To be honest I’ve been watching a lot of caving videos on YouTube lately, to try and get over my the claustrophobia I feel in tight spaces, and this story sort of wound it’s way into my mind. I hope I’m able to impart the terror I felt when I thought about being stuck deep beneath the earth with things that shouldn’t see the light of day. Enjoy.
Start
Jared had been a little hesitant when he heard the name of the cave Eric wanted to explore. After all who would name a cave, Hell Hole, without good reason. Eric assured him that while the cave was technically difficult, there was no real danger outside of what they would normally face in any other cave.
It’s not as bad as Nutty Putty, Eric assured him, the name awakening the memory of the story surrounding the cave’s name. In 2009 John Jones became stuck in the Nutty Putty cave in such a way it was almost impossible to save him. He’d gone through what he thought was a section of the cave known as ‘the birth canal,’ a narrow stretch that forced cavers to make themselves as small as possible to push through. In reality he entered an unexplored section that narrowed to the point he could not move. He was stuck, upside down, for twenty-seven hours before passing.
Jared shuddered at the thought of becoming trapped in such a way. He could have done without the mention of the cave, but the lure of exploring unknown regions was too strong to dissuade him. He believed he was smart enough to not let himself become stuck like Jones had, who it was said was not as experienced as other cavers who had vanquished the nutty putty cave.
While preparations had taken the better part of a week while they pulled together the supplies they would need, the trip to the cave itself was only a matter of a couple of hours. Rumor had it there was a chamber below filled with crystal formations similar to the Cave of Crystals in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. A chamber nearly a thousand feet beneath the surface with some crystals measuring as much as 39 feet long. Some considered it one of the wonders of the natural world, and the thought such a room might exist a few hours’ drive from their hometown of Frostburg was too much to pass up.
Leaving interstate 68 they followed the winding roads of rural West Virginia, turning off onto a gravel lane that vanished into one of the many hollows. Here there was only forest pressing in on either side of the narrow lane until they reached the end of the road that spilled out onto a wide gravel lot. They were alone and as they gathered their gear Jared surveyed the opening of the mine. A concrete casing had been built into the opening, making it look like a tunnel. On the arch above the opening someone had spray painted the legend. Hell Hole in tall red letters.
A shudder washed across his shoulders as a cloud passed over the face of the sun, plunging the lot into a false dusk.
“How deep is the mine?” Jared asked.
“It goes down about six hundred feet before we come to the natural opening that will lead us to the room of crystals. It’ll be easy going at first, and it’ll get a little tight before it opens into the room.”
A chill tumbled down his spine and the thought he might never see the sun again strayed into his mind. He pushed it away. He’d been caving with Eric for several months now and he had never once given him reason to doubt him.
Approaching the opening, he looked up to see someone had painted the casing around the opening to look like the opened mouth of a skeleton with jagged white teeth prepared to crunch down on any who dared enter. He almost turned around right then, but didn’t, more afraid of what Eric might think of him than what might be waiting inside the mine. Unlike many of his other friends, Eric wasn’t into the whole macho scene. He was much more reserved and laid back, exuding this aura of relaxed invincibility that drew people to him like moths to a flame. A far cry from Jared who was socially awkward and lacked the charisma of his friend.
At the entrance Eric stopped and had a good laugh at the sign someone had spray painted on the casing. The words made Jared want to turn around right then and go back home.
Abandon all hope, ye who enters here!
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Jared said.
“It’s just someone’s idea of a joke. Come on man you need to loosen up.”
“Have you been down here before?”
Eric shook his head. “This is my first time.”
“Then how do you know it’s safe?”
“I just know it is, I’ve got a map. A couple of guys I know who do this all the time gave it to me and told me about the crystal room.”
“How well do you know these guys?” Jared was searching for any reason he could to back out of this without losing face.”
“Well enough, they wouldn’t steer me wrong, they’re good guys.”
“I don’t know, I’d feel better if I could see the map.”
“I forgot to bring it, but it’s okay, everything will be fine. The chamber is only a few hundred feet away from the end of the mine. It’s a straight shot, we can’t get lost.”
Jared wanted to turn but also understood this was the chance he’d been looking for. If he went in and word spread about what he’d done his whole life would change. He’d no longer be the afterthought, the last one called, if they called at all. He’d prove to the others he could be just like them.
“The moment I don’t feel comfortable about this we leave, right?”
Eric shrugged as he smiled. “You got it bro, the moment you feel afraid we’ll turn around.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“I know, I’m just giving you a hard time, man, come on let’s get going.”
