by Unknown
“Ow,” he warned. “That hurt. Be careful, I didn’t come here to be covered with scars.”
“Sorry, I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” Tory said as he lit a candle in the oddly spacious
cavern.
“Wow,” Tyler exhaled as he looked around in awe. “Aren’t you afraid the boulder will collapse the roof?”
“Nah,” replied Tory. “It has been up there for thousands of years, if not longer. I think we are safe. What do you think about the warmth? It is nice, yeah?”
Tyler was comforted by the warmth but was more interested in the offshoot of tunnels that extended out from the far side of the cavern. “Where do those lead?”
“Places,” replied Tory. “Some good, some bad, all interesting in their own rights.”
Tyler wondered what he meant, but continued to investigate the room. There were some items piled along one of the walls that piqued his curiosity. He noticed a bicycle that looked nearly new and took a closer look.
“Hey, this looks just like Jason’s old bike, the one that was stolen a few weeks back. Did you take it?”
“I won’t lie, I did,” laughed Tory. “I saw he was using it to chase down some kids and bully them. Rather than let him continue, I took it away. He is a fat little guy; he would never catch them if not for the bike. So, I removed his mobility.”
“Except he bought a brand new bike the next day and punched me in the face, leaving a black eye to remind me, all because he thought I stole it.”
“Really?” asked Tory. “Well, you will see that I also have his BB gun, his slingshot, and a few other trinkets he used to hurt you and your friends. You should thank me for saving you from his torture. Hey, if you hang out with me, I can teach you to stand up for yourself and get even with him. I bet he will leave you alone then!”
“Sounds tempting, but I should get to school. I am already late,” Tyler began to feel uncomfortable, but he wasn’t sure why.
The sliver of light entering the slender opening to the cavern began to fade to darkness, and the pitter-patter of raindrops could be heard outside.
“Will the rain fill the cavern up?” asked Tyler.
“No, not at all,” laughed Tory. “It is just light rain today. I would imagine we would need quite the downpour to drown us out. Besides, the rain usually collapses the entrance as it turns to mud. It will seal us off until the rain stops. Until then, just enjoy the sauna and relax.”
“Seal us off? How will we get out?”
“We will dig our way out. I have a few small shovels down here; we will be fine. However, I better put out the candles; they will eat up our oxygen.”
Tory pinched the tip of each candle, killing the flames and leaving the cavern in complete darkness. Tyler thought he saw Tory’s eyes radiate a soft green glow for a moment, until he was surrounded by complete darkness. He didn’t move, he just continued to stare in the direction of Tory, listening for movement and contemplating whether he should run through one of the tunnels, or stay in place.
As he stared into the darkness; he realized that he had not caught a glimpse of Tory’s face. Either the sun was too bright above or the shadows were too dark down below. He could feel his heart beating harder as he became nervous.
“Where are you from,” Tyler managed the courage to ask. “This is a small town and I have never seen you before. Actually, I have never seen this boulder before and I have played in this wooded area since I was little.”
“I’ve always been here,” was Tory’s short response. “At least, I have been for a long time. I don’t really remember being anywhere else.”
“I think I need to go, does one of the tunnels lead anywhere near the school?” asked Tyler with a shaky voice as he pointed to the far side of the cave, where three small holes in the wall seemed to stretch beyond the darkness.
“They all lead to learning opportunities,” Tory’s voice cut through the darkness. “Follow which ever one you want, but I recommend the one in the middle. It is warm like the cavern, not too cold or too hot, if you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t know what you mean, can you explain?” asked Tyler.
“Nope,” he replied. “I’ll let you figure it out. You said you weren’t afraid of Heaven, Hell, or anything in between. So, I brought you in between so you won’t have to decide anything, where all
choices are removed and everlasting life rules forever.”
“I think I need to leave,” Tyler repeated. “Please, tell me which tunnel leads out.”
“Like I said, they all do,” Tory’s voice echoed. “But why leave? Here, you are free from everything good and bad, you can be whoever and whatever you want to be, you are truly free from choice.”
