CHAPTER 2
"Maybe I can help."
Challenger quickly turned and spun in a complete circle trying to find the source of the voice. "Who said that?" He used his torch to illuminate his surroundings but was still met with nothing. "I was sure I heard—"
He felt a tugging on his pant leg and looked down. He saw a small girl barely reaching past his knees who could have been no more than 4 years old smiling brightly at him.
"Good gracious, child! Are you all right? Are you hurt?"As he knelt down and brought the torch closer he saw that the girl had dark hair but her eyes shone a deep and bright blue. As he stared into her eyes, he got the impression that those eyes knew and saw all. He made an exam, as simple as one he could make in a cave, and saw the girl was not injured.
The little girl giggled and started skipping in a circle around Challenger. He stood up and spun around trying to keep up with her. "Do your parents know where you are? They must be worried about you. Why were you--are you listening to me?" Challenger reached out to her shoulders to stop her before she made him dizzy. "My dear, I am sure you think that this cave is a wonderful place to play but it is very dangerous. Do you understand me?" The girl looked up blankly at Challenger then smiled again and nodded. Challenger sighed but couldn't help at smiling in response to the child's enthusiastic personality. "Well, it looks like you are another reason for trying to find a way out of here. Come along now." He grabbed the girl's hand and proceeded to lead the way down the tunnel.
He looked down at the girl and decided that she was too young to be burdened with the truth of how dire their situation was at the moment. He silently promised himself he would do whatever he needed to find a way out but keep the girl in good spirits. Challenger smiled at the child and realized he still hadn't asked her for her name. "Now my dear, I do not believe we have been introduced." He cleared his throat and in the voice he reserved for talking to those he usually lectured to he said, "My name is Professor George Edward Challenger, leader of the University of Edinburgh, member of the London Zoological Society, and leader of the Challenger Expedition at your service, milady." He bowed and was delighted when he saw that he succeeded in making the child smile and laugh.
"And how about you, child? Do you have a name?" The child smiled and nodded her head up and down. "Would you like to share it with me?" The girl giggled and shook her head. "Are we going to play a game? A guessing game perhaps?" The girl jumped up and down and nodded again.
She wasn't a child of many words He grasped her hand again and continued walking. "Ok, let's see….Mary?" The girl shook her head. "Katherine?" She shook her head again. "Jessica?" The girl laughed. "That's a 'no' I take it. Well, while I'm thinking of more names, maybe you can help me with something." The girl looked up at Challenger. "Right before you appeared, I heard a voice. It said 'Maybe I can help.' Was that you?"
Challenger looked down at the girl and saw her staring up at his face blankly. She didn't answer but smiled and started swinging Challenger's arm back and forth while giggling. Every time he was in such close proximity to children he felt the same way. He felt the same pain and wondered what could have been. Of course, he would always banish the pain and explain it logically. There was just no way for a man of science to juggle his academic pursuits and a family as well. He always believed he had made the right choice. But as he stared at the delightful child before him, his mind started to wander and dream of the beautiful children he and Jessie might have had. Challenger banished away those thoughts and but the pain remained. He noticed that the little girl had stopped walking and was staring up at him with a grin on her face.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -Maybe I can help."
Acting on pure reflex, Roxton drew one of his Webleys and proceeded down the tunnel with caution. "Who's there? Show yourself!" He moved his torch in the direction of the what sounded like footsteps. Out of the shadows of the passage way, a very beautiful young woman emerged. He judged that she was most likely in her mid-to late-twenties. But the very first thing he noticed was that she was very attractive, any man or woman would say the same. She had long, dark hair with piercing blue eyes that seemed like they could see into your very soul. As he looked her over more closely, Roxton saw her dress was not European but did not seem like those of any native tribes.
He tried to step closer to the woman but she backed up in fear. His confusion didn't last long when he realized his gun was still pointed at her. He looked sheepishly at the woman and put his gun back in its holster. "I'm sorry, but you can never be too careful. I didn't mean to frighten you." She still wasn't assured, "Don't worry I won't hurt you." The woman nodded and slowly came closer to Roxton.
"So, what were you doing in this cave?" asked Roxton.
"I came to this cave to perform a ritual. I was in the middle of my prayers when I heard a loud noise and the walls started to shake. I was scared so I stopped everything and started running for the entrance. That is when I saw you."
