Chapter 6: 2.1 Supply Run

     A series of train cars had rolled to a stop shortly after Jack had separated them from the rest of the train. “Jack, we need to restock. Care to grab some ammo and rations?”

     “Sure thing. Should I bring some Senzu beans as well?”

     She swings the sword, opening a portal to a small cabin while shaking her head. “No, it would only be a waste. I just need food and rest for now.”

     “Want me to take Wolf along?”

     “That’s fine. I’ll get a fire going here.”

     Jack steps through the portal and Wolf follows, stopping to look back before stepping through. A moment later, the portal closes behind them, leaving the two on a hill with the small cabin.

     “Where are we?” Wolf asks.

     “This is the real world…the one we left before the train. Our supplies are kept here.”

     “Why do you jump at her every command?” Jack pushes the cabin door open, revealing a sparsely-furnished interior. A single bed sits to one side with a kitchenette to the other. An antler themed chandelier hangs in the center of the room with a large table sitting below it. Racks of various firearms adorn the walls and ammo cans sit on a rack by the table. “Geez,” Wolf proclaims. “Y’all are taking this Grandma war seriously huh?”

     Jack grabs a bag and continues over to a table, then proceeds to fill it with ammo. “For starters, yes, we’re serious about fighting her grandmother. As for your other question, I know you don’t see it this way, Wolf, but she actually saved us. I guess, I feel like I owe her, you know?”

     “How exactly,” Wolf asks, his words clipped, “has she saved anyone?”

     Jack nods as he grabs another bag and heads over to a cherry colored pantry. “It was something between her and her grandfather. They used to enjoy old stories together. One of them was Little Red Riding Hood, about us. Another, was Hansel and Gretel.”

     “Well, why didn’t she go save them if she’s such a hero?”

     Jack reaches for something on a top shelf but pauses, resting his hand on a loaf of bread as he sighs. “We both went, trying to do just that. Unfortunately, her grandmother guessed as much. When we arrived, there was some sort of bakery house that had been burned to the ground…along with the remains of two kids…on spikes.”

     Wolf’s gaze drops towards the floor before looking back up. “It was them; I take it?”

     Jack nods as he continues pulling things from the top of the cabinet. “The very same.”

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     “So she’s not really Red then. Not the one we know, I mean. What happened to ours then?”

     Jack turns back and brings the sack of food to sit next to the ammo. “Last I saw of—our—Red, Sarah knocked her out with a punch.”

     “She actually punched Red? What is she, like 9? 10?”

     Jack chuckles. “Sarah isn’t one to waste time with words. After she knocked out Red, she used her as a hostage to convince her mother to follow us into another world where they would be safe.” Jack becomes distant as his eyebrows furrow. “I don’t recall where that was though. After that, she let you chase her through one of her portals and you’ve been in the real world ever since.”

     Wolf looks down at the floor again, then stands upright and walks over to the table with Jack. “Wow, our new Red is a real beacon of Sainthood. You think that’s worth supporting?”

     “I do. Like I said, I’m in her debt. Besides, it’s not like she’s just going to through us to the wolves…err, no offense.” Wolf shakes his head, while suppressing a smile. “But she’s already put a lot of time and effort into getting me prepared. Some of her methods might be…strange, but there’s no denying the results.”

     Wolf looks over the mountain man, then nods. “You do look a little more Jacked than I remember.” Jack stares flatly at him for a moment as Wolf waits, expectantly. “Come on! You know that was gold.”

     Jack shakes his head. “Just, no. I’ll have to see if she can work some humor into whatever regimen she puts you through.”

     “Wait, what? Regimen? What else am I getting into here?”

     “Relax. Whatever she does, I’m confident that it’ll make you better at being you.”

     “Just what did she have you doing?”

     Jack smiles brightly. “It may sound kind of silly, but she actually linked me up with this Italian boxer. He had me chasing around some chickens, running stairs, and even some wood chopping, though my axe had a few weights strapped to it. I know it sounds crazy, but my strength and endurance shot way up. I’m sure she’ll come up with more training partners along the way.”

     “Catching chickens? I can do that. Can we sign me up for that one?”

     Jack grabs the two bags, then passes one to Wolf. “I can’t really say. We’ll just have to see what she thinks would be best. But, we can worry about that later. Let’s just get back out there and watch for the portal. She’ll probably be opening it again before too long.”

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