This chapter is a bit intense. It’s our little foray into atmospheric/cosmic horror. So…Lemme put a few disclaimers. Yes, this chapter is also a collaboration. =)
TRIGGER WARNING: Near-death experiences, mentions of death, claustrophobia, scary caving/spelunking, getting lost, mining accidents, minor injuries (cuts and bruises), mentions of old-timey racism (mild, but still present), and darkness.
Disclaimer: DO NOT DO THIS. YOU COULD DIE. EVEN PROFESSIONALS WHO DO THIS FOR A LIVING HAVE DIED DOING THIS. EXPLORING ABANDONED MINES IS DANGEROUS. THERE ARE A TON OF HAZARDS. STAY OUT OF ABANDONED MINES.
*In the morning, we all meet up in my driveway at 8 am, ready for our search.*
Me (running through the checklist): Okay. We have everything, right?
Tear: *Frowns down at the gear spread out and neatly organized* I would think so… I still think I could have brought more food though… *Points at the rather bountiful display of lunches*
*Stephen checks through it as well, carefully testing a few things cautiously.*
Trix: I brought some walkie talkies! I had them for camping and thought they could come in handy! I also brought a lawn chair cause, y’know, it might take a while
Me: Good! Okay. Hmm…Not sure if the walkies will work far underground, but we’ll try ‘em. Oh! Also, Trix, take this whistle. It can be heard up to a mile away. Each of us will have one. One blast just indicates where you are. Three short blasts is an SOS signal. Got it, guys?
*Stephen nods. I hand out the whistles.*
Tear: Perfect! Now on to the fun part because I left the best for last. *I untie a plastic bag from my backpack and start handing its contents out* I found a pair of wishing wands I got for my sister the last time we went to Disney World, they light up quite well and I got them new batteries. I also have two extra pairs of neon Mickey ears so we can always spot each other in the dark… aaand I knew Stephen was going to make that face, so I got you glowstick necklaces instead although I won’t stop you if you wanna wear the ears. *I slip on my own headband with neon Mickey ears, completing my outfit that includes light-up shoes and a glow-in-the-dark Disney backpack*
*The sorcerer in question raises an eyebrow at her with an odd expression.*
Stephen: “Wishing wands”?
Tear: *Pulls out a plastic wand with a big star on its tip* They always sell them right before the fireworks show. Too much? I figured it would be difficult to get lost down there if we were all glowing like jellyfish… *I turn the wand on and it glows bright blue, complete with the magical noise of pixie dust*
Stephen (looking at her funny): Erm…maybe a bit, but understandable.
Trix: Oh shit I have some glow ears at home, I could match the aesthetic. But great call! We don’t have actual magic so commercialized magic shall be our guide!
Tear: You can have the extra pair of ears if Stephen won’t wear them *Hands them over to Trix*
Stephen (awkwardly): Okay…
Trix: Sorry, a bit enthusiastic to get answers and a lifelong Disney nerd.
Me: All right. Since we have everything and a bit extra, let’s go. I told Hank we’d meet him at the mountain pass by 10:30 am.
*We all pack the car and get in. The drive is about 2 hours and the last hour is pretty rough due to the dirt roads. Stephen does his best, but since now we’re in the middle of nowhere, he asks to get out and uses the Cloak to fly next to the car for the rest of the trip, only getting back in before we can come within sight of Hank.*
*Hank is a hairy, slightly short man with thick-rimmed glasses and a warm grin. He’s wearing jeans, checkered flannel, a cowboy hat, and steel-toed boots.*
Hank: Hey! Glad you made it here okay!
Me (grinning back): Thanks for having us, Hank. Is the caretaker in town?
Hank: Yeah. He’s really busy, though. Working at the new museum he made in the old saloon. Doing curator stuff at the moment. So, you guys wanted to see the mine?
Me: Yeah. Just a look around for a few hours. Nothing too major.
Hank: You all going down?
Me: Just me, Tear, and Stephen. Trix is going to help you operate the lift.
Hank: Nifty. I’ll show you how it works. It can be a tempermental beast at the best of times. I’ll give you a run down while we walk and then show you a few times before we get started.
Trix: Sure! I have to fight some sort of beast today to keep my morale high!
Hank: That’s the spirit!
*He walks us into the town while talking to Trix about the mechanisms of the lift. It’s definitely a generous definition of a “town”. There are several dusty wooden buildings with tin roofs, quite a few piles of rubble that were once cabins, a burned-out husk of a building, and it’s quiet. Not to mention a bit of a chill in the air despite the harsh sunlight. Stephen is subtly scanning the area, trying to detect anything there. The caretaker notices us and comes out of the saloon to greet us. He’s a very skinny man with scraggly red hair wearing boots, an open flannel shirt, a dirty t-shirt underneath, and jeans. He has unnaturally white and large teeth as well as sunken eyes and pronounced cheekbones. Not only that, but his eyes themselves are incredibly wide-open, giving him a permanently-surprised expression.*
Caretaker (waving): Hello there! So, up for a bit of exploration? You got safety gear and everything?
