Night out at the Cave

It was 10.00pm as the eighteen year olds, gathered in Green Wood. Whispering to each other in excitement, they had heard the stories and they wanted to see it for themselves. Meeting under the guise of a sleepover their parents thought they were at Ben’s house. Ben’s parents thought that he was at Jason’s. Had their parents known they were lying they would have been worried, instead they were all comfortable playing with their television remotes watching television or debating whether 10.00 was too early to go to bed.

The boys had met at 8.00pm and downed a few pints in the “Black Griffin” in anticipation of the night ahead. With plans discussed and map studied they were really doing this. Were the terrifying stories real?

Armed with their torches with a fluttering sick feeling in their stomachs, Ben now lead them into the moss covered cave. Greeted by a wide stone room with a pungent smell, Harry held up his lantern and they all marvelled at the graphics on the walls. He had plans to be an Archaeologist one day, like his hero ‘Indiana Jones’. Harry knew he would only achieve this by being brave and really studying what he was looking at. Reaching into his bag he pulled out his 35mm lens camera, stood on a ledge and began to take photos.

Missing

Julian stood leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. He wanted to get on, he had no interest in what was written on the walls, he wanted to see ancient remains, not hieroglyphics.

As the boys started calling to one another there was a scream from Noel. Harry looked around, the fluttering feeling now compounded. His friends had vanished, what was going on? Shining his lantern around the room it was empty but he could smell something stale and nauseating. Boys don’t just vanish, but they had, feeling a familiar pain in his stomach he started to vomit. He needed to get out of here. Holding his camera, torch and lantern tightly, he ran from the cave. Knowing he needed to tell his parents, he would have to deal with the repercussions.

Harry’s parents

Having decided to take an early night, Sheila Wren was confused when she was woken by a dirty looking Harry with tears streaming down his face.
“Mum they are gone, all gone.”
“Whose gone? Sleep Harry.”
“Noel, Ben and Julian, they vanished.”

Bill Wren roused from sleep now sat up in bed.
“Harry, I thought you were at Ben’s, what the heck is going on?”

“Dad they vanished, errr we were in the Green Wood cave. Sorry but we needed to see it,”
“Harry you’ve heard the stories, people get taken. They don’t come back.”
“Yes, and now it’s taken my friends.”
“Right I’m awake now, downstairs come on, let your mum rest.”
“Don’t be daft Bill, I’m awake, we need to tell the boys parents.
“Dad, I was photographing hieroglyphics when everyone vanished.”
“Okay we need to put the memory card into the lap top and we really should phone the police.”
“What can the police do Bill? They were in a cave at night and vanished. I’m phoning the other parents and I don’t care that it’s midnight”.

The parents

An hour later, Harry found himself surrounded by parents, as he sat on the laptop studying his photos, trying to understand the hieroglyphics. He still hadn’t been to sleep but his mum had told him it was his own fault for lying and going somewhere so dangerous.

The hero of the party was Bob Fryer, Noel’s dad. Joining Harry with his own laptop working out the ancient text on the photographs, he cried out,
“I’ve got it, I know where the children are, who’s coming?”
“Coming where?”
“The cave, come on.”
“Come on Harry, you come with me.”

Harry in a daze, followed Bob out of the kitchen. Feeling that he had failed he was intrigued to know what the plan was.
Putting the car into gear, Bob now said,
“Harry, before they vanished, Julian was leaning against the wall. The text above it suggested there was a lever near there.”
“A lever?”
“Yes, and before you ask, I do have an interest in ancient text, so I had a head start on your photographs. Where were you standing when everyone vanished?”
“I was on a ledge and focusing the camera on the walls. Noel scared me when he screamed”.
“And you really didn’t see where they went?”
“No, it all happened so fast.”

Bob’s theory

“Right, all this will make sense when we get there. I’m wondering who else we might find.”
“Someone else?”
“I’m sure you have heard the stories. That’s why you were there right?”
“People going missing, yes we proved that.”
“Yes, but Harry you took photos. You had the answer to the caves mystery. I’m not sure why it hasn’t been investigated before. You and the boys have made a discovery tonight, this is incredible”.
Harry sat listening to Bob’s excitement, hoping that he was right.

