Spelunking

Spelunking

Mr. and Mrs. B awoke on their ledge, much to the same tear jerking sight as the previous days… darkness. Except, the tears had dried now. At this point, they had nothing left to give. It was inevitable. Their bodies were dehydrated and stretched beyond natural limits. They would die here. Mr. B. slowly stood, sliding up against the wall, turning towards it to make another mark. 16. Sixteen days since the earth had shook and brought their entire family vacation to its ultimate peril. Mrs. B never stood up this morning though. She couldn’t take it anymore. The stillness and rigidness of their newest home was driving her insane. That… and Manny. She knew if she rolled over or stood, her eyes would be forced to look upon the gruesome sight of her son again… or what was left of him.

It hadn’t always been this way though. Brian, Beatrice their son Manny and daughter Peggy had left in the early days of October for what was intended to be a month long road trip. Their plans were… to not have any plans. They were going to live on the road, just the four of them, stopping and going as they pleased. Any adventures, excursions or activities would be played out on the fly, without care or worry. So, when they saw the sign along route 45 for the Soggy Bridge Caverns tour; they figured… “Why Not?”

Three hours into the beginner level excursion, the four of them, along with a local guide to the caverns - started to realize something just wasn’t right. It started as a mild rumble from above but quickly escalated into what had now led the two remaining of them onto this ledge. A collapse of sorts, brought on by a minor earthquake that cracked and tore through the ground beneath them. Their youngest, Peggy and the guide was separated almost immediately from the other three, falling straight into the damp abyss below. The sight of Peggy trying to reach and grab for anything played like a broken record throughout Mrs. B’s mind. Brian, Beatrice and Manny all were able to jump to the nearest ledge, climbing and scratching their way to steady ground. That’s when the last bit of ruble loosened and fell, striking Manny in the back, thrusting him up against the damp wall and pinning him to it like a pinata. Manny was squished, dying instantly up against the cavern's wall, as the boulder tumbled off the ledge and further down into the hole below. That was 16 days ago. The collapse had closed in their main passageway beneath them and the two parents were all that was left. Now, there was nothing and the nothing was everything.

Day 16 began with Mr. B’s usual marking and only after a few hours of sulking and waiting for death; a break came for Mr and Mrs B. It was another rumbling, not as violent as the first but a little stronger than the daily ones that they’d been accustom to feeling… it was one that created just enough breakage and clearing through the darkness… opening a small but visible showing of light towards the bottom of the wall they were standing up against. As if their excitement of the newfound light wasn’t enough, after the rumble had cleared and a calm entered the room again; a distant, faint wheezing of a voice broke through.

“Mom…. Dad….???!?!?”

It was Peggy. Mrs B. jumped up immediately, hugging her husband, nearly knocking him off the ledge.

“We have to go to her, we have to. That’s my baby girl down there.”

The tiny array of light that broke through had shown just enough of the cavern wall shadow. The couple rubbed their eyes, whiping the crust and goo from their lids, as the light below started to portray a small arrangement of ledges and hangings against the inner lining. It wouldn’t be easy but it could be done. They would have to stay literally stuck to the cavern wall, inching their way down the tiny foot-holes, towards the light. One small slip and one or both of them could go falling to their death.

“We’re coming for you honey!!!” Mrs. B. exclaimed.

One final tear fell from the mother, as she kissed the wall that Manny had been smashed against and to the downward climb they went.