"The Lost Empire IX: The Cave"

“The Cave: A Lost Empire Story”

By Cody Williams

 

1.

            James, Walter, Lenora, and now Cain walked along the path through the forest where they found the tiger. Lenora walked closely to Walter as they followed Cain and James through the forest. Cain looked over his shoulder at the cowering Lenora and rolled his eyes. He looked up to the sky that was now clouded over and stopped. The tiger closed his eyes and inhaled. He could sense that rain was on it’s way.

            “We have to go!” Cain said as he started to run through the forest. James and the others followed not really knowing what was going on.

            “Cain! Halt!” James shouted, but Cain didn’t. He kept running until he noticed a small cave off to the side. Cain motioned his head over towards the cave and began to walk towards it.

            “Where the hell are you going? What the hell is going on?” Lenora demanded of the tiger. Cain ignored her and started to enter the cave. “Wait! You can’t be serious! We’re going in there?” Lenora asked. Cain sighed and turned to her.

            “Yes. We have to get shelter! It’s going to rain!” Cain said.

            “Oh, that’s it. The big kitty doesn’t want to get his fur wet!” Lenora said while mocking Cain. Cain growled and showed his teeth witch shut her up instantly.

            “That’s not it. You’re not from around here are you toots? The rain around here is not like the rain where ever you are from!” Cain explained. “The rain here burns. Burns like the devil’s crotch. One drop will eat through that pretty skin of yours. It’s an acid!” Cain explained. Lenora took a step back but then looked back at Cain.

            “But what if there’s a bear in there? Or worse, a shape shifter?” Lenora asked. Cain smiled and turned his back to her.

            “I’m not going to lie to you sweetheart, it is a possibility!” Cain told her. Cain started into the cave. James and Walter exchanged looks and then followed Cain into the dark cave. Lenora rolled her eyes and stood outside until she heard the sound of thunder from a distance and then she quickly followed behind them.

 

2.

            The cave was dark and somewhat damp. Spiders and other insects creped around in the shadows of the cave as if they were stalking.

            “I can’t see anything!” Lenora complained. She stopped when she saw something from a distance.            “What’s that?” Lenora asked as she pointed further in the cave. It looked like a floating flame. But she soon realized that it wasn’t. They were not alone in the cave. Cain slowly walked towards the man who was sitting at the end of the cave when he realized what the floating flame was. It was from a cigarette lighter. Cain growled, James reached into his scabbard and pulled out his sword, and Walter reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a torch.

            Walter lit the torch and the cave lit up in a bright red color. There were man wearing blue jeans, brown tennis shoes, and a brown t-shirt smoking a cigarette. Cain growled as he slowly approached him. James held out his sword to the man. The man didn’t move.

            “State your business!” James shouted as he slowly approached the man. The was very pale and slender. His hair was a light brown and combed back. He pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and exhaled the smoke.

            “Bachman?” Walter asked with some sense of recognition. Walter walked over to him and stared at him.

            “You know this guy?” Cain asked. Walter nodded his head.

            “Yes. I’ve met him before.” Walter started.

            “What the hell are you doing here Bachman? I thought I got rid of you once and for all!” Walter stated. Bachman laughed and put his cigarette out on a rock beside him. Bachman stood up and looked Walter in the eye.

            “Well, hello there Will-E! It’s been a while!” Bachman said. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his blue jeans and smiled.

            “Not long enough! Last I heard from you is that you were out running around with the man in black!” Walter said.

            “Will-E?” Lenora asked. Walter hung his head.

            “Yeah, that’s what he calls me. It’s my middle name.” Walter said.

            “Where’s your partner in crime? That’s who we really want to get to!” Walter asked Bachman.

            “That gig’s over man. Ever since sacrificed me to a group of vampires!”

            “Have you been vamped?” Walter asked. Bachman smiled and shook his head.

            “No, I was able to get away!” He told him.

            “Are you still a glower?” Walter asked. He smiled again and nodded.

            “Glower?” Cain asked. “He’s a glower?” He asked again.

            “What’s a glower?” James asked.

            “A glower means they have the abilities to see lost things. They also have the ability to make things disappear.” Walter explained. “It’s a great power to have…unless you use that power for evil.” Walter said.

            “Wait, how do you know this man?” James asked Walter.

            “He came from my time and my world. He was hung for being a glower.”

            “But wouldn’t that mean he would be dead?” Cain asked.

            “Yes. But they thought they hung him. What really happened was he used his glowing ability to replace himself…with my father!” Walter said with anger. “When the man in black heard of his ruthlessness, he recruited him to join forces with him. But I guess he soon realized that the man in black works alone.” Bachman smiled.

            “What can I say, I’m sorry about you father? I really am!” Bachman stated. “But I’m a different man now! I use this power for good!” Bachman said. Walter rolled his eyes as if he didn’t believe him.

            “Wait! You said that you could see where things are? Is that right?” Lenora asked him. Bachman nodded. “Do you think you can find my long lost sister? Her name is Wilma!” Lenora asked him. He smiled again.

            “Why sure sweet thing! I can try to locate your sister!” Bachman said. He closed his eyes and sat in silence. His mouth dropped open and alien like green glow came out of his mouth and eyes and then faded away.

            “Did you see her?” Walter asked with disgust.

            ‘Yeah, I saw her. She’s at the Ole Grady’s Farm about a mile up the red dirt road. You might want to hurry! She’s not alone!” Bachman said.

            “Thank you! Thank you!” Lenora said. She turned her back to them and ran to the opening of the cave. She saw that it was no longer raining and then darted out of it.

            “Wait Lenora! How do we know we can trust him?” Walter shouted. She ignored him and continued. Walter exchanged a look of disgust with Bachman and then he, James, and Cain followed. The quest for the Lost Empire continues.

Copyright 2014 by Cody Williams

Courtesy of TRUE TERROR PUBLICATIONS

A division of TTP Entertainment

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Author's Note

The quest for the Lost Empire continues! I have two more installments to follow this coming soon! Stay tuned. Also, I have a Lost Empire reading guide link posted below. I home it helps.

Other Lost Empire stories:
1. The Lost Empire I: The Twister
2. The Lost Empire II: The Man In Black
3. The Lost Empire III: The Road To Avon
4. The Lost Empire IV: The Flea Market
5. The Lost Empire V: The Shapeshifter
6. The Lost Empire VI: Prophecy
7. The Lost Empire VII: Lenora

Stories with connections to The Lost Empire:
-"The Rest Stop"
-"The Happy Place"
-"The Rabbit's Foot" (written with Joe Price)
-"Wilma"

The Lost Empire Series Reading Guide:
http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Cody_Williams/1374137/

-CW

Reviews

[NoelHC]

OK, good thing I went to the guide, as while I was reading this first time I was all "WTF???"" on the tiger.
I can see this has potential as part of a series, but there are errors in spelling and verb tense to work on.

A great concept, a good story, keep it up.

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Noel!

-CW

[Quinn]

Sounds like this could be a really good series, well written

[Stephanie M]

I enjoyed reading this, however I'm not sure that I understand what a "shiner" is.

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Stephanie! A "shiner" is a typo. At first I couldn't decide if I should call him a shiner or a glower. I decided to go with the latter and thought I changed all of them. I fixed it. Thanks again for reading!

-CW