It was ten minutes later that they all arrived at the car park and they all climbed out of their cars. Harry’s dad, Bill now walked over.
“So, what have you worked out Bob, where are the boys?”
“They are in the cave.”
“Where? How?”
“Come and see.”

Following Bob to the cave they let him take charge. On entering, Bob said,
“All of you need to stand in the doorway.”
The parents stepped back all desperate to see the boys safe and well.

The cave floor

They watched as Bob walked across the cave and stepped on the ledge going around the cave wall. Now checking the parents were still in the doorway, he pushed a stone on the wall.

The other parents watched shocked as the floor appeared to disappear. Bob held the stone in to prevent it reappearing. There were now cries as the lads realised they were free. With them were six confused tourists and evidence of previous explorers of the cave. Now just piles of bones.
“I don’t believe it.” Julian’s mum was crying,
Ben and Julian’s dad helped to pull everyone out.
The tourists were grateful and stunned that they had been found and now helped.

On leaving the cave, Bob phoned the police station. Explaining what they had learnt, the tourists found, and the remains under the cave floor. It wasn’t long before the police and Archaeologists descended on the cave and it’s tunnels under the vanishing floor.

The caves mysteries should have been researched years ago but the stories had been dismissed as folklore.  Stories of strange wailing, stories that said if you go in, you won’t  come out.  The lad’s curiosity had caused it now to be investigated properly. The true story of the ‘Green Wood Caves’ had now been discovered and the boys night out would not be forgotten.

Written for Write the story on Writers Unite

For more see – Evie and the violin folk – written for write the story

Ruby

It was Friday, time for the weekend to spend time with my best friend and relax. The events of the last few months had caused heartache and stress. Mark’s friend had now been charged with the theft of ‘Baby Blue’ and tonight Freda and me are once again performing in the pub.

Life at the Red Lion pub has changed. Rosie had baby James, and father Freddie, is now wanting to spend time with them. It had been a rocky time for Rosie and on reflection I knew I should have made more time for her. Living between here and the New Forest I had neglected others that I once would have supported.

It’s at times like this that the reality of life hits me. I’m not seeing Mark this weekend so I have time alone with Freda. Time for just her and me. Taking Rex for a walk through the woods, chatting and kicking the leaves, I feel a sense of freedom. The sun casts shadows on the woodland floor as Freda rambles on about her musical aspirations. Sensing her sadness, I try to listen. A deep-set loneliness, has meant she is putting more energy into her writing.

Freda is talented, I can sing but she can write. Beautiful words that make audiences sit up and want to listen. Her sadness though has started to show and I’m now wondering how to help her. I’m her best friend but I’m realising I’ve neglected her these last few months. She lives alone with Rex, nights of having no one to talk to when I have been busy with Mark.

Watching her now I can see the beautiful woman she always has been. Brown hair tied back in a pony tail holding on tightly to the lead as her Labrador pulls her along. Grabbing her arm now, I urge her to stop. I needed her to talk to me about something more than her music, and dreams of performing at the Albert Hall. I needed to know what else was happening.

Freda

It has been many months since I was found unconscious by Ruby. The counselling didn’t help as I felt that she was talking down to me. Ruby and my music are my support but I haven’t spoken about my feelings in a long time and Ruby hasn’t asked. It’s as if she met Mark and I then took a back seat. They have always tried to involve me but things between us just aren’t the same. Walking with her now I can see she’s missing him. It’s him she wants to be with not me and Rex. I’m stunned now as she grabs me and asks me to stop.

“What?” Frustrated, I look at her. I see my friend and I can see that something is not right. Feeling deflated, I feel a pain in the bottom of my stomach.
“Come on Freda, let’s sit down, there’s a bench over here, we need to talk.”
“We are talking.” I just want to keep walking. I hadn’t noticed that we had reached the woodland picnic area until now. She touched both my arms as if she was about to hug me.
“Come on, sit down.” Reaching into her bag, Ruby produced two bottles of Coca Cola. She was always the organised one, and liked to be prepared.
“Okay, what’s up?” I asked, opening my drink.

