FICTION STORY: The Sinkhole
"Wake up."
She blinked her heavy eyes open. The sun had already made its way through the dense canopies of trees and tents to her face. The lush vegetation appeared greener and more alive, and some flowers bloomed as a result of the morning dew's touch. The birds were singing in unison.
It's time to find out what her lover said.
He cooked their breakfast on the bonfire near their tent while she slept. They cleaned up their sleeping bags and utensils in the tent after sharing a quick meal and cups of coffee. The bonfire has been notable.
A huge sinkhole was a few meters from their tent, in the heart of the forest, in a clear area devoid of flora. According to experts, the sinkhole is over a thousand years old, has a diameter of 30 feet, and is riddled with mysteries. According to legend, the foreign governor general who fought in the war 300 years ago hid his treasure in the hole before surrendering to the rebels, while other stories claim bodies of prisoners of war were dumped there. The sinkhole was the den of the gigantic snake, the forest's guardian, according to the tribes in the forest. Some thought the sinkhole was a portal to another universe or a rabbit hole into the supernatural world. Others claimed that a sinkhole was a time-traveling wormhole.
They had come to investigate the sinkhole and learn the truth behind its mystery. Both were treasure hunters, explorers, and bloggers. They met two years ago in the Paris Catacombs and formed a friendship that blossomed into love. Exploring abandoned places, archaeological sites, and nature became their bond and source of income.
They attached ropes that would be used to rappel down the sinkhole to the two massive trees embraced by moss and wild orchids closest to the sinkhole. They packed their bags with tools, medications, and food in case they needed them later as they descended through the hole.
They began rappelling down. The soil in the sinkhole was hard enough not to crumble or erode due to its age and lack of use. Nonetheless, the two remained cautious in their movements.
They had reached the end of their rope over 100 feet below. This caused them to sway in the air and disturb the soil wall around them. Loose rocks and soil began to fall beneath.
They decided to untangle themselves from the ropes and jump. A few feet beneath them was clear water that had accumulated in the sinkhole over time. They jumped into the water, which splashed. Because of their disturbance, the clear water became cloudy.
As the rain fell, muddy water gushed from the sky. When they realized it was raining, they immediately attempted to climb to their ropes. However, the earlier splashes made the soft soil more difficult to penetrate with tools. The soil eroded as they tried and tried to climb.
They trod in the water for hours, hoping the water would rise high enough to reach the rope. After hours of attempting to climb and stay afloat, their bodies became exhausted. Their bodies began to fail after a few hours.
Their bodies were sinking deeper into the sinkhole. It became darker and darker as they sank deeper and deeper. But as they lost consciousness and descended into the cold water, everything went black.
"Wake up."
She blinked her heavy eyes open. The sun had already made its way through the dense canopies of trees and tents to her face. The lush vegetation appeared greener and more alive, and some flowers bloomed as a result of the morning dew's touch. The birds were singing in a chant. Again.
"It's time to go explore," her boyfriend suggested. Again.