"Do they really look like the teeth of a shark?"
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Ten years ago...
"Come on Nat! If we hurry, I can show you the jaws!"
It's early one summer's evening. The weather on the coast is cooling, but still warm enough to explore the caves. The tide won't be in for at least another hour, if they hurry.
The wind gently blows through the hair of 15 year old Stan and 14 year old Nathan, as they make their way to the mouth of the cave. The waves gently lapping the white sands on the approach.
"Do they really look like the teeth of a shark?" Nathan wonders, trying to catch up with Stan, who is about a metre ahead.
"Yeah, the stalactites and stalagmites literally look like a huge set of teeth!" Stan shouts over his shoulder. "But we have to hurry before the tide comes in."
Nathan runs a little faster to catch up with Stan, now jogging by his side. He had wanted to see these caves for a while, asking each time his family came to visit the Cooper family. But his mother had said he was too young and the grown ups were never too keen on cave exploring.
Stan had only been once with his older brother, who was now away in the city at college. He had been Stan's age at the time, which both Stan and Nathan had pointed out to their parents this time around, so they relented.
The boys now stood at the entrance to the cave. The opening was wide, at least the height of a two story house, with it narrowing and closing in, the further back it went.
"WOOOHOOO!...."Nathan shouts, hands cupping his mouth as the echo radiates through the cavernous space.
Stan looks at Nathan laughing, copying his actions. "HELLOOO..." No one answers of course, there's always the element of wonder, maybe somebody just might. "Come on." Stan says, making his way deeper into the smaller space towards the back of the cave.
Nathan follows Stan through a metre wide hole and climbs down into a 7ft drop. There is water at the bottom, but not too deep, it's just like a deep rain puddle.
Nathan lifts one of his trainers out of the water and examines it, a little annoyed "Ah, my feet are wet!"
Stan pays little attention to his complaints as he splashes across the deep space. He begins to climb up the jagged rocky face up to the other side and out of the drop. He looks down at Nathan, who is now making his way up and out.
"Are there any more puddles, these trainers are new." Nathan asks, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Stan just shrugs his shoulders at the comment. "Nat, what did you expect coming into a sea cave? Of course it's going to be wet."
Nathan just sighs under his breath. These so-called 'jaws' had better be worth it.
The boys travel deeper and deeper into the cave, with the outside light now becoming a small circular dot in the distance. "Are we nearly there yet?" Nathan complains. His feet begin to rub in his wet shoes.
"Yeah, just around this corner." Stan promises. "You won't be disappointed." Another minute or two pass. The light now has disappeared, being replaced by a pocket torch Stan has brought with him. Even though they were deep within the cave now, the sound of the water seemed to echo all the more louder. Nathan was beginning to feel a little uneasy.
"Stan, maybe we should go back, I mean it's getting late...and the water seems really close."
Stan just carries on heading forward and Nathan is obliged to follow, or be left in the dark. He heads round one last bend and finally stops. "Look ...we're here!"
Stan holds his torch up to shine on 'the jaws'. Nathan stops and stands next to Stan, marvelling in the sight. In front of them both was an almond shaped cavity in the rock, with giant 3 and 4 ft stone stalactites hanging from the curved ceiling, with equally impressive stalagmites rising up to meet them. "Woah! You weren't wrong." Nathan has to admit he is impressed.
He watches as Stan runs over to the display, placing his head between the 'teeth' as if being eaten by a vicious beast. "Help! Help! It's got me!" He says laughing.
"Let me try." Nathan says as he mimics Stan's actions. "Please! Someone save me!"
Nathan pulls away again to standing. "Hey, let me take a picture." He pulls his phone from his pocket and gets to, selecting the camera, waiting for it to load. "Ok, one, two, three!" CLICK
"Ok, ok my turn." Nathan hands his phone to Stan who returns the favour with a picture of Nathan being potentially eaten.
They spend a few more moments messing around with different poses, when Nathan looks down at his feet. His already wet trainers feeling a fresh soaking. "Hey, I think the water is coming in. We'd better get back."
Stan flashes his torch to the ground, seeing the water beginning to pool around his feet. "Ok, let's get back."
They begin to head back the way they came, but it takes a little longer than Stan had calculated for. The rising of the tide was making more pools of water to wade through and Nathan had to give up on his precious trainers.
Finally they are a short distance from the entrance. Only the deep hole to get through and they would be out. But here lies the problem. The once deep cavity was now full. So much so, that if they didn't know it was there, then they would think it shallow like the surrounding area.
Nathan is the first to plunge in. The water now feels freezing, so much so that it takes his breath away. He inhales in a sharp breath as he begins to swim across the space, making his way safely to the other side.
Now it was Stan's turn....
He lets himself fall into the water, the coldness wrapping around him like an unwelcome blanket. He begins to kick his arms and legs in order to keep afloat before intending to swim across, but something is stopping one of his legs from moving. "Stan! Come on!" Nathan shouts from the other side, grabbing his own upper arms for warmth.
Stan is just about able to keep his head above the water. "My jeans....they're caught on something." He manages to say with the cold of the water taking his breath each time.
"Just shake your leg!" Nathan shouts out.
"I...I'm trying!" He pulls hard, not even caring if his jeans rip but it's no good. Nathan watches from the edge, feeling helpless. He can't even call for help, his phone is wrecked by the water.
Stan breathes in an expanse of air, filling his lungs and ducks under the water, he can just about see the cuff of his right jeans pierced through a sharp piece of rock, jutting out from the wall. He tries to pull and pull, but with no luck. He is soon running out of air and has to return to the surface.
"I...can't get free!" Stan splutters the slow rising water now invading his mouth. He tries again, ducking again into the cold water, but his wriggling and writhing had only made it harder to break free, with the denim of his jeans twisted around the jagged stone. Stan was finding it ever harder to keep his head above water. He began to choke, and gasp for air as the water was pouring in from the sea.
"Stan...I don't know what to do!" Nathan feels helpless, Stan is too far to reach his hand. He decides to get back in the water.
"No!" Stan cries out, guessing that Nathan will try to free him the same way he had been trying to do.
"Let me try!" Nathan says as he holds his breath and ducks under the water. He yanks hard at the material, but it is stuck fast. Nathan eventually had to come up for air.
"Help...get help!" Stan says under a panicked breath, his face now pointing to the ceiling in a desperate attempt to keep the air flowing in.
Nathan scrambles out from the water "I'm coming back!" He then runs as fast as he possibly can to find help.
Stan can no longer keep his mouth above water and can feel the water ticking his nostrils. He knew it wouldn't be long before he would be completely submerged. The cold alone was making him want to shut down. He could feel his once tense body slowly relaxing as he was losing this battle.
Then it happened... A wave of water from the sea washes in, completely soaking his entire face. He knows he needs to take a breath. He is going to go under.
One more wave enters the cave and Stan anticipates it. He takes in a deep breath and closes his eyes as the water washes completely over him.
His senses are suddenly dulled, his ears only hear muffled noises. He opens his eyes, trying to see his surroundings. He can see his arms outstretched before him, his hair floating in front of his eyes. He can feel his mind getting light headed. His eyes keep closing, but Stan tries to keep them open.
He then feels like he is seeing things. His mind wanted to close down. He thinks he can see something bright orange race towards him. He can feel a pull on his leg. His mind is confused. Playing tricks. He can't focus anymore. He shuts down, unconscious.