A Deceitful Find
Vikki came upon a massive cave having followed a map she received in a mysterious package she got from a trooper back in the army base. Thinking back at what happened on the base made her very eager follow the map she had gained for she was furious at both her father and the one she called her love.
Hours ago, she was in big heap of trouble with her father, the Colonel of the military base. He had just been informed by a certain soldier that was not only top man but was also the very one his daughter was infatuated over, and he too was for her. The Colonel allowed the companionship due to the heroics of the soldier and that he did not allow the relationship to come between his duty when it matter.
Vikki was the star reporter for the News bureau that kept all citizens informed of all military action. However, she barely had reported anything in the past few months ever since the army had won the recent war against a terrible enemy and having captured and imprisoned their leader there was hardly any news at all.
All the reporter could do was go to military outposts and report on progress at rebuilding nothing that truly anyone needed to hear as everything was peaceful now. A New age that at one time no one would have believed possible. Vikki had played many key roles in the last war though some of those roles put her in great danger.
She had been captured a couple of times but each time she managed to charm and use her resourceful ways to gain information of their enemies plans which she then shared with the soldier she loved whom everyone knew as, Sarge.
Thanks to her and her lover's efforts the enemy was defeated after many years and now times were peaceful. But a peaceful time meant great boredom as there was nothing that could make her career. Nothing was satisfying anymore only bleak reports of rebuilding and going over war stories with veterans. She wanted something great that would once again leave people glued to their chairs to see what is going on in the known world.
Even their enemies defeated there were still dangers in outer world. Portals that lead to a world that all the people seem microscopic when they pass through into that world. It seemed almost no different than the world of their own, but everything was tall as mountains. That world offered endless potential for resources and unfortunately it was their enemies that exploited that world for weapons of mass destruction that nearly was the end of their nation.
Now that their enemies were defeated, they could rebuild again, and the outer world had plenty of raw materials and resources to gather to help with the efforts, but that world was a great danger to anyone that stepped into. Vikki having heard that, Sarge was trouble in it she quickly went to his rescue helping him escape from being pinned by the natives that lived in that and helped secure valuable resources that were needed.
She also went due to her great boredom. Such an adventure would be the biggest highlight she had in months and would finally have something worth to report on. Numerous pictures she took with her camera could make the front page.
However, when she returned to the base with, Sarge she was immediately called into, the Colonel's office. Her father greatly reprimanded on her defying his wish's stepping onto the front lines of a major battle she could have killed for all he knew when he discovered she wasn't around and on the radio reports unknown to, Vikki it was, Sarge told his superior who had assisted him unexpectedly not knowing that she was around during the confrontation. Her help was invaluable, but he could not keep a secret from the man that at a rank far higher than and that he answered to directly.
For that, the Colonel had grounded, Vikki to the base till further notice to her great frustration and her anger only grew higher when, Sarge entered the room to report on the current situation at hand not knowing she was still there. Vikki accused him of being a snitch and stormed out to the sighing of her father and the worriedness of, Sarge knowing that she was pretty mad with him but it was his duty and he couldn't keep it a secret especially from her father.
As the reporter stomped her way back to her home, she was stopped by a soldier that had a package for her giving it to her before turning around and to carry out other duties at hand. Vikki was surprised to receive such a package for it was rather big. Looking upon it was addressed to her but there was no name of who sent it.
The Package had some weight to it. She shook it a little felt something move inside. Opening the top, she saw what looked like some kind of egg only far bigger than a chicken egg. She put the egg down on the ground near her and found a piece of paper that was in the package. She picked it out and read it aloud.
"The Story of your career awaits you! Follow the map behind this message. Tell no one! Leave now!" She read. "Oh, my! I wonder who could have sent this?" She asked.
She picked back up the egg near her foot placing it back into the box. She then then turned the paper around to see that there was indeed a map behind the message. Thinking about the package she still wondering who could have sent it?
It was rather odd to get something like this from an anonymous sender. She was well known around the military and the civilian populace for her reporting of news. Anyone could have sent it since with times of peace about there was hardly anything interesting to see on the news. Maybe someone had discovered something and wanted the news to report it?
Vikki looked at the map seeing how the marked trail that was lined in red lead away from the military base and even outside the boundaries of the little town. It led through the woods all the up to what looks to be an area deep with the forest. If she walked it would be maybe a couple of hours. But is he could take something with wheels and some speed it would be far less.
The Reporter was in desperate need to get something that would make headlines again and given to the fact that the man she loved told her father of her actions which made her get grounded upon the base she wanted to be as far away as possible from both him and her father. Once she finds whatever the source was providing it could make her career and her father would have to disregard the grounding as she would be needed to report the story.
She took the package back to her home upon the army base taking only the map with her before heading out to the motor pool to find something that can be spared for her to use. Being the top reporter for the news and, the Colonel's daughter she could easily get what she wanted from officer in charge. She was commissioned an ATV for her use if she returns it when she comes back. Giving the officer her word, she flipped on the four-wheeler and headed out to where the map lead to quickly leaving the confines of the base before her, Father would realize she was gone again.
