The Cavern of The Lost Souls; Het Hol Van De Verloren Zielen

A mist-covered cavern under the moonlight caught the eye of a young adventurer known to all as Akako Tanaka. The corners of her mouth rose up in exhausted triumph as she finally stepped out of the heat and into the cool cavern. Her mid-length black hair tumbled into her face as a stray breeze from farther down the tunnel caught it. Silently she sat and drank from a canteen, after nearly two days of tireless searching, she had found the cave indicated on a small, leather map she carried in a pouch on her hip. Akako reached for it, taking it out, she glanced at the markings, she was there, Het Hol Van De Verloren Zielen.

Akako slid the map carefully back into her pouch and strapped her half-empty canteen back into her bag, pulled out a flashlight, and began to explore the tunnel. It wasn’t long before she was deep within the cavern, running her fingers over the walls, touching an occasional stalagmite approvingly. The sound of running water reached her ears and it wasn’t long before Akako came to an underground stream. The water was icy to the touch and after filling her spare canteen, she continued on. At a fork in the tunnel, Akako went left, then right, then left again. Soon she was at the heart of the cavern, many tunnels led from its midst. She gasped in admiration as she flashed her small light around. Out of the corner of her eyes, Akako spied a glow coming from one of the many tunnels, curiously she followed it, coming to a steaming lake. Akako reached into the water, and drew her hand back instantly, it was warm, and it was almost gel-like. “Young adventurer, why are you here?” A voice purred from the shadows, “Have you come to join my collection?”

Akako was taken aback, “So this is it, I was correct in my assumptions, this is Het Hol Van De Verloren Zielen, The Cavern of The Lost Souls…” She murmured softly, “I have traveled thousands of miles to free my ancestors that you hold prisoner in your collection.”

She dropped the light and looked cautiously around the room, “What say you? Will you give up the souls freely, or must I take them forcefully?”

There was harsh laughter, no longer was the voice soft, “So you are related to them are you? Well…” It spat vehemently, “It seems as though I will have another soul to add after all.”

“Just tell me, why are you doing this?” Akako called.

“Before I destroy your body I will tell you.” The voice called darkly, “Over a thousand years ago, Haruko Tanaka imprisoned me in this very cavern. When he had done so, I vowed that when I escaped, I would hold the Tanaka souls captive forever, I would seek them out every hundred years, but, those that wandered into my cave, would become a part of my collection.” Akako practically felt the creature smirk, “Soon however, my collection grew greater than that of the Tanaka clan. I had many souls, and I was satisfied. I was able to escape Haruko’s spell when a foolish human shattered the crystal in which I was imprisoned, the child was called Machiko Tanaka, the great-granddaughter of Haruko… I was pleased. Enough talk, it is time for you to join the others!”

Akako bit her lip, his tale had followed that which her mother had told her, of the demon imprisoned because of his evil deeds, the Soul Collector had been imprisoned in his own crystal. She had no more time for thought as a ghostly beast slid from the shadows. She gasped as his claws shot forward, and leapt backwards, the claws raked down her right arm, causing four thin lines of blood to appear.

Again the Soul Collector attacked, continuously lashing out with his claws, always just barely catching Akako as she dodged his attacks, she pulled a crystal from the pouch that held the map and a look of fear crossed the creature’s face as he recognized it, “No!” He moaned, “You tricked me!”

Squeezing several drops of blood onto the crystal, Akako began to chant softly as the Soul Collector renewed his attacks, “I will not be imprisoned again!” He cried, sinking four clawed fingers into Akako’s lower abdomen, she gasped but continued her chanting.

The air grew heavy and there was a noticeable electrical charge in the air, knowing it was now futile to stop her, the demon attempted to flee. The crystal began to glow brightly, and souls of long dead people stood at all the exits, chanting with Akako, Haruko stood behind her and placed his ghostly hands on her shoulders, encouraging her to renew her efforts, the Soul Collector began to slide back towards her, “No!!!” He shouted, “Not again!” And then he was gone.

Akako looked towards the souls of her ancestors, “You are all free now,” She mumbled, “Rest in peace.”

Haruko looked at her, “He will escape again.”

“No, he won’t.” Akako said, “I have a plan for him…”

She waded into the warm water and sank beneath its surface, crystal clutched in her hand. The water grew deep, and it was hard for her to keep going, but she continued, determined to keep future generations from suffering as they had. Once at the bottom, Akako dug a hole in the mud, and buried the crystal, covering it back up with both mud and rocks before shooting to the surface and gulping in fresh air, “He will never roam free again.” She replied.

“Good,” Haruko said, “Now you must leave, don’t return to this cavern, ever.”

“I know.” Akako said softly, “Goodbye, grandfather.”

“Goodbye.” The man said, and disappeared.

Akako made her way back to the entrance to the cavern and out into bright morning sunshine, here she rested before continuing on her way home. Her adventure over, she wanted nothing more than to see her family again.

THE END