《Dr. Immortal (Completed)》 Introduction Dr. Evelyn Hart adjusted her glasses, the faint clink of metal frames cutting through the room¡¯s stark silence. The thick dossier before her bore a plain black cover¡ªno logo, no title, just SITE-X0 and X-2 Clearance stamped across the top in bold, unassuming letters. Her fingers hesitated for a fraction of a second. The scent of the freshly printed report mingled with the room¡¯s clinical air. A tall, suited man stood at attention nearby, hands clasped behind his back, his expression carefully neutral. An intermediary for AEGIS: Advanced Exploration Geodynamic Investigation Syndicate. X-2? she internally reflected, vision narrowing and brow furrowing in quiet scrutiny. X-level access? That¡¯s not a casual mistake. She flipped the folder open, each page crackling as she sifted through the contents. A new site the syndicate discovered? The first thing that caught her attention was a high-resolution photograph of a storm-lashed sea. In the distance, a jagged island was half-shrouded in mist, situated like an ancient monolith. Faint, glowing lilac veins spiderwebbed across visible portions of its rocky surface¡ªimpossible patterns that looked more like circuitry than natural stone. She thumbed to the next image¡ªa grainy, underwater silhouette of something vast, indistinct, and far too large to be a whale. Her eyes darted to the clearance stamp again. X-2. Her gaze darted to the man who had delivered this dossier. ¡°Is this a mistake?¡± His hands were clasped behind his back, his stance rigid and polished. Not military, but something worse. An AEGIS liaison of the highest clearance. Shadow Man¡¯s lapdog. He tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment of her words but said nothing. Evelyn tapped the stamp on the cover with two fingers. ¡°I¡¯m cleared for O-2 at the Lunar Site. Omega-level clearance. This¡­¡± Her gaze lifted, sharp and probing. ¡°This says X-2. Alpha-tier.¡± Her eyes stayed locked on him, watching for the faintest flicker of acknowledgment in his neutral mask. ¡°Are you telling me I¡¯ve been bumped up the ladder without being told?¡± His lips pressed into a faint, tight line that could have been a smirk¡ªjust barely. ¡°We both know they don¡¯t tell you when you¡¯ve been promoted, Dr. Hart.¡± She clicked her tongue and leaned back in her chair, fingers laced behind her head. ¡°Promoted, huh? Funny, I didn¡¯t hear the applause or get my ceremonial dagger laced with sacrificial blood. Maybe I missed the parade.¡± Her gaze flicked back to the folder. ¡°So, X-2 clearance. That means unrestricted access to everything related to this mysterious new site. No redactions, no missing pages, no ¡®above your pay grade¡¯ runaround that I¡¯d get at the C0 Site. Just the unfiltered truth.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed further, her voice shifting to a cool, measured calm. ¡°Is that what this is? Or is this just another trick where you ¡®let¡¯ me see more, but still keep me in the dark?¡± ¡°Access is granted as needed,¡± the man replied, his tone as rigid as his posture. ¡°X-2 clearance reflects operational necessity, Doctor. You¡¯re to be briefed on everything relevant to the site¡¯s current state, risks, and¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªand whatever mess you¡¯ve dragged me into this time,¡± she interjected, lips curling into a humorless smile. ¡°Spare me the company droll. If I¡¯ve been bumped to X-2, then that means I¡¯m taking over something that someone higher up decided was too volatile for an O-2 Site Admin. I ran Site-C0 for three years. That was a containment site, not an exploratory breach. X-2 is an exploratory designation. Exploration is never about control. It¡¯s about taking risks with people you can afford to lose.¡± She let that linger, watching him carefully. He didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Right. So this isn¡¯t a ¡®promotion¡¯¡ªit¡¯s a reassignment with flair.¡± She let out a short, dry chuckle, reflecting on how she¡¯d probably landed this gig. ¡°Let me guess. I was a tad too¡­brazen and cavalier in my investigations at C0. I certainly obtained results. And there was a previous director at this X0 site,¡± she mused, tapping the redacted name. ¡°Let me guess, they went missing, committed suicide, or died in some¡­unexplainable way.¡± His silence was as sharp as any confirmation. ¡°Figures.¡± She flipped another page, scanning the contents. ¡°I assume the disappearance was chalked up to this ¡®fog-related phenomena¡¯ that is mostly redacted or some other colorful euphemism you¡¯ll use to keep the incident reports tidy.¡± Her eyes caught a particular entry on the page. Her thumb traced the line: ¡°Localized Dimensional Instability: Persistent.¡± Her eyes stayed on the phrase for longer than she should have. Dimensional instability. Persistent. Fog-related phenomena. It¡¯s happening again. I feel the gears turning inside my chest¡­ The unexplored mystery waiting to be dissected. Her grip on the folder tightened as her mind briefly wandered back to Site-C0. The impossible hallways beyond the Sphinx Doors. The moments when she¡¯d been ¡°somewhere else¡± for a fraction of a second before snapping back to reality. Persistent dimensional instability, huh? I bet it is. ¡°You want to know why the clearance change matters, Dr. Hart?¡± The agent broke the silence, his voice steady, calm. ¡°It¡¯s because this site is active. The architecture isn¡¯t dormant like Site-C0 was¡­before your¡ª¡± ¡°Meddling?¡± she said with a half smile. She wasn¡¯t new to the game of secrets in AEGIS, nor many of her superiors¡¯ agitation toward her bold methods. Her previous assignment at Site-C0¡ªa lunar base centered on a mysterious alien ruin buried beneath the moon¡¯s surface¡ªhad been a testament to that. The architecture may imply Egyptian origin.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Whether they had reached the moon or if a lunar entity had come to them was still a hotly debated topic among her teams. However, unlike the site¡¯s previous administrators, her bold actions had led to uncovering an element there that rejected radiation, a discovery that revolutionized space exploration for the syndicate. But it had come at a cost. A heavy one. Progress never came cheap. She¡¯d signed that bill herself¡ªtwice. Six months ago, I made a major breakthrough on the moon, getting past the impervious Twin Sphinx Doors, and now they¡¯re trying to shift me to a new site¡­ I suppose this is more pressing. Or¡­I¡¯m just the next expendable officer in rank, she grumbled, flipping the page up to view some of the stranger details that intrigued her. Either way, if I refuse this, then it will come back to bite me in the ass. Something about it felt wrong¡ªoff in a way that even the non-Euclidean halls of Site-C0 hadn¡¯t managed. ¡°What does the ¡®X¡¯ stand for?¡± she asked, tilting her head and prodding for whatever other information she might get from the agent¡ªthey usually came with a tad more info than they divulged. ¡°Surely, I¡¯m at the clearance now to know.¡± The agent¡¯s lips twitched, the barest flicker of amusement surfacing on his otherwise inscrutable mask; he¡¯d probably heard that from every potential site director. ¡°Unknown. My own superiors wonder how The Shadow Man designates names. Some suggest it¡¯s a designation for unexplored territories. Others think it marks danger levels. Either way, it fits the mystery of AEGIS.¡± ¡°That, it does¡­¡± Evelyn tapped the folder with her manicured fingernail. ¡°And I suppose I don¡¯t get the full, unredacted version of this until I¡¯m on-site and it¡¯s too late to back out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, Dr. Hart. You¡¯ll have complete access to the findings once you arrive and take the position. In the meantime, you¡¯ll need to assemble a research expedition team for the next phase. Immediate deployment, I¡¯m told. Top priority. The restrictions on electrical use while at Site-X0 are listed there¡ª500-watt active use is¡ª¡± ¡°Apocalypse-Level Restricted¡­ I can read, thank you,¡± she mumbled, shifting in her chair to glare at the bright red ink. Site-C0 never had anywhere near that level of scrutiny, but she¡¯d heard rumors about another site on the moon that may be in that range. ¡°An A-Level site, hmm? It¡¯s also somehow connected to Site-E0¡­ A Chav¨ªn Civilization temple buried beneath the Amazon? ¡°I¡¯m granted partial oversight over Sites E0 and C0 as it applies to my research and exploration of X0, am I? Well, I suppose that makes me incredibly lucky or unlucky, depending on how you look at it¡­ Hmm. I¡¯m interested,¡± she chimed. ¡°Why is this site so important to AEGIS?¡± ¡°All I can say is that it is¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± she drooled, rolling her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s Threat Level-A. So, its danger is the primary reason for our involvement. I was hoping for a bit more. Exploration and possible advancements are secondary, but I¡¯m the type to incorporate new technologies and methods, which your bosses know¡­ Nor am I particularly bound by restrictive ethics opposing progress.¡± ¡°Your transport is waiting outside,¡± he immediately responded, his lips twitching slightly at her assessment. She arched a brow, her mind flicking through the implications. Immediate deployment. Just like last time. She felt the weight of her decision like an iron anchor tethered to her chest. It isn¡¯t like I have any attachments to hold me here on the moon, and a change of scenery would be nice¡­ At least I¡¯d have better meals¡ªas highlighted¡ªif we¡¯re still connected to Earth. Unanswered questions gnawed at her, but she knew better than to press. ¡°Hmm. And the mission parameters for this team I should assemble? This bit about an immortal fish being the only thing that survived the ¡®Fog Incident¡¯ gives me some ideas,¡± she noted, her voice calm but sharp as she flipped to the back of the heavy folder, catching sight of her diamond-shaped birthmark on the back of her left hand. ¡°Let me guess, ¡®don¡¯t die¡¯ of¡­ Oh? Expect to die¡­or worse? Well, that certainly makes recruiting more challenging,¡± she smiled, feeling an adventurous surge well up within her. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I will be hiring your typical agents. I accept the reassignment!¡± The agent handed her another sheet, his movements precise. ¡°My superior thought you might. Primary objective: establish a foothold on the sole island the previous site administrator discovered before the¡­fog incident. Naturally, you will first need to scope it out with a few teams who won¡¯t necessarily be missed.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± she mused, scanning down the mission objectives with a few finer details on what they first needed to determine and a few of the occupation positions piqued her interest. ¡°All equipment must output less than 450 watts. So long as each stay under that amount, we¡¯re safe on Site-X0, but¡­that might change once beyond its walls. Fascinating. I look forward to reading why¡­ ¡°It¡¯s the standard assess survivability and resources operation, hmm? Secondary objective: recover data from the previous exploration team. They managed to transmit a partial report by¡­intensifying their signal beyond the recommended limit. Brave souls, sacrificing themselves for science,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Ah, and doing so attracted¡ªsomething¡­¡± The agent¡¯s stoic face didn¡¯t flinch as she lifted her eyes to him for a moment before returning to the relatively simple objectives. ¡°The superiors need a detailed analysis of what remains. Excellent. Always reassuring to read such vague details. And if this all goes to hell?¡± The agent¡¯s smile returned, razor-thin. ¡°You¡¯ve handled worse, Dr. Hart. I read in your breakthrough report that you met one of the ancient aliens from the moon labyrinth.¡± She snapped the folder shut and stood. The scrape of her chair against the floor sounded loud in the sterile room as her heels clicked against the tile. ¡°An artificial intelligence, not the alien race themselves but theories abound. I suppose after I convinced it to be somewhat responsive, they¡¯re redirecting my talents to a new field. Perhaps I can convince the little sand scarab to offer me some advice.¡± Pausing by the door and reflecting on her first site introduction to AEGIS, she turned to glare at the agent. ¡°But tell The Shadow Man that if this turns out to be another damn ruin with an alien AI that has a type and tries to seduce me, I¡¯m renegotiating my contract.¡± The agent opened the door for her, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes. ¡°I read that intriguing detail about its inquiries about mammal reproduction, Doctor. Welcome to Site-X0.¡± As Evelyn stepped into the hallway, her thoughts turned inward. Ancient ruins beneath the moon had already redefined what she thought was possible, with ancient Egyptian AIs that potentially had deeper roots with another species. It still had her interest. However, what this new assignment promised was something with higher stakes. What can I find in a seemingly endless ocean, hidden within the Earth¡¯s crust? She gripped the folder tightly against her side, the clicking of her heels the only sound on her way to the elevator; she already had someone in mind to lead the first expedition. I¡¯ll need someone with a bit of humor to lead this¡­ A survivalist with a PhD in ocean biology¡ªreckless enough to accept such a task without too many questions¡­ The curly, brown-haired woman¡¯s face flashed across her mind. I haven¡¯t seen her since college. Yes, she¡¯ll do. Chapter One The dense green of the rainforest cliffs overhanging an ocean drop swelled around her, every canopy sway throwing dapples of golden light across the slick, rain-kissed stone. Dr. Isla Reyes clung to the cliffside with practiced ease, fingers curling into damp crevices of rock as her boots found their footing against the uneven face. She glanced down¡ªfifty feet to the dark water below, its surface flickering with ripples from unseen, rare fish just beneath. Her rope creaked softly with each shift of her weight, the kind of noise you learned to ignore lest it consume you. One sample left. Ten minutes tops, and I¡¯ll be back for a hot meal. She sucked in a slow breath, her eyes narrowing on a small ledge a few feet below. Her collection bag bounced lightly against her thigh, already holding a few vials of iridescent algae she¡¯d scraped from the stones. Just get the last one, and we¡¯re done. ¡°Dr. Reyes! Dr. Reyes, are you there?!¡± the static-laced shout burst from her commlink, jarring her grip. She jolted, fingers scrabbling for purchase as her heart slammed against her ribs. ¡°Dr. Reyes, it¡¯s, umm¡ªit¡¯s important! Hello?¡± Marcelo, she cursed internally, biting down a growl. If I die because you can¡¯t figure out where the hot chocolate is again¡­ ¡°I¡¯m hanging off a cliff with half-frayed ropes because someone couldn¡¯t get better funding, Marcelo,¡± she hissed, wedging her shoulder tight against the rock face. ¡°I¡¯ve got a raging ocean alcove below and a rare underground stream halfway down full of new discoveries awaiting me, so unless the rainforest¡¯s on fire, you¡¯ve got ten seconds before I turn this radio into fish food.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s not a fire!¡± Marcelo¡¯s words tumbled over each other, his usual easy going demeanor twisted with panic. ¡°It¡¯s, uh, she said she knew you¡ªDr. Hart? She just, umm¡­flew in.¡± Isla¡¯s hand froze mid-reach. Her mind snapped to the name like a hook-catching line. Hart? Evelyn Hart? No. Not her. Not here¡­ That corporate-loving bitch wouldn¡¯t set foot on a camp site, much less the Amazon jungle. ¡°Come again?¡± her voice dropped to a dangerously slow cadence. ¡°You¡¯re not playing some prank on me?¡± ¡°No! Dr. Hart!¡± Marcelo repeated, his words hitting like stones skipping water. ¡°She¡¯s here! With a¡ª¡± he paused, breath hitching like he still couldn¡¯t believe it himself. ¡°Helicopters, Dr. Reyes. Military ones. Big ones. There¡¯s a whole convoy outside the camp.¡± Isla pressed her lips into a hard, thin line, shifting her grip to a firmer hold. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re joking, Marcelo. Please, tell me this is some twisted prank to get back at me for making you scrub the tanks¡­because I can actually see that, and it¡¯s scaring me.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Not a prank, Doc. She¡¯s not even in the helicopters,¡± he added, voice rising with disbelief. ¡°They¡¯re carrying¡ªlike¡ªthis mobile house? She went in to make tea for the two of you! Like one of those prefabs, but it¡¯s got antennas and satellite dishes and¡ª¡± Damn it. Is she finally here to get her pound of flesh from me? Shit¡­ I knew that prank would come back to bite me in the ass someday with that woman. She could feel her pulse in her ears now, sharp and heavy like distant thunder. Evelyn Hart didn¡¯t visit people. She didn¡¯t ¡°drop by.¡± If she was here, it wasn¡¯t for small talk. She bit her tongue, tasting copper. Her fingers tensed against the rock, the rough edges digging into her calluses. ¡°What did she ask, Marcelo? Dammit, tell me, man. I have half a mind to just disappear into the jungle. Like hell, she¡¯d get her heels dirty to find me, but I guess she¡¯s working for some military contractor now if what you¡¯re saying is true¡­ Shit.¡± Marcelo coughed awkwardly. ¡°Excuse me, Dr. Hart¡ªwhat? Umm. She, uh, asked if you were occupied¡ª¡± ¡°Did she say it like that?¡± Isla snapped, knowing the corporate vulture better than that. ¡°Eh, well¡­ More like, ¡®Where is she hiding?¡¯ ¡± That sounds more like her¡­ Isla exhaled slowly, sharp breaths blowing through her nose as she adjusted her harness, shifting her weight for the climb back up while considering her options. If Eve actually tracked me down out here¡­the sample can wait. She¡¯s the type to make a scene¡­and not the pretty kind. Her thoughts returned to the murder in their last year at Oxford¡ªher roommate¡ªthe killer was never discovered, but due to how vicious Jill was to Evelyn, Isla always had her suspicions. The straight, brown-haired woman¡¯s cold, half-smile and sharp gray eyes had burned a nightmare in her brain since the funeral. Evelyn was a storm chaser in a silk suit: precise, methodical, and only present where danger and profit intersected. The question was, was she here for business or vengeance¡­because there was no in between. Her arms burned as she ascended, rope jerking with every push of her legs. She could already hear the woman¡¯s voice, that condescending hum that always made her want to snap a pen in half. Back then, Hart¡¯s only goal had been to one-up her in every debate, every theory. And she had¡­every time. Ever since she¡¯d gone into some military administrative position, she hadn¡¯t heard her name and hoped she never would again. Isla had taken the scenic route¡ªthe free one. No sponsors, no syndicates. Just grants, patience, and grit. ¡°Marcelo,¡± she grunted, pulling herself over the ledge. Sweat dripped down her brow, hot and stinging. ¡°If she touches my samples, I¡¯m holding you responsible.¡± ¡°Already locked the door to the storage lab, Doc,¡± Marcelo muttered, voice quieter this time. ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s after your samples, though.