Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I don't own Little Red Riding Hood by Brothers Grimm, either. Just some original characters.
Hi, everyone! Welcome to my new story! This one is based on my ultimate favorite fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood. There's really just something about that story. I've always wanted to make a fic that is sort of a re-imagining of fairy tales but I never figures out how. When I started watch OUAT last year, the inspiration continued but I could never find the right one. But then I saw this art of Arthur and Ariadne as Red and the wolf and it just hit me. I'm sure you've all seen it but it's posted in my profile if you're not familiar with it.
So this is my take of the Little Red Riding Hood story featuring Inception characters. This is also my first take in being a fantasy/mystery writer of some sort. I hope you all enjoy it. It won't be updated on a regular weekly basis like Twenty Steps but I can assure updates two to three times a month. I hope it doesn't discourage you. We all know how university is. :(
Anyways, this is beta'd by me so all mistakes are mine and I apologize for them. Now, on with the story!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!
The Gifts
"Once upon a time there was a dear little girl who was loved by everyone who looked at her, but most of all by her grandmother, and there was nothing that she would not have given to the child." –Little Red Riding Hood (Brothers Grimm, 1697)
Giving birth to a baby is always an exciting moment in life. In a village in the forest, a young lady is giving birth to a baby girl. Everyone in the village knows about it. It's a small place, everyone knows everyone and everyone's business is everyone's business. About half of the villagers are standing outside the house. Some are excited, some are frightened.
"Just a little more! Keep pushing! The baby's almost out!"
The lady on the bed screams as she tries to release her child. There are people around her who are tending to her needs, wiping her face with cloth and giving words of encouragement. Her husband is sitting quietly beside her.
"Just a little more," one says as they start to hear the baby crying, "you hear her? You hear your baby girl?"
The woman giving birth smiles a little. "Yes, yes, I can hear her." She starts to scream again and the midwife continues to encourage her to push. "I can't!"
"Yes you can," someone else says. "Yes you can. You're almost there."
In just a few minutes, the midwife raises the baby a little to show the woman that everything is okay. "Here's your baby girl," she says, smiling. "She's beautiful," she comments, "she looks just like you. Let me just cut the umbilical cord. You'll have her in a while."
"No!" the lady screams. "No! Give her to me now!"
"Madam, the baby could get sick if I give her to you," the midwife reasons. "Just give me a minute or two and she's all yours."
The lady lays on her bed, exhausted but alert. 'They can't get to her. They can't. She's mine.' She hears people outside and immediately she sits up to check on what's happening. Suddenly, the door bursts open and in come people with black hoods over their faces. "No! Give her to me, Mary!"
Mary, the midwife, clutches the baby tightly to her. The umbilical cord is still intact and she's shaking in fear. One of the hooded people comes closer to her and they separate the young from her mother. In one swift motion, the crying baby girl is in their hands.
The woman screams and tries to stand but her legs are too weak and her body is still heavy and tired from the energy she spent giving birth. Groaning and trying to stop her head from spinning, she shouts, "You can't keep her away from me!"
The man beside her holds onto her shoulders and forces her to lean back. "You have to let her go. It's too dangerous for all of us."
"You can't just throw her out like an animal!" the woman screams. "She's my daughter!"
"We are not going to throw her out," one of the hooded villagers say, "she will endanger the world."
The woman glares at them. Tears that run down her eyes makes her vision blur. She had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl...a baby whose fate is still unknown. "You promised not to get her until her twentieth birthday."
One of them gives off a sound that is similar to a laugh. "That will be harder. We are smart human beings. We know you'll run away and hide her. It's best to take her while you're weak." He then turns to the husband and barks at him, "You're a pathetic husband, a pathetic father! Selling out your daughter as soon as you can. It's very pathetic."
His wife turns to him in shock. "What?"
"Don't talk to me that way!" the man stands up and points a finger accusingly at them. "I tried my best to keep everyone safe!"
"You haven't even told your wife!" one of them says. "I can certainly see how this marriage is going to go. Tell me, what else have you not told her? Did you tell her about the curse?"
"I…I just told her that you would be taking our daughter."
"What curse?" his wife asks. "What curse are you talking about? Why haven't you told me why they'll take her?"
