The Whispering Caves

_Chapter 8_

They headed for the entrance of the cave. As they had finished their discussion with Cessian and put their net back in their backpacks, the sun had set on the pair. There was now a splendid display of colors splashed in the sky, as though God had taken all the remaining sorbet ice cream at the end of the day, and just dumped the colors across the sky.

They came upon the clearing and saw that same mysterious pool of water again. It did not shine the blast of colors behind them, which was strange. While Eliza could not discern that small detail, she could tell here that there was something different about the water. She leaned down where she heard the faintest edge of lapping water and felt the flowing liquid with her hands. It was almost lukewarm.

“This is strange; the water is soothing to the touch. Don’t you find that odd Fover? We are out in the middle of nowhere and the sun has gone down. Moreso we are outside; this water should be chilly.” Eliza stroked the water just a bit more, if for anything just to enjoy the touch.

“Perhaps there’s a geyser inside. But I also do not see any reflection of the surroundings around us, like the artwork of the setting sun.” Fover turned over his shoulder and looked at the last of the light leaving them.

“Are you ready?” Fover looked over at Eliza and gently placed his hand on her shoulder and steadied himself as well.

“I am ready to take on an adventure. After all, with you and me, we can both see.” Eliza’s own hand found Fover’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze as well. They both reached down and patted Buster as well. He seemed like a happy pup.

The spring led into a small opening in the ground below the cave, and then it was swallowed up. They were about to be swallowed up by the Earth too, and they both found the hesitancy. Together they took their first steps into the immense darkness together, and there was a small click as they both turned on their headlamps.

As their lights shone on the first portions of the cave wall, the blackness was so thick that it barely cut through the core of it. Luckily for Eliza, it was no darker in here than it was out there. She took her cane and slightly tapped it back and forth to gauge the width of the cave walls. In general, the whole system seemed very wide and open, therefore safer to take Buster in as well. Neither of them knew if cave exploring dogs, were a thing; but Buster may be about to be the first, as was a blind one at that. None of them were going to let any of this stop them; they were determined to find their answers.

As they were walking, Fover realized they’d have to get to their first campsite for the night. They could press inwards a way, but they would have to stop and set up camp. It would do their souls good to get around a large solid light as they would be facing ongoing darkness for many days to come, or at least for the next few days that they had supplies for.

“Was there anything else in the journal about finding our way in the cave?” Eliza was curious if there was anything else that could help them navigate the cave system.

“Yes, there is” Fover replied as he himself had been curious of the same thing.

“Dear Reader,

I have discovered that these systems are vast and complex. I have been inside for some time, and my writing ink and my light is growing low.

But I have learned something about the inside of the cave. Wherein anybody may enter the cave and navigate even their way to the source, it takes someone special to find their answer. It must be a Reader Beyond Words. You have seen this teal ink within the cave. There is within each vein, a spot at the beginning where it is missing some sort of stone.

It just so happens that at the outside of the cave, I found a blue rock collection, on the edge of the cave in a very small spot, it looked to be a kind of lapis. I pulled off a loose piece and took it with me. When I saw the hollow shape within the walls with my lamp, I chiseled the lapis I had carved off with me to fit the hole. I noticed that as soon as the lapis was inlaid into the walls, they changed. Though how I could not tell. A voice whispered to me, I swear within my own sane mind, “Reader Beyond Words, can you read?”

And then nothing happened. I took my stone because I had noticed something had definitely occurred. What though I do not know. I feel like I am missing a piece of the story, but there is someone here. You will not believe it, but there is a small creature who has lived at the back of the cave who has lived here for much longer than I have been here. He speaks, and has told me that he can answer your question. He also told me he can tell me how to get out, if I can could just read him his answer, from within a night world of some kind.

I asked him why he could not answer his own question, and the small creature impressed upon me that he was a great hero who had fallen within the cave so long ago and been to weak to muster the energy to read his own question within the veil of the night world when the opportunity arose.

I felt sorry indeed of the creature and for it, but wary as well. The night world....is not only selectively nocturnally available, but it is also only open at certain times. I now may attempt to barter with this creature and find my way into the night world so that I may find your answer, and find my way home. Bring closure and science back.