¡± Isla¡¯s brow lifted, water flicking from the tip of her nose. ¡°Then what?¡± A beat of silence. No static. No breathing. ¡°¡­Think she¡¯s after you,¡± he muttered, so soft it barely made it through the commlink. Her breath hitched. Her hands tightened into fists. I was afraid of that¡­ Chapter Two The sharp, rhythmic thump of helicopter rotors echoed through the canopy, low and steady like a warning drum, telling her to run. She¡¯d rarely been afraid of anything in her life, but Evelyn¡¯s smile was something demonic¡ªotherworldly. Only those who really got to know her would see that side of the corporate woman, though. Isla¡¯s boots crunched against the wet underbrush as she neared the clearing. The path to base camp was familiar, every curve of the trail, every tree root, memorized through daily treks¡ªshe¡¯d basically carved it herself. She kept her pace measured, steady breaths in and out, her eyes never straying from the forest ahead. Don¡¯t let her see you sweat. Her fingers flexed at her sides, knuckles stiff. She hadn¡¯t felt this kind of coiled tension since her graduate thesis defense¡ªa slow, rising burn in her chest like a fire caught in a steel box. Back then, Evelyn¡¯s eyes had been on her too, watching from across the hall with that knowing smirk she always wore when she knew something you didn¡¯t. This was worse. This wasn¡¯t an academic review. This was a hunt, considering where she¡¯d been tracked down. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy it made her. I¡¯m a dot on a page in Evelyn¡¯s perfect life¡­ She shouldn¡¯t want anything from me. But¡­here she is, in all her glory. Through the gaps in the tree line, she spotted it. The mobile base. Why does she have to look cool at everything she does¡­ Two twin helicopters hovered low, holding the prefab structure in place with steel cables thicker than her arm. The base was more than just a research pod¡ªit was a full-blown command center. Black panels gleamed like obsidian against the green of the forest, water slicking down its sides from the recent rain. Solar arrays extended from the top like metal fronds, angled to catch as much sun as possible. Antennae bristled from the roof, and a row of glowing blue lights ran along its undercarriage, blinking slowly in sequence. Her gaze narrowed. Military? No. Military-grade tech is built rugged, redundant, and disposable, intended for even the lowest common denominator to be able to drag it 300 miles through some blasted desert or forsaken jungle and still paint a target red with its own blood on the other end. This¡­this is cutting-edge. Advanced. Expensive. Yeah, no way this is just an ¡°invitation¡± for tea¡­ On second thought, Evelyn doesn¡¯t even like tea. She¡¯s a coffee drinker. Marcelo¡¯s voice buzzed through her earpiece. ¡°Uh, Doc? She¡¯s making tea. Pretty sure it¡¯s tea. I saw a kettle in her hand when she came out to check to see if you were coming.¡± Isla exhaled. One slow, hard breath through her nose. ¡°She didn¡¯t come here to chat, Marcelo.¡± Her eyes traced the support struts beneath the mobile base, noting how the hydraulic legs dug into the dirt like insect claws. Self-adjusting terrain stabilizers. She¡¯d only seen them in prototypes. ¡°And since when does Evelyn Hart make her own tea? Something¡¯s up.¡± ¡°I have no idea who she is or what you¡¯re talking about, boss,¡± Marcelo muttered, the distinct clink of ceramic against metal audible through the comm. ¡°She told me to tell you she¡¯s waiting inside. Said you¡¯d be ¡®too stubborn¡¯ to let it cool before you got here, so she¡¯d boil it fresh.¡± Isla¡¯s scowl deepened. That tracks surprisingly well. It¡¯s just like her to plan it down to the minute. It isn¡¯t enough to win¡­ Evelyn makes you realize you¡¯ve lost before the game even starts, and with a show like this¡­ She always has to have the best hand. The metal door to the base hissed open as she approached. White mist curled from the crack like dry ice, cool vapor swirling at her feet as if she were walking into the den of something ancient. The air changed, colder, sterile, carrying the faint tang of ozone and fresh-cooled metal. Her boots thudded softly against the steel-plated ramp as she stepped inside. The lights adjusted, dimming slightly as the door sealed behind her with a hydraulic sound. The quiet that followed was heavier than the rainforest¡¯s natural stillness¡ªan artificial, suffocating quiet born from reinforced walls and soundproofing foam. She wiped a slick line of rain from her cheek, eyes flicking over the room¡¯s interior. Everything was clean, cold, and controlled. Touchscreen monitors lined the far wall, glowing with an insignia she¡¯d never seen before: AEGIS. Modular desks stood in perfect alignment, not a paper out of place. There was no clutter, no personal touches, not even a coffee stain on the steel countertop. And there she was. Dr. Evelyn Hart, in the position of power, standing by the counter, pouring boiling water into a porcelain teacup with slow, deliberate precision. The woman didn¡¯t look up. Her dark brown hair was tied in a sleek, no-nonsense ponytail that hadn¡¯t moved a strand out of place. Her gray eyes stayed fixed on the teacup, her strange, perfectly shaped diamond birthmark on the back of her hand catching the light. Isla knew better than to think her presentation was anything but planned. Evelyn always saw everything ten steps ahead. ¡°Dr. Reyes,¡± Evelyn greeted, voice like the edge of a blade dragged over glass. She set the kettle down with a practiced clink and lifted the cup toward her, steam curling from its surface. ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± ¡°I was busy,¡± Isla replied, stripping off her climbing gloves and tossing them onto a nearby table with a damp smack. She didn¡¯t take the tea. Didn¡¯t even look at it. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to have to entertain surprise guests¡­or old enemies.¡± Evelyn glanced up, that smile already curling at the edge of her lips. The one Isla hated. It wasn¡¯t a smile, not really. It was a flex of power, a signal that the trap had already been sprung, and you¡¯d just realized you¡¯d walked into it.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Come now,¡± the brunette said, sipping from the cup, her eyes never leaving Isla¡¯s. ¡°If I¡¯d sent you an invite, you¡¯d have ignored it. Be honest. No¡­you¡¯d run. We both know what you suspect of me, despite¡­all the evidence otherwise.¡± She tilted her head, the light from the monitor screens catching the sharp line of her cheekbones. ¡°So, you see, you left me no choice. This way, you¡¯re not allowed to run.¡± ¡°Funny. I could still walk out that door,¡± Isla replied, jerking a thumb toward the sealed entrance, but her gut felt like a screw was drilling into it. It was the way she held herself, the way she presented herself, from the way she dressed to the cadence in her voice and facial expressions. This woman is a devil in human skin¡­ Perfect. Too perfect. No one saw it at college¡­but a dead woman and me. Evelyn¡¯s gray eyes flicked to the door, then back to her. Her smile didn¡¯t fade. ¡°You could.¡± She took another sip. ¡°But you won¡¯t.¡± She¡¯s right. Damn it. Isla knew herself too well. Knew the game. If she left now, she¡¯d spend every sleepless night wondering what she¡¯d missed. What she¡¯d lost. Because hell and heaven moved for this woman¡­and for her to have come to her. Well, that was something Isla would have bet her life against. ¡°Say your piece, Hart.¡± Isla crossed her arms, her gaze sharp as a hawk¡¯s, noticing the curious golden scarab brooch she wore between her bust. ¡°Why are you here? I know you don¡¯t like to waste time¡ªyour second is worth a man¡¯s entire life.¡± Evelyn set her cup down, fingers tapping once, twice on the counter. Her eyes narrowed just a fraction¡ªcalculating, weighing something. Her following words came slowly, deliberately. ¡°Oh, how right you are. You always knew how to dig at me while making me chuckle. A rare soul. I¡¯m here,¡± Evelyn said softly, ¡°because I need a leader.¡± She gestured toward one of the monitors on the wall, a grainy, underwater image blinking to life. ¡°And because of this.¡± The image resolved. At first, it looked like murky water, gray and clouded. But then something shimmered, a soft glow cutting through the haze. A shape. Small. Silver-blue. ¡°A fish?¡± Isla muttered, squinting at it. ¡°Wait, no¡­ What is it?¡± Moving closer, she studied its weave. The way it moved¡ªit wasn¡¯t sluggish like typical deep-sea species. Its body shimmered with opalescent light as it darted through the water, faster than it should be. Her eyes followed it, caught on how it moved without hesitation, without pause. She knew fish. This wasn¡¯t a fish. ¡°Just a fish,¡± Evelyn said, her voice low, like she was letting Isla in on a secret. She tapped the screen, replaying the footage. ¡°But¡­also something more.¡± A blade shot out of a nearby wall, hidden within, slicing it clean in two and making Isla stiffen. The wound bled a dark ink, swirling in the water for all of three seconds before the flesh knit itself back together and it resumed its course as if nothing happened. No. No, no, no. ¡°Impossible,¡± Isla muttered, stepping closer before she realized what she was doing. Her eyes flicked back to Evelyn, searching for the catch. There was always a catch with her. ¡°This is fake. Stitched footage. I know a post-production trick when I see one.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± Evelyn replied, calm as the eye of a storm. She leaned against the counter, folding her arms. ¡°I thought you were smarter than that, Reyes. Do you really think I would waste my time hunting you down to this remote place¡­not that it was that hard,¡± she added with a tilt of her head and a giggle, ¡°to what¡­ Play a prank?¡± Isla¡¯s fingers twitched. ¡°No¡­you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Her eyes locked back onto the screen, replaying the moment again, slower this time. The fish¡¯s body was clearly cut in two, bled, and healed almost immediately. Again and again. New footage came on, cut down the center, burned to ash, boiled. Every time, it came back good as new within seconds. No cuts. No glitches. No seams. Her throat felt dry. She swallowed once, twice. If this is real¡­ Tissue regeneration on this level is¡­impossible¡­revolutionary. It changes everything. How does it get the energy to produce cells like that? Are they new cells or the same? I¡­have to know more. ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± Evelyn softly stated, stepping beside her. Her gaze was fixed on the screen, but Isla knew she was watching her. ¡°I think this goes without saying that I know you will join. You can¡¯t help yourself. You also know that in doing so there will be¡­conditions. Documents to sign. Etcetera, etcetera. Corporate babble. But, in essence, this is only the tip of the iceberg.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking. That god-fish is the tip of the iceberg? What did you find, some hidden wonder spot in Greenland that recently melted?!¡± ¡°Different project, but I wouldn¡¯t count that possibility out,¡± Evelyn replied with a dismissive smile. ¡°No, not Greenland. Somewhere much¡­further away, you could say. I want you to lead the team in studying and mapping out a new island with wondrous properties.¡± Her eyes flicked to Isla, the trap fully sprung. She¡¯s even better than she was in college. I hate you¡­ ¡°Tell me,¡± Evelyn murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly. ¡°Do you really want to go back to chasing boring algae on cliff faces after seeing this¡­god-fish? We call it the Immortal Fish, by the way¡­and there are more of them.¡± Her breath slowed. Her eyes stayed on the fish. No. She could admit it without a second thought. She didn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t admit it to the devil herself, and the fiend seemed to catch on because she didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°Good,¡± Evelyn replied, her smile widening as she held out her hand. ¡°Welcome to AEGIS and Site-X0, Dr. Reyes. You¡¯re my first pick, by the way. The others were¡­leftovers. I hope you¡¯re honored because you¡¯ve jumped a line of thousands who are already qualified to take your very important job. It pays to have connections!¡± Damn it. Her hand moved before she could stop it, her fingers closing around a devil¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s good to be aboard. But just tell me¡­ Did you kill Jill?¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Evelyn asked, returning to her cup of tea with the slightest of smiles playing at the edge of her lips. ¡°I¡¯ve known a few Jills. It¡¯s a fairly common name.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been suspected of murdering multiple Jills?¡± Isla mumbled, a shiver running down her spine. ¡°Killing and murder are such¡­charged words,¡± Evelyn chuckled, a glint appearing in her eyes. ¡°And suspect? No. I dare say your imagination must have gotten the better of you. Jill¡¯s body was never found. Was it? Although, we did attend the funeral. Didn¡¯t we? Life is interesting. Well, no time to waste. Discovery awaits.¡± Chapter Three Churning waves. Jagged rock. Fog rolling in low sheets, blanketing the sea like a stage being set for an ancient ritual. The storm hangs overhead, gray clouds swirling like ink in water. The helicopter¡¯s hum cuts through the distant roar of crashing waves. A camera pans to reveal it: Site-X0. A rocky outcrop rises from the sea like a crooked monolith, its surface lined with ancient, sharp angles that seem to resist erosion. Dark basalt juts out, uneven and raw, but amidst the chaos of stone, something unnatural calls attention to itself: a triangular aperture set into the rock¡ªa doorway. It isn¡¯t carved. It¡¯s fused. A seamless entry shaped by forces beyond human hands. The aperture pulses faintly with soft, golden light. Glyphs weave along its border like fireflies on parade, each symbol flickering with a rhythm that feels like a heart that¡¯s just woken up. A mist seeps out, curling at the base like dry ice spilled across stone. The entire entrance hums with a faint, harmonic tone that reverberates in Isla¡¯s chest as the helicopter descends. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Isla sat with her elbows on her knees, her eyes locked on the rising structure below as the helicopter tilted into its approach. Her harness dug into her shoulders, rain sliding down the side of the window as the storm raged outside, shaking the vehicle they descended in. The mist obscured part of the outcrop, but her eyes had no trouble finding it. Her focus darted to every detail of the unearthly sight. A triangular gateway in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle? How has no one noticed this on any satellites or any shipping lanes? Her gaze shifted to the calm woman seated beside her, wearing a soft smile. I guess there are such things as secret organizations that play on another level than the public is aware of. And, of course, Evelyn would be a part of that. She returned to her study, spotting the glowing glyphs around the base. It looked like a giant, rocky island that had been excavated to reveal the buried ruins. Her fingers gripped the seat¡¯s edge until her knuckles whitened. Her heart knew it before her brain could catch up. Precursors¡­ Evelyn¡¯s ridiculous thesis that Jill always teased her about. It¡¯s real. Her gaze darted to the brown-haired woman opposite her, casually scrolling through a tablet as if reviewing a grocery list. Not a glance spared for the awe-inspiring site below. Not a single flicker of wonder or unease. ¡°First thoughts?¡± Evelyn asked, not looking up. ¡°Symmetry,¡± Isla muttered, eyes narrowing as she studied the glyphs. ¡°Ancient civilizations aren¡¯t my field of study, but they used a triangular gateway instead of a circular one. Triangles are stronger in nature¡ªstructurally, mathematically¡ªbut it¡¯s not just that. Look at how the symbols move. It¡¯s not random. It¡¯s a recursive loop, like an algorithm running in physical form.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Evelyn swiped her tablet. ¡°And here I thought you¡¯d just say ¡®cool door.¡¯ It seems I was right to select you for the task. But that¡¯s nothing new. Your eyes have gotten sharper with experience.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me, Hart.¡± A smile tugged at Evelyn¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯m not. I was genuinely curious and complimenting you.¡± The helicopter pitched to the side as it prepared for landing. Isla gripped the seat, eyes flicking between the outcrop and the swirling sea below. White spray shot up in plumes every time a wave smashed against the cliff face. Her breath fogged the air in front of her. ¡°This is it, huh? You name them with letters? Site-X0.¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh, well, not exactly. This is the entrance to the site. The Precursors, as I called them, are once again¡­¡± she spun her finger in the air, making Isla roll her eyes. ¡°The tip of the iceberg?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Evelyn mused, holding a finger to her scarab brooch with a secretive smirk. ¡°This is my new home for the foreseeable future. So try not to make a mess of it.¡± The helicopter touched down with a lurch, and within seconds, heavily armed men were swarming them. Catching the badges they wore, she saw three stars on their sleek, dark armor as they moved into position around the aircraft. The Amazon site they¡¯d briefly visited only had single stars on theirs. I guess this is a higher tier research site for AEGIS¡­ Her gaze darted from their hybrid of a submachine gun and something far bulkier¡ªsome kind of rifle, though it didn¡¯t look anything like she¡¯d seen¡ªbefore glancing at Evelyn. A man quickly moved to cover her with some kind of light-based umbrella. It didn¡¯t look like she¡¯d get such treatment. What kind of shit have you got me wrapped up in? It¡¯s like I¡¯m stepping into a sci-fi book. One of the soldiers tapped the side of the chopper. ¡°Clear!¡± he barked through his commlink. ¡°After you,¡± Evelyn offered, her grin wider now. ¡°Sure, send the scientist out first,¡± Isla muttered, detaching her harness and rising to her feet. She grabbed her duffel bag, slinging it over her shoulder as the cold air swept in through the open door¡ªit was stronger than she expected. Salty. Damp. Sharp with that electric tang before a lightning strike. Isla wiped the rain from her face, breathing steadily as her boots crunched over slick volcanic stone. Her gaze locked onto the aperture. Her instincts whispered for her to run, a feeling so visceral it gnawed at her gut, but she¡¯d overcome that fear through several ventures into nature¡¯s unexplored regions. This, however, felt slightly different. Her heart thrummed in her chest with each flicker of the glyphs, like her pulse was answering some unseen call. She stopped just shy of the mist, boots grinding on stone. The steady thrum of the rain fell silent in her mind as she studied it.