Hank: We’re all set, Andy.
Caretaker: All right. You be careful…There’s more than just old dynamite down that mine…*The way he said it implies something. There’s something a bit off about Andy. He’s getting twitchy.*
Stephen: What do you mean?
Caretaker (slightly taken aback): Just…be careful is all. *He’s evasive, as though he knows something, but doesn’t want to say it out loud.*
Trix:……Well have fun down there guys. I’ll be sitting up here with my baseball bat.
Tear: I’m starting to wish I brought a pair of lightsabers too…
Me: We’ll do our best to be safe, Trix. Hank, you good?
Hank: All good here.
*The caretaker grins widely at us with his huge, white teeth before waving and backing into the saloon, watching us.*
Me: Erm…Everyone ready? *I’m nervous, but swallow it down silently to hide it.*
Trix: Good luck!
*Stephen, Tear, and I get onto the lift. Trix and Hank talk over what to do and then turn it on to lower us down. The 100 year old, rusty leviathan lurches into life with an unholy, slow grinding of massive gears. The cables unwind lazily and the lift starts moving with a pained screech. The surface of the earth rises gradually above our heads as we lower into the inky blackness of the main shaft. Said platform is just a rickety cage of rust with a wooden plank floor and very primitive brakes on either side of the railing. The walls of the shaft are mere inches from the edges of the lift. To make matters worse, the lift occasionally gets stuck on the timbering for a second before suddenly plunging down a foot or so in a split-second freefall. The circle of light above us gets smaller and smaller. I’m trying to keep my cool. Though, I’m holding onto the railing so tightly my knuckles have turned white. My jaw is clenched.*
Tear: *The descent underground is not as unnerving as the sudden drops from the lift. At the first hint of vertigo, I clench my teeth hard and latch on to Steward’s backpack to help me keep my balance* Ave Maria purisima que estas en el cielo… *I close my eyes and cling on for dear life, letting out little squeaks every time the lift freefalls*
*We eventually reach the bottom of the shaft. It felt like an eternity. I take a deep breath to calm myself down and lightly pat Tear’s hand both to soothe her and let her know the descent is over. Then, I gesture for Stephen and Tear to plug their ears, then use the whistle to indicate to Trix and Hank that we’re okay. When I hear Trix blow her whistle back, I know that it’s all clear.*
Me: Okay. Let’s leave 4 glowsticks here to indicate that this is where the lift is. Then, we’ll proceed. If you guys hear echoes, it’s hard rock and safe. If things sound muffled, it’s soft rock ready to collapse. Also, if you see any old dynamite, we all have to be quiet and either turn back or go silently around it. That stuff gets more unstable over time and leaks nitroglycerine. It’s so sensitive that even a loud noise can set it off. As for water, if it flows, we’re good. Still water…don’t disturb it. There might be poisonous gas. That’s the safety briefing. Follow me so I can scout ahead and make sure it’s safe. All right?
*Stephen nods.*
Tear: Okay, we’ll follow your lead. Are we setting any sort of time limit for how long we’re going to spend down here?
Me: Hank and Andy set it. We have 5 hours. Andy usually spends around 8 to 12 hours down here at a time, but since we’re new here, he didn’t want us stuck for too long.
Stephen: Are you sure you remember everything?
Me: Yes. I double-checked earlier. *Sets my watch alarm for 2 hours and then 4 hours and 30 minutes so we can be here early just in case. The first one is a warning for the time limit. The second one is to get our butts into the main shaft so we can get in the lift.*
Tear: Alright~ *Switches flashlight on* Into the unknown we go.
*I turn on my headlamp and set the 4 glowsticks. It’s in a small pile on the lift platform so it can be obvious and visible. Then, I carefully advance into the tunnel ahead.*
Me: Stay within sight. Otherwise, at least within earshot so I know you’re both okay.
Stephen: Understood.
*I look around as we proceed, dropping glowsticks every 100 feet or so, keeping them on the left-hand side to indicate our path downward. That way, when we need to ascend, they’ll be on the right-hand side to show the correct direction. There are cracked timbers and rusty pieces of track in various areas. Also, the occasional old bucket or empty dynamite box. There’s a slight crunchy noise that differs from the gravelly passage. I look down and pick up a yellowed old newspaper from 1933. It’s an article about the dust bowl. Apparently, someone got bored down here. There are some black carbide scribbles on the paper, giving a big curly mustache to one of the people in the newspaper photos. I smirk.*
Me: People never really change, do they?
