... Abby grabs his arm as the train roars past - what is going on? we came for frights and delights, but…
From yet another direction, from deep within the twisted pathways cloaked in the shadows & colors of the season, now further obscured by the encroach of gloom, a chorus of shrieks…
…of joy, terror and sheer surprise - human or otherwise - confusing and bewildering, all mixed with the sharp winds and falling matter from the ancient trees…
…all carried upon the swirling mists, merged and ushered onward in all directions, enveloping all, floating with the spirits of this still primitive maize of havens, forever a destination for lovers across aspects…
…disoriented and torn between thrilled and chilled, Belle and Ned, these two long-time venturers into the wilds of their beloved Hollow, they have just added to the notes - both verbal and virtual - of frights and delights abounding as they seek far reaches that are, hopefully, still unspoiled by the reckless intrusion of change…
<<::>>
Stunned by the race of vehicles past them, the honking way beyond anything needed in this gentle setting, and by the shots that seemed like gunfire, Josh put it in park, and they rolled down the windows.
“Geese, are we getting carried away, or are they? - this a time for frights and tricks, but it seems different this year.”
“Yeah, I just don’t know - listen out there - those are definitely screams - but it could just be people having good old fun - there are certainly a lot more here this year.”
With the headlights only reflecting the enclosing grey, he turned them off and cut the engine. The resulting totality of dark was something that usually thrilled them - and still did - but there was definitely a new edge to it.
They had stopped at what they knew to be a secluded crossroad deep within the forest, many of the paths converging here, and now the clear echo of many footsteps joined with rustlings of creatures tiny and not and the other night sounds.
“I always love this spot, Josh - nicely creepy the way the spirits of the Hollow all seem to join here - but listen, it is so busy tonight.”
“It’s always difficult to judge distances from there, but there are clearly a lot of people, and other critters moving about.”
“Look, there! A whole bunch are racing down that path - and there, where some are shining flashlights, others with lanterns seem to be blocking them.”
“Want to have a little fun of our own? After all, it is Halloween! Let’s creep along over there - we know our way around here in the dark - I bet we can get close without being noticed.”
<<::>>
From the deepest spots of the Hollow, the most secluded of revelers - or so they thought - theses recesses have alway been the most private of wide open nooks, perfect for the most extremes acts of indulgence for which they alway returned - even from these sacred places lovers were stirring and moving - something new in the air this year - yay, we are in the mood for anything - let’s see what mischief we can find - a glorious air in the Hollow this eve - perfect for us witches and ghosts!
Should be easy - we have already been noticed - while we were fully in play, like the most innocent of fawns, they crept towards, then recoiled and ran - surely they will make easy targets…
Yes - we are already fully indulged, and these ones are already fully shocked - let’s give chase and spread the fun!!!
<<::>>
Ah my loves, this is pure Chaos theory in practice, all before us - to orchestrate as best we can…
Yes, our fellow benevolent spirits surge throughout the Hollow - from these free spirits pursuing the startled gentle loves - there there is still must hope - to this onslaught of uglies, each now moving upon their own noble course of lost and found, each of them lovers by their own truths…
Indeed, these ones are truly lost, and easily stirred by their anti-champions - they are bent on emergence of entirely other aspects…
The witches and ghosts of this All Hallows Eve are in glorious company - the inevitable collisions of pi aspects shall provide wicked results…
More than a ghostly parade, now a stampede into the heart of the Hollow, faster and faster, their vital purpose confirmed by the cracks and pops and shrieks echoing about the ancient forest, their roar of their engines and scream of their horns break the serenity of the Hollow…
<<::>>
Taking it all in, Abby and Josh sense both the delights and frights abounding all around them - suddenly they turn at the pose of dark, metallic forms…
“Jeese, look at that - like madmen - that is so dangerous in this gloom…”
“We should alert the others to be extra careful - these nuts raging are sure to run someone over, if they don’t crash first.”
Screeching to stops at this convergence of mountain roads and forest paths, the saviors bent on reclamation pour out of their trucks and fill the paths, following the alerts of their fellows of the whereabouts of the trouble.
Satisfied that sufficient force is now surging through the forest to counter the invasion of those who don’t belong, their leaders, the champions of their noble cause to #takebackthe hollow, they rev back up their mighty vehicles and head for the Promontory.
<<::>>
Children of the forest, they burst from their twisted and paths and are stopped, stunned, shaken by the witchcraft of the Hollow - overcome with powerlessness — as one with the veil of mist and fog and shadows and colors their spirits rise with the ghosts of All Hallows Eve…
“God Belle - I don’t know who or what to believe here”
Instinctively she hugs Ned tight as they emerge into the crossroads area deep within the forest “Me either - oh my god Ned - look at this right here - and that scene back there - and those shots and screams - and all these awful reports…”
“I know we are racing to give our own report, but…” he stops, eyes wide, feeling like he’s going to burst “I don’t now about all of this, but I just have a feeling we should stop - people are going to get hurt here, for real, and…”
She breaks in, gripping him so tight, “They already are…”
He turns to her, puts his arms around her, “what do we really know - what have we been told - what have we been ready to believe - it’s all mixed up right here - but I know this - this is still the middle of a beautiful place, at a marvelous time of tricks and treats and people like us getting lost in all of it - I think you and I are lost right now in other ways, and need to get grip…”
<<::>>
Truly alarmed now by the crazy taunts and insults flowing from those flowing from the various trucks and other vehicles, feeding on their own hysteria, now pouring down the paths from where our shaken ones just emerged - then suddenly a new extreme is breached - genuine cries of both hurt and jubilation…
Ned and Belle are beside themselves, already stopped by inner feelings contrary to their urgency to spread their notes of alarm - given pause by a critical point reached and the spirits of the Hollow conspiring to halt their mission - now this clear image of children on a witch hunt jars them further as this new contradiction is added.
As ghosts within themselves, they note their involuntary new movement, towards this new source of genuine tricks and treats gone way, way too far, and now catch their breath as they stumble into a raw mix of passions - more lovelies on the ground w others, like themselves trying to push through the uglies who have clearly put them there.
Pure confrontations - lovers of other aspects finally waking as from a spell - the grave danger of these others will bewitched suddenly unveiled, in perfect rhythm with the clearing elements of this ancient forest.
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