Hints of the orange sky flicker from in-between the trees. The cold air sends bumps up my arms and hair against my face. Pulling my red cloak over, I hurry through the icy winds. I’ve never walked through the woods this late before and despite being familiar along the yellow path, my heart pounds. As long as I [[stick to the pathway]] I should reach Grandma’s in time.‘Help me,’ a voice screams.
A faint growl diverts my gaze across the bridge to my right. Through the entwined branches, a grey wolf whimpers by a small tree. Staying low, I move off the yellow path and [[take a closer look]].The claws of a bear trap clamp around the back of the wolf’s leg. Blood stains his grey fur. Grandma always hated those traps. She’d shown me many of times how to release the latch in case I ever found an innocent animal caught in one. I know she’d want me to [[help the wolf]], but I might not have enough time and I need to [[get to Grandma’s]].He might kill me. I can’t risk it. The wolf’s yellow eyes look pleading as I [[turn around]] and leave him.Maybe this is a bad idea. His yellow eyes watch me intensely. He’s much larger than I thought. His teeth are twice the size of my hand. The flesh on is leg is cut so deep; a hint of bone protrudes out. The latch of the trap is visible. I [[take a step forward]].The trees block the moon, making the pathway almost impossible to see. The wolf’s howl is now a distant echo but the faint rustling of leaves sends a shiver down my spine. A branch snaps to my left, another to my right. I [[stop]] as I worry I’m not alone.I look to the side of the path as I notice something unusual in the corner of my eyes. I walk over and realise it’s a piece of red cloth. There looks to be something bundled up inside. I pick it up and start to unravel it. A knife falls to the floor, the blade covered in dry blood. I bend down and [[pick up the knife]].Another branch snaps, followed by a faint growl behind me. I spin around but I’m met by darkness.
‘Who’s there,’ I yell.
‘I’m the wolf you left to die,’ a voice barks.
‘How did you escape?’ I ask.
‘Like you care,’ he snaps. ‘You left me there to die like the filthy human who left me in that trap.’
‘I wanted to help but…’ Before I have time to finish the familiar yellow eyes become visible between the trees. The large, slender body limps towards me. His teeth make my knife look like a needle.
‘I don’t care for your excuses. You’ll make for a great supper tonight.’ He snarls.
Suddenly, he lunges at me and I [[plunge the knife at the wolf]].
The wolf falls heavy on top of me. A sharp pain spreads across my chest as all my breath escapes. I push the wolf’s limp body off me. Blood floods the floor as he cries out in pain. His legs shake as he tries to get back up. I want to help but I [[have to run]].My breathing is shallow. I feel faint. The woods spin faster and faster. Grandma’s house is just a blur of colour. I want to fall to the floor but I’m almost there. Colours from various flowers fill the garden with joy and the smell of roses lingers from all around. I run and [[open the door]].I burst into Grandma’s bedroom. Her faint breathing brings me some relief.
‘Grandma, I have your medicine!’
Taking the medicine from my pocket, I hurry to her bedside. I ease it into her mouth and watch as the colour quickly returns to her cheeks.
'Don't worry Grandma, you'll be alright now.'Reaching for the trap, the wolf takes a step towards me. He straightens his back causing his fur to stand straight like the spikes of a hedgehog. He snaps and sends me flying to the ground. I shuffle backwards on my bum before he can pounce at me again. The wolf looks at me with sorrowful eyes. I could try again but I’m not sure if I [[trust the wolf]]. Maybe I should [[get to Grandma’s]]?I reach across again and slowly pull the latch up. A foul smell sends bile up my throat. The claws of the trap contract revealing blood and puss. The wolf moves his leg away from the trap and immediately turns towards me. I [[shield my face]] with one arm as he stands on his back legs. ‘Sorry about before. Didn’t mean to snap. Never know who to trust around here.’
Moving my arm, I look around to see who spoke. I notice the wolf is rummaging through the small tree.
‘Left my belonging here and fell into this trap. Been here for hours,’ the wolf says.
He looks at me as I struggle to conceal the shock. ‘What’s a girl like you doing out here so late anyway?’ He pokes his head back into the tree, keeping his hears pulled back.
I try to [[figure out what to say]]. ‘I need to get to my Grandma, she’s sick. But I probably won’t make it.’ My voice breaks. I try not to think about her all alone in that house.
‘Grandma? I know her. She’s helped me out many of times,’ he laughs as he pulls his head out from the tree and points to a scare on his front leg.
‘Tell you what; I’ll give you a gift for helping me out. It should help you get to Grandma on time.’ He continues to rummage through the tree. ‘There you are.’ He pulls out a wooden kiosk tray from the tree. Only two items sit on it, a [[pocket watch]] and a [[potion]]. ‘One of these should do the trick. Be sure to pick wisely.’The pocket watch feels cold and heavy. The glass is cracked and the dials are still.
