Paid in Advance

Inside of the cave, there was no movement aside from the water cascading from the moss-lined alcove where it poured. No sound except for the echo of the cascade and the slow drip of unseen water. Below, a sickly green light crept from the bottom of a naturally formed basin and cast shimmering light along the glistening rock walls. Dense gravel, with small to large size rocks packed and trapped within, lined the cave floor as far as the eye could see. Only a small opening far from the waterfall, just wide enough for an average human, let in a small stream of outside light.

A rope, knotted at one end, fell through the opening and thudded hard against the gravel. The light was suddenly blocked, and scraping echoes traveled down the chamber as someone made their way down. Finally, the figure came within sight, and the tired traveler known as Eric Thames landed on the ground with both feet and a slight grunt. He released the rope and looked around the cavern, awestruck by what he found.

The waterfall was real after all.

Eric entered the cavern and slowly approached the waterfall, eyes darting up to down and all around as he scanned for movement. Save for Eric himself, no one else was down here.

No one visible, at least.

As Eric drew close to the waterfall, the torrent a roar in his ears, the cascading sound grew dimmer until it disappeared entirely. Soon, every sound was gone from his ears and Eric stood in total silence. The outside light faded, and only the green from the pool remained.

A gravely, whispering voice spoke up.

“You have come far, stranger.”

Eric’s eyes looked around, trying to spy another figure in the shadows.

“You are not afraid,” the voice noted. “But uncertain.”

The hair on Eric’s arms stood up; he spun around, but saw nothing.

“You know what it is you seek here.”

Eric hesitated, then nodded.

“How?”

“The town nearby,” the lone man replied. “So many superstitions about this cave, all of them say that it’s a door to the spirit world.”

“And what use would a man like you have for them?”

“I-” Eric swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. “I have my reasons.”

“Many men have had their reasons over the years, what makes yours so special?”

“I need to speak to someone again.”

Darkness collected in front of Eric, churning into a humanoid shape with two arms crossed.

“Why would I let you do that?”

Eric paused, his hands tightening into fists.

“You have a price?” he asked. “Name it, I’ll do it.”

“Just like that, no hesitation?”

“Yes.”

“This person must matter a great deal to you, then.”

“She did-” Eric caught himself. “She does.”

“Who is she to you?”

“What does it matter?”

“That’s the price,” the voice said. “Tell me of the person who you wish to contact.”

“I-” Eric stopped. “No.”

“Unwilling to confess to your sin, then?”

“Sin? What in the world are you-”

“Why else would you be so desperate to talk to them in the afterlife?” The voice asked. “You, who traveled so far and stands here so broken, hoping to contact this person once again.”

Eric was silent.

“So, then that’s the real price, is it?” he asked. “You get to learn about the regrets of the people that come in here, and do what? Use it against them?”

“No,” the voice said. “In fact, most act like you; offended, as though you’re being asked to betray a great secret. If you’ve done nothing wrong, then why hide it?”

“Because-” Eric hesitated. “Because, I did.”

The shadow remained waiting, still and motionless.

“She was my wife.”

“Deceased?”

Eric nodded.

“How did she pass?”

“I killed her.”

The shadow lowered its arms.

“Murder?”

“Mercy.”

“What’s the difference?”

“She was already dead when I shot her.”

“Then why say you killed her?”

“I ruined any chance for her to be saved, that’s how.”

“What killed her before you shot her?”

“An illness,” Eric replied. “Changes people into something monstrous, kills them in the process.”

“Into something you had to shoot?”

Eric nodded.

“For your own sake?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you didn’t kill her.”

“How do I know that was my only option, though? What if there was a way for her to be treated, but I put down her body before anyone had the chance?”

“How could you have known such a thing?”

“It was my job to know.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“Why?”

“I was supposed to protect her, she meant the entire world to me.”

“Did you save others?”

“Yes,” Eric replied. “I stopped the sadist that made her sick in the first place, prevented him from doing the same to countless others as a result.”

“Then why come here to speak to your wife?”

Eric was silent.

“Many men have had their reasons for coming here,” the shadow stated. “But all of those reasons stem from the same place: they wish to be forgiven.”

“I failed her,” Eric admitted. “I married her, I swore to protect her, but I was so focused on stopping this man that I forgot even the person that mattered the most to me.”

“Are you so sure that she feels the same way?”

“I-” Eric hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“Then perhaps you should ask her.”

The shadow extended an arm to the glowing pool, and the green light intensified.

“I grant your request, mortal. Approach the pool, close your eyes, and picture your beloved as you last saw her. When you open your eyes, she will be on the other side of the water, ready to speak to you in the afterlife.”

“Just like that?” Eric asked.

“Are you suddenly unsure?” The shadow questioned. “You came all this way-”

“I did, but-”

Eric then crossed his arms, before dropping them to his side and shaking his head.

“No,” he said, quickly. “I can’t do it.”

“You’ve been deemed worthy of the doorway, why refuse it now? Don’t you want to see the face of your darling wife again?”

“I can’t,” Eric explained. “Not like this, because I’ve done it again.”

He looked away from the pool and faced the shadow.

“I’ve been so focused on failing to save her, that I haven’t noticed how fractured I am until being forced to face it just now. I-...I can’t let her see me like this.”

“Then you refuse my gift?”

“I’m sorry, but yes.”

The light of the pool died down, and the shadow’s arms dropped to his side.

“Congratulations, mortal; you’ve come further than most others do in this cave. Undoubtedly, your grief led you here, but it does not completely drive you. When faced with the opportunity to amend a past sin, you realized there were others that no gateway or spell can help you to overcome. For this, I will grant you one return trip; when you are ready, return to this cave at a future time and face your beloved. Your toll will be considered-”

The shadow mulled it over.

“-paid in advance.”

Eric nodded, then bowed.

“I thank you, spirit.”

“May you find what you need, mortal.”

The shadow faded, and the light returned from outside. Eric winced as the rushing torrent of the waterfall hit his ears. He looked around, nodded briefly, and then made his way across the cavern and back to where his rope remained hanging. Before beginning the climb up, Eric looked back toward the glowing green pool.

“Bye, Tish; I’ll see you soon.”

Eric gripped the rope tight and began his climb.