Jenette

Chapter 9

  I rolled my eyes again at her. Whoever that thing was, they had a point. In the midst of throwing myself into mud and having a hissy fit, I had forgotten the directions  back to my landing spot. It was worth a go. I was already lost. I started counting down and moving my feet forward in paces. 30, 29,28.... I was going crazy of course there couldnt be a cave, there wasn't a mountain in sight.  I sighed and continued to count down 27, 26, 25,24.... I passed bare bushes and the trees just got browner down the way. Bushes cut right through my luggage but I didn't care to stop it.

After counting down to 1, I looked around but didn't see anything.

"Great! This was such a scam," I said raising my hands in the air and slammed it back down at my sides.

"Good thing you can't reach me."

"Urgh! You said 30 paces, there is no cave!" I shouted. 

"Yes, stupid, take one more step, You didn't count zero, you stopped at one so you took 29 steps."

"Then you should have bloody said 29 paces no one counts zero," I shouted back and angrily took the last step clutching my suitcase.  What difference would one step make? I didn't see anything. Immediately I  plunged down to a hole of about  13 feet and landed with a thud on my side.   

"A thank you would be nice once in a while."

I heaved a sigh and stood up to explore the passage. The cave was warmer than outside because of the soil that surrounded it.  I continued to walk forward and saw a semi circular platform made with rocks. That was obviously going to be my bed  and then the other space could be whatever.  Behind that was till a continuation but I was too physically drained to continue. I was about to mutter a thank you but I stopped myself.

"Hey what are you anyway?" I muttered to myself.

"Now we're not yelling? You'd find out soon enough, Just know you need me more than ever and I have the power to destroy you so play nice."

"What are you talking about? Why can I only hear you when I speak out loud? How did you get in there? Am I mental?" I rushed out all at once. I heard the female voice sigh and then start talking again.

"You would know soon and you can only hear me when you speak loud cause you might mistake your conscience for me."

"So I have my conscience and you? How much guidance do I need?"

"Shut up, grab a soap bar and get out. There should be a stream on your left. Wash up and get some sleep. We have lots to do tomorrow."  I nodded like the voice could see me but I was new to this. 

"Well?"

"Yes."

I grabbed my suitcase and opened it. Thankfully I had packed two coats and some socks. My flight plush pillow would serve as my pillow. I pulled out the Irish Spring from my bag and threw a towel over my shoulder.   Walking out of the cave, the wind slapped me again. No matter how tough I thought I was,  I just couldn't have my bath out here. I would freeze. Sure enough I found a tiny lake that was few temperatures above zero degrees.  I went closer and just stared at the lake before dipping my toe in it. The little skin on my toe turned yellow and started to hurt that I thought it was going to rip off. Definitely I was jumping into this with my clothes on. I quickly rubbed soap on my face and arms so it would just be a quick dip and then I would jump out. I couldn't still make myself jump into the water.

"Okay, now, now, ok how about now," I muttered to myself but it was like my feet were anchored on the ground.

"I have to do everything around here." I felt like I wasn't controlling my limbs anymore. I felt all muscles tense as my legs plunged into the cold water.