"I don't know if we're allowed to do this."

"Who's here to stop us?" he asked.

"Aren't there rules or something?"

"I don't think anyone expected people from our worlds to be attracted to one another."

"I don't see how this could be allowed."

"Why not?" he asked.

"You're from another world, Connor. If it weren't for some freak accident, you wouldn't even be here."

"But I am."

"For how long though? Don't you plan on going back once this is over?"

He just pulled me closer to his body, holding me tight, "Don't worry about that right now."

"I don't want to get attached to you, and you leave," I whimpered.

He said nothing. I knew he wanted to go home, and I couldn't blame him. The problem with that was I didn't want to send him back. We stood there for a few long moments, embracing each other. Neither of us saying what needed to be said, neither of us wanting to let the other go. But we knew that it couldn't last. I knew he would be another man to disappoint if I let him. The tears welled in my eyes, and slowly slid down my cheeks. It was so ridiculous for me to get this worked up over a guy I'd met a few short days ago, and has since been driving me insane. Something about him though kept me there. I didn't want the embrace to end. I didn't want him to go back to being a fairy tale. I wanted to keep him real. I wanted to keep him with me. He had to be mine. The crazy feeling was so foreign to me. I wasn't an attention crazed person. I hated this so much.

"Let's run away together. Somewhere nobody will find us," I mumbled while burying my head into his chest, ignoring the fact it was a completely crazy thought.

"We can't, Elysse. We have to stop the wolves and the Great Evil."

"Let's let them go. They've been just fine all this time."

"People are dying, Elysse. Things are not fine. We can't let wolves run free to eat people."

I knew he was right. I couldn't go on knowing that people were walking around wearing red hoods, and risking being eaten by some crazy shape-shifting person. I did not want to admit that he was right. I knew he was, but I did not want to admit it.

"We need to get back to work," he said rubbing my arms.

"I know."

The day went by slowly. I did whatever I could to stay in my office. My mind wasn't on my work. I felt so distracted, and nothing I did could make me focus on the mountain of paperwork that sat on the corner of the desk. I threw my pencil down and put my head in my hands. I sat there a few moments before looking up. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the large, white box tied with a red ribbon sitting on the small sofa. Not moving from my chair, I stared at it; not entirely sure if it was really there or not. I knew it wasn't there this afternoon when I left for my errand, and it definitely wasn't there this morning. Who had been in my office, and why would they bring a gift here? I better open it! I got up, and headed across the room. I sat next to the box and looked for a card. A small white envelope was tucked into the ribbon on the front.

"What is this?" I said to myself quietly, "Elysse Grimm. Well at least I know it's for me."

The mystery gift wasn't super heavy. About as heavy as a winter jacket would be, but why would someone send me a jacket?

I tugged at the satin ribbon and let it fall to the floor. Cautiously I pulled the lid off the box and placed it on the sofa. Inside laid a soft, velvety fabric. It was an amazingly beautiful shade of red with tiny red and white gemstones swirled around the outside of it. I pulled the fabric out and realized it was a long cape. The lining of it was a very shiny, brightly colored red. I held the cloak out in front of me to examine it closer. I looked around to make sure nobody was peeping in my window. Once I was sure that I was really alone, I swung the cloak onto my shoulders. The fabric was even softer than it looked. It felt so right on. I twirled in little circles letting the fabric envelop me.

"Where did you get that?" a surprised voice asked behind me.

I spun to see Connor's shocked face.

"Connor!" I gasped.

"Elysse, where did that cape come from?"

"I don't know. It was sitting over on the sofa when I got back."

"So you just tried it on?" he asked steadily raising his voice.

"My name was on the little card attached to the box," I bent over to get the card for him.

"Of course it is! Don't you see what's going on?" he shouted knocking it out of my hand.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Aren't you even a little curious to know who sent you a red cloak?"

"Maybe a little," I mumbled while swishing the beautiful garment around my feet.

"She must have found out who you are and where you are."

"Who?" I asked not really paying attention.

"The Great Evil. The woman who is causing serious hell around here right now."

"How do you know it's a woman?"

"All the villains in fairy tales are women," he said matter-of-factly.

"All of them?" I asked skeptically.

"Well, a majority," he stared at the cape tied around my neck, "Did that card say who it was from?"

"No, it had my name on it. Someone left me a present."

"So you thought to put it on? How do you know it's not from the great queen?"

"It's pretty. Look at the sparkles!" I said running my hand along the gems on the back.

"Yeah, it's pretty. It's also an amazing replica, maybe even the real red riding hood cloak."

"How do you know?"

"I am the huntsman."

"You've been here for sixteen years."

"I saw it all the time as a kid. It's not something you just forget. Now take that thing off."

"I don't want to," I stated flatly.

"You have to, Elysse. Who knows what has been done to it."

"Nothing has been done to it, Connor. It's just pretty red fabric someone mysteriously left here as a gift for me."

Connor lunged forward, grabbing for the twisted cord that kept the cape attached to me. I desperately tried getting away from him, but it was no use, his lunge was longer than my trip backwards. He managed to grasp one of the cords and tugged on it. The neat little bow at the front of my neck came undone, and the cape slid off my shoulders. I stood there looking down at the sparkling, crumpled heap at my feet and suddenly felt so naked. The clothes I had on felt like nothing. I dropped to my knees grabbing at the cloak fiercely trying to get it back on. Connor grabbed it out of my hands, and threw it across the room where it lay in a corner like a discarded rag. He clutched my wrists together and drug me to my feet.

"Elysse! What is wrong with you?" he asked.

"It's mine! Give it back to me!" I shouted at him, wrenching my arms, trying to free myself from his iron grip.

"Knock it off! Why are you acting so crazy?"

"I need the cloak!" I wailed.