“So this is what White Nose Syndrome looks like.” , a picture of a foamy white fungus growing off a dead bat glowed on the camera’s screen. Hannah clicked off the camera and handed it back to Andrew.
“Ya deadly stuff. Well to bats it is. I think we are immune to the fungus.” , he responded standing up to look down at the gaping hole they sat near. A thick rope was tied around a tree then thrown down the hole into the black abyss. Sharp tugs showed that other people were still using the rope for a safety line as they made their descent.
“You ‘think’? I hope you’re right, ‘cuz if there is White Nose Syndrome down there, I don’t want to catch it. I don’t want to die in a cave like some helpless bat!” , Hannah handed a helmet to him and started to adjust her’s when the rope became slack.
“All right, let’s go!”, hastily putting the helmet on Andrew grabbed the rope attaching his harness. With one hand on the rock wall and the other on the rope he inched his way down. Hannah gripped the rope with white knuckles and slowly started after him. The tall pine trees around the black hole swayed in the wind as if to say good-bye.
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“Annnnnddddrreeewww! Come quick!” , Hannah’s voice echoed off the rock walls. Water droplets sparkled from the stalactites on the ceiling as Hannah shone her helmet’s headlamp around.
“What is it Hannah? Are you hurt?” , Andrew turned the corner entering the small room. In front of them plastered all along the walls a white fungus oozed out from the wall’s cracks.
“Oh my.” ,Hannah and Andrew’s headlamps flickered then faded until they stood in complete darkness. As their eyes adjusted a dim maroon light glowed above the ivory fungus. The five foot long segmented body wriggled around the stalactites until the end was only a few inches away from Andrew’s face. Frozen by fear they stood, as it slushed its head side to side. After what seemed like forever, the red worm squished back into the darkness.
“That was close,” Hannah sighed, “I swear it was going to...” A high pitch war cry vibrated the cave. They turned around but it was too late. All they saw was red and rows of sharp blood stained teeth.
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YOU ARE READING
White Wall Cave
FantasySince she was little she was taught the way of a hunter. What certain monsters are weak to and what weapons to use against them are drilled in her head. Enya Zander lost the only people who cared about her to a monster that not many hunters have fou...
