The Cave – Part Fourteen

To quickly recap: Friends Eve and Sara were rock climbing and stumbled across a large cave with primitive drawings on its walls. A rock slide traps them inside. Having little choice, they go deeper into the cave, hoping to find another exit. The cave system seems to be a mixture of natural and man-made and the further into it they go, the stranger Eve starts acting. Just as Sara thinks they’re getting close to a way out, Eve shoves her off of a ledge into a chasm. Now they must each find their way. But there's something else going on as well . . .

Eve figured the stones making up the mosaic must have some sort of luminescent quality. There was a study she’d read a few years ago, about a rock that naturally glowed in the dark. What was it called? Hackmanite, that’s what the mural must be made of.

But it wasn’t complete. Eve realized this even as she stared at it. As magnificent as it was, there were stones missing, pieces of the pattern that were blank. The missing stones could have just happened over time, but the blank spots were a travesty.

How anyone could have started this masterpiece and then just abandon it before it was finished was beyond her. Why start it at all if you weren’t going to complete it? The only excuse would be if they died while working on it.

Eve glanced around at the floor of the cave but couldn’t discern anything to indicate anyone had been here before. Strange, you’d think there would be some signs. It was a mystery that had no ready solution, unless the other mosaic held a clue.

Reluctantly, she turned to look at the other mural, but shuddered and quickly turned away again. There was something about it that put her off, made her uneasy. It was like it was trying to send her a message she didn’t want to hear.

She turned back to the abstract mosaic. There was a spiral at its heart. She followed it with her eyes, down and around, spinning, sinking. She felt her consciousness opening up, drifting free. Yes, this was how is should be.

Suddenly, there was a gap in the pattern. With a gasp Eve was thrown out of her trance.

“No!”

She almost wept with disappointment. The need to finish the spiral was overwhelming, she’d been almost there. Once she made it to the center . . .

finish . . .

Eve was filled with the desire to work on the mosaic. If only she had the means.

finish . . .

Without realizing what she was doing, Eve got to her feet. “I have to finish it,” she said. “There has to be a way.”

Stepping closer to the mural, she reached out a hesitant hand. Did she dare? It took two attempts, reaching out, pulling back, before she actually made contact with the stone. A shock went up her arm.

“It’s alive,” she whispered. Then shook her head at her own foolishness. Of course it couldn’t be alive, it was rock. But it felt warm under her hand. Gently she traced the pattern in front of her. Rough, then smooth; cool, then warm. Her fingers dipped into an indentation and she frowned.

Loath to break contact with the mural, Eve looked at the ground for the missing stone. It had to be close by. Unless someone got in here and pried it off. But why would someone do that?

thief . . .

She peered closer at the wall. Yes, she could see faint scratch marks, as though someone had used a knife or something to prise it out.

Pulling back slightly, she saw that there were several missing stones, and the ones closest to her had faint scratch marks too.

unworthy . . .

A rage not her own filled her. This was intolerable! How dare someone come in here and damage something so beautiful, so, so . . .

sacred . . .

Sacred. Yes, sacred. That’s the word she was looking for. She needed to restore it, and then she’d complete it. She wouldn’t rest until she did.

yessss . . .

Reluctantly, she let her hand fall away and took a step back. The need, no, the compulsion to finish was all consuming.

Stones, she needed stones. Like the ones in her pack, she suddenly realized. Turning, she went over to her pack and upended it, coloured stones spilling over her feet. Choosing to what, in her mind, was just the right one, she took it over to the mural. Now, if she could just figure out how to make it stick.

believe . . .

Eve pressed the smooth stone into the indentation and pressed gently. There was a lick of blue light, but when she let go, the stone stayed in place.

Her eyes filled with a mad glee.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Missed an installment? Catch up here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight,  Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen