My own personal story.
I hope you enjoy it and tell me if I should continue on with it.
Ch. 1 The trip.
It was her dream vacation. It was something she had always wanted to do, and in an area that she always wanted to visit. She had seen pictures of the scenery but she wasn't even prepared for what she was going to encounter and see in Stirling, Scotland.
Heather was terrified of flying. She paced around the inside of the Louisiana airport wondering if she could really do this. Scotland had always been a dream spot for her, ever since she had read the book Outlander and seen pictures and heard of its wondrous history. 'Oh god…' she repeated over and over in her mind. She glanced back out the window at the approaching darkness, 'thank goodness I'm not flying during the day..less to see.'
She thought back to her family and the boyfriend she was leaving behind for a week to learn about the beautiful country of Scotland. Her mom didn't want her to come; she didn't want her to come alone and they had gone to war over it. In the end she had won, by the help of her dad. The man that had given her the deal in Scotland her father knew. He had been a Seabee with him and now owned an inn in Stirling.
Her boyfriend Kyle almost came but that was a lot of work for him to miss. She sighed sadly she'd miss him so much...
Suddenly an announcer called over the intercom, "Flight 299 to California is now boarding." Heather looked down at her ticket with shaking hands; she had to make a stop before she could fully get to Stirling. She took in a deep breath and sent a little prayer up to heaven. Her phone rang in her pocket and she answered. "Hey baby," she said to the opposite receiver. "Hey sweetie are you about to board?" "I am," I told my boyfriend of a year, "I miss you baby have a lot of fun and take PICTURES."
I chuckled, "Alright baby well we're boarding now, I love you so much and I will call you as soon as I get to California."
There was a pregnant pause at the end of the line and he sighed, "Alright baby, I love you so much MORE." She smiled and said "No, you don't" "Bye.." She hung up the phone and turned to the stewardess. She shakily handed her the ticket and looked down the terminal fearing for her life.
The plane was hell of a long one. She never stopped clutching the arm rests for a second and she dared not look out the window. The landing was rough and she sent another prayer up to the heavens.
Heather hurriedly grabbed her bags and departed the baggage area. Her other plane left in 30 minutes and she had to get her seat. She grabbed her phone and made a quick call to her mom telling her she was ok. The next person was kyle. "Hey babe I made it to California. It's a huge airport." He laughed "Yeah and the state is even bigger, is your other shuttle ready?"
"Yeah I have thirty minutes but I wanted to give you a quick call before I got back on the plane. It was really rough landing and I never let go of the arm rests." He laughed at the last exhort. "I have to go though baby I love you." "I love you too. Call me when you get to your inn..if you can." "Alright babe bye." I hung up and hurried to the other plane.
It was a swift ride from California to Scotland. I dared look out the window once and saw nothing but mountains and right before we were starting to land I looked out once more and saw the Loch. The sight took my breath away and I immediately took out my camera. It was so blue and the mountains were lush with greenery, I had never seen something so absolutely memorizing before.
There was a slight jerk of the plane and I clutched unto the arm rests again and closed my eyes sending one more prayer out.
When we had landed I went over to the baggage area and got my things. I couldn't however find my little powder and toiletries bag. "Oy lass, your bag is 'ere," I turned to the Scotsman, my first ever encounter and was instantly fascinated by his accent. "I looked down at the small accessible and asked him how he knew it was mine?" "Ye were looking for it were ye no?" "Y,yes," I turned a tomato red. I side stepped the question, picked up the bag and thanked the man for helping me. "Oh aye any time lass."
I stepped out of the airport and looked around at the approaching going and coming cars. They were not like our cars at all, they were smaller and certainly not as safe. I looked around for one that read Stirling on the side. I had to get to The Old Tram House. I looked and looked and suddenly saw an old, grey car that read in faded letters Stirling..
The man at the wheel started the car and was about to drive away not seeing me, "No! No! Wait!" I yelled, he looked to the right of him and saw me running up to the car. I was tripping over my luggage and he immediately opened the door, "Oy lass I'm so sorry, I di not see ye. Yu are so small." I smirked at him and said thank you for the insulting compliment. "Ere le me help you." "Thanks." I mumbled and we successively loaded everything into the tiny car.