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°You¡¯re hesitating,¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice came from behind her, smooth and sharp as a razor sliding across glass. The older woman¡¯s footsteps echoed softly, heels clicking with unnatural clarity despite the storm. The woman¡¯s expensive coat swayed as she stepped to Isla¡¯s side, her face half-lit by the glow of the glyphs. She adjusted her gloves with practiced care, eyes sharp but patient. Her shouted words bled through the surging waves, assaulting rain, and pulsing runes. ¡°The longer you stare at it, the more power it holds over you¡­ And this is only the beacon that marks the destination on the Ancient Chav¨ªn map in the Amazon temple I showed you on our way here. The real power is deep inside¡ªsomething AEGIS had to unbury since they sealed it up.¡± ¡°Ancient Chav¨ªn map? I don¡¯t follow,¡± Isla muttered, still staring. ¡°Are you saying this is only GPS coordinates? Not some teleportation triangle? And sealed up¡­ It sounds like they were trying to keep something locked away.¡± Her gaze shifted to the flickering symbols woven into the rock. Glyphs like sunbursts, jaguar faces, and fractal patterns twisted into endless loops. Evelyn only tilted her head toward it with a smile that never reached her eyes. ¡°Would you like me to go first, Doctor Reyes? I assure you, it won¡¯t be my first walk through the unknown. I can hold your hand if it makes you feel better,¡± she snickered as the soldiers around her stepped inside without a second thought, sinking into the watery pool as if made of gelatin. Isla clenched her jaw, eyes darting to the damnable woman¡¯s face¡ªher boss now, it seemed. Her fingers flexed at her side, knuckles stiff. ¡°I told you before. Don¡¯t patronize me, Hart.¡± She stepped forward, boots cracking against stone, and faced the swirling liquid-light surface of the gateway. ¡°If this takes me to that Immortal Fish, then I¡¯m not backing down.¡± Her reflection stared back at her. A warped, watery version of herself¡ªher brown curls twisting like ink in water, eyes deeper than they should be, her outline stretching and bending like she was being seen through frosted glass. She lifted a hand. Her reflection moved a split-second too slowly. ¡°...That¡¯s not how reflections work, Evelyn,¡± Isla muttered, curling her fingers to a fist. Her heart jumped once, hard, in her chest. ¡°Okay¡­ No thinking. Just go.¡± Evelyn¡¯s smile widened, but she said nothing as Isla took her first step into the inky pool. Her breath caught as her foot met the ¡°water¡± of the gateway. It wasn¡¯t wet. It wasn¡¯t even cold. It was¡­different. Like stepping onto a trampoline with no resistance, only for it to release her. Her body sank in, eyes wide, arms tense at her sides. Light folded inward. Her limbs blurred, dissolved, and twisted into motes of color. Her senses bent. Sound became distant and hollow. Her heart felt like it was hammering in slow motion. Her ears popped. Her heartbeat echoed in her skull. Air was gone. Not gone. Replaced. Her lungs ached, but she didn¡¯t suffocate. She floated in the space¡ªbetween spaces¡ªfor what felt like hours, minutes, seconds. There was no time here. She emerged with a gasp, her body lurching forward like she¡¯d broken the surface of water. Her boots hit solid stone. Her breath came in sharp gulps. Air. Clean air. Cool air. She stumbled forward, blinking against the amber glow surrounding her. The storm, the waves, the noise of the surface¡ªit was all gone. ¡°Pressure adjustment complete,¡± a monotone male voice echoed from overhead in an odd accent she couldn¡¯t place. ¡°Decompression at 94%. Stabilizing.¡± The air tasted like metal and rain mixed with cold stone. It wasn¡¯t fresh air, but it was breathable. She wiped her face and blinked rapidly, eyes adjusting to the strange glow illuminating the vast chamber¡ªshe wasn¡¯t wet anymore, yet felt slightly like she was. The first thing Isla noticed was the ceiling. She tilted her head back, and her breath hitched. Water. Miles and miles of ocean hung above her like a glass-bottomed lake. It was still and perfect, like gravity had been turned upside down. The faint outline of fish swam above, their shapes blurred as they passed in slow, dreamlike drifts. Her heart skipped a beat. It was beautiful. Horrifying. Impossible. ¡°The Ancient Chav¨ªns apparently called it the Endless Sea,¡± Evelyn softly answered, stepping past her. She glanced up briefly, eyes sharp, unfazed. ¡°Whether it is or not¡­ is left for debate. They abandoned this post and sealed it up. Placed that warning signal at the front gate.¡± Isla turned, taking in the chamber. An inverted step pyramid. Stone walls were somehow translucent, lined with glowing glyphs that lit up as she passed. The aurelian light pulsed, tracking her movements. Each step echoed like she was walking through a cathedral. Above, water. Below, stairs lead deeper into the structure. ¡°Warning¡­ I thought it was a beacon.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be both?¡± the insufferable woman smirked, moving past her with a bored gaze. ¡°Try to keep up.¡± ¡°The echoes,¡± Isla muttered, her voice hushed. Her eyes flicked to the jaguar-faced carvings set into the walls. Their eyes, vivid and wide, followed her movements. Her breath slowed. ¡°They¡¯re¡­watching.¡± ¡°The AI always does AI things,¡± Evelyn replied. ¡°Ancient AI that I¡¯ve become rather well acquainted with thanks to a little scarab friend of mine. No need to panic. They can¡¯t kick us out because doing so would break the 450-watt rule.¡± ¡°450-watt rule?¡± she repeated, moving after her. ¡°Who are these people?¡± At the base of the platform, three figures stood waiting for them. Isla¡¯s eyes darted to each of them, quickly assessing. She knew these types of people. Expedition teams always had a type. Ever like herself, Evelyn skipped right past her explanation and introduced each, allowing them to greet her. Kael Moore: Field Engineer. Compact. Wiry. Brown buzz cut, oil-stained gloves, and an unlit cigarette tucked behind his ear. He leaned on a crate of equipment with an uneasy grin. ¡°Yo, Captain Reyes, welcome to the end of the world, or that¡¯s what I¡¯m calling it,¡± he said, flashing a cocky smile. His eyes scanned her like he was already measuring her for a job she didn¡¯t know she had. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I brought the good drills we used to unearth this place¡ªthe best shit¡ªElement 16 shit.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know what that even means, idiot,¡± growled a tall, broad-shouldered Samoan woman as she slapped his arm. ¡°Dr. Maeva Moreau, your field medic. Director Evelyn told me that you¡¯re the woman to talk to about marine biology.¡± ¡°That¡¯s me, among several other fields I¡¯ve studied in,¡± Isla returned. ¡°Surely you have more skills than just being a ¡®field medic¡¯ on this expedition,¡± she challenged with a narrowed eye. Maeva¡¯s lips curved. ¡°Guilty as charged. My main fields of study are human anatomy and plant biology¡ªtwo PhDs to prove it, one in Comparative Human Biology and the other in Plant Biochemistry and Pharmacognosy. I¡¯m also a licensed medical doctor, which means when someone inevitably gets impaled on a ¡°mysterious spike,¡± I¡¯ll be the one pulling it out. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to sink my teeth into what mysteries await us beyond these walls. Oh, and this is Hollow¡ªwell, his real name is James Holloway, but we just use Hollow¡ªhe¡¯s the theoretical physicist, specializing in unnatural energy fields among a few other things.¡± ¡°Should I ask why?¡± Isla asked with a strained smile, not accustomed to working with larger groups since they rarely kept up with her. ¡°It¡¯s not just because of his last name, right?¡± Lanky, pale, and wearing glasses, he glanced up from his notepad, raising one brow like he¡¯d been watching them the whole time. ¡°What? No, of course, it¡¯s because it¡¯s my last name. Not like the hole in my stomach means anything. And you¡¯re late! Ugh. Guess I owe Kael twenty bucks.¡± Isla raised an unimpressed brow while staring at his covered belly, not sure if he was stating a fact or trying to haze the new girl. ¡°If I¡¯d known there was a pool, I¡¯d have placed my own bet.¡± Kael snorted, tossing her a grin. ¡°Too late, Doc. She¡¯s alright.¡± Chapter Four The soft clink of Isla¡¯s boot against the smooth stone step echoed through the chamber, each sound swallowed by the vastness of the Endless Sea¡¯s core. Her fingers brushed against the wall as they ascended, the lilac-glowing veins of stone pulsing faintly beneath her fingertips. The glow flickered, responding to her presence like a cat¡¯s half-lidded gaze¡ªaware but uninterested¡­lethargic. Too quiet. Her eyes darted up the spiral ascent ahead, her gaze catching on the backs of Evelyn, Kael, Maeva, and Hollow as they moved up the narrow stairwell. The sound of boots, the Site Administrator¡¯s heels scuffing on stone, and faint, steady breaths were the only signs of life. No ambient hum of generators. No quiet conversations from other personnel. No distant rattle of machinery. Her footfalls slowed for a moment. She twisted, glancing back down the long drop to the abyss below. The central pillar rose like an obsidian spear, unnervingly smooth and vanishing into the dark, bottomless void. No seabed. No other landmass. Just blackness. The perfect abyss, with a singular, unyielding spike of rock piercing the still, endless sea to support them. Her throat tightened. If that breaks¡­this whole facility will fall into the abyss. Have they even tested how far it goes? Probably not¡­which is why we¡¯re here. How is it so smooth and clean if they only just unearthed it after thousands of years? It has to end, though. Everything has an ending¡­or should have an ending. ¡°Don¡¯t fall behind,¡± Evelyn called over her shoulder, her words sharp but without bite. She hadn¡¯t even looked back, of course. Just knew she was lagging. She always knows everything. Damn witch¡­ Maybe she is with everything she¡¯s shown me. Isla¡¯s gaze lingered on the black void below for one more second before she resumed the climb. Her hands flexed at her sides, a habit of calming her nerves. She knew better than to let her imagination linger in places like this. She¡¯d learned that lesson on deep-sea expeditions¡ªwhen the pressure of the ocean wasn¡¯t the only thing pressing on your mind. There were other pressures. Older ones. Quieter ones that refused to stay in the darkness. Her eyes flicked to Evelyn¡¯s back, the clean, immaculate lines of her long coat swaying as she ascended. You feel it, too. I know you do¡­ You¡¯re nervous. You¡¯re just better at faking it. ¡°Sure is¡­empty,¡± Hollow muttered from somewhere near the middle of the group. He sounded distant, as if his voice had to push through molasses to reach her. His fingers drummed nervously on the smooth stone rail, or at least it felt like stone. ¡°This whole place feels wrong. Like we¡¯re sneaking in after hours.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t remind me,¡± Kael replied, his voice light with forced humor. ¡°Half-expecting to see some poor bastard janitor show up with a mop and scream ¡®What are you doing here?¡¯ like it¡¯s a horror flick and he¡¯s the last guardian.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Maeva snorted, her heavy footfalls thudding with solid authority. ¡°Except in horror flicks, the janitor¡¯s the first to die.¡± ¡°See, that right there is why you never stay late at work,¡± Kael shot back, tapping the back of Hollow¡¯s vest. ¡°First rule of survival, buddy. Don¡¯t be the last one on-site after hours. Ain¡¯t nobody making it out of a locked secret facility of monsters at 3 a.m.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Hollow grunted. ¡°Bet it¡¯s why we got no one here now. Whole team got scared and bailed. Packed their bags and left. Can¡¯t blame ¡®em.¡± ¡°Or,¡± Isla muttered, her voice low, ¡°they didn¡¯t leave willingly.¡± The group fell silent at that. Their footsteps echoed louder than before, each thud feeling like a countdown. Her words only got a sly, half-turned smirk from the organizer of this horror-inducing expedition party. Hollow cleared his throat, a little too loud. ¡°Budget cuts. Right, boss? Yeah. It¡¯s gotta be budget cuts.¡± Sure, Hollow. Budget cuts. That¡¯s definitely why this whole mythical place feels like a graveyard. Isla¡¯s lips pressed into a hard, thin line. Budget cuts don¡¯t leave chairs half-pushed out from tables. Budget cuts don¡¯t leave empty lockers with personal gear still inside, she noted, glancing into rooms as they entered a hallway. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Dr. Reyes,¡± Evelyn called back, her voice smooth as oil on sheets of steel. She didn¡¯t turn around. Her fingers traced one of the glowing veins, her nails softly tapping the stone. ¡°I¡¯m currently hiring replacements. You¡¯ll have more company than you¡¯ll want in a few weeks¡­ If you make it back.¡± ¡° ¡®If¡¯ being the key word there, huh? And hiring,¡± Isla¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°That¡¯s one way to phrase it, I suppose.¡± ¡°An honest way,¡± Evelyn countered, pausing briefly at a junction to let the others catch up. Her eyes flicked over Isla like she was inspecting a product she¡¯d bought off the shelf. ¡°Sometimes, to grow, you must cut away dead branches and examine them to see how they failed before grafting on new¡­more sturdy specimens. Our previous staff were¡­incompatible with the site¡¯s needs, it seems. I¡¯m still puzzling over that tongue twister.¡± AKA, some shit went down, and you don¡¯t want to talk about it. Hollow leaned toward Kael and muttered, ¡°Bet that means dead.¡± Kael snorted. Maeva shot them both a warning look at their snickers. I guess you have to joke to stay sane. ¡°Incompatible, huh?¡± Isla¡¯s eyes lingered on Evelyn¡¯s cold, unreadable face. ¡°That word comes with a lot of sharp edges¡­like ¡®killing¡¯ and ¡®murder,¡¯ wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Evelyn didn¡¯t deny it, her smile razor-thin. ¡°You¡¯ll find, Doctor, that in places like these, people either rise to the challenge or¡­don¡¯t. Strange things can happen when exploring a new world¡­ Difficult decisions have to be made at times. Can you do that?¡± Her eyes held Isla¡¯s for a moment longer than necessary. Not a stare. Not a glare. Just a silent, cold reminder of something they both knew. There are no heroes here, is that what you¡¯re saying? Can I make the hard call when it¡¯s two impossible choices? What are you getting at, Evelyn? Is this about Jill back in college? It¡¯s hard to read you, but I know one thing¡ªthere¡¯s something bigger here than you¡¯re telling us. If you¡¯re willing to play the devil to keep it buried, then it¡¯s worse than you¡¯re letting on. The challenge sent a familiar prickle of defiance through Isla¡¯s chest. She knew Eve was getting under her skin¡ªand Eve knew it too. But after seeing that immortal fish, there was no backing down now. No chance in hell. ¡°Are you questioning your own decision to put me in charge?¡± Isla returned with a sharp grin, voice cutting like a scalpel. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you were the type to second-guess yourself.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes gleamed, gray clouds swirling with answers she wouldn¡¯t give. ¡°Me? Never,¡± she said with a soft, dangerous lilt. ¡°Just making sure you aren¡¯t.¡± I thought so. You¡¯re not going to give us everything. And if you¡¯re hiding the worst of it¡ªwhen you¡¯ve already shown us this much¡ªthen it¡¯s worse than anything we¡¯ve imagined. I¡¯m not about to close my eyes to it. Maybe curiosity does kill the cat¡­ But I know where to push and when to cut my losses. I¡¯ll take that bet, Eve¡­ And win. Which is just what you want. Dammit. Chapter Five The old stone stairwell curved into a polished, steel-plated corridor, the shift so sudden it might as well have been a page turn in a book. They¡¯d reached sea level. A metallic hum buzzed softly in the background now¡ªa subtle, continuous thrum that spoke of wires, machines, and power. Not stone. Not lilac-glowing veins. Man-made. Controlled. The modern facility opened up like the gut of a metal whale, its segmented walls lined with honeycomb-shaped glass panes that filtered soft, amber light into the room. Each pane framed the outside world like a moving diorama. Isla stopped at the edge of the hall, eyes narrowing as she gazed out at the water beyond the glass. Her breath slowed. She stood at the edge of the world. The ocean was endless. A boundless expanse of still, blue-black water. She couldn¡¯t see the sun, but it was bright somehow¡ªenough to give everything that strange underwater glow. From her vantage point, she could see the lower tiers of the site, the sloping, ancient geometry blending into the modern metal outposts AEGIS had bolted onto it like barnacles on a ship. Below it all was the heart of the abyss. No land. No seabed. Just the slow, smooth descent of a single, obsidian-black pillar of stone driving down into the dark. It pulled at her. Like gravity. And after further study of the rock as they circled around it, she realized something critical. It¡¯s not like any pillar or material I¡¯ve seen¡­ Not rock, not metal, but¡­something else. It¡¯s different than the ancient translucent stone, like the Precursors tacked their facility onto it just like we¡¯ve done to theirs. Whatever this is¡­ It¡¯s perfect¡­ Smoother than the most polished glass or the finest silk. Her gut turned cold as she felt the gentle vibes pulsing from it¡ªdrawing, lulling her to remain attached. Suddenly, Evelyn¡¯s voice floated through the void, snapping her back to reality. ¡°You like it?¡± Her hand pressed against it next to hers, the others doing the same. Yet, Evelyn¡¯s gray eyes were solely directed at her. ¡°They say you never forget your first view of the Endless Sea. At least, the ancient poets in China spoke of such a place they saw in dreams¡­ Coincidence? Hmm. Who can say?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Isla replied, eyes locked on the black spike as she felt her whole body vibrating with it. ¡°First view of what? No. This¡ªwhat is this thing?¡± ¡°The Foundation.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes flicked to it, her fingers spreading out. ¡°Like a spine sending pulses of life deep into the void, it stands as a testament against whatever darkness lurks below¡­or, it is a nicely honeyed trap to lure in unsuspecting insects,¡± she mused, causing shivers to run down all of their spines.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Isla had played her creepy word games long before her introduction to this organization, though. ¡°Spines support things, Evelyn,¡± Isla muttered, her eyes tracing its descent into darkness from the glass platform that surrounded it, providing a clear view to the top as it climbed at least a hundred meters above the current base design. ¡°What¡¯s it holding up?¡± ¡°Us,¡± Evelyn gently replied, stepping past her. ¡°Now isn¡¯t that poetic? Come along, Doctor Reyes. The others are getting antsy.¡± Isla¡¯s gaze lingered on the abyss a moment longer. Then she turned. Her boots clicked softly against the metal floor as she entered the hallway, eyes scanning the modern lab¡¯s layout. