Jonathan grabbed the basket, and pulled back the napkin. It was filled with big dark red apples. Jonathan licked his lips and slammed the refrigerator door. He carried the basket of apples back into the main room. He was sure that the others would appreciate his resourcefulness.
A cold draft swept down the corridor making Jonathan shiver. He noticed a not too dusty red sheet covering a picture on the wall. Jonathan pulled the sheet off the frame, and shook it out and then wrapped himself in the sheet. He was startled to see his reflection in the uncovered frame. It was a mirror and not a picture. He laughed at his reflection.
"I look like I'm right out of a fairy tale!" he laughed daintily dancing in his makeshift red cape and waving the basket. "Just call me red riding hood."
He skipped down the hall waving his basket of apples all the way.
He didn't see the cloudy shape forming in the mirror or hear it whisper as he skipped away.
"Fairy tale that much is true,
But tis white not red that is the hue,
Those apples were soaked in the witch's brew,
Take a bite and sleeping death is your due."
A woman stepped out of the shadows. She looked young, but she moved like an old woman. Her lips were lush with youth, and red as blood, but her voice crackled with the dust of the grave.
"Mirror, mirror, in witch's brew,
those apples steeped that is true,
But only one was cursed with sleep,
Each one contains a curse unique."
"Now mirror, mirror, tell me true,
What am I going to do?" she incanted with a sigh.
The image in the mirror shuddered. It had been so long since it had been summoned, it had hoped against hope that she had not survived, but like a bad penny his mistress endured.
"Fairest Queen, True Youth You Seek," began the mirror.
"Yes-s-s-s, yes-s-s, true youth, not glamour," the witch hissed.
"Best Bide Your Time & Do Not Speak," the image in the mirror didn't like the rhyme, but he was out of practice.
"Hide In the Shadows, Your Council Keep,
Those Youths Adventures May Displace Your Creep."
"My creep, my curse," she signed, "But faithful servant, your counsel I will bide, and in the shadows watch and hide," the witch said slipping into the night.
Jonathan laughed as he sat down in red sheet, and grabbed an apple out of the basket. He polished the apple on the sheet, and took a big bite.
The apple was crisp, and the crunch was loud. The juice was sweet and tart, and the spell began to weave its curse...