I close the report with the last light I have. Tomorrow after a cold rest I will rise and try to finish our own supernatural task. It is a miracle I made it here (come back and incorporate an entry about getting past Cessian, put it into the book before they capture Cessian)

I go now to do what I can. Pray for me, and if you do not find me with this journal, please, please your Ladyship, come find me. I shall bring you what I may, in safety I do mean to stay.

Ready for the furthest depths and reaches of the unknown,

Your Seeker”

Eliza let out a long breath, letting her shoulders down. Fover shut the book. He had initially began by trying to read it from memory but known he should just give Eliza exactly what he knew. He deeply trusted her and felt that he wanted her to have the chance to ask her question. He missed his fiancé; but he wanted Eliza to have her chance. Every day he woke up in bed not to the love of his life, but instead of the memory of her, and he was only comforted by the ache instilled permanently in his chest ever since he lost her.

“Reader Beyond Words?” Eliza wondered aloud what it meant. Fover recalled their still very real human need to find camp for the night. Or rather find a shelter within the already darkened and immensely sheltered cave.

“I don’t know, but let’s keep moving on into the cave to find our resting spot for the evening while we discuss it.” Fover hitched his backpack tight on his shoulders and marched forward, with Eliza close behind.

They went on, following the passage with their headlamps, though for Eliza it was more to add to the overall light for Fover, while still feeling her way through the passage while traveling deeper. Surprisingly the air still felt warm and stayed so even though they delved deeper as the Earth continued to slowly swallow them. Still though, they kept their outdoor jackets tucked close. Buster stayed closest to Eliza, he could almost sense that she needed him.

The passage wound down and to the right, gently sloping deeper, further away from the world of the sun. Finally, after some hours of slowly going deeper, the couple arrived upon a sort of middle landing, flat enough that they could afford to lay out some supplies and try to get some sleep and eat some food.

However, Fover noticed, upon shining his light, there were two divergences in the pathway for the cave to go to. Fover also noticed exactly what the journal entry had mentioned; just there, ever so hidden almost out of sight, was a small hollow notch in the wall, but it almost looked like a vein of subtlety glittering cerulean dark blue gold running into the wall. Fover recalled his own lapis sort of crystal that had been found with the journal, that he had tucked neatly now on the inside of his vest. He had wondered what it might do. He had read online about the possibly dream seeing powers of the stone type if most closely resembled, lapis. Could that have anything to do with this?

Fover tried placing the stone into the worn grooves, obviously it had been loved on in years past by the droplets of moisture traveling down the cave walls. He held his breath, waiting for something to possibly happen, and nothing did. He felt disappointed but shrugged. Perhaps the explorer in the journal had been eating mushrooms?

He put the rock down on top of their things, which they had set down in the center. Eliza could tell from gathering her surroundings that this was a good place to rest for the night.

“I’ll set up the tents tonight, it looks like at least there is some large rocks to sit on nearby if you and Buster want to rest your feet and paws. Can you hold this for me while I unpack my stuff a little bit pretty, please?” Eliza could feel the smile on his face and the warmth of the smile in his voice.

“Sure thing. We would be glad for the rest, wouldn’t we boy? Plus, I want to get slutty for the mangos. I need a snack. I can set up the glow light.” Eliza felt her way over to the rock and hung on to Buster, who had a handle on his pack to help Eliza see as well. He had picked up on seeing eye dog traits. She felt better as she pulled out what she knew was a fold out, battery powered heat and light emitter, in the shape of a uncoiled small log arrangement. It was a pseudo-fire down in the belly of the planet. She was on fire.

Fover handed her the stone, and Eliza had already got her items set up. She had also set out some water and food for Fover as well, who himself had collapsible doggy bowls.

Eliza figured she had a minute to explore while Fover set up the tents, so she went ahead to investigate with her hands the veins of teal gold. She took the stone she held and turned it over and over in her hand. She felt her way to the same hole that Fover had tried just a little earlier.

She put the stone in the hollow place and expected nothing much to happen. To Eliza’s shock, all of a sudden, her blind eyes were filled in her mind’s eye with that same teal writing, but this time it made sense to her, where it had never had a place or a logic to her before. It had never spelled anything to her before this moment. It felt like all the many last few years that were so confusing, suddenly came into sharp focus in minutes.