“Free from choice, doesn’t that mean I am controlled and told what to do and not to do?”
“Not at all,” replied Tory. “Instead, you are free to accept fate, to embrace destiny, no need to stress over unnecessary decisions. It is true freedom in its purest.”
“I am not sure this is for me, seems more like the idea of purgatory to me, always in a continuous flux of existence without the option to move forward or backward without being guided. I’d rather traverse the pits of Hell with hope for escape or the bastion of Heaven and control my existence upon the clouds.”
“Tory of purgatory,” Tory’s voice cackled. “I rather like that, it is beautifully poetic, don’t you agree? Don’t answer that. Instead, think about why you willingly accepted my offer to join me here beneath the ground, above Hellish flames and out of sight of Heaven’s clouds?”
“I didn’t decide, you dragged me here,” shouted Tyler. “What are you, anyway?”
“I’m just a ghost of my former self, trapped in this purgatory – as you put it, terrorizing the bullies that put me here, and forced you into my realm,” replied Tory in a stern tone. “You decided when you ran from Jason, telling him that you would risk whatever demon hides within the woods, rather than allow him to beat you to a pulp. Did you not say that?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t mean to be held captive by a lunatic.” Tyler said while moving back toward the wall with the bike. “It sounds like you became the bully, a horrible person, and I won’t stick around to be a victim anymore.”
“Don’t run from me, I won’t allow you to be so disrespectful. I have been nothing but a courteous and welcoming host.”
Tyler could feel the air grow thick and move toward him. He could not see Tory, but his presence was evident. He grabbed Jason’s bike and thrust it toward Tory, listening to it fall to the ground. He continued to grab items from the pile and throw them toward Tory’s demonic presence. Each item falling to the dirt floor as the dense air closed in.
The pile of junk was quickly scattered about, leaving only a few remaining odds and ends behind. An old shield, that Tyler remembered using as a child when he, Jason, and other kids in the neighborhood would play knights and dragons, rested upon a pile of old wooden swords. Tyler grabbed the shield and held it out in front of him, throwing the swords and daggers one by one toward the invisible beast.
Under the pile, a sliver of light peeked through a small hole that pierced the ground above. Tyler looked at his captor, seeing his face for the first time. He wasn’t deformed or demonic in any way imaginable; instead his features were a mirror image of his own.
“Get away from me!” Tyler shouted as he plunged himself through the lit tunnel. Momentarily, his body blocked the light and he felt Tory’s hand grasp his ankle, struggling to pull him back in. When Tyler was mostly through, the light flooded inside and Tory’s grip loosened. The demon’s screams echoed across the stonewalls, fading to peaceful serenity as the purifying light cleansed him from existence, replacing the false luminescence that mimicked God’s creation.
Although Tory’s voice had vanished, Tyler wasted no time running from the boulder. A break in the pines, opposite where he entered, allowed him to quickly traverse away from the clearing. He ran until his legs felt like rubber and his sides screame
d with pain. His mouth became dry as cotton, and the sound of a nearby river was there to answer the call.
Tyler followed the sound to an abandoned railroad track. Tufts of grass were scattered between the ties, suggesting its abandonment long ago. The sweet smell of lilies, lofting upon a warm wind, meandered through the air. He felt safe and free from Tory’s attempted imprisonment. He did not look back as he followed the old tracks.
The sound of rushing water became louder as he turned a bend in the path. He was anxious to see what lay beyond a patch of young saplings, but also cautious not to become a victim again. He moved close to the tree line and crept toward the bend, careful to avoid kicking loose stones or step on any twigs.
He could taste the spray from the river water in the air, further tempting his thirst. He did not
sense any sort of threat, so he decided to continue onward past the curve. Supports of an old trellis came into view, a familiar site from his dreams. He wasn’t sure if he should turn around or continue onward, but his curiosity kept his legs moving. As the entire structure appeared before him, he noticed two figures were sitting toward the middle, relaxing in the sun and being cooled by the splashing waves.
