The Cave – Part Nineteen

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 . . . Sara knows part of what’s happening, but Eve is caught in a dangerous web.

The fungus was every bit as unpleasant as Eve remembered. She ate slowly, not to savor it but to keep from getting sick as she did before. Once the cramping in her stomach eased she stopped and broke off several large pieces for later. This time she had her empty pack with her and she stuffed it full of the fungus, then made her way back to the mosaic.

The pile of stones she’d gathered had diminished from the repairs she’d made. She needed more if she was to finish repairing the mosaic and complete the spiral. Sinking slowly to the ground she felt like weeping at the thought of returning to where she’d found the loose stones. It was so far, and she was so tired. Her eyes closed.

Above her, a ripple of light passed over the mosaic. It followed the pattern but when it got to the spiral it pulsed once and then disappeared. Eve woke with a start.

This wasn’t gathering new stones. She needed to go, she needed to hurry. Time was growing short. Scrambling to her feet, she dumped the fungus from her pack into a pile and stuffed her empty water bottles inside. She would be passing right by where she’d found the water, she might as well fill them up.

First things first though. She must get the stones. As an afterthought she stuffed a couple of pieces of the fungus in her pack as well, just in case she got hungry. Eve followed the shortcut passage, never stopping, never hesitating until she returned to the section of the cave system where she’d found the stones used in the mosaic.

This time she chose the stones more carefully, rejecting three for every one she put in the pack. She ate the fungus she’d brought with her absently; the empty bottles went back into the mesh. Her movements slowed. She was so thirsty. Why hadn’t she stopped for water? She could have brought it with her and got more on her return. The stones she’d been gathering began to glow.

Shaking her head, she continued with her task until her pack was full once more. It was all she could do to shoulder her pack. Stumbling, she almost fell. The stones began to pulse as she staggered back the way she’d come. She had to keep going, no matter the cost.

Eve had only a vague recollection of the cul-de-sac with the trickle of water. Her thinking was so muddled that she might have imagined it. She hoped not. Thirst was growing with every step she took back towards the split.

If she’d had the tears to spare, she would have wept when she found it. Her pack slid to the ground. Unable to wait, she plunged her face into the shallow bowl of water and drank deeply.

The water was cool and refreshing and she felt immeasurably better when she raised her head, gulping air instead. She filled the first two bottles but had to wait until the bowl filled again before filling the third.

She took a few moments to rest. The fog in her mind started to clear away. Suddenly, she realized she’d left her lantern in the cave with the mosaic, but she could see without it. How was this possible?

A shiver went up her spine. This wasn’t natural. There was something very strange going on. Grabbing up her water bottles she stuffed them into the mesh on her pack, then eyed the load of stones. There was no reason she had to lug all these stones so far. She could leave half of them here and come back for them later.

She reached out her hand to do just that but stopped just short of touching the flap. Trying again she felt a stir of panic when she wasn’t able touch the clasp that held her pack closed. Looked like she could either leave them behind or take all of them with her. The stones began to glow once more as she shouldered the pack.

By the time she made her way back to the cave with the mosaics, her thoughts were no longer her own again. She went directly over to the abstract mural and just stood there in front of it. Everything became clear to her again. She was here to finish the mural. It was her sole purpose.

Eve began placing the stones with care, slower this time, taking a break as needed for a bite of fungus or a sip of water. She must not fail. She would not fail. She would finish the mural and all would be right with the world. Freedom beckoned.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

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, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen, Part Seventeen, Part Eighteen 

The Cave – Part Three

To quickly recap: Two friends, Eve and Sara, were rock climbing and stumbled across a fissure in the rocks. Upon further exploration, they discover a cave with primitive drawings in it. As they venture further into the cave to see if there’s anything else of interest, there’s an earth tremor – they race back the way they came and reach the fissure just in time to see it fill with rocks.

They decide their best bet is to explore further into the cave and hope there’s another way out. Hours pass before they discover another chamber, this one with sparkly walls, and decide to take a break

Eve had a few empty zip lock bags with her and divided the granola into two of them, handing one to Sara. The bags were handy, and in fact all her food was kept in them to keep it fresh.

