Below the Rocks

Aquamarine crystals abounded in the pearly grey dome. The crystals gave off a small amount of luminescence. Rakaan reached for the closest blue and green one. It was shaped like an ellipse, and had 8 small bent rods sticking out of its curved body. Rakaan flicked her wrist, and the turquoise jewel flew into the burlap sack in a smooth arc.

Rakaan had known this life only. She lived on Earth, but not on Earth. In earth. Once, a long time ago, around 50 years ago, her people had inhabited Earth. Not anymore. They had been chased out of their home, down into the caves. They had adapted in the unmerciful environment of the caves.

Animals 10 times larger than the size of humans now roamed the Earth’s abrasive exterior. It was definite that Earth was no longer safe for human occupation.

5 decades later humanity had evolved into cave-dwelling creatures. Rakaan could see into the darkness as well as you can in the light. Of course Rakaan had never seen the light. She had been down here all of her life. The scientists said the year was 2070 but no one knew for sure. For 12 years she had gathered crystals for the jeweller. Helping to fulfil the prophecy.

Once Rakaan had her sack full to the brim with crystals, she heaved the sack onto her well-built shoulders. The walk back to the main cave was treacherous, and only few could tread amongst the caves without perishing.

Rakaan stepped cautiously onto the foothold that had been depressed over time by the many travellers that wandered these caves. She hoisted herself up onto the rocky ledge, and knew that from now, the journey back would be much easier.

After a fatiguing journey, Rakaan finally arrived at the jewellers workshop. An old withered man stood up from behind his rustic desk, cane in hand.

‘You are here. Come. Come. You are a small agile one aren’t you.’ Though his skin was wrinkled, and his hands frail, his eyes shone a magnificent azure that filled you with hope.

I followed the hobbling man to the small workshop which I had been to many times, but never worked in.

‘I am too old for this, it is time you take over.’ I was stunned by this unexpected remark. The man who didn’t have a name had always been the one to work the crystals. He had magic in his fingers, and despite his age, his eyes shone like a young boy when he worked with the crystals.

I stepped over to the marble bench, and emptied my sack, laying out the jewels carefully. I picked up an abrasive metal rod, and started to mould the crystal into a majestic butterfly. The jewels were truly insects that had been around when the enlargement of the animals happened. For some obscure reason the insects were not included in the growth. As a result the insects were crystallised, and are now being harvested for jewellery.

The prophecy had mentioned that when insects grew wings, Earth would be converted. That was why the jewellers had been manufacturing crystal butterflies for decades. The prophecy had also hinted that the butterflies had to be released at the most magical time, which was the blue moon in ellipse. Today the butterflies will be released. Today was the blue moon in ellipse.

Once all of the crystals had been fashioned into butterflies, Rakaan filled the sack up with the remodelled jewels, and set out to the Cave of Awe. All of the cave-dwelling humans were gathered in the Cave of Awe. Millions of butterflies had been delicately laid out on the floor, but these were the last of the butterflies that had to be placed to complete the prophecies instructions.

Once the butterflies were all assembled correctly, everyone stood back, ready to observe the scene that would surely follow. Nothing happened. Silence. Stillness.

All at once the butterflies started to tingle, and glow. Their dazzling wings started flapping as they ascended. The butterflies disappeared as they went through the rocky cave ceiling.

Suddenly all the flames illuminating the cave went out. Darkness. The Earth gave a deep rumble from its heart, and the floor started to expand and contract.

‘Everyone run!’ came a voice from somewhere.

‘Go to the passage that leads back to Earth. We will be better off there than here.’ Even without sunlight, everyone rushed to the exit because they had acquired a sense of sight without eyes.

My footsteps pounded hard on the rugged ground. I could see sunlight ahead. The light at the end of the tunnel. It was beautiful, but it burned my eyes. I had to look down as I ran to avoid going blind. 100 metres. 90 metres. 80 metres.

I was the first out of the tunnel, everyone else following just a few metres behind. The animals that had once been known to be so great were now just like the stories I had heard when animals were not unnaturally large. The only difference was that they all had transparent stomachs, and inside I could see blue luminescent butterflies.

I gave a laugh of joy as I lay down. I imagined all the fun times I was going to have out here in the sunlight. A beam of warmth was cast over my face as I looked down at the last people departing from the cave. One of the small animals came over to a young boy. The animal nudged the boy, and he gave a squeal of happiness. The animal, I noticed, was not as transparent as it was before. A creamy colour was now creeping across its body.

‘And that should be the last one’ said an elderly man, as he went over to reunite with his wife.

My heart stopped as I realised that the jeweller would have been too slow to get out of the tunnel. A single tear ran down my face as I registered that he would never see sunlight again.

I suddenly realised that I had been his sunshine. The warm ray of sunlight that had lit up even the darkest corner of his workshop.

I wanted to keep the jeweller in my heart forever. I had to spread my sunshine to everyone, and hopefully spread a little bit of him with it too.