I got in what was left of the back, and we set off to the Old Tram House. We passed so many things on the way there, bakery shops, houses that look like they still were set back in the earlier days of the Scotland country. There was a nip in the air and my window fogged up it sent a shudder down my spine for some odd reason, I shook it off and continued to view. We passed a market; I watched an exchange of fresh, hot bread between two women. Their children were running beneath their feet playing chase. I smiled, the people here seemed so friend and family oriented.
The car came to a sudden halt and I looked at the driver. "Why did we stop?" I questioned. "Wellll lass we're here." He replied. I smiled really big and looked out the window, the house was stunning, the outside had greenery growing on it adding to the effect of its old virtue. I climbed out of the car and stared up at the house, it was just so beautiful.
"Oy lass, I know the 'ouse is lovely but I ave other passengers to get." "O,oh I'm so sorry," I stumbled. I grabbed a bag and lugged it to the Inn door. I knocked on the door and a short old lady opened it. "Ello Lass, ye mus be the youngin stayin ere." I nodded "Yes ma'am." She side analyzed me, "You're from the south are ye not," "I am," I answered politely.
"Oh, I would expect ye to ave a southern accent," I looked at her, "I do have a tad bit of a lilt." She smiled and shrugged, "I'm just an old Scottish woman with bad hearing, ye ave to forgive me." I smiled, "that is quite alright."
"Well, le me show you to your room." She picked up some of my smaller bags and helped me get up the steep stairs, I stumbled quite a few times, "Mind the stairs lassie, they're steep and easy to fall doawn." I noticed.
When we finally got to my room I opened the door, it was gorgeous the decorative furniture complimented the space very well. "It's magnificent," I told her, "Thank you so much for helping me carry my bags up here."
"Anytime Lassie, anything else ye'll be needing?" I bit into my bottom lip and though for a second, "Oh yes, what is there to do around here?"
She smiled, "We have a legendary spot amidst the top of the mountains, and it's an urban legend in Stirling. Ye'll have to see when ye get there, it really is beautiful." I was instantly intrigued and decided that after I washed up and ate some dinner I'd go see what all the hubbub was about.
Before she left I asked for her name, "Oh shame on me, I've done forgot me manners. My name is Edana Mclillan." It was an interesting name, but it matched the heritage of the Scottish. I shook her small hand and again thanked her for her help with my luggage.
I set my small bag down and looked around the room, the bed was huge and I wondered how I wouldn't get lost in it. It was trimmed down with a green and silver quilt; the pillows were a dull white, eggshell. The walls had small multicolored flowers on them, but did not overdo the interior decorating. Small candles lined the dressers and the hearth. The bathroom had an olden bath in it and a small shower. I loved the feel the room let off; it was a comforting feel, a homely feel.
A smell wafted up the stairs suddenly and roast beef scents tickled my nose, my mouth watered, I had forgotten that I hadn't really eaten much that day. I suddenly looked around for a phone I had to call my mom and Kyle.
It was old but it would do, some rust was on the underside of the receiver, I dialed my area code and called my mom first. The conversation with her wasn't long and I thanked god, she could go on and on about how I had to be careful and to not go anywhere alone, I rolled my eyes what a paranoid woman..
I hung up thankful the conversation with her was over; I rang out to my boyfriends number. It rang a few times but he finally picked up, it was a slow, small conversation and I wondered what was wrong with him?
I wasn't going to worry myself over it on my vacation though, that's not what vacations were for.
I hung up awkwardly feeling strange.
The smells came again and I remembered just how hungry I was.
I hurried downstairs, there were rolls, roast beef, mashed potatoes with chives in them, and basil was lined in the gravy. My mouth watered, 'I'm in heaven.'
After dinner was over I helped wash some of the dishes, Ms. Mclillan thanked me and I quickly went upstairs to get ready for my adventure in the mountains.
It was chilly outside and I threw on pants, a long sleeved shirt and a jacket, my gloves were black and so warm on my hands. I adorned the rest of the outfit with boots. Pretty good ensemble.
