The Brooding Hollow

A short story by Aaron J. R.

Once a long time ago there was a man whom the people called the “Hollow”. Not only was his appearance hideous, his skin was charred, his lips were cracked, his hair was long and withered and he showed no emotions to anyone. He didn’t care what people said about him. He stood at the edge of the cliff looking down at the ocean abyss considering if he should spare this world his existence.

He wasn’t always like this. He thought about how long he’d lived and the life he had before. Memories of happier times. Merrier days of people gathering in his castle. Family, friends, old rivals, even old enemies. Song and dance, food and drink, and all the warmth that comes with home. He stepped back from the cliff and looked back at the ruined castle, it was a mere shell of its former glory. A few animals made the cemetery their nesting ground which once would have dismayed the Hollow, however he no longer cared to even acknowledge his dead.

Living far to the north was a nest of dragons., once they had been a threat to the Hollow, now he doesn’t so much as flinch when one approaches. In the distant past a dragon by the name of Ador, Lady of the Black came to lay waste to the Lord’s castle, but not before the castle guard shot her left wing bringing her down in the courtyard. The Hollow had put a sword at her neck and offered her a place at his side, or death. The dragon spoke to him and made him an offer as well. She had the power to extend his life if he swore never to hurt her or her brood, her children. He agreed to this and of course it led him to where he may never fear death.

There’s no challenge that excites the man anymore. All his foes have been felled, all his enemies now buried, and not a chance of loving another person so long as the curse laid upon him continued to allow him life. With nothing left to do he put on a suit of darkened armor and journeyed beyond the castle in hopes of finding a worthy enough opponent. Upon the hills he did find many creeping monsters coming out of the blackened forest. He slayed them easily one sword slash at a time. Nothing stood a chance against the Hollow. Nothing except what lie beyond the forest.

After arriving at a peculiar tree the Hollow placed his hands on the ground. He looked long and hard at the burial grounds of what was once his beloved.

An arrow came at him from behind, but just before it landed he leaped out of the way and saw a knight with a white cape in a silver armor that looked more heroic than his own. An epic clash ensued between the Hollow and the Heroic Knight who seemed to show more promise than anyone he’d faced before. The two fought and before the Hollow could land his finishing blow the knight rolled beside him, and struck him from the side into his chest.

The Hollow fell on his knees and started to fade into ashes. Before he faded he warned the hero; “Though my defeat is at hand I have finally found a worthy opponent! You who have slain me, my enemy and my friend, how long will it be before you yourself are Hollow?” The hero took note of his words and looked towards the castle. Perhaps in another life there’d have been a chance the Hollow could regain his humanity somehow, in some way. Perhaps in another time, another universe.