“Hey, over here,” the male shouted.
“Tyler, come on, we’ve been waiting for you,” beckoned the female figure.
The pair seemed less suspicious than Tory, yet he took his time approaching them. As he drew nearer, their faces became familiar. He wasn’t sure, at first, if they were who he thought they were, but it quickly became clear.
“Lucy, Angelo?” Tyler asked. “Is that you?”
“Who else would it be,” replied Angelo.
Tyler sat down between them, wondering whether he was still under Tory’s control. He sat in silence for at least ten minutes before Lucy spoke up.
“You are a lot quieter than normal. Usually you won’t shut up about being alone, in silence, with only your thoughts to keep you company.”
“I am just, well; I really don’t know what is going on right now.” Tyler replied.
“Why, because we have only met in a dream?” asked Angelo. “Maybe you are dreaming now, or maybe we are dreaming. Although, this could be real, what do you think?”
“Angelo, stop confusing him,” scolded Lucy.
“It’s okay,” said Tyler. “It has just been a strange day and I am not sure what to think or believe anymore. I feel divided within myself, and seeing the two of you is just as strange as meeting Tory.”
“Tory?” asked Angelo. “He is nothing more than a reflection of who you have become, in extreme; he will always be around unless you make the conscious decision to make him leave.”
“If he is me, then who are you?” asked Tyler.
“We,” responded Lucy before Angelo could speak, “are the proverbial angel and devil sitting on your shoulder. We can help guide you away from the purgatory you have imprisoned yourself within.”
“Yeah,” interrupted Angelo. “We can help you defeat your bullies, make them leave you alone.”
“I am not sure I understand. Tory offered to help me too, but he turned out to be a bad guy.”
“His idea of helping was to lure the bullies into the cavern, and trap them there to endure everlasting torture at your hands, thus turning you into a bully. That is the way of purgatory,” said Lucy. “We offer two other methods, which are equally effective. I, for instance, can teach you the ways of Hell and offer you the opportunity to reform your bullies, to redeem their tarnished souls and become pure again.”
“And I,” interrupted Angelo, “can teach you how to release the cleansing of Heaven’s light upon their darkness and welcome them into your heart, negating their desire to harm you or others.”
“These are unique gifts that few are offered, but the choice is yours,” Lucy said with a smile
Tyler listened to Angelo and Lucy plead their cases, bickering back and forth at times. He knew he was not going back to the cavern, no way. But choosing the path of Heaven or Hell did not seem appealing to him either. Whichever he chose, another, instead of his own free will, would guide the path.
“What happens if I choose neither?” asked Tyler.
They stared at him blankly for a few seconds, before Angelo broke the silence. “No one has ever made that decision before. I don’t know what will happen. I suppose things will go back to the way they were and you will remain a victim.”
“Sounds about right to me,” added Lucy.
“I don’t think so,” said Tyler. “Now I know what I didn’t know before. I know that the two of you, Tory, my bullies, my parents, and everyone else that I ever met were guiding my entire existence. I never allowed myself to take control. So, the choice is truly mine…and I know what to do.”
Without another word, Tyler dropped to the rapids below. The pinches of Angelo’s fingers were felt slipping from his t-shirt as he felt weightless before crashing into the whitecaps below.
Darkness engulfed him and he was comforted in silence.
***
“Hurry up, we are going to be in so much trouble,” shouted Jason to one of his goons, who was running toward him with a bucket in his hand.
Jason grabbed the bucket from the boy’s hand and rushed over to where Tyler was lying on the side of the road. He poured the water onto Tyler’s face.
“Come on, wake up,” pleaded Jason as the other kids stood around Tyler’s body.
Abruptly, Tyler sat straight up while taking a deep breath. Water flew from his soaked clothing and hair, splashing onto the semicircle of bullies that surrounded him. He was not quite sure where he was, but was strangely glad to see Jason standing in front of him.
