Inside the Hollow Tree

by Laurel Veil

  I almost didn’t make it to the car before I started crying. “I shouldn’t have left him. I should’ve made him come with us.”

  Ty slipped his arm around me and pulled me close. “You tried.”

  “I should’ve tried harder. He’s five, Ty. I should’ve forced him to come with us.”

  8.

  We headed straight home so I could check on my mom. She was still resting in the den by the fire and was just getting off the phone when we stepped through the door.

  “You feeling alright?” I asked.

  “So far, so good.” She smiled. “So, I spoke with a representative from Willow Bend and I talked to Ruby too, so no need to concern yourself with any of that.”

  “OK,” I nodded. “Well, are you hungry?”

  “I’m fine, Falon. Please, come and sit down,” she motioned to the sofa.

  She sounded serious. I bet she wants to hear everything I’ve been through while she was at Willow Bend. I could hardly wait to tell her. I pulled Ty down next to me on the sofa.

  “Look. I know how much you like the garden, but I really think it’s just best if you stay out of there.”

  “What?”

  “I just don’t think it’s healthy for you, to hang onto the past, that’s all.”

  “Mom, I know how you feel about the garden. You’ve told me a million times. But, I need you to finally understand how much the garden means to me.” I sighed. “And, is that really all you want to talk to me about?”

  “What do you mean?” She genuinely looked confused.

  “Mom, you had a car accident and almost lost your mind. You were out of it for like three months. Don’t you want to know what I’ve been up to all this time?”

  She looked down as if she felt ashamed of herself. My usual knee-jerk reaction was to feel guilty and take back what I had said. But this time I didn’t. I was beginning to realize, that when I took back things I said, I was taking back my feelings. I couldn’t do that anymore. I couldn’t help the way I felt, and I was tired of keeping everything inside.

  “I apologize for not asking. I’m a little foggy on the details, but I think I remember you telling me on one of your visits that you were staying with a foster family.”

  “Yes. I was staying with a family of psychos and it was horrible.” It felt good to tell my mom how miserable I had been. Even if it wasn’t her fault, she had left me, and I was angry.

  “Oh, Falon.” She reached out for me, so I sat on the ottoman and let her hug me. “I’m so sorry for everything you had to go through.”

  “It wasn’t all bad,” I said as I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “I met Ty and Jackson. Do you remember Jackson? He came with me when I visited you.”

  She took a moment to think. “The little boy? Yes. I think I remember him.”

  I told her about the encounter Ty and I had just had with Daisy and Jacob.

  “I’m sure Jackson is just fine,” she said dismissively.

  “Do you think you could go with me tomorrow to ask Ms. Alice how Jackson is doing?”

  My mom shifted nervously. I knew she was a homebody, but since my dad died it had gotten worse. She had gone from being a cute little hermit to a full-blown recluse.

  “I—I don’t know. I’m still very weak.”

  “Please mom. It won’t take long. I know you need more time to feel like your old self, but this can’t wait any longer. I want Jackson to live here with us.”

  “What? You can’t be serious, Falon?”

  “I’m very serious.”

  “He’s not one of your strays. He’s a human being. Do you realize what you’re even asking—the commitment you are talking about?”

  “I’ve grown very close to him, Mom. I love him. I thought you would want to help.” I couldn’t believe she was doing this to me. “So, I suppose there’s no way you would even consider letting Ty stay here?” I didn’t mean to embarrass Ty, but I couldn’t bear to see him go back to Ms. Alice’s. “At least for a while?” I was practically begging now and had made things completely awkward.

  The look on her face said it all. I knew I’d put her on the spot asking in front of Ty, but at least I had my answer.

  “You know, Mom. Emma’s mother wouldn’t let me stay with them either. That’s how I wound up in that hell hole.”

  I got up and headed, with Ty, to the back door.

  “You don’t understand, Falon.”

  “There’s nothing to understand, Mom.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “You know where,” I said as I reached for the knob.