When I returned downstairs I asked Ms. Mclillan where the sight was located, "Oh just tell the driver the trees and he'll know exactly what ye'll be askin." "Alright," I responded, "thank you!" I yelled to her running out the front door. There was already a car waiting for me and I hopped in excitedly.
"Um, I was told to tell you the trees?" He smiled and nodded, "Ye'll like those Lassie, interesting history behind them no doubt."
The suspense was killer and I couldn't wait to see what they meant.
The mountains were steep and breath taking, so many trees, it was like a painting.
When we arrived it looked deserted and an icy chill ran threw me. 'What if this was some kind of set up or a kidnapping?' I shook my head and scolded myself for being so paranoid. "The people who will attend to you are beyond the 'ouse over there, alright?" I nodded and paid him.
When I stepped out of the car a brisk wind ran through the trees increasing the creepiness ten fold. There was a cold feeling beneath my feet that seemed to creep up my body and I cautiously looked behind me feeling eerie. I looked around at what they could be talking about, what was so interesting?
"Oy," called an old man. "Ye ere to see the Craobh?" I shifted my head at the foreign word, "tis Gaelic lassie, do ye not know Gaelic?" I shook my head, "I'm American."
He nodded and surveyed me, "Aye, well come this way and I'll show you." I didn't feel very comfortable; this man was sort of rude and seemed very rough around his edges. He was an old Scot, branded in the old ways, especially if he knew Gaelic.
We walked for what seemed like forever. He halted abruptly in front of me and I crashed into his solid back, "There they are." I hastily looked around his broad shoulders and the two trees that stood there were menacing in their heighth. "Oh god," I whispered, I had never seen trees so big, there was definitely something different about them.
"Myths clog these trees lass, ye don even know. People have disappeared when walking around them, they are said to hold blood of an ancient queen of England that was slaughtered right ere against this bark." He patted the heart of the tree, it did have some shreds missing from it and the thought of that happening made me feel a bit light headed.
"It is also said that if ye touch said tree and it is hot that you'll to disappear, here touch it lass." I shook my head furiously, "no, no I'm all well and good right here," he suddenly grabbed my hand and placed it rather roughly against the bark. It was hot to the touch, I shrieked hastily and pulled away from him and the bark, I backed up holding my hand.
He let out a loud chuckle, "Oy lassie I'm just kidding, there's no need to be frightened, it's just an old tale." I glared at him, I couldn't stop shaking, there was something different about this area I could feel it in my bones.
"Well it was hot," I said nimbly. He laughed some more, "that was your imagination lass, everyone feels like it's hot."
It wasn't my imagination..
We stood there for a few more minutes, mainly just listening to him laugh at my shock. I was getting annoyed with him, "Well, I'm going back now lass, more tours to attend to, if ye'd like to stay ye can, ye ken?" I was staring up at the top of the tree; I nodded indicating to him that I had heard.
I watched him walk away and stared back at the trees, something was very off and it was tickling my highest senses. I hastily walked back to the left tree and touched the bark again; it was no longer hot, but cold. I pulled away and this time felt the other tree. Hot.
I stepped in-between the two and put both hands on both trees, my left on the left and my right on the right. The cold on the left was no longer there, a blind hot warmth ran up both of my arms I shut my eyes and focused on something I couldn't see..suddenly a face appeared in my mind, the face of Kyle, what was I doing? I probably looked crazy standing there touching trees. I scoffed and went to move my arms down from their spots, they didn't move. The trees got hotter and hotter around my hands, what the hell? I felt the heat run up my arms, it felt like it was in my blood; I winced and tried harder to pull away.
I opened my mouth to scream for help but nothing slipped out. There was suddenly a bright vortex in front of me, I was silently falling into the earth and I lifted my head up to the tops of the trees to see the world spinning, I shut my eyes and this time I did scream rather very loudly. There was an echo as I kept falling, my insides didn't feel like they were there, I felt like a balloon that was descending into the atmosphere, helpless to stop itself.
I spun around and was suddenly slammed into the ground, the breathe rushed from me and finally the world went black..
