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CHAPTER ONE
– Hey, Marta. – I say.
– What? – Marta asks.
– Let's go, into that cave.
– Why; are you bored?
– No. – I chuckle.
– Why in the cave?
– I don't know; why not?
– Yeah, let's go; sounds interesting. – Ben says.
– I don't really feel like going; but if you all go, I'll go too. – Ethan says.
And; did you go into that cave? Not yet. Didn't you say, not to skip anything? (I chuckle) Yes, continue. (She smiles) When we arrived in front of the cave…
– What now; Toma? – Marta asks me.
– Let's go inside, and then we go where the path leads us. – I say.
– I hope, we're not gonna die. – Marta laughs.
Where is the cave? On the sandy beach; in Santa Monica. There is a cave in Santa Monica? There is; when we went into the cave… What's the cave like? I don't know; the usual; from the inside or outside?
– Anyone have a flashlight? The deeper we go; the darker it'll be. – Ben says.
– It will be darker; I didn't realize. – Marta says; sarcastically.
– I have a flashlight, but I don't have it with me. – Ethan says.
– What's it good for, if you don't have it with you? – I say.
When Ethan came back… Wait; what were you doing while you were waiting for him? Nothing special.
– See; it's getting darker and darker; this cave might be some sort of time machine, that accelerates time. – Ben says.
– Not funny. – Marta laughs.
– Just a theory. – Ben answers.
– It's just a cloud that covered the sun; and you're already thinking about time machines. – I say.
The cave went completely dark; at least the part where we were; we weren't right next to the entrance. Why didn't you tell me that? I was about to. What; I have to say everything in order? (I smile) Yes, you have to. (She smiles)
– What the heck? – Marta asks.
– Calm down, we can't see anything either; you haven’t gone blind. – Ben says.
– I am not stupid; what’s going on? – Marta asks.
– Anyone have a phone; to light up the cave? – I ask.
– I, don’t. – Marta and Ben say simultaneously.
– Great. – I say.
– For how long are we going to stay here; in the dark? I don’t even dare to move. – Marta laughs.
– Why is it pitch dark all of a sudden? – I ask.
– I have no idea. – Ben answers.
I heard the footsteps on the pebbles; I assumed that was Ethan. Okay; you really don't have to go into all those details; didn't you say, it was a sandy beach? Yea, it's sandy; there are also rocks around the cave. The cave is not right by the sea; I told you already. Yeah, sorry. Continue.
– Can you hear that? – I ask.
– Someone's coming. – Ben says.
– That's definitely Ethan. – I say.
– I hope so. – Marta says.
How old are you? Twenty-three; you? I'm interviewing you here. (She smiles) Okay. (I smile)
– Here I am! – Ethan says; while entering the cave with the flashlight.
– Our savior! – Ben says.
– Savior. – Ethan chuckles; and continues – Come; you have to see this.
– What? – Marta asks.
When we went outside; we saw a solar eclipse. A total eclipse? Yes. Couldn't see the sun at all? Not at all.
– I can't believe it; why we got scared. – Marta says.
– You, you mean? – Ethan says.
– Shut up. – Marta laughs.
I’ve never seen, an eclipse in real life. Actually; I have; but nowhere near totality. Was that your first time, seeing one? Yes. I’d really love to see, a total eclipse. You can check online, to see when an eclipse is. Who knows, when it’ll happen here; and I don't really have the money, to go to the other side of the world, whenever I feel like it. Maybe, if you really wanted to; you would have the money to go, whenever you feel like it. You think? I’m not sure; what do you think? Actually, now that I think about it; I don’t really care, about the eclipse. (We both Smile)
– I’ve never seen, anything like that before. It’s really, beautiful. – Marta says.
– We’ve got the flashlight; wanna go back in the cave? – Ethan asks.
– Let’s go. – I say.
– I’m in. – Ben says.
– Let’s go. – Marta says; and continues – But I think, we shouldn’t go too deep. We might lose ourselves. We won’t know, the way back.
– Don’t worry; we’ll throw breadcrumbs, like Hansel and Gretel. – I say.
The cave.
– It looks like, this cave has the only path. Meaning, we can’t lose ourselves. – I say.
– You better be right, this is all your idea. – Marta says; with a smile, on her face; while we walk, deeper and deeper into the cave.
