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The Hike
As the man’s boots crunched through the twigs and leaves along the mountain path, his thoughts went back to his wife. Her funeral was last Sunday. Breast cancer, and she was only forty-one. God had taken the last thing he truly loved in life. Now he just walked. Morning until night, he walked his empty Earth. Was God really so cruel?
The man paused. He thought he heard the distant rumble of thunder. He looked through the trees to the horizon. Rain? The forecast only said thirty percent. He’d better hurry home. Still a couple of miles to go, but it was time to pack it up. He turned around and began the long journey back down the mountain.
He thought of the times he spent together with his wife, holding hands on casual strolls through the park behind their home. The joy they shared when their son was born. The grief when they lost their second child when she was a baby. Life is a wonderful thing. And it’s a heartless bitch.
What’s the point, the man thought. If I knew twenty years of happiness would be followed by death and heartbreak, would I do it again? Maybe. Or maybe not. He stumbled down the steeper part of the trail as ominous clouds merged in the distance. Rain was probably falling over his house by now. My empty house.
The man had a grown son who didn’t speak to him. He would have nothing to do with him. Ungrateful bastard. His son showed up at the funeral and didn’t say one word to his father. Then he left. Now I have no companion. And no legacy. What’s the point?
He trudged on through the crunchy dead leaves. Then a large raindrop spattered across his forehead. A second, third, and fourth across his body. Then it broke into a steady moderately heavy rain. Son of a bitch. Life just keeps getting better.
He stopped and looked down the mountain across the zig-zagging path below him. Lightning flashed in the distance followed by a low rumble several seconds later. I can get on my butt and take a shortcut down the steep part. Heck, I’m already wet and muddy. He veered off the path, sat down at the edge, and carefully lowered himself down the steep mountainside. Damn, it’s steeper than it looks. But I can do this.
His clothes were wet and heavy with cold rain as he scampered and slid down the steep slope. Halfway down, something caught his eye. It was a dark hole in the side of the mountain framed by tree roots and dead leaves. Curious, he scrambled sideways to the hole and peered inside. A cave entrance. What if there’s a bear inside? He pulled out his phone and turned on its flashlight to look inside. No bear. And big enough to wait out the rain in relative dryness.
He crouched down into the cave entrance. It looked big inside, but the entrance was low. Then he went down on all fours and slowly backed himself into the hole. That’s when his legs gave out, and he found himself sliding backward into the cave. Oh shit. He tried to grab something to catch himself, but everything was wet and slippery. In a last-ditch attempt to save himself, he kicked his legs wildly, but it only made him accelerate. Faster and faster he slid, backward, as his fingers clawed the ground in front of him. That was the last thing he remembered.
* * *
He woke in pitch black. Waves of pain throbbed in his head. He panicked and tried to get up, but excruciating pain shot up his back and legs. I can’t get up. I can’t see anything. This hurts. He felt wetness dripping down his head underneath his hair. Oh God. Is my head bleeding?
Reaching for his phone caused another wave of pain to shoot up his back. Where is my phone? Crap, I must have dropped it. “Damn it,” he said aloud. He laid back his head against the cold hard floor of the cave. When he moved, his body hurt. When he stayed still, his head hurt.
“I have to get up,” the man muttered. He tried to sit up again, but the pain was too great, and he dropped back to the ground. It’s no use. He stared up at the darkness. As his eyes adjusted, he could make out a faint light coming from above. That must be the cave entrance. It looked like it was a good twenty feet up, though it was impossible to tell without any reference points. Maybe someone will hear me if I call for help.
The man yelled as loud as he could. “Help! Is anyone there? Heeeeelp! Anyone? Heeeeelp!” He yelled for a couple of minutes before the pain in his back and head became too much.
What now? I’m screwed. He relaxed his body and stared up at the light of the cave entrance. My legs are probably shattered. Maybe my back too. Then it dawned on him. I might have put my phone in the other pocket. He reached to his other pocket where he sometimes slipped his phone when he was in a rush. Another shot of pain. He patted the pocket and felt his phone through the fabric. Thank God it’s here. After fumbling with his pocket for a few seconds, he finally pulled it out and instinctively pressed the button to unlock it. Bingo!