Sara took her bag with her to check out the wall that sparkled. As she munched her granola, she ran her hand along the wall. Surprisingly, it was smooth to the touch, not rough like she expected. It almost felt like a mosaic.

“Hey, Eve,” she called. “Bring the light over here.”

“What is it?” Eve asked, getting to her feet.

“It’s amazing, is what it is,” Sara said as Eve held up the light.

It was indeed a mosaic, embedded in the wall. The crystals, she refused to believe they were gemstones, formed beautiful patterns in the grey rock.

“What is it?” Eve asked again.

“It’s a mosaic, but it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’ve never even heard of something like this being imbedded in a cave, have you?”

Eve shook her head. “No, but then my memory is pretty dim when it comes to the one class I took in archeology. I was there mostly for the cute guys.”

“I wonder who did this,” Sara mused. “And how. And why so deep inside the hillside.”

“I can see actual shapes,” Eve said. “There’s a tree,” she pointed. “And is this a sun?”

“I wish the light was better in here,” Sara said. “I think if we could see the whole thing at once we might understand its message.”

“You think it has a message?” Eve asked.

“I don’t know, why else would it be in here? It’s such a unique find – I wish we could find some way to let the world know about this.

“Maybe that’s why its creator made it in this place. So no one would ever find it.”

“That’s crazy. Why created something this beautiful if you didn’t want to share it?”

“For the joy of creation maybe?”

“Look, there’s more of it over here.” Sara directed Eve to the opposite wall of the chamber.

“What do you make of this one?” Eve asked, looking at the colors swirling in an abstract pattern. She held the light up and traced the pattern of color.

Sara shuddered as she glanced at it. “I don’t know what to make of that. It’s beautiful, in a twisted kind of way, but hypnotic.”

“I think it’s beautiful,” Eve said.

They both stared at it for a moment, then Eve gave herself a shake. “C’mon, let’s find a place to lie down. We need to get some rest.”

“Rest sounds good,” Sara agreed. “Maybe if we fall asleep we’ll wake up to find it’s all been a dream.

“I’m going to turn out the light while we sleep,” Eve said. “No sense in wasting the battery.”

“Just keep it close by,” Sara said. “I don’t fancy having to look for it by touch.”

“Me either,” Eve agreed. “Okay, here goes.” She switched the light off.

They were plunged into darkness. But after a moment, Sara spoke up.

“Am I crazy or . . .”

“No, you’re not crazy. The stones in the wall are glowing.”

“But not both walls,” Sara pointed out. “Just the abstract one.” She glanced over at Eve, who was staring in fascination at the glowing shapes. “Eve? Eve!” she said sharply, giving her a shove.

“What?”

“We have to get out of here!”

Sara gathered up their packs and pulled Eve towards the back of the chamber, away from the mosaics. Eve kept glancing back, making a half-hearted attempt to return to the abstract, but Sara’s grip was like steel.

At the back of the chamber there were two openings. Without hesitation, Sara dragged Eve through the one on the left, although Eve kept trying to go right.

Finally, after they’d gone several hundred yards, Eve stopped fighting her.

“What was that?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“I don’t know. It was like you were being hypnotized. It felt . . . wrong somehow.”

Eve shuddered. “I think you just saved my life.”

“So much for our rest,” Sara said with a sigh.

“We could just sack out right here if you’re tired,” Eve suggested. “It’s not like we’re blocking anyone’s way.”

“Nah, I’m good. The granola break did wonders for me.” But she couldn’t help wonder what was going to happen when they ran out of food and water. So far they’d seen no trace of either.

“I wonder why only one of the walls glowed and not the other,” Eve mused.

“Maybe it had more exposure to your light?”

“I don’t think so.”

Sara thought for a moment. “It was almost like a trap. Or a test.”

“A test of what? Our ability to resist it?”

“Maybe. Or maybe—” Sara broke off suddenly. “Do you hear that?”