The rain lashed down, Keeley sobbed and moaned in a semi-conscious manner as she lay in the shallow muddy water. Katie grimaced and grunted trying to pull her body weight up and out of the huge hole, even now with both hands clinging to thick tree roots, Katie could not muster the strength to get out. She paused for a brief moment staring up beyond the leafy trees and into the rain-filled sky, the cries of Keeley sounded more agonising as the seconds passed by, Katie took a deep breath and let go of the roots. She dropped the remaining seven-foot and into the shallow puddles below.
The ground was uneven and the sides of this hole were nothing but sodden dirt, there were no footholds or roots to grab hold of and the ten-foot diameter hole had no real direct route out, apart from straight up.
Katie slid through the mud alongside her injured cousin, "Let me see," she cradled her cousins head prompting Keeley to remove her own hands from the area of pain. Katie instantly saw the blood trickle through her soaking wet brown hair, she applied pressure to the side of Keeley's head and tried to keep her calm, "It's gonna be okay Keel's, just breathe slowly, I'm here now."
Keeley continued to sob and rested her head on Katie's outstretched legs, the blonde running her free hand through Keeley's hair, calming and comforting her poor cousin. Katie looked around and then turned back to Keeley, "Where is your backpack? There is a first-aid kit in there."
Keeley gently sobbed and tried to fight past the pain so that she could reply, "It snagged on a tree back up there, I turned to pull it free but I lost my hold on it when I lost my footing in the mud."
Katie moved Keeley to one side and used her own smaller backpack as a pillow for the injured girl.
As she looked up and out of the hole all she could see was leaves and tall trees, the rain made her squint but then she saw it, the dark blue larger backpack that Keeley had been lugging along for days now. It was teetering in the edge of the drop, one of the straps snagged on a thin-looking tree root. "If we could get that down I can bandage your wound,"
Keeley responded but through clenched teeth, "I think, there's a long rope in there too, maybe we could get out of this hole?"
Katie smiled and quickly tried to devise a way to get the bag to fall into the hole.
The odd stone here and there did nothing to budge the backpack, luckily some of them would bounce back giving Katie a second sometimes even a third and fourth attempt with the same stone. But, nothing budged it.
The rain had ceased a little, but now it was getting darker, and a desperate situation was only getting worse, they would be trapped down this hole indefinitely unless they found a way out.
"Katie," Keeley spoke in a low tone as they sat in silence, "Why do you think the plants removed the shoes before, well- you know, before they-"
"Ate our friends?" Katie chimed in a sombre tone.
"Yea," Keeley shivered and replied softly.
"I'm not sure, maybe the plants can’t- you know, digest the boots? It's the only reason I can think of."
Keeley felt sorrow for her friends, "Do you think they suffered?"
Katie's eyes sunk, she stared at the ground, "I think we both know the answer to that question," her right foot gliding skimming the shallow puddles as she drew patterns in the water with her tiptoe.
"Plants can't eat people, it just doesn't add up," Keeley pondered and couldn’t make sense of it all.
Suddenly Katie jolted and sprung her head upwards towards the backpack, "That's it," she shouted.
"What's it?"
"Give me the laces from your boots,"
"Say what now?"
Katie was already unlacing her left boot and sliding it off, she quickly began to thread the laces out through the eyelets.
Keeley was baffled but was soon prompted by Katie to hand over her own shoelaces, she slowly undid each of the boots and proceeded to unloop each one out of its individual eyelet. Meanwhile, Katie had slipped off her second boot and was unthreading the laces at speed.
"Here let me help," Katie knelt to help her cousin, without removing her boots she was able to unlace and remove each of the extra-long laces from Keeley's long black boots.
"What are you going to do?" The youngster pleaded for Katie to tell her what was going on. "Keep that pressure on your head," Katie gave instructions but didn't give away her plan.
Soon enough Katie had looped together with the long strands from Keeley's boots, along with the medium length laces of her boots.
"Why have you taken my laces?"
Katie smiled and responded, "I'm gonna get that backpack,"
"How?"
Katie held her right boot out in front of her, "With this," she gleefully held out the boot like a trophy. "If I can snag the strap I can get it to fall down to us."
Katie had now fashioned Keeley's extra long boot laces together, along with two of her own, this produced a long length to be attached to one of her boots. The light brown Timberland style hiking boot would be used as a hook, swung like a lasso and flipped up towards the backpack. Katie did just that and swung it around gently hoping to get his right first time. The boot landed way off the mark and hit the sidewall of the hole, landing back down and splashing into the water. Katie tried again this time aiming much higher, she needed to be careful not to snap the laces, or letting go of the end lace that would ultimately lead to her boot flying out of the hole, and unable to be retrieved by yanking the long laces.
The second attempt was much better, the boot landed on top of the backpack directly between the two shoulder straps. "Got ya!" Katie Shrieked with excitement.
"Careful, don't snap the laces," Keeley spoke out softly whilst still clutching the side of her head.