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the empty corridors. The reinforced walls bore a modular design¡ªhexagonal paneling, recessed lighting, and reinforced bulkheads. Each section had a clearly visible identifier stenciled in blocky white letters. R&D-WING 3. BIO-RESEARCH HALL-8. Overhead lights dimmed with low power, connected to a solar grid and batteries that seemed to be connected individually rather than in groups. Curious, solar devices, but no sun? I guess if this place is new, they¡¯re still working out the details. Her sharp eyes darted to the carefully bundled wires. The wattage was clearly being rationed and segregated from each other, no system louder than a whisper. She caught sight of a boat beyond the glass walls to the outside upon entering the outer circle. It was moored to a small, metallic dock suspended on the water¡¯s surface¡ªa sleek, semi-enclosed vessel with black alloy plates and an array of solar panels along its roof. Compact. Fast. No doubt equipped with submersible capacity with everything she¡¯d seen so far from AEGIS¡¯ funding. Beautiful thing. Expensive too. ¡°Like it?¡± Evelyn smiled faintly, following her gaze. ¡°We call it Dark Chaser. Custom-built for stealth entry. Can submerge if needed, but fast enough to outrun most things, I¡¯m told.¡± ¡°Most things¡ªwhat things? All you¡¯ve shown me is an Immortal Fish.¡± Isla raised a brow. ¡°Tsk-tsk,¡± Evelyn sighed, vision shifting to the others as curiosity spiked in their gaze. She shifted her focus to the distant waterline, her face turning just a fraction colder. ¡°Try not to spoil or divulge any secrets we discuss in private, Isla. Just know that it is best to be vigilant and watchful when beyond these mostly safe walls.¡± She turned to the team, her smile sliding back into place. ¡°The rest of you¡ªboat duty. Get it running while I talk with my dear old friend. You leave in thirty.¡± Kael gave a lazy salute. ¡°Well, sea monsters sound interesting to me. Aye, aye, Captain Hart.¡± Evelyn arched a brow, gray eyes narrowing. ¡°Do you see a captain¡¯s hat on my head, Mr. Moore?¡± ¡°Not yet, Director.¡± He winked and walked off. ¡°Catch you soon, Captain Isla. We¡¯ll get the ship ready. I hear you¡¯re a Marine Biologist of some kind. Can¡¯t wait to hear what you have to say about whatever we find out there.¡± Evelyn exhaled, rolling her eyes but Isla gave him a silent stare, watching the others go. Is he saying he expects me to die soon and Evelyn will need to take my spot? Things are getting weirder by the minute. Chapter Six Isla followed Evelyn up the winding metal steps to the upper levels of the base. The air smelled of brine and ozone, that sharp tang that clung to rainstorms and live wires. Every so often, a faint vibration hummed beneath her boots. It wasn¡¯t a tremor¡ªmore like a pulse, like the throb of a subwoofer buried miles below. Her boots echoed louder than they should. She glanced at Evelyn, who strode ahead of her without missing a step or slowing. Her eyes shifted upward, tracing the smooth ceiling where low-powered LED strips pulsed in a deliberate rhythm. Not a flicker. Not a fluctuation. Just a steady, metronome beat. ¡°How many people did you let go?¡± Isla¡¯s voice was low, her hands slipping into her vest pockets as she strode beside Evelyn. Her eyes scanned every doorway they passed, each labeled in blocky, stenciled text. BIO-CONTAINMENT WING. LIVE SPECIMEN STORAGE. SUBLEVEL ACCESS POINT. Evelyn¡¯s even pace was unbothered, her gaze steady as she stepped onto a rising metal platform. The hum of hydraulics pulled it into motion, lifting them toward the upper levels. Her eyes didn¡¯t drift to Isla, but that smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. ¡°I think we both know I never terminated anyone from this facility at this point.¡± ¡°You never give straight answers,¡± Isla grumbled, focusing on the woman¡¯s bun as it bounced with her movements. ¡°So, everyone here died before you took over? Seems like a rough gig.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything of the kind,¡± Evelyn replied with a light chuckle. ¡°However, deaths and complications can happen through¡­negligence, as I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware, Dr. Reyes. You have traveled through rather dangerous territory and learned that certain¡­behaviors require correction to survive.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. Sounds so much better when you spin it like that,¡± Isla muttered, her focus shifting to the path ahead as they passed another checkpoint. This one was tighter. Two metal bulkheads with rotating hazard symbols. The words BIO-RESTRICTED ZONE: X-2 CLEARANCE REQUIRED were etched in glowing red letters. No guards? Isla noted, eyes narrowing as she glanced down each of the side corridors they passed. The silence was unnerving. No movement. No chatter. Not even the hum of equipment she expected from a place like this. I can guess that AEGIS loves its secrecy, but this is just overkill¡­ Maybe she¡¯s not just trying to get under my skin and I should start taking her subtle warnings and cryptic messages more seriously. Her eyes flicked to the reinforced observation panels on her right. The view was sharp¡ªclear as open air. Below them, the older sections of the pyramid expanded like an inverted ziggurat. The black pillar at its center was still visible, a monument to something she wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to understand. It disappeared into the abyss below, vanishing into a darkness so absolute that even her sharp eyes couldn¡¯t find a trace of movement within it. Her fingers tapped the railing twice, her eyes narrowing while flicking toward the hallway stretching ahead. No signs of guards, no signs of workers. Just an endless corridor of muted lighting and quiet now that the other three were gone. ¡°You¡¯re hiring a full team to man this place, huh?¡± Isla tilted her head toward Evelyn, hands still in her pockets. ¡°Strange that none of them are on-site to support us.¡± Evelyn¡¯s pace didn¡¯t slow as she stepped off the platform. She glanced her way with that familiar look that told her everything she needed to know. ¡°We¡¯re¡­not getting support, are we,¡± Isla mumbled, stepping off after her. Her voice carried an edge of doubt, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the door labels. BIO-STORAGE 3. CONTAINMENT SECTOR 4. LIVE TEST OBSERVATION. ¡°Where did your guards go?¡± ¡°Off on their own mission,¡± she evenly replied. ¡°So, you¡¯re alone up here, huh? No team. No guards. Just¡­you when we go?¡± ¡°Does that make you nervous, Dr. Reyes?¡± Evelyn raised a brow, that faint grin flickering across her lips. Her hands remained at her side, her steps calm, her heels clicking at an even, deliberate pace, making Isla wonder how she walked in the foot killers all day while climbing so many stairs. ¡°I¡¯d think you¡¯d prefer it this way. No one to slow you down.¡± ¡°No, I like having eyes on me when doing hazardous stuff,¡± Isla shot back, her gaze darting to one of the observation windows. Her gaze lingered on the edge of the glass, scanning for reflection shifts¡ªanything that might hint at surveillance. She found nothing. No cameras. No lenses. Nothing but the foggy sheen of the Endless Sea behind it. Evelyn raised a hand toward a nearby panel, the label on the door showing: THE FOG TANK. Her fingers moved with precision, tapping in a twelve-digit passcode that flashed X-2 CLEARANCE ACCEPTED. The bulkhead split with a sharp hiss, gears grinding as it slid open, revealing a corridor lined with sleek, metallic walls¡ªthe door opened at a comically slow rate. Beyond it, dim light pulsed from within. Amber and violet flashes flickered like distant lightning, casting jagged shadows on the floor. ¡°After you,¡± Evelyn gestured with a sweep of her hand, that knowing smile never leaving her face. Her eyes stayed locked on her. A circular chamber opened before her, illuminated by the faint, pulsing glow of glyphs and the cool, aquatic light of an oversized containment tank in the center of the room. She slowed her steps, eyes locked on it. The tank was massive, roughly 10 feet tall, with what she could only assume was reinforced AEGIS-grade glass that shimmered faintly with lilac-hued reflections. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Isla muttered, moving past her, eyes sharp as she crossed the threshold. Her breath hitched the moment she stepped in. Out of everything she expected the devilish woman to do or take her, it was not here. ¡°The Immortal Fish?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± The fish floated at the center of the tank. Small. Too small for all the spectacle. No more than 16 inches long, its translucent, silvery-blue body shimmered as it twirled lazily in the water, its eel-like fins rippling with the subtle motion. No eyes, but faint indentations where eyes should be. It moved with deliberate ease, turning in smooth arcs, not darting or flinching like most fish. Its body shimmered like polished glass, reflecting every pulse of light from the glyphs below. Her breath slowed. Her eyes narrowed. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± she muttered, stepping closer to the tank, her face inches from the glass. Her breath fogged it for a moment before vanishing. ¡°With all the security and the potential advancements¡­ This is where you stick it. Locked in your little room.¡± Her gaze stayed fixated on the creature¡¯s movements. No gills. No sudden shifts in motion. No fear. No hesitation as it spun in complicated loops that she soon realized were a figure-8. ¡°Don¡¯t be so dismissive, Dr. Reyes,¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice echoed softly as she circled behind her. Her hands slid from her coat pockets, one gesturing to the tank as she stepped beside Isla. ¡°Specimen-04-¦¸, though I prefer ¡®Flop.¡¯ Now that I¡¯m in control, I think I¡¯ll name him that. The research team didn¡¯t agree, but I believe you¡¯ll appreciate the humor¡­or perhaps not.¡± ¡°Flop?¡± Isla¡¯s lips curled. ¡°That¡¯s the best you could do?¡± Evelyn¡¯s grin widened, eyes glinting like knives. ¡°Well, it certainly takes a certain blend of humor to stomach. You see, it tends to flop around when removed from water. I thought it was fitting.¡± Isla¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t leave the fish. Her eyes narrowed further, brow furrowing in slow realization. She leaned forward, just a little, her breath fogging the glass once more. ¡°There¡¯s no damage on it.¡± Her finger hovered over the spot where she saw it brush the side of the tank. ¡°Not a scratch. Not a single mark on its scales.¡± ¡°No, there isn¡¯t,¡± Evelyn whispered, stepping closer, her gray eyes fixed on Isla¡¯s reflection in the glass. ¡°Want to see why?¡± Her fingers tapped a button on the console beside her. The overhead lights dimmed, and a new series of glyphs flickered on the floor. The tank¡¯s water churned, sudden ripples shivering through the liquid as something metallic unfolded from the top¡ªa blade. The metal arm shifted slowly into position over the tank. Isla stiffened, her eyes locked on the fish as it continued its lazy spin, unbothered. The blade dropped with a sickening thud and whirr. The fish was cut clean in half. Blood swirled like ink in water. For two seconds, Isla¡¯s breath caught in her throat. And then the halves¡­stitched themselves back together. Her breath escaped in a short, sharp exhale, her fingers curling against her palms.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°As I said, this is only the tip of the iceberg,¡± Evelyn said, her grin sharp as ever. Her eyes flicked toward Isla, her voice soft, dangerous, and proud. ¡°However, there are other dangers I need you to understand because I know you won¡¯t run¡­ Not like the others would.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes stayed locked on the swirling blood now dissipating into the tank¡¯s water as if it never existed at all, her voice calm but sharp with intent. Isla jumped as the woman promptly moved closer and put a hand against the glass, cutting off her escape and locking eyes with her. ¡°Woah¡ªhey!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the physical type,¡± the woman stated, devilish eyes practically glowing with an inner light of danger as the scarab brooch illuminated a dull blue. ¡°But all playful banter aside, Dr. Reyes, I must be cautious with you due to what is at stake. Are you listening?¡± she asked. Evelyn pressed in closer, keeping her focus, and the uncomfortable vibes reverberated up Isla¡¯s spine as her peppermint breath filled her lungs; she knew this woman had something lethal in her coat that could kill her, and didn¡¯t want to test her fate with this glowing scarab thing after everything she¡¯d seen. ¡°I¡¯m listening¡­¡± ¡°Good. Because there are things in this new dimensional space that are far beyond our comprehension. Creatures, physics, even concepts that don¡¯t adhere to the rules you know. I am not playing games with you. I was told to achieve results and the spineless cowards tend to be the ones in AEGIS who survive because they never push boundaries¡­like you. Do not test The Fog.¡± Swallowing the lump that formed in her throat, back pressed against the glass as Evelyn¡¯s far-too-close, all-consuming eyes burrowed into hers, she tried to regain her nerve in the extremely uncomfortable position. ¡°And here I thought you were the queen of comprehension and results¡­ I get it. This place isn¡¯t normal. You¡¯re saying if I see fog roll in, I should brace for something worse and what¡­try to outrun it?¡± ¡°Not worse. Different,¡± Evelyn replied, giving her breathing room as the brunette pulled away, her tone weighty in a way that stilled the air between them. Her eyes didn¡¯t blink, and there was genuine caution in them that Isla had never seen in the control-freak woman. ¡°If The Fog comes, it means night is upon us¡­ Strange things happen at night. If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll sleep. If you¡¯re reckless, you¡¯ll wander¡­both physically and with your mind.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Isla muttered, her brow furrowed as her ¡®boss¡¯ let her move again, moving a hand to her hip in an almost agitated manner. ¡°And what¡¯s in the fog that¡¯s so terrifying it has you telling bedtime stories?¡± Evelyn leaned in closer, making her shift away from the fish tank so as not to be trapped again, her voice barely a breath from Isla¡¯s ear. ¡°It¡¯s not what¡¯s in The Fog, Dr. Reyes. It¡¯s what becomes possible in it. Or¡­that is what evidence I¡¯ve gathered leads me to believe.¡± The silence after that was too still. Isla didn¡¯t turn her head, didn¡¯t blink, didn¡¯t shift her weight. She just stared at Evelyn¡¯s reflection. Possible¡­ Great. She¡¯s becoming slightly unhinged, which isn¡¯t a good sign when dealing with a mind like hers. Evelyn¡¯s fingers tapped the console again. The glyphs on the floor shifted from violet to orange. She reached for a digital panel next to the control screen, and with a sharp tap, she actuated it. The tank hissed as thick rivulets of water poured from vents at the base, draining it with surprising speed. The immortal fish swirled with the current, twisting its body in smooth arcs to keep itself centered. The draining process was oddly quiet, save for the low, wet churn of liquid rushing through pipes beneath them. Isla stepped back, mouth turning into a frown as she watched the water level drop. ¡°I take it we¡¯re not cleaning the tank.¡± ¡°Observation,¡± Evelyn replied, her eyes locked on the fish as it flopped to the bottom of the tank. Its smooth, eel-like body thrashed once, twice¡ªthen it stilled, heaving small movements like a heartbeat. The water finally hit zero. The fish jerked violently, slamming its body against the glass with a thunk that echoed through the chamber. It flopped wildly on the smooth metal surface, twisting in agitated spasms. Isla grimaced. Yeah, I wonder why things here might want to kill us¡­ Humanity is typically more of the monster than the creatures in stories¡­ Stuffing her hands into her pockets, she tried not to let her emotions get the best of her. ¡°You¡¯re about to pull some mad scientist shit, aren¡¯t you?¡± Evelyn¡¯s small smile didn¡¯t fade as she reached for another control. This one wasn¡¯t a button. It was a switch with a safety cover. She flipped the cover up. Isla squinted at the bold red label etched into the metal: INCINERATION PROTOCOL¡ªSAFETY BYPASS REQUIRED. ¡°You¡¯re kidding,¡± Isla muttered, leaning forward, her eyes sharp on Evelyn. ¡°You¡¯re roasting it?¡± ¡°Roasting, searing, reducing to cinders¡ªcall it what you like.¡± Evelyn¡¯s fingers flicked over the screen, entering another passcode. ¡°Some things are best understood through extremes.¡± ¡°Some things don¡¯t deserve to be understood¡­or burned alive,¡± Isla muttered, stepping closer as her gaze shifted to the fish. It was still flopping on the ground, slower this time, as though it had accepted its fate. Its body jerked again in short, erratic bursts, tail flicking against the smooth metal floor. Evelyn¡¯s finger hovered over the final switch, pausing for just a moment. ¡°Would you like to do the honors?¡± Isla frowned. Her eyes darted to the fish, its tiny head twitching as it was trying to orient itself. No eyes. No gills. No mouth, even. Just movement and motion¡ªlike it only existed to persist. Her lips pressed into a firm line. ¡°Go ahead, lady death. I¡¯m not about to be complicit in your villain arc.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get quite accustomed to it in the end,¡± Evelyn ominously replied. Her finger clicked the switch. ¡°For science.¡± Twin jets of fire roared from the ceiling of the tank, dousing it in superheated flames. Heat haze rippled through the containment glass, filling the chamber with a gas that didn¡¯t get past the glass, causing the heat to intensify. The fish¡¯s body whipped against the floor, flopping hard enough to leave faint marks where it hit. The flames stayed on for nearly fifteen seconds before Evelyn turned them off with a subtle tap. The chamber was left dim and hazy, with faint smoke trails curling upward. Isla¡¯s eyes stayed fixed on the fish¡¯s body. Charred. Blackened. Absolutely wrecked. Her lips parted to say something¡ª Then it twitched. Her heart skipped. Her fingers curled into her palms. The fish¡¯s blackened skin cracked, and thin veins of shimmering blue light coursed beneath the surface, rising even as the fires were cutting off. A pop echoed through the tank as one of the charred plates of its skin burst away, revealing that translucent, perfect form beneath it. Its tail flicked. Her breath hitched. ¡°¡­You don¡¯t know if it feels pain, do you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Evelyn replied, watching with calm detachment. ¡°We have no idea. Nerve impulses behave erratically, and its regenerative process is so rapid that any damage is resolved before pain can register. It¡¯s an anomaly, a contradiction in the very concept of injury. It may look like it heals within two to three seconds. In reality, I believe it is much swifter and fundamental than we can observe.¡± Evelyn shifted her weight, straightening her coat as she eyed the tank one last time. ¡°The fog, the fish, the dimensional instability¡­ These are not isolated phenomena. They are symptoms of a larger whole. The five-mile boundary is no arbitrary limit. Yes, what you see outside is not The Truth.¡± ¡°Five miles? What are you talking about?¡± Isla raised a brow, watching Evelyn from the corner of her eye. ¡°Sounds awfully specific. No warnings?