Her husband looks down at her. "There are risks."
"I don't care!" his wife shouts. "Just a few days ago, you tell me that they'll take her. You didn't tell me that you sold her out. Why? Why are they taking her? Why are you the one selling her out?"
"Cassandra, listen to me. I'll explain everything soon but you need to calm down."
"Calm down!? Calm down!? Are you crazy!?"
"Enough!" One of the hooded people raises their arms. "We are taking the baby. I'm sorry but it has to be done. We cannot allow her to stay in our village."
"So what will you do to her?" the mother asks, short of breath. 'Do I want to know what they'll do to my baby?'
"What has to be done." And with that, they leave the house with the crying girl in their arms. Everyone inside except the husband and wife seems to have frozen, confused as to what happened. "I...I…" the midwife stutters, "sir...how could you!?"
"I don't know what else to do. They would have killed me, too."
The mother sobs loudly. "I never got to hold her!"
Uncle Dom once told me that they chose this neighborhood because it's quiet and people rarely move in because of its distance from the city. It isn't in the middle of nowhere, there are neighbors here and there, and even a small park but it's a place where people don't really have to pass through to get somewhere. Everyone here pretty much knows everyone.
So imagine my surprise when James and Phillipa start jumping on my bed because 1) it's my birthday and 2) there's a strange transportation in the front yard and no one else is awake to look at it with them. And I really can't say no to them, it's a crime for me to do so. But it's early. Too early to be awake on a Saturday morning, whether it be my birthday or not.
"What's that car doing there, Ariadne?" the little boy asks me as we look out the window. A yellow electric truck is parked right in front of our house, and me and my adoptive siblings are trying to figure out why it's there. "Maybe your birthday gift is inside it!"
I laugh. "I dou—don't think so, James. I'm too old for big surprises."
"Why not?" Phillipa asks me. "I think everyone deserves big surprises on their birthday."
"Because Aunt Mal and Uncle Dom have the two of you to spoil now," I tell them. "And besides, that truck has nothing to do with my birthday. We're having new neighbors." Despite being legally adopted after so many trials—due to me being left on the doorsteps—I still call my adoptive parents Uncle and Auntie. It started when Phillipa was born. I love my parents, I really do, but when I heard Aunt Mal jumping for joy when Phillipa said her first word, I immediately felt like a trespasser. There was an argument about this, Uncle Dom and Aunt Mal insisted that I continue to call them Mom and Dad but I just couldn't. It didn't feel right to me.
James and Phillipa's grins widen and they immediately start jumping around. "I love having new neighbors!" Phillipa exclaims. "Maybe they'll have a little girl who can play with me and Maddy!" James, as hard as he tries, cannot see anything past the yellow truck so I pick him up and rest him on my hip.
A kiss is suddenly placed on my temple and another person greets me "Happy Birthday". I turn around and smile at my parents. "Thank you," I say. Uncle Dom engulfs me and James in a hug while Aunt Mal leans her forehead on my temple, carefully stroking my hair.
"I can't believe you're already two decades old," Uncle Dom murmurs. Phillipa must have sensed that she's missing out so she hugs me from behind. Uncle Dom chuckles and pats her head.
"Yes I can," I answer, "but you still won't allow me to live in my own apartment."
Aunt Mal smiles. "You don't need it. Your college is just a few minutes away. You make your own money. There's nothing wrong with parents who want their daughter with them. Are you embarrassed?"
'Sometimes,' I think. But I shake my head. "No. I don't want to be separated from any of you anyways."
After a few more minutes, we all let go and Uncle Dom walks forward to look out the window. "What's all the fuss about?" he asks. "I don't see any calamities happening."
"We're going to have a new neighbor!" Phillipa announces. "Can we go and meet them?"
Aunt Mal smiles. "Of course. Maybe we can go to them this afternoon, bring them some cake as a welcome greeting. I heard they're lovely people." Her eyes move to the window. "Oh, look, there's one of them right now."
One of our new neighbors is a dark-haired man in his twenties. He's handsome. Very handsome. He's also wearing a suit. It's weird, who wears a suit when they're just moving in? He's carrying two boxes in each arm. Another one appears from inside the house and they begin to talk. At one point, the suited man frowns and continues walking inside the house. The other one is a larger man and definitely more handsome. He looks English and much happier.