“Walking and listening to you, I’ve realised something.”
“What?”
“Freda, I am so sorry. I do love you, you know that don’t you. You are my best friend and always will be.”
“What about Mark?”
“That’s a different sort of love. Come on there’s always been Ruby and her best friend Freda, and there always will be. I’ve realised that I’ve neglected you and I haven’t been there for you. I’ve been so preoccupied with me and Mark that I haven’t made time for us.”

Freda’s feelings

I sipped the warm coke, feeling the bubbles going down my throat. What could I say? She had neglected me and I had felt lonely for months.  However, I couldn’t expect her to put her life on hold for me.
“Ruby, life moves on and you have Mark. We can’t stay in just a Ruby and Freda bubble forever. You don’t want to be an old spinster do you? So please don’t feel guilty. You need to live your life.”
“Okay, Freda, so what is happening with you, really?”
“Nothing, I’m just playing my keyboard and writing music, I’m busy”.

I could feel my unhappiness tumbling out but I didn’t want to tell Ruby. I need to be strong. She won’t always be there for me, especially if she moves to the New Forest. What sort of friend would I be if I give Ruby any reason to give up on Mark and their future.

“I can see and hear that you are not happy. What can I do to help you? I’m your friend, what can I do?”
I wanted to scream at her, to stop her leaving me. I could feel the tears trying to get out. Fears that I didn’t want Ruby to know about. Fears that I had tried my best to bury. I knew that Mark made her happy, I couldn’t stand in her way, but then I said it anyway, word vomit, it just fell out.

“I’m scared Ruby. I’m scared you will move away for good, marry Mark and have babies. Right now, the only thing not leaving me is my music. I can depend on that, when Mark’s friends aren’t stealing it. I know it won’t leave me, but I know you will. We will no longer play music at the Red Lion. You have changed Ruby. I’m sorry but you have. I love you too and I’m worried and scared, I need you”.

Ruby

I stared at her. That was it, I really had hurt her. I could completely see how and why. Moving to the New Forest was not in my future plans. I was hoping if things did get that serious that he would move in with me, not me with him. I had no intentions of leaving Freda despite the amount of weekends that I had spent away from her.

We sat in silence both drinking our drinks and I now reached into my bag for tissues. Tears were flowing freely down her face. I didn’t like to mention her ex-boyfriend Chris, who had hurt her so badly. Neither enter into a conversation about finding the right man for her. This wasn’t the right time, but it had never been the right time. Mark had mentioned setting her up with his mate but I had said no she is too fragile and not ready.

Was she ready? Looking at her now. I saw a lonely woman, someone who needed someone special. For a long time, I had been her someone but I now needed to think of Mark as well. As much as I want to be there for Freda, I know I can’t always do it. Life changes and priorities change. She has always been a priority but Mark was a priority now too.

“Freda, I’m not going anywhere. I have no plans to move to the New Forest. Also, I don’t see you alone forever. You will find someone special and maybe have a family.”
“Don’t be daft, who is going to want me? I will be the old lady with her dogs one day.” She looked down and stroked Rex’s head. He looked up at her as if knowing she was sad.
“You are an attractive woman, you will find someone”.
“After Chris I don’t want anyone. I couldn’t stand getting hurt again.”

Freda and Rosie

“We will discuss it again when you are ready. , I’m going nowhere apart from the Red Lion in a couple of hours with you. I also need to talk to Rosie and check her, Freddie and James are okay. She is someone else I’ve neglected.”

“She’s alright, Rosie has had her problems but she is making the most of being a good mum. Freddie has done a lot of growing up”.
I was surprised, “I didn’t know you had been in the pub.”

“Rosie messages me, I gave her my number months ago as I could see she needed to talk and you were busy.”
“Wow, okay, I didn’t know that.” I was stunned, I felt on the outside now. What did I expect? I had focused so much attention on Mark, why shouldn’t Freda look out for Rosie?

The daylight was now fading and the trees were no longer casting their shadows,

“We will talk again later, come on finish your drink we need to get out of this wood.”

As Freda stood up, I walked around to her side of the table. Stretching out my arms I gave her a hug. Feeling her warmth against me, I knew that I needed to talk to Mark. Balancing the two of the most important people in my life is not going to be easy but I need to do it.

Written for Grammys Grid first sentence – It was Friday, time for the weekend

For more see, A secret music and retribution – part 9. This is part 10.