A Little Bit of Hell and Heaven

Part 4

Simon and Steven had been wandering down tunnels for so long. They were exhausted and completely out of water (and coffee). They had stumbled upon several other caves, none quite as dangerous as the first two, but none were the right cave, either. They were about ready to give up the search entirely.

Steven slumped to the ground with his head in his hands. His head was pounding and his throat was dry. Simon was falling asleep on his feet. They were covered in dust and scratches from various encounters with magical caves.

"It's gotta be at leas midnight by now," Simon groaned, pulling out his phone. He looked at the time. 10:02. That was impossible! They got here at 9:00 and had been walking for what seemed like at least 3 hours. "How is it only 10?" At this, Simon plopped down onto the ground next to Steven.

"How much longer are we going to keep doing this?" Steven wondered. He was so worn out, his voice cracked uncharacteristically and tears brimmed in his eyes.

Simon laid a hand on his shoulder. "Until you find what you're looking for."

The tears spilled down Steven's dirty face. "We've been looking for so long. What if we never find it?"

Simon's immediate thought was, then maybe that's not actually what you're looking for, but instead he said, "we'll find it. I know we will." He struggled to his feet and offered Steven a grimy hand. He pulled Steven to his feet and they continued down the main tunnel with their arms around the other's shoulders, providing support and comfort for each other.

After walking for another ten minutes, they saw an opening at the end of the tunnel. It looked bluish green and they could hear the steady drip, drip, drip of drops falling into a pool of water.

Their energy renewed, Simon and Steven ran toward the opening. They burst into a huge cavern with a lake in the middle. "This is it," Steven breathed. "I can feel it." Indeed, there was a powerful energy here, both serene and dangerous.

The surface of the lake was perfectly still and glassy. It is a bright bluish green that glowed from an internal source, lighting the rest of the --

"Alright, Narrator, looks like we're all caught up." Steven interrupts, waking Simon, who had fallen asleep during my narration.

"I can hear you, Narrator," Simon says accusingly. "And you need to chill out. I don't need to hear your story because I lived it!"

Oh, yeah. I'm the one that needs to chill...

"Ok guys, stop fighting," Steven interjects. He turns to Simon. "Dude, you're literally arguing with a disembodied voice. Stop before it gets embarrassing."

"Define 'embarrassing...'" Simon demands.

"I'm just thinking of you trying to fistfight a disembodied voice. It's kinda hilarious, but mostly humiliating." Steven explains sheepishly.

"I wouldn't do that!" Simon scoffs, extremely offended.

"Whatever."

"I wouldn't!"

"Sure, ok."

"Why don't you believe me?"

"I said 'ok,' and anyway, I think we've been stalling for too long. We need to get this over with." Steven takes a few steps into the lake. Simon is about to object, but stops, leaving his mouth flopping open and shut like a goldfish.

"A goldfish?" Steven guffaws, turning. Simon glares at the ceiling and I laugh because he's glaring in the wrong direction. He spins in a circle and then gives up. And I remember that it's time for the characters to not hear my narrations.

Simon turns back to Steven, aware of the silence. "Just - If you're going to do this, do it."

"Ok, ok. Pushy," Steven turns back toward the lake, takes a few more steps forward, and falls flat on his face. It was as if he was pushed by and invisible force *wink, wink*.

Simon laughs as Steven scrambles to his feet, spluttering. "Well, that's one way to fully submerge yourself," Simon cackles. "Feel any different?"

"Other than having water up my nose and bruises on my kneecaps? Yeah, it feels like I've been rubbed all over with sandpaper."

Simon stares for a minute before straightening up. "I know how we can tell for sure! Any fangs?"

Steven stands still for a minute, still dripping wet, as he runs his tongue along his teeth. His face lights up and he smiles. "Nothing!"

That means he's not a vampire anymore, Simon thought dejectedly. "Cool. Ready to head back?" he says unenthusiastically.

Steven groans, not looking forward to trekking all the way back through the tunnels. Simon isn't very excited either, but then he notices a spot of light on one side of the cave. He wanders over and discovers notches carved into the wall, like a ladder leading up to a hole in the ceiling.

"Let's try this way," Simon calls to Steven. They haul themselves up the wall and emerge one after the other on the outskirts of the parking lot.

"How did we - that tunnel was just straight!" Steven mutters incredulously, turning to stare at the tunnel opening that they began at. It is around 300 feet behind them. Steven looks down at the hole they climbed out of, only to discover that is was no longer there.

"Come on, Steven," Simon shouts to Steven from the car. Steven starts toward the car, glancing back at the "hole" and the tunnel entrance, obviously still confused. "Hurry up!" Simon honks the horn. "I still have to be back before sunrise."

Steven jogs the rest of the way and climbs in the car. He quickly falls asleep, and stays that way until Simon wakes him up. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Simon mutters with tired sarcasm. "We're home."

They climb the stairs to the small apartment that they share. Before they split and go to their respective rooms, Simon catches Steven by the arm. "Greg is having another party tomorrow night. Maya's going to be there, too," Simon yawns, showing Steven the text he got from Greg. Steven nods sleepily, then trudges into his room and collapses on his bed. Simon slinks into his own room and does the same. Soon, they are both fast asleep.