Tear: *Peers down at the paper* Huh, 1933. You know, that’s the year Hitler reached government. News about his speeches kept popping up in the papers that year. This could have been a nice piece of history if it still had its front page.
Me: Want to keep it so we can take it up with us? I figure Andy might want to put it in his new museum project.
Tear: *Shrugs* Sure, if he’s interested in this stuff.
Stephen: Wait a minute…*He seems to be focusing.* …I’m still uncertain about this place, but I feel…something. It’s difficult to pinpoint. We should keep going.
*I raise an eyebrow curiously.*
Me: Okay…Tear, watch out for that puddle. We don’t know what might be in it.
Tear: I know you mentioned gas before, but I can’t help but think of the Guardian outside the Mines of Moria.
*I curl my lip, morbidly amused. We go deeper in. There are several branches coming off of the main shaft. Some are collapsed. Then, a sudden chasm emerges from the darkness. We can’t see the bottom. I throw a rock and we listen for the impact. It takes a few seconds to fall all the way and the impact is faint.*
Me: Holy crap…Okay. Let’s check the other areas first and if they’re dead ends, I’ll show you how to rappel, Tear.
Tear: Haha, yeah, well… Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Let’s look around some more.
Me: All right. Let’s see. Want to go right or left?
Tear: Stephen? Got a better grasp on those vibes you mentioned yet?
Stephen: We’ll attempt to go left.
Me: Left, it is.
*We explore the left corridor. Unfortunately, it’s collapsed.*
Me: Okay…Let’s see the right side.
*We turn around and go right. It leads in a half-circle, attaching back to the main shaft.*
Me: …Oh.
*I look at them.*
Me: Sorry…Looks like we’re going down.
Tear: I thought I would be safe from heights if I went underneath the hill instead of on top of it. *I peer down the tunnel, to where the drop is waiting for us a few feet ahead. I can’t even bring my feet to inch closer before I’m already sweating buckets* I’m not particularly strong, and–and what if I slip? I’ll be useless to you with a broken leg…or worse, a broken head! *Whines* Steward…!
Me (doing my best to be calm and reassuring): I’ll make sure we’re safe. Don’t worry. Now, Tear, pay close attention to what I’m about to show you. This is how to securely place a climbing bolt and tie the correct knots on the line and harness.
*I show her each step carefully while explaining, making her follow along with me and answering any questions. I test the rig to make sure it’s secure before putting the harness and helmet on.*
Me: Okay. One last thing…Please, for the love of all that is holy, pick up any loose rope aka slack on the line you see and hold it. That way, if I slip, I don’t fall or get tangled in it. My last partner got distracted and forgot. I was nearly hanged. We don’t climb together anymore. So, please…Stay focused.
Stephen: Wait. The Cloak can lower us. However, the belay system is a decent backup.
*I look relieved.*
Me: Okay. Let’s do it, then.
Tear: *Slumps against the tunnel wall in relief with a hand over my heart* Oh, Stephen santísimo, bless your smart, beautiful soul. I’d trust the Cloak over my own hands any day. Are you willing to help us out, Cloak?
*The Cloak comes off of Stephen and onto my shoulders. It picks me up and carefully lowers me into the chasm. My headlamp has become little more than a pinprick. Several seconds later, Stephen and Tear hear me shout up from the darkness.*
Me: All clear!
*I pat the Cloak gratefully.*
Me: Thanks, Levi.
*The Cloak brushes my cheek gently before leaving my shoulders and picking up Tear.*
Tear: Whoa! Please, please, please no sudden drops. I will scream at you so hard if you do.
*It lowers her down nicely so she won’t get more scared than she already is.*
Me (sincere): You’re doing great, Tear. Really. I’m grateful that you’re down here with me. You’ve been really brave. Let’s hope we find something down here soon so we can get back home.
Tear: *I sigh deeply in relief once my feet touch the ground again, promptly illuminating the space with colorful, flickering lights from my light-up sneakers* Of course, Steward. I was not expecting so many deep drops, but they were definitely easier thanks to the Cloak. *I pat one of its golden clasps lovingly in thanks*
*The Cloak hugs her comfortingly before going up and bringing Stephen down.*
Stephen: …There’s definitely something here, but I can’t quite discern it yet.
Me: I’ll do some scouting. Stay put, both of you.
Tear: Wasn’t it recommended not to split up?
Me: I’m staying within earshot, as recommended. Trying to find a safe way that doesn’t involve more big drops. I’ll be out and back quickly and safely. I promise.
*I go into the center tunnel and after a few minutes, return holding another newspaper page. This one is from 1901. It has been scribbled on.*
Me: We’re reaching the older parts of the mine. So, I think we’re on the right track.
*Stephen looks at the page.*
Stephen: “There once was a man from Nantucket—“ Nope. Not finishing that.
