Faux Gold
Just a little short story I made.
The Hiker climbed the muddy mountain road, the rain pouring down on him. His boots sunk deep into the mud, his blue eyes' sight blurred by the rain. His feet sucked into the ground, up to his knee in mud. The hiker groaned as he yanked his muddy leg out of the messy hole. The rain kept pouring down, the trees shaking and bending by the powerful wind. The Man's raincoat and hat, which he had equipped as soon as the storm started, were now drenched and shining with water. The man's once combed back and neat salt and pepper hair, was now wet and matted. The unfortunate hiker, prayed to find shelter soon, les he be taken by the storm's furious winds and waters, or catch a dreadful illness. The hiker collapsed onto his gloved hands and knees, exhausted and feeling as though he could not take another step. Unknowing to him, two golden eyes, were watching him from inside the restless forest.
The Hiker looked up, and saw a light in the distance. He Squinted his eyes, trying to see what the light was, he made out the shape of a building with his storm shrouded vision. The mountain climber jumped back up to his feet, feeling renewed with hope that there was a building, just a small distance away from where he was. The Hiker began his march, through the sinking and wet earth. As he came closer to the building, he saw that it was a mansion. With a marble arched polished wooden double doors, with sliver doorknobs. Two, grand curtained windows, were seen on the bottom level of the mansion, next to the doors. Three more windows, just above the bottom two, on the second level. The building was untarnished and looked freshly built and not worn by the storm or time. The roof was made with golden tiles, it shining in the rain.
Seeing this building, the hiker ran up to the entrance and raped his knuckles on the door. "Hello! Is the owner of this house here!" he yelled. No one answered, the climber jiggled the doorknob and it was unlocked. Not wanting to spend another moment in the cold maelstrom, he opened the door and went into the mansion, quickly shutting the door. The hikers icy body soon thawed in the warm and beautiful mansion.
The entrance hall was where he had just entered. It had a smooth carpeted red floor with a black and silver rug in the middle of the room. A wooden grand staircase with a marble hand rail, led to the second level of the mansion. Marble columns were set in the middle of the room like a long aisle. The hiker took off his muddy black boots and yellow rain gear, now in his slightly wet long sleeved shirt and mud stained jeans and socks. He opened the first door on the left of the room, an oak door with a copper doorknob. The Room he had entered made the hiker's mouth water.
A 12 foot long glass table with a golden frame, was piled high with foods. Lobster, shrimp, baked Alaska, cheesecake, sirloin steaks, caviar, pasta, Stromboli, calzones, ice cream and other delicacies were piled up on silver serving platters. Diamond encrusted gold goblets, plates, utensils, and pitchers were set next to the fresh and delicious buffet. There were three pitchers, one filled with wine, the second cider, and the third crystal clear water. The hiker's stomach growled like a starved bear looking at the food. He grabbed a plate and started devouring the food. He ate one of every scrumptious cuisine there and drank three glasses of wine and cider, but only one glass of water. A satisfied belch left the hiker's mouth as he patted his bloated stomach, his hunger sated. He lifted himself out of the comfy chair and continued his exploration of the mansion.
He found a heavy steel door and pushed it open with all his power. The giant door slowly opened and reveled a sight that made the hiker's mouth drop. The room was piled up to the ceiling with god coins, bars, and luxuries all glittering in the light like stars. The hiker, feeling the temptation of greed taking over, leaped into the gold coins and started throwing the gold coins around like snow laughing with joy. He had never seen so much wealth in his life, the owner of this mansion would surely not miss a few gold bars and coins would he? With this thought in mind, the man filled his pockets with gold coins and grabbed six gold bars. He would be a wealthy man once he returned home.
With his pockets full and heavy, gold bars in hand, the hiker opened another wooden door. He had found the bathroom, a very luxurious one at that. It had a silver sink and toilet that was clean and untarnished with no vulgar residue on them. But what really caught his eye, was the golden bathtub. The man looked at his muddy clothes and skin, realizing that he smelled like trash and was covered with dirt, some dry hard mud stuck in his hair. The man walked over and turn on the fossett as warm water poured out of it with rose petals coming out as well. He undressed and eased himself into the warm water, the air being filled with the pleasant smell of roses and honey. The man, holding onto one of his gold bars, codling it like a teddy bear, soon was taken by the sweet smells and perfect temperature of the tub, as his eyes closed and he fell asleep.
When he awoke, the man gasped. He had not been in a mansion, he was in a cave! He looked around as he stared at a stone table which he thought was a dining room, all the food was really worms and grubs, he had actually eaten those! The man hacked and gagged realizing that and saw that the pitchers of wine, honey, and clean water, were just dirty water. He then looked down at what he thought was a golden bathtub, but it's true form was a dug hole in the ground filled with murky rain water, the rose petals actually dried up black leaves. He looked at his hands and saw the gold bars replaced with worthless bar shaped rocks. The hiker, appalled and unbelieving of what had just happened screamed out "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" While the illusionist was just outside the cave, on a cliff, admiring her handiwork.
A golden fox with nine long silver tipped tails and ears, listen to the man's cry. Her sleek fur glistening in the moonlight, glowing like a firefly. Satisfied with her little illusion on the unfortunate traveler, she returned to her den. She missed causing mischief on those who wandered too close to her. The hiker would most likely try to forget this unwanted experience, but then again, no one likes to be tricked by a Kitsune.