She gasped and held her hands up against the wall while she in took all the bright light she saw in the inside in her mind’s eye. It wrote a message to her, that she could read, and the stone that she had gently entered into the hollow space now married the space tightly, where it had seemed like an ancient gimmick moments before. It had felt warm to the touch before and now felt almost hot to her touch.

“Eliza! Eliza what is it?” Fover ran over to her and tried to brace her, afraid that perhaps she was about to seizure and fall over. Eliza was so glad to feel his large hands on her, to feel not alone in what was not darkness, but it certainly was not familiarity either.

“There are words, there are words in my mind! I can see them, I can feel them...I am trying to make out what they say.” Eliza tried to breath, tried to calm down and read what the letters said. She begged Fover to get her a small pad and paper out of her pack; even blind she still retained her once visual handwriting abilities.

Eliza read out loud: “You are on the Path, to go along your Way, but do not have a faint heart, may your Courage stay. Walk, walk, walk to the right, there the Springling Steps do not bite.”

All of a sudden, the teal world in her eyes disappeared and the darkness drowned her whole again. She was gasping and fell softly to her knees. Fover helped catch her before she fell down to the ground.

“What does that mean?” Fover was brushing the hair away from her face.

Eliza was trying to come to, and felt Fover’s hands on her. She tried to ground herself on it. “I don’t know, I just saw it in my head, and I felt compelled to write it. What are the Springling Steps? Is there anything about maps within the cave?” Eliza inquired to Fover.

“No, there are no further maps than the start of the cave. I think those are up to us to draw. But I do know that here we must choose which way to go in the morning, do you take your message to mean which direction we should go?” Fover would be glad for any help to figure out which way to go, because it didn’t feel obvious.

“I think that we are going to...the right. The messenger told me, to the right. I don’t know what is that way, but I know that the voice told me to me to go that way. Did you hear anything from the voice?” Eliza questioned Fover.

Fover considered carefully. “I did, but only the Reader Beyond Words can take us to the end goal; only that Reader can decipher whatever the secret internals of the Earth have to share. I don’t know what we are reading, but I think that the closer we get to these steps, the more we may need that stone.”

“Well, then we will camp here tonight at the cross between paths, and then we will go right tomorrow. I have already gotten a tent set up, Eliza do you want to work with me to get the lamp put out?”

Even though she was shaken up, she agreed to help him put up the lamp. She just wanted to see the blackness again, she did not know what to do with the sight that she had just seen flash in front of her. Making sense of it almost made it scarier than the illogical thoughts altogether.

They spent the rest of the night quietly together; trying to stay calm in the light of the increasingly uncertain conditions that they pressed deeper into the cave. It came time to go to bed, and they had separate tents that Fover had set up for them. Fover helped lead her to her tent, where he made sure she could comfortably lay down. Eliza was overtaken by the gestures of kindness.

She laid down, and she felt herself starting to drift as she heard Fover zip up the tent behind her and heard the lamp light click off. Even though her eyes closed and the darkness she saw regular, she now felt peace and relief at giving in for the first night. She was exhausted from her experience. After all, were they in the Twilight Zone?

Just as she was starting to drift off, she heard that voice again in her head, whispering to her like Fover had heard it whisper to him. It sounded soft, coaxing, and male. Like an older voice. It persuaded and coaxed her again, reminded her how much she wanted her answer. But it made her anxious too.

“Eliza....I see you have come to the cave. You were called to this ancient place because you’re here for a reason. Have you ever wondered why you are special? Why can you see the light that others do not?

Come to me, I sleep at the back of the cave. I swim at the foot of the Steps. I am unable to step because I have been turned away from my feet. Only the water is where I can meet. I need someone to read, I need someone to help me.

In turn, for helping me to my feet, I can help you find your answer. Do not you suspect that your friend, will be your truth-seeking end? I know your sister is amiss, I could help you find that final resolve and kiss. But if you keep going with your friend Fover, then he may take your Question away.

It is your choice but hear my voice. I need help too to go away, and I want you to hear where your sister is, hear what she has to say. Come now, help your friend Fintanan, and I too will help you, Eliza who Reads Beyond the Words.”

Eliza shot up in a cold sweat in her head and was gasping. Her shirt felt stuck to her chest. Who the hell was that? Whose voice had found its way in her head. Fintanan? She had never heard of him. She wanted to go find Fover, but she felt it was inappropriate since they had only met a short few days ago.

