ran off, howling with delight. He reached the cottage with great speed, and even allowed himself to catch breath before knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" the old grandmother asked.
"It is me, Little Red Riding Hood." Wolfman lied with a sweet voice.
"Don't just stand there then, come in, child."
The Wolfman needed not be asked twice. Bursting the door open, he crashed in, slaying the old woman before she got the chance to scream.
Meanwhile, Little Red Riding Hood had searched further and further into the forest for the prettiest flowers in the woods. Eventually, she managed to find its likes, and was glad to return to her path again. She skipped along the path, happily singing. The singing drew the attention of a hunter nearby.
"This girl shouldn't be going 'round in the forest all by herself" he thought. "Not with that beast still on free foot"
He decided to keep an eye on the girl, and so he did, keeping a respectful distance. Some time later, Little Red Riding Hood reached her grandmother´s cottage.
She knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for an answer. It was glum in the cottage, much to dark to see anything clearly.
"Grandmother? Where are you?" the girl asked.
"Here in my bed." Came the answer.
Little Red Riding Hood squinted at the shape. She didn't recall her grandmother sounding quite like that, but then again it could have something to do with her illness.
When she approached, she could see her grandmother slightly better.
"Oh, granny! Such big eyes you have!" she cried.
"It's only so that I can see you better." The imposing Wolfman lied.
"But grandma! Such big ears you have!"
"It's only so that I can hear you better."
"Oh, grandmother. Such big teeth you have!"
"It's only so that I can EAT YOU better!" the Wolfman cried launching himself at the girl.
His claws dug deep into the soft, pale skin, causing the blood to gush out, slowly seeping into the wooden floor.
Outside the cottage stood the hunter, cursing under his breath.
Why, oh why hadn't he stopped the girl the moment he spotted the beast? Why?
He knew the tormented screams would follow him to the day of his death. Taking a deep breath before doing anything (oh, why didn't he do anything when he saw the beast trough the window?) he settled his thoughts on what he knew he had to do. Then he opened the door and launched himself at the still hungry beast.