Tear: *Grins impishly* What’s wrong with a man keeping all his cash in a bucket?
Me (smirking): After all, where else would he chuck it?
*Stephen groans in exasperation.*
Tear: *High fives Steward*
Me: I’ll check the other tunnels really quickly so we can advance.
Stephen: Be careful.
Me: I will be.
*The left tunnel is collapsed about 150 feet in. There’s also old dynamite in there. I leave silently and quickly.*
Me: Stay out of the left. Trust me.
Tear: *Looks up at Stephen while Steward once again disappears from view* Not picking up anything odd yet?
Stephen: It’s…fuzzy. Present, but I can’t get a decent reading on it.
*I check the right tunnel. There’s a well filled with cold, clear water. It appears to be flowing. I remember my thirst and take a sip from my water bottle as I walk back.*
Me: Looks like the middle tunnel is the way to go.
*We proceed. It’s getting more precarious and the workings here do look older. Stephen almost goes ahead a few times, as though he senses something more. We find another paper. This one is from 1878. It reads, “The work here hasn’t been the same since the collapse that trapped those boys. It feels colder now and not just from the well. Different.” *
Me: That’s…Reassuring. *I’m being a mixture of sarcastic about the disturbing miner’s journal and relieved that we’re on the right path.*
Tear: I’m more surprised all these papers have survived down here for so long. The note mentions a well, but I don’t think we’ve passed it yet, have we?
Me: The climate down here is consistent and basically acts like a time capsule. The well was in the right tunnel back there. *I point back at the area.* It’s big and deep. With how low the ceiling is, we can’t really levitate over it. So, best not to attempt passing through it. Plus, it’s freezing in there.
*We go deeper. The water from the well has made the passages in this area cold and damp. As we progress, our breath eventually becomes visible. With our sweat from earlier, we’re starting to shiver.*
Me: G-Geez…So much for stable temperatures underground…
Tear: Are they supposed to be stable? I’ve only ever gone down a few buried pyramids, and they are always cool and damp. *I shrug off my glow-in-the-dark backpack and rummage around until I can pull out one of the extra sweaters I brought* Here. I hope you don’t mind the size. I wanted to make sure it would fit either of us in case of emergencies. It’ll help keep you warm.
Me: N-Normally, y-yes. Underground c-climates are usually the s-same t-temperature and humidity year-round. Th-Thanks, Tear. *I accept the sweater gratefully and put it on, breathing on my hands to warm up.*
*As we continue forward, there’s another exceptionally slippery area right next to a vertical shaft. We help each other get past it. On the left is another collapsed tunnel. This one looks old. There’s some miner’s graffiti here. It says “Caution”. We carry on. Around 10 minutes later, we come across some very old pages that are almost disintegrating. They’re written in Chinese and the date is 1873. Seeing as Stephen is multilingual, we pass the pages to him. He reads through them.*
Stephen: “The ore veins here are good, but we are going through candles too quickly. The darkness swallows them.” This one is from a few weeks later…”The white men do not work on this level. It is only Qi-Long, Zhang, me, and 27 others. Yet, none of us feels alone here. Li came forth the other day to ask who had called him. None of us did. This has continued with many of us.”
*Tear and I jump a little bit when my 2 hour alarm goes off.*
Me: …If this were any other situation, I would suspect someone playing tricks. Also, we’re 2 hours in. We should finish this up soon to head back.
Tear: Hmm, I guess it would be possible if the men were left down here many days without sunlight. I know of a few cases of hallucinations and claustrophobia in the mines and trenches of World War One, and judging by the writing on the note…I don’t think the “white men” cared about these miners enough to offer them breaks.
Me: They often were, yeah. Also, they usually didn’t. Chinese workers were treated as expendable or second-class at best. Plus, if these guys were the victims of the collapse…
Stephen: I suspect we’re getting close. I can sense it properly now.
Tear: Hmm, well, we’ve hit the two hour mark, so I feel compelled to strongly suggest you two to take a minute to eat something. I have a feeling it might be disrespectful to do it later if we are heading toward a burial site, and it won’t do to have low blood sugar while we investigate. I brought some quick snacks…sandwiches and energy bars and a few fruits for comfort. I can put our trash away, too.
Me: Oh. Right…Good point.
Stephen: Good call.
*We accept the food gratefully and take a moment to eat. Soon enough, we continue our descent until a fork in the tunnel. There is another huge drop across from another collapsed tunnel. This collapse is incomplete, held up partially by some large boulder. I test it for a moment and then carefully wriggle through to assess the situation.*
Me (faint, small voice from within the area): Oh crap…
Stephen: What do you see?
Tear: Need more light in there?
Me: …Let’s just say that even though I can’t read Chinese, I can tell this isn’t good. No. No. I need out.
