Step, step, one more step...
It doesn't take long for our eyes to adjust to the darkness as we walk further and further into the caverns. stalactites hang from the parts of the roof thats visible. In some areas the roof is so high I can't see any end to it, the walls are far apart too. The entire structure is massive, almost like an open area but still linear, for now at least. Oddly enough this is just as shocking to me as the room that was upside down. All of the floors before were relatively similar. But the major differences between this floor and the previous is just...
Something.
It's different... It's so different. The noise, there's noise now, noise besides our own footsteps. For some reason I can hear wind subtilty blowing as we walk past. Water dripping down the stalactites and onto the cavern floor. I couldn't stand the lack of noise before, but now. It's...
Unsettling... No that's the wrong word but something like that. I can only assume it's because I've gotten used to it so now that I can hear it's just almost overwhelming. Paranoia creeps down my spine everytime I hear a drop of water. I grip my knife and the sound of a slightly stronger wind...
For better or for worse it's impossible to relax.
...
I hear aiden speak from behind me.
"Hey, is that another pathway."
He noticed it before I did, coming up to our right there's another pathway we can take. I'm not really sure exactly how caverns are structured but there's no telling where any of these paths may lead us. Even the one were taking now.
"Wanna check it out?"
"Yeah why not."
One steps, two steps, three steps, and another step...
The pathway is thinner but still large in size. Still nothing of note has come up. Which made both None and Aiden feel more uncomfortable. The lack of those things fuled their anxieties and the longer they go without facing one the more anxious they grow, but they're both more confident than before. Their experiences fighting, fighting, fighting and winning only added to their strength, and improved their overall chances of survival...
Physically they were becoming stronger as well, even without noticing it. There hasn't been many instances where they can get a full amount of rest so they're not even aware of their full capabilities.
So they walk and walk until they finally reach a larger, more open area, this one stalagmites almost as high as the roof, and stalamicites almost as low as the floor. But it's a dead end.
And something else along with it...
"Dead bodies."
Three of them, their corpses were mangled, with large chunks missing from them too.
"Well it looks like something is here with us. Something big too."
"Let's just hope we don't meet it."
"Yeah let's hope."
I can't tell how long, they've been dead for. But they're not in really bad states of decomposition. There's not too much to check. Half of what they probably had looks like it's been eaten, but I walk over and check what remaining pockets they have.
Nothing, but I expected that.
I look around for a moment.
"Doesn't seem like there's anything useful here."
Until something catches my eye.
"Oh? What's that?"
Walking over to an unknown shiny object I notice it's embedded into the wall, and there's more of them too. I make it over to the object I saw.
It's like a type of crystal? It's something I've never seen before. It's glowing radiating a crimson red glow.
"Huh, what is this."
"I've never seen anything like this for. Perhaps it's something made in the abyss itself."
"Wanna take some with us?"
"If we can get it out sure. Maybe it'll be worth something too"
I take off the duffle bag and grab the metal pipe from the side.
Alright, Let's do this. I grip the pipe tightly with both hands, rasing it above my head.
Bang!
My hands reverberate in pain as the hit sent vibrations all through the pipe.
Shit that stung. But, a tiny crack formed near where it's connected
I raise my hands above my head once again.
Bang!
Bang!
Smash!
Crack!
After a few strong hits the piece finally breaks off. Alright. One more.
...
Holding the crystal in my hand I start to wonder if we might be able to find anyone that knows the abyss. Not even as much as the person who made the journal but someone. Everyone here can't be lunatic. Or maybe everyone is, but there has to be some people who's not as cruel and selfish. How many people have come here anyways. I'm not sure if that's something I'll ever know.
I put the piece into my bag, then Aiden and I walk back the way we came.
...
Aiden is observing the crystal beside me.
"You know, even if we don't sell it or something. It looks really nice on its own. Like for jewelry or something."
"Yeah it is. The red Is deeper than ruby, it has some kinda feel to it you know. Like it's more pure or something. It's pretty captivating."
"You know maybe when you get your wife back, you can make her a necklace out of this or something."
"That sounds like a good idea actually."
"Wait, aren't some natural elements like uranium super deadly. It's glowing..."
"..."
I didn't think if that. I pause for moment before speaking again.
"If some fucking rock is gonna kill us after all this shit we've survived it must be fate."
"Haha! Yeah your right."
We both walk silently for a moment before he I hear him speak again.
"Hey, None what's your wife's name?"
"Aria."
"That's a nice name."
"It is ain't it... What about yours?"
"Jasmine."
