The Dark Below

The Dark Below

It was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway in the woods; a chance for some friends to unwind after a stressful school semester. But things took a dark turn none of us could have predicted.

Lisa, Sarah, Drew and I had camped in state parks plenty of times before with no issues. We picked a spot near a large lake, away from the main trails and crowds. The first night passed pleasantly around the campfire, singing songs and sharing stories as the sky faded to black.

In the morning, we woke eager to explore the untouched forest surrounding our camp. Sarah excitedly pointed out animal tracks in the dirt and knew the names of every bird call. Deeper into the woods, Drew spotted what looked like an old abandoned mining shaft covered over with brush. Always the daring adventurer, he wanted to check it out.

Despite Lisa's nervous objections, the rest of us followed Drew's lead as he pushed aside branches to reveal a crumbling concrete structure housing a dark shaft dropping straight down. A rusted sign hanging askew read "Danger! Unstable Mine Shaft". But nothing could deter Drew's curiosity. He grabbed a lantern from his pack and dropped a lit match inside to cast flickering light below.

"I don't see the bottom," he called nervously, peering over the edge. A chill crept up my spine at his words. These woods carried an oppressive stillness, as if holding its breath.

"Let's get out of here," I said shakily. But as we turned to leave, a cacophony of snapping branches and rustling leaves exploded all around. Instinctively, we huddled together facing outwards, lantern raised high. Shadows shifted and merged among the tree trunks, blocking our way. A low keening moan echoed through the forest, sending icy fear coursing through my veins.

Heart racing, I backed slowly toward the mine shaft, friends pressed close behind. Whatever was out there, this seemed the lesser of two evils. Luckily, the structure remained sturdy as we clambered down rickety metal rungs set into crumbling concrete. Darkness swallowed our faint light except for a small pool around shuffling feet.

"Which way do we go?" Lisa whispered fearfully. Twin tunnels stretched out ahead into black nothingness. Before a decision could be made, the sound of scraping feet and dragging trails echoed above. Moonlight flickered briefly through gaps in broken boards as something large moved overhead directly above the shaft entrance. Wide eyes met in mute horror, all color drained from Sarah's face.

We sat paralyzed as unnatural noises continued around the rim far above, but whatever lurked there seemed content for now hovering at the brink. Eventually, nerve-wracking minutes passed in suffocating silence once more.

"Did...did it leave?" Drew breathed finally. No response came from above.

"This way," I decided firmly, picking the left tunnel at random and hoping blind luck favored our escape. Tentatively, we inched forward single file with lantern held before. The ground sloped gradually downward as the shaft widened and split again into a veritable underground maze. Twice more we heard disturbances from above but pressed onward without stopping, deeper into the earth's womb.

After what seemed hours of winding descent, my mind conjured horrors around every blind corner. But nothing materialized from the gloom to bar progress, creatures stalking us apparently satisfied we'd fled their domain for simpler prey. Eventually, blessed relief came when Drew halted suddenly and pointed–faint glimmers ahead pierced solid darkness.

Emerging from the shaft, we found ourselves on a ledge high above a massive cavernous space. Ragged columns of stalagmites and stalactites jutted haphazardly from floor to ceiling like monstrous teeth. But what stole our breath was the underground lake filling the center, luminous algae curling softly along the shore sending ghostly illumination throughout the entire space.

Awed whispers of "Woah..." broke the crushing silence. We picked our way carefully down a natural set of switchbacks toward the surreal glowing waters, momentarily forgetting the terrors stalking above. Reaching the shore, our lantern cast inky shadows rippling across glittering cavern walls. Suddenly, movement broke the tranquil scene.

Ripples radiated out from something breaking the surface silently in the center of the lake. We froze, barely daring to breathe as a large dark shape glided smoothly toward us, sinuous and purposeful. Breaking the water just offshore, a massive serpentine creature rose towering above the lantern glow, prismatic scales shimmering spectrally. Too many twisting limbs ending in clawed hands hissed menacingly through the air. Bulbous eyes peered down impassively, orifices along the length of its eel-like body sucked and pulsed disturbingly.

Our group broke as one in separate directions, unleashing shrieks that echoed endlessly through the vaulted space. The thing let out an unearthly high-pitched clicking, as if amused, and gave lazy pursuit. Sarah and I scrambled up the rocky slopes, hearing Lisa and Drew's fading cries behind mingled with pursuing slithers and splashes. We crested the ledge and came face to face with a hulking shape blocking the shaft exit, silhouetted against the moon.

Long tangled hair hung to the ground, pale limbs ended in talons rather than hands. It cocked its hairless oversized head at our approach and smiled a nightmare grin, wholly inhuman. Sarah let out an agonized wail at the sight and collapsed to her knees. I grabbed her arm and yanked with all my strength back the way we'd come, darting nimbly around grasping tree limbs. The thing turned and flowed after us with unnatural speed and grace.

At the lake shore, Drew battled with flailing limbs and snapping jaws, entangled in the serpent's grasp. Lisa sobbed clutching a bloody arm, back against a wall with no escape. The cavern echoed with unearthly shrieks and clicking as our pursuers closed in for the kill, playing with their food. In desperation, I waved the lantern wildly at our attacker's gleaming eyes, spattering hot oil. It reared back with an ethereal howl, momentarily blinded.

Seizing our only chance, I hauled Sarah to her feet and we rushed to Drew struggling under roiling mass of flesh. With final surge of strength, the three of us broke free of grasping coils and crab-walked hastily backwards up the incline as dark blood dripped down scaled ridges. Below, the serpent thrashed in rage and our grinning stalker blinked rapidly, sight slowly returning.

Gathering the traumatized Lisa, we fled headlong into the underground gloom careless of direction as maniacal screams rang out behind. Twisting this way and that through the maze, we emerged bruised and breathless hours later at the cliff-edge mine shaft under pale moonlight filtering through still branches. Wary silence cloaked the forest once more as if nothing had stirred.

Scrambling up rickety rungs one after the other into blessed night air, a cacophony of snapping branches resounded below signaling pursuit renewed. We tumbled exhausted from the shaft and fled blindly through the trees, too scared to look back at what may be gaining. Stumbling at last into clearing of our abandoned camp, truck headlights flared to life and tires squealed. Suitcases were hastily thrown onto the truck bed while a motor raced impatiently.

Wrapping shock blankets tight as the vehicle sped away into darkness, no one spoke of returning to those cursed woods ever again. But in nightmares since, when light is low, I swear echoes the clicking laughter drifting from cavern deeps below...