*I say this rapidly, obviously disturbed by whatever I found in the collapsed area. I scramble back out of the area quickly, looking deeply shaken. I pass Stephen more pages.*
Stephen (reading them): These pages are very smudged. Barely legible in some parts. It says: “We blasted a new tunnel, but the rock was too soft. It collapsed. Li, Huang, and many others were buried. Qi-Long and I are trapped. We have air, but little food and water. It is dark despite the candles.” *He looks at another page.* “It is just us. Yet Qi-Long is gone. I am alone, yet not. The shadows will swallow me too.”
Me (small voice, almost a whisper): …There were no bones. No sign of any remains. Only a few scraps of old denim from miners’ uniforms and some spent carbide, but **something** is in there. I never believed in this stuff until now.
*I’m chillingly sincere. After decades of being guided by scientific principles, it’s clear that my reality has been shattered.*
Tear: *Places a comforting hand on Steward’s shoulder* This collapse happened over 130 years ago. Any remains could have decomposed in that time, but the denim takes much longer. *I sigh sadly and cross my arms as I look up at Stephen.* It’s clear we’ve reached the spot, but I can’t say I feel anything else other than belated grief as an outsider. Can you feel the same thing Steward did?
Me: No no no…It’s not remains…You don’t understand…I *felt* everything. I don’t know what it was, but we shouldn’t be here. *I’m usually very grounded and scientific, but something in there rattled me beyond anything I’ve encountered before.*
*I’m shaking slightly and usually try to be strong, but I accept the comfort without protest for once. This is unusual for me. Stephen stares at me for a moment before composing himself. He suspects something’s up, but he still can’t quite put his finger on it. So, he looks at the final page, lost in thought for a moment.*
Stephen (avoiding the question for now because he doesn’t have a good answer quite yet): Here’s the last page…*It is the least legible of all. As though scribbled by a madman.* ”We are not alone. I do not know of other survivors. The darkness is hungry. I am hungry. There is only me. The air ripples. They call my name. Such glorious sights could be mine. I cannot get out. So, they shall take me. I cannot get out. Have mercy on us all.”
*I feel a shudder snake its way through me.*
Me: …We need to go. Leave this area alone. *My face is filled with genuine fear at this point.*
Tear: *I glance at Steward and frown down at the area where the cave-in happened. I’m still skeptical after I fail to pick up any energies, and discard the final note as the evidence of madness. Still, our original reason to come down here has me once more looking at Stephen to make the choice.*
Stephen: I understand. The strongest signal I got is from the drop. We’ll check it and then leave.
Me (trying to keep my cool): Okay. *I’m subtly getting closer to both of them. This is unusual. I typically prefer my personal space. So, whatever I felt in that collapsed tunnel must have really scared me.*
Tear: I wish I had brought something to leave behind as a show of respect. Maybe we could set up a crowdfunding project to commemorate their lives. Wouldn’t that be nice, Steward? *I offer a small smile, clearly trying to lift the somber mood and calm Steward a bit.*
Me (calming down slightly): Yeah. I think that would be a nice idea.
*We head back towards the drop. Yet now, our lights are getting dim, as though the batteries are dying. However, they’re all freshly replaced. I thump my lamp to align the batteries. It goes out. I fumble a bit and replace them, using the light from Tear’s Disney gear…Nothing.*
Me (small voice, almost a hoarse whisper): No…
*Tear’s Disney lights are starting to fade now too. Even the light-up shoes. I try my flashlight. It turns on, but despite the light turning on, we can’t see anything. Like a surreal yellowish disc that emits nothing. It suddenly feels stuffy in here. The light no longer penetrates the darkness. I freeze, the bile rising in my throat. I take some deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself.*
Tear: *I shake the flashlight in my hand in confusion and look around at the increasing darkness.* Okay…memory check, we didn’t climb down any deeper, did we? *I take a step closer to the others so that we are crowding together and gently stomp down on the heel of my sneakers, confirming they are now useless.*
Me: …No, we didn’t.
*The darkness feels almost suffocating. Like we’re being enveloped in thick cloth. The echo of our voices is gone. Muffled.*
Stephen: It’s here.
Me (trying to stay calm): Okay…
Tear: Yeah. Sure would be nice to know what “it” is though. *I take deep breaths to keep a clear head and shift my hold on my flashlight to use it as a club instead. With our sight compromised, I strain my ears in hopes of picking up any noise that might approach us.*
*It’s pitch-black, but it seems as though the air itself is “rippling”. Almost like it was a simple visual hallucination from the sensory deprivation we’re experiencing. Yet, it feels almost…alive.*
Me (small voice): You’re both still here, right?
Tear: Haven’t gone anywhere. *I inch even closer, ensuring that all of our backs are pressed together in a triangle for both reassurance and protection from all sides.*
Stephen: Yes. I’m scanning this anomaly.
