TRIPPING INTO DARKNESS

Fred's voice came from the rocks by the sea as they both looked towards the cliffs. “Come on Si let's look.”  

“I'm not going in there”, a nervous Si replied. “It looks far too dangerous”. Both of them looked at the cliffs. Silence!

 “Oh, come on Si, it’ll be fun!” 

“Fun?” 

“Yes fun!” 

“You know I don't like dark spaces.” Si almost ran away. 

“Well, stay behind me. I'll go in first.” Fred stood and looked hopefully at Si to follow. 

Si hesitated, unsure. He looked at the cave convincing himself it was going to be ok.  

“Come on Si.” Fred wanted to go inside; to go into the unknown. He'd wanted to go inside this cave for yonks. He was too excited.  

Both of them scrambled over the large rocks. Si put his foot on one and it rolled away nearly taking him away as he went flat down. Fred turned and was able to quickly stretch his left arm downward for Si to grab and steady himself.  

“Easy Si, you had me worried,” called down Fred, “you were lucky.” 

Si, conscious of not looking down, breathed a sigh of relief and continued. Heights weren’t his thing either. 

The ever looming cave was in front of them. They stood side by side looking into the dark space. 

“Go on then,” called out Si, “you said you would go first.” 

Fred lifted up his right foot and stepped cautiously out, followed by his left. Inside he was quite scared, but he wasn’t going to show it. Si was terrified, wrapping his grey jacket tightly around him. 

“Hellooooo,” called out Fred and the word echoed. 

Fred said it again and it replied once more. 

“Come on then. There's nothing in here. Let's look.” Fred took out a torch from his back right jeans pocket and switched it on. A white beam showed the way on the stone floor. Loose chippings scattered. He kept the torch in front of him as Si followed. Neither of them taking their eyes off the floor as the exit hole got smaller behind them. 

“So what do you think is down there,” asked Si. 

“I don’t know really. Have you ever heard the noises at night?” 

“No!” 

“It's said there's a harrowing woman's voice repeating “set me free”, and it continues for hours,” said Fred. 

“Don't be daft, you've made that up,” said Si. 

“No, I haven’t. You ask Old Tom down the Docks and he’ll tell you. He's been banging on about this cave for ages. He says it's an old mine shaft and they brought in a woman to help the lads. The mine tumbled and she got stuck. The men returned, but she did not. No-one knows who she is. Tom reckons it’s a witch wanting to get the gold.” 

“A witch! Don't be stupid. Now, you’re having me on.” Si poked Fred in the back. 

“I'm telling you the truth. Old Tom told me,” Fred said matter of factly. 

Si rolled his eyes. 

“No, seriously, it true! Old Tom tells really good tales.” 

“Yes, tales. That’s what they are: tales!” 

Their footsteps moved the dust and they were frequently wiping their faces so they could follow the light. 

“Hellooooo,” and the echoed repeated. 

“Whah!” 

“What was that?” whispered Si. “Was that you Fred?” 

“No,” Fred turned around and shone the light into Si’s eyes. Si shielded himself. “Oi, put that away, you muppet!” 

“Sorry Si,” said Fred. “Seriously what was that noise?” 

“Well, I don’t know,” shrugged Si. 

Both of them stood still, listening for the noise, but none came. Silence! 

“You're having me on,” kidded Si. 

“Seriously I’m not! I'm scared,” admitted Fred. 

“Scared? You? Why, you love being in these places, doing stuff like this.” 

“Yes, well, it isn't funny anymore,” quivered Fred, “maybe we should turn back.” 

“Absolutely no way,” said Si “I’m not coming this far to turn around. You brought me here, so we’re doing it. All of it.” Si was cross now. How dare Fred do this to him? It wasn't funny and he wasn't going to turn round. 

“May be we could go on,” thought Fred out loud. 

Both of them turned and continued. Silently they tread forwards not really knowing what was down here. It was the silence that was painful. More so than the blackness! How could blackness harm you? And, how was it so silent down here? More questions they asked themselves, but probably wouldn’t get answered. It was more to aide their heads. The tread of their trainers made a slight whoosh noise on the floor. The torch still guiding them. By now they were holding hands. Blimey, if someone could see them now, they would hurl all kinds of abuse. They felt connected; they felt safe. 

“Whah!” 

There was that sound again. Further they continued. Every step taken tentatively. The silence was incredibly deafening. Their breathing was slow as they kept the dust away from their eyes. They wanted to speak, but were too scared. They gripped each other’s hand tighter. Why on earth were they doing this? Even Fred now understood Si’s reluctance. It did seem a great idea at the time. Now, with only a torch showing them the way it seemed all the more ludicrous. Fred stopped caught his breath and turned around to Si, “whatever happens tell mum I love her.” 

“Don't be daft Fred. We’ll be fine. Come on, which way do we go now?” as they approached a T-junction. 

“Well according to Old Tom, he says left goes to land side and the right goes out to sea. Well, at least I think that’s what he said.” Fred stood and thought about it. “Yes, that’s right. Left goes into the cliff and right goes out to sea.”

“So,” shrugged Si, “which way?”

“I don’t know. Old Tom never got that far. He just told me the tale of the witch. He didn’t say which way.”

“You idiot! You brought me down here for nothing,” as Si whacked him around the head.

