Little Red Riding Hood
      Inspired by this writing prompt.
She felt like Little Red Riding Hood with her maroon coat and its collar pulled up around her neck to protect herself from the cold a little more, and her bag filled with sweet foodstuffs.
    With every step she took the trees felt as though they were coming in a little closer. A thick layer of fog blocked out the sky, and every step she took was uncertain. If she looked down she could barely see the ground, and felt like something would grab her so suddenly. Looking away from the trees was a danger; she was certain that they would trap her and leave her to die in the woods that she was so unfamiliar with.
    The leaves didn’t crunch beneath her feet, but she could feel the weight of her shoe pressing them down. She walked a little faster, wanting to be rid of the feeling. Hearing a rumple of leaves she dared not turn around. There was something after her, she was sure of it. The wolf. It was the wolf looking to beat her to her destination and eat her for breakfast. Her pace picked up again and she was in a slow jog. The quicker she could get out of the woods, the better.
    Monsters were chasing her. All the vampires and zombies and werewolves she had read about had come to life and they were in this one place, looking to end her life. She knew it, and she knew that she wouldn’t make it out.
    Her breathing was heavy. She began to run, and she swore she could hear them chasing her. They were running too, and they were faster than her. She had been in the woods for what felt to be a never-ending eternity. It didn’t feel like it was going to end. It wouldn’t end. She should have stayed to the path like she had been told. Nobody could resist a shortcut.
    Tears began to sting in her eyes. She thought she could see the ending, but she could never be certain. The trees continued to close in around her and everything felt darker than it had once been. She began to slow, and she knew she wouldn’t make it.
    She wouldn’t make it.
    She couldn’t.
    She couldn’t.
    And then a foot set upon hardened grass and dirt rather than the leaves that weren’t so crunchy. Realisation struck her. She had made it. Looking back she saw no monsters and no wolves, and no trees like the ones that had been closing in around her. She looked to the path ahead of her, much more sunshine and flowers than fog and leaves. A smile came to her face. She had survived against all odds.
    Once again she felt like Little Red Riding Hood, a bounce in her step and a smile gracing her features as she made her way home.