NJSLA Fall Field Test ELA 8
“The Echoes of Fern Hollow” — Fictional Narrative
Lena had never been to Fern Hollow before, but the stories her grandmother told made it feel familiar. Nestled between two ridges and blanketed in mist, the hollow was said to be enchanted — not with magic, but with memory. “It remembers everything,” her grandmother used to whisper, “even things people forget.”
Now, Lena stood at the edge of the hollow, clutching a faded photograph of her mother as a child. Her mother never spoke of Fern Hollow, only warned Lena to stay away. But after her mother’s sudden passing, Lena felt drawn to the place, as if the hollow itself had called her.
The path into the woods was narrow and winding. Trees arched overhead like cathedral ceilings, and the air smelled of moss and rain. Lena walked slowly, listening. The forest was quiet, but not empty. Every so often, she thought she heard footsteps behind her, soft and deliberate. She turned, but saw only trees.
After an hour, she reached a clearing. In the center stood a small cottage, its roof sagging and its windows clouded with dust. Lena approached cautiously. The door creaked open with a gentle push, revealing a room filled with old furniture, faded books, and a fireplace that still held the scent of smoke.
On the mantel was a wooden box carved with vines. Inside, Lena found letters — dozens of them — written in her mother’s handwriting. They were addressed to no one, signed with no name. Each one told a story: of a girl who wandered the woods, who heard voices in the wind, who felt watched but never afraid.
As Lena read, the air in the cottage shifted. Shadows moved across the walls, and the wind outside began to hum. She stepped outside and saw the mist thickening, curling around the trees like fingers. Then she heard it — a voice, soft and familiar.
“Lena.”
She turned. A figure stood at the edge of the clearing. It was her mother, or something that looked like her — younger, smiling, eyes full of sorrow and joy. Lena stepped forward, heart pounding.
“I didn’t want you to come,” the figure said. “But I knew you would.”
“Why?” Lena asked.
“Because Fern Hollow remembers. And now, so do you.”
The figure faded into mist, leaving Lena alone with the letters and the echo of her mother’s voice. She stayed until dusk, then walked back through the forest, the photograph tucked into her coat, the hollow behind her — and within her.
Click for more info
The easy way to create online exam - Online exam maker - https://www.onlineexammaker.com