Holding his phone up so that he could see it was painful, but the adrenaline rush of finding his phone made him forget about all the pain. He dialed 911. The phone gave him a “Call failed. No signal” error message. Shit. I’m in a cave on a damn mountain in the middle of nowhere. He stretched his arm up and held the phone as close to the cave entrance as possible and tried again. Still no signal. Maybe if I restart it, it would pick up a signal. He restarted the phone and tried again, but still nothing. Then a message appeared: “Low Battery – 10% of battery remaining.” Oh shit. A chill rushed through his body as he realized his predicament. I’m alone in a cave in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone signal. Nobody knows I’m here, and I can’t walk. I’m gonna die in here. He surrendered his body to the darkness and closed his eyes.
* * *
He opened his eyes and saw a faint glowing light. Is it morning? The light seemed to drift closer. He followed the light with his eyes as it slowly and silently drifted toward him. “Who’s there?” the man called out. There was no response. As the light grew closer, it took the form of a human shape. The man tried to move, but the pain prevented him. Closer and closer the light came, gaining definition as it came closer. Now it was walking. The faint white glow faded, but the man could still see the ghostly figure clearly in the dark. His skin grew clammy and cold with fear. He closed his eyes, hoping he was just in a dream and that perhaps if he opened them again, the ghost would be gone. Then he opened his eyes again.
The Pale Visitor
The apparition was sitting on the ground next to him, legs crossed, hands on his knees, and leaning forward. It didn’t move. The man gazed at it in fear, lips trembling. The ghost’s face was that of an old man. He was wizened with a short, white beard and spectacles. He looked upon the man unmoving.
“Wh-who are you?” The man said.
The pale visitor looked away, then turned his head back to focus on the dying man. “You can call me Jack.”
“Can you help me?”
“Yes,” replied Jack.
The ghost’s response filled the man with a sense of hope. “I need to get out of here,” he said.
“You can’t,” was the ghost’s response.
“Then how can you help me?”
“I have answers,” replied the ghost.
“What are you?” the man asked.
“I’m someone just like you. My remains rest over there.” He nodded to the darkness where he looked before he first spoke.
“Is there a way out of here?”
“You’re as good as dead already.”
The man was irked by the ghost’s response. “Then what’s the point in you talking to me?”
“You can see me now,” Jack replied.
Puzzled, the man asked, “Why couldn’t I see you before?”
“People don’t see ghosts because they’re too busy paying attention to stuff in the world.” When he saw the look of confusion on the man’s face, he elaborated. “We’re here all along. But other people, the sights, sounds, sensations, and smells of the world drown us out. You’re alone in the dark. Now you can see me.”
“How did you die?” The man asked.
“I fell, just like you.” Then he added, “except I still had my legs. The cave entrance is awfully high.”
The man fell silent. He thought about what Jack said. The ghost also sat silent, fading a bit so that the man almost forgot he was there.
More questions came to the man. “How long have you been in here?” He asked.
“I don’t know. Days? Years? Hundreds of years? Time doesn’t move the same when you’re dead.”
“Don’t you get bored? Can’t you just leave this cave and fly around looking at stuff?”
“I’m not a part of this world anymore. I’m an echo from the past,” said Jack. “I am the wind that rustles the leaves as you pass.”
The man noticed that whenever the ghost spoke, he never showed any emotion. He thought of another question. “What’s it like being dead?” he asked.
“It’s not like anything. I’m here and I’m everywhere. You will know soon enough. You’re going to die here.”
The last thing Jack said reminded the man of his dire predicament. “No,” the man said aloud. “I’m getting out of here.”
The ghost continued, “We all die. There’s no use fighting it. But death is not the end. You too will rejoin the fabric of the universe and live on.”
The man turned his phone on again and tried to call for help. Again, no signal. When he looked to his side, Jack was gone. Was I just hallucinating? I’m not going to die. He switched the flashlight of his phone on and looked around the cave. Dang, that cave entrance is really high up there. It’s a miracle I’m even still alive after falling that far. Out of curiosity, he pointed the light to where Jack said his body was. Nothing. I probably hit my head too hard when I fell. Of course, it was hard to see for sure with all the little stalagmites rising from the ground. Good thing I didn’t fall on one of those. He turned out the light and looked at his phone again. 8% battery left. I better turn it off and save it for later. I might need it for getting out of here.