Roxton sighed. "Well you don't have to worry about going back to the entrance, it's collapsed. My friends and I got chased in here by an angry T-Rex and she caused the entrance to cave in. We split up and we're hoping that we can search and find a way out through one of these passages. Do you know of another way out?"
The woman nodded her head. "Yes, I believe there is another passage that leads a way out of the cave. My people have been coming to this cave for generations to perform the sacred ritual. I have heard the passage spoken of in some of the tales, but the specific location was never mentioned."
Roxton nodded and smiled. "Well, that's good then, at least we have hope of finding a way out. We might as well search together." She nodded in agreement. "All right then, let's move out."
As they were walking, Roxton started thinking and his curiosity got the better of him. "You mentioned a couple times that you were performing a ritual. Do you mind sharing what it's about?"
"It is the belief of my people that a great spirit lives in this cave. It is said that if you come and pray, and if the spirit thinks you worthy, you might get your wish granted."
Roxton scoffed. "Wish? Like a genie?"
The woman stopped walking and looked at Roxton. "Haven't you ever done something you regretted? Something you wished you could go back and change? Well, I have. I never got to…" The woman turned her face away and Roxton could hear her sniffling.
He felt like an idiot and silently cursed himself for being so blunt. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."
The woman looked back at Roxton. "No, you could not have known, it is not your fault. I did not have the best relationship with my mother. During the last years of her life we fought and I left. She passed away and I never had a chance to tell her I was sorry and how much I loved her. I was hoping that by performing the ritual that the spirit of the cave would grant me my wish."
Roxton patted the young woman's shoulder in a comforting manner. "Well, I hope it all works out for you." The woman nodded her thanks. She glanced at Roxton and saw that he seemed to be lost in thought. "Are you all right?"
Roxton shook himself out of his haze. "What? Yes, I'm fine, just thinking." The woman's words were echoing through his mind.
'Haven't you ever done something you regretted? Something you wished you could go back and change?'
Only everyday of my life. Everyday I wake up and wish I could have gone back and change that day from happening. Everyday I wish I could have saved my brother's life, for that bullet to have only killed the ape and spared William. Roxton sighed out loud. If only such a thing could truly happen.
The woman looked at Roxton. "But my dear Lord Roxton, it can happen."
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Maybe I can help."
Malone stopped walking and surveyed his surroundings. "Who said that? Who's there?"
"I did, young man." Malone looked to his left and saw a old woman hobble out of the shadows of a cave. My goodness! What is a defenseless little old lady doing in a cave? This place is dangerous!
"Here, let me help you." Malone quickly ran over to the woman and helped her sit down. "Ma'am, are you all right?"
The old woman looked up at Malone and smiled. "I am fine. My old bones still creak in the same places so everything is normal."
Malone gave the old woman a sip from his canteen. "What did you mean earlier?"
The woman put the top back on and handed the canteen back to Malone. "When was that, dear?"
"Right before we met. I thought I heard you say, 'Maybe I can help.'"
The woman chuckled. "Not quite, young man. I believe I said, 'Somebody help.' And they say older people have trouble hearing." The old woman laughed again.
Malone smiled. "Well, I must have heard wrong, my mistake." He glanced at the woman and started thinking. "Ma'am, don't take this the wrong way, but what is a woman of your condition doing in this cave? You could have been seriously hurt."
The woman patted Malone's hand. "Oh pish posh, young man. I am perfectly fine. Besides, if I did not come in after Bob, who would have?"
Malone looked confused. "Who's Bob?"
"Why, my cat of course!"
"So you came into a cave all by yourself just to find your cat?"
The woman became angry. "Now listen here, young man. Bob is very important to me and I have to find him, he's my family. The poor thing must be so scared in this cave all by himself. Now get out of my way!"
He felt sorry for the old woman and decided to help her look for her cat. There was no way his conscience would let him walk away and leave her stranded in the cave. As long as he could search for the cat and the exit at the same time, there wouldn't be a problem. After all, how hard could it be to find a cat? "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll help you look for Bob." He helped the woman stand to her feet and they proceeded down the passageway.
The woman glanced sideways at Malone. "Did you know that there's a powerful spirit that lives in this cave?"
Malone turned to face the woman. "Oh really? What kind of spirit?" Malone's curiosity was easily seen in his bright blue eyes.
