Whispers of the Woods

"Morning Jerard," Gerald says as they're getting their tools for the day.

"Morning Gerald," Jerard replies.

"I was in town yesterday and met your daughter, she's very nice and sweet."

"Oh yeah?" He asks his face becoming more serious.

"Ease up buddy, you always get so serious so fast. Anyways, she was asking about you,"

"What did you tell her?" He says turning to Gerald.

"Nothing bad about you, I promise," he puts his hands up, "Just thought I'd let you know. Oh yeah, I heard Granny's sick. I know you two don't get along, but you should go and visit some time. People say they've seen someone, or something stalking around the town at night," Jerard stares into space for awhile, thinking before replying.

"I'm sure they're safe, I doubt any of the townsfolk would let anyone hurt them." And he continues to get some tools.

...

"Let's head to my office" Randy says as they walk past the sawmill, "What do you think of where your old man works?"

"Very loud!" She shouts, her hands over her ears. Randy chuckles.

"Yeah, you'll get used to it," They approach a small building with some windows and he unlocks the door. "Have a seat anywhere, you can even sit in my chair if ya like. I'll go get your dad,"

"Alright," She says heading straight for his chair full of energy and excitement. As she sits down she checks her basket for the millionth time to make sure she has the cake with her, which she still does. She puts it on his desk and starts to turn the chair side to side slightly out of sudden nervousness.

Jerard is just about to start sawing through a tree when he sees his boss signaling him. He turns off the chainsaw and heads over, removing his earmuffs.

"What's up?" He asks as he approaches Randy.

"I'm giving you the day off."

"What's the occasion?"

"We can discuss that in my office after you've put your equipment away," He says in serious tone, making Jerard completely confused. After he puts away his equipment he heads over to the office. Jerard enters to see Randy standing by his desk, and a girl in a bright red riding hood spinning in his chair.

"R-red?" He says completely baffled, startling her.She quickly stops herself, looking up at him in awe. She slowly gets out of the chair.

"Dad!" She exclaims with a smile, running to hug him, but falls from being so dizzy.

"I got ya!" He barely catching her in time. She manages to get her balance back, and hugs him,

"So, you're not firing me?"

"Of course not, I want you to spend some time with your daughter, she's been dying to see you. She even made something for you," He gestures towards her basket.

"Oh yeah!" She exclaims, running over to the desk and picking it up. She lifts the lid to show a medium sized caked, lined with caramel, "I-it's my own recipe," Jerard has a sudden look of curiosity and hunger in his eyes as he looks at the cake. He manages to shake himself out of his daze.

"It looks delicious," He says with a smile, "But, does Granny know about this?" He looks back and forth at Red and Randy, who both avoid eye contact. He let's out a sigh, "Okay, guess I can only take half the day off, cause I'm sure Granny would start asking questions if she returned home by dark. Guess we can go into town or something. How does that sound?" He looks down at Red.

"Sounds great,"

"Alright, let's go that," They start heading out, but Jerard stops at the door, "Oh, and thanks Randy,"

"No problem, just don't expect any donuts next Monday," Randy replies with a smile.

"Got it,"

The two leave the mill, and enter the parking lot where they get into his red truck.

Red spends most of the time glancing at the forest and at her dad as the radio plays music. After some time he lowers the volume.

"Something on ya mind? I'm sure you have a million questions for me,"

"Hm?" She says, caught off guard, "Oh, yeah...um...now I can't think of them...uh...oh, um, where do you live?"

"I live off in the woods, about a half hour from the mill, and an hour and a half from town,"

"Do you live in a cabin?"

"A two story one. Me and your mom built it with the help of Randy and his workers,"

"What's it like?"

"It's large, made using the trees that stood on the very ground it was made on, lots of windows to let in the morning light,"

"Not that, uh, I meant what it's like to live in the forest,"

"It's peaceful, as long as you don't let the old whispers of the woods get to you,"

"Whispers of the woods..?"

"It's what we call the rumors we tell each other at work. It's a rumor of it's own in a way. When someone can't think of how they know a story, they simply say, the woods whispered it to them,"

Red looks back at the woods once more looking at them with a new curiosity. She turns back to Jerard.

"What are some of the stories you've heard?"

"All kinds. Talking animals, stairs that appear and disappear, tree monsters. I'm sure you're heard of this one, the Big Bad Wolf?"

"The Big Bad Wolf, I haven't heard that since I was five or something. You guys really talk about that at work?"

"Oh yeah, only that's the name people only tell children not to scare them too much," He says, glancing at her with a smile.

"What do you guys call it?"

"We call it the Demon Wolf."