“What does one expect from caves? Normally, that would entail something like bats, guano and insects in narrow passages, that needs to be squeeze through?

But…

That is not what we found on our expedition deeper into the mysterious cave system, the one under that island, the one that has stumped scientists for decades… No, there is something else in these dark passages. Something not to be trifled with.” -Yandré Skai

Prologue:

Hidden dangers of the lost caves

“Is the camera on?” Yandré asked, probing at the little gadget.

His tongue stuck out thoughtfully all the while. But before he could start pressing buttons, a soft hand snatched it from his grasp.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Eria said hurriedly, “I told you to stop messing with the thing.”

He waved a hand at her and said, “I know, but we don’t have time to waste. We’re already supposed to be heading back to the main expedition. They’ll think something happened to us.”

“And whose fault is that?” Eria glared at him and he lifted his shoulders, knowing he was the one in the first place who suggested extending their two-day scouting mission in the caves to three by abseiling down a waterfall.

Yet, his curiosity had revealed a much elaborate cave system than the one they were set to explore and study with the expedition team. His sense of adventure had demanded that they check it out before the rest came.

With little effort, Yandré rearranged his climbing gear and swung his rucksack back onto his shoulders. He still couldn’t believe these caves were big enough to take a small tent with you. It was unlike any other cave he had ever explored. That was truer in more than one way.

The caves didn’t have a single bat in them! No guano either. Yandré was still all smiles about that strange fact, earning him a surprising slap from Eria Taylin, his friend and fellow cave exploring companion of the last three years.

“What did I do?” He exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder.

“Never mind,” Eria said with exasperation and slipped the video camera into the little holster on the bag next to his neck. “Tell me again why we are not headed back to base?”

Yandré smirked. “You know me, I’m not used to a full out expedition. It still seems so out of place.”

Eria chuckled and said, “I know right. But still...”

“Just a little more!” He said with excitement bubbling inside, “I bet you there is a chamber through the next part... If not, we’ll head back.”

Her dark brown hair touched her shoulders as her head drooped with a sigh.

“I don’t know why I let you get me into these things. But really we need to hurry, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” He said, trying to be serious, but as usual she saw right through him and made a face.

Yet a moment later, she smiled and took the lead around the bend into the cave. Yandré beamed. This cave was by far the best he has ever explored, not only because there were no bats, which was like striking gold, but there were far fewer areas where it was necessary to crawl through, making it so much easier to make proper time.

Not that he was scared of crawling through tight spaces. It came with the profession. Spelunking wasn’t for the faint of heart.

Yet the real excitement of this cave was that after going down that waterfall they had found crystals! Small shards of blue crystal lay strewn about on the ground, though not in large numbers.

But if his hunch was right and this really was a crystal cave in the truest sense, then it’d be his first one ever. And to top it off, unlike the other natural crystal caves around the world, this one wasn’t an oven!

He glanced at his digital watch. A cool twenty-five degrees C, and good airflow from the cracks and tiny shoots to boot.

Perfect.

Up ahead, around the bend, Eria’s face popped back and she said, “You know, I still can’t believe we are the first to explore this cave system. It seems unreal.”

“True,” He said, “But then again. Draves Town was only founded thirty years back.”

Yandré followed Eria as she moved off into the dark. Their headlamps and the odd glittering of a shard of crystal was the only light that showed itself in the dark cave.

As they went, smaller passages diverged from the bigger tunnel they were in. But as much as the need to explore them tugged badly at him, it was a certainty that Eria would scold him.

There was just too little time. And it was sure that the main expedition chief would already be planning a rescue or at least a search party. But that couldn’t be helped. This was just too good an opportunity to miss out on. To be the first to find a crystal cavern!

Yandré wiped at the drool that escaped over his lip. He cast a glance about for Eria, hoping she hadn’t seen. No sign of her. A chuckle escaped him. It was just so exciting!

“YANDRE!!” The piercing yell ripped him from his thoughts.

He rushed forward, ready to fight as adrenalin pumped through his veins.

Around the bend, the tunnel opened into a massive cavern. Though his eyes only searched for his companion.

Then, she came into view.

Eria was on her haunches. But as he was about to pluck her back to see the danger, he stopped dead.

On the ground was a two-metre tall skeleton in armour. A sword clutched in its bony hands and small marble like gems scattered in the dirt.

He gaped in awe.

This was more than he ever expected to find in the caves under Breakwater Isle.

He dropped down to his haunches next to Eria who was clearly as shocked as he was.

