Hollow

 

The A-men: Legends

Hollow

Aberdeen Maryland: way too late for you to be up

Robin was a lot of things but a coward was not one of them. Upon hearing about the legend of Beechtree golf Clubdown, he knew he had to go check it out. It was one week before Halloween night so he knew that if he chose to go now, then he would be known as the only one who had the balls to pursue such a tale during the scariest time of the year. So here he was in Aberdeen Maryland where he would put to rest this stupid myth.

When he looked the place up he found out that it was constantly patrolled by the authorities. At first he thought that this was going to ruin his plans until he arrived. He did all he could to locate someone so he would know which places to avoid but he didn’t find anyone. He walked from Bakersfield Elementary school, all the way to the golf course but he didn’t see anyone. A smile crept across his face. Either this was the proof he needed that the story was crap or even the armed officials were scared off by a child’s lie. ‘I bet it was the second one.’ Robin thought.

The big field that made up the course was admittedly a bit spooky at night. Robin never really liked being in open spaces. That wasn’t to say he was afraid. He looked around. Even in the dark he could tell that there was no cloaked figure looking to pounce on him. He started to walk through the field. The air was crisp and the breeze gave him chills. He zipped his jacket up.

“I better get my money for this. I freaking hate the cold.” Robin said out loud.

“Then maybe you should go back home child.” A voice said.

Robin spun around quickly. His only fear was that he was going to be facing a psycho killer. He calmed down when he saw that it was no more than another teenager. “Who the heck are you?” Robin asked. He was secretly humiliated that such a small thing had scared him but this stranger didn’t have to know that.

“I’m Allen. Well technically my full name is Allen Stevenson, but you can just call me Allen because that is what all of my friends call me.” He answered.

Robin didn’t really care who the guy was. He just wanted to know why he bothered approaching him. “Is there something in you want Allen? I have things to do.”

“I just want to warn you. If you go much further you will most likely be overcome by the cloak. You’re safe here because I watch over these parts, well me and my partner do. Beyond a few feet in front of you it belongs to the darkness. We don’t go in there because they were given full reign over these parts for this entire week.”

Robin rolled his eyes. “Oh please don’t tell me you’re another one of those believers. There is nothing out there and I can prove it to you. I’ll go all the way to the end of the course and come back. Then you’ll see have ridiculous you are being.”

“Listen to me very carefully child. I am unable to control your free will so I can’t stop whatever course of action you choose to take. However I can assure you that if you decide to walk this path, you won’t be coming back.” Allen pleaded. He grabbed Robin’s arm to reinforce his statement.

Robin broke free. “Now you listen to me. There is no way you are going to stop me especially since you can’t be much older than I am. Around where I live I’m the toughest guy around. There’s no way I’m letting a stupid fairy tale scare me and do you know why? It’s because I’m Robin Treverson.”

Allen seemed to become paralyzed. “You’re name is R-Robin?” He asked nervously. Even in the dark he was showing signs of fear.

Robin didn’t bother to answer the question; he simply walked away and didn’t look back. Allen stood in the same spot for a few additional minutes before his partner came and found him. He was also a teenager. He stood next to Allen and concern was written all over his face. “Did that boy say his name was Robin?” He asked.

Allen looked at him and shook his head slowly. “That means that the barrier will soon be broken. We aren’t even equipped to handle this threat again.” He panicked.

The other boy took his shoulders. “Would you relax? We can still do something about this. It’s not like we don’t have allies we can turn to. All we need to do is go find some of them and all of this can be prevented. We just need to determine who we are going to.”

“Finding another three or four people to help fight against an army isn’t going to change anything. That isn’t enough force.” Allen said.

“You know full well that Xethen did it with only one other teammate, I’m sure we can do so if necessary as well.” The boy said. “Now think, who can we go to?”

Allen thought about it. There weren’t many friends anywhere in the area. The best choice he figured out but he didn’t know how practical it was. “We can start with my mother; I believe she has had some dealings with him before.” Allen said.