  “Stay out of there, Falon. I mean it! Stay out of that damn garden!”

  ◆◆◆

  Ty laced his fingers through mine and squeezed my hand tightly as we walked to the garden.

  He sat down in one of the lawn chairs while still holding my hand and pulled me into his lap. My pulse quickened. Looking into his eyes gave me the most intense feeling I had ever known.

  “I’m so sorry, Ty.”

  He shook his head as if to say, I had nothing to be sorry for. One side of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin. “You tried to find me a place to live. Thank you.”

  “I wish we could figure out how to get you through the tree. We could live there. Together.”

  He brushed his thumb gently across my cheek, then ran his fingers behind my ear and pushed my hair back. He bit his lip as his hand slid behind my neck. I could feel his grip tighten as he pulled me to him. I held my breath as he pressed my mouth to his. I couldn’t believe it. I was having my first kiss. I wondered only for a moment if I was doing it right, and the next thing I knew, I was touching his face and letting my fingers explore his chiseled jawline. It was strong and rough with stubble.

  After a few moments, with our lips still touching, he whispered, “And, just so you know, I’m not leaving.”

  I smiled, took hold of his face and kissed him deeply. I knew if my mom didn't change her mind and let him stay, I was going to go with him. One way or another, he was going to be a part of my life.

  We sat there in silence, both completely at ease. Ty held my hand in his and traced the lines of my palm with his fingers. I was appreciating the much-needed distraction, when out of the blue, a door slammed, and a car roared to life.

  “Mom?” I wondered out loud.

  We watched in shock as her car sped off.

  “She shouldn’t be driving right now,” said Ty.

  We both darted toward the house in time to see her tail lights disappear down the street.

  “Where is she going?” said Ty.

  I flung open the back door and frantically scanned the kitchen and breakfast table for a note.

  “Calm down,” said Ty. “She’s been cooped up for a while, she probably just wanted to get out for a minute.”

  “You don’t understand. My mom doesn’t really ever leave the house anymore. Something’s wrong.” I ran to her bedroom and froze.

  A moment later, Ty came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. Empty drawers were pulled out. Her closet door was open and only bare hangers remained, still slightly swinging on the clothes rod. She didn’t just step out, she was gone.

  Overwhelmed with confusion, I sunk into the couch and rested my head on Ty’s shoulder until I fell asleep…

  “Jackson!” I couldn’t believe he was really here with me inside the garden. He stepped toward me and I pulled him close. “Where have you been? I’ve been so worried.” I fought back tears as I spoke.

  Ty put his arms around the both of us. “Why didn’t you come with us that night, Jack?” he asked.

  I gently pushed him back, so I could see his face. “Yeah, sweetie. Why did you run away from us and lock the door?”

  His eyes were sad, but he still managed a tiny smile. He pointed to the pocket of my jacket.

  I pulled out the pale blue, satin ribbon he had given me. He took it and placed my left hand against Ty’s. Then he carefully wrapped the ribbon around them.


  I giggled. “What are you doing, Jackson?”

  Ty and I smiled at one another and when we looked down, Jackson was gone.

  I woke with a start, waking Ty as well.

  He rubbed his face. “What is it? What’s the matter?” He asked in a raspy voice. His bangs fell into his tired eyes.

  I took his hand as I stood and pulled him to his feet. “I think I may know how to get you through to the other garden.”

  He furrowed his brows. The look on his face told me he thought I was crazy, but he followed me anyway.

  9.

  “Where are you going?” I asked Ty just before we reached the garden gate.

  “It’s too dark out here,” he called back to me. A moment later the trees were glowing once again with soft white lights. “That’s better,” he said.

  Once we entered the garden, he reached up and lit the antique lantern that was hanging from the limb.

  As he tucked the lighter back into his jeans, in a sleepy voice he asked, “So, what’s your idea?”

