Mistic Hollow (2014 CFM Summer Short Story off topic entry 2nd place winner)

Rosaline stared out the window of the car at the rolling hills and forests. Every year, the family gets together in a log house in the hills of Ohio to catch up on life and to relax in the serene forests. It was certainly a sight to behold, with giant trees covering the hillsides like a green cotton blanket. The car went back into the trees again, darkening the interior of the car. Rose wasn’t really looking forward to the reunion. The others wanted to play games and read books while she wanted to enjoy the outdoors. Sure, there were occasional hikes in the forest trails, but, never days of walking through the forests or exploring the caves. She just didn’t understand. For her, it was summer vacation. She had finished the 2nd grade and she was ready to explore the forests of Ohio and what they had to offer. There was this one hollow near the house that her parents didn’t let her go into last year. It was named the Mistic Hollow for its tendency to collect mist in the mornings, giving it that mysterious look. She was rather eager to check it out.

“Rosie, we’re here!” Rosaline’s mother said as the house came into view. It was a 3 story log house complete with a driveway and a yard perfect for a barbeque. Uncle Leonard was out flipping some burgers on the grill and some of the older boys and young men were throwing a football in the back yard. The car was parked and Rosaline helped get her stuff out of the back of the car. The front door of the house was opened and Rose and her family were instantly greeted by everyone in the room. The usual aunts and uncles along with the grandparents were playing some card game. The cousins are all either reading books, playing with toys, or playing a Playstation that one of them brought along. Rose and her family went upstairs to their room where they unpacked their things. Among the things she brought, Rose brought herself a coloring book filled with elves and fairies to color in. Just as she got downstairs, Uncle Leonard yelled through the window that the burgers and bratwursts were ready and that he was making more. In a mad rush, everyone went out the front door and got in line for the mouth-watering goodness that are Leonard’s burgers. They are always delicious and certainly a highlight of the reunion. Getting a bun, she waited in line to get her cheeseburger. Once it was put on the heel of the bun, she got herself some ketchup and mustard to put on top. Fun times were had as she conversed with some of her cousins about what’s happened since they last met. In the corner of her eye though, she saw something. Or, she thought she did. It came from the general direction of the Mistic Hollow. It must’ve been a firefly she thought and she went back to her supper.

The games continued until night fell. Rose was coloring in the living room where some of her cousins were still playing the Playstation. Distracted, she watched as the oldest one, Adam was playing a game in which he was a black hooded character with blades of water slashing enemies in his path. It looked interesting, but more from an idea perspective. She was getting a little tired and bade everyone good night as she went upstairs into the room. She brushed her teeth, got her PJ’s on and went to sleep, dreaming of fantasies of elves and fairies and other magical things.

The next morning, Rosaline woke up to find she was the first to wake, a perfect time to explore the Mistic Hollow. Quietly changing into some normal attire and putting on some shoes, she sneaked out of the house and into the back field under the still rising sun. She saw the mist slowly pouring out. There was something else it seemed, a small ball of light floating just outside the entrance of the hollow. Intrigued, Rose ran into the hollow. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before. Towering trees with vibrant green leaves covered the sky while down below, small ferns were covered in dew. Giant rocks dotted the ground with trees growing out of the rocks. The light was following the small stream rolling through the center of the hollow. Watching her step, Rose pursued it deeper into the hollow. The mist made it a little hard to see the ground and she nearly fell after stepping on a rock covered in moss and dew. Regaining her footing, she followed the light deeper into the hollow.

Passing through a narrow part of the valley, the mist seemed to be getting thicker, obscuring the ground beneath her feet. But as she walked, the ground beneath her felt smoother, as if a stone path had formed beneath her feet. The mist faded away, revealing a road deeper into the hollow. Following this trail of white rocks, Rose found herself walking into what appeared to be a town made from the trees themselves, expanded to accommodate a stairway leading up to the houses themselves. The interiors of the homes appeared to be covered in bark but it was a strange looking bark. Like a polished and stained wood of sorts. People were walking along the stone pathway but they looked different. Their skin was almost flawless and the hair, long and black like a moonless night. Their ears were also off, poking out of the long hair, pointed, and they all wore dark green tunics. There are elves? Rose thought. In Ohio? How? The elves turned, noticed their new visitor, and said nothing. Some smiled while others bore indifferent faces, neither smiling nor frowning. The ball of light was still beckoning her, Rose had almost forgotten about it. The light was in front of a white wooden door affixed on a white stone wall of a similar look to the stone pathway that Rose was walking on. Reaching the door, she opened it to reveal something breathtaking.


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It was a throne room with beautiful flowerbeds lining the path to an ornate throne made from a massive tree with a small waterfall pouring behind it from the creek high above. Sitting in this throne appeared to be a queen, with the same long black hair, fair skin, and pointy ears. The queen wore a magnificent dress adorned with various gemstones. Rose instantly went down to her knees, bowing before the queen of the elves. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see the queen’s beautiful face looking back at hers. Smiling, she put her hands on Rose’s arms and lifted her up so she was standing. In that moment, the queen looked at rose with her piercing eyes. It was as if she were looking for something within Rosaline. Smiling, the queen backed away, closed her eyes, and put her hands together as if she were praying. A white light poured out from between her fingers. As she opened her hands, the light faded away and her hands revealed a beautiful necklace shaped like a butterfly made from gold and diamond with some silver highlights around the edges and on the wings. Breathless, Rose carefully accepted the gift. As the butterfly gleamed with a glorious luster, she said thank you to the elf queen.

“Rosaline, Where are you?!” Rosaline was snapped back into reality, the throne was gone and so was the white stone path. All that remained was a small stream that ran alongside a dirt path that she was standing on. She could hear birds chirping among the treetops as sunbeams from the morning sun poked through the trees. She heard her name called out again from whence she came. She decided it was best to ease the fears of her parents but there was something in her hand. Looking down, she saw the very same necklace that was given to her by the queen. Putting it around her neck, she was awestruck of its existence. It was given to her by a figment of her imagination. Or, was it? Perhaps there might be more to the hollow than what it first shares? With the calls of her name getting louder, Rosaline ran back, passing massive trees along a dirt trail. She could see the field just beyond the trees and saw people looking for her. Exiting the hollow, she waved at them and she could see the relief in their faces as she ran towards them. They asked where she was and she told them that she was in the hollow. She was scolded, told not to go into the forest without an adult. She nodded but she still experienced something she would never forget, and brought along a timeless souvenir.

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