Fan Fiction ❯ Specter of the Woods ❯ Leah and the Specter ( Prologue )

A/N: In my story, the specter is based off of my own imagination. I also give full credit to whoever wrote the original Little Red Riding Hood story. This is just my very *twisted* take on it. And just for your information, I have a little thing for choosing names that mean something and apply to the character, so here are the meanings for this story:

Leah: (pronounced `LAY-uh') weary

Kali: energy, dark goddess

Clara: bright, clear

 

Oh, and I also have an obsession with precious gems, so, there's going to be one. :-D

 

 

 

Evil Spirit Spring Contest

 

Leah made her way through the forest path with confidence, for she had gone down it many times. Her curls bounced with every step, and her voice echoed off the mountains nearby. Eyes peered out at her from behind bushes, wondering why such a cheerful girl dared to enter their domain so often. They knew something would have to be done about her. And so begins our story.

 

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“Mom! I'm home!” Leah shouted, taking off her walking boots and setting them by the door.

 

“Leah! Be quiet! You know that if you speak too loudly the animals will attack. And you were singing again, weren't you? Don't you know how dangerous that is?”

 

Leah sighed and helped her mother with the logs. Together, they lifted one log at a time and threw them in the fire. While they worked, the talked in whispers.

 

“Yes mother, I know how dangerous it is. But Clara cries all the time,” Leah said, referring to the small baby who was currently sleeping peacefully in her crib. “My singing is much quieter than her crying.”

 

“Leah, we've had this talk before. I've got a headache, and I need you to take some food to your grandmother. Could you do that for me?”

 

The girl pouted, but muttered a small yes and went to her room. Once there, she got out her special red cape that had a hood and tie strings. Leah loved this cape, as her grandmother had made it for her. She ddn't wear it often, but when she went to her grandmother's house, the cape was imperitave.

 

Leah slipped the cape on and tied the strings. She picked up her wicker basket and almost left the room when she remembered something. She ran over to the small table beside her bed, moved it to the side, and opened the small trap door. She reached into the hole she had dug in the ground on their first day in the house, and her fingers closed around the small jewel. She pulled her hand out and stared at the object in it. No matter how many times she saw the stone, it never ceased to amaze her. She slipped it into her pocket and slid the table back into place.

 

Coming into the kitchen, Leah smelled bread fresh out of the oven. “Mmmm, Mom that smells delicious!”

 

“Thank you dear. Now take the food to Grandma and come right back, you hear me? No detours, and absolutely no singing. I'll be able to hear you if you do.”

 

Leah rolled her eyes and slipped her boots back on. On the way out the front door, she started to whistle.

 

“No whistling either!”

 

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Kali waited behind a large tree, watching as the girl skipped past. She smiled evilly and followed Leah from the shadows.

 

Leah sang softly, unaware of the specter following her. She stopped when she saw a small clearing with flowers growing in it. Those would look great on Grandma's table!, she thought. She set her basket down and picked the prettiest ones. Meanwhile, Kali drew closer.

 

This is going to be fun, she thought. And easy. Kali turned into a bunny and hopped over to Leah.

 

“Oh, how cute!” Leah said. She picked the bunny up and cuddled it to her chest. Suddenly, the bunny started to grow larger, until it wasn't a bunny at all! It was a girl, older than herself but still a child. Leah stared at the girl. She had short black hair and black eyes. The girl smiled, and said,

 

“Hello, Leah. Are you ready to die?”

 

Leah gasped, surprised at the evil in the girl's eyes. “Wh-who are you? And why do you want to kill me?”

 

The girl smirked. “My name is Kali, the dark goddess. I am a Specter of the Woods. And I have been assigned to kill you by the Animals of the Woods. You are loud, and you do not belong in the woods. Now, prepare to die.”

 

Now it was Leah's turn to smirk. “You really think that I'm just a regular human? Do you honestly believe that I will let you kill me without a fight? Are you that dull?”

 

Kali's eyes darkened, and the sky grew black. “You dare to insult me? You will die a painful death for that, small one!” She lunged at Leah, her claws extended and smiled, remembering the last time she had killed a human. It had been a most exciting experience. Kali expected to feel the wonderful sensation of her claws ripping through flesh, but instead she felt a resistance in the air. Her movements slowed until she was suspended in the air.

 

Leah's eyes narrowed. “First of all, I am not a `small one'. My name is Leah. Second, your pitiful attempts to kill me will end in utter failure.” And with that, Leah release the specter from her invisible grip, and Kali crashed to the ground.

 

Who is this girl? How was she able to do hold me without even moving? Kali smiled. It doesn't matter. No mere human can defeat me!

 

Leah kept her hand on the jewel in her pocket. Please don't let her find it, she thought. I can't keep her away forever, but what about the Jewel? I have to keep it safe!

 

Kali lunged again, and Leah ducked and ran as fast as she could down the path. But alas, fate is cruel, and she tripped. Kali caught up quickly and tore at the poor girl with her claws. “Die, human!”

 

Leah screamed in pain as Kali's claws ripped through her back. She squeezed the jewel in her pocket and pulled it out, her hand wrapped around it so the specter wouldn't see. Leah scrambled to her feet, swaying from the pain. “I will not surrender to the likes of you!” she yelled.

 

Kali was furious. “You cannot talk to me that way! You are a mere human, I am a specter. You will die, and I will be the one to kill you!” Kali shot poison from her claws, smiling like a madman whenever Leah cried out. “Feel my hate, little girl!”

 

Leah dodged the poison, but she truely was just a human, and the jewel's power only went so far. Two poison darts hit her, one in the stomach, the other in the neck. The effects were instant. Leah fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

 

I must do something about the jewel. The specter can not get her hands on it! Leah thought for a second, then remembered something her grandmother had once told her when they had discussed the jewel. Quickly, she pulled the poison dart out of her neck and used its sharp edge to cut an X over her heart and put the jewel inside of her.

 

The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt, and just when she thought she couldn't handle it anymore, it stopped. Leah felt weak, and everything was fuzzy. The last thing she saw was Kali staring at her in surprise. Leah smiled peacefully as she fell asleep, never to wake again.

 

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A/N: I wrote this for the Evil Spring contest, but I missed the deadline. I decided to post it anyways, so here it is. And since it's not for the contest anymore, I'm not going to make it a one-shot. R & R! More to come soon.