A Short Trip Down…
I awoke from a strange, and slightly perturbing dream, but I was unable to remember what it was about. One image was burnt into my brain though. A great eye, staring into my soul, dark and forbidding.
I shook my head, and got up to dress for the day, my roommate stirring as well.
"Mfhg," she groaned. "Abby, what time is it?"
"8:30 girly! Time to get up! It's the start of mid-terms too," I replied cheerfully.
"Omigod! The calculus exam!" Kat jumped out and tripped over herself to cram and change at the same time.
"You didn't shower last night," I gagged as she went by.
"I am so screwed! I don't have time to shower! I have to pass this exam! I have to…"I tuned her out, she would be fine. She did this last semester as well. Got me all wound up to but it was for no reason, she did more than pass with flying colours.
"Let us be off to breakfast" I cut her off, "one step at a time, before you hurt yourself," I teased.
Kat made a face at me, but I ignored her.
"I don't know why I was freaking out," Kat said lightly, "that was a piece of cake."
I rolled my eyes, and waved over our friends to the usual table.
"So? How was it?" Mike asked, attempting to get his long track legs under the table.
"The usual kind of crappy toppings, but the crust was okay…Oh you mean the exam." I ducked his playful punch and sat down with the rest of them.
Amber was talking about our trip to the caves we had planned, "We should have gone last night."
"And Kat would have had a cow this morning during her freak out. So, heck no!" I said. I got another face from her direction. "Two in a day. Geez, I'm on fire!"
"We could have gone without her," Mike laughed. "Oi! Jared!"
His boyfriend walked over, a small frown creasing his forehead.
"Is Lady Gaga not coming to town?" Amber asked in fake sadness.
"Amber, even you, my dear will be saddened by this news. I didn't get the part."
Everyone stopped eating. I looked at Mike pointedly.
"Oh yah. I'm sorry man," he got up and gave Jared a hug.
"It's okay, they gave me a part as an extra. I even get to say some lines," he tried to sound excited.
"You worked super hard for it though!" Kat declared and then gave a death stare at the doors, hoping that the theatre club would be struck by lightning, I supposed.
"They don't need you darling," I said as I held his hand.
"Yah, your just too man enough for all those hipsters," Mike put in.
Amber laughed, "He's not very good at this boyfriend thing, is he?"
"Maybe, but all of you girls will never find out now will you?" Jared smiled and lovingly kissed Mike.
"My eyes! It burns!" Kat and I fake screamed together, and then proceeded to squeal as the pair threw their potatoes at us.
"You should be studying sweetheart,"
I sighed. Ever since I could remember, my aunt had raised me. She told me that I sounded just like my mom. I think that was because she did not enjoy the fact that I inherited my biker dads looks.
"Look, I know all the information back to front. Plus if I study any more my head may explode," I answered into the phone.
"Don't you worry Mrs. P, this is a learning trip!" Amber yelled from the back.
Aunt Lily sighed in defeat. "Just don't get lost, okay?"
"Don't worry. Call you tomorrow. Love you!"
"Love you too," she hung up.
"Perfect timing," Mike said and turned the truck off.
The cave was a short hike up the hill, but we could see it from here. The bats were just flying out for the night. It was so beautiful .
"Do you think they'll be gone when we get up there?" squeaked Kat.
"They are more afraid of you then you are of them," I said gently.
"Says Abby! The great hunter/conservationist of the decade!" Mike proclaimed.
I pushed him as we got set up and grabbed our picnic. We joked and talked as we got ready to make the climb.
"Oh snap!" Jared whined, "I forgot the beer!"
"WHAT?" Amber rounded on him.
"Just kidding" he smiled, "Oh dear," he said as he ran away from her flailing hands.
It was so comical, the rest of us just watched and laughed hysterically as they circled the vehicle.
"Alright kids," I said, coming between them, "let's get moving, shall we?"
It wasn't long before we made it up the hill and Amber was already nursing her first beer. "Now somebody make me a hotdog!"
"Get back in the kitchen woman, and make me a sandwich," Kat snickered back.
It went on like this for a while. We ate, told a story or two, and drank more than enough beer for the five of us.
"Time to explore zecave," Mike slurred
"Should we?" Kat giggled.
"It'll be fun! Come on. Just as long as we stay on the marked path." Jared drunkenly put in. He pointed a finger in the air just for good measure.
One by one, giggling and tripping, we made our way down the cave path. We stumbled around for about twenty minutes, "Watch the guano" and "Don't push me" echoing occasionally.
"I'm going in deeper," I announced.
"That's what she said," Amber grinned, provoking a chuckle from everyone.
I walked down, careful not to slip. I had hardly walked more than ten steps when I heard rumbling.
"Cave in!" Mike yelled.
He was right, just not the cave in we thought it was. The floor beneath my feet buckled and fell away. I heard my friends voices screaming my name. Panic ran through me as I fell and I screamed.
I didn't remember landing, but I remembered Kats voice asking if I could hear her. That was the last time I ever heard her voice.
Then pain blossomed across my body. It went quickly through my legs and back, then I blacked out.