"Well, the stories in these parts say that the spirit of this cave can change your life if you truly wish it."
"What do you mean 'change your life'?"
The woman smiled. "Regrets, young man. When you have become as old as I have, you will have a long list of things you had wished you had done differently. It has been said, that if you ask the spirit and it hears your wish, that it might use its benevolent powers and grant your wish. Nice story isn't it?"
Malone nodded. "Yes, a nice story." Too bad it's only a story. I already know what I would change.
As if the old woman could read his mind, she turned to Malone. "What would you ask the spirit to change in your life? What's the one thing you have always wished you could have changed?"
Malone blushed. "It's nothing really."
"I see. Nothing, is it?" The woman smiled and started walking again. "Come along, we still have to find Bob."
Malone cleared his throat. "Yes, sorry, let's go." He couldn't believe that his feelings were that transparent, even to a perfect stranger. After all these years, he knew what he'd wish for. Veronica. All of those opportunities he didn't take advantage of to tell her how he felt. One day he'd tell her how much he loved her.
Malone was lost in thought and didn't notice the look that flashed across the old woman's face or he might have reconsidered helping her.
- - - - - - - - - - -"Maybe I can help."
Marguerite pulled out her pistol and turned around. When she turned, she came face to face with a small child. The child smiled and started to approach Marguerite. She kept her gun trained on the child. "Hold it, not a step closer."
The little girl frowned and tears started to well up in her eyes. "Why are you being mean? I just wanted to help you."
Marguerite rolled her eyes. "Do I look like Malone to you? First off, I'm not naïve or stupid, and secondly, I've been on this plateau long enough to know that you're not a little girl."
"I'm not? Tell me, Marguerite, what am I then?"
"I said out with it!" Marguerite waved her gun. "Are you going to curse me or something? Whatever you're going to do, hurry up and get on with it. My day is already full, I have to find the exit to this cave, go find the rest of my friends, and then I can go home and have a nice long shower."
The little girl giggled and clapped her hands. "I knew you wouldn't fall for this."
Marguerite raised an eyebrow. "Great, I win. What's my prize?"
The girl smiled. "Actually, you do get a prize."
Marguerite looked suspiciously at the child. "Oh really? Lucky me."
"Since I'm so generous, I'll let you change one thing from your past."
Marguerite laughed. "And I'm supposed to believe that you can do that? And that if you actually could, which I highly doubt, what's the catch?"
The girl pouted. "I'm hurt, Marguerite. You don't believe that I want to help you?"
"Like I said, I'm not stupid. Well, thanks but no thanks. I'll pass on your offer. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get going. Nice talking with you." Marguerite turned around and started to walk away.
"I don't think so, Marguerite. It doesn't work that way." Marguerite stopped walking and slowly turned back to face the child. "You wanted things to be different! Then so be it! I don't have to wait for you to tell me what you want to change, I already know! You and your friends want changes, then you get changes, can't turn back now!" The girl's face didn't look innocent anymore. When Marguerite looked into her eyes, she could see the fire in them. It was enough to frighten anyone.
"My friends? What did you do!"
"You just worry about yourself, Marguerite! At the end of this, you will see! You will all see!"
Marguerite aimed her pistol and tried to fire, but it was already too late.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -"Maybe I can help."
Veronica unsheathed her knife on pure reflex and was already on guard and waiting for danger. "Show yourself!"
She heard the voice again. "I do not think so. I think I'll stay where I am."
Veronica looked around and couldn't find the source of the voice. It seemed genderless and was coming from everywhere but yet nowhere at the same time. "Where are you? Come out!"
The voice laughed as it taunted her. "But, that would spoil my fun, Veronica."
Veronica slowly turned around in a circle still looking for the person who belonged to the voice. "How do you know my name? What do you want?"
"I know everything, Veronica. That's one of the reasons that I came to you this way. I knew you would not make the same mistakes as your friends did." The ominous voice echoed throughout the tunnel.
Veronica was becoming angry but all she could do was shout in frustration at the cave walls. "What do you mean! What have you done with my friends!"
She was met with silence.
"Answer me, damn it!" Veronica's grip on her knife tightened but she knew she couldn't use it. That only fueled her anger. "What have you done!"
TBC
A/N: Chapter 3 coming in a few days! Drop me a line if you can :)