And now for part 3... (you can use the search tool to find parts 1 and 2 if you desire)
It's an allegory and the dragon is definitely a very real part of my life...perhaps it is starting to feel familiar. Anyway, on with the story:
Danny scrambled to his feet and brushed himself off. It was dark, but not pitch black, faint light streaming in from the hole he had just tumbled through. He wasn’t hurt, a few small scratches here and there. He was actually quite astonished to find himself in a real cave; nothing so extraordinary had ever happened to him before. The air was still and quiet, no birds singing, no rustling branches as the wind whistled through trees, no gurgling water slipping over rounded stones in the creek. In the dim light, he could barely make out the far wall of the cave, mostly black dirt with occasional tree roots protruding at odd angles…except for one corner where the wall seemed to glisten in the pale light, as if the cave wall were painted with oil. The wall moved. Startled, Danny held his breath, staring intently at the glistening apparition, the light rippling across its surface. A rustling noise reached his ears, as small stones and debris were pushed slowly across the cave floor. He felt a gentle breeze, blowing across his face, first one direction…then the opposite direction, in and out…in and out…, a rhythmic pattern that lulled his mind into a dormant state. Time stopped for a moment, then Danny inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with air laden with corruption, seasoned with the stench of death and decay. He gasped, the sound of the air expelled from his lungs echoing off of the cave walls. A dark shadow uncoiled in front of him.
Dragon breath, ancient fear encased in shadow,
Watchful eye, ablaze with evil’s glow,
Fire of brimstone, burning deep inside,
Terror; no place to run, no place to hide.
Danny froze, paralyzed by fear that burned into his brain and tied knots in his stomach. The shadow loomed larger, darkness broken by shimmering, pulsating light refracted from oily scales. A voice whispered in his soul; “Are you brave enough…and strong enough?” He felt the touch of a formless shape, dragging slowly across his shoes. It was absurd to even contemplate such a thing…yet, in desperation, or perhaps to mock his growing fear, the thought formed and grew. With grim determination, he reached down and firmly grasped the dragon’s tail.
The air erupted with a horrible shriek that ripped mercilessly into Danny’s mind, begging him to cover his ears. Instead, he held tightly to his precarious perch, willing his mind to stand firm. Unable to reach Danny in the narrow space, the dragon turned and sped furiously down the narrow tunnel, shrieking incessantly, seeking the exit from which it could spread its wings and fly, flinging its pesky burden onto the rocks far below. The faint light vanished and Danny was plunged into total darkness. In the blackness he could feel the tunnel walls sweeping past him, faster and faster, the air whistling through his hair, punctuated by the angry shrieks of the dragon. He lost all sense of time and hope, one thought only burning in his mind…to hold on, to never let go.
Danny’s mother stopped reading. She was so terribly tired, her eyes heavy with lack of sleep and grief. It was her fault. She had been careless…but only for a moment, surely no mischief could come from such a brief lapse. The image of her precious child, lying face down on the water’s surface, floating lifelessly, crept into her mind…a searing image that judged her and pronounced her guilty. How could life be so cruel…to punish her mistake by taking her child.
Her eyes closed and a deep sigh surfaced from deep inside her soul. Once again she rose from the chair and walked slowly to stand beside Danny’s bed. His hands were clenched tightly and his breathing was fast and labored…a dream perhaps, reliving the nightmare. It seemed pointless to stay but she couldn’t leave. Perhaps he could hear her voice, a beacon to bring him out of the darkness back into the light. Returning to her chair, she paused and looked out the window. The horizon was starting to brighten, a dull orange glow. It would be dawn soon, a new day…light to bring hope into darkness. She picked up the book and sat down, turning the page to continue reading.
Dragon breath, faint whisper of foul craving
Feeding pain, no hope of saving
Life’s essence, the seed of redemption,
Consumed by fear’s ascension.
(to be continued…)
I hope you find peace and joy in your life,
AlanAlan, this is soooo good. Can't wait for the next instalment! You're a very clever, sensitive man, with the gift of expression!
Take Care
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