Still apprehensive, Jared followed Eric into the shadowy depths of the mine, glancing once at the clear blue sky above before it was replaced by the smooth concrete of the casing.
Will I see the sky again? He worried as smooth concrete gave way to naked stone carrying the tool marks of those who once toiled in these depths. The comforting glow from the sun faded to a deepening gloom and Eric turned on his flashlight as they moved deeper into the mine. Every ten feet ancient timber formed arches that held the roof of the mine in place.
They didn’t look sturdy enough to support the weight pressing down upon them, and it appeared the wood had rotted away on the surface, making them half the size they had originally been.
“You know why they call it hell hole?” Jared asked.
Eric shrugged.
“Rumor has it the mine went so deep you had to be careful which way you swung your pick.” He stopped as he maneuvered around an old coal car whose steel sides had rusted away to nothing, leaving a flat surface covered in debris. He stopped on the other side and waited for Jared to join him.
Eric pushed past the coal car, coming to a section of tunnel that appeared much older than what they passed through earlier. Here the jagged walls and ceiling were brown and in some places water leaked through the various cracks and crevices that covered the entire surface, filling the space with the incessant sound of dripping water. It looked like the entire ceiling was about to collapse, adding to his growing concern.
Eric was beginning to get irritated with Jared’s endless whining. If he didn’t need him as bad as he did he would never have spoken to him. He was no more than a means to an end, that of his continued survival. Promises had been made, so promises had to be kept.
“Why?” Jared asked.
With a sigh Eric turned back to face him and when he did he was struck by a deep anger at the lengths he had to go to. “Because you might hit the devils door,” he replied with a laugh.
“That’s not funny,” Jared said, turning in a complete circle as if he were afraid someone, or something, were sneaking up on him.
“Come on, let’s go, you said you wanted to see this room of crystals.” Eric turned and started walking into the depths of the mine. He heard Jared scrambling to get around the abandoned coal car.
“Wait for me,” Jared said as he rushed to keep up.
Eric smiled, satisfied he had set the hook firmly. Once they got deeper into the mine Jared would be attached to his hip, which was just as well, he didn’t want him wandering off until he’d gotten what he came for.
The mine had operated from the mid seventeen hundred until 1890 when a cave in sealed off the lower portion of the mine, opening the passageway to the r0om of crystals. They called them the devil’s jewels, locked away deep beneath the earth. The miners of the time had been very superstitious, in addition to being God fearing men. But when the only exit from a mine collapses, and God does little to save you, promises made to others became sacred vows.
Eric had learned all of this from his research into the mine when he first heard about the crystal room. Sure, he was an explorer willing to take chances, but they were calculated risks made only after he was certain about the facts. He had visited the crystal room himself, along with the mouth of the section of the mine where the collapse occurred. Someone had placed a plaque nearby listing the names of the men entombed within. It was rumored if you listened closely you could still hear panicked pounding coming from the other side.
Eric took a moment to read through the names, stopping when he came to a familiar one. Joshua Watkins. Jared’s last name was Watkins. The connection sent a chill across the flesh of his arms, and he brushed it off. Just a coincidence.
He turned to Jared who stood right beside him. “Did you have any relatives who worked in this mine?”
“I don’t think so,” Jared replied. He stepped around Eric to look at the plaque, the beam of the flashlight stopping on the name in question. He shook his head. “It doesn’t ring any bells.”
Eric shrugged as he turned away from the plaque and approached the shaft at the back of the mine. This was how they would get down to the natural cave. Someone in the past had left a rope to make the descent easier, but Eric chose to use his own. He didn’t know how long the other rope had been in place, and with the amount of moisture present in the mine he wasn’t sure how sturdy it would be. Halfway down would be a bad time to find out it couldn’t hold him. Using the pinions already in place he secured his own rope and tossed the bag containing it into the black depths below. After a few seconds the sound of the bag hitting the bottom came to him.
According to his map once they reached the lower level it would get a lot easier as there were ramps built into the interconnected shafts that would allow them to walk down to the cave. Once they were done they would use a set of ascenders to climb back up the rope.
“Are you ready for this?” Erric asked as he turned to look at Jared.
Jared nodded, but Eric could tell by the expression on his face he wasn’t really ready. They would have to rappel down to the next level that was only fifty feel below.
“I don’t know man, I mean I know you taught me how to do this, but it’s so dark down there.”
“You’ll have the light on your helmet, as long as you don’t get in a hurry everything will be all right.”
They had rappelled several times from the cliffs around their hometown and Jared had proven to be adept at doing so.
