Monday Flash Fics: In the Dark

In the Dark

The door had been left unlocked, just as I they’d told me it would be. The hallway behind it was narrow and dark. Squinting my eyes, I searched in vain for a light switch. I suppressed a curse; I hated being in the dark.

Moving slowly, I made my way to the staircase I could vaguely make out in front of me, and carefully climbed towards the top floor. My orders had been clear and I’d followed them to a T. This was the last part of my journey, even if I wasn’t entirely sure what I would encounter at the end of it. I knew what I hoped to find though.

It was even darker, when I reached the top, but I could see there was only one door on the small landing. Disturbingly, no light shone from the gap between the door and the threshold, but I knew what I had to do, so I knocked. Once.

“Enter.”

The voice was deep, somewhat hoarse, and not completely unfamiliar. My heartbeat, already accelerated after the climb, picked up more speed as I grabbed the handle and pushed it down.

If possible, the interior of the room was more devoid of light than the hall and staircase had been, and I hesitated.

“What are you waiting for? Was there any part of your instructions you didn’t understand?” The voice came from somewhere straight ahead of me. “Come in and close the door.”

Still I waited, wondering whether whatever might come next would be worth the risk.

“Now!”

I couldn’t ignore the command in that voice and obeyed.

“That’s more like it.” His voice — because I was now sure it belonged to a man — had lost some of the aggressive note it had held before.

“Tell me about your journey here.”

I swallowed. I didn’t want to talk about what I’d experienced as a long walk of shame. But I’d come that far, giving up then would have been stupid.

“It was horrific,” I confessed. “People pointed at me, laughed and jeered.” My mouth was dry, and I swallowed hard before continuing. “Little kids followed me, shouting insults, asking me what I was supposed to be, and …”

“And what?” He sounded almost kind now.

“A little girl, about four years old, burst out crying. She asked her mother why Little Red Riding Hood had a beard.”

“But you came anyway. You didn’t turn around and go back.”

It wasn’t a question so I didn’t react.

“I’m proud of you.” Affection had slipped into his voice.

Suddenly a light came on and I blinked, momentarily blinded. Then I saw him, sitting in a big armchair, dressed all in black with his long hair flowing to his broad shoulders, and his smile almost feral.

“Thank you, Master Wolf.”

“Well done, Red. Now come here.” He pointed to the floor space next to his feet.

I closed this distance, knelt, and relished the moment when he pulled me close, until my head rested against his knee.

“Now you’re mine.”

My heart soared. After hoping he would notice me for over six months, he’d at last accepted me.

“And for me,” he continued, “you’ll learn to love making a show of yourself. Before too long you’ll cherish the dark. For me you’ll overcome all your fears and boundaries.”

He was right.

Today he brought me to the promenade and took this photo. He made me wear a coat this time. I didn’t want to put it on. Because I couldn’t be prouder of being Little Red for my Master Wolf. 

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*sighs* 610 words. 

I wasn't going to write a story for this picture and then I not only changed my mind, but also went way over the 500 word target. Just as well the Monday Flash Fics group members don't take that rule too seriously. 

Talking about the group, more stories based on this image can be found here: Flash Enjoy!