444 Excerpt
Chapter 1
Scott felt like the world was closing in on him. He was literally stuck between a rock and a hard spot. He had squeezed into this cavern that had now turned into a narrowing crevice of limestone. He had to get through, but he felt trapped, standing with his face pushed up against the cold, damp rock. His arms were outstretched as he reached further into the darkening tunnel and pulled himself, little by little, deeper into the cave. He had to turn his feet outward and press his body against the rock just to fit. Panic was ensuing. His body was overheating from distressing thoughts of getting stuck, running out of oxygen, or coming across something that was unwilling to share this tight space with him. He shuddered at the thought of an animal lurking deeper within. Would it feel cornered and attack him? He wouldn’t stand a chance. Even a small animal would have full advantage in such a tight space. He could barely move in either direction, and even then only at a snail’s pace.
You’ve got to calm down- he told himself. Slow down your breathing and relax. Fear took hold instead. You’re going to die in here! He tried to shake the dark thoughts that kept penetrating his mind. He focused on slowing his breathing and continued his deliberate advance into the unknown. The glaring question- Why are you continuing? - was forefront on his mind. I have to know what’s on the other side. Besides, my light went out and there’s no way I would find my way back. I might as well keep moving forward.
His feet slid in unison with his outstretched arms, working together to pull him along the wall. At times it felt like it was opening up, and he had a little more room to move and turn his head to look behind him. Nothing but blackness stared back.
Scott couldn’t even remember how he got into this mess. What seemed like a simple, curious trek had now turned into a nightmare.
An eerie rumble stopped him in his tracks. Earthquake- he thought, panicked.
A quivering feeling passed through him. He couldn’t tell from where it emanated. Whatever it was, it was more terrifying in the dark. He felt it all over his body. An unexplainable surge of energy had passed through him; not a violent pulse like you would expect from a blast, but a very faint vibration; a force like what you might feel from an approaching train if you had your ear to the track.
Did the temperature change? He paused, motionless, in an effort to focus on his tactile sense. No. It’s something else.
Scott stood still for another moment trying to decipher this phenomenon. He sensed a faint glow in the distance. He closed his eyes and opened them, repeating this several times as if it would clear his vision. There was definitely some kind of illumination ahead, though at this point it was just a pinpoint of light, and he couldn’t tell if it was pulsing. He noticed a change in the smell of the air. Musty?
No, it was cleaner, fresher. Something had changed; an opening ahead perhaps. Maybe a landslide opened a hole.
His outstretched hand clasped the rock face and he stepped gingerly, inching himself along the smooth limestone. Little by little he moved toward the speck of light, which gradually transformed into a brighter glow. He could definitely tell the air was different now; cleaner, less dank smelling than before when he was encapsulated in darkness. A flood of hope returned, and like a roller coaster cresting over the apex, beginning its rapid descent down, he felt his heart jump as that euphoric feeling rushed in like a flood. Perspiration that came with anticipation dripped down his forehead and into his eyes. He squeezed them shut to avoid the sting. Something brushed over his rear hand, and Scott's terrified scream filled the cavern.
Scott felt like the world was closing in on him. He was literally stuck between a rock and a hard spot. He had squeezed into this cavern that had now turned into a narrowing crevice of limestone. He had to get through, but he felt trapped, standing with his face pushed up against the cold, damp rock. His arms were outstretched as he reached further into the darkening tunnel and pulled himself, little by little, deeper into the cave. He had to turn his feet outward and press his body against the rock just to fit. Panic was ensuing. His body was overheating from distressing thoughts of getting stuck, running out of oxygen, or coming across something that was unwilling to share this tight space with him. He shuddered at the thought of an animal lurking deeper within. Would it feel cornered and attack him? He wouldn’t stand a chance. Even a small animal would have full advantage in such a tight space. He could barely move in either direction, and even then only at a snail’s pace.
You’ve got to calm down- he told himself. Slow down your breathing and relax. Fear took hold instead. You’re going to die in here! He tried to shake the dark thoughts that kept penetrating his mind. He focused on slowing his breathing and continued his deliberate advance into the unknown. The glaring question- Why are you continuing? - was forefront on his mind. I have to know what’s on the other side. Besides, my light went out and there’s no way I would find my way back. I might as well keep moving forward.
His feet slid in unison with his outstretched arms, working together to pull him along the wall. At times it felt like it was opening up, and he had a little more room to move and turn his head to look behind him. Nothing but blackness stared back.
Scott couldn’t even remember how he got into this mess. What seemed like a simple, curious trek had now turned into a nightmare.
An eerie rumble stopped him in his tracks. Earthquake- he thought, panicked.
A quivering feeling passed through him. He couldn’t tell from where it emanated. Whatever it was, it was more terrifying in the dark. He felt it all over his body. An unexplainable surge of energy had passed through him; not a violent pulse like you would expect from a blast, but a very faint vibration; a force like what you might feel from an approaching train if you had your ear to the track.
Did the temperature change? He paused, motionless, in an effort to focus on his tactile sense. No. It’s something else.
Scott stood still for another moment trying to decipher this phenomenon. He sensed a faint glow in the distance. He closed his eyes and opened them, repeating this several times as if it would clear his vision. There was definitely some kind of illumination ahead, though at this point it was just a pinpoint of light, and he couldn’t tell if it was pulsing. He noticed a change in the smell of the air. Musty?
No, it was cleaner, fresher. Something had changed; an opening ahead perhaps. Maybe a landslide opened a hole.
His outstretched hand clasped the rock face and he stepped gingerly, inching himself along the smooth limestone. Little by little he moved toward the speck of light, which gradually transformed into a brighter glow. He could definitely tell the air was different now; cleaner, less dank smelling than before when he was encapsulated in darkness. A flood of hope returned, and like a roller coaster cresting over the apex, beginning its rapid descent down, he felt his heart jump as that euphoric feeling rushed in like a flood. Perspiration that came with anticipation dripped down his forehead and into his eyes. He squeezed them shut to avoid the sting. Something brushed over his rear hand, and Scott's terrified scream filled the cavern.
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