Never seen again
just a short story to get back in the groove
Never Seen Again
A Short Story By Scratch Torn
The Cave was a frightening place. All the animals of the jungle avoided it with a two mile perimeter. Mystery surrounded it. Talk of gold lead travelers from all around to the cave. None of them were ever heard from again, or so the myth goes. Michael Futt didn't believe the myth. This tall lean flying squirrel knew that there was no truth to it and went in search of the treasure. After a fearless skydiving and a short glide he landed in the jungle. He took off his skydiving suit and grinned. The sun shined down on him even through the trees as he made his way through the forest, adjusting his small pack after the fall. Leaves and foliage were cut down to make a path but no matter where he looked no animals were around. He shrugged it off as coincidence and went on.
After about thirty minutes he arrived at the entrance. He looked with glee and stepped out into the clearing in front. Every last hair on his body stood on end as a cold shiver rushed up his spine. He took a step back but came upon a wall. He quickly turned around, seeing nothing but defiantly feeling it. His heart raced and he looked back toward the cave. A small robot came out of it and projected a holographic note.
"Good day to you and welcome to The Cave. If you came here for treasure then you might be in luck for there is treasure. Only the strongest and greatest in many aspects can get to it. This stage is designed to fend off the weak. It is our belief that survival of the fittest should be strictly enforced. If you fail you will be dead, but if you win then countless riches shall be yours. The force field will not allow escape so please proceed in. Good luck"
The robot rolls back into the cave and disappears into the darkness. Michael was even more nervous but proceeded in. To his surprise, the cave was metal and cold, clearly fabricated. After a few steps in, lights lit up the cave. He faces a huge open grassy field, a gentle breeze blew across it, and flowers bloomed in many areas, and the sun shined down over him from a clear blue sky. He looked over and saw a large pile of gold immediately across the field. The gold was stacked taller than he thought the cave to be. He looked in amazement and started to run after it but before he could take more than 5 steps he stopped. Obviously this couldn't be right. He thought it odd they would just leave the gold in the first room after that whole introduction with the robot. He looked around then took a step back before jumping into the air, gliding across the wind with his squirrel flaps. As he flew over he had a moment to look down. The entire middle area was now clear to be an illusion. Through the hologram he could see hundreds of spikes lining a pit. He sighed in relief, looking on at the gold before landing where he saw it to be safe. When he landed nothing but three gold pieces were left. The speakers came on and someone in a low toned voice spoke.
"That was very clever Mr. Futt. You'd be flabbergasted how many creatures have fallen into the pit."
"Well it helps to be able to glide" Michael responded
"Very true, but as you will come to know each test is designed for your specie's personal attributes as was everyone else's. A rhino that's primary tactic is to charge had fallen off the cliff that collapsed behind him. He just leisurely strolled across the field. For you, it was a pit that must be glided over. Now if you will be pleased to continue into the next room. And those gold pieces are yours. There is more on the way."
Michael pocketed the gold and carefully stepped down the hall. The next room was nothing but a cold and narrow concrete corridor. It was no shorter than a football field and no wider than a car. Michael couldn't help but wonder what would happen here. Sure enough, half way down the hall the opening behind him closed and spiked laced the wall. A strong wind blew from in front of him. The airstream caught his flaps and he was launched back. Michael quickly closed his arms so his flat against his body and he landed only a few feet away from the spikes. He was safe but was still slipping back. The wind was catching on his legs. He tried to take steps but by the time he could get one step forward his other paw had slid back several inches. He kept walking if only to slow his eminent demise.
He thought hard and then had an idea. It was risky but he was willing to give it a try. He got down on all fours and gripped the ground with his pads and slowly made his way down the hall. The wind now blew along his body instead of right into it. The wind still made him slow but now he could advance.
After thirty long minutes he made it to the other end. The wind stopped and Michael grabbed the gold that was in front of him and headed down the next hall.
The speaker comes on again and the voice spoke again. "Not bad. You've shown you can use your natural talent and overcome its handicap. Just one more room and you shall have all the hold for the last room. Good luck."
Michael felt a bit relieved that there was only one room left but was surprised to see that it was a huge forest. Could he have been outside? No, there were no animal sounds, almost no wind, and the trees were not natural to this area. The lush pine trees were closer to what he'd see around his home. He smiled for a moment before realizing that he was still being tested. He started running and when he caught enough wind he took to the air. The trees were so plentiful that it was hard to maneuver but quickly adapted a branch to branch technique that squirrels are accustomed to.
After 20 minutes of jumping and gliding he still didn't reach the other end. He sat on a branch and looked around as he grabbed a bottle of water from his pack. After drinking it all he threw it into a bush and after it landed he heard some rustling from where it hit. He quickly looked back and saw a pair of eyes in the bush. Without thinking he got back up and quickly jumped off to the next branch. As soon as he moved a large rattlesnake rushed out of the bushes and gave chase on the ground.
