Hollow's Child

A confused boy learns of the dark forces within him. Will it destroy him?

Hollow's Child

Chapter 1: The Beginning

It all started in a town called Hollow's Grove. The trees were tall, the grass was green, the folks sang songs of the land and the breeze was heavenly. The town was finally at peace, or so they thought. Every morning Derek would wake up and beg his brother to bring him with him hunting. Joesph his brother finally agreed to bring Derek along with him. "Don't leave my side" Joesph repeatedly told Derek. Of course Derek listened he was only 12. Joesph was 19 so Derek felt safe and Joesph seemed very confident in what he was doing.

A few hours had past and the brothers came across a dear that had been killed. Teeth and claw marks everywhere. Even on the trees. "Stay back!" said Joesph. Derek hid behind a tree as Joesph checked around the area to try and figure out what had attacked the dear. There it was, right behind Derek. Eye's bright red, teeth with blood dripping! Derek screamed "Joesph...JOESPH!" It pounced towards him! Mid air Joesph delt a crushing shot to the side of the beast with his bow. The beast left out a painful roar, it ran towards Joesph, Derek couldn't do anything to help him.

"RUN!!!" Joesph shouted. How could Derek run and leave his brother with the beast he thought. As Joesph and the beast struggled on the ground. Blood on his face as the beast was on top of him, he had his hands on it's neck trying to push it away. Jaws kept snapping at Joesph's face. Derek didn't know how to defend himself, let alone save his brother from a Dire wolf attack...The beast clawed his brothers chest, Joesph let's out a scream. Then the unexpected happened. Derek fell to his knees, the grass around him instantly turned to ash, the trees cracked and turned death like. A purple blast erupted from him! Striking the beast....and his brother. The magic kept pouring out of Derek, it was wrapped around the beast and his brother. Agonizing screams came from both Joesph and the beast. Derek could see their souls being ripped apart! He somehow brought himself from the ground pulling the force away from Joesph. It was too late. The beast and his brother were nothing but ash. He killed both of them. When he had realised what he had done, the skies darkened and the wind stopped. Crows everywhere. Derek picked up his brothers bow and ran, he ran so fast the crows couldn't keep up with him. He fell. Rolling down a hill, his body bouncing off the rocks, he finally reached the bottom. Bruised and cut he then saw a cave. He ran into the cave for shelter, the crows were outside, waiting for him. They didn't want to hurt him, they wanted to follow him for some unknown reason. Sitting on the cold floor shaking and crying, his breath was icy. Out steps a baby Dire wolf. Blue eyes and silver fur. He was so scared! did I just run into the lair of another beast he thought. There it was, a broken tooth on the ground and he finally had realised. This was no beasts lair. The beast that use to live here, he killed moments ago. The beast that attacked his brother had a missing tooth. He looked beside him and there the beast's pup was asleep. It felt safe and so did he.

Derek woke up the next morning to the pup licking his face and being playful. Derek wasn't the only victim here...The pup was too. He had taken it's mother away from them. It was his responsability to take it home and raise it. Before he left the cave he looked at the pup and said "What should I call you?" - The pup returned a look with such happiness and loyalty in it's eyes. Derek "Ah, I shall call you Isabelle".

He got home later that day...His mother (Aura) ran to Derek when she seen him. Derek passed out before she could even get to him. Aura carried her sons body back to their home. She knew something bad has happened to Joesph but could still feel his presence.

Derek woke up later that night in his bed, whilst his mother sleeps beside his bed. The candle that she had lit was almost out. Derek get's up out of his bed and goes to the mirror, he feels a burn on his side. As he raised his top Derek saw purple scars on his stomach. As he looks at the scars all he can hear is his brother Joesph screaming. It didn't feel like a memory from recent events. It' felt like Derek consumed Joesph and the beast. Maybe that is why Isabelle and he have a strong connection, she can sense her mother.

Derek walked outside and he noticed he could see more in the dark and hear more! Then it hit him...he had consumed the beast. Derek hears crying sounds coming from the barn, Ihe rushes over to see what it is and there she was. Isabelle crying, missing her mother. As he stared at her Derek felt happy so he picked her up and held her. The crying stopped and they  both fell right asleep.

Derek wakes up the next morning to Aura standing over him. He knew what she was going to ask..."Where is Joesph?" she asked. Derek left out a cry, she falls to her knees shaking his shoulder asking "What happened?! What happened to Joesph?!" he held his head down and told her about the beast that attacked Joesph, she jumps up and picks up the pitch fork, Derek yells at her "What are you doing? What are you going to do mother?!" She looks at Isabelle with anger "The beast took my son, now I'm going to take hers" Derek jumps up and gets infront of his mother screaming and crying begging her to let Isabelle live, Isabelle was corned by her. Isabelle was howling, and crying. Derek didn't know what to do, his feelings were torn into two. He cared for Isabelle as if he was the one who brought her into this world. As Aura lifted the weapon to strike Isabelle he shouted "IT WAS ME. I KILLED HIM" She turned her head slowly, he continued "It was me. When the beast was attacking Joesph something happened. Something came out of me and killed them both. I don't know how it happened and I couldn't stop it. It was like it knew if Joesph died so would it. It didn't want to save me it wanted to save itself!" She looked at him with so much fear in her eyes, like he was the devil himself. She drops the weapon and runs out of the barn.
Isabelle runs to Derek when Aura left. He picked her up and held her once more. He could feel her heart racing. Derek stayed with Isabelle for awhile to keep her calm and to let his mothers rage and upset die down. Derek was beginning to feel a strong connection to Isabelle.