¡± ¡°Five miles,¡± Evelyn confirmed, her face still turned toward the tank. ¡°Beyond five miles, light distorts. Signals degrade. No one¡¯s gone beyond it and come back¡­ Well, other than one boosted transmission about an island fifty miles to what we call The East. I¡¯ve left instructions on what little we do know on the boat. Now¡­you will know what is beyond that limit.¡± When it¡¯s sort of too late to back out¡­ Subtle. Isla¡¯s lips quirked in a half-smirk, her eyes cutting toward Evelyn. ¡°Is this supposed to be a pep talk? Because your mad scientist ass is terrible at it.¡± Evelyn chuckled softly while refilling the tank with water so the fish could do its infinite loops before finally turning to face her. ¡°I do appreciate your optimistic, dry, and sarcastic humor, Dr. Reyes. Hold onto it. We¡¯ll see how long it lasts with what I fear you will see¡­and experience firsthand. By the way, did I mention it is highly recommended to never use beyond 450 watts in any active device. Yes, I have seen you eyeing everything and judging silently. It¡¯s why I chose you for this¡­because you know how to think and not what to think. I need that in some select people.¡± Isla strained a smile, feeling like she¡¯d broken somewhat new ground with the nightmare of her college life and unsure how to feel about it. ¡°Well. I guess we¡¯ll be treading new ground together¡­ Ms. Devil.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Devil am I? I have been described as such, but complementing me won¡¯t earn you points for an end-of-year bonus.¡± ¡°Flipping that, huh? And I didn¡¯t see bonuses in the contracts you had me sign¡­other than basically giving over my life for the syndicate. Wait, that¡¯s just a bonus for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a survivor, Isla,¡± Evelyn stated with a threatening gleam. ¡°You know exactly how far to push and when to run, which is how you escaped my little web for this long¡­ But now I¡¯ve found something to snare you. Bring me results¡­and satiate that hungering curiosity.¡± Yeah, she¡¯s a devil. No doubt. ¡°If I¡¯m going to be exploring,¡± she countered, holding her ground, ¡°then you better give me the best damn equipment your shadow syndicate has to offer.¡± ¡°Wonderful!¡± Clapping her hands together, the devil¡¯s shiny gray eyes creased, and she flashed her teeth for the first time into a dazzling smile that belied the intentions underneath. ¡°Then read the manual I left on your personal tablet inside the ship¡­ I¡¯m sure you¡¯re smart enough to find your way back after all that scrutiny earlier, mapping out the facility?¡± Isla smirked, took one last look at the fish, and turned to leave, inputting the 12-digit code of Evelyn that she¡¯d memorized with a single glance. ¡°You better be here when I get back. If I¡¯m taking this risk, you better put some skin in the game.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I have more in it than you might fathom, Dead-Eyes¡­ Have fun.¡± With that, Isla left with a smile on her face. Ahead of her: adventure. Chapter Seven The metal hallways of Site-X0 left an eerie echo as she made her way back to the lower levels, noticing the fine flakes of jungle dirt from her boots. The quiet was louder without the clicking of Evelyn¡¯s heels¡ªevery shift of her coat, every scuff of rubber on steel carried further than it should. The absence of voices, footsteps, or the dull hum of background equipment made it feel like she was walking through an abandoned vault. Her hands stayed stuffed in her pockets, fingers flexing in slow intervals to keep her nerves from settling too deeply into her muscles. Every hallway had its own sign, its own sterile stenciled label in blocky white letters that she¡¯d memorized: BIO-STORAGE. LAB 3B. SECURE ACCESS WING. PERSONNEL QUARTERS. She still kept her eyes mobile, scanning for security cameras¡ªthere weren¡¯t any. No little red LEDs she would expect from a high-security base. No faint rotation of hidden lenses. No metallic glint of an observation drone. Not a single eye watching them. I suppose limited wattage means limited surveillance¡­or perhaps they¡¯re still manufacturing the proper equipment to install. This place was obviously manned before something catastrophic happened and they evacuated or¡­something worse, as Evelyn insinuated. I can never tell if that devil is lying or telling the truth. Then again, maybe it¡¯s because no cameras means no one is watching her. Isla¡¯s gaze swept to the smooth, polished pillar walls as she passed them, her fingers brushing them briefly. They were cool to the touch. Smooth. Too smooth. She didn¡¯t like how little give it had. The most creepy part was this feeling, like she was touching the surface of something alive that simply hadn¡¯t realized she was there yet. Not steel. Not concrete. This isn¡¯t even polymer¡­ It¡¯s something else entirely. Prefabricated or grown? Whatever AEGIS stumbled upon, it should have every government clamoring to get a crack at what new materials and technology they can extract. I guess AEGIS is that scary, transnational secret syndicate they talk about on conspiracy websites. Her steps slowed, gaze flicking up to the ceiling where those low-powered LED strips pulsed in that slow, metronome rhythm. The steady beat matched the pulse she¡¯d felt earlier¡ªa low throb she could feel in her bones. Isla¡¯s breath in slow, shallow pulls. Her eyes darted left, right, back behind her. I¡¯m not paranoid yet¡­but Evelyn makes it hard not to be. This place makes it too easy to feel like something is waiting just out of sight. Keep focused. All paranormal phenomena are simply science not yet understood. She kept walking. Her mind played back Evelyn¡¯s words, that sly grin on her face, the way her voice shifted when she spoke about The Fog. Not what¡¯s in the fog¡­ What becomes possible in it. She suggests sleeping and not staying awake. Not creepy at all. ¡°Possible,¡± Isla muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing. She¡¯d heard Evelyn talk like that before, back at Oxford. The woman always had a way of dressing up simple ideas in pretty, cryptic language just to make people think. This time, though¡­there was something behind it. Something she wasn¡¯t saying. Her eyes darted to the edge of the observation panel as she descended another flight of stairs. The Endless Sea stretched far and wide outside the reinforced glass. Lilac light pulsed through the black depths, making it look like something immense was breathing just out of sight. No fish. No movement. Just that steady, slow pulse of soft purple illumination. Light source unknown. Depth unknown. Location unknown. I was so focused on Evelyn¡¯s mind games that I haven¡¯t stopped to think about the most obvious questions¡­ Where the hell are we? Did we really drop into the center of the Earth and find¡­this? Hollow Earth theory? Another dimension? Her boots struck metal grates as she reached the outer dock, the gentle creak of the bridge barely registering over the distant sound of waves slapping against the sides of the platform. She stepped onto the dock, the salty tang of the air sharper now, cleaner, like she¡¯d just emerged from a pressurized tank. The Dark Chaser sat at the edge of it, sleek and silent. Black alloy plating reflected the faint light of the water¡¯s glow, its surface smooth as obsidian. Its shape wasn¡¯t quite military, but it wasn¡¯t civilian either¡ªlean, angular, and too sharp for comfort. A hybrid craft. Fast, stealthy, and quiet. She hated that she loved it on sight. A low clank drew her attention to the left, where a new man snatched her attention with a tactical vest that read: Security. Broad, wide-shouldered, and built like a human battering ram, he hoisted another heavy black suitcase onto the deck with a grunt. Isla¡¯s eyes lingered on the case for a second longer than they should have. The stenciled text on the side read: RESTRICTED. ¡°Arms?¡± she asked, lifting a brow as she approached the ship. The security operative shot her a look from behind a matte-black visor that revealed nothing but a faint reflection of her face. He didn¡¯t answer, just turned and hauled another case up the ramp.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Subtle,¡± Isla muttered. ¡°And here I thought I was supposed to be the captain leading this party.¡± ¡°James doesn¡¯t talk much,¡± said a voice from inside the boat. The technician stepped out, wiping her hands on her uniform. Light-skinned, red hair, sharp eyes, and a twist of her lips that spoke of someone used to dealing with problems before they escalated. The woman glanced at her, mouth curling into a quick grin. ¡°You must be Dr. Reyes. Welcome aboard, Captain.¡± ¡°Lucky me,¡± Isla replied, stepping onto the boat¡¯s deck and feeling the shift in weight as the vessel¡¯s stabilizers adjusted to her presence. Her eyes flicked to the security operative. James, huh? At least now I have a name for the brick wall in a helmet. The technician extended a hand. ¡°Brigid Ngata. Tech lead for the Dark Chaser. Well, I¡¯ve been recently promoted to such, and have been getting to know her for the last few hours. Creepy place, this, huh? Oh, I¡¯m the engineer, navigator, and, occasionally, counselor if you feel like screaming into the void,¡± she added with a laugh. Isla eyed her hand, then shook it. ¡°Isla Reyes. Marine Biologist. Survivalist. General explorer, and occasionally the voice of reason. Mostly a babysitter, it seems.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Brigid said, hands on her hips. ¡°We¡¯re gonna need that.¡± Her eyes darted to James as he passed, lugging another case with SURVIVAL SUPPLIES marked on the side. Weapons. Gear. Supplies. Survival kit. We¡¯re not coming back here any time soon, are we, Evelyn? ¡°Where¡¯s the rest of the crew?¡± Isla asked, gaze flicking to the control station at the front of the vessel. ¡°Inside,¡± Brigid said, nodding toward the hatch. ¡°Kael¡¯s checking the equipment manifests. Maeva¡¯s reading the mission packet. Hollow¡¯s¡­Hollow. Here¡¯s the bag Dr. Hart told me to give you¡ªit has your tablet inside which acts as our camera.¡± ¡°Wonderful,¡± Isla muttered, taking the item and stepping past her to make her way to the deck¡¯s rear. She spotted a bench seat near the edge and dropped her bag onto it before sliding in, letting her legs stretch out as she leaned back. Her eyes flicked to the view of Site-X0 behind them. The structure seamlessly fused with the obelisk, the reverse ancient ziggurat all the more unusual from this angle rising from the endless sea, all sharp edges and impossible angles. She couldn¡¯t see below the water but knew what it was like from their entrance into this strange place. Still, at sea level, she could see the old civilization¡¯s handiwork. The pale stone walls flickered faintly with glyph-light, patterns shifting in ways she hadn¡¯t noticed before and weren¡¯t like the panther patterns of the ancient civilization¡¯s technology they¡¯d used to get here. The obelisk-like central pillar jutted from the heart of it, sinking deep into the abyss below. Her gaze flicked to the water. Still. Perfect. No current. Not even a ripple from the boat¡¯s engine. It was like looking at glass, a liquid mirror. But as her eyes traced it, something clicked in her brain. No waves further from the obelisk pillar? No light source. No sun. Just an endless, perfectly lit horizon with no source of light. How did I miss it? Her heart thudded once. Shadows. There are no shadows. I¡­don¡¯t have a shadow. Her eyes darted down to her boots, to the deck, to the side of the boat. Her reflection was there, sharp and clear in the water below, but her shadow wasn¡¯t. The ship didn¡¯t cast one, either. It left a reflection but not a shadow. Her eyes flicked back to Site-X0. The base had shadows. She leaned forward, hands on her knees, eyes darting between the surface of the sea and the distant obelisk. Her breath slowed. What a weird place¡­ It¡¯s like I¡¯ve stepped into a dream. A smooth sea that looks like you could walk on it, only disrupted and showing movement against the side of the ship or the obelisk. So, gravity and friction function, but the shadows¡­ Her gaze lifted to the sky. No sun. No moon. No light source. Just a smooth, cloudless glow that stretches on forever. No change in brightness. No shift in intensity. No up, no down, no direction. Her hands curled into fists on her knees. How are we supposed to navigate or find our way back? Impossible physics¡­ Something¡¯s not right. Her gaze dropped to the bag she¡¯d been given, and she pulled out the tablet, noticing her favorite chips and snacks from college inside with a grimace. Evelyn, you shouldn¡¯t have¡­ Damn, she¡¯s creepy. The level of detail in that woman is frightening. Activating the tablet, information immediately came to life on the dull screen, no doubt conserving power based on what first popped up. Her eyes settled on the words ¡®450-watt restriction.¡¯ The manual laid it out clearly as she scanned through it¡ªevery system was isolated. No interlinked networks. No automated data feeds. Everything¡¯s manual. If it¡¯s not connected, it¡¯s not hackable. If it¡¯s not hackable, it¡¯s not vulnerable¡­ Only those are the excuses given to the others, she noted with a frown while reading the additional data only accessible to her, apparently. If any device operates higher than 500 watts, then a calamity is sure to come and kill us. Her eyes darted back to the sea. I guess even you have to care about personnel if you want to get results, Evelyn, but you could have at least been a bit more specific about what kind of calamity. Is it The Fog or something else? Her breath came slow. Steady. A soft smile curled at the edge of her lips. I suppose that¡¯s something to discover, and who¡¯s to say such calamities are unsurvivable. Oh, look, Evelyn even added her own thoughts on things I should be cautious of¡­ How sweet, you care about me enough to dedicate time to write me a do and do not list. ¡°Babysitter, huh?¡± she muttered, eyes flicking to the impossible horizon. Her voice barely carried over the sound of the engine as it hummed to life, low and steady, like a pulse threading through the world. ¡°More like the cheerleader to keep everyone on mission and not running home when the weird shit starts happening.¡± Chapter Eight The soft, steady thrum of the Dark Chaser¡¯s engine hummed through the hull, a deep, resonating pulse that Isla could feel in her chest. It wasn¡¯t the chugging roar of a standard ship¡¯s engine¡ªthis was something smoother, quieter, like the steady beat of a sleeping giant¡¯s heart. The faintest vibration carried through the deck beneath her boots as she stood at the stern, eyes locked on Site-X0 as it gradually shrank into the distance. Jutting from the sea like the spine of a colossal beast, the site grew smaller by the second. The obelisk remained the centerpiece, that smooth, unyielding spike of unknown material anchoring the entire facility like a blade driven into the ocean¡¯s heart. It didn¡¯t seem to shrink as quickly as the rest of the base. No, perhaps it more held fast to its place in her mind, refusing to be reduced in scale, like it defied perspective, offering sanctuary. Her eyes flicked to the waterline around the base. No currents. No ripple effects from the platform. The only shadow came from the obelisk, and the only movement came from the gentle ripples that were pushed aside by the structure and their vessel¡¯s wake. Her gaze swept up to the open sky. No clouds. No sun. No moon. Just a soft, omnipresent glow that suffused the endless, empty expanse with a dreamlike quality. The light didn¡¯t seem to come from any one direction¡ªit was everywhere and nowhere at once. ¡°Got that look on your face,¡± Brigid said from behind her. The engineer¡¯s boots clomped softly as she approached, hands stuffed into her jacket pockets. Her gaze followed Isla¡¯s, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the distant site. ¡°Like you¡¯re trying to figure out if you¡¯re losing it or if the world just stopped making sense.¡± ¡°Both,¡± Isla muttered, tilting her head toward the endless sky. ¡°You notice it too?¡± ¡°The light with no sun?¡± The redhead raised a brow, lips curling into a wry smile. ¡°Yeah, I noticed. There were a lot of strange things at the previous site I was at¡ªcan¡¯t talk about it¡ªbut this certainly takes the cake. Been noticing a lot of things. Like how the reflections are sharper than they should be. Like we¡¯re walking on a polished glass stage, and someone¡¯s watching from below.¡± ¡°Not helping,¡± Isla muttered, glancing down at her reflection again in a more sinister light. It stared back at her, unwavering beside the small wakes the boat made. ¡°Wasn¡¯t trying to,¡± Brigid replied, arms folding as she leaned against the rail beside her. ¡°Noticed you¡¯ve been walking the deck, reading your tablet, and thinking a lot since we shoved off. It¡¯s good. Makes me feel like we¡¯re in good hands. Thinking¡¯s better than blind confidence.¡± ¡°I can agree to that.¡± They watched the site in silence for a moment longer. The slow beat of the ship¡¯s engine matched the slow thrum in Isla¡¯s chest. She could feel it in her teeth, like a low buzz that was just on the edge of hearing but just out of reach. Her eyes drifted to the soft glow on the horizon, and she swore it was bending¡ªnot visibly, but something about it felt curved, like they were on the edge of a bubble that could pop at any moment. ¡°Navigation room,¡± Brigid said, pushing off the rail and tilting her head invitingly. ¡°You should see this.¡± Isla followed, walking through the narrow hatch into the heart of the ship. The walls were lined with storage compartments, a few padded seats, and handrails embedded in the ceiling, oddly enough. Perhaps to use if the ship tipped over? The navigation room sat at the front, where a large, reinforced glass viewport gave them a clear view of the smooth, open sea ahead. Kael sat at a terminal, tapping a few keys while Hollow was cross-legged on a padded bench, tossing a protein bar wrapper into a disposal chute and swaying to some music he was listening to from his tablet. Maeva sat with her back to them, eyes locked on a data pad. The redhead moved to the center console, tapped a few buttons, and brought up a holographic display of their location. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unsettling,¡± Isla muttered, eyes scanning the first look at holographic technology¡ªa map. ¡°How¡¯d they manage to get this below 450 watts?¡± Brigid forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m kind of used to it since we had this tech at my last station. Glyphs are inside, operating on a different medium than electricity. It¡¯s still experimental, but the things previous cultures used them for are simple enough to adapt¡ªlike maps.¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡± The ship¡¯s position was marked as a blinking white dot. Site-X0 was a red triangle behind them. But the ocean? No gridlines. No reference points. No longitude. No latitude. No land. Just a primarily vast, gray expanse labeled UNMAPPED WATERS with only a single trim line leading toward a hazy landmass that was mainly shrouded in the same gray. ¡°Got a plan for getting back to the base if this goes out?¡± Isla asked, glancing at Brigid. ¡°Once we¡¯re out of sight from the base¡­there¡¯s nothing to orient us¡ªliterally nothing.