Chapter-16: State of In Between
The two exited the enclosed helix of stairs feeling dizzy and disoriented. Drops of water echoed as Diego stepped forward and gawked at the enormous cavern. All around, a sea of burning torches illuminated the massive open space in soft orange light. The cavern looked like a night sky beneath the ground.
On Diego’s right, a path of white candles with turquoise fire hooked his sight. The candles stood at close intervals on the floor and headed into a small opening.
“That’s the way,” said Chuey. “Follow the candle lit path.”
Diego rubbed his throat and coughed as he moved toward the turquoise lit path, following close behind Chuey. The air tasted of ash, burnt oil and spoiled garlic. Most annoying, the darkness and flickering light made Diego’s eyes itch. He blinked three times as often and wiped away sticky gunk from his eyes every ten steps.
Glittery black rocks lay on the ground, on both sides of the candle lit path. The rocks sparkled and glowed with an eerie turquoise intensity the moment Diego walked by. And, with each step he placed on the powdery black sand, the tension from his shins and soleus muscles eased away.
A crunching sound, similar to snow, echoed around Diego as he walked on the black sand. But, curious of all, the black sand glowed for a few breaths after each step, leaving an aquamarine foot trail as Diego walked on by.
Deeper into the small cave, the path narrowed and turned and spiraled downward on occasion. Another right turn and Chuey hovered and dimmed his light.
Sweat, heat and exhaustion slicked all over Diego as he walked pass Chuey. He stopped one step away from another grey and black fog wall and stared at the pulsating membrane barrier.
Chuey landed on a boulder and ruffled his feathers several times, and said, “This is as far as I can take you. The rest is up to you. Good luck, Guerrero.”
Diego rubbed his head and asked, “What about the shoulder and glowing lights routine before I enter?”
“You don’t need that for this part,” said Chuey. “All you need is you. Go, step through on your own.”
Diego pushed on the elastic fog barrier and squinted. The warm barrier pushed back against his hand in rhythmic breaths. He gulped, pushed through and stepped into the living membrane.
The fog burst open, and Diego stood on the other side. He scanned the new open space and refused to step further.
“Go on, don’t lie where you stand,” said Chuey, “There, between the falls, that’s where you need to climb. Keep moving, feel the truth inside and think the truth, believe in yourself.”
Diego inhaled deep with a skipping breath. He scanned his destination and said, “Thank you Chuey, for your guidance and company. Will I ever see you again?” He stepped deeper into the new cavern and shuddered from head to feet.
Chuey nodded his head and flapped his wings forward into a clap and said, “Silly, silly, silly … see me again? Survive this next encounter and perhaps at a later time in your life, when in great need, maybe you’ll call on me again. I suppose you still don’t understand what I am, good luck.”
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I appreciate your time in reading this blog post. Next Tuesday I will post the next part of Chapter Sixteen: State of In Between, from my novel: Guerrero of Passions.
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