Story

Merihem’s Cave

By Austin Smith

Ben stared at the mouth of the cave. The entrance was fairly small. It was only about five foot in height, and maybe four foot across. Yet, the bright midday sun pushed back against the dark, allowing him to see the first twenty or so yards inside. The mountain that stood behind the entrance of the cave insinuated a far greater depth than what the deceiving entrance spoke of. The morning had been cheerful despite the circumstances, and the day seemed to radiate with brightness and warmth, yet it could not repel the tiny shivers that ran down his back. The birds chirping overhead and the gentle breeze did not succeed in laying down the raised hairs on the back of his neck. The entrance to the cave before him did not even appear threatening in the slightest. There was no reason, (and he knew this) that he should be unsettled by the external appearance of the mysterious mountain and the catacombs that ran beneath it. Especially considering the countless caves, old mines, and catacombs he had already explored; many of them far larger and more daunting than this one from the outside. But there was something about this one. Something about it that made goosebumps appear on his arms as he leaned forward, gazing into the tunnel, even as small droplets of sweat formed on his brow from the eighty-five degree weather. There was something about this cave that unnerved him, and it unnerved him even more so to feel that way for no logical reason. At least, none he could think of. It certainly wasn’t the fact that the three men that had gone into the cave before him had never come out. Ben was extremely confident of his abilities, perhaps a bit cocky, even. Yet, he had never been in a life-threatening situation once during his many previous expeditions. He hadn’t even been lost before. A little turned around a time or two, but never completely lost. And now here he stood at the entrance of the Reacher’s Cave, second guessing if he wanted to go in. Standing in the hot sun, taking a quick sip of water, Ben began to recall the events leading up to his current situation… “He told me all about you. He spoke very highly of you, Ben.” Ben grimaced. He was slightly irritated she had referred to him by his first name instead of Mr. Wellington. He silently forgave her though under the circumstances that led to their personal meeting for the first time. “If anyone can find him…” Ben raised his hand. “I’m terribly sorry about the disappearance of your boyfriend. I’ve already expressed my sympathies. But he’s been missing for four days now…” “I can’t believe he’s dead… I won’t believe it…” Carla stared at the middle aged man with an intensity on her face, her eyes full of emotion. Ben sighed and leaned back in his chair. The coffee shop was nearly empty. The evening wore on, the sound of cars rushing by on the busy street just outside. “I feel horrible. I really do. But there’s nothing I can do.” A tear started to escape Carla’s eyelid. She coiled her hands into fists as they rested on the tabletop. “Jason told me that you were the smartest and most experienced guy he knew when it came to cave exploration. If you really felt horrible, you must feel some sort of responsibility for what happened.” Her words were cold and flat, her voice tinged with frustration. Ben averted his gaze. He couldn’t deny the small pang of guilt that tugged at the lowest of his heartstrings, the ones off to the side somewhere that didn’t pull most of the emotional weight. A car blared its horn out in the streets. The sun started to sink lower in the sky, disappearing behind the restaurant and shoe store across the road. Carla dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “You were the one that taught him everything he knew, after all. He told me so himself.” Bill looked forlornly at the young girl in distress sitting across from him. He kept telling himself this wasn’t his responsibility. He kept telling himself that Jason had chosen to go on the expedition by himself, and made the mistake of not informing enough people prior to his journey. Looking into Carla’s eyes, he realized there were lots of mistakes his apprentice had made, and probably some within the cave that had gotten him either killed or lost. But she was right; he had trained him himself. He did teach the spry, adventurous twenty-two year old almost everything that could be taught. And yet here he was, facing his angry, despairing girlfriend that wanted him to go in search of him, since none of the officials would. Ben looked down at the table and crossed his hands. “I can’t promise you anything.” He said quietly. “I don’t want you to.” She replied, regaining some composure. “I just want you to try.” Ben arrived at the small town of Helena around seven o’ clock in the evening. He had checked into a cheap, small, but clean, motel. He had all of his gear with him. He planned on beginning his search for Jason in Reacher’s Cave in the morning. Ben left the motel and wandered around the small town, hoping he could find out some more information about the interior of the cave from the locals. Most of his research he had done about Reacher’s Cave had left him empty handed, aside from a few amateur blogs and sites talking about the dark history of the cave and how it was presumed to be haunted. Such nonsense, he had thought. Ben walked down the cracked sidewalk towards the