Passing through the town outside the base she proceeded off road following the map that lead to the woods a few miles away. She took a small trail that led to forest stopping at the edge to get her bearings on her location.
The Map showed that she had to go through the forest that was very thick that the ATV she borrowed would have a hard time getting through. She parked it just inside the woods and covered it with some tall heavily leafed branches to prevent anyone from seeing it and possibly take it. Even without the key one could not take a chance. It would be far more upsetting if she lost her only transportation back to base and would have to walk the whole way back.
With a compass in hand, Vikki tried her absolute best to walk through the thick foliage of the forest. It was surprising as in the war that rampaged across the world for years on end it was surprising this forest was not touched. There was nothing in it that showed that suffered ravages of warfare. No destroyed trees from fires or bombs. No remnants of anything military and not even a bullet casing as she stepped through the woods trying her best not go into a circle.
The ATV she used got her to the forests edge in three quarters of the time it would have taken her to walk but the woods themselves were making her take a lot of time. Sometimes he would have to jimmy her long green hair out of a hanging branch. She had step over toppled logs and sometime she would take a moment to take a picture with her camera spotting some deer in the distance that walked by and hardly took notice of the young woman as her green attire camouflaged despite her midsection being shown.
It was heartwarming to see some forest life. Back in the war nothing seemed to escape the enemy war machine but here it looked like this forest did. Just a place she needed to clear her mind and maybe find what she is looking for. The Map continued to lead her through the woods as she stopped every twenty minutes to get the grid location down. Having been taught many traits being the daughter of a high-ranking military official, Vikki got land navigation down easily as a reporter had to always be on scene for the report no matter where it was.
"Hope I find this place soon." Vikki hoped as she stood back up after once more getting position on the map. It showed that she was close, but the note did not say exactly what she was looking for. She had been walking through the woods for almost an hour now. She hoped that it was not some kind of prank. To waste all this time looking for something that was not there and risk her fathers anger even more.
Vikki still followed the trail on the map. Be it a prank or not she was determined to find what was at the end of the trail. At the very least she got some time away from two men she did not want to be around for some time. It was quiet and peaceful out in these parts unlike the base that was always active with helicopters flying over and platoon sergeants and leaders yelling out orders to the lower ranked corporals and privates.
The young woman held onto her camera with her left hand ready to snap a photo the second she would see something worthy of a picture as she held the map in the other hand continuing to follow the trail. If her triangulation of the map was correct, she would be arriving near the spot where the map designated was the end. Entering a clearing she lowered the map to see there was a cave large enough that a tank could fit through it. Right above the entry way there was a carving of a lion's head.
"Wow! How did no one ever see this?" Vikki gasped in awe quickly snapping a couple phones of the stone statues head and the entrance of the cave with her camera. If there is any indication the cave had to hold some secrets if someone crafted the head of an animal on top of the cave, then there must be something of great worth within.
After she took her photo's, Vikki into the mouth of the cave. The tunnel within led on and surprisingly it was light inside. There were cracks in the ceiling within that allowed some light to shine withing. Vikki smiled at that. "Guess I won't be needing a flashlight." She chuckled walking within the lite cave.
She walked with care as this was unknown territory for her. It did not seem anyone had been within it for some time, but she looked at the walls and was shocked to see what was on them. Along walls were lined with paintings and carvings.
"Fascinating!" She beamed taking her camera snapping more photos as the paintings looked ancient. There figures that seemed human all over the long walls. Some figures were gathered around a fire with white dots in the sky. The figures were sitting all but one that showed maybe the one standing was telling a story or passing wisdom at a fire in the night?
Another set of paintings showed figures holding spears and bows. They were shooting at some kind of animal. Vikki laughed at the animal the figures were shooting at. It was a giant two-legged lizard. A dinosaur. T-rex by the look of it. That was impossible as dinosaurs were extinct for millions of years
More and more there were paintings and carvings on the walls as she walked deeper within the cave. Each of them had a story upon them from hunts, to gatherings, to even what seemed to be war against others. Vikki was getting extremely excited as the anonymous sender of the package really came through for her. She wished there was a name on that package for she owes the sender a huge thanks for this discovery was going to make her career for certain.
Vikki had taken dozens of pictures of the many cave paintings on the walls as she wandered deeper into the cave. She heard a faint noise come from the cave she hurried to see what it was. Running through the cave passing many stalagmites and some columns she found the source of the noise. There was a waterfall falling through the top of the cave from an erosion dropping into a tiny river that led deeper within the cave.
Having grown a thirst since leaving the army base, Vikki went over to the pond taking her water bottle out from behind her back and filled it up and took a few drinks of the fresh water before filling the bottle back up and placed it behind her back hooking it on her belt. She splashed some water on her head for the humidity in the cave was rather high.
