Cycle of Time

10.You need to see the bottom to know you need to climb

Liam was the first to get up, the adrenal rush from the descent had still not left him. He did not seem to feel pain either. It was as well that he did not; there needed to be someone enthusiastic now, both Ava and Noah were not. They had had a moment to look at the surroundings and it was daunting. There was water everywhere, the opening at the top was just a distant firefly now, and there was this low gurgling noise. Ava wasn't sure whether if it was the sound of the wind or water rushing towards them, but it was getting closer.

"Let's go guys, we haven't got much time" Liam said. The others knew he was right, and followed.

"Let's see that map "Liam now had the torch with him.

"There that's the route" this time he could see the path almost immediately.

And then he abruptly started climbing, with the others following. This time, the belief seemed to be with Liam. This was probably the hardest part physically. The rocks were slippery and there was barely a path. But Liam's feet were moving with an uncanny ease and the other two had no choice but to follow.

"How did you suddenly turn into a mountain goat" Noah panted as he tried to keep up. Liam seemed uninterested in answering, he only seemed focused on a point high up on the rocks. The pace he kept meant that Noah's lungs did not have the strength to both keep up and follow up on the question. It was a time to "do" not to ponder.

And as suddenly as he had started, Liam stopped. They were now almost at the half waypoint, and then he said" Okay then I am tired, I think it is time to take a rest".

This in itself was a strange situation. Suddenly they all stopped and had a moment to think. Liam was in a trance like thoughtfulness. Noah was looking dumbfounded. Ava took the opportunity to look around. This time she could really take in the view. The bottom seemed already distant enough. The exit above was an oval disc now like a giant light emitting UFO. It seemed reachable.

Suddenly Ava could believe that this adventure could end well. In that moment she found her strength and wriggled towards Liam at the front of the narrow path .Liam still had a dazed look on his face.

"What's wrong Liam? We need to go on ". As she said there was a deep long sound from below. It wasn't a loud sound but it was a powerful one. When it stopped the gurgling sounds continued. And that was what made them realise that this place was filling up with water. They could not yet see it, but the sound did not seem that far away either.

"C'mon let go" Ava shrieked breaking the reverie. She started running up wards and the others followed. Ava's legs ached with the burden of trying to climb faster than was possible, but her senses were alert and she felt sure footed. The other seemed to have been afflicted by the same urgency as Ava, and were not far behind. But no matter how fast they climbed, the sound seemed to get closer and closer. It was as if they were a trio of insects trying to climb up a giant bath tub before the water caught up with them.

Liam suddenly felt dejected. For once she felt a forlorn sense of hopelessness. No matter what they did, it was not a race they could win. Maybe they should prepare for the worst. Could they swim or should they hold on to the rocks? There was no time to discuss any of these things and they would have to make their own decisions.

"Faster Ava faster, we won't survive in the water" she could hear Noah shouting. In that moment an amazing thing happened, the invincible force that had connected their minds so far seemed to have also given one last burst of energy and strength to one another. Ava quickened her pace, without a word.

"Oh my god the water is on me" Noah shouted even as she climbed faster.

Suddenly everyone realised that running away was no longer useful. They all huddled together as they felt the cold water climbing up their legs. There was a coldness to it that penetrated straight into their hearts, suddenly there was calm but there was also fear. The fear of death was transcending. For Ava, in that brief moment all that was important to her passed through her mind like a movie. But there was a strange distance with these memories, it was as if her heart could not feel anything other than a cold calm fear. The only warmth she felt was knowing that Liam and Noah were here with her.

Then suddenly the gurgling sounds got louder and louder until it was almost deafening, and then the coldness suddenly started to recede. It was as if someone had pulled the plug, and the giant bath tub was now emptying out. In a moment their destiny had changed yet again. But they continued to remain as they were, frozen not knowing what to do now that they had made up their minds ready for the end. It was the smiling face of Liam who was looking up that broke the trance for Ava. She followed his gaze, and up there was the most beautiful sky she had ever seen, ever. The blue was the most vivid and lively. The solid form of a cloud was staring down at them. On the edge of this horizon she could see the green of the grass that had overgrown in to the ravine.

"C'mon guys let's get out of here" she said as she scrambled madly towards the edge to heaven. It took more time than it seemed it would, but as her hand touched the grass, life returned to her and so did her belief in it.