Chapter 13: Red-handed
After the festival, Mr. Gold was going to drop Rose off at her apartment, but she told him that she was meeting Ruby at Granny's. The two women had formed a quick friendship and Rose often spent part of the night at the diner when Ruby had the night shift.
"Then I will make sure you arrive safely to the diner to meet your friend." He said.
They started to walk towards the diner with their arms still linked. Mr. Gold knew of the friendship between Rose Red and Red Riding Hood. But he was curious about how the two women had managed to be friends again so quickly.
"How did this friendship happen? I don't picture you as the partying type." Mr. Gold asked.
"I like to party now and then." Laughed Rose. "Unlike Ruby, I have been to other places besides my little hometown. So I have never had the need to rebel as Ruby does. Granny is though on her, and she is just trying to find herself. Like everyone else in the world I guess."
Rose smiled at Mr. Gold, and the man returned the gesture. He was still marveled at the fact that things were so different to the Enchanted Forest, but some had managed to stay the same.
"Ruby needs someone that will support her decisions without judging her. I understand that. So, I try to do that for her. I give her my opinion but in the end, whatever choice she makes, I'll support her." Rose smiled softly.
They arrived at the diner and Mr. Gold bid farewell to Rose with a kiss on her hand. She went in and saw Ruby talking with August. She smiled at the waitress and she smiled back. Rose went to sit on a stool in the counter. She saw that Granny was working with the diner and inn's books and just smiled at her. Granny didn't seem too happy with Ruby chatting with August, she tried to get her grandkid's attention but Ruby just ignored her.
"I've never even been out of Storybrooke. What was your favorite place?" She asked August with wonder.
When August responded Nepal, Ruby got excited.
"Rose has told me about Nepal!" She said, making the two of them turn to said woman who smiled and waved. "Is it as beautiful as she said?"
After a short while, Granny got fed up and told Ruby to stop flirting and come to her. Ruby and Granny were arguing in whispers, but they weren't as quiet as they suspected because Rose could hear everything. Rose was trying to keep out of it, but then she overheard a specific part of the conversation.
"For another thing, Liza, you dress like a drag queen during Fleet Week." Said Granny looking at Ruby up and down.
"And you dress like Norman Bates when he dresses like Norman Bates' mother." Answered Ruby quickly.
Rose choked on her drink and started coughing. The other two looked at her in concern.
"It just went the other way." Said Rose while trying to regain her breath.
She turned her face to look away from the women and started laughing silently. August, who was also looking at her with concern, saw what she was doing and chuckled. He had also heard the comments, but luckily for him, he wasn't drinking at the time. Rose saw him laugh too and put a finger to her mouth, signaling him to quiet down. But both were still shaking with silent laughter.
But the smiling stopped when Ruby stormed out after yelling that she quit. Rose looked at her leave and then turned to Granny who had a frown on her face. Rose sighed and went to follow her friend.
Snow White was hiding in a chicken coop. That night she had heard an animal howling and got scared. She whistled the tune her sister had shown her, but as she had left a couple of days ago, she knew that she could take a while to arrive.
She was found out by a woman wearing a red hood. She was going to give the eggs back, but the woman just smiled and told her to follow her.
"Everyone calls me Red."
Snow was immediately reminded of her sister. She was going to tell her name but hesitated. After an awkward conversation, she was going to be known as Mary.
"Would you mind if I call you something else?" Snow said with a sheepish smile. "It's just… I call my sister Red, so it would be a little weird to call you Red too."
The woman smiled and nodded.
"You can call me Ruby. No one has used my real name in a very long time. It'll be nice to hear it again."
Once outside the coop, they made their way to the well for water. But on the way, a figure came out of the woods startling the two women.
"White are you okay? What happened?" Asked Rose Red.
Snow smiled and hugged her sister. She told her that she was fine, but Rose still looked her over trying to find any injuries.
"You must be Mary's sister, Red." Said the woman with the hood.
"Yes, I am Mary's sister." Said Rose slowly looking at Snow with a raised eyebrow. " But normally only she is allowed to call me Red. You can call me… Grace."
"I'm called Red by everyone here, but you can call me Ruby." Said Red with a smile. "That way there will be no mistakes."
