Beane Odette - Reawakened - A Once Upon A Time Tale

— Who are you? — the girl in red said.

— I’m sorry, — she said. — I was stealing eggs. I’m so sorry.

The girl smiled.

— Well. You’re the most honest thief I’ve ever met.

— Only two, — she said, and held them up. — I was just so hungry. And it’s so cold outside.

— Did you spend the whole night out here? — the girl asked.

Snow nodded.

— Did you not know there was a wolf monster on the loose?

Snow looked concerned.

— I thought I did hear something, — she said. — But I should — I should be going. I’ll leave these. — She looked for a place to put the two eggs.

— No, no, it’s fine, — said the girl. — You can keep them. I don’t care. What’s your name?

— My name? — Snow said. — My name is Margaret. No… it’s Mary. Mary.

— That’s quite a name, — the girl said. — Can I call you Mary?

Snow White nodded.

— Come on, you can stay with us, I’m sure it will be fine, — said the girl. — My name is Red. — She led the young woman out of the coop and into the snow. — I just have to draw some water from the well. But tell me, I don’t understand. What are you doing out here?

They walked across the snow toward a well, and Snow White ignored the question and instead said, — What is this monster? — She helped Red with the bucket then, and together they lowered it down.

— It’s Wolfstime. Killer wolf out there. Big as a pony, but a lot more bloodthirsty. It’s been stalking the whole area pretty regular. It kills cattle and — Hang on. This pulley sticks sometimes. If you can just…

Snow White had taken a few more steps and stood atop a ridge. Red joined her, and Snow couldn’t help but put her hand up over her mouth. All around them the bodies of the men were strewn like broken dolls. The red of their blood stained the white snow.

Ruby and Granny had been bickering and fighting for weeks. As so many in the town passed through Granny’s Diner as a part of their day, it was no secret that the two women were having trouble. And it was no surprise when, after an argument about a Saturday night shift, Ruby up and quit the diner, leaving Granny to fend for herself in a full house.

— Long time coming, — people mumbled.

— Can’t believe it didn’t happen sooner.

Emma and Mary Margaret watched uncomfortably as the whole argument went down. At the end of it, Ruby stormed out and screamed that she was leaving town and heading to Boston. Granny didn’t respond, and when Ruby was gone, she acted like she didn’t care one way or the other.

— Yikes, — Emma said. — Things are not good on the home front, I guess.

— They’ve always been at each other’s throats, — said Mary Margaret, turning back to her hot chocolate. — I don’t know why.

— I’m sorry, I’m being glib, — Emma said. — We were talking about David.

— I just want to be sure he’s okay, — Mary Margaret said. — I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it.

— He’s okay. He’s shaken up, he’s worried people think he has something to do with it. But he’s okay.

— Is there any word on Kathryn?

— None. I have nothing. I was just about to go back to square one and think it through from the start of the time line. I’m at a loss.

— Did you check with Boston again?

— She’s not there, if that’s what you mean.

— I don’t understand how a person can just completely disappear, — said Mary Margaret. — Right from her car. What happened? Did she evaporate?

They left the diner ten minutes later; Emma had seen that Mary Margaret’s mood deteriorated dramatically after that part of the conversation. Emma was worried about her friend, but she knew, too, that she probably shouldn’t be seen socializing with her so much. Mary Margaret was perhaps a bit too naive to realize it, but she wasn’t clear of suspicion, either. To Emma, Mary Margaret seemed so innocent, so unaware of the dangers in the world. She was independent, but sheltered at the same time. It was an unusual combination.

It was cold, and Emma was hugging herself as they came around the corner. Both she and Mary Margaret were surprised to see Ruby standing at the bus stop.

She had one small suitcase with her and was looking down Main Street furtively.

— You do know no buses ever come, — Emma said to her. — Where are you going?

— Away, — was all Ruby said.

— We overheard the fight, — said Mary Margaret. — All of us did, I guess.

— Yeah, well that just means you overheard the truth. I’m sick of her and I’m sick of that diner. And I’m sick of Storybrooke. I’m going to Boston.

— Nothing’s going to happen tonight, — Mary Margaret said. — You’re worked up, it’s freezing. Stay with us at our place for the night, think this through. Get a good night’s rest.

Ruby looked at both women. It didn’t take long for her to nod in agreement.

— Okay, — she said. — One night.

Granny, Red’s grandmother, welcomed Snow into the cottage with a tough-minded generosity. Snow liked her immediately, even though she seemed like she could be prickly. Red immediately told her about what they’d found outside, and the three went back out.

Granny looked grimly out at the scene near the well, and with the full light of the morning, she went to town to sound the alarm. Soon tens — if not hundreds — gathered at the town hall for a meeting to discuss what was to be done. What the locals here called «Wolfstime» was nearly finished, apparently, but now the mayor was infuriated, as a half dozen of the town’s strongest men were dead. A good many of the people, men and women both, were hungry for vengeance. There was talk of another hunting party to go looking for the wolf that very night.

Snow White wondered just what she’d happened upon. A part of her thought it might be best to steal away in the night, but there was the threat of this wolf. And what’s more, she knew that while people were distracted with their own problems, they wouldn’t worry much about her.

— The one thing I know is that last night was the VERY LAST MASSACRE!

The crowd cheered its approval. Many stood and cried, — Kill the beast!

— Had I stayed with the party for just ten minutes longer, I would have been among the dead! — cried the mayor. — And had I doubled back? Perhaps I would have been able to slay the beast!

— You surely would have failed, — said a voice.

Snow looked to her left, as did Red. Granny had been the one to say it.

Snow could see that Red was mortified by her grandmother’s comment. She noticed Mayor Tompkins scanning the room, looking for the source of the remark. His eyes lingered on Red’s, and he smiled at her. Red looked away.

Hm, Snow White thought. Something’s there.

— This creature is more powerful than you can imagine, — said Granny. — Stronger, smarter. You wouldn’t have had a chance, Mayor. Stay inside, lock your doors, hide your children, forget your livestock! That’s my advice!

Granny’s advice was greeted with derision and boos.

— We’ve heard this from you before, Widow Lucas, — said the mayor.

— Aye, you have, — said Granny. — But I haven’t told you how I know.

The crowd went silent. Granny stood.

— Nearly three score years ago, I was a child with six older brothers as big as oak trees, all of them veterans of the second Ogre War. And my father, the biggest of them all. Come one Wolfstime, he decided to go out and take on the wolf. A different wolf back then, of course, but just as fearsome. They did it for me. They went out there to protect me. — At this point Granny nearly broke down, and Red reached up and took her hand.