"Are they brothers?" I ask. It's already hard to believe that they're related.
Uncle Dom shakes his head. "The real estate agent said that they're just roommates needing bigger space and a place closer to their jobs."
Aunt Mal chuckles. "Still can't believe that someone was able to sell that old haunted house."
That house beside us always had a 'For Sale' sign. Everyone believed it to be haunted. And maybe once or twice I've seen something but never anything serious. James and Phillipa have always been convinced that something's wrong with it. They claim to have seen something watching them, mostly watching me, and that we should move away. But maybe the prospect of new neighbors excites them too much and they've forgotten all about the creepy crawlies that plague their mind.
"So there are no children?" Phillipa asks sadly.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I don't think so," Aunt Mal answers.
She shrugs. "Maddy and I can still play even with just the two of us. It's alright." When she looks out again, she gives a startled gasp.
"What's wrong?" Uncle Dom asks.
We all look up and see one of the men, the English looking one, smiling and waving at us. "We've been caught," Phillipa says in a dramatic whisper. James giggles and waves back enthusiastically, earning a "scolding" from his older sister. "James, stop that!"
"Why?" he asks. "I want to be his friend."
I smile and kiss his cheek. "Yeah, Phillipa, let's all be nice and friendly neighbors to the two good-looking gentlemen who had just arrived," I tease.
She looks away and runs toward the kitchen. "I want cake now!"
Uncle Dom, Aunt Mal and I laugh and follow her to kitchen. James is still on my hip, constantly looking back out the window. "Can we go to them now?" he asks.
"Not yet, sweetheart," Aunt Mal says, "first we have to sing to your sister and have our own share of food, okay?"
"When are Grandpa and Grandma coming down?" Phillipa asks.
"I'll go call them," Uncle Dom says and jogs upstairs.
The remaining of us settle in the dining table. Aunt Mal has already prepared it and we're just waiting for everyone else to arrive. Since it's my birthday I'm allowed to sit at the head of the table. Phillipa, James and I are wearing party hats, sort of a tradition that we like to do. My cake is white with marshmallow frosting, one of Aunt Mal's special recipes.
Grandpa and Grandma come down with Uncle Dom and apologize for their tardiness. I dismiss it and joke, "Just as long as you all got me presents."
When I was five, my grandmother read to me the story of Little Red Riding Hood. I loved her. She was this strong and courageous—well, in a little girl's eyes—little girl walking in the forest alone. Talking to this big bad wolf as if it were nothing. I was a shy little girl then and I admired her for her talkativeness.
When I was eight, my mother made me a red cloak, let me borrow a woven basket, and asked a seamstress to sew me Red's dress. Ever since then, I've been going as Red for years, even when Phillipa and James were born, I never missed out on the opportunity to dress up as my hero—and yes, I keep it very modest.
When I was twelve, I realized that there are many renditions of it. But my favorite is always going to be the one with the happy ending. The one where the hunter killed the wolf before Red could be eaten and freed the grandmother. I couldn't stand knowing my favorite character would be eaten.
When I was eighteen, people expected me to dress up as her once more and say goodbye to my childhood. Last year I surprised them by continuing my tradition. Until James and Phillipa are too tired of this, I will never stop. And hey, maybe by that time I'll have my own children who'd want to go trick-or-treating.
Now, on my twentieth birthday, my parents have just given me a new red jacket—I have to say that I'm a little disappointed it isn't a brand new cloak...okay, I got that two years ago and it still fits—and a bag filled with my belongings from when they found me. "What's this?" I ask dumbly as I scan the contents of the tearing black backpack. There's nothing inside except two red cloaks. Convenient, I supposed this is where my love for Little Red Riding Hood came from.
Aunt Mal smiles at me warily. "We can't keep it from you any longer."
But I know I'm adopted. It's not a secret. I can pass for Aunt Mal's legit daughter, but really, I'm not in denial or anything. "I...I know that I'm adopted."
Uncle Dom joins in. "We mean that we can't keep what you had any longer. You should at least have something that your parents left you with."