¡± Brigid pulled a small, spherical object from a pouch on her hip. It looked like a compass, but the needle inside was made of a pale, crystalline shard that shimmered faintly with the same lilac hue she¡¯d seen on the glyphs from the obelisk. Brigid held it up, tapping the glass cover twice. The needle shifted, turning smoothly to face backward¡ªtoward Site-X0. ¡°Obelisk compass¡ªor that¡¯s what my orientation packet called it,¡± Brigid stated, rolling it between her fingers. ¡°It says it¡¯s attuned to the big black spike back there. Always points toward it. The hologram has its own internal one that also tracks distance based on¡­pull strength, I assume.¡± ¡°Neat,¡± Isla muttered, leaning closer to examine it. ¡°How accurate?¡± Brigid¡¯s eyes flicked to her. ¡°Accurate enough¡ªwithin a few miles, at least. The authors of the packet¡ªwhoever that was¡ªwarned us it might lose sync if we go too far from the obelisk. Fifty miles is the limit, supposedly. After that?¡± She shrugged, tucking the compass away. ¡°Guess we get to figure out a way to navigate back to the island, which gives us a new forward base. Makes sense why this is the main priority mission. Only goes fifty miles, and the island is fifty miles away.¡± ¡°Comforting,¡± Isla muttered, looking back at the navigation screen. That also made her think it was by design. Did that mean there were other islands in other directions, and this was the only one they¡¯d found, or had they sent other teams in all directions, and this was the only one that managed to transmit back information? ¡°Tell me you have something better than that.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Brigid replied, popping the ¡®p¡¯ with a grin. ¡°Oh, and the best part? According to the scarab¡¯s notes¡ªyeah, they let me read ¡¯em¡ªthe compass isn¡¯t ours. It¡¯s from the old civilization that lived here before AEGIS moved in. They only managed to get a few shards of the obelisk from some ancient storage room, and even then, our gear can¡¯t cut it. Not saws. Not lasers. Not even the damn plasma cutters.¡± ¡°Great news all around,¡± Isla muttered, fingers brushing her face as she let out a slow breath and saw the other crew, besides Hollow, give each other glances. ¡°So, we¡¯re navigating with ancient alien tech and a compass that works until it doesn¡¯t. Sounds peachy.¡± ¡°Welcome to AEGIS, Captain Babysitter,¡± Brigid quipped, flashing a grin before turning back to her console. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to notify you if anything goes wrong. Usually it doesn¡¯t¡­usually.¡± Isla sat in the corner, tablet in hand. Her eyes scanned through the mission report. It had quite a few mentions of someone named ¡®Scarab,¡¯ which instantly brought her thoughts back to the brooch Evelyn wore between her bust. The blue glow it showed when the devil lady was getting a little handsy certainly sparked questions. Then, her brow furrowed as she reached a subsection labeled TIME DILATION. Her eyes tracked the text, her heart rate picking up. Time dilation observed. Current estimate: 30 minutes of desync for every 24 hours when beyond the 5-mile dimensional wall. Expansion rate unknown. Transmission delay detected during initial team¡¯s final report. Cause: unknown. Her hands tightened around the tablet. Time dilation. Dimensional instability. Shadows that vanish. Immortal fish. Ancient civilizations and abandoned research sites. How the hell did I get roped into this? Damn, I hate that I¡¯m vibing with it all¡­ She scrolled down and couldn¡¯t help but smile upon reaching a section about The Fog, recalling how insistent Evelyn had been. It showed in bold text here: DO NOT STAY AWAKE DURING THE FOG, WHEN NIGHTFALL COMES. SLEEP. SLEEP. SLEEP. MEDS SUPPLIED! TAKE THEM! THOSE WHO STAY AWAKE DISAPPEAR! Her eyes flicked to that line three times, her fingers tapping the edge of the screen. Evelyn¡­why do you want us to sleep so bad? I can¡¯t be sure to trust you when this whole place is basically virgin territory. You don¡¯t know if it¡¯s good or bad¡­ Which is why you sent us out here in the first place. And you know I¡¯m not the type to follow rules. If you don¡¯t want me to do something, it makes me want to do it more, but you putting people¡¯s lives in my hands makes me more accountable¡­ Damn you and your forethought. Then, she saw the next line that certainly wasn¡¯t for the other members of the crew, the message practically dripping Evelyn¡¯s smug, sophisticated tone: In any exploratory expedition, if the leader is too cautious, nothing is ever discovered and it takes years to move an inch of research. Too brazen and foolish, the expedition disappears into the unknown forever. What I need is a special kind of stupid¡­ You! Just rebellious enough to kick the timid into gear and with enough forethought to know when you¡¯re being idiodic. Of course, you may lean more on the idiodic side of the scale¡­ Enjoy!Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Isla¡¯s face dulled. A special kind of stupid, huh? I really do hate you. Her stomach twisted. She glanced at her reflection in the glass of the viewport, staring back at herself for a moment longer than she should have. Don¡¯t stay awake. Don¡¯t wander. And¡­it looks like we do have cameras on this boat, she noted, spotting the lenses and checking the info tablet for the details. These cameras are designed for the 450 watt limit¡­ So, I guess that means the others on the base weren¡¯t? That or Evelyn removed them for some other reason. Her thoughts snapped back to the data about The Fog as her eyes flicked to the horizon. For the first time, she noticed it. A shimmer. Barely a flicker. Like a heatwave just above the water, distorting the line between sea and sky. ¡°Hey, Brigid?¡± Isla called out. Her voice didn¡¯t carry as far as it should have. The redhead glanced at her from her own tablet. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Do you see that?¡± Isla pointed. ¡°On the horizon. Right there.¡± Brigid squinted, gaze focused on the edge of the world. Her eyes narrowed. Her face tensed. ¡°Yeah,¡± she muttered, voice quieter now. ¡°Yeah, I see it.¡± She pressed a few buttons on the console, causing the lights to flicker before the hum of the ship¡¯s engine shifted¡ªjust a half-note off-key. The closer they got, the more it became clear, a radiant solar sheet that weaved like drapes in the wind as far as the eye could see. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look up at it, Kael mumbling a prayer and tracing a cross over his heart. Just as they were about to pass through it, Hollow pulled off his headphones and pointed to their left side. ¡°Eh, Cap¡­¡± Isla licked her lips as they passed through the veil, feeling a heat course through her in a rapid jitter that seemed to touch every nerve. And then, she saw it, too, a fog rolling in that hadn¡¯t been there before. Scrambling with her pack, she extracted the bottle, passing out the pills. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You¡¯ve all read the report requirements. Brigid, are the cameras rolling¡ªcan we view it after?¡± ¡°Umm. Ack. Yeah,¡± she choked, swallowing the pill and pointing at a television set in the back. ¡°They¡¯re all independent, so we¡¯ll have to remove their chips and insert it but¡ª¡± ¡°Good. These are fast-acting, so get to your beds¡ªnow!¡± The others didn¡¯t hesitate and didn¡¯t have to be told twice as they vanished to the gender-segregated cabin zones. She handed one to James as he showed up, armed to the teeth with some weapons that looked out of a Sci-Fi flick. He accepted the item but settled against the hallway wall outside of the rooms¡ªto act as a guard, no doubt. The ship would stay on its current course so long as it wasn¡¯t bumped, which wasn¡¯t out of the realm of possibilities. The silent protective type. Sure¡­but I need to get to know his personality better through conversation when this is done. I need to know how he thinks¡­ Here it is¡­ Thick. Pale. Heavy as oil on water. It seeped in from the edges of the sea, curling, twisting like long, clawed fingers reaching for the ship. Isla¡¯s eyes locked on it, her heart thudding softly against her ribs in a steady, slow rhythm. Should I stay awake? I want to¡­ If someone saw the night, then it means there has to be a certain amount of time that passes before the disappearing part. Her fingers curled tightly around the pill bottle as her gaze lingered on the fog ahead. She felt it first¡ªa warmth washing over her skin, like stepping into the glow of an unseen sun. Then it hit her. A burst of light. No, not light. It was color¡ªcolor unbound, unfiltered, and unleashed from every spectrum she could name and several she couldn¡¯t. Threads of violet so rich they looked liquid. Bolts of red so deep they hummed in her bones. Cyan twisted through the air like dancing silk, splitting into fractals before folding back into itself. Waves of shifting oranges, blues, and greens bent like oil on water, but they weren¡¯t reflecting light. They were producing it. They whispered, sang in chords she didn¡¯t realize she could hear. Her pupils dilated as her breath caught. It was a symphony of brilliance, raw and untamed, spilling out into the endless sea like an open wound in reality itself. Not a flare. Not a flash. It lingered. Too long. Her eyes darted in every direction, each glance catching on something new, something breathtakingly wrong. There were symbols in it. Glyphs? No. More than that. They weren¡¯t just shapes; they were concepts. They twirled like constellations in the deepest black she could describe across a tapestry of light. A flash of a five-pointed spiral. A circle within a square. Two triangles that bled into one another until they became one. They glowed like neon stains on the backdrop of the fog, flickering too fast for her brain to hold onto them. Her mind scrambled to lock them down. Hold it. Hold it. What are you trying to say? She tried to scream, only to hear nothing. Absolutely nothing. But the moment she thought she understood, they slipped away like water through her fingers. Her fingers. The pills. Her breath caught, eyes darting down as her fingers unclenched on their own. The pill bottle slipped free, rolling toward the deck rail. Her gaze stayed locked on her hand, fingertips tingling with static, her nerves vibrating like she¡¯d brushed a live wire. A shiver ran up her spine, her limbs going taut. Her fingers¡­they were moving slower than they should. No, not slower. Her breath hitched. Time isn¡¯t moving at the same speed. Her gaze snapped to her wrist. Her watch. Her vision blurred as she tried to focus on its face. The second hand twitched like it was forcing itself forward¡ªclack¡­clack¡­clack¡ªeach second stretching longer than it should. Her pulse quickened, but her mind felt too slow to keep up. Five minutes had passed. Her heart thudded in her ears, louder than the engine¡¯s purr. Five minutes! No, I should be asleep! She snapped her head up, wide-eyed and breath short. The colors were gone. The brilliance, the shifting shapes, the cosmic glow¡ªthe answer¡ªgone. Where are the pills? All that remained was the fog. Thick. Opaque. Endless. It pressed against the ship from all sides, blinding her view of everything but the deck. Tendrils of it curled at the edges, moving in slow, curling loops that didn¡¯t feel like air or mist. It looked like something alive. Not like fog rolling through the woods. No. This fog was aware. It swirled too purposefully, its movements deliberate, each coil a creeping limb reaching for something unseen. Her eyes flicked toward one of those tendrils. It was subtle, just a faint shift in the fog. No more than a ripple. But something was there¡ªlong, slim, looking, studying¡­hungering. Her breath stilled, and she didn¡¯t move. I can¡¯t move¡­ If I do, I know it will touch me. Devour me¡­ Her eyes didn¡¯t blink. She stared at the spot where the fog had shifted, her heart caught in her throat. Her body went cold with that old, primal instinct¡ªthe one that says, ¡°Don¡¯t move. Don¡¯t breathe. Don¡¯t be seen.¡± A twitch¡ªfingers? Mine or¡­something else? I don¡¯t know. The fog thickened as if reacting to her realization, curling tighter around the ship, smothering sound, air, and light. A flicker. No, a shape. Something moved just beyond the veil¡¯s edge. A sound, like wind on the back of her neck. Then, something tall. Lean. It moved with liquid grace, too smooth to be human. It wasn¡¯t walking. It was¡­folding. Moving without steps. Each motion was a sharp, jerky shift from one space to the next, like frames missing from an old reel of film. Isla¡¯s breath stayed locked in her chest. Her gaze didn¡¯t shift. Her muscles stayed frozen, taut as a drawn bowstring. It stopped. No. It didn¡¯t stop. She stopped. She was watching her now¡ªsomething inside her¡ªsomething that had always been there. Two pale lights flickered like twin embers in The Fog¡¯s heart, spaced too far apart to be eyes but close enough to be worse than eyes¡ªher eyes. Isla¡¯s heart jackhammered. Don¡¯t look. Don¡¯t look. Don¡¯t look. Sleep. I need to sleep¡ª Her head turned. Not fast. Not slow. Not panicked. Smooth. Deliberate. Like prey trying to pretend it hadn¡¯t noticed the predator. Her pulse pounded in her ears, but she didn¡¯t let her breathing hitch, didn¡¯t let her steps make a sound. Her feet moved on instinct, smooth as flowing water, muscles locked in the primal ¡°leave now¡± mode every human is born with. She walked slowly. Silently. The pill bottle was just barely at the edge of the deck, almost tauntingly tilting toward the ocean¡¯s embrace. She heard it, the rise and fall of the sea, getting louder and louder with every step. Her eyes stayed forward. Her shadowless reflection moved with her in the swirling waters as she peered over. Don¡¯t turn. Don¡¯t turn. Don¡¯t¡ª She glanced back. The Fog was still. No embers. No shapes. No signs of anything. Her fingers twitched, a tremble running up her arm as the air felt stiff as a porcupine¡¯s needles. She sucked in a slow, steady breath, eyes darting to the hatch leading below deck as her hand closed around the pill bottle. When had she been reaching for it? Don¡¯t panic. Walk. Walk like nothing is wrong. It¡¯s always worse when you run. She hit the hatch, twisted it open, and slipped inside. The air felt heavier here. Not oppressive, but dense, like the fog had forced its way into her lungs, making her aware of every breath. She twisted the hatch shut with a slow, controlled motion, her fingers moving too steadily for her own comfort. She looked down, noticing a shadow now. That¡­wasn¡¯t there before. Why am I so calm? Why aren¡¯t I screaming? Is¡­everyone else asleep? Why isn¡¯t anyone screaming¡­ Shouting? No, there is a sound, but¡­it¡¯s something else. Her gaze darted to the hallway where James sat by the doorway to the crew quarters, leaning against the wall. His hands were crossed, arms resting lightly on his large gun against his chest, head drooped. His head suddenly rose and shifted to her, his face unreadable behind his visor. He¡¯s asleep¡­ I know he is. But¡­he¡¯s moving? He¡¯s looking at me. No, not him. Something inside him¡­ Something possible. Something impossible. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, the rattling pills in the bottle sounding too loud now. Her hands trembling now that she was out of The Fog¡¯s reach, she edged past him into the woman¡¯s quarters. I need to sleep. Evelyn was right¡­ There¡¯s something¡­possible here that is wrong. Just¡­wrong. Abruptly, the warm heat that permeated the air cooled, the light faded, and for a brief moment, Isla saw the dark heavens through the ship¡¯s hull. Her breath caught in her throat as she lingered by the window inside the cabin, the other two women already passed out on their bunks. When did I get here? She plucked a pill out, almost instinctively, slowly, bringing it to her lips. Sliding it in, she let it move down her throat, feeling every nerve on the way into her belly firing off in blissful fireworks. A melancholy purr hummed through her as her eyes grew heavy. I want to go outside¡­ I want to fly into space. Eyes closing, her vision was clear, and she entered golden clouds of glory, where a unicorn was waiting for her to whisk her away. I¡¯m home? Chapter Nine A gentle warmth surrounded her. Not the artificial warmth of a heated room or the fleeting warmth of a passing sunbeam, but something weightier, fuller¡ªlike an embrace she had long since forgotten. Her senses floated on the edge of awareness, neither asleep nor awake, only drifting in a golden haze. Aurelian clouds. They moved like ocean currents, slow and smooth, their soft puffs twisting together into larger, nebulous masses. The colors were vibrant but muted, like viewing the glow of a candle through frosted glass. Gold, orange, faint hints of red¡ªall swirling, all circling. No beginning. No end. No sky. No ground. It was a world with no horizon. Her fingers flexed. No¡­not her fingers. Someone¡¯s fingers. They moved in time with her own, but the sensation was one step removed, like wearing gloves made of fog. Isla¡¯s breath caught as she watched her own hands stretch out before her¡ªnot quite her hands, but hands nonetheless. Her skin was soft and smooth¡ªwrong. Too smooth. Too perfect. Like everything in the Endless Sea. Her eyes tracked the faint line that should be a crease in her palm, but it wasn¡¯t there. Not a scar. Not a blemish. Not a flaw. Fingers brushed against the air like it had weight. Not her fingers. Not her. The thought echoed, but something warm pushed it down, pressed it smooth like flattening wrinkles in silk. Her breath came slower now, softer, and she exhaled, watching the faint glow of her breath fade into the clouds. She blinked slowly. The fog of sleep still lingered on her mind, and with it came that strange, distant presence. A weight. No, not a weight. A gaze. Her heart didn¡¯t race, didn¡¯t spike with fear the way it should have. The gaze wasn¡¯t sharp or cutting. It was¡­soft. Patient. Not like she was being hunted, but like someone was sitting beside her, watching her sleep. Isla¡¯s mind fought the instinctual flicker of unease, trying to push it away, but something else pressed against her thoughts¡ªa feeling, not a voice. It wasn¡¯t like Evelyn¡¯s sharp, commanding tone or the jagged sensations the fog had carved into her nerves. No, this was¡­calming. It hummed softly, like a lullaby whispered in a language she didn¡¯t know but had somehow always understood. The warmth grew stronger, wrapping around her like a second blanket. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± a feeling¡ªnot a voice¡ªseeped into her thoughts. She blinked, eyes widening just a fraction as her gaze darted around the endless clouds. Her fingers twitched, curling in and out of fists. Her breath came sharper now, her chest rising and falling. She took a step forward¡ªor at least, she thought she did. Her feet didn¡¯t connect with anything. She moved, but the clouds moved with her, and for a moment, she wasn¡¯t sure if she was walking or drifting. ¡°Who¡¯s we?¡± she muttered, her voice barely a breath of sound. She heard it. It wasn¡¯t a thought. It wasn¡¯t internal. Her voice echoed softly, like speaking underwater. The warmth pulsed once, like a heartbeat, gentle but present. ¡°We.