"Ah, that's a nice name too. You know I kinda forget that we know next to nothing about each other."
"Yeah that is true. How about we ask each other questions? It could kill time quicker."
"Alright, I guess your next?"
"Yeah, where do you grow up?"
"Well, I lived with my mom until I was around 6, but I don't have any memories of that time. It's just kinda blank. She died when I was 6 but I can't even remember how. Or how I even know... How did she die?..."
I sort through my memories, trying to go as far back as I possibly can. Digging through my brain searching for answers yet I can find nothing, but why does it feel like I'm forgetting something. There's something there. There's something there that I'm not seeing. What is it, what piece am I missing...
There is something from that time. Something very faint. Something that I've always found strange due to the lack of context
Rocking... Shaking... And rope burns.
Traveling through memories, finding nothing. But even that nothing itself was suspicious. People should remember something, anything from when they were 6. And he did, while they may be faint he still has hazy memories of growing up on the streets at that time, but nothing of his mother.
He dissected himself, his brain. Looking for the answers he wanted so desperately.
Dissecting and stitching back together
Dissecting and stitching back together
Dissecting and stitching back together
Dissecting and stitching back together
Dissecting and stitching dissecting and stitching dissecting and stitching until...
"Aghh!"
His brain throbs, causing him to stop in his tracks. Piece that he had not been made aware of paint themselves into existence in his mind...
Memories he couldn't deny were his
A room, himself, and the lifeless corpse of his mother.
Rope burns...
Stillness...
My arms, bruises.
Next to the lifeless corpse. And attempt to make sure she's okay. Shaking the body shaking the body shaking the body but no movement. Sitting, shaking and terrified. Terror that I know all to well. Rocking back and forth. Rocking rocking.
Rope burns...
"None are you okay!"
"Yeah... I remembered something"
"Something bad I assume..."
The sudden memories begin to amplify his emotions, with the abyss begins to slowly work it's way deeper into his head.
"I don't know. I know I saw her body, but I still don't know what happened. I still don't know I still don't know. I have to know, I have to. I won't stop until I do. I must know what happened. I have to, I have to..."
Aiden grabs his shoulders, and speaks to him with a reassuring tone.
"Hey, you remembered something. That's good, that's progress. You don't have to do this all at once. Breathe and calm down. Dont overdo yourself. You're already not stable as is. Your headache might get worse too. Next time it might be easier to remember something else. Now you have something to start with rather than nothing you know. It'll be fine, I'm sure of it."
I take a moment to ground and pull myself back from the parasitic insanity. Slowly the the effects start to die down, reducing themselves to the state that this place naturally induces.
"Yeah. Thanks you. Let's get going okay."
"You alright now?
"Yeah, better at least. All things considering."
"Good, let's go."
Step, step, one more step.
...
"So how did you grow up Aiden, I'll finish telling you my story later."
"Heh, my story is pretty boring. I grew up pretty poor. It was me, my mom and two older brothers. They pretty much ditched us when they got old enough. I was only one that stayed with her... Wait is that another pathway."
"Oh yeah it is, let's see where this one leads."
We change our course and begin walking along this new trail.
"So yeah, I was the only one that stayed. It was rough but I don't regret it. Mom always worked so hard after all, so I did all I could to support her, even dropped out of school to help pay the bills. She too is a big reason why I'm here. I met my now wife when I was 20. Fell in love you know the deal, and then recently as I mentioned before we're expecting a child. Wasn't anything planned, money was tight already but we both wanted to keep it. So I started looking for more ways to get money and now I'm here."
"I see, do you regret coming here. Obviously there's a lot of other, safer ways to make money even if it is illegal."
"Not necessarily... well yes and no. This place is vile, no one should experience it. But I really just want to my family to live comfortably. Not having to worry about whether they're going to eat or not, or worry about being put out on the streets, if we can afford things. Things like that. Plus If I didn't come here I wouldn't have met you. Even though we haven't known each other long. I consider you family. Hell were both literally fighting for our lives together."
"Haha, that is true... Thanks... I don't really have memories of a family."
"Yeah you should start calling me big brother."
"Okay now you're pushing it."
"Hahah!"
But still... It warms my cold heart to hear him say that.
As we dive deeper into the caverns, I see something come into sight.
"Is that... Like a house?"
Step, step, one more step
No, there's more. Dozens...
"What the hell, is this a village?"
At the end of the path they've been following lies a small village. It leaves both of them in shock. They never considered the possibility that people might live here. Because who would want to live in an abhorrent place such as this...