"Oh," is all I say. I never said it out loud but a part of me is pretty mad and resentful of my parents for leaving me Harry Potter-style. "I guess it doesn't hurt to have it." I look at the small red cloak and then at the bigger one that's with it.
"You were wrapped in that small cloak," Aunt Mal says fondly. "I still remember when I heard you crying."
I nod slowly and inspect the bag once more. "This is an interesting gift." I put it down beside me and James and Phillipa immediately rummage inside it.
"Maybe there's money inside!" the young girl exclaims. "That's always in the fairy tales I watch. Or maybe some sort of letter that Mommy and Daddy are hiding from you so that you wouldn't know where to find them since Mommy and Daddy love you so much!."
I laugh at that. "I don't think so, Phillipa. And besides, remember that time I tried to look for my parents? They're both dead. So even if there was a letter, it'd be useless."
"Can I have that other cloak, Ari? I think it'll fit me, I can be like Superman!" James says.
He frowns but Aunt Mal scolds him. "It's a remembrance from her parents, sweetheart. It's not something we can keep."
"But it's Ari's. She has to be the one to tell me if I can have it or not," he argues. "Can I have it, Ari?"
My smile for him is a sad one. This is probably the first time I'll refuse him of anything except anything that has to do with their health. "I'm so sorry, James, but I want to keep it." His frown becomes deeper and it makes me feel bad.
"James," Uncle Dom says in a warning tone, "it's your sister's."
"We could share it," I offer. "Or if you wanna play Superman then just tell me and I'll lend it to you. You know I'd rather be Shadowcat anyway," I laugh. He gives me a smile and a short giggle before returning to his waffles.
Grandpa Stephen chuckles. "You know that Jacqueline will gladly make a costume for you, James."
"Do you want to be Superman again for Halloween, James? I can start on it soon," Grandma Jackie says.
He starts to smile again and sits up properly on his seat. "I want to be Captain America this year, Grandma!"
She chuckles. "Tricky. But okay, just don't change your mind anymore."
I look at the backpack and I carry it again for a moment before setting it down on the counter table. 'I'll have a look at you again later.' I sit back down on the table and Aunt Mal hands me a plate with a piece of cake. "Thank you." She rubs my shoulder and gives my temple a kiss.
"Hey, Ari," Phillipa calls me.
"Mm?" I smile at her.
"This is just…just…a hippo…hippothet…hippotetcal question."
"Hypothetical," Uncle Dom corrects.
"Hypo-the-tical question," she repeats. "If you found out that your parents aren't really dead…are you going to try looking for your real family? I've seen it in many television shows and movies. And sometimes, when they do find them, they would rather stay with the real family. I don't want you to leave us." She frowns. "
I smile at her. "You've been watching too much television shows and movies, Phillipa. But I'm not going to leave you."
"But will you look for them?" she continues. "You know, if they're not really dead."
Without thinking, and probably because I'm a little angry and the Cobbs have been great to me, I say, "No, of course not. I'm very happy to be here. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"You were being selfish. But we have to find her," the woman says. "We have to find her! They said they wouldn't just throw her out! There's a possibility that she's still alive! We have to go find her! She could still be alive! I can still hold her!" Her eyes begin to water and she starts to sob and sink down on the floor. It's only been a few hours since she had given birth to her baby. "What if she's cold? What if she's hungry?"
Her husband holds onto her hands. "Sh, sh, stop it. We can't. The elders will kick us out."
She screams and hits his chest. "You care about that!? Our daughter has just been taken and all you care about is that the elders will kick us out?"
"We can try for another baby. We can have a boy this time."
"You're a monster!" she cries. "You should have told me! You should have told me!"
"You wouldn't be with me if I told you!" he argues.
She glares at him. All their time together was a lie. Every moment she spent with him…wasted. She wanted a family and a husband. Why didn't she know about this? Why didn't anyone tell her? Why didn't anyone warn her? She should never have gone to this village. She should never had left home. "I hate you. I hate you so much!" She grabs her bag from under the bed and starts to pack her belongings inside. "Don't try to stop me. You have no right to do so. I'm leaving and you are not to follow me."
"You have to understand—"
"Understand!?" she shouts. "Understand that you would give up your own daughter's life!? A newborn baby you haven't held in your arms! A baby who doesn't know how horrible this world is!"