Me (unnerved): So…Neither of you called me?
Tear: No, why would I?
Stephen: No. Did you hear something?
Me: …I-*I pause.* You guys aren’t messing with me? *I’m really hoping that one of you is just playing a trick.*
*There is a very faint voice, distorted as though stretched out through unimaginable eons. It sounds vaguely human, but only just. It sounds as though it’s in distress and in another language. Yet, we can all understand it.*
Voice (faint, but echoing through the shafts despite our own voices and sounds being muffled): …Help me… *It seems both near and far away at the same time.* Please…Come find me…
*Chills run down our spines. There is a visceral feeling. We know it’s a trap. That this, whatever it is, wants us to follow. It’s baiting us. We’re all stuck in the pitch black within the bowels of the Earth and this thing has been waiting. We’re being hunted. There is a deep rumbling somewhere in the distance. The sound of another collapse far away from us.*
*We hear Stephen moving and faintly see some sparks from him. However, the light from his current spell seems muted.*
Stephen: Dyzakk’s Cage! *He shoots at the rippling, briefly illuminating the shaft. The darkness recedes, bringing the now-contained rippling air into view.* This is an interdimensional rift. I contained it for our safety. With the effects of this universe on my magic, I cannot determine which universe this opens up to. However, this is the likely culprit in the demise of the miners who survived the initial collapse.
*There is a crackling sound. Stephen looks.*
Stephen: We need to go. Now! *At this point, even **he** looks alarmed. The spell doesn’t look like it’s going to hold.*
*My headlamp flickers back to life for the time being. So, we flee. Unfortunately, as we turn to leave, it seems some glowsticks are missing. Others appear to have been tossed aside in random directions. I make a small, strangled noise. Stephen goes ahead. He utters a brief incantation, conjuring some will o’ the wisps that fly just ahead of us, guiding our way out. Apparently, exposure to the rift helped Stephen boost his abilities a bit. We rush forward. Unfortunately, the slippery patch is ahead and Tear slips, plummeting down the shaft. I lunge forward, hand outstretched in an attempt to save her. It’s too late. The accident happens too quickly for either human to react. Miraculously, the Cloak flies off of Stephen at an insane speed and stops Tear’s fall, bringing her back up safely. We’re in shock and watch silently. The only sound is my rapid pulse as my heart bangs up against my chest. After a few seconds, Stephen and I snap out of it.*
Stephen (worried): Tear, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? *He looks her over with concern, checking on her.*
Tear: I’m okay, I’m okay. *I blink back tears and cling to the Cloak wrapped around my shoulders. I’m white as a sheet and trembling all over, but my mind seems like it is still lagging to catch up. The fall had been so sudden I hadn’t even been able to scream, but I register no injuries other than a smarting bruise on my hip and a scraped elbow from when I first hit the ground.* It was just the fright, really. We gotta keep going. *Feeling the urgency of Stephen’s containment spell, I stumble back to my feet on wobbly legs, mostly with the help of the Cloak.*
*I hug her tightly when we know that she’s okay.*
Me (having one of those massive surges of adrenaline rushes mixed with fear and concern): Be careful, damnit! *I’m not actually mad. Just worried. Though at this point, I’m shaking quite badly and look like I might vomit from the stress.*
Tear: *I giggle deliriously, too pumped full of fear and adrenaline to even register Steward’s tone.* I’ll keep that in mind.
Stephen (urgent): We need to get out of here. Whatever is in that rift, it’s not worth the risk. Follow the wisps. Whatever else is down here is tampering with your equipment. Go!
*He holds up the rear while his wisps glow ahead of Tear and me. We quickly but carefully get to the main shaft where the lift is waiting. We’re roughly an hour early. I look at Tear and Stephen, confirming that they’re both here and okay. I’m pale as a ghost. We’re all wet, muddy, and have many cuts and bruises.*
Me (relieved to be back at the lift): Ready for me to whistle so we can head up?
Stephen: Yes. *He has a stony expression and keeps looking back towards the shaft we came out of, as though expecting something. We hear some more faint rumbling from deep inside the mine. The sorcerer is more on-edge than we’ve ever seen him before.*
Tear: *Wheezing* Just blow the damn thing. *I pat at the Cloak still over my shoulders and motion for it to return to Stephen with a tilt of my head, hoping it will help ease some of his tension.*
*I gesture for everyone to cover their ears before I blast my whistle. We listen for Trix’s whistle before stepping into the lift and being slowly hauled back up. It feels like an eternity.*
Me (hoarse): …At least we found something…*Trying to be positive. Though I know that Tear and I will have nightmares from this ordeal. I’m still shaking like a leaf and deathly pale while drenched in sweat.*
Tear: *Huffs out an incredulous laugh as I fold over to rest my hands on my shaking knees* Well, the nightmares will go nicely with the ones I have from the time I got lost up on Mount Rainier. Maybe hiking and spelunking are just not meant for me. *I straighten once more and wince over my stiff muscles. I’m still panting and wheezing as I try to regain my breath from our little dash back when I turn to Stephen.* I had never, ever, heard of a dimensional rift opening in our universe though. Were you able to gather anything from the energy source?