cluster of buildings. The small town was quaint, calm. It reminded him of a town that might be a setting for a sixties sitcom on television. Some kid on a bike rode down the street. There were few cars that passed by. Ben noticed several vehicles though, parked in front of what appeared to be a diner of sorts. A neon sign was hung in the window, and as Ben approached closer, he saw that it said Open, but the lights were out on the P. Ben casually strolled inside. He looked around to find himself in a small, dimly lit bar. Four men sitting at the bar turned to look at him. A young kid off to his right was sweeping the floor. Ben nodded at the men gawking at him as he approached the bar. They returned to their drinks and conversation. Ben leaned over the bar. The bartender greeted him almost immediately. He was a large man, both in height and weight. His head was balding, though Ben guessed he couldn’t be a minute older than the age of forty. “What can I get for ya’?” He said. “Something light.” Ben said. The bartender narrowed his eyes, but said nothing as he filled a glass from a tap. “This here is the lightest we got.” He set the glass in front of Ben. Ben thanked him and took a drink, leaving a thin line of foam across his upper lip. He turned to see the men beside him gazing at him once again. Ben cleared his throat and looked away awkwardly. “You new around here?” The bartender asked. Ben nodded. “The first time I’ve been here.” The other men at the bar turned away but talked quieter, obviously curious to hear what the newcomer had to say. Ben figured not much happened around this tiny little town. “What brings you out this way?” The bartender asked. “I’m looking for something.” “And what might that be?” Ben took another sip of his beer. “A person.” The men stopped their conversation all together. The bartender squinted. Ben cleared his throat. “Someone I knew decided to take a little trip into Reacher’s cave, the one a couple miles north of here.” The bartender exchanged glances with the strangers sitting at the bar. “I was hoping someone might be able to tell me a little more about it. I can’t seem to find much information on it. Just a bunch of crap about how the souls that died in the cave wander around in it, waiting for their next victim.” Ben let out a soft laugh. No one else laughed, or even smiled. They simply stared at him. The bartender rested his hands on the countertop. “Nobody that lives in this town has gone in there for the last twenty one years. And we plan on going another twenty-one without anyone wandering out that way.” Ben eyed the bartender, wondering how serious he should take him. Ben raised his hand and started to speak, but the bartender cut him off. “I know what you’re thinkin’, a bunch of locals superstitious about some ancient legend, but that ain’t it at all mister. You ain’t the first adventurous fellow to come around asking questions about it, and won’t be the last. Every man that’s gone in there before you has never come out, and that’s a fact. “You can ask around town all you want about this cave. Fact is, no one that ever stepped foot inside lived to see the light of day, that’s why there’s not much information out there on it. And that’s the God’s honest truth. We don’t go near that cave, mister, and I highly suggest you shouldn’t either.” “It’s true, every word of it.” One of the strangers sitting next to him said. Ben briefly explained to them his qualifications in rock climbing, cave exploration, and other related experiences he held wisdom and knowledge in. The bartender just shook his head. “You can ask around some more,” He said. “But I promise you, you ain’t going to find out any different from what I’ve explained just now.” Ben sighed. He gently pushed the glass of beer away and dropped a couple of dollar bills onto the counter top. “A friend of mine is lost in there. I’m going to find him. Alive or dead.” The strangers watched him go. Even after he left, they quietly sipped on their beers, talking very little. He ended up asking around town a little more, but most people seemed to be afraid of the cave, just as the bartender had. Someone had told him that the first people that explored the cave were in search of the treasure that was rumored to lie deep within the mountain somewhere. The lady that had told him this said she truly believed there was treasure still in there, but she said she didn’t wish for people to keep searching for it. Some people had likely already found it, she had mentioned. But they didn’t live long enough for it to see the light of day. He vaguely remembered reading something online that mentioned a vast fortune buried deep within the catacombs, waiting to be discovered by a brave soul. Ben wasn’t in search of treasure though. He was in search of Jason… I’m going to find him… dead or alive… The thought hurt Ben a little bit, but he was confident it was true, even though the odds were leaning more towards the negative side of things. Ben stared into the cave and took a deep breath. His backpack was filled with water bottles, snacks, a flare, rope, multiple flashlights and batteries, and other supplies he may need. Taking another deep breath, he set foot in the cave, and the sunlight was instantly blotted out by the rough stone overhead. He walked further into the cave, darkness washing completely over him. There’s nothing to be scared of… It’s just a cave…