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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: EERIE (07/28/16)
I shouldn’t have been there alone. The first rule in spelunking is to always go with a partner. You never know what might happen, and it’s entirely possible you’ll need someone to bail you out from a tight situation. As it turned out, I shouldn’t have been there at all; then I wouldn’t have gotten myself into the painful predicament I did.

On a previous hike I’d discovered the cave. Because I didn’t have the time to explore it more than in a rudimentary way, I resolved to come back. On the appointed day my buddy Zeke had an unexpected emergency and I was faced with waiting or going it alone. In my zeal I chose the latter.

The first time at the cave I’d seen it led back and down in a sleep decline. Quickly I went deep within the earth. The miner’s light I wore on my head kept my hands free. As backup I kept an emergency flashlight and batteries.

Spelunkers are weird people; we enjoy strange, sometimes frightening diversions. My particular favorite was dousing my light and experiencing total blackness. The stygian effect always sent shivers up my spine. What would happen if I were lost and had no light? Most people didn’t go in for such creepy thrills.

Far into my exploration in the bowels of the cave I turned off my headlamp expecting the overwhelming darkness. To my surprise another light shone ahead. It had the quality of flickering flame, and its presence flabbergasted me.

The chill of the depths turned warm, then hot as I neared the source. A narrow crevice had opened in the rock and fire leapt from it. I was peering at it in wonder when something flashed up and out of the hole. In the next instant a flying object knocked my headgear off, and I felt a terrible stinging sensation in my neck.

I swatted at the thing clinging to me and knocked it to the ground. Horrified at the apparition I saw in the unearthly glow, I grabbed a stone and threw it. With luck the stone hit its mark. My neck was killing me but I couldn’t believe my eyes and knew I had to capture what I’d just struck. In my backpack I kept a small, heavy canvas bag; without another thought I scooped the tiny creature into the sack.

By this time I’d begun feeling woozy and knew I had to get out of the cave. I spent a terrible three hours fighting the incline, the pain in my neck, and the desire to lie down and die.

I blinked in the welcome sunlight and staggered through the forest to my car. When I reached a place with cell coverage I called Zeke. He was finally free and agreed to meet me at my apartment.

Steering the car was an adventure in driving intoxicated while not having drunk anything. I weaved all over the road and was lucky to make it back not be stopped by police.

In my kitchen I revealed to Zeke the bag with my surprise. Movement came from inside. It scared me and before I could catch myself I took a frying pan and clobbered my little guest. It stopped struggling, and I gingerly dumped it onto the table.

“What the…?” Zeke’s eyes practically bulged from their sockets. Mine were probably doing the same.

The creature before us was entirely alien. It was reddish and had the general shape of a horse, with its head slightly human while wearing what appeared to be a yellowish crown. Long strands of hair fell from its head. The sharp pointed teeth could likely puncture and rip like those of a lion. Wings sprouted from its back and hard scales covered its chest. When my examination reached its tail I knew the source of my misery. A stinger at its very tip glistened with moisture. I rubbed my neck, sure that it had gotten me.

“Do you think it’s a fairy?” This didn’t seem right, but I didn’t have any other ideas.

Zeke scrunched up his face. “I don’t like what I’m thinking.” I felt the apprehension in his voice. “You know I read the Bible. This week I started Revelation. You ever hear of Apollyon?”

The Bible wasn’t my thing. His reference meant nothing to me.

“Let’s just say you’re going to be mighty uncomfortable the next five months.”

The torment I felt almost convinced me. The following months made me reassess.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Catrina Bradley
08/07/16
I absolutely love this story! You captured me with spelunking and the MC going going in alone despite the danger. You need to work on your sentence structure and punctuation - the mechanics of writing, but you have a real gift for telling a story. The pacing and suspense is great,and your ending is fabulous.
Tracy Nunes 
08/12/16
I love that you used what is truly eerie - hell with wings. A great tale spun well. Too bad that the point of the story is so true and that so many will suffer for turning away from the Savior. Congratulations!
Kon Michailidis
08/15/16
And the miscreants think we Bible bashers are the pain in the neck! thank you for a great story that was both speleologically and theologically sound. I loved the suspense, the ending was one right out of the bag. Congratulations on the EC placing.
Bea Edwards 
08/27/16
How curious an apparition.

It never occurred to me that demons might be mini size.