Some Very Long Time

Who or what I was chasing escapes me now. It has been some very long time. But why? I can assume only one reason why, revenge! Exactly why? What purpose was my revenge to serve? Well, that hardly matters. As I said, it has been some very long time and I have exacted far too many tolls to be bogged down in the details.

----

The mist swirled in goat-horn spirals in reaction to movement. The cave walls were wet in some places, dry in others and vegetation pried through cracks, softening the abrasiveness. In stillness I stood, listening for the irregular pattern of fleeing footsteps, lost and uncertain, chaotically running from me, the pursuer.

But the rain of the forest above seeped ever through the cracks alongside roots and the cave was a dark world awash in the echoes of dripping water as it splashed into pools, off boulders, perhaps forming stalagmites. 

My light cast shadows and they stretched out into the cave, waving, inviting, sometimes assuming the form of my prey. Into the deep I journeyed, slow and careful. The air was wet and gritty as if sand were splashed up with the dripping water. My throat hitched as it tried to expel it, to no avail.

In the depths I came across a dead end. I felt in all directions but no opening was there. Indeed the way out was also gone and I found myself slowly spinning, arms groping, finding only an uneven circle of stone surrounding me. With each rotation I felt the circle tighten, closer and closer, and the air filled ever more so with the unpleasant grit as the space tightened.  And in my ears pressure rose, pushed hard into my skull as the available oxygen was pressed into an ever smaller volume. Already I could feel blood flowing from my nose, could feel it warm and wet on my clutching hands, could sense water rising from below.

----

Once, long ago, I had become convinced that I could not die. I realize how that must sound but I swear, not only did I believe it then, I still do now. Wholeheartedly! I believe that I'm immortal, unkillable, possessing some God-like quality that prevents the snuffing of my flame. And I have lived such a life as to test the theory all too many times. Each time I have evaded or survived death, reaping revenge on my conspirators.

Ah, but I have grown too complacent, comfortable. I began to expect survival, not fight for it. I have, as they say, let down my guard, and am presently paying a pretty penny for my hubris. 

I am certainly immortal, unkillable and perhaps that is my greatest weakness now, here. For it turns out that I am not, in any way, uncontainable, and the shrinking volume alongside the thick grit, and water, and blood have found their recipe.

I am trapped, like some specimen, in what could only be called a...

VERY

SLOW

DRYING

CEMENT

----

And I suspect I shall remain so for some very long time.

Reviews

[alanwgraham]

It's great to read something quite original Phillip and you have drawn us expertly in to the world of this man in pursuit. We know nothing about him or who or why he is in chase but the mystery is all part of it. What a great ending. He may think he's immortal but I think he may have enough time to reconsider!
All the best,
Alan

[Phillip W Parsons]

Wow! Thank you Alan! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my story.
I agree, there's something deliciously evil about a vague menace. I see the creature outlasting its prison. Perhaps next October I'll let him pt for Halloween...

[Sami Khalil]

Whoa! I felt the power of this experience and how realistic it was. You have a good way of putting your reader in the action with ease. It is a gripping read. Many good lines to quote. Keep it up sir...

[Phillip W Parsons]

Thank you so much! I loved writing a little horror story with no explanation.

[Sami Khalil]

Yes sir. You are welcome....

[Sami Khalil]

"My light cast shadows and they stretched out into the cave, waving, inviting, sometimes assuming the form of my prey. Into the deep I journeyed, slow and careful. The air was wet and gritty as if sand were splashed up with the dripping water. My throat hitched as it tried to expel it, to no avail."

[Sami Khalil]

"But the rain of the forest above seeped ever through the cracks alongside roots and the cave was a dark world awash in the echoes of dripping water as it splashed into pools, off boulders, perhaps forming stalagmites"

[Sami Khalil]

"The cave walls were wet in some places, dry in others and vegetation pried through cracks, softening the abrasiveness. In stillness I stood, listening for the irregular pattern of fleeing footsteps, lost and uncertain, chaotically running from me, the pursuer."

[Myra Fellows]

Okay. I am stumped. At first I thought this was an insect trapped in a cement mixer. Then you spoke of the light you are emitting. So then I thought Firefly. But fireflies are not predators. Also fireflies do not have noses. Did you end up in a well? No that's not it you walked into it. I really am perplexed.

[Phillip W Parsons]

I wrote a first sentence and went stream of conciousness after that. I see it as a monster who is driven by revenge and can't die but someone has set a trap to imprison it.

[Myra Fellows]

My initial reaction, when I read it the first time (by now you are aware I read things over and over and over...) was:
Disturbing.

[Phillip W Parsons]

I'll call that a success. Thanks for taking so much time with my writing! It's a blessing to have that kind of attention!