Stephen (deadly serious): This mine is too dangerous. We won’t come back here. It was something, but not worth the risk again. Whatever was in there, it was far bigger than any of us anticipated and it was NOT friendly. I got a small, short boost of energy from it when I got close, but that was it. That rift wasn’t from any dimension that I’m familiar with. Though the entities coming from it were definitely hostile to sentient life.
Trix: Oh god, it was that bad, huh? If we have scary shit in our world with no magic that is terrifying.
*I nod.*
Me (looking sick while coming down from the adrenaline rush): We barely made it out alive…
*The subsequent ride back is sober and quiet. I put the radio on so we at least have something to diffuse the tension. When we get back into town, I give Tear a respectful look.*
Me (sincere): Tear, you went above and beyond down there and I hope that we never have to endure an ordeal like that again. Trix, thank you for coming with us and helping us get in and out safely. Guys, if you need or want, you can stay with us tonight.
Tear: I would have never forgiven myself if I had let you and Stephen go down there on your own. I’m not sure I was of much help, but no one should go through what we did alone. *I turn to look at my parked car over my shoulder, weighing my options. I find myself dreading the drive back to my place at night and faring on my own once I get there.* If…if I’m not imposing…I think I will take you up on that offer to stay. I don’t think I’ll get much sleep tonight anyway, if at all.
Me: That’s understandable. Also, you did plenty with the supplies and doing your best to help me through that passage. I almost had a serious panic attack down there.
Stephen (serious): Thank you, all of you, for what you did today. It may not have gone the way that any of us intended, but I’m grateful that you made the effort to help me.
Tear: *Smiles* We did say we would be here for you no matter what. I just wish we actually had the power to find a way back home for you. Today was…annoyingly fruitless despite all we went through.
Trix: I honestly feel bad that I didn’t come help more but then it would have been four of us in danger.
Stephen: You did what you needed to do by helping us evacuate. If you weren’t up there, we may not have made it out.
Trix: *kinda shuffles awkwardly* Always glad to help. Just hearing the noises coming out of there was worrying.
Me: It was starting to try to trigger collapses to box us in. *Slowing down as the very last of the adrenaline leaves my system.*
*I’m practically dead on my feet. Driving us back took all of the remaining energy I had left. Right now, it’s only willpower keeping me from collapsing in the driveway.*
Stephen: I’ll unload the car. Go ahead inside.
Tear: I’ll help him and put something together for dinner later tonight.
Trix: I’ll stay over tonight if you don’t mind. I think it certainly is the type of night to stick together.
Me (yawning): Okay…Thank you, Trix. As for dinner, it’s a nice thought, but right now, I’m barely conscious.
Tear: *Halfway in the trunk* I meant for me! I eat when I’m stressed, so I’m emptying your fridge tonight.
Me (slurring): Okay…Do you guys need help? *I’m attempting to resist the fatigue because I don’t want to be lazy or selfish. The fridge joke Tear made didn’t register in my now-zombified brain.*
Tear: *I flap my hand up and down to wave Steward off* Nah, we got it, don’t worry. I’m sure Stephen can tell me where you keep your condiments.
*I blink slowly. You can practically see the “System Processing…” prompt going on in my head.*
*I shamble to the front door and unlock it, stumbling inside. At this point, the adrenaline and shock have fully worn off. Now, the pain from exertion is hitting me. My knees feel like they’re filled with splinters and I know there are plenty of scrapes and bruises from bumping into things and crawling through that horrible collapse. I know I need to go upstairs, but dread the ever-increasing pain shooting through my legs. So, I stare up at them for a few seconds before gritting my teeth and practically pulling myself up using the banisters. I head to my bathroom to clean up and get ready for bed. It’s early, probably around 7, but I don’t care. After sorting myself out, I limp over to the top of the stairs to check on Stephen, Trix, and Tear.*
Me (slurring): You guys doing okay down there?
Tear: *After putting away our gear and cooking up some tuna melts in the toaster oven, I raid the linen closet with the Cloak’s help and build myself a nest on the cushy sofa in the living room. I put on episodes of the Looney Tunes cartoons on the TV in a low volume, and proceed to let Bugs Bunny numb my anxiety. My eyes droop sleepily but I stubbornly refuse to fall asleep.* I think we’ve got everything covered. There’s tuna melts being kept warm in the toaster oven in case you get hungry. *I don’t look away from the TV screen as I answer Steward.*
Stephen: We’re fine. Get some rest.