"I couldn't hold her," he starts to say, "because I would've changed my mind about giving her to them. I knew that if I held her…I wouldn't be able to let go. You have to understand that this is the sake of our world. We'll have another child, we'll have one—"
"I would like to say that this is your fault," she tells him.
"My fault!? I'm not the one who decided to leave her home to stay in the village!"
"You could have told me about who you really are and we could have left before we got married!"
Her husband frowns. "They would've kept tabs on us, either way, Cassandra. They would've taken our daughter. We would never have been able to run away."
"You are so pessimistic! You aren't the one who kept her healthy inside your womb for nine months because you wanted to hold her and be with her and see her because you love her! I love my daughter! And no one, not even you, will keep her away from me!" She continues to put more of her belongings inside and zips it up. "I can't imagine a life without her. I will find her. And whether you help me or not…I don't care."
"Cassandra."
"Goodbye."
"How do you feel about having dinner out tonight?" Uncle Dom asks me. It's rare for us to eat out, usually only for special occasions. "I can make reservations in Fridays."
I smile. "You hit the spot right there. Sure, why not?"
He chuckles and is about to close the door of my room when he spots me with the backpack. "Do you think we should have given it to you when you were younger?"
I shake my head. "No, I think now is a good time. I don't see anything sentimental here." I hold up the larger red cloak that came along with the black backpack. "It's…long. It's like it was made for a little girl…it wasn't made for a baby."
"You were wrapped in that other cloak," he says as he walks in, "they must have left the other cloak as some sort of remembrance."
"Not even a picture of them," I scoff. "Now how would I know who I take after."
"You know you look a little like Mallorie." Uncle Dom sits on my bed and strokes my hair. 'But not nearly as beautiful,' I want to add. He rubs my temple softly. "Are you planning on looking for them again?"
I shake my head. "They're dead, remember? At least…that's what I found a few years ago."
"We're not going to stop you if you want to try again," he says. "You don't have to keep your promise to Phillipa and James. You're your own person. Technology is much better now. I'm sure you and your college mind can figure out some more information."
"It's like you want me to leave, Uncle Dom," I laugh.
"I just want you to know that we aren't trying to keep you from finding out the truth about who you really are. Everyone wants to know who they really are, Ari."
"I know who I am," I say, "I'm your daughter. I'm a Cobb."
Uncle Dom smiles and kisses my forehead. "Yes, yes you are." He stands and begins to leave the room. "We'll be welcoming our new neighbors, do you want to come?"
I nod. "Sure. Let me just get ready."
He groans. "Don't tell me you have a crush on one of them, too?"
"They aren't my type," I tell him, rolling my eyes. "And don't worry about Phillipa, like you said, it's just a crush. He's much too old for her anyways." And looks like a trouble maker. "Meet you downstairs."
I hear him close the door and I have one last look at the bag before standing to head to my closet. When my eyes land on my window, I see one of the new neighbors looking out his window, looking at me. You see, my window has a direct view of the house that has recently just been occupied, and it seems that it's now in direct view of the handsome man in a suit's room as well.
He seems to have noticed me looking back at him. He gives a slight nod and closes his curtains that look as if it's made with the finest silk. Can you believe that? My room has curtains made from cotton but it's also being covered by blinds. And, they've recently moved in and one of the first things he does is to put curtains?
I wonder what else he has in store for me to see in that room of his.
"Once she gave her a little riding hood of red velvet, which suited her so well that she would never wear anything else; so she was always called 'Little Red Riding Hood.'" –Little Red Riding Hood (Brothers Grimm, 1697)
And there's the first chapter, everyone! I hope it interests you and that you're looking forward to more. Things will become better, I promise. I suck at first chapters but we'll get somewhere. :] Again, I'm not sure when I can update again but expect one sometime next week. Please leave me your thoughts! I'd love to know what you think. Questions, suggestions, constructive criticism are all welcome! Again, I've posted another story with this, a crossover with The Hunger Games, check it out if you'd like.
Happy Holidays everyone! (Psst, reviews count as Christmas gifts since I have none under the tree.) Eight more days until I turn 19...