  I suddenly felt silly as I prepared to explain to him about my dream. Was that all it had been? It seemed so real and definitely more significant than to be brushed off as simply a dream.

  I cleared my throat. “I-I think Jackson came to me—in a dream.”

  Ty listened intently. His stare made my heart race. I found it hard to keep talking, so I reached out and took his hand and placed it together with mine just the way Jackson had.

  He grinned. “What are you doing?”

  I didn’t answer. I simply took the ribbon from my pocket and wrapped it loosely around our hands. The smile dropped from Ty’s lips and his eyes grew more intense. He moved his hand just enough that his fingers gently spread mine apart. He then slid his fingers down in between mine. Our hands were now laced snuggly together. I could feel heat coming from his palm. He stepped closer to me and the ribbon began to tighten around our hands, as if it were alive.

  His eyes seemed different. He looked like he was in a trance. “I love you, Falon.”

  My heart beat in double time.

  “The first time we met—I just knew you were the one I was meant to be with. Where you go, I’ll go. And I'll do anything for you. I want to protect you and take care of you.”

  I believed him. Before I could even think about responding—what I’d say and how I’d say it, emotion, for lack of a better word, came over me. My mouth opened and my heart spilled itself. Everything that I had been feeling permeated the filter that normally blocked me from speaking my mind and saying what I felt.

  “I love you too, Ty. I have for a while. I want us to always be together. I want to make you happy and—”

  Ty’s lips prevented me from finishing. He pressed his mouth so completely against mine, I didn’t know where his ended and mine began. For a moment, it felt like we were the same person.

  When he pulled back from me he looked a little dazed, which was how I felt. “What just happened?” He gave me a sheepish smile.

  I shook my head and bit my bottom lip to keep my smile under control. “Come on,” I said as I pulled him into the tree. Our hands were still clasped together, though the ribbon was now hanging loosely about them. I put the ribbon in my pocket to keep it safe and then reached for the emerald stone. “Put your other hand next to mine.”

  I felt a gentle tugging sensation run through my body. I was thrilled when I realized I was still holding Ty’s hand. Did this mean it worked?

  “Come on, this way.” I pulled him to the opening in the tree and when we stepped out into the night, Ty gasped as he looked around at his new surroundings.

  “I can’t believe this is happening. This is real, Falon.”

  I could tell he already appreciated this place as much as I did.

  “How did Jack know?” he asked.

  “I have no idea.”

  “Look,” he pointed. A dense fog began to roll through the trees toward us. “It’s her, isn’t it? The creature you told me about.”

  “Yes! I can’t wait for you—”

  Suddenly, there was a commotion just outside the garden walls. It was a fight. I froze with fear. I didn’t know what to do.

  Just then, a whooshing sound whizzed past my ear. My own scream frightened me as it pierced through the night. I fell to my knees in disbelief, next to Ty’s limp body that now lay motionless on the mossy ground. He had been shot in the chest with an arrow. His eyes were looking at me, but he wasn’t there. He was drifting away. The blood red feathers that comprised the arrow’s fletching, emphasized his slowing breath. Terrified, I watched as it came closer and closer to stopping. “Ty!” I begged without shame. I knew my life was at stake too. I didn’t want to live without him. “Please don’t leave me.”

  A dark figure seemed to fall from the sky. I pleaded for help, but stopped, when I brushed away my tears and realized that it was a shadow creature!

  I heard leaves rustling and looked up to see others like him, perched in the limbs of the trees overhead. I felt lightheaded and was about to collapse onto Ty, when the shadow swooped me off the ground as if I weighed nothing. I was surprised that it was solid, and hard, because it looked like nothing more than thick, black smoke. I struggled for my freedom and beat on its chest. “Let me go! I can’t leave him! I have to help! Why? Why did you do that?”

  “Our orders were to get you,” said a frighteningly deep, calm voice that belonged to a soldier who sat upon a tall, black horse just outside the garden.