The man lay in the cave alone in the dark, fighting back pain, thinking, and whispering silent prayers. He might even have faded in and out of sleep a few times. He thought of his life until this point. The woman he loved, now lost to Death. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to join her. He also thought of his son. They had a disagreement about money. It was for his son’s own good. But maybe I’ve been too hard on him. I can’t die in here without making up with him. I can’t die in regret and bitterness. The family is most important.
The glow of light at the cave entrance grew brighter, enough so that the man could see with his dilated eyes the contours of the surfaces around him. It must be morning. It’s now or never. Now or never. With a new sense of purpose, he tried to turn himself over. From his position lying on his back, he used his arms and pushed himself while keeping his back as straight as he could. Throbbing pain returned to his head as his blood rushed from one part of his body to another. He pushed through the pain and flipped himself over, rolling onto his belly. Okay, that was the easy part.
He breathed deeply for a few minutes, gathering the strength to stand. Then in one swift motion, he stood up. Pain shot through his shins as if someone had smashed them with a sledgehammer. The man crumpled back to the ground. Probably compound fractures. He could feel fresh blood flowing out now. Shit, I probably reopened the wound, too.
He lay on the ground writhing in pain and yelling profanities for a few minutes. When the pain finally came down to a manageable level, he lay still on his back again, feeling waves of throbbing pain alternating with numbness in his legs. He began to sob. I can’t die in here. I can’t die.
* * *
So getting up and climbing out of here is out of the question. He turned on his phone again and tried to dial 9-1-1, but got the same “no signal” error message. Battery life 7%. He turned the phone off again. If I can yell loud enough, will anyone hear me? He began to yell as loud as he could. “Help! Someone please heeeeelp! Heeeeelp!” After a couple of minutes, he was out of breath. He lay there with his heart pounding fast. I’m running out of options. He began another round of yelling for help followed by another short break to catch his breath. He continued this for a couple of hours before he became too tired to keep going. No more options.
He remembered the ghost. Had I hallucinated that whole thing? “Jack?” the man whispered. He looked around. Nothing. Then he spoke a little louder, “Are you there, Jack?” Still nothing. Feeling a little crazy and silly, he chuckled to himself and lay his head on the hard surface of the cave floor, looking up at the ceiling about twenty feet above.
The cave ceiling spun around him. He felt light, as if he was slowly spinning out of his body. Each heartbeat pulsed pain from his head down to his legs. I’m still bleeding. This is no good.
The man clutched his phone and turned it on again. It seemed to take forever to boot up. He tried 9-1-1 yet again. But this time he got something different: 0:01… 0:02… 0:03… It connected! He fumbled to put the phone to his ear. “Hello? I’m trapped in a cave! Hello?” Then he heard three quick beeps and a “Call Failed” message came on the screen. “Damn!” the man said aloud. But they can track my phone now, right? Can they find me now? He tried a few more times, but couldn’t get it to connect again. Then the “Low Battery – 5% of battery remaining” message popped up on his phone. He quickly turned it off. Maybe someone’s coming for me now.
The man lay on the cave floor, waiting. He felt weaker now. His legs felt numb. The dizziness and throbbing pain in his head continued. He listened for any sound of help on its way—shouts, dogs barking, or helicopter chops—but nothing. Only silence.
He began shouting again. He felt weak, but now there was a sense of urgency. He could tell by the fading light above that night was about to fall. It would be like a final curtain on his life. A rescue party is looking for me. They have to be looking for me now. He kept shouting as loud as he could until he ran out of breath.
Once again, he lay in silence. Once again he tried to stand, but this time his strength failed him and he couldn’t get on his feet. He slumped back down and tried his phone again. Call failed. 5% battery remaining. He turned his phone off and sobbed. I’m going to die here. I’m going to die.
