Through The Hollow
Chapter 3
His head throbbed, as did his side. He tried to sit up but it was too painful. He tried to open his eyes but that was also painful. He could do nothing without feeling pain. He ached all over. Jack eventually opened one eye to the light and looked around him. There was a blank room and a few people in the corner. What had happened to him? He did not know. All he could remember was something about fire, witches and aunt Marie.
Aunt Marie!
Jack felt tears in his eyes. He started to cry. Purple eyes welled up tears and he threw his body upwards. His hands wrapped around his countenance and he cried into his hands. The people rushed over to him. "There, there, Jack. You're free from her control now. There's nothing to worry about. You poor boy. You were surrounded by witches since birth."
"It's ok now you poor lad."
"You've been asleep for about a week now. It's Hallows Eve."
"A fitting day wake from the spell of a witch."
"First his mother then his aunt. You must hate them both for controlling you."
Jack felt anger well up inside him. Where once his pain had been the anger took over. He could feel the heat rising to his pale cheeks. He felt his eyebrows touch the bridge of his nose. Despite his pain Jack turned to the doctors. "You did it…" They backed up at the sight of his expression. His was fearsome in his simplicity. He scared them. Jack was very frightening. His once kind face had turned evil and gruesome. He was grinding his teeth with anger and hatred towards them. They were back up to a wall where he glared at them with disgust in his eyes. "You… You did it…"
"No. No, it was the witches."
"There were no witches! They were innocent! I've kept it bundled up for so long! Now I can't! You'll all pay!"
A man made his way to the window and called out: "Help! Monster! Help!"
Jack snapped out of it. He looked at the frightened doctors. There was a pounding on the door. People were calling inside. They canted things like 'monster,' 'let us in,' 'what's happening,' 'the Jack boy must be stopped,' 'doctors, are you alright' and various things like that. One nurse answered a call. "Help! Jack's still not free! He's a monster! Someone help!" Jack panicked. He stared around the room for an escape. The subsequent teen ended up leaping out of the window and running down the dirt road.
A monster? Me? How could they think that? I thought that they were accepting me! How is this possible? Who did this to me? My life… it's ruined! He headed for the outskirts of town. There was a mob gathering with torches and pitchforks. They'll never give up until they get me… Damn it all! Why'd I have to live in a town full of idiots? Jack hurried into the forest. He thought that he would be safe there. He was wrong.
The villagers followed him close behind and yet not so close for Jack was a great runner. They stopped at the edge of the forest when calls from wlves could be heard. They wished to go in but were afraid. If Jack was really a monster he could pick them all off one-by-one until there was nothing but dead bodies hanging in the trees. Then he would come for the children. A man stepped forth and held his torch to the tree next to him. The crisp autumn leaves lit almost instantly. "The monster has revealed itself, on this, the night of All Hallows Eve. He must be stopped!"
"But we cannot go in there at night!"
The villagers nodded.
"Then we shall not. Light the forest ablaze. We will drive him out. Else he will die in the flames."
Instantly the villagers set to work at burning the forest and the trees. The flames reached up and gripped at the bark. The sparks popped at the trucks of trees like puppies wishing to play. But these puppies had a great bite and could hurt the trees. They did just that. The flames burned the trees and stretched into the centre of the forest. They chased after the fleeing Jack. He could see the fire from behind him but he knew that he could not go back. The villagers would get him. The fire appeared in front of him and he was burned. He was surrounded by flame. He could not get away. Jack let out one more cry before he was engulfed and killed among the flames.
---
Jack sat up in bed. His brow was wet with sweat and he was panting heavily. Those words continued in his head. Monster. Fire. Aunt Marie… Aunt Marie! He looked around himself and found himself to be in the doctor's cabin. There were some spices on racks for curing the sick and the sink was full of water. There was a wrap of gauze around his stomach and another around hi head.
He lay back down and sighed. "It really did happen. Aunt Marie…" Jack held back his tears. But he wished to cry so. He wished to let it all go and merely sob into the blanket that covered him. He did not such thing. Instead he lay there and thought. He thought about his dream and how it had ensued. He thought about the faces the doctors showed when he came before them. Had he truly been that frightening? It sure seemed that way. Was that how it was for all that looked at him? Marie had told him that his eyes were listless and that he was far too skinny but was any of what he saw in his dream accurate? Did they really think that when they looked at him? Jack's head leaned over and he caught sight of an old mirror. He picked it up and rubbed the dust off so that he could look into it. He saw the face of a handsome, 20 year-old man with lots of blonde hair up on his head. He could see in the mirror that his eyes really were purple if you looked close enough for the glass showed the light, as it should in his eyes. He sighed and put the mirror back on the table. Then he sat up and held his knees. He tried to get up but it pained him to do so. So Jack hung his legs over the bed and looked at the ground.
A light entered the room. He looked up. Standing in a doorway was Thomas Well. He had a large smile on his face and his hands were casually placed behind his back. He walked in a few steps and stared at Jack's wound with concern. "How're yous feeling?" he asked.
Jack shrugged. "I could be better."
"Reallys? That's t'bad…" Thomas walked in and sat down next to Jack. He placed his hand on the blonde-haired man's shoulder and sighed. "You knows Jack. I've always been 'nvious o you…"
"Me? Why?"