‘Good choice. Follow my instructions carefully; you can only use this once. All you need to do is turn the dial forward eight times. This should send time back enough for you to get to Grandmas,’ he says. ‘Good luck.’ He flashes a grin and limps away.
Once out of sight, I [[turn the dial eight times]].
The potion feels cold and heavy. The glass is clear and the fluid is blue.
‘Good choice. Follow my instructions carefully; be careful who you trust. All you need to do is drink the potion. This should guide you the fastest route to Grandma’s,’ he says. ‘Good luck.’ He winks and limps away.
Once out of sight, I [[drink the potion]]. I watch as clouds suddenly begin to speed past. The sky transforms from light to dark, light to dark. Leaves change in colour as the season pass by. Green, yellow, brown… black. The trees begin to shrink. My head hurts as the world spins faster and faster. My vision blurs as my legs become week and I [[fall to the floor]].When I awake, the floor feels like ash. Most of the trees have disappeared. The forest is bare. I [[push myself off the ground]].The woods look as though they’ve been caught on fire as I wonder around. I notice a house in the distance and [[walk towards it]].The door hangs from its hinges and all the windows are smashed. Most of the bricks lie on the ground, the roof demolished. There is nothing here. No flowers, no insects, no life. I [[take a step back]] observing the house. It looks similar to Grandma’s house but it can’t be. Grandma’s house is beautiful and smells of fresh roses. My legs ache as I return to my home town. I should be here by now but everything is gone. I stop as and look around in disbelief. I’m alone… at the end of the world.I’ve nothing left to lose. Approaching the wolf, his eyes look friendlier than before. He has something in his mouth and places it on the floor.
‘We have waited many years for this moment,’ he says.
‘What?’
‘My ancestor gave you a watch similar to this one, many years ago. Did he not?’
‘Yes.’ I reply.
‘He told you to turn the dial forward eight times. Only wolves have always struggled with the concept of time. When he left you that night, he realised you were only supposed to turn it three times backwards. When he went back, you’d already gone. He’s passed the story on for many years knowing you’d been sent to this very moment… to the end of the world.’
My eyes fill with tears as I realise Grandma is no longer here. Even if I trust the wolf, it might be too late. I [[pick up the watch]]. ‘You’ll now need to turn the dial back eleven times, good luck.’
I [[turn the dial back]] and watch again as the clouds race past. The wolf suddenly disappears as the earth spins beneath my feet. Everything turns black again.
When I awake, the sky is blue. Grandma’s house is perfectly restored to the beautiful place I remember. Colours from various flowers fill the garden with joy and the smell of roses lingers from all around. I run and [[open the door]].Everything becomes a blur as the earth spins beneath my feet. The bottle smashes against the floor but I’m too distracted by someone standing in the distance. I [[stumble over]].The handsome features of the man become more and more visible. His long, golden hair, polished skin and hazel eyes.
‘My name is Edmund and I’ve come to rescue your Grandma.’ His voice is deep, ‘Follow me and I will guide you through the forest.’ He reaches out his hand and I [[take hold of it]].We wonder through the forest hand in hand. The smell of fresh flowers fills the air. The pathway is paved with colourful tulips and daisies. The leaves transform into blossoms and gently fall all around us. Suddenly, Edmund lets go of my hand and the pathway splits in two. He walks down one of the two pathways and turns back to look at me.
‘Trust me,’ Edmund says as he holds out his hand again.
Down the other pathway which is black and eerie, a small wolf sits watching me as if he’s hungry, but too hungry to move any further. He might know where Grandma’s is. My heart’s telling me to [[follow Edmund]] but maybe I should [[follow the wolf]], they’ve been trustworthy so far.Taking his hand, I follow him. As we reach the end of the path, Grandma’s house becomes clearer and clearer. The flowered path vanishes along with the blossom trees. My hand feels empty and when I look to my left, Edmund has gone. Dazed and confused, colours from various flowers fill the garden with joy and the smell of roses lingers from all around. I run and [[open the door]].As I approach the wolf, he suddenly leaps off into the forest. I’m not sure why, but I find myself running after him. Not on two legs but four. Fur breaks out from my skin like the spikes of a hedgehog. Confusion overwhelms me as I continue to run, losing all sense of who I am. The wolf howls and I howl back.I should have known the juicy, red apples I picked this morning were poisonous. The doctor said she’ll be fine as long as I reach her before midnight. I [[move my cloak]] to ensure the purple medicine bottle is in my pocket.A rustling from behind startles me. A small wolf watches as if he’s hungry, but too hungry to move any further. He might know something. I’m not sure if I should [[trust him]]. The last one didn’t help, maybe I should just [[run]].