* * *
Was that a voice? The man must have fallen asleep. But he was wide awake now. Everything was pitch black. Did I just hear a voice? A rush of adrenaline, euphoria, and hope rushed through him. In a dry, crackling voice, he yelled into the dark, “Over here! Is anyone there? I need help! Please… someone.” He fell silent to listen. All was silent.
In a fit of anger and disappointment, he started screaming. No words this time. Just raw, primal screaming. He screamed until his voice went hoarse and his screams dissipated into grunts and dry hisses. Tears rolled down the sides of his head as he closed his eyes and broke down sobbing again. He might have fallen asleep again. Or maybe he didn’t. It was hard to tell how much time passed.
The cave was not pitch black anymore. Morning? I’m so thirsty. It got brighter in the cave. It was a subtle brightness, and he could barely see the shapes of the stalactites and stalagmites closest to him. Jack? He turned his head, and the apparition was sitting next to him in the same spot where he last saw him. “Jack?” he whispered.
Time Goes On
“Jack.” The man was not afraid this time. “Did you come to take me away?” he whispered.
“I’ve been here all along,” the ghost replied.
“It’s over, Jack. I give up.”
“It’s never over,” Jack said.
The man thought about his wife. “I miss Kate. Will I see her again?”
“She never left,” Jack replied. “She just rejoined the dark matter of the universe.” The ghost paused, then added, “As will you.”
The man lay silent in the darkness on the damp stone floor, with the subtle glow of his pale companion cast upon his face. His breathing was growing labored, his skin clammy and cold. In a hoarse whisper, he said to the ghost, “Are they coming for me? Does anyone even know I’m here?”
“They will find you. But you will be dead.”
“How do you know?”
Jack replied, “When you die, time and space don’t matter anymore.” His face remained expressionless as he continued, “I am a part of all time. I am a part of all space. You will know too, when you cross.”
A sharp pain shot across the man’s empty stomach. He grimaced, and his breathing grew quicker and more shallow. He was sweating and shivering at the same time. Closing his eyes, he thought about seeing his wife again. It brought him some comfort. Then he thought of his estranged son, and he had a sensation of panic. In a loud, raspy whisper, he blurted out, “What about my son? Will he even care?”
Jack stayed silent.
The man opened his eyes. The glow of the apparition was gone, and he was alone again in the blackness of the cave. But like a flash of heat lightning across the summer sky, he had a moment of clarity. Maybe it was the same type of clarity older people seem to have on the days leading up to their deaths, when they seem to know that the end is coming soon. The man knew what he had to do.
* * *
I’m running out of time. I better do this now.
He turned his phone on. 4% battery life remaining. This time he didn’t even try dialing 9-1-1 again. His hands trembled, and he had trouble holding his arms still as he raised the phone over his face. He brought up the selfie camera and tapped the video option with a shaky finger. The video screen was black because there was no light in the cave, but the sound was all that mattered. Then he tapped the button to start recording.
The man cleared his throat loudly. How long since I had water? A day? Two days? Could it have been three? I guess time doesn’t matter anymore. Nope. Not for me. He spoke as clearly as he could, but his voice still came out raspy and hoarse, “Bryce. It’s your dad.” He cleared his throat again and continued, “I guess I’m gonna join your mom soon. It was an accident. I still love you. I wanted to see you again, but…” He choked up and realized he was crying, but he forced himself to go on. “…I guess I have no choice now.”
He took a couple of shallow breaths as his hand began to shake violently. He lost strength in his arm and realized the video didn’t matter. He set the phone down near his face and rested his arm on his chest. Then he kept talking. “I’m so sorry how everything turned out. I wish we could go back. We were so happy… our family… I’m sorry Bryce… Remember… I love you…”
He paused for what seemed like a long time. “I’ll be okay… with your mom… Can you forgive me?”
His breathing became short and labored. “Shit this hurts… I don’t know… if it’s still recording… I’ll just… keep talking… Shit…”
The man kept talking into the darkness, his voice growing increasingly faint and beset with bouts of loud breathing. He kept moving his lips as he took his final breaths, even though whatever he said became inaudible. As he passed to join the dark matter of the universe, his final worldly thoughts were of his deceased wife, whom he was about to join, and his son, whom he was leaving behind.
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