Bordello Challenge-- Into the Mouth of My Desire

Heh. Heh. Heh. The words you dear people gave me are:

nuts * bats * passion

So in return, I give you:

INTO THE MOUTH OF MY DESIRE

I stared into the cave. Night was falling fast behind me, but what lay ahead was much darker. More dangerous. And it reeked.

Am I nuts? I wondered. How badly do I want this? How much will I risk? My very life? Is life worth living without it?

Before I could think another word, an eerie, static-like sound echoed from the cave. My right foot slid backwards, my foot turned. I pivoted, ready to flee-

Bats swarmed from the cave.

Their shrill cries were horrid in my ears. But I knew, I knew, if I moved, I would interfere with their sonar. I had no choice but to stand here, hold my ground, and face the thousands of them flapping right toward me. I trembled as they passed me by. I felt the swirl and eddy of the wind they created. A few times, the tips of their leathery wings brushed my bare shoulder, or lifted a tendril of my raven hair.

I whimpered, but I held my ground.

After a long, torturous minute their erratic departure ended. Before me yawned the mouth of the earth, and, shaking, I stepped forward. Going as far as I could and still see my way in the fading twilight, I there stopped. The stink of the guano filled my nostrils, an odor so absolute my eyes began to water. Nausea crashed like a maelstrom in my stomach.

Ahead was my goal. Inside the embrace of this darkness was the treasure I sought.

I whimpered, but having faced one fear, I was confident I could face another.

My education, experience and research had taught me the wisdom of arming myself with the right tools, like battery-operated illumination. I clicked on the flashlight. I am prepared for the challenges ahead. 

Despite the assault on my physical senses, I roused my drowsy tenacity, shook it hard to shed the caked-on dust of too many doubts and wrapped determination around my shoulders like the mantle of a Queen. One deep breath. My muscles flexed and I stepped forward, chasing my elusive dream, my fiery passion.

I will not be stopped. I will not be denied.