"Don't worry, I got this. Just need to slowly get that around the handle, and.. Yes!" Katie yelped again excitedly as the boot interlocked the handle giving a solid hold on the strap, with gentle tugs the backpack began to nudge and slowly prize away from the tree roots that were now barely holding its weight.
The laces helped Katie play a game of tug-o-war against the backpack and the blonde was successful, the backpack snapping the root and toppling off the high ledge on down into the pit with the two girls. The heavy bag slammed into the large shallow puddle before Katie, drenching her further in the process.
"See I told you it would work, now let's find that medical-kit," Katie instantly unzipped the large bag and fumbled around trying to locate the medical supplies. Keeley was still writhing in pain, her face washed with a terrible grimace, her eyes clenching shut as bolts of pain surged through her skull.
Katie now produced the small green plastic box and popped the lid open, inside she found cotton wool, gauze and surgical tape, plasters, painkillers, anti-bacterial cleanser and eye-wash. There was even a small can of insect repellent, that would have been useful earlier on the trip. She did her best to tend to her cousin's injury, cleaning the cut to stave off infection, and padding it with plenty of bandages and tape.
Katie handed Keeley some painkillers and gave her a bottle of water, there wasn't much left but she needed to fluids to take the tablets. "Right, now we have to find a way out." Katie moved to the next stage of mission 'Get out of this sodding hole.'
She found a long blue climbing rope, looped it around neatly forming a figure 8, she could use this to try and loop over the stronger roots above and lift herself and Keeley out of the hole. Katie attached a metal hook to the rope, clicking it into place, now she had to try and fish the metal hook through or over a large root above their heads. Again, just like the boot, it took some precise throws and a lot of luck to get the rope into position. Once she had secured the rope she tested the strength of it and decided it was time to climb. "Okay, I'll go first and then pull you up after I'm at the top," Katie then helped Keeley attach a body harness that was also in the backpack.
Katie quickly untied the laces and stuffed them in her pocket, she slipped her boot back on and prepared herself to climb up the rope. The roots creaked under the pressure but they seemed to be holding Katie's light frame without too much trouble, Keeley was also dainty so this was going to work a treat.
Katie reached the top clawing and struggling to drag herself out of the muddy hole, only after a long effort and making sure she wasn't going to topple back in. She quickly took some more of the rope and secured it around a nearby tree, then she dropped the loose end back down towards Keeley, "Tie this to the backpacks and I'll haul them up."
Keeley did as she was instructed, tying the handles of the backpacks to the second line of rope. With the first line now also back down in the hole, Keeley was able to clip the rope to the metal loops on her body-harness. Katie winched up the luggage and set it aside, a safe distance from sliding back into the pit.
Keeley slowly stood up directly below Katie and waited to be hoisted up and out, Katie had looped the rope around a tree and was now walking back to hoist her cousin to safety, many steps backwards and Katie reached another tree, she used her foot against the trunk to generate more power to pull Keeley up, suddenly she heard rustling behind her. Katie froze with fear but managed to slightly turn her head to peer behind, she couldn't see anything and Keeley grew concerned, "What's the hold-up?"
Katie continued to cautiously scout around but saw nothing of concern, "Nothing, hold tight. You're almost at the top." She continued to yank the rope passing it from hand to hand, "Slow and steady wins the race," Katie thought to herself as she pulled with the little amount of strength she had left. The ground suddenly gave way under Katie's foot and her standing leg sank in between two thick tree roots, "Fuck!" Katie screamed out realising her leg had quickly became wedged in the ground. With both hands on the rope and her other foot pressed firmly against the tree trunk, Katie couldn't manoeuvre herself out, only by using her hands would she be able to lift her leg out of the hole. "Hold tight Keels, I got my leg stuck. I'm gonna have to clip you to my belt, you may drop a few inches but I've got you."
"Are you okay?" Keeley cried up from the hole.
"Yeah, just g-got my damn foot trapped is all," Katie yanked the rope a little more so that she could reach a metal loop on the climbing rope, she quickly forced the clip onto her belt and slowly released the rope, Keeley dropped a few inches but was now held in place by Katie's belt.
Her foot was jammed tight and a few harsh wiggles released her foot, but the boot remained wedged. "Forgot to put my laces back in," Katie realised her mistake upon losing her boot to the undergrowth. A rustle of leaves ahead presented a bigger problem, Katie saw the twisting long vines of most likely one of those monster plants. She gasped in horror and remained completely still, quietly instructing Keeley to do the same.
She took short shallow breathes as the vines skittered around looking for something to grab, keeping her legs free from the vines was now vital. But, the vines didn't seem interested in Katie, instead, they seemed eager to investigate what was in the muddy pit. "Keeley!" Katie thought to herself, horrified that her helpless cousin was dangling dangerously halfway down the deep hole.
She pulled once more on the rope trying to winch Keeley up, if she could get her out they could make a run for it.
But the vines could sense young Keeley, they twisted and weaved around following the trail of the blue climbing rope, Keeley saw the vines and instantly screamed.