Red thought for a moment and turned to the sisters.
"White and Red." The sisters looked at each other in worry. "Are those nicknames from when you were children?"
Rose sighed in relief and laughed.
"Yeah. She is White for her pale skin, and I'm Red for my hair. We were pretty original right?"
Red shook her head with a laugh.
"I heard worse."
Rose grinned and nodded. She liked this woman. They told her that they were going to the well before going to the house for breakfast. Red told them about the killer wolf that had been acting up during the current Wolfstime.
When they reached the well, the rope was stuck and Rose and Snow helped Red to pull it. While doing so, the sisters saw a group of hunters' corpses mangled by the wolf. Red dropped the bucket in the well and stood beside them, the three women speechless.
Rose followed Ruby and was watching her pack a bag. While ranting about how she was going to see the world and have adventures with lemurs. Rose sighed.
"Ruby, think about it. Where are you gonna go?" She asked the former waitress. "At least wait until tomorrow."
Rose had to jog to keep up with Ruby. They ended at the bus stop, where Dr. Whale saw them and was trying to flirt with Ruby while Rose gave him the stink eye. Shortly after, Emma and Mary-Margaret arrived. That made Dr. Whale leave. Ruby told them about her argument with Granny, and Emma asked her where she was headed. Ruby had no idea where to go.
"Yeah, well, buses out of town don't really happen. And, you might want a destination first." Emma told her.
Rose said ʽI told you soʼ under her breath and Ruby pouted at her. Mary-Margaret offered her to stay at their place for a while. Ruby was happy to accept. She thanked Mary-Margaret and Emma, and while walking there, she was talking with Rose about sharing a room for a few days.
Snow, Rose, Red and Granny entered the tavern where the village was having a meeting about the wolf. The sisters saw Red trying to go to a handsome man, but she was stopped by her grandmother.
They heard Granny tell the story about the wolf that attacked when she was young. How he had killed all her brothers and her father and how the wolf had bitten her arm. She warned the people that they couldn't kill this wolf, they had to hide.
Back at the house, Red told them how she felt trapped with her grandma. The sisters looked at each other and grinned. They told her how she wasn't being subtle with her looks to the man at the meeting. She told them about Peter, how their friendship was changing. The sisters smiled. Red asked if they had someone in their lives. Snow was quick to say no, but Rose had a frown on her face. The other two looked at her and told her to spill.
"Well, I don't know. I wouldn't call it love, at least not yet. But maybe in the future something will come out of it." She said with a smile and a small blush. "But we were talking about you Red 2."
"Red 2?" asked Red in confusion.
"Well, seeing as it took us three tries to get your attention with Ruby, I think we should call you Red." Said Rose with a smile and Snow nodded.
"My sister is the first person I ever called Red so that makes you Red 2." She explained.
Red laughed and nodded. Their conversation turned to the wolf and how Granny didn't have the right to keep Red away from Peter. Red asked if they thought her grandmother was doing that.
"I don't think she is keeping you away for that reason." Said Rose with a frown. "Have you ever asked her about it?"
Then Red had the idea to kill the wolf, that way Granny wouldn't have any reason to keep Red and Peter apart. Red was determined to do it, so the sisters followed her. The three women were on the wood tracking the wolf. Snow saw some prints and called to the others. Red and Rose looked at each other with a smile.
"Those are too small for a wolf." Said Rose.
"Yes, those are from a dog." Continued Red.
After looking further, Snow found the right prints. They followed them, and Snow commented about Red's ability to track.
"When there's something I want, I'm good at tracking it down." She said with a grin.
Ruby was at the station with Henry and Rose. They were trying to find Ruby a job, but so far nothing was right for the former waitress. She started to pick up the phone at the station, and she wasn't doing a bad job about it. Rose was about to comment on it, but Emma came in and beat her to it.
Emma offered Ruby a job as a helping hand, and she jumped at the opportunity. Her first task was to get them lunch. Rose offered to go with her, but Ruby insisted that she got it and that she had to do this alone.
Mary-Margaret came in and told them how David was in the woods, but he wasn't acting like himself. She looked very concerned.
