Sleepy Hollow 🔖

Bounty On Our Heads

"Are we there yet?"

"No". I replied.

"Are we there yet?"

"Not yet". I answered getting more irritated.

"How bout now?"

"I swear, Rachael if you ask me one more time I will tie you to a tree and leave you to the wolves".
That seemed to shut her up.

"There wouldn't be any need for that cause we're here". Richard commented and I raised a questioning brow at him.

" Stop giving me that look and come over here". He urged and soon we were all crowded around him on a hill overlooking a small town. Torches illuminated the cobblestone streets all lined with brick houses. The town was in a valley and was surrounded by hills.

We made our way down a winding path towards the town, I noticed something off but I wasn't the first to shout it out.

"It's awfully quiet, don't you think?". Vanessa said. I hadn't seen a single soul since we set foot in the town. I'd caught window blinds being closed at the last second as I looked at the buildings. Curtains fluttered as we walked by. And yet I thought the inhabitants of sleepy hollow were uninviting, these ones didn't even show their faces.

"Relax. This is how things usually are". Richard enlightened us. "I know someone here who can give us supplies and directions on how to send you back to earth"

Looking behind our shoulders twice a minute and glancing at every street corner, we made our way to the house of Richard's acquaintance.
Richard walked up to the door, flanked by Tony, and knocked. The door opened revealing a shrivelled old man. Bent over slightly, he strained his aging eyes up at them. A few words were exchanging and I couldn't hold back my smile as the old man's features lit up in recognition. As he smiled, I saw that the wrinkles on his face were actually laughter crinkles which had deepened with age and he let us in without a second thought.

Crammed inside the small house, I took an eyeful. Most of the furniture was made of a certain kind of dark wood and there wasn't a single speck of dust in sight. There was a lantern hanging from the ceiling complimented by candles. Several antique pieces and heirlooms stood proudly in a shelf, most of them I presumed, had been acquired in his lifetime.

"Richard why are you not in the castle where you're supposed to be working? I know the pay might be small but it would be stupid to quit a stable job in these times". The old man inquired.

"No Salem. I'm helping them". Richard said, gesturing to us. The old man, Salem, looked at us and we responded with waves and hellos. Frankly, I believed that even if Richard didn't quit, he already lost his job. They would've noticed his absence at the castle.

"Who are these people you brought to my house?". Salem asked as he sank into a chair by the window.

"You've heard the rumours going around of the horseman getting his head back, yes?". Richard asked and Salem nodded. "Well, it isn't a rumour. These are the girls he intended to use for the Sacrifice of Twelve"

The old man lowered and shook his head not believing what he was hearing.
"Richard do you know what kind of trouble you've gotten into? And you're dragging me along. Soldiers came to the town a few nights ago. There's a reward for who turns in a certain group of girls. It's not safe for you here, it's only a matter of time before they come marching to my door with pitchforks"

Tony spoke now. "We're sorry for any inconvenience we might have caused you. All we need is a little assistance and we'll be on our way"

"And how can I be of assistance?". Salem asked.

"We need food and clothes. I know you know a lot of myths and legends, we also need a way to connect earth and eritha". Richard said.

"What's eritha?". I asked, a bit lost.

"Eritha is this world. As you've realised, you're not on earth". Richard replied.

"I've been here for years and I didn't even know that". Judith chips in.

"I still don't understand why the horseman didn't just get girls from here". Vanessa said.

"The rite sort of...backfires if one of the girls wields magic. Not everyone here wields magic but it's part of our biology. Our essence, we are made from magic". Richard tells her.

"I do not know for sure how to create a passage, but I know who can be of help". Salem paused then continued. "I'll get your supplies then I'll give you directions to the place"

He stood up and ventured past a door, returning later with a really huge bag. "This should be enough"
I could almost hear fanfare as I looked into the bag. Everything we needed was there. Food, clothes, and in generous amounts too.

"Thank you so much Salem. You won't regret this". Richard said, beaming.

"You should get going. The person I know is a female mage, skilled in dark magic and the sorts. You'll find her house at the outskirts at the base of the hill. Ask around and you'll get more precise directions. Be careful though. There's a bounty on your heads".

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Sleepy Hollow is approaching 100 reads.
So proud. Almost done with my exams.
Love,Vicki.💟