“Oh crap, I’m so sorry man,” said Jason as he breathed heavily. “I thought I killed you. If it wasn’t for that man and girl that passed by, I don’t know if I would have been able to drag you out of the woods and call the guys to get some water to pour on your face.”
“Man and woman?” asked Tyler, still confused. “Why water? What happened?”
“Angelo and Lucy, they were walking by and saw me throw the rock at you. I didn’t mean to hit you with it; I just wanted to scare you. Aw man, you can’t tell anyone, I will be in so much trouble.”
Tyler stared at Jason, his head throbbing, and his vision a little blurry. “I won’t tell. But, you have to stop bulling everyone, or I go straight to the principal and your parents.”
“Man, I almost killed you. You’re in control here, you want me to stop, and I’ll stop.”
Jason’s group of goons followed his lead, as usual, and walked off toward school. Jason reached out his hand and helped Tyler stand, making sure he was steady on his feet before allowing him to stand on his own.
“Here, let me grab your army coat, the Angelo guy hung it on that tree branch. You must have dropped it when the rock hit you,” said Jason.
The two started walking toward the school, taking their time; not caring that class had already begun. Jason stayed right at Tyler’s side, in case he started to sway or fall, passing the time by reminiscing about their early childhood when they played together every day. He even managed to get excited while talking about playing with their wooden shields and swords.
Look Up!
Carly Jane Denyer
Drop Bear: a mythical creature that drops from trees and sinks its sharp fangs and claws into the top of the victim’s head. Can be identified as a vicious species of rabid Koala. Colour: Smoky grey with dirty white markings on the legs, face and chest, usually smeared with the old (and sometimes fresh) blood of its victims.
Imogen Roberts read the description she’d found on the Internet of the infamous Drop Bears, and breathed a sigh of relief as she read the word mythical. She should have known her Dad was just trying to scare her.
The rickety old office chair protested loudly, as she pushed herself away from the computer desk in the direction of the open barn door. She could see her father's old steel capped boots sticking out from under the h
alf built horse float. Imogen smiled at the sight. Her father, Jace Roberts, was renowned for his 'projects'.
Imogen rolled the old chair back to the desk, clicked the off button on the computer, and walked over to her father. "It says they’re not real dad. You know… mythical creatures?!"
A laugh rang out from under the big metal contraption that had taken up residence outside their barn some six months earlier.
"You been looking at that Googley thing again?" Jace called out, before rolling out from under the horse float and standing up, to take in what he called her ‘twelve going on twenty-five year old’ face.
Imogen rolled her eyes "It's called Google Dad, jeez how old are you?" she teased, jabbing him in the side with her elbow.
Jace laughed and ruffled his daughter’s hair "Well make sure you wear your helmet today just in case. You can't always believe what you read on the line."
"Online Dad!" Imogen laughed.
***
Imogen kicked open the tack room door, her arms laden with riding gear, and stumbled towards the stable that currently housed Hamlet, her favourite horse. Hamlet was 16.3hh, and the colour of the aftermath of a good bonfire. His charcoal grey coat was nicely complimented by a mane and tail of jet-black silk, and his fetlocks were a smoky, off-white, that looked as though he was standing in the midst of said bonfire remains after they’d gone cold.
Hamlet whickered and pawed at the stable door impatiently as she approached. Imogen smiled, she had always loved his unusual smoky appearance. It matched his outwardly grumpy, secretly a big softy, personality perfectly. She slid back the stable door latch with her elbow and squeezed through the gap awkwardly, laughing as Hamlet nudged at her pockets, and when that had no effect, her back.
Imogen flung the old stock saddle over the stable door, and rubbed the ever-impatient Hamlet’s nose with her now free hand. It was just like velvet, much like the body of one of her favourite animals, the Koala. Somehow, today, the thought of a cuddly Koala didn’t make her feel all warm and fuzzy as it usually would… it made her feel anxious. It made her think of Drop Bears!