“You still call her that? I thought she hated when you used to call her mom. Besides when is the last time you even saw her?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we have a week to save the world and I believe firmly that she is one of the only beings in existence with the ability to do anything about it, or at least one of the only beings that was equipped to do anything about it.”

Allen and the other boy both took out rings. The placed them on their fingers and then they were transported to the spiritual realm. With their wings sported they ascended into the air and then quickly flew off. Meanwhile at the edge of the golf course, Robin was about to get the biggest surprise of his life. As he was walking something sharp stuck into his back. He screamed and then tore it out quickly. It was a shuriken Robin immediately felt different. His body started to tense up and his vision became blurry. He felt an agonizing pain but when he tried to scream again, nothing came out.

“It doesn’t really matter that you removed it. The effects have already started and they can’t be stopped.” The last thing Robin saw was a mysterious humanoid dressed in a black cloak walking towards him. “Thank you for your cynicism.”

 

 

Legends, fairy tales, fables, myths; it doesn’t matter what you call them. You have heard one at some point in your life. The legend of the lockness monster, the myth of the Norse god of thunder, all of these are all around you. Well there is a belief. A belief that says that in Aberdeen Maryland, there is a school called Bakersfield. Near this school there is a golf course and on the golf course is a figure dressed in black that chases people. No one knows what happens to these people but one thing is for sure, it can’t be anything good. It is the week of Halloween and this nightmarish fantasy wants to bring its existence to light. But what does that mean for everyone else?

 

 

New York, New York: the following day

What is it about the day that makes it such a big deal? Is it the candy that children get to collect all night long and eat until they vomit? Are they so starved for sugar that they are willing to walk in the cold for hours going to the houses of strangers they have never met and will most likely never see again? Maybe they are just obsessed. Maybe that is why the dentist always get hyped because they know they will turn a nice profit from all of the rotting teeth that are sure to come with the aftereffects of this one night. Then again maybe the candy is just a bonus and there is another cause for joy. Perhaps the kids like the dressing up portion of this one night. They found some kind of thrill out of pretending that they were devils and demons and witches and every other form of monstrous ghoul that humanity had synthesized since its creation.

                ‘Was I ever like one of those kids?’ Rex thought to himself as he walked. He didn’t remember ever caring for Halloween and if he did, he definitely didn’t now. He had fought too many demons, seen too many monsters, spoken to Satan himself. The children had no idea what was around them. If they did then they would never pick up another devil mask in their lives. Rex looked up because he came to a street. The last thing he wanted to do was get flattened by a car after he had worked so hard. Rex had not told anyone on the team but he worked odd jobs whenever he wasn’t in church or fighting. He didn’t make much money at all but every dime that was given to him, he put away. Now after three months of continuous work he had enough money to afford a bus ticket to New York. One of the reasons he never told anyone because he knew that his teammates would insist that he use the gateway or at least let them take him to his destination. Rex would hate that because he liked to earn everything himself.

                Rex crossed the street safely although he almost got hit. The drivers here were so aggressive and he was surprised that there weren’t any fatalities every other minute. Once he was on the other side he continued walking the streets for another hour. He wasn’t used to so many people being out. The directions were also confusing and he got a lost a couple of times, but it would all be worth it because of what he was here for. He eventually found the place he was looking for. It was an apartment building that he was granted access to. He walked up the staircase until he was on the top floor. He was looking for a specific door and it just so happened to be at the end of the hallway. Once he was in font of it he stopped. This was a moment he had been waiting a while for but now that it was finally here he was nervous. What would the reaction be, would it be happiness, anger, or uncertainty? It didn’t matter because standing outside the door would never allow him to discover the answer.

Rex took a deep breath and then knocked. It felt like an eternity before someone finally answered. Standing in the doorway was an older woman that Rex had seen only a few times before today. She looked at him with an expression that was nearly impossible to read. Rex took the initiative and spoke first. “Hello Ms. Crystal” He said.

The woman’s expression changed. It was a smile and Rex assumed that it was positive. “Oh come on Rex you are almost an adult, you can call me Diana.”