Rose, Snow and Red were following the tracks, when they saw the prints turn from wolf to half wolf half boot. Further up the trail, the prints were completely human. Rose frowned.
"Red, when is this Wolfstime?" Asked Rose while inspecting the prints.
"Once every month, on the full moon. I heard a legend once about something like this." She said.
"So did I."
They were about to discuss it further, when Snow told them that the tracks were leading towards the cottage. Once there, they saw that the prints ended in Red's window. When they asked her who had been on her window, the answer was clear on her face. Peter. The sisters told Red to warn Peter, so he could flee or restrain himself somehow.
They made plans to, go to the cottage, the sisters would pose as Red, so she could leave and be with Peter. Snow lent her her cloak, and she took Red's. Once Red had taken off her hood, Rose noticed something strange. Her sound had changed. There was something different there, something that made Red not entirely human. Rose frowned and was about to say something, but Red had already left through the window.
"White, I think we just made a big mistake." She told her sister in concern.
Snow saw the look on Rose's face and became worried. If Rose said something was wrong, you better believe her.
"What is it? Did you hear the sound of the wolf?"
"Not exactly." Rose said shaking her head. "When Red took off her hood, her sound changed. It wasn't entirely human anymore."
Rose looked at Snow and both sisters knew that she had been right. They had made a mistake.
Henry hid the book in one of the desks at the station. He tried to tell Emma that she should let Ruby do more around the station. He believed she was Red Riding Hood and that she was a real badass.
"She just doesn't remember how cool she is or what she's capable of. But it's true." Then he turned to Rose. "And she is your best friend. You had your own saying and everything. It's no coincidence that you are good friends here too."
At that moment Ruby came in with lunch and Henry left. Ruby seemed a little depressed so Emma decided to trust Henry and bring Ruby along. They got the food and the three of them went to the woods to try to find David.
"This place is massive. How are we supposed to find one guy?" Asked Ruby looking around.
Emma shushed her, in case they could hear him. Rose told Ruby how there were boot prints that they were following.
"What I don't know is why exactly I'm here?" Rose asked looking at Emma.
"Well, you and Ruby are good friends, and she needs a little confidence boost. You are always good at that."
Ruby looked at Emma with a frown.
"I shouldn't even be here. I'm just going to screw everything up."
"Hey." Rose put a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Don't give up without trying. Just give it a shot and if it doesn't work, you'll find what you want to do."
The two friends smiled at each other when suddenly Ruby started to look around. She said that she had heard him and started to walk in one direction. Once Emma and Rose caught up, they saw Ruby standing beside David, who was lying on the floor. Once he woke up, he didn't remember anything from the moment he had left the station the previous night.
Emma brought David to the hospital so Dr. Whale could take a look at him. Ruby and Rose went back to the station.
"See, you helped." Said Rose with a grin.
"I have to admit, that felt great." Ruby said with a smile. "Do you think David is gonna be okay?"
But before Rose could answer, the phone rang. Emma was asking Ruby to go to the Toll Bridge to see if there was anything there. Ruby was hesitant and Emma was trying to convince her. Rose saw the hesitation on Ruby's face and grabbed her free hand. Ruby looked at her and Rose nodded her head with a smile. Ruby closed her eyes and sighed.
"I'll do it."
Once they arrived, Emma told them to look for something that didn't belong and to follow their instincts. Rose saw a piece of wood that was a little to conveniently placed on the ground and pointed it out to Ruby.
Ruby nodded and moved it. Under it, there was ground that seemed to have been moved recently. Ruby pocked the ground and found a wooden box. Once she opened it, Ruby let out a scream, dropped the box and hugged Rose in fear.
Back at the station, Ruby was still traumatized about the contents of the box. Emma was telling her how she did a great job but Ruby wasn't convinced.
"It's amazing. First, you found David, and now, this. I know you say you don't know what you are, but, whatever it is, I got to say, I'm impressed." Emma tried to convince Ruby one more time.
"Don't be. I'm… I'm scared out of my mind." Said Ruby shaking her head and whipping away a tear.
"Hey." Said Rose grabbing her attention. "You still did it. And come on, who wouldn't be freaked out about finding a heart in a box? The first time I shot a gun, I threw up."
