The Light that Guides Us

I’ve been traveling through this maze for hours.

I’m an archeologist sent to New Guinea to research remains reported to have been sighted deep within a cavern. I was sent by myself, although I had a native guide. My job was to find the remains, and be sure they are worth sending the rest of the team across sea. My guide decided to wait outside the cave, fearing it was haunted, due to some local folk-tale, I suspect. I felt a little nervous going alone, so I borrowed his machete just for comfort. Besides that, I had a flashlight, a compass, and water.

It was nearly two hours alone in that cave before I finally came upon something interesting. The door I found was a little easy to miss. It was built of the same rock as the cave’s walls. When I pushed the door open, I saw the most awe-inspiring display I had ever seen. It was a castle. It’s architecture appeared to have been designed during the dark ages, but it, again, was built from the same material of the cave; as if it were carved in, yet there was not a sign of chisel marks, or any marks for that matter. Not a single scratch, nor any sign aging. I scratched my head in confusion, yet opened my eyes wide in fascination. I expected pottery and skulls, which would have been pleasing, but this. This gives me utmost excitement, as well as curiosity. Trembling with whatever feeling I had that caused me to tremble, I took a deep breath and walked into the main entrance.

The dark, lifeless interior of the castle felt empty and lonely. I spotted a rubble pile on the wall. I would have not spotted it, there was nothing particularly fascinating about it. Though, I could feel it. I don’t mean physically, I mean I could sense something of great importance beneath it. As if it were calling out to me. I dug through the rubble with my hands. It took quite a length of time, but my constant excitement made the hours go by like minutes. At first I was disappointed, but eventually I uncovered a small passage along the ground. It was just large enough for a skinny man like myself to crawl though, so that’s what I did. On the other side of the tunnel was a faint, orange glow. It seemed very unnatural, possibly artificial, so I turned my flashlight off. On the other side of the tunnel, I found what I previously thought was non-existent and impossible.

I found an orb. This was no ghost, demon, or any fantasy creature. This was a creature previously thought to only exist in science fiction. “My name is Nag’urloth,” the being told me telepathically. “I am from a gas planet far from here, but I can survive off of your oxygen. I have explained myself, now explain yourself.”

“I am,” I said shakily before the alien cut me off.

“Although I can feel sound vibration, I cannot perceive sound the same way your species does. If you will think your words, I will understand them,” the voice said politely.

“I am Steven. I am an archeologist sent here to explore this cave,” I replied mentally.

“Steven, I have been locked in this room for a very long time,” it told me, “I have been sent here to save your planet. An asteroid is going to collide into Earth very soon. However, there is a machine in the cavern capable of preventing the disaster. I am made primarily of air, so I will not be able to turn the machine on myself, but I could guide you to it.”

“Of course.”

I followed it out of the tunnel, and through the cave for a few minutes. It did not take long to find another entrance. Just in front of it were skulls and pottery. I grinned. I knew I discovered something of much greater importance, and now, I am going to save the world.

After passing through the rocky hall, I entered another, even more amazing room. It was machinery. Along the walls were transparent computer-like objects, although with no buttons or screens. At the center of the room was a great machine that resembled a rocket, though made of rust. I doubted it worked, but Nag’urloth reassured me upon hearing my thoughts. What seemed out of place more than anything were the more familiar machines. A lever, and several gears, more than likely from the Renaissance era, I thought. Although Nag’urloth told me it was Roman.

“It seems we have ten minutes before impact,” he told me.

“What should I do?”

“Pull the lever, hurry!”

I did as the alien told me. The ancient gears began turning one another. The transparent computers began glowing orange, illuminating the entire room. The roof of the cave suddenly blasted off and the floor rose to the surface. The rusted rocket-like machine began creaking. For a moment, I thought it was going to collapse. Suddenly, a beam shot from the from the top. Seconds later, a great fire ball shot through the atmosphere in the distance. The ground shook, and soon the sky was covered in dust. All became dark. Nag’urloth evaporated away without an explanation, but I did not need one. I knew what I did. I destroyed my planet. I was deceived and used. I was a gullible idiot who deserved to die. So there I stood. I couldn’t stand another second living with the knowledge of what I did. I pulled the machete from my belt and lunged it into my torso. I slowly bled to death knowing that self inflicted death does not come close to the punishment I deserve.

The End.