Descent

Chapter 3: Awakening

As the memories of the morning before echo in my head, I feel as if I'm in a daze. I didn't get to start my medication because the pharmacy wouldn't have it for another day, I recall.

Then I remember. The shadow. The cold hand wrapped around my ankle. Blackness and the pitting feeling in my stomach as I was pulled so quickly through the floor. I snap awake.

"Where am I?" I feel and hear my heart racing in my ears.

My whole body feels constricted. Inky black clouds my vision, I can't see. It feels cold and damp, with the smell of the earth entering my nostrils.

I wiggle my hands and try to feel around myself. It feels like rock walls.

No, no... it can't be. I can't be surrounded by rock. I was just in the bar!!! It's not possible.

My breathing quickens as my mind races through possibilities. What if the floor caved in and I'm stuck in a tunnel of some sort? I try to rationalize.

Okay, don't panic. Slow breaths Guinevere. It's really hard not to in this situation but remember you can suffocate if you start to hyperventilate. Help is on the way. They've gotta know about you. It'll come soon.

"But what if it doesn't...?" My conscience rings through my head.

"Doesn't matter. Now is not the time to be scared. Our whole lives we've been scared. Grow a pair and get through this, it's the only choice we have. Fight or flight. It's time to fight." My courage rears its head against my conscience.

Pausing my brainstorm of bouncing between fear and bravery I try to slow my breaths and listen to what's around me, I hear silence.

Nothing. Not even the feel of air flow. It is still around me.

This is so not good. "Where the hell am I?"

I can feel pressure building in my head from not getting enough oxygen. I need to do something soon.

I begin to wiggle my legs the best I can and realize there is more room where my feet are. In fact, the air feels colder around my ankles. Maybe the only way out is down.

I begin trying to bend my knees so I can shimmy backwards. Slowly, but surely, I start to move inch by inch.

My muscles are burning and I can feel the skin on my hands ripping from how tight the tunnel is, blood and sweat making them slick as I work to get out of this hellhole.

When I start to feel my legs become more and more free I gain even more freedom to move, but I no longer feel solid ground around them either, in fact, my feet haven't touched anything solid yet. That's weird.

I stop in my tracks. What if I'm about to drop two stories to my death in a chasm?? What if going up was the better idea??

Before I can make another move I start to feel myself sliding, my blood and sweat had made the exit even easier, and my arms were not free to stop my descent. Fear of the unknown and my possible death run rampant through my brain and I close my eyes preparing for the worst as I feel my skin burning and cutting against the rough walls, then I fall.

The thud of my feet hitting the ground startles me with pain, yet I fall on my knees in relief. The drop hurt like hell, but it couldn't have been more than 7 feet, like that one time at my grandpas where I jumped out of the magnolia tree. I shiver from how much colder it is down here compared to where I was.

Dressed for the weather above, I only donned a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt, with chacos to match. Needless to say I was pretty shredded up by the tunnel.

Forgetting for a moment I needed to get moving and assess where I was or what had happened, I sat in shock, catching my breath. I hadn't died and that was a tiny win for me. "Look at the tiny wins, they make the day easier," a friend once told me. I never gave it thought until now. Just one thing at a time.

Sitting with my hands on my knees I start to spiral. They definitely aren't finding me anytime soon, and it's still pitch black. I place my hands over my head and breathe deeply, then place them on the ground behind me.

It feels smooth, with soft dirt cushioning. Or what I can only assume is soft dirt by the texture on my palms.

Seriously, where the heck am I??

*chhhhhhchhhhhhchhhhhchchchhh*

I freeze. The chittering sounds echo across the cave, and I realize I'm not alone. It sounds like the noise my cat makes at birds, a weird kind of chittering that mimics purrs but leans towards menacing. Except instead of being cute in this instance it makes my skin crawl and blood run cold.

*click. click. click.*

I can hear it getting closer, whatever it is. I don't move a muscle. Maybe if I don't move it won't see me like I can't see it. Yeah, that makes sense. I'll do that. I sit as still as a statue and hope and pray it doesn't find me, locking myself in fear.

It walks closer, I can almost hear it's breathing and feel it's hot breath on my face. I feel myself flinch as I realize it's sauntering a few feet from me, but I force myself to sit still and calm my breathing. Tears stream down my face. My survival depends on it.

The clicking and chittering starts to sound distant, and eventually disappears. Whatever it was is gone now, but I'll wait a while longer, it may be waiting.

After a long pregnant pause of silence, I feel confident whatever it is, is gone.

I then remember the cigarette lighter I always kept in my pocket for regulars when they lost theirs. I scramble through them and find it in my front right pocket. Thank whatever's above, a source of light!!

I flick it, no sparks. Shit.

I flick it again, sparks. Okay we're getting somewhere.

Another, sparks. Dammit just work!!

One more time, and the lighter springs aflame. I could've kissed it if it wouldn't have burned me.

Then I shift my eyes from the flame to in front of me.

I start to tremble in fear, the flame dancing along.

I make eye contact with four eyes, wide and sickly yellow, attached to a massive furry head, and sharp black teeth smiling down at me with hunger and saliva, looking directly into my soul.

The being screeches loudly in my face, and I shake so hard I drop the lighter. Darkness consumes us once more.

Fucking hell. This time, I'm running.