– If we lose ourselves; we’re all equally responsible. No one; forced anyone, into this. – Ben says.
– Exactly. – Ethan says.
Little later.
– Where’re we going now? – Marta asks.
– Let’s go back. – Ethan says.
– Yeah, let’s go back. What could be interesting, in the cave? – Marta says.
– I don’t know; we won’t find out, if we give up. – I say.
Little further.
– Is it weird; for lilies to, grow in a cave? – Marta asks.
– That’s; pretty weird. – Ben says.
– Someone; planted them, here? – Marta asks.
– Looks, like it. – I say.
– And; what do we do? – Ethan asks.
– Should we, split up? Someone goes to the passage with the lilies, and someone goes to the other passage? – Ben asks.
– Only Ethan has the flashlight, we can't split up. – Marta chuckles.
– I’m going to call, Aiko. – Ethan says.
– You don't, have to; we can all go, through one passage. – Marta says.
Ethan; takes his smartphone, out of his pocket.
– Hello. – Aiko answers.
– Can you come; in the cave?
– What; cave?
– The one, next to the beach.
– Why?
– Just; come, and bring a flashlight.
– You’re alone?
– No.
– Who else is with you?
– Ben, Toma and Marta.
– Okay, I’ll come.
Ethan; puts his smartphone, in his pocket.
– Why did you go; for the flashlight, if you have a phone? – Ben asks.
– I didn’t have a phone. – Ethan says.
– Oh. – Ben says; looking up.
– What’s the plan for tonight? – Ethan asks.
– Didn’t we already agree; we’re going to Ben’s place, right? – Marta asks.
– I don’t know anything about that. – Ethan says.
– Anyways; we agreed to meet at Ben’s place tonight. – Marta says.
– I; have already, prepared everything; food, drinks; my folks, aren’t here. – Ben says.
Ethan; is exploring the cave, with the flashlight.
– What’s with Aiko; is she coming? – Ben asks.
– I called her yesterday; she said she'll come. – Marta says.
Waiting for Aiko.
– Where are you? I came in; there’s no one here. – Aiko says.
– We are; about a fifteen-minute walk, ahead of you.
– What are you doing, there?
– Nothing much.
The call cuts off.
– I think, we should go back. – Marta says.
– Right now, Ethan is the king of the cave; one wave of his hand, and the darkness, swallows us whole. – Ben says; and then Ethan turns off the light.
– Ethan, turn it on; right now. – Marta chuckles.
– And, Ethan said; let there be light; and there was; light. – Ben says; and then Ethan turns on the light.
– Don’t you dare, turn it off again. – Marta chuckles.
– Hi, guys. – Aiko says.
– So, what’s the plan? – Ethan asks.
– Aiko and I here, you there. – I say.
– Why, you and Aiko, there? – Ben asks.
– Why not; we gotta split somehow, if we're gonna split. – I say.
– Alright. – Ethan says; and then heads down the passage, and Ben follows him.
– Wait; where are we going to meet, when we get out? – Marta asks.
– We’ll meet at Ben’s place tonight; that’s the best way. Maybe, there's a way out nearby; or maybe we hang around a bit longer. – Ethan says.
– Yep; okay. – Marta says; and then follows Ethan and Ben.
The lake.
– Where to now? – Aiko asks.
– The water is warm. – I say.
– It really is. – Aiko says; as the droplets trickle down her hand.
– If we want to keep going, we'll have to cross the lake.
– I think, that’s not a good idea.
– I agree.
With water up to our knees; we cross the lake.
– Can you hear that? – Aiko asks; we stop.
– What?
– A cat.
– A cat?
– Yeah.
– I didn’t hear anything.
Aiko looks left and right; forward an’ backward.
– There she is. – I say.
– Where?
We pet her black fur.
– She is so cute. – Aiko says.
Staring at the wall.
– Looks like, there is no way forward.
– Right.
Suddenly; pitch dark.
– The light went out.
– Maybe, you accidentally pressed something.
– I haven’t, it won't turn on.
Aiko grabs my hand; I ask her, while we're holding hands:
– Did the battery die?
– I don't know; I thought it was fully charged.
I let go of her hand; she does the same. Our hands separate.
– Let’s sit down. – I say; and then we sit down.
– Try turning it back on.
Aiko tries; no lights in sight.
by WalkFair1920