  The shadow, with me still in its clutches, stepped towards the soldier, floated upwards a bit, and placed me, in front of the soldier, on his horse. I tried desperately to jump off, but when the soldier put his arms around me to hold the reigns, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. His arms were like lead. With all my strength, I couldn’t even budge them.

  The soldier spurred the horse into a gallop, and I gripped the ornate, silver horn of the saddle with all my might. Every stride the large animal made juddered my insides. Numerous shadow creatures soared through the air above us and several soldiers on horseback flanked our sides. Their hooves sounded like thunder. This was too real to be a dream, but I still found it hard to believe that it was happening. I thought of Ty and hot tears spilled down my cheeks. And then my mom’s warning to stay out of the garden made me want to throw up. Why was I so stubborn? Why didn’t I listen?

  A dark forest blurred past me on both sides. I wondered what dangers were within it. Even though the moon was bright, the brush was so thick, I couldn’t see past a couple of feet. It would be a good place to hide when I made my escape.

  ◆◆◆

  We'd ridden for quite a while when a castle suddenly appeared, on a hill, in the distance. I couldn't believe my eyes. Its soaring towers, were peppered with lit windows. A massive stone wall surrounded it. As we drew near, the horses slowed to a trot and I heard a chain rattle and gears grind as a drawbridge began to lower. I felt dizzy when I looked down as we crossed. We were higher up than I had realized. I shivered when I saw numerous pairs of alligator eyes peering just above the murky surface of the moat. There were far too many to count.

  Two massive torches flanked the entrance. Once we were inside, we made our way through a small crowd of soldiers who were all looking up at me. My stomach turned when I heard the drawbridge begin to rise. I tried to throw myself from the horse, but the soldier merely flinched to stop me, and chuckled at my attempt.

  Echoing hooves announced our arrival better than trumpets. I watched as curtains were pulled back in the windows of tiny, peasant looking houses that lined the streets. Curious faces of villagers, men, women and children, peeked out to see our small procession travel down the cobblestone road.

  When we approached the center of the kingdom, we entered through the gate of an inner wall and proceeded up a hill. The front steps of the castle were lined with people. As we got closer, I realized that they were most likely servants.

  The soldier slipped off the horse from behind me and extended his
arms to assist me. I hesitated when the servants suddenly parted and a young man, in royal attire stepped forward. He stared intensely at me without blinking for a moment and then proceeded down the steps toward me. The soldier stepped aside when he approached.

  The man smiled up at me. “Falon. It’s really you.”

  “Please, You have to help Ty. He’s been shot.”

  He took a step back and the soldier leaned into his ear. When he was finished listening he stepped toward me once more, a look of dread was on his face.

  “Dirk, has just informed me some of my men have stayed behind to try and help your friend. But, I’m afraid it doesn’t look good for him.”

  “No,” I could barely speak. He reached for me as I began to slump forward. Ty! I want Ty, was the last thing I remembered thinking.

  10.

  I could feel myself beginning to wake. I was lying between silky sheets and the quilts that covered me were heavy and warm. A cool breeze made me open my eyes. My heart raced a bit when I saw the enormous window. My eyes quickly panned my surroundings as I tried to figure out where I was. Large, antique furniture sat about the room and ornate tapestries hung on the walls.

  Memories of last night flooded me all at once and tears spilled from my eyes when I thought about Ty.

  “Princess Falon, are you alright?”

  I looked up to see a girl about my age, standing in the doorway. Her light brown hair was pinned up under a white poofy cap that matched her apron. Her shoes and dress were black as coal.

  “Who—who are you?” I choked.

  “I’m Maggie, ma’am. I’m your personal attendant.”

  “Where am I?”

  She crinkled her eyes, “You’re in the palace.”

  “Palace?”

  “Yes, ma’am. And, King Landon wishes to speak with you.”

  “My name is Falon, but why does everyone keep calling me princess?”

  “You really don’t know?”