“No.” He shook his head, his eyes sad. “That’s the rewritten version. In the original version, the French version written by Charles Perrault, Little Red Riding Hood is tricked by the wolf and she ends up being eaten. There is no one there to save her. At the end of the real story, all that is left is a fat wolf.”
“What are you trying to say?” I frowned. “What happened to Eugenie? Did Grant do something to her?”
“If I were to tell you I wouldn’t be a good employee, would I?” He nodded his head slowly. “And I’m already close to getting fired, as you so delicately pointed out.” He stepped back and walked to the door. “Go in the shower Evie. Shower and get dressed.” He walked out of the room briskly and I stood there in shock, my body shaking in fear. This was not a joke anymore. I was in serious shit. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I needed to find a way to get out of here. And I needed to find it quickly. I certainly didn’t want to be anyone’s dinner.
Chapter Two
You ever watch those horror movies and watch as the woman runs right into the hands of the villain. You sit there and watch her slowly walking through the house and you want to scream at her to go and hide in a closet or jump into a car or call 911 or do something, other than walk towards the person that’s after her. It happens in every horror movie. You sit there with your heart in your hands, your brain screaming at the woman begging her to stop being so stupid. You think to yourself, if that was me, I wouldn’t be sticking around or grabbing a small kitchen knife. I’d be hiding or running. It’s so easy to watch movies and think that. It’s a lot harder to be in a situation of danger, and know what to do.
I’m not stupid. I know that something is off in this house. I know that Grant and Tyler seem like they are bad news. I know I was dumb to come back with Grant after knowing him for barely ten minutes - and even dumber for ha**ng s*x with him. I know many people would find it hard to believe that I’m not a slut or someone that has casual sex a lot. I don’t. And I’m not even sure why not. I don’t have anything against casual sex. In fact, I rather enjoyed being with Grant last night; even though I was now starting to question myself.
“Leave, Evie. Grab your clothes and leave.” I muttered to myself as I stood there. I couldn’t seem to move my feet and I knew that a part of me didn’t want to leave. A part of me wanted to find out what had happened to Eugenie. I was an investigative reporter. At least that’s what I wanted to be. How could I leave now that there was a real mystery right in front of me? I know, I know. I’m dumb. I should have fled right away. But I was also intrigued by Tyler. And I hated myself for it. It made me feel cheap. I walked to my phone and quickly called Hailey, she’d know what I should do.
“Hey, it’s me.” I whispered as soon as she answered.
“Where the f**k are you, Evie?” Hailey sounded upset.
“I already told you that...” I started and she cut me off.
“I can’t believe that you hung up on me last night.” She was fuming. “Where are you?”
“I’m still at Grant’s house.”
“Who the f**k is Grant?” She screeched.
“The guy I met last night.” I said softly. “Look, I don’t think I should leave right now.”
“Oh my God, do not tell me you had a one night stand and now you think it’s going somewhere?” Hailey was shouting. “I knew this was a mistake. Please Evie, just come home.”
“Hailey.” I walked towards the bathroom so that the two men couldn’t hear me. “I don’t think a one night stand is going anywhere.”
“So you had sex with him?” She screamed.
“Hailey, stop it!”
“Was it good?” She said softly. “I hope it was the best sex of your life because I am going to kill you when I see you.”
“It was good, but that’s not what I’m calling about.”
“What are you calling about?” She sounded suspicious. “Oh God, do not tell me you’re pregnant.”
“Hailey,” I giggled. “I had sex last night, I’m not going to wake up knowing I’m pregnant.”
“Evie, I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you.” She screeched again. “Tell me about this Grant.”
“Well the reason I’m calling has to do with another guy.”
“You did not have a threesome.” She screeched again.
“Hailey, get a grip.” I sighed, though my face warmed at the thought. “You know I didn’t have a threesome. You know I don’t do threesomes.”
“Well, you never did one night stands’ either.”
“Hailey, non-judgment zone please.” I sighed. “I was doing you a favor remember.”
“I know, I know. So what’s going on with Grant and this other guy?”
“So this other guy was telling me about this girl that died and I think Grant did something to her. I think something fishy is going on.”
“Oh God, Evie, get the f**k out of there.”
“I think I should stay and try and figure out what’s going on.”
“Are you out of your bloody mind?”
“I was out of my mind when I agreed to do this job for you.” I sighed. “I didn’t even get my five grand.”
“I’ll give you five hundred if you come now.” Hailey pleaded. “Please do not go playing Nancy Drew, Evie. You’re not Nancy or Veronica Mars.”
“What about Stephanie Plum?”
“Evie.” She groaned. “Just come home please.”
“Grant doesn’t want me to leave.” I whispered. “At first I thought it was a joke, but I think he might be a bit of—”
“Why aren’t you in the shower?” Tyler walked into the room with a frown on his face. I quickly closed the phone and gave him a weak smile.
“I was just calling my friend.”
“For?”
“To let her know I was alright.”
“So you’re alright?” He shook his head. “You’re stuck in a house you want to leave, yet you call your friend to tell her you’re alright? Are you crazy?”
“No, are you?” I licked my lips nervously. “I’m about to go in the shower now.”
“Can I come in with you?”
“No.” My fingers trembled and I dropped the phone. Tyler walked over to me and we both bent down to pick it up. As we both grabbed it, our fingers touched and we stopped and stared into each other’s eyes. Tyler’s expression looked sad as he stared at me and I could see him studying me intently. He reached up and brushed a piece of hair away from my eyes.
“You have beautiful green eyes. They remind me of the night time forest near the house I grew up in.”
“Oh?”
“They have a dark green, almost brown hue to them. They’re inviting me in, yet I feel something treacherous lurking beyond their beauty.”
“You think I’m the treacherous one?” I gasped and he nodded.
“There’s more to you than meets the eye, Evie.”
“There’s really not. I promise.” I stood up and tried to grab my phone away from him. “I’d like it back now please.”