Down In The Hollow
by Donna L Martin
Linky always said never go down in the hollow at night. He never said why but I figured it was cuz of the old Samson house. They used to do terrible things at that house long time ago. You know, back when they had the slave quarters. You could hear the screams all the way to the county line.
Linky swore he'd even seen the ghost of one poor runaway back in '63 when he got caught down in the hollow one night after midnight. He never told me what he was doing out there in the first place, but after that time poor Linky was just never quite right in the head again. Always talking about that ghost. About what happens to fools who get caught down in the hollow after dark.
But I know better. I ain't afraid of no ghost. Don't believe in them anyway. I heard tales of gold buried under that house and I'm fixin' to see for myself just where's it at. Makes more sense to go at night, seeing how everyone around here's too scared to take a chance on being anywhere near the Samson place when the sun goes down. But not me.
I guess I wished I'd brung a better coat to keep out the wind cuz it's got me chilled to the bone. I can just make out the Samson place through the fog but my lantern sure doesn't show much else. Hell, it's about the darkest night I've ever seen but I guess that'll just keep the village folk from catchin' up to my doings this late at night.
I'm almost to the door, but wait. What's that sound? Kinda like a shuffling sound, like some animal scratching it's way through the dead leaves but it sounds way too big to be no animal. Is it just me or did it suddenly turn colder? The hair on the back of my neck is standing up and I'm starting to wonder if Linky wasn't maybe right. Maybe it'd be better if I just turn around and get out the hollow while I still got me the chance...
***Okay, it's your turn! Are the tales true? Is there gold at the old Samson house? Is there a ghost in the hollow or something else? Put your creative cap on and add a sentence or add a paragraph. Continue my story or start one of your own. Join the fun and see where this picture prompt takes us! ***
Ooh wee! My heart's just a beatin'.
ReplyDeleteFunny as that sounds, Janet, I actually spooked MYSELF out when I was writing this around midnight last night...;~)
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"Why the change of mind?" A sweet syrupy voice murmured.
ReplyDeleteI turn and am shocked by the prettiest woman I've ever seen. Shiny as new gold penny and beyond the beauty that my words can reach.
"Are you the gold they spoke about?"
"I'm whatever you want me to be. You want gold, then I am gold, you want silver then I am silver."
And I'll be, if she didn't turn the color of the dime in my pocket. "Then you're temptation for sure."
"I am, but so much more!" she said as she drew closer, and the atmosphere became frigid.
Oh my goodness, Yolanda...I LOVE this! I sure hope someone else runs with your addition and tells me what happens next! ;~)
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I do too, I want to know what happens next!
DeleteLove your posts, always!
I watched her saunter over toward me, slow and easy, like she had all the time in the world. Her eyes holdin' mine. When she raised her long, slender fingers and touched my cheek, my own blood seemed to radically change from free flowin warmth to a piercin cold as if the very snow melt from Ridgeback Mountain had found it's way inside me. I looked down at my throbbing hands only to find them grey and tremblin. As she pulled her hand away, the pain and the cold stopped as quick as it had come and, for a moment, I found myself wantin' that feelin back. I looked up and found her leanin back against a tall Virginia Pine - a sly smile dancin on her lips.
ReplyDeleteQuick like, I drew my breath in and got myself together. I wasn't about to be tricked by the likes of her. I seen plenty of gals stare at me like that down by the saloon in town. Hell, my own mama was a looker like her and she left Pa when I was five. I knew this woman was nothin but trouble. "You sure are a might pretty, " I said knowin that is exactly what she wanted and really expected to hear. Two can play this game. There's certainly something magic about her but I ain't got no time for that. It's the gold I want.
"You know," I continue. " I hear there's some real gold buried in the Samson house. That true? Sure would love to take you to one of them fancy dinners. If I only had me some of that gold, you and me could have a real good time."
She seemed to like hearin that and right then and there, her flesh returned to normal color and an evenin' gown wrapped itself around her. It was the purtiest dress I ever seen. "Hmmm....." she said, her voice so creamy I could almost taste it. "That gold you ask about is indeed buried under the Samson house. In fact, generations have left so much gold there from years gone by that you could never spend it all in one lifetime. But I promise you this: You could dig and dig for months and you'll never find it that is if you were even able to survive that long. Evil sees everything that goes on at that house and has it's own idea of justice. I do, however, know a way around all of that. I could show you."
She's tryin her best to be so mysterious and I can see it in her eyes: she's daring me to follow her. I ain't afraid of no woman and this right here could be the answer to gettin out of this podunk town and startin me a new life. "Sounds good,' I say standin taller than before.
She throws her head back and laughs and I can feel the air gettin a might colder. "We need to get there before midnight Linky."
"Hold up," I say. "My name ain't Linky."
She laughs again and whispers, "My bad, huh?"
Ahhh, Patti, can you just see me jumping up and down with glee at this great addition to my story! You done me proud, lady...;~)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
Thanks Donna! I love these Friday stories you start! Hey everybody, let's keep this going!
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