And So, I Wait

The long stone corridor, which once had been well kept and illuminated with torches, which in turn had hung from the polished brass sconces, was in disrepair. The only way to tell that the corridor existed at all was by the light of a single torch, held up by my own hand which was neither polished nor brass. Of course, I knew it was there before I arrived, because in the daytime when I usually passed by these ruins, it was quite visible. I passed the site hundreds of times before this night, but only now ventured within the crumbling stone walls, down into corridors that, like this one, were dark and foreboding. There was no real reason for me being there that night, save for the sense of adventure I had harbored for a long time. My footsteps echoed as I walked, making me certain that the corridor continued for quite some time, but I had no doubts or worries. I was alone, here, in the dark and the gloom. Water occasionally dripped from unseen sources, and a few times a large rat scurried across my path, as I wandered deeper into the abandoned ruins.

When I reached a crossroads in the stone hallway, my torchlight flickering, I paused. Left or right? That was really the only question that hung in my mind as I inspected each stone archway. Both were dark holes in the earth before me, both were built of the same stone I had seen throughout my entire escapade. The only real difference between the two corridors was which direction away from home they led me, and with reckless abandon, I forged ahead into the one leading down to the left. Quickly I was pleased with my choice, for this corridor twisted and turned, further adding to my sense of growing foolhardy enthusiasm. As I walked, I found my lips puckering and a clear cold note whistled out from between them, flowing down the hallway before bouncing back to me from some wall, far out of my sight. The cold, from being underneath the old castle and the water dripping and flowing down the rocks, began to seep through the thin jacket I had thrown about me at the beginning of this venture. It didn’t bother me much, as I continued onward, whistling tunes of unknown origin.

Not long after the cold and damp began to force its way to my skin, the corridor became less predictable, the smooth stone knotting and twisting, becoming more of a cave than anything else. Large spikes, stalactites, hung down over my head, water sometimes dripping down, further insinuating the growing unease I felt in my chest. The cave, as the passage had become, twisted even more than the paved corridor I had been treading since the start. My whistle faltered, as a second light, far different from my own, began to illuminate the space. Glowing a soft luminescent green, a lichen I was unacquainted with began in the cracks of the walls, only to spread out farther the further I strode into its territory. My steps began to slow, only to pick up again with brash determination. The lichen, a fungus which was not recorded in my books, spread further across the walls.

As I once again reached a fork, the first thought that entered my mind was one of cowardice, which I quickly pushed aside. I had no use for doubt, the only living things down in these tunnels were rats and spiders, neither of which posed any real threat to me. I held the torch higher, peering first into the darkness to the left, and then to the right. As I did so, the right hand passage was revealed to be a large stone chamber, the floor of which was littered with things I didn’t want to classify as bones. A chilling breeze swept from inside the cavern, an unidentifiable urge pulling me onward, and I shivered. The pull was so strong, the sudden need I felt so great, that I surprised myself by walking slowly into the cavern. My torch illuminated the room, which was strangely empty of rock formations. There was a sudden crunch under my foot and I stepped back, aghast, when I saw that my foot had broken through what remained of a human skull. I swallowed the sudden lump that had crept into my throat and lifted the torch higher, peering around through the gloom.

The chill came again, drawing me further into the large cavern, past entire decaying skeletons, some nearly reduced to dust. As I approached the rear wall of the cave, a figure came into my view. It was another female, like myself, and I found myself kneeling in front of the large stone slab she was seated upon. Her eyes opened, glowing an unearthly green as she seemed to consider me. When she opened her mouth to speak, it was as if hundreds of voices, all female and ancient, were thundering.

“We are the ones of the ancient.” they said to me, the glowing green eyes regarding me seriously, “we have been here since the beginning of time. Tell us, mortal, why you believe you are worthy to become one of us.” My mouth was inexplicably drawn open, and I heard myself reply.

“I do not know who you are, or what I have disrupted. But I believe I am worthy, may I ask of what?” the strange wording confused me, but at the same time I understood what I was saying. As soon as the words left my mouth the girl’s glowing green eyes faded, revealing large dark brown orbs that stared at me seriously, kindly. Her voice, then, was singular, and gentle.

“You do not understand why you are here.” she declared, “but you will, soon. If you felt drawn to come this far you are worthy, and you are meant to take my place after I become one of the ancients.”

“I don’t understand.” I said with a furrowed brow as I stared at her. “I have to go home, soon.” but even then, as I spoke, I knew that I would never feel sunlight against my skin again.

“You are home.” the girl corrected warmly. “The dead around you are among us, look.” she pointed, and I saw the hundreds of green spirits, each floating above one of the skeletons, or piles of white dust. “And now that you have come, My time is drawing to an end. I have been here, on sentry, for a hundred years.” This surprised me, but as I looked closer, I saw that the girl’s clothing was indeed very different than my own, and anyone else’s I had ever seen, unless it had been in a photograph from long ago.

“I understand.” again the voice was not quite my own, but she smiled warmly, kindly, and held out her hand to me. I stood and accepted it, stepping onto the slab and sitting cross legged beside her. My torch, which had grown numb in my hand, was blown out by a gust of chilling air. I dropped it to the floor as, once again, the girl’s eyes glowed green. My hand was still in hers, and I felt her warm skin grow cold, and begin to rot away even as we sat there. The skin peeled off of her face, and her grinning skeleton could not hold in the thousands of spirits that gave off the green light. They exited, briefly, before flowing into me. The girl staggered forward, off of the slab, and fell gracefully into a reclining position. She, along with every other ancient before me, was now only a skeleton in the cave. I remain, sitting, where I will remain for a time I do not know, though time no longer affects me at all. I will remain here until another one worthy enough to be one of us stumbles upon our cavern.

And so, I wait.