Dark Maw

Jeb led Ben across a field covered in hip-high grass. After the field they entered some trees and walked up the side of a hill. Ben was breathing hard after the walk. His sweat made the heavy shirt he wore stick to his back.

They came to the entrance of a cave. It was nearly five feet tall and four foot wide. The rock that framed it was brown and black.

"Wow, Jeb. It's awesome, just like you said." "Yup," Jeb replied.

Ben strapped an elastic band over his head and flipped on the switch to the headlight. He walked to the mouth of the cave and ran a hand down the moist rock. A cool breeze hit his face.

"How deep does it go?" Ben asked. "I don't know."

Ben sighed and realized he was happier than he had been in a long time. He ducked his head and crouch-walked into the cave.

"Hey Ben!" He turned and his world lit up like lightening.

~~OOO~~

Throbbing pain filled his head and nausea rolled in his gut. Ben's back was against something cold. He remembered the cave. His legs stuck out in front of him.

He tried to move them but couldn't. They were tied at the ankle. His hands were also tied together in front of him. Ben opened his eyes a crack.

"Nasty bump on the head you got there," Jeb said. "What happened?" Ben asked. "I hit you with a rock when you turned around. Did a good job of it too. I bet I fractured your skull." "What?" "What's the matter, Ben? Don't you get it? I knocked you out and tied you up."

Jeb crouched on his haunches in front of him. A smile played on his lips. His brown eyes were wide.

"What are you doing?" Ben asked. "Finally, the question,"

Jeb clapped his hands and stood erect. He leaned back, hands on hips, and looked up. "I'm going to kill you." Ben's pain subsided as fear edged in. His nausea worsened though. He stared at Jeb. "Come on, Jeb. Untie me and let's get out of here. Take me to the hospital." Jeb's eyes latched onto Ben's "Don't try to talk me out of it, Ben. I've made up my mind. It's going to happen."

Ben raised his hands. "Quit playing, Jeb. I'm hurting. Help me." Jeb pulled out a huge pocket knife that had to be five inches long. He clicked it open, squatted down, and stabbed the full length into Ben's leg. As he yanked it out blood erupted like a geyser. Ben shrieked and put both tied together hands over the wound.

"Still think I'm playing?" Jeb asked. His eyes were focused on the bloodstained knife. "Stop," Ben said between sobs. "Don't tell me you never thought about it." "I don't want to die." "What's it like to kill somebody? Haven't you ever wondered?" "You're insane. You need help. Stop, okay, just stop."

"Sane, insane, them's just words, Ben. I've thought about it plenty. When my Dad would beat me when I was a kid. When kids at school gave me wedgies and kicked me in the nuts. When people in town glance at me and whisper to their friends, then laugh. I've thought about it, Ben. And you know what I've figured?"

Ben couldn't take his eyes off Jeb. His terror wouldn't let him. He knew that if he looked away that Jeb would stab him again.

Jeb cocked his head to the side. Ben breathed fast, in and out. "It's a choice, Ben. That's all. All I had to do was choose then everything else just turned off. I was scared how easy it was at first, but that passed. You get what I'm saying?"

"No," Ben said. He couldn't think of anything else to say. He was trying hard to think of a way out of this. Jeb waved the knife up and down at Ben's face while rocking back and forth in his squatted position. "Then you came along, Ben--a recluse, a new face that nobody really saw. It was like you were delivered especially for me. You are my chance."

Ben shook his head as his tears started to fall. "That won't help, Ben. Are you ready?" Ben cried, "Don't do it, Jeb. I want to live. I want to live." Jeb moved the knife closer. Ben thrashed and swung his arms with all his might. Jeb danced around, slicing with his knife. There were new pains then Jeb got through Ben's defenses and stabbed him in the chest. Ben curled around it and yelled. He felt pinpricks of pain in his back, but was too weak and too tired to care. Everything got dark. The pain went away.