The minute I walked into the abyss I was engulfed in darkness, a darkness so overpowering that I'd lost track of my whereabouts.
Faltering steps, maybe two or three then stop; which way was up, which way forward? Looking back to the way I came in had been pointless. I stood motionless in fear, somehow hoping my eyes would adjust to the darkness, that I'd begin to see faint traces of... of what exactly? I was not so sure. Something, someone, anything familiar to cling to.

Unprepared and foolishly I had tried to turn back. I'd stumbled and fallen. A slow motion of thoughts thick in my mind had made me giddy. Hopeless. Like a nightmare in which I'd find myself detached from my limbs; eyes and mouth sewn over and lying vulnerable waiting for incubus to descend.

Yet what courage had found me here; Lost. Was it something greater that found myself challenging all boundaries known to me? Why had I ignored all the warning signs?

Drums in the distance echoed off invisible walls. The beat had steadily grown louder until it caught my breath and I realized it was my heartbeat. I was not scared. No, not scared or so I'd told myself over and over but those thoughts only became more confused. More muddled.
Voices. They called out, softly and unknown at first then with more urgency and mixed in with the drum beat I had felt the intensity of an African chant, a chant offering a sacrifice to the spirits. Was I the sacrifice? The voices got louder and more insistent calling out things I could not or would not hear. I began to hear familar voices too. Voices of my past. But it could not be. No, I'd locked those voices away in a part of me so that I would no longer suffer. Silenced and buried deep, so deep.

I did not reckon on ever hearing them again, yet the voices found a way to escape. I could hear the bitter revenge as they vied for airspace, overlapping desperate to be heard after all this time.
I'd covered my ears to shut them out. How dare they intrude. They must've known I would do that as the moment I pressed hard my hands over my ears I suddenly saw the figure of a caveman tending his fire. On the ochre walls were shadows. Menacing and leering each a vessel for the voices.
And so it was here, beside this benign caveman that I saw the past meet the present. Each shadow flickered a greeting, pleased at the spark of recognition ignited as they breathed into me, dragon-like.

I dropped my hands, at last aware of the futility of it all and I'd sunk to my knees. My stoic resolve no longer able to withstand the onslaught of sensory emotions. My tears, like an indoor water feature, began to trickle.

I recognised a stronger smell than the crackling firewood and I noticed that the caveman with his earthy scent had positioned himself beside me.
He whispered, ' Look at the shadows. Observe them but don't be scared for they are your future but you must be able to truly see each of them for what they are. Hear their voices too and if you don't understand them, just listen. You'll soon learn their meaning. Also you must be able to match the voice to the shadow for only then will they stop haunting you. Yes, see it like a game, a puzzle that you must complete.'

He paused and rubbed his gnarled hand across his nose before continuing, 'But a word of warning, they are as devious as you could ever be. They will try to trick you. I have seen all their scams and they are clever... but, not as clever as I am. Truth is the only way out. The stakes are high, they know it, I know it and you know it but I will see if you do not play the game with true conviction and that is why I must stoke the fire.'

He stood up. 'Face your demons,' he said, '...see them for what they are or you will be stuck down here forevermore. I won't deny I'd appreciate the company, it does get kind of lonely here but my good wishes are for you to leave.'

I watched him slowly approach the fire and we looked at each other momentarily, both knowing what must be done. He nodded then stoked the fire and the shadows danced as the voices sang out with even more vigour.

So now I am left alone observing and listening...