The sun went down and Isabelle was asleep. Derek decides to go and face his mother, as he walked to the front door putting his hand forward to open the door, the door opened back and there was his mother Aura. She greeted him at the door with tears in her eyes and hugged him. Derek was so confused, why is she hugging me? I killed Joesph he thought. He then looks at her and says "Why are you hugging me? I deserve to die." she replied "It is not you're fault. It is not you're fault, I knew one day this would happen." Derek pushes his mother back and say's "Wha...What do you mean, you knew what would happen?" Aura grabs his hand and walks Derek to the fire that was burning outside. "I tried." she said, "I tried to pretend that you were normal. I begged God to grant you freedom from all of this" she said with tears in her eyes. Confused once more Derek replies "Freedom from what?" - "Freedom from the worst thing that has ever happened to this world." she said. The fire burned brighter and the heat rised.

The stars in the sky were no longer visible.. "Hazok...." She said with anger in her voice "The Soul Eater. It had been 12 years since he was last seen in battle. Legends say he was struck down by seven protectors. Some laughed when the story was told, how could such a evil demonic beast be slain by mere mortals they said. The legends are true, for I am one of those protectors. Hazok swore that he would somehow get his revenge and cursed me in some demonic tongue." A terrified Derek look's at his mother "What has this got to do with me? Why did you beg for my freedom?" Derek repeats the question again - Aura look's at her son with regret "When Hazok was slain on the battlefield his body exploded with magic that shook the lands and split the road. I was struck with the magic, it was so painful." Aura cries thinking of the pain. She continues "It felt like he had ripped my whomb out. I later found out he didn't, he did much worse."

Derek comforts his mother "What did he do?" With sadness and the deepest regret in her voice she replies "When the magic struck me and as my body layed lifeless on the ground I felt something move insdie me. He planted you in me." Derek's body froze in place with terror. Derek steps away from Aura "Why didn't you kill me...?" Aura without hesitating said "How could I kill an innocent child?" Derek looks at her with confusion "I am not innocent!" Aura looks at Derek with a smile on her face "I thought that once too...When I gave birth I was alone. I wanted to kill you. But when I saw your face and tiny hands you looked pure. You are innocent."

Derek bows his head and asks "Why now, why must he show himself now?" Aura looks at her son with heartbreak "He told me he would get his revenge. He succeeded. He killed Joesph and heaven knows what he might do to you." Derek stands up with anger "Nothing, he will do NOTHING. I will not allow him to hurt you or anyone. I..I can control this, there must be a way!" Aura stares at Derek shocked at his bravery "You have the courage of a protector Derek. Let's hope you learn to contain him." Derek kicks the burning wood off the fire! "Calm down Derek!" - "How can I calm down knowing what's inside of me?" Aura looked at her son grabbing him by the shoulders "You know now, you know what is inside you."

A gust of wind knocks the fire over, the rats run away from the food they were eating. The land became silent...So silent Derek and Aura could hear their hearts beat. "Come now Derek, its time for some rest" said Aura as she guided her son inside. Aura knew the time will come when she may lose her son.

It was the following morning; birds singing, clear sky and a heavenly breeze. Derek got little sleep last night because of what he discovered. He tried to stop thinking about it but the more he tried the harder it was. Derek was getting frustrated and decided to go outside for fresh air. Isabelle was just laying in the shade so Derek decided to play with her. He chased her around the barn, he sensed that made her happy so he continued. As Isabelle was running she knocked over Joesph's bow. Derek noticed and was reminded of the events that occurred. Saddened because of the reminder, Isabelle notices and decides to bark to get him to chase her again to take his mind off things. He went along and continued to chase Isabelle.

Isabelle outran him and went a little too far into the words. Derek got concerned and called out for her "Isabelle!" he shouted. Suddenly he hears Isabelle barking louder than usual and almost instantly he smelled her fear. He knew she was in danger and with quick thinking he grabs Joesph's bow and runs to where he heard Isabelle barking. Isabelle was near death on the ground. An occultist had attacked her to retrieve her fur for a ritual. As the occultist raised his knife for the killing blow, Derek unleashes an unspeakable wraith on the occultist. Throwing the occultist into the air like a rag doll. As the occultist was falling he shot an arrow that killed the occultist before they had hit the ground. The arrow shot straight between the eyes. A perfect shot. It was clear to Derek now that who ever he kills he consumes their souls and obtains their skills and knowledge.

As Isabelle layed cold on the ground Derek rushes to her dropping to his knees "No, no, no please god no!" With blood on his hands he looked right into Isabelle's eyes knowing she was about to breathe her last breathe he left out a terrifying scream so loud he passed out. It wasn't Derek that left the roar out. It was Isabelle's mother.
Aura rushes outside with her weapons noticing Derek and Isabelle on the ground. She runs towards them with horrible thoughts. She get's closer and notices a gold like energy around Isabelle and Derek. This energy was healing both of them however, dark energy had scared Derek's face. His beginning to look more demon like.

Author's Note

Please don't forget to tell me what you think!

Reviews

[Raven Wyntermoon]

Great re-write from the first original you did a few months back!
Changing the title from Hollow's Land to Hollow's Child made your story much more personable.
In reading your writing, I realized that you're description and detail is that of watching television or a movie. It appears that you write as if showing episodes of your stories in a mini series.
Keep on writing.

[Hannah Gardner]

I just read Chapter 1, it is good, really good. I just wish that you explained more about the brothers entering the woods. Maybe you can add a little more detail? Also, you seem to repeat "Joesph" "Derek" and the "Beast" often. Maybe you can substitute their names with pronouns, or something else. Keep up the good work!