Rex wanted to laugh and act like everything was fine. He wanted to get to the point and explain why he was here even though Diana probably already knew. Unfortunately there was another issue he needed to resolve first. “It took me a while to gather everything necessary to make it up here but I made it. Before anything else I just wanted to apologize for our last encounter. I knew you would be able to take much better care of her, I was just angry. She’s the only family I have left.”

“Rex you don’t really know me that well. I don’t hold grudges and given the circumstances I would go so far as to say that I wasn’t even that angry. We just all wanted what was best for her. If it makes you feel better, she asks about you almost every day. I think she sees you as her hero.” Right as Diana said that, another younger voice was heard from inside the apartment.

“Rexie; is that you?” The entire complex echoed and shook from the footsteps that came from within. Rex knew that he would most likely be on the floor sometime in the next few seconds. As soon as his sister set eyes on him, his previous thought was confirmed. She ran full speed and jumped in his arms. Rex was knocked over in his effort to catch her.

“Dag Emma you got a bit heavier since I last saw you.” Rex said as he got back up. It hurt a bit but he kept that well hidden. “Has it really been that long since I saw you?”

“It was long enough. It gets a little dull around here sometimes.” Emma answered.

Rex was caught off guard by this answer. “You mean to tell me that you live in New York city and you actually get bored? How does that even happen?”

“There aren’t too many children that live around here. A lot of times she is in the house watching television.” Diana told him. “But we can talk inside. Come in Rex and stay a while.” Rex did as requested and went inside. The door closed behind them.

They all hung out for the next few hours. They talked and caught up with each other. Emma didn’t learn much about Rex because he was forbidden from discussing the war she was a part of. However Rex learned a lot of things about his little sister. She was a straight A student and the top in her sixth grade class. She was about as tough as Rex was and her classmates knew not to mess with her. She loved everything indoors. Outside activities like sports and such made her cringe. Diana made sure that she never let Emma miss church and it paid off. Rex’s sister had become a Christian; she really seemed to enjoy it too.

“It is a wonderful thing when the youth of today accept such a powerful message.” Diana said to him. “What was your conversion like?” Diana knew why Emma was living with her but most of the details about what happened and why were kept from her. There was no point in telling her what she did not need to know.

Rex thought for a moment about what he should say. He didn’t want to ruin the vibe in the room by talking about his mother especially since his sister was there next to him. “Let’s just say that sometimes it takes a life to save a life.” Rex said and looked away.

Diana placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know the feeling.” Rex didn’t know it but Diana was referring to her husband Jason Crystal who had been killed by a certain giant.

The room was awkwardly silent for a few minutes. Emma finally suggested that they all play a board game. Diana had every game that you could think of. They all finally settled on ‘Trouble.’ Emma went to get it but it was too high up for her to reach. “Hey Rexie; can you get that for me?” She asked.

“Come on little sis, you’re getting older isn’t it about time you got a little taller as well?” Rex laughed. He should have watched behind him.

“I’m small but dangerous.” Emma jumped on Rex’s back. He struggled to get her off but it failed. “See you’re in trouble. You’re getting older isn’t it about time you got a little tougher too?”

“Oh you are going to pay for that one.” Rex finally got Emma off of him and then placed her softly on the floor. “You should’ve stopped when I asked. Now you have to get a visit from the tickle monster.” Rex attacked his younger sister and she laughed uncontrollably. It was a pretty sick design that such a torture could only evoke laughter. Rex tickled Emma until tears started streaming down her face. He would have kept going but Diana got him from behind.

“Come on Emma we can get him together.” She said.

“Wait, wait, wait, you don’t have to do that.” Rex pleaded but it was too late. Diana and Emma were on top of him and they extended the same kindness had did except they were double trouble. It was impossible for him to escape. He laughed so hard it became an inaudible plea for freedom. He had to tap several times before they finally let him go. After he recovered from the savage attack on his abdomen, the three of them settled down to play ‘Trouble.’ Then they played monopoly and then they had a movie marathon. The lights went out well into the next morning. It was a very happy time for Rex and his sister. It was the beginning of a great trial.