“I know, I need to quit being such a baby and just get it over with,” Jared said. He stepped up to the lip of the shaft and after turning on his light he peered over the edge. “It doesn’t look too bad, but I’ll need your help hooking up, I want to make sure I do it right.”
“No problem brother, let’s get you set up.”
Jared turned his back to the shaft and Eric hooked the rope through the brake bar rack attached to the front of his harness. Once they were done Eric held onto Jared while he carefully added his weight to the rope.
“This doesn’t seem too bad.”
“Just remember, lift the lever to speed up and push it down to slow your descent.”
Jared nodded then pushed off the lip while lifting the friction bar. He dropped from sight with an exhilarating shout that contained more fear than excitement. Eric watched him over the edge as Jared descended. In a matter of moments, he reached the bottom and looked up at Eric, momentarily blinding him with his headlight.
“Are you good?”
“I’m good man, I’m off the rope, come on down. This is great.”
Eric turned around and wound the rope through his own rack. He stepped off the edge and dropped about twelve feet before swinging back to the wall and bringing down the bar to stop him. As he did he heard someone talking below him.
“What did you say?” He shouted.
“I didn’t say anything,” Jared responded from the emptiness below. Eric shrugged as he dropped another ten feet. Once again, as his feet came to rest against the wall of the shaft he heard a faint whisper. It was as if someone were standing right behind him, whispering in his ear, yet the words remained unintelligible, and his mind nibbled at them as he tried to decipher what was said. He’d even felt a chilled breath against the sweaty flesh of his neck as ghostly fingers skipped across each bump along his spine.
“Are you fucking with me?” Eric said, He was certain Jared was somehow messing with him, though it made little sense how he was doing it. After all Eric was still nearly thirty feet above where Jared waited. He’d find out in time though, when the little prick realized what was about to happen and would do anything in his power to stop the inevitable.
He dropped another ten feet and this time the voice in his ear was as clear as a bell, chilled breath washing over his earlobe as the whispered words filled him with dread.
Beware of friends who tell half-truths.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts as a cold sweat broke across his arms. He glanced back at Jared, still waiting at the bottom of the shaft. It had to be him. Eric kicked out and dropped the remaining twelve feet to where Jared waited.
“That was so cool,” Jared said, slapping Eric on the back.
Eric turned on Jared with a voice that promised violence. “Why are you fucking with me bro?”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t done anything,” Jared said as he backed away with his hands up to defend himself.
“I know what you’re doing, throwing your voice like that, messing with me while I was coming down.” Even as the words left his mouth, he realized how crazy they sounded. He struggled to calm himself down, aware that if he did anything stupid to upset Jared he might leave, then what would he do?
They’d take him for sure. There was no loyalty in death, the normal constraints of life were stripped away when one stepped across that narrow divide. Certainly promises had been made, and he had so far kept up his end of the bargain, but it was there all loyalty ended. The moment he faltered and failed to do as he promised, they would come for him, and he shuddered at the thought.
“I’m sorry, man, I don’t know what got into me,’ Eric said as he crossed to Jared with a smile on his face, his hand extended.
Jared shook his hand, with relief flooding his features. “You scared me there for a minute, I thought for sure you were going to leave me down here.”
“I wouldn’t do that bro, I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately, you know with Jessica talking about getting more serious, and with us leaving for college in the fall. It’s just been a lot to take in. I thought coming here today would help me put it all behind me for a bit.”
“Wow, man, I didn’t know you and Jess were getting that serious, that’s gotta be a big step.”
Eric nodded, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips, while relief filled him with a small measure of peace. It would be over soon, and he could go back to being just a stupid jock. Until the next time they called.
TBC
With Jared trialing behind, Eric followed the beam of his flashlight into the depths of the mine. Around them the shadows felt alive with the memories of past miners who spent their days toiling beneath the ground, their emotions becoming permanently etched into the shattered stone around them. Hope, dreams, and the desire for a better life filled the emptiness pressing in on all sides.
Errant thoughts filtered through Eric’s mind. Concern for a sick child. Worry over meeting unrealistic quotas. The fear over losing one’s job only because they couldn’t keep up. What would they do then? None of them had much socked away for emergencies, the company store made sure of that, offering an easy line of credit that could never be paid off. Not even the homes they lived in belonged to them, another aspect of living in a company town where the only thing that really belonged to each miner was the misery of eking out a living.
There lived in these shadows the constant fear the roof might cave in, locking them away for eternity in the cold ground.
“It’s getting warmer,” Jared said, struggling to keep up.