"Yous had everythin. Good looks. Good grammar. Good mind…" Tom slapped his own head and then flicked Jack's. "That's why."
"I don't understand that. You always teased me and tried to pick a fight."
"Only cause I wants to be a'strong as yous." He sighed. "Buts that'll never happens…"
"Oh, come now… It may."
"No… That's why I've to get rid'f the problem…"
Jack raised an eyebrow.
Thomas thrust his hand around and jabbed something to Jack's chest. Jack looked down in pain and shook. A knife had been driven into his ribcage up to the hilt. He could see more blood coming from the wound. Thomas leaned over and ripped the dagger from within his enemy and Jack screamed with agony. He tried to stand. He tried to make it to the door but it was no use. Tom tripped him up and Jack fell to the floor, flat on his face. Thomas leaned down and smiled. "Good'ye Jack. I ain't being missin yous." With that he walked out the door pleased with his work.
Jack rose to his feet with much effort. He looked to his right and saw gauze. As fast as he could he rushed his wound tied and walked out. He had to get to her. If he could do that then maybe he could be saved. No one from this village could or would do anything. He walked down the road. People gasped and were shocked at his state. Many tried to help him but he shooed them all away. Soon a crowd began to follow him. They were ready to catch him if he were to fall. Jack stopped a moment and coughed up a globule of blood. He looked down at it and sighed as he continued. He reached the forest and everyone that had been following him stopped. They watched as he disappeared into the dark of the night.
Elizabeth hurried after him with an oil lamp in hand. She caught up and held him arm. He looked down at her. "Why… did you… come?"
"I couldn't let you walk through it horrible place with such an injury. Honestly Jack. Why do you do these things to yourself?"
He smirked and continued.
"Where are we going?"
"I have to see her…"
"Who?"
"The real witch of the forest…"
Elizabeth stopped dead in her tracks. She was frightened. Jack continued without falter. Even when he could no longer see he used his available hand to guide him. His other hand clutched at the wound and tried to keep the blood from pouring. Yet it did. Elizabeth ran up to him and continued with him.
They crossed the bridge by the creak and hobbled over a cobblestone fence. The two made it past a clearing and stumbled past many animals that watched as they walked by. Elizabeth tried to make as much conversation as possible. Jack tried to make as little. The journey ensued. One step after the other. One fear after another. It seemed like an endless road. Finally they reached the swamp. Elizabeth had her nose in disgust. Jack did not. He had smelled it before and was used to it. He had been in the swamp water before. He knew what to expect. The man led the girl through the swamp. Jack told her where to place to foot and where to avoid.
The pain on him was increasing. He could hardly go on.
His foot was caught on a root and he stumbled. Jack fell face first into the mud and his wound spilled a new collection of blood. Although he had started to heal it was not enough and the blood poured once more.
Elizabeth rushed to his side and squealed with disbelief. "Jack! Jack! Jack, Get up! You're sinking, Jack! Get up!"
He did not.
She panicked and ran through the swamp.
He could see little flashes of his life. Just little ones. Just the good memories. None of the bad. He didn't wish to see those. He smiled in his mind. Aunt Marie had been right. She said that one day he would die in the forest and there he was, in the very centre, dieing form a wound in his chest, a blow to his head and a gash in his stomach. What a way to go.
The scuffling of feet came up to him fast. There was talking but he couldn't hear. The swamp had taken into his ears now. He was deaf to all but his own mind. Whoever spoke to him knew that though. There was a whisper in his head. You are not to die here Jack. You have helped me too much… We must find a place where you shall fit in. A place that you would be welcome in. A place that would match how people feel about you to how you feel about yourself…
One thought crossed his mind.
The voice in his head laughed. Is that so? All right then… Have it your way. But I warm you… that kind of journey could take a while.
He answered.
Very well…
A light engulfed him and his body was swallowed into the swamp.
---
He stood in a patch. A clearing of trees. He had been there before. A long time ago. He couldn't remember very well. There were a few images that passed through him mind from that times. Just a few.
He looked around. The trees were laid of a canvas of black paper and spread with a bristled brush with a wicked brown. The clearing that he stood in was both menacing and calm and it couldn't truly be counted as a clearing because there was only a space of about three metres without trees. But there were trees around him. The ones there each had a hole in them. The one that caught his eye was shaped like an exaggerated apple and had orange around the rim. He approached it and looked within. There was but the base of the hollow tree.
Jack sighed and turned. A gust of wind blew from within the tree. It exited the hole and swirled around his body once. Twice. Thrice. Autumn leaves gathered within it and danced at his feet.
Then he felt pulled. The tugging came from behind him. He looked back and found himself to be plunged into the base of the tree from behind. But he did not stop. It was as though the soil opened up to let him pass because he kept falling. Black and orange swirled in his head and he saw the moon turned from its harvest form to the yellow one now before him. Jack fell and then…
Black.
Just that.
Nothing more…
---
Brooke: Ok! Done! Finally!
Impmon: Ya, but now you have to rake the leaves in the yard. Your dad said to have it done soon.
Brooke: Damn… Anyone want to help? (turns to an empty bedroom) Aw! Come on! (sigh) Well… I'll keep the chapters coming for you at a regular pace so you don't have to worry about me missing up a week or something. I'm on the computer everyday.
Jack: (pokes head into room) It's true, she is.
Brooke:…