“OW! That hurt!”

“So it should, you fool. You brought me here and didn’t know which way to go. I’m off. I’m out of here.” With that Si turned.

“No, don’t go. Let’s go left,” Fred protested as he grabbed Si’s right arm to stop him from walking away.

They both faced each other waiting for each other to speak.

“Come on Si, do this with me?” Pleaded Fred as the question hung in the warm air. “We’ve been friends all our lives. Let’s have some fun. If we don’t get out at least we’re together. When have I let you down?”

“OK. But, no more, OK? Let’s go left and see where it takes us.”

“Thanks Si.” They hugged , dusted themselves down, and set off.

“WHAH!”

“I’m getting sick of this now,” said Si. “Sounds so pathetic. I reckon it’s someone playing a joke.” Si wiped his hand through his greasy ginger hair. It was getting very hot and sweaty as they continued deeper.

“No, it’s no joke. Old Tom says so. The witch has been down here for years. Never returned.”

“The witch would be dead now. When was the collapse? 1935? That’s 80 years ago.”

“It was before then; 24^th April 1933 to be exact. They closed the gate too hard and it caused the tunnel to give in. All the men managed to get free. She was on the wrong side. Apparently pushed, so Old Tom says.”

“You and blooming Old Tom. I wondered where you’d gone all those times I came looking to go out. Left me to go with the Hobson’s Gang. Not much fun I can tell you.”

“Yeah sorry Si. When we get out we’ll be together more.”

“If we get out,” said Si doubtfully.

The floor was dusty and they were covered in soot. It was quite a small hole, they nearly touched the ceiling; just over six foot. They grew up as twins. They walked as the torch guided them over and around large rocks. It was getting warmer and warmer; they huffed breathlessly as they continued.

“What else did Old Tom say?” Si asked mainly out of boredom.

“He told his tales. There’s many in these parts. Old Tom’s 84 and been around here for years; knows everyone and everything. He lost his only son in these mines. The one further up the road. He wife died ten or so years ago, and he’s been on his own ever since. He hangs around with the fishermen when they go out to sea and waits for their return.” Si listened as they walked. “There has been a tonne of storms, lots of village scandal, and his tales; they’re just so great to hear.”

“Well, thanks for deserting me. Hudson and his gang are numpties. I had to spend most of my time revising, but this makes a welcome change from all the revision and hanging around with them.”

“Yeah sorry Si. I don’t know what I was thinking. I just got so absorbed with him, I forgot everything else. What with mum being busy doing two jobs I didn’t want to stay at home on my own, revising! Oh shit, I have so much to do. You were always brainier than me, Si.”

“That’s cos I don’t have my head up in the clouds, Fred. Come down occasionally, it’s not that bad. What are you going to do after our exams?”

“Dunno,” said Fred solemnly. “Haven’t thought. Probably stay here with Old Tom. You’ll be off to do you’re A Levels or something!”

“Yes, probably. Just want to pass really. Look! Did you see that?”

“No. What?”

“That shadow. Yeah, I know it’s black down here, but I’m sure I saw something move.”

“WHAH!” It was clearer now; more distinct.

“I’m sure I saw something,” said Si, as they stopped to look. Fred moved the torch slowly around and they strained their eyes. Something did move. As quick as a flash a black figure with bright eyes snarled at them, “what do you want?” came a raspy voice.

“Arrrgh!” both Fred and Si screamed, turned and legged it as fast as they could out of the tunnel. They ran and turning right down the tunnel they had come down, and headed towards the entrance. All four feet pounding the floor, arms by their sides, their screams continuing as they headed towards the light of the outside. Out they came, breathing hard. Faster they ran until they were well clear of the tunnel entrance.

“What the hell was that?” panted Si.

“I don’t know. She looked ghastly. Did you see those eyes?” Fred bent over to get his breath back.

“That gentleman was Lady Victoria. The witch of local Tinsdale Farm. Banished she was. Many a year ago…for casting a spell on the Hudson family. Legend has it Farmer Hudson stole her heart to marry Mary Winston, and as revenge made them infertile in both human and land. Farmer Hudson never recovered and killed himself shortly after they married. Mary dug deep and found out that it was Lady Victoria’s spell, and campaigned her to be hanged. The guard spared Lady Victoria and banished her. Rumour has it she’s never left Farmer Hudson and has remained here ever since. She’s been hanging around his grave and doesn’t like to be disturbed”

Both boys stood there stunned. Fred spoke, eventually, “What?”

Old Tom chuckled, staggered himself up off the rock with this wooden stick and edged towards the pair.

“How do you think she’s still alive all this time, eh?” he shuffled towards the cave entrance.

A moment or two later a boney hand appeared and took the bag from his fingers, “thanks Tom,” a female voice pleasantly.

Tom smiled and they parted. The dark hold covered her up completely and all they could hear were her feet disappearing.

Both boys were too still too stunned to speak. They had just witnessed and great mythical tale in real life.

“So…so…so…is it true?” stuttered Fred.

“Oh yes its true my boy. You promise me never to go in that cave again?” he said sternly.

Both boys nodded furiously.

“Come on lads, let’s get you home. I followed you and waited. I knew you were headed here. Now, go home, study and get out of this place. It’s no place for studious boys.” Both of them listened thoughtfully and nodded. “Never go there again!”