 

The Counsel: the next morning

                “Anyone who had served with the angels for anymore than a year knew a few things for certain. One of those things was that October 31th was a day that they dreaded with almost everything in them. It started years ago when a creature known as Hollow discovered a way to merge the two dimensions. The spiritual realm and the physical realm became one and both demons and angels were free to walk around in their true forms. The problem with Hollow’s plan was that it took an outrageous amount of man power to be successful. He would spend years gathering them together in many small gatherings such as séances. After enough demonic energy was collected from these events, Hollow could break the barrier temporarily between the two worlds. Even after twenty years of constant collection, it was always no more than enough to sustain the breach for a few hours. It wasn’t enough time and Hollow knew it so he made modifications to his plan. He teamed up with a fellow entity named Trepidation. The two of them were able to harness both demonic energy and fear from the humans. With these two together they could breach the barrier more often, and keep it breached longer. It was a disaster at first. The demons were infiltrating the physical world every few months for days at a time. Most didn’t worship Satan but everyone had fear and so the energy output was enormous. At first the angels believed that such attacks would bring more humans to the cause and provide them with a fighting chance but Hollow was crafty. He had the ability to wipe the minds of the humans and make them accept the events as nothing more than a clawing thought at the back of their head as something that they may have dreamed years ago. The demons had reign over the Earth. Their night of freedom was always violent. One day a massive hole was opened up and the army of evil marched through triumphantly. Their mission was to take over and establish Hollow as ruler. He would then surrender the Earth to Satan. A brave angelet that went by the name of Xethen refused to let this happen on his watch. Even though he only stood with one other, he went to war against Hollow. In the ensuing battle Hollow was imprisoned in a small quadrant of Earth but at a great cost. Xethen wasn’t heard from again. Unfortunately Hollow had a backup plan. Trepidation had escaped and carried out the plan in secret. He spent decades pouring into the human race, giving them ideas of a new day. This day held in it special power. The power was in the voluntary celebration of the day. The humans had no idea what they unleashed once a year. It was sort of like a spell that essentially did what their energy collection did which was break the barrier. There was a word that had to be spoken during a specific time of the year by Hollow himself. Once this word was spoken, the barrier would open and the demons would be free for one full night.” Wisdom finally finished.

David was sitting with her with an apple listening and from the expression on his face, he was quite captivated. “So Halloween is the day that Trepidation and Hollow made?” He asked.

“It was more like the day they suggested. However the humans were the ones that made it a reality. It’s a shame really. Hollow is a very powerful force but his imprisonment was supposed to be a relief. If only we could find a way to contain him forever.”

“Is that why we haven’t seen Malachi or Gabriel recently?” David asked.

“Of course. The month before Halloween is a busy time for angels everywhere. They have to prepare for the worst because the demons always attack with a ferocity that we hardly ever see normally on the battlefield.”

“So then where is your place in all of this? Shouldn’t you be helping the others?”

Wisdom got up and started to walk away. “There are some situations that are best left to those more qualified to deal with them.” Then she was gone from the room. She left the home base and stood at the edge of a cliff that gave her a nice view of the ocean. Her heart was heavy and she couldn’t take being here anymore. She jumped over the edge and started to free fall. The water was coming up fast but right as she was about to hit it, she took off for the skies. Then she picked a random location and flew that way. ‘Lord I need you to help me. I don’t think I can do this again.’ She thought to herself. ‘I can’t face him again.’

Back at the counsel David was sitting alone. He tried to figure out what he could do to help the team. If only Rex were around so they could work together, but his visit to go see his sister meant too much to him. “Dag Rex, you picked quite the time to take a vacation.”

 

Oblivion: time and place unknown

                There were a few kinds of dark. There was the room dark, that type of dark that makes it just a bit more difficult to read when the blinds are closed in whatever room you were in. Then there was night dark where you found yourself outside with only the faint glow of the moon to provide you with comfort. After that there was pitch dark, the type of darkness that you found yourself in when you were placed in a room with no windows, or doors, or lights. In this darkness you couldn’t see your own hand in front of your face. Then there was oblivion dark which was simply just black. It is always hard to imagine worse than the worse things are known to be able to get but oblivion dark could drive you insane after mere minutes of exposure. It could drive even the bravest souls mad. Robin found himself in a place he didn’t know. He saw nothing and he heard nothing, he felt nothing, he understood nothing. He woke up to find himself in oblivion. He wanted to scream but he could not, he felt no voice. Oblivion.