Ruby smiled and let out a chuckle.
The sisters fears about Red were confirmed, when Granny entered the room and asked about her whereabouts. They told her about the plan because at first they thought Peter was the wolf, so Red was going to chain him up. Granny grabbed her crossbow and told them to follow her.
"How did you know it was Red?" Granny asked.
The sisters looked at each other, until finally Rose spoke.
"I have a… talent." She said and Granny looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I can hear people. At first, I heard Red as a normal human, but the moment she took off the hood, her sound changed."
Granny thought over the redhead's words and nodded. She saw the worried look on the sisters' faces and chuckled.
"I have a granddaughter that turns into a wolf. Your secret is safe with me." Then she sighed. "The reason you were able to hear Red's true nature is because the cloak is enchanted to block her wolf side."
The two women nodded, and they kept going to try to find Red and Peter before it was too late. Granny told them, how the wolf from her story had been her husband, and that he turned her later that night.
The two sisters realized that Granny had also been a wolf. Rose paid close attention to Granny's sound and could hear small traces of what she had heard in Red. It was easy to miss if you didn't look for it. They were getting closer and Granny passed the lantern to Snow and grabbed her crossbow.
"A silver-tipped arrow will drop her." Snow let out a tiny whimper and Granny shushed her. "Follow me. We're approaching from downwind, so we have a chance."
Once they arrived at the clearing, they saw the big wolf eating something. Snow put down the lantern and accidentally stepped on a twig, getting the wolf's attention. It lunged at them, but Granny shot it and it fell at their feet. They quickly put the hood over the wolf and the magic took its effect. Red was human again and was very disorientated.
The women saw that Peter was dead. He was the one the wolf, Red, was eating. They didn't have time to explain as the party of hunters was gaining on them. But Red put the pieces together and was falling apart. Snow and Rose grabbed her and dragged her away, while Granny bought them time.
Once far enough from the village and deep in the woods, the women stopped and told Red everything Granny had told them. She was very confused about who and what she was. Rose put a hand on her shoulder and Red jumped slightly.
"Don't worry. I'm different too." Red looked from Rose to snow and both nodded and smiled softly at her. "Some years ago, I started to go on journeys to try to find out who I am, what I can do and how to control it. I'm still learning and I don't have a complete grasp of what I can do, but I've gotten better. And so will you."
Red smiled but quickly a frown appeared on her face.
"Why are you helping me? I understand that you are in a similar position, but I'm a monster."
Rose glared at her and hit Red upside the head. Snow looked at her sister pointedly but didn't say anything.
"Don't ever say that. A monster wouldn't regret what they had done, and you do. Right?" She asked Red, the woman nodded. "Then you are not a monster. And I'm helping you because we are both Reds.
Red looked at her curiously and so did Snow.
"You and I are different from the rest of the world, but there is something that makes us the same. Red. It may have been coincidence but the color red is something that connects us." She stood up and turned to look at Red. "So, from now on, we Reds have to protect each other's backs. From now on, Reds stick together."
Rose offered Red a hand and the woman took it with a smile.
"Reds stick together. I like that."
Emma and Rose were headed to the animal shelter. They went by the apartment but Mary-Margaret wasn't there. The next best guess was that she was with David. On the way, Emma looked at Rose.
"You told me the story of the first time you shot a gun. And that wasn't the ending I remember."
"Yeah." Rose shrugged her shoulders. "She was already freaking out. I wasn't going to tell her that I didn't throw up from shooting a gun for the first time but from killing a man with that shot. She would have run all the way to Boston screaming her head off."
Emma sighed but nodded. She understood that not everyone would understand what had happened. She didn't. Not until Rose had told her the whole story. They finally arrived at the shelter, and they found David and Mary-Margaret talking. When they saw Emma, David asked if she had found something.
Emma was having a hard time describing what they had found that day and what it implied. When Emma said that the fingerprints had a match with someone in town, David assumed they were his and was ready to be arrested. But Emma quickly told him that they weren't his fingerprints.
"They were Mary Margaret's."
Rose looked sadly at their friend. She knew that something wasn't adding up, but for the moment there was nothing that she could do. But she knew someone that might.