But she was afraid, and she needed a friend. She felt her way out of her tent and felt her way over to Fover’s. She wanted to feel comfort, and little of that was found on the inside of a cave this deep, especially while staying overnight. She unzipped his tent and felt her way over to him.

“Fover, psst, Fover, please, are you awake?” She nudged Fover to hopefully find her friend awake. He startled gently. “Eliza! Of course, I’m awake now, ha-ha. What’s wrong?” He reached out for her.

“Fover, I had a nightmare, I heard someone whispering to me about the cave. I cannot sleep alone; can I please come and just lay next to you in the tent? Have some company in the loneliness?” She nearly begged him with the tone in her voice. “Just to stay until morning.”

“Yes, you can stay. Please.” He moved over, and with zero creep factor, made a space for the woman he had fast befriended, and never expected to meet. But he was so glad that she did. Eliza laid down beside him and felt even at least warmer.

“In the morning, we can get going. We will stick together and find our way to the heart of this source.” Fover assured her, and the rest of the already dark night passed into the rest of the already dark night.

The morning came, but no light yielded with the coming of the dawn. Only more darkness to swallow them while they would continue to the right. Buster was a huge assistance and comfort to Eliza and had slept in the tent originally with just Fover and was with Eliza and Fover both now.

They got up and put together the small supplies they had back into their packs. Dressed warm underneath layers against the oncoming chill of the cave, they pressed onwards deeper. Eliza felt the ground giving way to their feet, and she still felt uneasy about that dream. Who was Fintanan? She did not want her Question to go to Fover, but did she not trust Fover after all this time? She did.... but her fear planted a seed of doubt in her, that the voice knew how to quietly foster it and nurture the doubt, until she might believe it more than she did reality.

They walked steadily on, and they heard trickling as well. Like a small fountain of water coming from nearby. “Do you hear that?” Eliza was the first to hear it because she was finely attuned to the skill. “It sounds like there’s a water source that’s coming from nearby. Maybe it is the one from the outside of the cave?”

As they rounded a wide corner and Eliza felt her way with her cane, she heard the splash of Buster’s paws into a puddle or something bigger, made of water. But she turned around and gasped, she could actually see the faintest opaque teal water flowing down and down. It was so beautiful. She felt herself track the movement with her eyes, and the effort felt so immense after having not used her eyes in so long.

It was long and winding, the little spring gurgled, though about what secrets, Eliza could not yet tell. Fover saw the spring as well, but he didn’t see such a spectacular display of colors.

“Fover! I can see the spring! It delves deeper into the cave, I can just see this fantastic bioluminescent light spilling out from the spring. I cannot see anything else though.” Eliza was amazed with how splendid it was.

“Buster, buddy! Get out of there!” Fover got after Buster who had taken to jumping in the stream with all fours; better yet Eliza could see Buster covered in the light shining water. She could see their doggo!

Fover thought of his fiancé with every step they took. He lamented in his heart that he was torn, not only between the two Questions he would ask her, but also for the fact that of course he felt he would pass the Question to Eliza. He knew that’s what Emmeline, his fiancé, would have wanted.

Fover felt the growing hunger in his stomach, and he smelled how sweet the air was too. It made him thirsty as well, for something like lemonade. He kept sniffing the air; “Eliza, do you smell that?” He asked her.

“I do...” Eliza followed her nose and knelt next to the spring. “It is...it’s the spring!” She reached down and touched the warm water and cupped some of it. It was beautiful, but it also smelled like fragrant lilies. “It’s the water indeed, but do not drink it! You remember what Cessian and the explorer said. No matter how tempting, we must not stray and consume anything from the cave entrance forward. I think Buster may have drunk some...but animals, to my general understanding, their spirits and selves can transcend within and about the universe relatively freely, unbound like we are to our timelines with such long memories and sentiments.

She stood back up and they moved on. They kept on walking, and they followed the pathway, until they came unto another division in the cave. This time, there was an entire teal explosion of blue gold veins in the walls, with many places for the lapis to go. Which hollow spot would it go in?

“The stone that we’re carrying, which way does it go? Where do we put it and which of the 3 paths should we take? Buster, sniff anything boy?” Fover speculated out loud as Eliza speculated internally.