                “Have you awakened Robin? I think you are.” A chilling voice said. “I guess I shouldn’t really ask, it’s not like you can respond to me anyway. Before I say anything more, take a moment to try and figure out where you are. Take a moment to try and move until you realize that there is nothing to move. Take some time to discover that all sense of your physical self is now gone. You cannot move; you cannot speak. You can only know that you exist as nothing more than a conscious without a body to belong to. You are simply here in this eternal blackness, powerless to escape. You have become an Empty. But I’m sure you don’t know what that is so I will explain.”

                Horror overtook Robin as he realized that all the statements about his absent body were correct. He couldn’t do anything but listen to what was being said to him. It was a terrible feeling to be unable to feel. He tried to scream again but nothing happened.

                “The legend of the black cloaked figure that resides in Aberdeen is not a legend. It is true and I am the cloaked figure. You were foolish to walk into my domain. I’m sure you were warned because that angel always tries to warn those who get too curious. You should have listened and maybe you would be fine right now. The projectile that I hit you with contained in it what I like to call the ‘purge.’ It had a most pleasing effect. It basically separated you from your body and left you nothing but your thoughts. The body itself is still in the field. Anyone looking at it would see that your eyes have rolled back and become nothing but white. Think of your body as a zombie that I am now in control of. The best part about this isn’t even what I do with your body; it is what happens to you. Did you know that you are not dead? You have simply been trapped within your mind. The brain is the most important part of the body because it runs everything. All someone has to do to gain control is capture the mind. I can’t control people’s minds so I simply take out the competition. You can’t control your mind anymore because your mind has become your prison. You are trapped here until it stops functioning and you die. However that’s where things get really bad for you. This far inside the unreachable subconscious part of your brain, time is completely distorted. By my calculations, your brain transmutes every second of real time into a month back here. That means that you will feel like you been here for years when it reality it has been less than a minute. That’s a real living hell don’t you think? Oh wait I forgot you couldn’t speak.”

                Robin wanted to reach out and hurt this entity that was saying these things. However he couldn’t feel and he couldn’t see. It was just never-ending nothingness.

                “You know there is a way to reverse what I’ve done to you. There is a way for outsiders to free you from this prison. But there is something that they can’t do. They can’t fix the trauma that decades alone in the dark can inflict on a human being. Even if one day someone does free you, your mind will have been long lost. Goodbye Robin and welcome to Hell on Earth.” Then Robin heard nothing and he was left in the cold unforgiving vastness of nothing alone.

                The lifeless body started to smoke black. All of the substance coming out of it formed into a cloaked figure which was Hollow. He looked at it and plucked its neck. “Now rise Empty, rise and become a part of my army.” Robin’s body got up from the grass and stood motionless. “Very good, I am in complete control.”

                “When do I get to terrorize him?” Trepidation asked.

                Hollow turned around quickly. “You know I hate it when you sneak up on me. Fortunately I am too excited to subject you to the same torture I have subjected the boy.”

                “In any case that doesn’t answer my question. When do I get to terrorize the boy?” He asked again.

                “Later. Right now we have more important things to focus on. We have a week before the barrier opens and I have to make sure everything is in order. I won’t tolerate failure.” Hollow said.

                “What do you mean? Is there really a way to fail genocide? With that many demons running rampant, you’ll get plenty of kills.” Trepidation said.

                Hollow picked up Robin’s body. “You don’t understand. This year is going to be different. It isn’t about senseless killing. I have a purpose this year, purpose that will provide me with a much greater feeling than a simple blood bath.”

                “You are right; I don’t understand. What could have a greater feeling than a blood bath?” Trepidation asked.

                Hollow smiled. “There is only one feeling greater than that of a gruesome kill. It is the sweet scent of rotting Wisdom, and the intoxicating taste of revenge.” He escorted the body away and Trepidation likewise followed.