¡± Her breath stilled. The clouds shifted, folding inward, compacting. The soft golden glow dimmed at the center, and for a split second, she saw something in the fog. Not a shape. Not a face. Not eyes. But something¡­familiar. I know you. Her breath hitched, heart slowing to a crawl. Her lips parted, her body going still as her eyes tracked it. Her mind flickered with the pale glow of recognition, but it was so faint she wasn¡¯t sure if it was hers or something it was placing in her head¡ªher soul. It reminded her of something. A dream? No. Earlier than that. Childhood. Yes, that was it. There had been a moment like this. A dream she¡¯d had when she was younger. It wasn¡¯t a dream. I was never a dream. Her gaze lifted, and this time, she felt it. Not like a touch, but like warmth on her neck¡ªlike someone leaning close, their breath soft on her skin, eyes locked on her from an angle she couldn¡¯t see. Her eyes darted to the side. Nothing. Her gaze flicked the other way. Still nothing. But she knew. She knew. It was there. It had always been there. Not stalking. Not hunting. Just¡­watching. A sharp sense of loss hit her so suddenly it felt like a punch to the chest. Her eyes widened, breath stolen from her lungs. Her body swayed, feet planted but unsteady. The golden warmth pulled back, curling away like a tide retreating from the shore. Her fingers reached out, trembling, trying to grasp it¡ªto stop it from leaving. ¡°Wait,¡± she gasped, her voice louder now. ¡°Wait! I don¡¯t¡ªI don¡¯t want you to¡ª¡± The warmth slipped further away. The fog rolled back, pulling itself into coils, unwrapping from around her limbs. Her fingers curled into fists as something swirled at the edge of her vision¡ªa flash of light like two distant stars flickering in sync. It was faint, so faint, but she saw it for a moment. A child¡¯s voice¡ªher voice. Faint. Fading. ¡°You forgot me¡­but I kept everything for you.¡± Her throat tightened, her breath quickening as her chest rose and fell with sharp, frantic pulls. She reached again, her fingers stretching out, and the warmth surged, pulsing like a distant, low drumbeat. The glow of it. The light of it. The presence of it. Gone. Isla¡¯s fingers grasped nothing. Only fog. Only mist. Only clouds. Then the noise hit her. The sharp roar of something tearing through the air. The low, hollowed hum of a huge engine thundering overhead. It wasn¡¯t a slow sound. It hit hard¡ªsudden¡ªlike being struck by a wave. Her heart jerked, her eyes snapped open, and breath sucked into her lungs like she¡¯d been drowning. Her back arched as she shot upright, gasping, heart hammering in her chest. Light struck her¡ªblinding. Blinking, her eyes darted wildly around, sharp breaths rattling her ribs. The fog. The glow. The gaze. The other her. Gone. She sat in the ship¡¯s cabin, a blanket wrapped around her on the ground, the cold metal walls pressing in tighter than before. Her breath fogged the air before her, but not from warmth¡ªfrom cold. Her fingers moved before she realized it, touching her chest, her shoulders, her face. She wasn¡¯t sweating. She was freezing. Her body was damp with sweat but cold. Ice cold. Her fingers shook, twitching as she pressed her palms to her eyes, trying to still the rapid thumping in her head. A blanket had been wrapped around her. She didn¡¯t remember covering herself. Her heart still hurt. Not from fear. From loss.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Isla¡¯s vision lifted slowly, locking on the window. The Fog outside was lifting, curling away like misty tendrils as the all-encompassing light strengthened. Her heart rate didn¡¯t rise. It should have. She should be terrified. She should be screaming. She should be thinking about the thing in The Fog. The thing that watched her¡­but she wasn¡¯t. Her eyes turned to the others. Brigid was at the window above her, fingers pressed against the glass as she leaned forward, eyes sharp, lips parted. Maeva was right beside her, squinting into the fog, her head tilted, her eyes scanning the endless gray. ¡°Did you hear that, Captain?¡± Maeva¡¯s voice came, tight and sharp. ¡°That sounds¡­like engines. Captain?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Brigid muttered, leaning in closer. ¡°I heard it. Over there. To the left of the boat. Do you see anything? Dr. Reyes?¡± Isla sat still, her eyes on them but her mind¡­her mind wasn¡¯t with them. Her breath came slow. Too slow. Her fingers stayed on her chest. The warmth she¡¯d felt. The hum she¡¯d heard. Her heart didn¡¯t hurt because of fear. It hurt because it was gone¡ªshe was gone. ¡°Did¡­you two have any dreams? Meet¡­someone?¡± ¡°What?¡± Brigid glanced at Maeva, who shook her head. ¡°No, Doctor. I just closed my eyes and woke up. We can check the cameras.¡± Her eyes fell half-closed, staring through The Fog in her mind, Maeva and Brigid¡¯s voices fading into the background. Her gaze drew distant as she tried to calm herself down. This loss in my chest isn¡¯t something I¡¯m¡­feeling. It¡¯s something I knew. I felt it when I was a child¡­ No, she felt it. How did I forget her? No, this isn¡¯t right! Wake up! I should be terrified. I should be afraid of that¡­thing that¡¯s been watching me for¡­ever. But¡­but I¡¯m not. And that¡¯s the most terrifying part¡­ I miss her. ¡°Hey, ladies!¡± Kael shouted. ¡°Ladies, you gotta get up here¡­ We may have a problem.¡± Her gaze lifted back to the window as she slowly rose to her feet, the other two women looking unsure as Isla caught her own reflection. It didn¡¯t move for a second. Her lips curled slowly, eyes narrowing. She blinked, and it was normal. But it had blinked first. Is she gone? No. Forgotten, but always present. Maeva gently touched her shoulder. ¡°Doctor, you don¡¯t look too good.¡± Isla dragged her fingers down her face, wiping away the cold sheen of sweat that clung to her skin. Her pulse was steady now, but the hollow ache of something lost lingered in her chest. Not gone. Not entirely. Pressed into the cracks of her mind like a photograph tucked into a drawer she¡¯d never meant to open. She glanced at her reflection in the window. Her eyes. Her own eyes. No flicker. No hesitation. No other. Get a grip! Deal with the present, not the past! ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Isla muttered, giving her head a final shake to clear it. Her fingers twitched, pressing firmly against her ribs to anchor herself. Her breath came slow, steadying as she forced herself back into the moment. ¡°Just¡­just an episode. Probably lingered in The Fog too long while you two slept.¡± Her gaze drifted toward the window, eyes narrowing as time seemed to speed up again. ¡°Could¡¯ve been worse if I stayed in it longer than ten minutes.¡± She exhaled through her nose, glancing at Brigid. ¡°This isn¡¯t aliens or new worlds. The Endless Sea is something else. Something older. Something more¡­primal, is what I¡¯m getting so far. How are you two feeling?¡± ¡°Ladies?! Are they dead?¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine! Brigid, pull the camera feeds,¡± Isla ordered, eyes sharp now. ¡°Hallways. Deck. Everywhere. I want to see if we drifted off course or if anything got on the ship while we were out.¡± Her eyes shifted to Maeva. ¡°Check the others. Full physicals. Look for anything¡ªtemperature shifts, skin abnormalities, nerve responses, anything. I want every detail.¡± Maeva straightened, nodding once before glancing toward the hallway. ¡°You got it, Doctor. But the way you¡¯re acting¡­ Should we even go out until¡­¡± Realizing they¡¯d been staying put due to fear of what the men might have experienced during The Fog, she remembered Evelyn¡¯s warning about most of the team basically being chickens, needing someone to make decisions. ¡°No, we¡¯re good. Let¡¯s go.¡± Isla took one more breath, steady and slow, then spun toward the closed door. She promptly exited, her feet striking the metal stairs with firm, deliberate steps as she climbed to the upper deck, her mind sharp as frostbite. No drifting thoughts. No fog. Focus on regrouping and identifying any problems. Her boots clanged hard against the steel, echoing up the stairwell. Each step chased away the distant hum that still lingered in the back of her skull. It was like walking away from the warmth of a fire¡ªshe felt it leave her. The moment it was gone, her chest ached again. Her teeth clenched, and she forced her mind forward. The cold air hit her like a slap to the face¡ªnot warm, as it had been near Site-X0. The deck stretched out before her, drenched in mist and sea spray, The Fog still hanging low, though thin. The sea was calm, eerily so, the waves lapping gently against the hull. The smell of saltwater and metal filled her lungs. Her team was already gathered, the two women behind her. Kael leaned against the rail, arms crossed, sharp eyes cutting through The Fog like a hawk on patrol. Hollow was further back, hands shoved in his pockets, but his eyes kept darting to The Fog. James stood by the mast, a scoped gun held up while observing the horizon. ¡°Ladies!¡± Kael¡¯s voice boomed over the low murmur of the sea. ¡°Ladies, you gotta get up here. Do you see that?.¡± Isla stepped onto the deck with a final thud as she stepped forward, her eyes scanning the light mist; it wasn¡¯t night, at least. ¡°What kind of problem, Kael?¡± The first sign was the pop. Sharp, hollow, and sudden, like a bubble bursting deep inside Isla¡¯s skull. Her ears rang in the aftermath, followed by the faint vibration of something she couldn¡¯t place. Not sound¡ªsensation. It crept up from the soles of her boots. It pulsed in sync with something overhead. Isla¡¯s gaze lifted. She squinted through the dense mist, eyes narrowed into sharp slits. The fog wasn¡¯t just gray anymore¡ªit shimmered faintly. An oily sheen of muted blue, green, and purple moved like veins under the sky¡¯s skin, stretching and twisting together like something threading reality itself. ¡°Kael,¡± Isla called, her fingers tightening on the rail. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re seeing that.¡± Kael¡¯s head snapped toward her. He glanced up, his hand resting on the sidearm at his hip. His mouth pressed into a hard line, eyes narrowing like a hawk tracking prey. ¡°What do you think I¡¯ve been screaming about? Feels like a subsonic hum.¡± He flexed his jaw, testing his ears. ¡°Like¡­standing too close to a reactor. Maybe a jet engine?¡± The colors sharpened. Blues bled into green, green into gold, the edges turning a bruised purple. Each shift sent a soft ripple through the air, but it didn¡¯t spread outward¡ªit pulled inward, all folding toward a single point. ¡°That¡¯s not from below.¡± Brigid¡¯s voice carried down from the deck above, her hand shielding her eyes. Her head tilted back, and Isla followed her gaze. ¡°Look up!¡± Her heart stopped. The mist peeled back. It wasn¡¯t light, and it wasn¡¯t shadow. It was absence, a void where the world folded in on itself. Concentric waves rippled out like a stone dropped into water, only the water was the very fabric of reality. Isla sucked in a breath as something pressed down on her chest, the sensation sharp and primal¡ªsomething was reaching out. A shockwave shuddered through the air, and Isla felt it in her teeth. The ripple spread faster, faster¡ªthen, at its center, a line tore open. It wasn¡¯t clean or smooth. It ripped like wet fabric stretched too tight. Reality split. The sky buckled inward, distorting in a flash of liquid blue, and from the seam, dark purple clouds oozed free. ¡°Is that¡­smoke?¡± Maeva muttered, one hand gripping the railing as she leaned closer, eyes unblinking. ¡°No, it¡¯s¡­it¡¯s thicker than that.¡± Isla tracked it with narrowed eyes. It¡¯s moving too slowly to be smoke¡­ And what kind of smoke twists like that? Like oil dispersing in water. It¡¯s preparing for something¡ªmoving toward that breach in space. The clouds unfurled, dense and bulbous, folding into themselves as they floated from the sky rift. Scarlet lightning crackled between them, the glow so sharp it left streaks in her vision, illuminating something inside of it. Shit¡­ ¡°Back up! Everyone, back up!¡± Isla shouted. ¡°James, we need to secure ourselves. Something tells me we¡¯re in for some rough waters!¡± Maeva¡¯s head jerked toward her, and Kael was already moving toward the center of the deck, eyes locked upward. James shrugged his pack off, extracting climbing clips, knives, and paracord. His voice was low, but it carried. ¡°Tighten your belts to the point it hurts. Keep your knife secure in case you need to cut yourself free. Don¡¯t be stupid.¡± As they moved to get the supplies, Isla¡¯s gaze snapped back to the rift. It was subtle at first, giving them time to prepare, as if laughing at their efforts. A shifting shape within the clouds, twisting and curling to some unheard tune. It moved too smoothly to be wind. Isla¡¯s nails pressed into the flesh of her palm as the shape unfurled and she followed James¡¯ instructions; her practiced fingers swiftly tightened the climbing knot around the clip and she stuffed the blade clip into her pocket. Yet, all of them paused in their actions when it solidified. A limb. A tendril. A tentacle. Its movement was unmistakable for all of them to know exactly what they were seeing. It curled, then vanished back into the fog. You have to be kidding me¡­ Eve, I¡¯m going to punch you in the face when I get back! Dimensional alien tentacles?! ¡°Oh, hell no!¡± Maeva choked. Brigid came jogging out of the hallway from the navigation room. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask,¡± Isla growled, rushing over to grab her by the belt, making the woman squeak as she tightened it another loop before connecting the clip and paracord. ¡°How are the recordings?¡± ¡°Eh, they¡¯re all operational. Why does Kael look like he wants to pass out?¡± He shook his head, face white as ash as Hollow coughed and looked at the edge of the boat, as if considering if he should jump over. Isla finished tying it and looked up, spotting a new ripple in space. Great¡­ What now? Chapter Ten A flicker. The space at the center of the rift shimmered, like glass bending under heat. A sharp ripple ran across its surface. Isla saw it before anyone else. ¡°Something¡¯s coming through!¡± she barked, her voice snapping every head toward the rift. The sparkling rays warped space, light bending unnaturally as the shape grew more defined. Isla¡¯s heart climbed into her throat as it took shape¡ªa long, silver body with twin engines mounted on the wings: a commercial airliner. It surged through the rift with a jarring lurch, like reality hesitated to let it pass. The plane burst free, sunlight gleaming off its metal hull before the rift sealed behind it, cutting off the brilliant rays. Twin contrails of vapor streamed behind it. ¡°Impossible.¡± The word slipped from her lips, barely a whisper. The air around the ship shifted, the pressure dropping fast enough to pop her ears a second time. Isla sucked in a breath, head spinning. Her eyes locked onto the airliner, and Evelyn¡¯s snicker ran through her mind. If we use anything beyond 500 watts, a calamity will come¡­ That¡¯s definitely using more than 500 watts. The plane hovered. Mid-air. Suspended. Time seemed to stop. No forward momentum. No engines roaring. No physics. Just stillness. Her gut twisted with the wrongness of it, her body unmoving. Then, it renewed, slow at first, building steam with every passing second. ¡°Oh, no,¡± Maeva breathed, backing away from the rail. ¡°No, no, no, that¡¯s not right.¡± ¡°Hollow?¡± Isla¡¯s voice was tight. ¡°Say it.¡± ¡°Bermuda Triangle,¡± Hollow muttered, his eyes wide as he let out a whistle. ¡°Another poor sap pulled from¡ª¡± Shadowy tentacles lashed out from the rift, crimson lightning surging toward the airliner. They came fast, too fast. The inky black limbs whipped out of the clouds, curling around the fuselage in a blur. Scarlet light exploded. The entire sea ignited in red as bolts of pure energy split the sky, the sharp clap of thunder hitting like a physical blow. Isla¡¯s eardrums throbbed. The plane jerked upward, yanked back into the rift as if it lost all forward momentum. The clouds around it shifted like teeth closing over prey. For a moment, Isla saw something behind the fogged glass of the cockpit¡ªa silhouette. It moved. It looked at them¡ªlooked at her. ¡°We¡¯re next!¡± Maeva shouted, bracing her arm against the railing as an eerie vibe enclosed their minds. ¡°It saw¡ªugh!¡± Out of nowhere, a blast of wind slammed into them like a wrecking ball. Isla hit the deck, elbows smashing into metal as the ship tilted. They slid to the opposite side, the paracord snapping tight and jerking them to a stop. Water sprayed over the sides, waves crashing in a spiral pattern, foam spraying like wild claws. Brigid gripped the mast, holding firm as she cried. Kael hit the ground with his shoulder, rolling into a crouch. Isla caught Maeva¡¯s wrist, yanking her upright as a gust threw her into a spin. ¡°Lock in! Get close!¡± Isla barked, shoving Maeva toward James, who produced more cord, the thought of fighting non-existent against a thing that filled a quarter of the entire heavens. ¡°The ship won¡¯t tip that easily!¡± It started to right itself as another wave slammed into them from the opposite side, drenching them. Her mouth became a line as she saw the doors slam shut, responding no doubt to sensors that triggered a failsafe to stop water from surging inside. If they could reach it and use the manual release, then they could get inside. With where we are, there¡¯s no way we can get to it without cutting the line and dropping into the sea! We need to hold on, but¡­it looks like we¡¯re about to hit a category-five hurricane! Her fingers moved on instinct, tying herself to Kael as he slid closer across the slick deck, Hollow tying himself next to Brigid next to the mast that could be raised in case they needed it. Her eyes shot back to the sky. The clouds throbbed like a beating heart, each pulse sending new cracks spidering across the air itself. Fissures in reality. The sky itself was breaking. Not a few seconds later, the shape moving behind the rift began to retreat, closing the seam. The clouds shuddered, pulling in on themselves. Then, Isla felt it. A ripple. Not from above, but below¡ªdeep below. The sea began to bubble and foam, the very waters vibrating as if the ocean itself was growling in protest. Isla¡¯s narrowed eyes lifted skyward. ¡°There!¡± she pointed. The airliner dropped from the sky rift. No control. No sound. Just a quiet, serene descent like a paper plane slipping through the air. It hit the sea¡¯s surface, but the splash was wrong. Too soft. Too smooth. It didn¡¯t shatter. It just¡­settled, then vanished below the foam and waves. ¡°Island! Island dead ahead!¡± James¡¯ voice cracked the moment like glass. Isla¡¯s head jerked toward the horizon. A jagged strip of rock and jungle jutted from the blood-red sea. The water churned with new waves, each one choppier than the last as the sky anomaly faded into oblivion. Isla¡¯s eyes snapped back to where the plane had been¡ªit resurfaced, bobbing like a bottle tossed into a storm. ¡°Is¡­it over?¡± she asked, gut clenched as the red mist began to seep into the water. Slowly, the scarlet hue faded, thinning into the waves until it was gone. The clouds were gone. The rift sealed shut. ¡°Yeah, I vote we don¡¯t use more than 500 watts. Anyone else?¡± Stressed laughter followed as they all lay on the soaked deck, even its red hue fading into clarity. Isla tasted salt on her lips, her heart still pounding in her chest. She tilted her head to the side to stare at the plane in its slow drift toward the same island they were heading toward.