“We’re getting deeper, the deeper we go the warmer it will get. I did some reading on these mines. Did you know the miners worked in company towns that made sure they could never escape their job?”
“That sounds horrible,” Jared responded.
“That’s the way things were back then. Families were indebted to the owners of the mine for everything. Every week their rent and whatever they purchased at the company store were deducted from their pay. They didn’t have much left over, but they still pooled what they had left to build a schoolhouse and pay a teacher hoping their children would grow up and escape the life they were leading.”
“I’m glad it’s not like that anymore,” Jared said.
Eric nodded in response as they reached the end of the passage where a slight ramp took them down to the next level. Reaching the bottom of the ramp Eric heard what sounded like picks working the mine somewhere in the emptiness ahead. The sound was accompanied by soft voices murmuring in the shadows and he imagined a crew of men working by candlelight in the shadows ahead.
Once again that soft voice whispered in his ear. Beware of friends who tell half-truths. A chilled breath tickled his earlobe.
Eric spun around on Jared who was several feet behind him, his hand closed in a fist.
“Why do you keep fucking with me?” He shouted as he stalked towards Jared who cowered from his approach.
Only a liar would be afraid, the thought whispered through his mind as he closed with Jared who held up his hands to protect himself. His defensive posture only enraged him more and he lashed out with a right cross that sent Jared falling to the floor.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Jared said as he tried to get back to his feet.
Eric hit him again, hard, and Jared dropped back to the floor where he remained still.
Jared stood over him, his hand opening and closing as the anger he’d felt slowly drained away. When reason reasserted itself, he realized what he had done and dropped to his knees next to Jared’s prone figure.
“I’m sorry man, I don’t know what came over me,” he said as he ran his hand up and down Jared’s back, searching for signs of life. He had no idea how to take a person’s pulse and was filled with a horrifying loneliness as he struggled to wake his friend up.
Eric rolled Jared over, his eyes were closed, his face slack, his chest perfectly still. He looked like he was merely sleeping, but Eric understood it was a sleep from which he would not awaken. Eric stood up and looked down the narrow mine. It was only another hundred feet or so to the opening of the crystal cave, he could carry Jared’s body that far and leave it for them.
He only hoped it would be enough.
Every sacrifice before Jared had been alive. He hoped they would not hold that against him. Squatting down he lifted Jared by his arms and slung his cooling body over his shoulder. Rising back to his feet he fixed his helmet upon his head and moved in the direction of the crystal cave.
As he moved, he debated with himself. One part of him wanted to leave the body where it was and flee. But that wouldn’t do any good. If his offering was unacceptable, they would still find him. Maybe there was a chance they would understand, after all he’d always brough then what they wanted without argument. But what choice did he have?
He found the crystal cave when he’d become lost in the mine as a young boy looking for adventure. How he managed to get down into the lower levels without a rope had remained a mystery to him. All he could recall of that time was squeezing himself through narrow passages as he ventured deeper and deeper into the earth.
Reaching the horizontal shafts of the mine made his adventure a little easier, that is until the flashlight he brought burned out. He had never expected to get this deep, originally planning only to explore the easily accessible portions of the mine. But the lure uncovering the secrets behind those narrow crevices had proven too much to ignore. Today, as a full grown teenager, he’d never be able to squeeze through those cracks and crevices.
When his flashlight went out, he had nearly lost control of himself, the darkness around him so complete, he saw nothing. It was much darker than anything he’d ever experienced before. But as his eyes adjusted to the dark, he detected a faint light coming from somewhere ahead. With every step closer to the light, it grew brighter, and he found himself in that room of crystals.
They were massive, hexagonal shapes, some nearly thirty feet long and at least four feet across. Crammed together into a room he would never be able to properly measure, and that was when he found them. The lost miners. This who had been sealed into the cave after its collapse. He didn’t see them at first, but as he explored the room of crystals, he became aware of shadowy shapes moving just out of sight, catching brief glimpses of figures that scurried about just beyond his peripheral vision.
“Hello,” he shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth, that solitary word echoing into the distance as it repeated itself into the depths. It was then s chill slid down his back as a soft voice whispered in his ear.
“We are here.”
He spun around in a circle as those shadowy shapes no longer hid from his view, yet remained behind the crystals, marring their milky depths with their shadowy shapes. It was as if the souls of the lost miners had taken up residence in the crystals themselves, offered a form of eternity few would understand.
“What do you want?” He asked as the shadowy shapes crowded around him.
Their answer filled him with terror. They wanted the blood of the living, the warm spark of something whose heart still beat. They wanted their memories, their experiences, the knowledge of their past.
Richard Schiver 