Once upon a time there was a vast dark forest. On the edge of that forest was a small town. In that small town lived Little Red Riding Hood, her father and her mother. Little Red Riding Hood was named so because of the red hood she always wore. One day her mother asked Little Red Riding Hood to go into the woods to visit grandmother who had fallen ill. She gave Red Riding Hood a basket with wine and biscuits for grandmother. As she left home to go to grandmother her mother warned Little Red Riding Hood not to stray from the path because the forest could be a dangerous place for those who stray from the path.
So Little Red Riding Hood went into the woods and followed the path to grandmother’s house. While she was walking she noticed a clearing between the trees not far from the path. In that clearing the sunlight bathed a myriad of beautiful flowers in a golden light. Little Red Riding Hood stopped and looked at the flowers. It was still early in the morning so it would not matter if she picked some flowers now; she would still be home before dark. So she stepped of the path and went into the clearing to pick the pretty flowers. As she was picking flowers she glanced at the path. Had not her mother warned her that she should not stray from the path? Little Red Riding Hood laughed to herself, what danger could there be in such a lovely clearing?
Then from behind her Little Red Riding Hood heard a strong but kind and gentle voice of a man: “Aren’t you a bit young to walk the forest alone?” Little Red Riding Hood was startled and wheeled around to see who was there. A handsome man stood on the other side of the clearing. His dark curly hair reached down to his shoulders and from under his noble brow two grey eyes locked with hers. “I was just picking flowers for my grandmother who is ill. Now I will walk down the path again to her house.” The man nodded understandingly. “Very well little girl but do not stray from the path because the forest is a dangerous place.” Little Red Riding Hood did not wait and hurried back to the path resuming her walk to grandmother’s house.
As she walked further she noticed that not far from the path she saw some mushrooms between the roots of a tree. “Grandmother would really like some mushrooms, they will help her get better” Little Red Riding Hood said to herself. So she left the path to pick the mushrooms. Again she heard the voice from behind her. “I told you the forest is a dangerous place and yet you do not stay on the path.” Again Red Riding Hood looked behind her and saw the same man. “Who are you and why do you follow me?” Little Red Riding Hood asked. “I live here in the woods and I did not follow you, I was picking mushrooms here myself.” The man showed several mushrooms he kept in napkin. The mushrooms where bigger and tastier looking then those of Little Red Riding Hood. The man smiled at her. “I tell you what, I will trade my mushrooms for yours because you grandmother is so ill, but you must promise me not to stray from the path again.” Eagerly Little Red Riding Hood agreed, her grandmother would be so happy with the mushrooms. After she traded the mushrooms Little Red Riding Hood went back to the path and continued walking down the path to grandmother’s house.
After walking for so long Little Red Riding Hood’s was getting tired. She stopped for a moment and between the trees not far from the path there was a stump of a tree that was not dirty. She decided that she would sit down for a moment. She had only sat down for moments when she heard the familiar voice. “Had you not promised to stay on the path?” Little Red Riding Hood looked behind her at the man and said: “Yes but I was so very tired and my feet hurt so much.” The man smiled. “Very well you rest here for a moment and I will go to your grandmother’s house and see after her until you arrive.” Little Red Riding Hood immediately agreed and handed the man the basket with wine, biscuits, flowers and mushrooms. “Do not wait to long though little girls the forest is a dangerous place.” Again Little Red Riding Hood agreed.
After she had rested for an hour she walked down the path again and arrived at grandmother’s house. The door was already open and Little Red Riding Hood walked inside. She walked to the door of grandmother’s bedroom when she heard the voice again. “You must not go in there. Your grandmother is very ill and she needs to sleep.” Little Red Riding Hood looked around and smiled at the man. “Thank you, you have been very kind.” “Why thank you little girl, why don’t you sit down and I will bring you something to eat.” Little Red Riding Hood sat at the table and waited for the man to bring her food. The man brought her a stew. “I made it from the red wine your brought, and the mushrooms and some dried meat.” Little Red Riding Hood ate it greedily she was very hungry after the long walk. The stew tasted good but a bit strange.
After Little Red Riding Hood ate she was very tired. “Sit down in the chair and have a nap” said the man. Little Red Riding Hood sat down in grandmother’s favourite chair and closed her eyes.
When she woke the sun was already setting. Quickly she got up and knocked on grandmother’s door. There was no answer. Little Red Riding Hood assumed that grandmother still slept. She ran outside and closed the door. She hurried down the path hoping she could sill reach her parents’ house before the sun set. But the sun set faster then Little Red Riding Hood could run. She could not see the path anymore and lost it. In panic she called for help.
“No one can hear you this deep into the woods,” said the familiar voice. Little Red Riding Hood looked around but could see nothing. “Where are you?” Little Red Riding Hood called. There was no answer. “Please take me home,” she begged. “No, you have strayed from the path and now you are mine.” “I promise I will not stray from the path again, ever!” “You promised before, you promised not to stray from the path and yet you did so three times.” The clouds parted and the full moon shone down on the forest. The man stood between two old and gnarled trees. “Now you are mine to possess.” “You may not have me you fiend for I am still a pure maiden.” The man laughed. “You have sullied yourself already for I have fed you your grandmothers flesh stewed in her own blood enriched by the mushrooms and wine.” Little Red Riding Hood fell down on her knees and vomited. “You may purge your stomach as you please but the act has already been done.” No sooner had Little Red Riding Hood emptied her stomach or the man was upon her and took her maidenhood by force. Little Red Riding Hood’s screams carried of into the night, but nobody heard them.
Little Red Riding Hood was never seen or heard from again.
The End