"You can't get away from us! You'll make a wonderful meal!" the rattlesnake yelled, slithering along the ground rapidly.
"Us? Who's us? It's just you!" responded Michael, hoping to get a better idea of what he's up against.
A voice came from above. "Whoooo is us little one."
Michael looked up and saw an owl, talons sharper than a blade and primed to kill. Before he could see anything else his tail was hit. He quickly looked back to see a raccoon running along the branches. He sped up, gaining ground over the raccoon and snake but the owl kept pace. "Who are you guys? Are you here for the gold too? You can have it!"
The owl licked his beak and said, "We don't want the gold! We want a nice hot meal! And for meat eaters 101 degrees is just perfect."
Michael looked around and figured there was only one thing he could do. He grabbed a branch and swung around it, launching up into the air and grabbed onto the owl, containing its wings. They started falling down. Faster and faster they flew before they finally hit the ground. "I learned that playing pokémon. Seismic toss and you're out cold." He ran back up the tree, quickly spinning around it and kicked the raccoon off and started running along branches. Without the need to jump from branch to branch the raccoon easily kept up. After a few more branches he jumped off and slammed his paw down on the raccoon's head. "There we go. That takes care of it. Wait...OH SHIT! Where's the snake?!?" he looked around but before he could even notice the snake coiled around him tight.
"You'll make a fine lunch especially now that I get you all to myself" he rattles his tail and opens wide.
Michael pushed his maw in and quickly bit down and ripped off the snakes tongue. The snake screamed and lost enough grip in his shock that Michael could slip out. Michael quickly grabbed the raccoon and shoved it in the screaming snake's mouth. Without enough notice all he could do cough and gag on it before passing out. Michael started running but the whole area started blinking before disappearing, revealing a very small room with 12 gold coins.
The speaker comes on again. "Very good. Very very good. It's not often that one can overcome their prey! Not often at all! We're very pleased to have you here. Please take your gold and come into the next room. You can finally meet our leader and claim your prize!"
The door to the next area opens up and a light can be seen from down the hall. He quickly ran down and into the opening where a large pit with a fire is. The wall closed behind him and the speaker once again came on "toss your gold in and you may pass. Don't worry you'll get it back."
"What is this? I thought that last one was the final test!"
"It was. This isn't a test. It's simply a remolding of gold. You'll get it back, we promise. We just want to make it nicer"
Michael sighed and tossed his gold in, given no other option. The gold fell and upon hitting the flame the floor closed up and a door on the opposite end opened up. He walked through and before him was a large gold ring almost as big as him. "Is this my gold? What am I supposed to do with this hula-hoop?"
"It's not a hula-hoop. It's a ring"
"I don't know anyone with a finger this big."
The speaker shut off with only a small giggle being heard before it did. Michael continued along the hall way until he reached an opening. A large and very powerful dragon adorned with jewelry sat atop a throne with many creatures grooming his body. He looked down at the frozen squirrel and said. "So it is you whom I've heard so much about. You've been a brilliant specimen and will have a prime position in my new world. You may bestow your gift upon my foot." The dragon lifted his foot and held it with his middle two to Michael. Michael scrunched his nose from the foul smell emanating from the large foot and placed the ring on it. The dragon grinned and very slowly moved his foot back and much to his surprise Michael was dragged along. "The bond is complete" said the dragon. "You are forever my slave now. As all the others are attached to their place of worship you are attached to my foot. I haven't had a foot slave in over 10,000 years so you'll have your work cut out for you."
"What is happening? What is all this?!?" Michael exclaimed, still trying to understand it all.
A zebra walked over and spoke with the same low tone as the speaker. "You're now our lord Graz's property." He hands Michael a brush and a blade sharpener as well as some other cleaning supplies. "The ring is designed to keep you alive and attached to our lord until it is chosen for you to go. The only way I've seen that happen is by death. You are to clean his feet for all eternity. Consider it an honor to be worthy of being owned by Graz. It's the highest anyone can achieve. Now take this" the zebra puts a charm around the Michael's neck and his eyes go black. "That's better. Now tell me who you are little squirrel"
"I am no one" The flying Squirrel responded in a very monotone voice
"And what is your purpose?"
"So serve our lord Graz and make sure his feet are well kept"
"Very good. And finally..."
"Tell me what you are" interrupted Graz
The flying squirrel turned and bowed down. "I am a slave to your foot. A small insignificant slave who's born only to finally be owned by you, my lord."
Graz laughed and smiled. "HAR HAR HAR! VERY GOOD! VERY GOOD!! Now I believe it is time for you to go to work."
"Yes master. Thank you for this opportunity." Without another word the flying squirrel grabbed hold of the brush and started scrubbing, never to be seen again.