Sorry. I hate finals. I won't keep you. Read on!
When Jane leaves with Peter, Rose is left with the old woman. She seems really nice and Rose likes her. But there is something off too.
"Where's peter's parents? If you don't mind my asking."
"No, no. It's fine. They're dead."
"What happened?"
"Their hearts stopped."
It's an odd answer by it must be painful I talk about, do Rose doesn't question it.
"How'd he come to live with you?"
"Questions, questions. You are inquisitive."
"I am a bit curious, yeah."
Rose eyes the woman. There's something wrong here. Something...off. The people were afraid. Peter mentioned a demon in the forest. Peter tried to tell people about the danger in the woods. He hesitated when saying that he lived with his gran.
"Gran. I brought you two guests for dinner."
"I'm more partial to red myself."
He was nervous. She licked her lips. Rose looks at the woman again.
"Sorry. It's just. You know, Peter doesn't really look like you. How are you related?"
"You're very observant."
"Yeah well."
"I was hoping to let you and your friend eat first but..."
She touches a charm on her chest. Rose had thought it was a necklace, but now she can see that it's embedded in her skin. Her very inhuman skin.
"Sorry for being such a rude hostessss. I didn't ask if you were tired from your trip. Let me relieve you."
The woman, no, creature. She comes at Rose with an obvious intent. The tail comes out from her skirt and Rose sees the glint of a spear like tip.
"Why are you doing this? How does Peter fit into this?"
"Well I'm hungry my dear. I've been stranded on this forsaken rock for decades. A girls gotta eat. Sweet Peter was traveling with his dear grandfather. Mmm. He was tasty."
Rose is horrified by what she's hearing.
"What have you done to Peter?"
"Oh. I've just tapped into his brainwaves. He's wonderful bait for people. And he's stronger than he looks. Well, not mentally but...that just works in my favor."
"You've brainwashed him."
"No. More like, taken slight control. Easy to do to a teen aged boy."
"Monster."
"Yessss."
The creature lunges at Rose. Rose holds her back as best can but she knows she's not strong enough. But she has to be. Jane is out there with Peter. The evil gran said he was under her control which means he probably already attacked her. She has to make sure Jane is okay.
And then Jane burst through the door. The creature is startled and Rose is thrown to the ground. The next few minutes are a blur.
There's something about little red riding hood and Jane is laughing. And then she's not and she like the oncoming storm giving one chance and one chance only. And then the creature goes after her. Rose can't let her. Jane is her friend, her sister. She won't let her get taken. She's lost so much. She deserves to keep her life.
So without another thought the Bad Wolf rushes forward, hopefully in time to save Little Red Riding Hood.
DW DW DW DW DW DW DW DW DW DW
Penny in the air.
I've long since realized that time flows differently here than where I was born. In Pete's world it moved so slowly. But I became used to it. It moves about the same here. Maybe even more slowly.
I'm kind of like superman. Not in the sense that I can fly, or have super strength or speed, or laser vision or anything like that.
But I'm not in my world. I'm in a world that's different. A world that has a different definition in the speed of thought.
In this moment, my thoughts are racing faster than they have in a long time. The creatures spear tail is coming at me, and Rose is moving forward. There's only two ways this can end.
Heads. The tail moves too fast, and Rose can't get there in time. It pierces me, and I don't survive to see another day.
Tails. Rose is fast enough, and the spear kills her instead.
Either option is horrible. Rose can't die, and I still have work to do.
I'm in that place. The light is yellow. But I'm driving too fast to stop. If I try, I'll stop in the intersection. If I charge through, my rear bumper will hit the red. It's not a choice. Either way, I'll break the law.
I'm not invincible. I have my kryptonite. But not today. Today I only have one choice. I can think as fast for as long as I can. But it will come. I'm delaying the inevitable.
My thoughts can't hold this back for ever. I know that. All I can do is trust. If I die, I'll say what needs to be said before it all falls apart. If Rose gets hurt, I won't let her die. I don't care. She can't die. I have to keep the timeline. The darkness is coming. We need the doctor. Only Rose can get to him. If I don't make sure of this, the darkness will spread to every universe. Including mine. I can't let that happen. So I will deal with it, with whatever happens in the next instant.
So I close my eyes, and clear my mind of it's racing thoughts.
And the penny drops.