The Thing in the Cave

She couldn’t breathe.

The cave had changed.

The warm little fire that had been burning only moments ago was gone, replaced by a strange blue flame that crawled along the walls. Shadows moved where nothing stood, stretching across the stone like living things.

And the man sitting before her…

Was no longer an old man.

He looked nothing like the figure she’d first seen.

His silver hair had become dark, falling loosely around his face. His skin was smooth, almost unnaturally pale, and his golden eyes glowed against the darkness.

Two curved horns rose from his head.

She stumbled backward.

“What are you?”

The creature tilted his head.

“I already told you.”

“No.” Her voice shook. “You didn’t.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Perhaps I didn’t want to frighten you.”

“You turned into a completely different person!”

“Technically…”

He rose from the stone.

“…I was never an old man.”

She glanced toward the cave entrance.

It was still there.

But the field beyond it was gone.

Only darkness remained.

She swallowed.

“I want to leave.”

The creature didn’t move.

“You can.”

She stared at him.

“Then let me.”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

“What question?”

His golden eyes narrowed.

“Why did you follow the cave?”

She didn’t know.

She’d simply felt drawn toward it.

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

He stepped closer.

She instinctively backed away.

“I was looking for someone.”

“The shadow.”

She nodded.

“Why?”

She hesitated.

Because she didn’t have an answer.

She should have been terrified of him.

She should have wanted to wake up.

Instead, she kept thinking about the way the shadow had held her.

The warmth of his arms.

The quiet voice.

“Don’t be afraid.”

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

The creature smiled.

“That’s what makes you interesting.”

He walked past her and toward the cave wall.

She watched as he lifted one hand.

The stone surface shimmered.

An image appeared.

Her bedroom.

Her bed.

Her sleeping body.

Her eyes widened.

“I’m dreaming.”

“Yes.”

“Then why can I see myself?”

“Because you’re not completely asleep.”

She looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

His expression became serious.

“It means a part of you is still awake.”

Her stomach dropped.

“Then how do I wake up?”

“You don’t.”

She stared at him.

“What?”

“Not yet.”

The image of her bedroom disappeared.

The cave became silent.

Then the creature turned toward her.

“Tell me about him.”

She frowned.

“Who?”

“The one who stays in your corner.”

Her heart began beating faster.

“You know him?”

“No.”

The answer came too quickly.

She noticed.

“You’re lying.”

His smile returned.

“You are very observant.”

“Who is he?”

The creature stepped closer.

“I don’t know his name.”

“Then how do you know about him?”

“Because he has been watching you longer than you realize.”

She froze.

“What?”

“He was there before tonight.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“You’ve seen him before.”

“I would remember.”

“Dreams are strange things.”

He came closer until there was barely any space between them.

“Sometimes the mind remembers what the waking world forgets.”

She stared into his golden eyes.

“Why does he come to me?”

The creature studied her face.

“Perhaps he isn’t coming to you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Perhaps…”

He leaned slightly closer.

“…you are going to him.”

A chill ran through her.

Before she could respond, he lifted his hand.

His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek.

She flinched.

He stopped.

“Do you fear me?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

His voice became softer.

“Fear keeps you alive.”

She looked away.

“And what about him?”

The creature’s expression darkened.

“You shouldn’t be searching for him.”

“Why?”

“Because there are things in this world that look like nightmares…”

His thumb brushed away a strand of hair from her face.

“…and there are nightmares that look like salvation.”

She stared at him.

“What is he?”

The creature didn’t answer.

Instead, he stepped away.

The cave suddenly began to shake.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

She looked around.

“What is happening?”

“You’re waking.”

Her heart sank.

“No.”

The creature smiled.

“You’re afraid to leave.”

“I want to know who he is.”

“You will.”

“When?”

“Perhaps sooner than you think.”

The cave began disappearing around her.

The fire.

The walls.

The creature.

Everything dissolved into white light.

She felt herself being pulled backward.

“No!”

She reached for him.

His golden eyes remained fixed on hers.

“Remember…”

His voice echoed around her.

“Dreams have doors.”

She blinked.

The cave vanished.

She was falling again.

Her body felt heavy.

Her chest tightened.

She could hear something.

A faint voice.

Then another.

Her fingers twitched.

Her eyelids fluttered.

She tried to hold onto the dream.

But it was slipping away.

“No…”

She opened her eyes.

Her bedroom ceiling came into view.

She gasped and sat upright.

Her heart hammered against her chest.

The room was dark.

Quiet.

Normal.

She looked toward the corner.

Nothing.

She stared at it for several seconds.

Nothing moved.

She slowly pulled her knees toward her chest.

She should have felt relieved.

Instead, she felt disappointed.

She looked down at her hands.

For some reason, she could still feel the warmth of the shadow’s arms around her.

She closed her eyes.

“Don’t be afraid.”

The words echoed through her mind.

She opened them again.

The corner remained empty.

She whispered into the darkness.

“Who are you?”

No answer.

Only silence.

And somewhere in the distance, completely beyond her awareness…

a pair of silver eyes opened.

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