*He’s watching the show with Tear while sitting in the armchair next to the sofa. Though also deeply thinking about what happened. So, watching, but not really watching. More just keeping her company and thinking. The Cloak is with Tear because Stephen figures she needs it more than he does right now.*
Trix: Yeah! Let us know if you need anything!
Me (mumbling): Okay. Thanks…Good night, all of you. If any of you need anything, just holler or text.
Stephen: We’ll be okay.
Tear: *I tilt my head back to finally return Steward’s gaze.* You too. Don’t hesitate to come downstairs or reach out tonight. You sure you don’t wanna throw a sleepover in the living room?
*I look rather terrible even after having cleaned up. My eyes have shadows around them and my walk has gotten worse.*
Me: M’kay…It’s tempting, but I don’t really want to do the stairs again.
Tear: That’s fine. I hope you get some rest then. *I’m worried but know better than to coddle. Instead, I get comfy on the sofa with the Cloak again and go back to watching king Bugs bonk a man over the head with his scepter.*
*A few hours later, I acquiesce and stumble downstairs, almost falling. I catch myself in time and limp over to the living room, deciding to curl up in the remaining armchair without a word. It’s a rough, but deep sleep.*
*Unbeknownst to any of us, Stephen’s containment spell on the rift issued an echo across the multiverse. A magical version of a ping. Somewhere in the multiverse, a Wong notices a faint and familiar magical signature. Perhaps…?*
While everyone else was eating chocolate eggs and bunny-rabbits, we went down a dark, wet hole and got phenomenally muddy. If you’re familiar with the place, the first four (of the other chap) were in Lefel Fawr and the last was at the bottom of Herbert’s Shaft looking towards Herbert’s Stope.
(In case you weren't sure, that's 'chocolate... eggs & bunny-rabbits', not 'chocolate-eggs... and bunny-rabbits'.)
I'm truly sorry for the horrible grain: I still haven't bought a tripod so most of these were taken at ISO 8000 on an eleven year old Pentax K-r.
The final, prettier picture was done at ISO 1000, f./5.6 for 15 seconds, resting on a small heap of stones and using the ambient light at the bottom of the shaft, and a head-torch. And, yes, that's the camera case where I left it in the middle of the photo.
So, my dad is a spelunker, and just came back in with a great story from tonight. Basically, every Thursday, him and his friends (both called Mark) go down the abandoned mines or levels found all across the Dales. There’s one that’s full of water, Barneycraig, that they’re hoping to drain out, which has collected from a source further up in the valley. The aim is to connect this one to another which intersects it at a right angle. So, imagine these three fifty year old men in their overalls and helmets and lamps, going down an empty mine on a dark, cold Halloween night. Sounds just great, right?
They’re up to about 500-600m in from the circle in the top right. This is where they go in:
So, tonight, they head down about half a kilometre, to the point that they’ve worked up to. Mark and Mark are working at opening up one of the falls that leads into a cavern, so that they can go further in. My dad is surveying and shifting debris from further back. As they move these huge rocks away from the wall, the opening gets bigger, and more water is flowing out.
All of a sudden, dad hears this strange noise. It’s a really low, guttural sound, all hollow and echoing, like that huffing-growling noise that dogs make, but a hundred times bigger. Mark and Mark can’t hear this, because they’re right next to the water. Dad can, though, and he shouts “what the hell is that?”
One thing that you should know about the mines around this part of the Dales is that they’re fucking dangerous, they’re closed off for a reason- I’ve been down a few times and they’re terrifying. In this particular level, from the Nenthead or Barneycraig end, there’s a few very, very long descents by rope and a lot of water, and the cold certainly doesn’t help. Everything echoes, and if you turn too fast with your head torch, you’ll see things that aren’t there, or that rightfully shouldn’t be there. The worst part is when you hear the noises, because it’s like adding fuel to the anxiety fire.
Mark and Mark stop and step back to listen. As they do, the water does little to mask it, and this haunting noise only seems to get louder. It’s the kind of sound that makes your hair stand on end and your imagination run wild because there’s nothing that you can think of to describe it in the moment, so you start to panic. If an ancient, eldritch beast, or some lost spirit were to awaken from its slumber in that mine, it would sound like what these three were hearing.
Dad repeats his question. Mark B turns to look at him, white as a ghost in the glare of the headtorches, and says “I don’t know- but I bloody well don’t want to find out!”
Long story short, they legged it out. Turns out the noise was coming from air rushing into the cavern they were opening, because it was that full of water- like if you tip a full bottle upside down and let it all glug out.
Tl;dr- Dad and his friends got spooked by water noises and thought they’d woken up a monster. Happy Halloween!