After what felt like minutes, Eria finally said, “This is remarkable. We have to document this. Correct me if I’m wrong, but... isn’t this the first hint of remains of that ancient civilizion to be found on Breakwater Isle? HA! Those Cresties are going to be scarlet behind their ears if they find out we found them first!”

Yandré could only stare at Eria with her triumphant smile, but after a second he started chuckling just thinking about her statement. The people at Lamb’s Crest had been meticulously combing through the Ruins in the cliffs for months, even years maybe, and yet no sign of the occupants was found so far. It was a running mystery which led to the birth of countless theories on why the occupants of Breakwater Isle disappeared. Though most of those were like all theories, they were just theories. The fact that Breakwater Isle just appeared one day —no earthquake, nothing— was already enough to amply confuse the scientific community. The discovered ruins and then the missing civilization just confused them so much more.

And yet now there was a skeleton right on the ground!

The stories it would generate! Yandré smiled.

Not saying anything, he pointed the video camera at the scene. His mind still felt fuzzy, but it was a good fuzzy.

Without being able to help himself, he picked up the sword.

To his surprise, the blade weighed as much as a big knife, yet it was the length of his arm. “Strange,” He said, as he swung the blade.

“What’s strange?” Eria queried with an inquisitive look.

“I expected it to be much heavier.”

Eria just shook her head. “You know,” She said, “You’re not supposed to pick up something like that. Any archaeologist would freak seeing you do that. Well, at least without the proper documentation, it's like throwing money into the sea. You just don't do it.”

Yandré shrugged but didn’t drop the weapon. “It’s not a crime scene. And besides, I got it properly on video.”

He was certain Eria wasn’t bothered by it in the least. She wasn’t the type of person who got worked up over small details.

But then Eria got a worried look on her face, her eyes trained on the skeleton. So much so, that he almost apologised to her and started to return the sword to its proper place.

But then she said, “Talking about crime scenes, it looks like this person died by something other than nature or another person. Look.”

Yandré looked where she pointed, and on the right side of his armour, there were four big gashes that had gone straight through the metal armour. The ribs inside were smashed.

It was claw marks.

Each of the individual marks was as big as three of his fingers next to each other. Not even bears had claws close that size. What could have possibly made it...

Suddenly the cave didn’t feel as safe anymore. He looked around and finally realised that they were in a large football size cavern.

What was more surprising, even in the dark, when his headlamp passed over it, there was plant life, bushes and small trees and crystal veins everywhere.

This was alien. There was no hint of a place where sunlight got in. How did the plant life survive in this dark place?

It only added to the dread that was forming in the pit of his stomach.

Even in the darkest and narrowest of caves he had explored, had never left him scared. But this mysterious cave system was getting to him.

He was about to tell Eria that maybe they should go back to the forward base at the cave entrance.

But he spotted her flashlight disappearing into one of the side passages.

He almost ran after her, to try and stop her, but ultimately kept his nerves under control.

With a trot he swept around the corner, only to be met by sunlight piercing the dark. It was another cavern. Though smaller, it was open and looked out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Eria was gulping down deep breaths standing at the edge.

Yandré approached her. And placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Eria? You okay?”

She nodded, but a frown remained on her delicate face.

Finally, she said, “I guess I wasn’t quite ready for that. It scared me to think what could have done that.”

“Yeah... me too,” Yandré agreed sombrely.

He stood silently next to her looking out over the sea. The fresh air revitalized his body. The slight tinge of fear, however, only ebbed a little.

After a few minutes, he paused and realised he still had the sword in his hand. The thing was comfortable!

Let’s lighten the mood.

He trotted a few metres back and dismounted the camera from his rucksack and pulled out the little tripod and mounted the gadget on it. Eria was better at making more advanced adjustments on the cameras, but he knew enough to get mostly what he wanted out of it.

He ran over to pose with Eria, grabbing her shoulders and spun her around.

“Say cheese!” He said loudly.

The woman gasped and stared frantically about for the location of the camera, before smiling with haste. Yandré grinned and turned to look at the small object.

The camera flashed for the first photo and he brandished the sword.

“Wait for it. The next few are coming. Pull a face!”

Eria giggled next to him as they posed again

But before he could turn to see, Eria screamed.

A hint of silver caught his eye before something ripped at him. His vision burst into thousands of colours and swirled into utter chaos...

The last thing heard was Eria terrified wails...

© Omri Hope 2016. All Rights Reserved.