Depths of Darkness
Hi guys. Hope you enjoyed the first part. If you are here without reading the first part, I recommend finishing that first, as it gives context to the characters. However, here is the second part of exploring limits. Enjoy
I missed Sam. It had been a while since the last text. We had agreed to stay in touch after that incredible night we shared. I still remember that night like it happened yesterday. I wanted to drag her back to my room and have her for myself again. I wanted to make love to her on my bed, but it was way too conventional for her. I chickened out. Should have, at the least, asked her. Ever since that day, my confidence in women has grown. I almost had sex more often than before.
We texted each other a few times, casually asking about our day-to-day. But I couldn't muster enough courage to express my desire to be with her again. I would travel to the ends of the world to be with her again. So many nights and showers were wasted thinking about her and not being with her. Life went on as usual for me.
Two months after that night, I couldn't take it anymore and asked her if we could catch up.
"Would love to. Will share details soon."
I almost jumped and screamed in my chair at the office. I was thrilled to know that Sam wanted to meet me as well. I was acting like a college kid who just realized he was going to have sex. I had gotten laid less than an average college kid in his final year. But nothing could bring me down. I was finally going to meet Sam.
We were to meet up in a national park, which was a couple of hours of flying away. She had chosen to meet up mid-week but I had enough holidays stocked up. I was more than happy to use them. Sam had texted the location of a resort an hour away from the airport. I decided to rent a self-drive car for the time I was there. I reached an hour before Sam's flight was going to land. I wanted to be prepared for what was in store for me this time. I went around the resort but it looked straightforward. Standard cabins for families to spend time out in the wilderness. I was not complaining if that was all we did. It felt more romantic than anything I could imagine. I stood looking out at the open stretches of dense forest, wondering if any animals wandered in them as the sun was starting to set. Birds chirping as they returned home, coffee in my hand, Sam meeting up soon, room for ourselves over the weekend, it couldn't be more mellow than this for Sam's standards, but it was perfect for me.
"Mr. Joshua?"
"Yes."
"I have been asked to give you a backpack and location for your night stay."
"I am sorry, but I already have a room. You must have got me confused with someone else."
"You are waiting for Ms. Samantha, right?"
"Yes, and I think she is expected here any moment."
"I am sorry sir but I think there is some change of plans. You have to leave immediately for this location I am about to give you or else it will be tough for you to reach."
"Are you sure about this, and how far is it? The place I am supposed to go?"
"Very positive sir. And it will take half an hour. You have to reach before it gets dark."
"Hmmm fine give me the bag. And will Sam be there? How is she coming?"
"I have no idea. You should get going, sir."
The bag had sheets, a torch, a medical kit, and other camping essentials. I got some cash and other belongings from my room and rushed out. It was not very dense in the beggining but it got thicker and thicker as I went inside the forest. It got darker and darker by the minute. It was almost zero light and the sounds of the insects got intense. It was all kinds of buzzing, squeaking, rattling, crackling that one could imagine. It felt creepy and the fear was getting to me. I could be bitten at any moment by any number of things. I did not prepare for this excursion. Mentally. Physically, it was just walking so it was fine. My torchlight was barely helping me, and it was scary thinking if the lights attracted other animals.
The phone showed that I was just five minutes out from my location. I had no idea what was waiting at the end of this. Hopefully, a cabin with lot lights and locks and a toilet. If I switched off my torch, it would be insanely dark. I would not be able to see a single thing. It was a no-moon night and cloudy. Nothing was helping me from the above. Although the trees would block it all up
I reached my location to find a tent erected in a clearing. My mind was searching for a fire but none was to be.
"You can come in if you switch off the torch"
I almost shat in my pants hearing that. I dropped the torch and looked for cover behind a tree.
"I didn't say drop it and attract the animals. I said switch it off."
It was Sam's voice coming from inside the tent. I gathered myself to point the torch at the tent. It was a tent set up nicely. I ran towards it, wanting to get inside. Anything to get away from the darkness and forest. It was not exactly away from the forest but anything was better than the open forest. And Sam was inside
"Sam, are you ok? When did you get here?"
"I am fine and I came in about an hour early. You can enter only if the torch is off. This is a magical tent. You need to obey its command."
"Sam I am freaking out. What is goin' on?"
"Your instructions are clear. Enter to find out more."
"Ok ok. It's off. Let me in. I can't see anything. Where is the opening?"
"Good. Stretch out your hands and rub against the tent till you find your next clue"
I did as told and went around the tent. I had to go a whole circle before I was met with a soft arm. It held on to me and pulled me inside. It was slow and gave me time to not trip and fall in. The fear had hit the roof. Still no light and no sense of security at all. At least Sam was there now.
"Welcome in Josh. Hope you had a good walk. Sit down."
"Sam, what is going on? I can't see you or anything else for that matter. Are we safe here?"
"Josh calm down. Sit down."
After dropping the bag down, I sat down. I removed the shoe as it felt like I was on a soft thing. I was handed a bottle of water, which was the most comforting thing I could get. I gulped down, dropping a bit of it on my shirt.
"Ok, Sam. I am calm and sitting down. Please tell me what is going on."
"Hi, Josh. I missed you too. How have you been."
"I am fine. Why are we here Sam?"
"I thought you would like it, Josh. Why? Are you scared?"
"Yes, I am scared Sam. And for the last time. Are we safe here?"
"I have no idea, Josh. I have not been here before. I paid the resort people some bribe to let us come out here. We actually don't have permission. So, to answer you. No, I have no idea about safety."
"Then why are we here? Let's go back. I can find the way back with my phone and the torch can take us back"
"No Josh. I found them both on the floor after you stepped in and threw them out. You are welcome to go out and search."
"Why would you do that Sam? This is crazy. This is actually dangerous. There could be bears, snakes, and..."
I was cut off by Sam's lips on mine. She started kissing me slowly and gently. My sweat was trickling down my head and onto my nose. Suddenly I was more aware of every sensation on my skin and the sounds around me. Involuntarily kissing her back, I started kissing back. Sensing her softness and lipstick. I could taste her strawberry lips. Her breath was on my top lips. I could hear her breathing more clearly. It was a calm feeling to sense her taste, her breathing. I opened my eyes to see her but could hardly make an image. Sam moved away. I could tell only by the movements I could feel on the mattress below me.
"So Josh, want to go back?"
"No Sam, I can't do that. Not without you anyway."
"By the way, how do you know it's me? How do you know this is the same Sam?"
"I...I don't know...I recognize your voice, Sam."
"I could be an imposter imitating the Sam you knew."
"Well...You could be...But you recognized me. That's good enough."
"Finally Josh is using some brain for something other than being stressed out. I thought you would recognize my lips. Have you forgotten it already?"