“I can go ahead and try it in the different spots, feel my way around the wall.” Eliza suggested to Fover. Fover and Eliza were both confident that they were so close to reaching the source of the Question, but both feel the rising pressure to make the right choices. Both have shared feelings of tragedy, and that makes a difficult walk for anyone, hero or not.

“Well, I do appreciate your effort, but what if you hold the sword and I use my headlamp to quickly check which of the hollow spaces the stone should best fit?” Eliza nodded to him in agreement and decided to take out her bag the lamp that could light up the cavernous clearing, so they might see which way to go.

Fover handed Eliza the sword, and still helped her strap it to her waist, since it was such a large object. Should they need to flee, it would be secure for her.

Fover took the stone from Eliza and started trying it in different spaces, as it was lit up by his own head lamp. He tried finding the secure corresponding spot to the organic shape, where the edges of the stone married the gaps in the wall. But it was tiresome, and he had tried nearly twenty spaces within the deep cave walls with no success.

“Fover, maybe this is meant to be a detour, or to distract us?” Just as Eliza was chuckling at the hilarious attempt they were making down in the bottom of the cave; Eliza’s eyes came to light. She fell back slightly and grabbed onto Buster to sit down and stay grounded on the cave floor while she saw a splendid display of power. She saw a whole line of words appeared, slowly arranging themselves into a sentence for her to read.

“Fo...Fov...Fover....” and with her last fading words Eliza collapsed to the ground and Fover ran over to her while he once again caught her form, but this time it was as she went unconscious.

Eliza went deep into her sight, and she saw herself standing on a whirlpool of water, but not being swallowed by it. She saw a message arranged to herself and she was so shocked by her sudden vision, she could hardly put together.

“Reader Beyond the Word, your Question will be heard. But be wary, there are others whose words you may carry. Have a kind heart, and with ill intentions do not part. Should you find your way to the foot of the Stair, raise your Truth in the air. Hold on tight and wet your blade, or otherwise the portal will fade. But know that only on Hallow’s eve at night, will the timing be right.

Now go right, middle, or left. Pick carefully, because the path wrong tried, will ensure the Reader is wrongly possessed.

A Reader may have a Champion, who in moments of trial, may act. Be swift and quick, find your answer, before your mind plays a trick.”

Eliza came to, and the world was blurry around her. She focused, tried to get herself to take in breathes slowly, 1, 2, 3, hold for 1, 2, 3 and breath out slowly, 1, 2, 3. Fover’s face came into view.

“Fover, a message. Another message...” Eliza gasped. “We have to find which pathway this takes. But you...I think you’re my Champion.”

“You hit your head pretty hard on the floor didn’t you poor thing?” Fover laughed off her message about him. “I am no Champion, I can hardly make sure Miko, my cat back in New York, stays fed.”

“Here, let me help you back up; hang on to Buster next to our light here.” Fover gently placed Eliza back up and made sure she felt safe before he moved on from her. “Eliza...did you see anything about the way forward from our three tunnels?”

Eliza looked down to the spring, and it kept winding to two places, the middle and the left. Meanwhile, the place where Fover had placed the lapis stone, it had also lit up being going on to the middle and the left.

“Fover, I think that we need to go to the middle or to the left, but its hard for me to tell where. I do not want to split up, because I know for a fact from horror movies that is a BAD idea. However, I know that we cannot face both at the same time; why do not I go to the left, and you go to the middle? We can each take some of the rope we have, and hang onto it between us, able to get back to the other; I know its extensively huge. Then if you find something of interest, at least tie the rope off.”

Fover felt extremely hesitant first. “It doesn’t seem like the best idea; but I know that we have to figure out which way isn’t the way to go. Please hang on to the rope, and we can give regular three set tugs, to say “I’m still doing ok. Give three tugs for ok, and if you do not feel any tugs, then it means...maybe come find me in case a giant monster swallowed me up?” Fover laughed and helped Eliza to her feet.

“You take Buster, since he can help you see, and help protect you in the darkness. Please be safe, and come back soon, and we will face the portal together.” Fover leaned in and gave her a squeeze. Eliza felt nervous to go without him, as he really was one of the only friends that she had currently.

She squeezed him back, “Stay safe my friend” she genuinely meant it to him as she left him and Buster was her only companion now.