The Maw

“Please, I don’t wanna go…” The little boy whined as he looked down into the mouth of one of the many offshoot tunnels that broke away from the main cave system. Torchlight – it was all they had - flickered and reflected off the tears rolling down the boy’s freckled face as he cried. He was only about six years old, and his face was still round and soft at its edges. He looked once more at the never-ending darkness that spread out before him. It occupied all space that the torchlight could not reach; coiling and twisting like some living creature as the torchlight danced off the wall. It was a menacing sight, like a monster held back by a thin veil of flame.

“Please…” He whimpered again, “I’m scared, there’s something down there...”

There were two other boys with him. The first was a tall and lanky boy of about twelve with a frock of bright red hair and teeth that seemed to push out against his lips giving him an almost chimp-like appearance. The second boy was older, maybe about fifteen. He had broad shoulders and coppered skin that danced against the torchlight. His dark hair was sheared short and close to his head. The copper-skinned boy placed a heavy hand on the crying boy’s shoulder and sighed.

“I know you’re scared, Sam,” the older boy said. “Trust me, we are all scared. But you’re the only one small enough to squeeze through the tunnel. Red and I won’t fit, otherwise we would never ask you to go alone.” He looked into Sam’s tear-filled eyes and felt a pang surge through his chest. He turned his gaze away only to find himself staring at the ever-beckoning darkness of the caves. It was all around them, squeezing in tighter and closer; trying to suffocate them in its black abyss. A shiver ran down his spine and Henry was instantly filled with a sense of dread and claustrophobia.

He hated this place.

This Hell.

“Just get goin’ already. I hate bein’ this far from the Grotto…” Red’s eyes darted back and forth. “…It gives me the heebie jeebies.” He pulled their only headlamp from his backpack and shoved it into Sam’s small hands. Electricity was a precious resource here, and they tried to only use it when necessary. Besides, the effort to crawl through a tight cave with a torch in your hand was extremely difficult, not to mention dangerous and the headlamps made the going easier.

“Please don’t make me go, Henry…” Sam cried as he futilely looked down at the rusted headlamp in his palms. Henry pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, and once again gave a heavy sigh. He looked defeated, hunched over next to small Sam, dwarfing him. All three of the boys were covered in filth and soot, their clothes tattered and worn. Henry couldn’t bring himself to say anything more and, without looking at him, took the headlamp from Sam’s hands and positioned it on the boy’s head, flicking the switch with his finger.

The lightbulb in the headlamp flickered and sputtered for a moment. It made a strange electrical twinge before fully illuminating. None of the boys moved, staying packed together in a tight ball, wondering if perhaps the bulb would go out. They curled almost instinctively away from the dark fingers that itched to reach past their shelter of light.

Sam began to shake and shiver as he turned once more to face the dark tunnel ahead. At its widest point it was probably three feet and only about a foot high. To get through, Sam – who was small for his age – would have to crawl on his belly. This also meant that turning around once he started into the cave would be virtually impossible. Sam took one final look back at Red and Henry with wide pleading, terrified eyes.

“Well git!” Red screeched and kicked the heel of his shoe into the center of Sam’s back. Sam grunted and flew forward a few feet, somehow luckily landing inside the mouth of the tunnel. Groaning in pain, the poor boy began to cry even harder. He heaved air into his lungs over his sobs, causing an awful sound to echo down the chamber eerily. Henry stood and immediately slammed his fist into the side of Red’s face. Using all his force, Henry pushed Red into the slick rock of the cave wall. Red could feel Henry’s taut muscles as the larger boy pressed up against them. Henry’s nose was mere inches from Red’s, and his dark eyes seemed to absorb all light giving, just like the darkness around them.

“Don’t treat him like that,” Henry growled, holding Red by the collar of his shirt. Red flinched and held up his hands. He shook his head and didn’t say a word. Red knew that he would never be able to pick a fight with someone like Henry; he was all muscle and height, standing at least a head or two taller than Red. Red on the other hand had always been a skinny kid. He remembered back before he had come here, how other kids use to bully him; push him around. He hated that he was weak and felt a pit of anger – perhaps it was envy – settle into his stomach. Henry released Red’s collar and turned back to Sam, changing his expression from one of anger to one of encouragement. “It’s alright, we aren’t going anywhere. We will be right here when you get back. Don’t worry, Bud.”

Sam sniffed, and used the back of his dirty hand to wipe the tears from his eyes as best he could. He was shaking and his teeth chattered together as he tried to catch his breath in-between sobs. The tunnel stretched out before him, imposing and seemingly never-ending. The headlamp illuminated a few feet ahead, but all that could be seen was the rock walls wrapping around the deep throat of the tunnel. Henry hunched down to watch as Sam began to belly-crawl away from the main cave system. As he moved further and further into the tunnel, small Sam’s headlamp grew dimmer and dimmer until Henry could not see it anymore.

Sam never did come back….