"Katie help me!" But she couldn't, nothing that Katie could do would divert their attention. She couldn't detach herself and run, Keeley would be left in the hole helpless. If she winched her up then Keeley would be handed on a plate to the tentacles. If she held her in place it was only going to be a matter of time before they found the young woman dangling like a worm on a hook.
"Keeley, just stay still," Katie yelled down to her cousin, she had to think of something, anything at all. A large nearby broken branch was the closest thing to hand, Katie picked it up and began to smack it against the ground. "Hey, over here, come get me instead." This was clearly madness, but also desperation. If the vines decided to investigate in Katie's direction, well, what exactly was she going to do? She hadn't thought it through, there wasn't time.
The vines had indeed diverted their attention momentarily, and the attention of the owner of those very vines also rose. A huge daffodil shaped plant appeared raising is huge head from the large bushes beyond the muddy pit, it opened its mouth flashing long pointy needle-like teeth, two rows of razor-sharp eight-inch long pearly whites. It was the most terrifying creature Katie had ever set eyes upon, her heart raced out of control as this creature rose at least fifteen feet high from the lush greenery.
The storm that had been threatening for a while arrived right on cue, thunder cracked in the dark skies and lightning lit up the jungle leaves. The drops of rainwater on the large leaves acting like a mirror to each of the strikes of pure white lightning. The monster plant meanwhile, glaring down in an eyeless gaze or terror, this creature had no apparent eyes, but this didn't stop the women from trying to appear invisible to its menacing open maw.
The monstrous vines crept through the sodden leaves feeling their way over to the blonde, she began to scramble and pulled hard on the winch. As she moved backwards Keeley rose a little more from the muddy trap.
The vines lashed out trying to hook around Katie's ankles, the blonde jumped and dodged the best she could to avoid their grasp.
Keeley was almost at the top and lunged out grabbing the thick tree roots that protruded from the wet soil. She pulled with all her might, helped by her cousin's constant tugging on the rope.
She sprawled to safety and hid behind a tall tree, Katie could see that her cousin had made it out and now had to find a way to shake off the rope-like menaces, she also hid behind a tree and made a sign for Keeley to head South, this was a path directly behind the brunette and Keeley would need to act fast, she understood Katie's signalling and took another glance at the monster plant before preparing to run. Katie undid the buckle tying her to her cousin and then continued to twist and turn from tree to tree to avoid the vines seeking to snatch her up.
Similarly, Keeley ditched the blue rope via its clip-on metal loop, she waited for her moment to run, and as the plant's eyeless gaze seemingly tracked Katie, she dashed it, hobbling off in a zig-zag pattern through the leafy bushes.
Katie watched in horror as the outstretched vines flipped around and gave chase upon young Keeley, the tall plant averted its gaze and tracked Keeley's stride. The vines quickly tripping the youngster and she fell flat on her face, Katie froze with fear preying Keeley would get up again and run.
But, she didn't. A slow and tearful crawl was all she could manage, she sobbed uncontrollable tears and clawed at the ground trying to getaway. The plant wrapped its long vines around her chest, grasping her ankles with another set of vines and lifting her from the ground. Keeley struggled but it was of no use, the powerful creature lifted Keeley way above its head. She wriggled and begged to be released, but the plant didn't listen, it was, after all, a bloodthirsty carnivorous monster.
Keeley sobbed as she was held directly above the huge creature. Katie also sobbed, she knew this moment was likely to be Keeley's last, a few seconds of absolute horror before she succumbs to the vile demon plant.
Katie screamed in sheer terror, her eyes locked with Keeley's. The desperation and fear shown in her cousin's expression broke Katie's heart, Keeley began to mouth some words as the plant held her outstretched high in the sky, the pain being caused was clear to see, the plants vice-like grip was unforgiving.
"I love you," Keeley mouthed the words before her eyes bulged and rolled into the back of her head, Keeley's torso split from the waist down and blood rained down on the monster's eyeless face, her insides and streams of blood splattered across the ground and Katie roared in complete devastation.
Keeley had been pulled apart in a split second of gruesome horror, the poor young girl was torn apart by the bloodthirsty monster, and it lapped up the blood from around its face with a vile dark tongue.
Katie watched shaking her head in utter disbelief, Keeley's broken body was swallowed, firstly her upper body, followed by her legs. The plant chomping its way through the two separate parts of Keeley's body.
Katie felt sick and had to hold back from throwing up, she was mortified and couldn't begin to imagine what her fate would be right now.
Somehow, someway, amidst the gruesome scene before her, Katie managed to regain her instincts. She rose to her feet and darted for the backpacks, Katie snatched the smaller one of the two, yanking it free from the blue ropes and trailing it behind her.
There wasn't much in her small rucksack, a small amount of water, a sleeping bag and a flashlight, possibly even some cereal bars, unless Keeley had sneakily taken them the previous night.
The only thing that mattered now was getting away from the stomach-churning scene, her cousin was gone as were her friends. This place was a living nightmare, Katie wanted no further part in this dreadful turn of events.