Taking a quick break, she sat down and looked over the photos on her camera. Already she had so many pictures that it would be enough to send to the editor about there was still much of the cave to explore. She could see more cave paintings on the wall that led farther down the cave. There was no telling how big this cave was but clearly it held some life within it so long ago.
Vikki's curiosity was getting the better of her. Why should she stop? There's still so much to see within. If there was so many of these cave paintings, then what happened to those that made them? There had to be some evidence to why whoever lived within had vanished. The stories the paintings told some seemed a bit far fetched like hunting or being attacked by prehistoric reptiles and lizards while some depicted a civilization of some sort. She wasn't going to stop now. She would leave this cave after she had documented everything, she could possibly find.
Standing back up with more determination, Vikki continued onward into the cave with camera in both hands ready to take next picture of something that will make viewers sit and observe with great eagerness.
The Young Reporter continued through the cave following the river. The Cave paintings were not as frequent as they were when she first entered the cave. The occasional bat flew over her making her cringe in fright for a moment as they tended to drop from the ceiling unexpectedly. She found some more waterfalls that were falling deeper downward in the cave. There many paths that presented themselves that led in many directions.
Vikki stopped to think which pathway she should take as each new cave had potential in them. However, there was one cave that did not have the tiny river flowing into it. That seemed like a good choice for her as water going through a cave meant it would lead out somewhere but with that cave that didn't have the river going into it that meant it lead more inward and that could help lead to more answers on the dwellers that once resided in the cave.
She was glad she decided to go down the tunnel for there were crystals upon the walls. Some grew into large crystals that would make a jeweler have a field day. It was remarkable as she took more pictures. This Cave held so many wonders. How could have anyone ever not discovered this place?
The War could have been one of the main reasons as the world was focused on surviving the horrible ordeal that no one would even think about leaving their homes. Now that everything is being rebuilt there was opportunity to set out and do what could not have been done before.
Vikki continued through the tunnel admiring the crystals on the walls. Some were even growing from the ground. There so big that she had to climb over a few. The Surprises never seemed to cease. She had only a few pictures left to take on her camera before became few. Once so she would no longer be able to document anything.
She sighed disappointingly as the cave still had so much within it to see. "Alright, I make for the end of this part then its time to head back." She told herself. Its already had past a couple of hours from her slow pacing and careful focus on taking her many pictures. She would want to get back to the base before her, Father would call it a day and return home. If she was not there, then she would be in more trouble than she already was in.
Vikki followed the tunnel past a few more crystal pockets on the wall once again hearing a waterfall. The Cave certainly had a good water source in it to support some life within. It made more sense on the cave paintings as those that once lived within had to be there for some time to craft all those hand made carvings and figures on the wall from the caves entrance.
She then came upon the end of the tunnel and what she saw almost made her jaw drop. She found another water fall that filled up a tiny pond but right next to it were two portals. But these portals were far different than all the other portals.
One of the portals aura's was circling in a orange color and the big difference was the portals were standing against the wall with lion head statues in a rectangle fashion like a door while all the other portals were large and round and they seemed to appear in the outer lands all scattered while there two portals here side by side and one of them with orange aura and the other in a blue aura there was possibility they could lead to the other world but why were they different?
"Seems so different than the other portals." Vikki puzzled as she began to take more pictures with what is left on her film. She noticed more cave paintings on the wall all around the portals taking a couple pictures of those. She took a picture of both portals together in one shot and took the last picture of the tiny pond with the waterfall.
Vikki had so many questions running through her mind. What she had discovered her was utterly amazing! Life of a past civilization. Portals that are unique and different. This was the discovery of the century. But with such a discovery there were many questions. So many that she could not ask all of them at once. All she could do was stand and admire the sight.
"So beautiful." She chirped looking at her discovery. One question out of the many that plagued her thoughts. She was given a map to the cave she was in. Someone knew about this place which meant it was not her discovery. But they were willing to send a reporter to come find and document it?
"I wonder who sent that package?" She asked putting down her camera putting a finger to her chin not realizing she was not alone in the cave.
"Oh, don't worry, my sweet. You will find out soon!" A voice cackled when suddenly a rag came over, Vikki's nose and mouth. She was about to make a move, but the rag had something in it, and she was inhaling it the moment it was over the lower part of her face.
Vikki groaned as her eyes grew dreary and her body became weak. A hand grabbed her around the waist she looked behind to see that one attacking her was female with a wide sinister smile on her face. She could not make out who it was as her eyes darkened but knew it wasn't someone she knows as she began to fall forward but was held in place by the mysterious woman.
The reporter couldn't fight it anymore as her body lost the battle and she fell unconscious. The Woman behind her laughed in triumph.
"That was far too easy." She snickered as she picked up, Vikki and carried her over her shoulder. "I was hoping for something more." She said in disappointment as she carried the unconscious, Vikki away leaving behind the camera on the ground leaving the only trace that, Vikki was there and now she was in more trouble than she could have possibly imagine.