The night was deep.
Night enveloped the orphanage. The corridors outside gradually fell silent as the children exhausted themselves playing during the day, and most had already fallen asleep. The "parents" making their rounds carried flashlights as they walked down the halls, beams occasionally flashing past the observation windows in the doors, accompanied by deliberately softened footsteps.
Little Red Riding Hood changed into her nightdress and leaned against the headboard, listening closely to the sounds outside.
She was listening for brief cries in the night and unusual screams. Her wolf sniffed out the scents of fear and unease in the shadows, searching for anything that should not be there—anything that had leaked into reality under cover of darkness.
Even on days when she did not need to take a night-watch shift, she had already developed this habit.
Only after quite some time did she finally let out a soft sigh of relief and lie down on the bed.
The first hour after lights-out was when things were most likely to go wrong. It looked like tonight would be peaceful.
The upper bunk creaked and groaned. A head poked over the edge of the bed, curiosity written across her face. "Red, going to sleep this early today? You really have been sleeping more lately."
"Mm, I'm getting sleepy." Little Red Riding Hood yawned, speaking with a hint of drowsiness. "Besides, I've got a date tonight."
Rapunzel, sleeping in the upper bunk, looked confused. She did not understand what that meant at first, but within a few seconds she reacted, and a name she had only recently grown familiar with popped into her mind. "...That uncle called Yu Sheng?"
"He's not that old. You should call him 'bro.'" Little Red Riding Hood rolled her eyes. "Yes, him. He asked me to meet