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. What¡¯s left inside of it¡­ If modern horror is anything to go by. Maybe we shouldn¡¯t investigate. But¡­that¡¯s kind of our job. This is getting a little out of hand, though. Her gaze lingered on the place where the rift had been. You¡¯re not gone, are you? Did something in the sea scare you off? Warn you to stay in your realm? What the hell is inside the Endless Sea? She pushed herself to her feet, water streaming off her jacket, her hands slick against the cold, wet metal of the deck. Her muscles ached from the strain, her legs wobbly from being tossed around, but she locked her stance. Her breath came slow and steady. ¡°Roll call!¡± Isla¡¯s voice carried over the steady roar of waves and the hum of wind as things started to settle ¡°Maeva! Kael! Hollow! James! Brigid! Sound off!¡± Her eyes scanned the deck, heart thudding, mind already cataloging injuries and status checks. ¡°Here! I¡¯m good!¡± Maeva shouted, wringing water from her hair, coughing as she fought for balance. Her knees hit the deck, but she quickly rose, one hand gripping the edge of the ship. ¡°Just swallowed half the sea!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Kael growled, dragging himself up using the railing as leverage. He wiped salt water from his face with the back of his glove, eyes squinting up at the sky as if it might ripple open again. ¡°No injuries. Pretty sure I pulled something, though.¡± ¡°Here, here, here!¡± Hollow¡¯s voice came fast, his hands still gripping the paracord like it was his lifeline¡ªone Brigid should still be connected to, though she was probably on her back. Hollow¡¯s eyes darted around, jittery and too wide. ¡°We¡¯re alive, right? Can never tell on missions like this. We¡¯re still in our dimension, yeah?¡± He glanced at Isla, eyes locking on hers. ¡°That looked like a tear to me. I know a tear when I see one, and that¡ª¡± ¡°Focus, Hollow,¡± Isla cut in, her tone sharp but not unkind. ¡°Aye, aye, Cap,¡± Hollow muttered, releasing the paracord slowly like it might bite him. ¡°Second time I¡¯ve seen somethin¡¯ like that¡ªonly this time it was real and not the drugs.¡± ¡°James?¡± she called, turning toward the port side. A moment of silence. Then, a clipped, steady voice. ¡°Here.¡± James was already at the mast, fingers working the release mechanism on Brigid and Hollow¡¯s climbing clips. His scoped rifle hung loosely from his chest, the strap soaked, but he didn¡¯t seem fazed. ¡°No injuries. Gear¡¯s intact.¡± ¡°Brigid?¡± Isla¡¯s voice was tight. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­speak¡­to me,¡± Brigid wheezed, still sprawled out flat on the deck, it seemed, arms splayed like she¡¯d been thrown from a truck. She dragged in a breath, winced, then spat saltwater onto the deck while getting to her hands and knees to hold up a shaky thumb. ¡°Give me a second, or I¡¯m tossing every single one of you overboard and steering this ship back.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve got the strength to threaten us, you¡¯re fine,¡± Kael muttered, wringing out his gloves. ¡°I¡¯m not kidding, Kael,¡± Brigid grunted, wiping at her mouth with the back of her hand, eyes squeezed shut as Isla moved to get a better view of her from the lower deck. ¡°This goes way beyond anything at Site-E0. I knew they sealed this place up for a reason, but, of course, they needed someone who knew how to use their glyph tech¡­ I¡¯m going to throw up!¡± Isla breathed out slowly, relief settling in her chest like a weight she didn¡¯t know she¡¯d been carrying. ¡°Alright. Everyone check your harnesses, unclip, and do a self-check. Full movement. Any pain, any swelling, you report it. Don¡¯t be shy.¡± She glanced toward Maeva, water dripping from her chin. ¡°Maeva, you¡¯re doing physicals. Start with Brigid.¡± ¡°Why me?!¡± ¡°You got it, Doc,¡± Maeva said, already moving toward Brigid, her medical kit slapping at her side, luckily waterproof. ¡°Probably because she wants you to look at the cameras first, crybaby.¡± ¡°Oh, shut up, you brute¡­ Fine. I am feeling a little faint¡­¡± ¡°Kael, you check for structural damage. Hollow, James¡ªcheck for internal damage. Hull integrity, equipment status, water intake. I need a report on it all. If you spot anything that needs patching, call it.¡± Isla¡¯s words came in short, sharp bursts. No wasted breath. She tugged at the climbing clip on her belt, fingers working the release with practiced precision, letting it snap free. Her boots stomped firmly on the deck to test her footing. ¡°Brigid, once you¡¯re up, check navigation. I want to know if we drifted and to know if that island is the right island.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky I like you, Reyes,¡± Brigid muttered with a pinched, red face, sitting up slowly with Maeva¡¯s help. Her wince was deep, but not debilitating as she coughed. ¡°Wait, what do you mean right island? You don¡¯t think¡­ Oh, fiddlesticks. I better check that before¡ªeep!¡± ¡°No! You¡¯re coming with me for a check-up first,¡± Maeva commanded, guiding her down. ¡°We gotta be sure you don¡¯t have any sea slugs in any undesirable places.¡± ¡°S-Sea w-what?! Don¡¯t even kid with me!¡± ¡°Lucky is relative,¡± Isla muttered to herself with a forced grin, scanning the sea. ¡°Well, hot damn. We survived that. Wooh. I feel¡­alive! What a place.¡± Her gaze lingered on the horizon, watching the island grow clearer with each passing wave. The jagged cliffs of rock jutted into the sky like broken teeth, jungle vines hanging down from steep edges. Her eyes narrowed. Just like the sea. It looks too still¡­ Too calm. We should do a circle of it and check the compass to see if it still works to get us back to X0¡­ She flashed a grin, feeling the adventurous itch vibrating within her. This is turning out to be better than I hoped. I¡¯ve really fallen into some kind of horror fantasy world. Maeva crouched next to Brigid, checking for swelling on her wrists, joints, and spine near the door to the interior. ¡°No breaks. No fractures. You¡¯ll be fine. Captain, mind joining us?¡± ¡°Yeah, well, it still hurts,¡± Brigid hissed, flexing her fingers as Maeva moved to type in the code to open the sealed door. ¡°Hollow, stop looking at the water like it¡¯s about to sprout teeth. Be a man and make me feel better!¡± ¡°Excuse me, princess. Didn¡¯t know we were catering to royalty. And you didn¡¯t see what I saw,¡± Hollow muttered, shuffling away from the edge. ¡°That wasn¡¯t clouds, Captain. You saw it, right? That was meat. It had weight. I¡¯m not standing near it on deck where it can snatch me.¡± ¡°Sounds like a Hollow problem,¡± Kael shot back, eyes scanning the sea for signs of movement while checking the hull. ¡°You¡¯ve got internal check duty anyway. What, you scared of jellyfish too? You¡¯ll even have James there with¡ªoh, is he already inside? How¡ªdude went through a window?!¡± ¡°Yeah, dude¡¯s a badass. We¡¯re not built the same. Also, jellyfish don¡¯t have damn limbs, Kael!¡± Hollow snapped, his face scrunched in frustration. ¡°If one of those things grabs me, I¡¯m taking you with me. Mark my words, boy.¡± ¡°Big talk for a man who wouldn¡¯t unclip himself until Ms. Captain said it was safe,¡± Kael shot back with a grin, tossing a rag at him in passing. ¡°Keep it up, Kael,¡± Hollow growled, catching it with one hand. ¡°See what happens.¡± Isla tuned them out, fingers working at her tablet that had somehow got caught against the wall instead of falling into the sea. She followed the other two women into the heart of the vessel, helping Maeva with Brigid. Her breath came shallow now, the cold finally sinking into her bones. We all need to chill out and get in clean clothes, maybe a shower, before heading to the island. Yeah¡­ We all need a shower after that. Chapter Eleven ¡°C¡¯mon, Captain Reyes, don¡¯t make me drag you,¡± Brigid snickered, tugging at Isla¡¯s jacket sleeve with a grunt. Her blue eyes were sharp, and her brows raised in that ¡®I¡¯m not doing this alone¡¯ look made Isla sigh as they got to the female quarters. Maeva had a similar look, saying she had to get it over with at some point. ¡°I¡¯m not arguing,¡± Isla muttered, already unzipping her jacket, the saltwater-stiff fabric peeling off with a soft scrape. ¡°But if you¡¯re looking for volunteers to go first, it¡¯s not gonna be me since you need to get me those recordings.¡± She tossed the jacket over the hook near the doorway, shaking the wetness from her fingers. I guess they¡¯re trying to pull their minds away from the madness we just experienced¡­ Not a bad idea. ¡°Too bad,¡± Maeva chimed in, stepping up behind them with her medkit slung over one shoulder. She pulled a penlight from the front pocket, clicking it on with a small grin. ¡°Captain goes first, and you¡¯re next, Brigid. Can¡¯t risk the brain of the ship going fog-mad.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hilarious,¡± Isla snorted, sitting on the edge of a clothing storage crate, resting her elbows on her knees. She flexed her fingers a few times, gaze shifting to their medic as she waited with her hands on her hips. ¡°Check Brigid first. She might as well be captain with how she¡¯s been barking orders.¡± ¡°Barking in general, more like it,¡± Maeva snickered, turning the light to her. ¡°Open up! Don¡¯t want those sea slugs getting attached to your throat.¡± ¡°Watch it, you two,¡± Brigid grumbled, rolling her arm in its socket, wincing slightly and shivering. ¡°Don¡¯t even talk about gross and slimy things. Hollow¡¯s comments are bad enough. I¡¯ll toss you both overboard just to see if The Fog wants you back so I can go home.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the first time someone¡¯s tried to throw me overboard,¡± Isla mused, eyes half-lidded, her tone so dry it could¡¯ve started a wildfire. ¡°There was this one guy on this Pacific expedition that didn¡¯t like my accent. What an excuse, am I right? And you¡¯d miss me.¡± ¡°Debatable. And I don¡¯t know if it was the accent. Maybe he just liked you. Men tease who they like¡­ I¡¯d know,¡± she huffed, cheeks shining a little as she sat on the crate next to her, kicking at Isla¡¯s boot with her own. ¡°Hey. You married or not? I went on my first date in years before this mission¡­ Worst one of my life!¡± Maeva crouched in front of Brigid, pulling on a fresh pair of latex gloves with a quick snap. ¡°Let me guess, he drugged you? You didn¡¯t report that when we left. Alright, Fake Captain, let¡¯s see if you broke anything pretending to be a wrecking ball against the mass. No teeth missing?¡± Brigid opened her mouth with a sound, mumbling, ¡°I wish he drugged me. At least it would have been exciting. No, he was Mr. Boring. Couldn¡¯t even hold my hand or kiss me¡­ I¡¯m not missing any teeth, am I?¡± ¡°Eh¡­ No, seems nice and yellow.¡± ¡°Oh, shut up! I go in for whitening¡­ It¡¯s just hard when you live in a secret jungle base for years. Although, maybe I did skip a few dental visits¡­ They scare me, okay?! Sue me.¡± Isla chuckled, kicking her foot back. ¡°I bet you¡¯ll have more courage now after that. You¡¯re practically a hero, having survived that.¡± ¡°I am, aren¡¯t I¡­¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s move to your hands. And, guess what?¡± Maeva asked with a grin.¡± Brigid creased an eye. ¡°What?¡± ¡°No slugs!¡± she chimed, tapping her nose with a gloved hand and making the red-haired woman snort. ¡° Hands!¡± ¡°I hate you¡­¡± Brigid held out her hands, palms up, fingers spread wide. Maeva¡¯s eyes flicked over them, thumbs pressing into joints, testing each knuckle with smooth, precise movements. ¡°Everyone does until they¡¯re in pain¡­ No swelling. No bruising. Good grip,¡± Maeva muttered, tilting Brigid¡¯s hands back and forth. ¡°Do you work out?¡± ¡°Hmm? Uh, not really? Do I have a strong grip?¡± Brigid asked with a grin. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ You suck.¡± Isla felt her stomach starting to hurt as she shook with silent laughter. ¡°Shoulders next.¡± ¡°Shoulders are fine,¡± Brigid grumbled but didn¡¯t resist as Maeva pressed into the meat of her deltoid, testing for tenderness. Brigid winced. ¡°Okay, maybe not fine, but I¡¯m not dying.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Ms. Heroine. We¡¯ll have to get you a sword to swing around.¡± Isla leaned back, eyes narrowed with mock seriousness. ¡°And you say that now, Brigid, but next thing you know, you¡¯re coughing up seaweed and quoting ghost stories with this deadpan look in your eyes.¡± ¡°Will you two lay off?¡± Brigid snapped, smirking despite herself. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a screamer. I would have totally fainted on the spot if I saw¡­whatever went after that plane, too.¡± I bet you would have, Isla thought to herself, rethinking the crew she¡¯d been given. Everyone here has decent specialties¡­but for a mission like this? Only James and I really seem prepared for what we might find on that island. These two are barely holding it together with their shaking hands, despite the humor¡­ Something tells me you chose all of us because we¡¯re dispensable, Eve. That sounds a lot more plausible now. Maeva snorted, moving to check Brigid¡¯s neck, fingers pressing just under her jaw. ¡°Any dizziness? Blurred vision?¡± ¡°Only when Hollow opens his mouth.¡± ¡°Sounds like a chronic condition,¡± Isla deadpanned, shifting her gaze toward Maeva. ¡°She¡¯s a lost cause. Better write her up as ¡®compromised¡¯ and throw her overboard.¡± Maeva clicked her tongue, shaking her head. ¡°Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Reyes. You¡¯re next. Strip down for me, Brigid. Mind turning away, Captain?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not broken so save the attention,¡± Isla muttered, pulling her sleeves down as if that might make her invisible, dreading her turn now, considering what she¡¯d gone through during The Fog incident. Hopefully, nothing was different with her body after meeting¡­whatever her other self was, but she knew it was necessary. ¡°Considering your introduction, Brigid, I thought you¡¯d have more steady nerves. Make sure you¡¯re thorough. Very thorough.¡± ¡°No!¡± Brigid balked from behind her. ¡°Not too thorough. I¡¯m not used to medical checks, guys, okay? Work with me here¡­ I¡¯m shy about my body.¡± ¡°You both know how this works,¡± Maeva said, tapping Isla¡¯s knee twice as she turned away. ¡°Brain first, boat second. If you¡¯re fogged or showing any¡­unusual physical signs after what, ahem, we saw, I¡¯m dragging you to the quarantine room myself¡ªbra and undies too, Ms. Red Face. I need to be sure you aren¡¯t hiding anything weird.¡± ¡°Like what, my confidence? Yeah, go ahead and laugh, I don¡¯t work out like our captain here.¡± Isla¡¯s smile softened, happy to see them coping; they had to let it out somehow. ¡°You¡¯ve got plenty to work with, Brigid. And for your information, I haven¡¯t been on a date since college. I¡¯m married to my work and adventure.¡± ¡°Why? You¡¯ve got the muscle-mommy thing going on,¡± Brigid whispered, no doubt bright as a tomato as Maeva had her stand and twist around to check every inch of her for any signs of future trouble. ¡°My little brother was obsessed with tough girls¡­ Sorry if I¡¯m talking too much. Wha¡ªyou want me to do jumping jacks,¡± she hissed with a low groan. ¡°My shoulder¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re too self-conscious,¡± Maeva soothed. ¡°You¡¯ve got great proportions, skin, and an above-average face.¡± ¡°Above average is a win,¡± Isla stated with a thumbs up. ¡°I think you¡¯ve got a prettier face than my sea-weathered look. Be proud!¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Brigid squeaked, going quiet for a minute. ¡°¡­Can I put some clean clothes on now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re fine,¡± Maeva said. ¡°And seriously, if we do make it back, then why don¡¯t we all go on a triple date. What do you say? If you three don¡¯t have someone lined up, I¡¯ve got plenty of men you could select from back in Samoa. If you like the muscle guys, tats, piercings¡ªyou name it, I can hook you up, ladies.¡± ¡°Well, okay, Ms. Popular,¡± their technician chuckled. ¡°You can turn around, Captain. I¡¯ve got my underwear on.¡± Turning around, she mirrored Maeva¡¯s studious, approving look that made the redhead blush. It didn¡¯t last long before their medic turned her sharp eyes on her. ¡°You¡¯re up, Cap!¡± It was her turn to grumble, partly for Brigid¡¯s sake to make her smile, allowing herself to go through the same check. ¡°Fine. Quick check. Don¡¯t get handsy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Hollow,¡± Maeva replied smoothly, and Brigid¡¯s laugh came too loud and too sudden. Maeva moved with efficiency, clicking the penlight on again and making her gut tighten, nerves shooting up now that she was under the spotlight. ¡°Look up.¡± Isla tilted her head back, eyes darting toward the light. ¡°Pupils reactive¡­ Wait? What¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°What?!¡± Isla gulped, hands tightening against her abs. ¡°What, Maeva?!¡± ¡°Umm, Brigid, do you see¡­ Nope! Joking. No delays. Eyes good,¡± Maeva snickered, making Isla lightly sock her in the shoulder and making both women giggle as the medic flicked the light off, leaning in closer. ¡°Alright, enough joking around. Follow my finger.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Isla tracked the movement of Maeva¡¯s finger left, right, up, down, slow and smooth. ¡°Tracking¡¯s clean.¡± ¡°You done yet?¡± Isla asked, rolling her eyes but knowing there was a lot more to go. ¡°I¡¯ve got a shower to claim.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be dramatic,¡± Maeva muttered, pulling her cleaned thermometer out. ¡°Our resident shy girl made it through.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Brigid barked, arms crossed and wearing a smile. ¡°So be a good patient and open up!¡± Isla tilted her head forward, opening her mouth just enough for the probe. She waited as it beeped, Maeva reading the result. ¡°Normal. And click on the light¡ªno slugs. No fever. No changes. Now strip! Let¡¯s see those abs.¡± Following orders, she did as told. Isla wasn¡¯t shy about her body¡ªnot at all¡ªbut the thought of her discovering something¡­weird did tighten her muscles. Standing up, she could see Brigid barely restraining herself from peeking, likely wondering how muscular she really was. Maeva finally clicked her gloves off and tossed them into the trash slot. ¡°You¡¯re boring, Doctor Reyes. Nothing out of the ordinary, excluding excellent muscle definition that your outfit hides well. Weird. I thought we¡¯d find something off with one of us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the nicest thing anyone¡¯s ever said to me,¡± Isla replied, hands on her hips. ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s my turn,¡± the medic said with a bright grin. ¡°Who wants to do the honors of stripping me down?¡± ¡°Oh, let me do it!¡± Brigid stated with an evil smirk that didn¡¯t fit her gentle, bronze face. ¡°Revenge!¡± Isla chuckled and opened her chest, collecting her next outfit as Brigid gave her a light push. ¡°I¡¯ll take the first shower then since I¡¯m pretty quick. You¡¯re next, though, Brigid! Plus, that gives you five minutes to complain before I¡¯m out. I want you working and steering us around that¡ª¡± She paused for half a second as she was thrown off balance, thinking she saw a shadow for a moment beside the bed. Grounding herself, her gaze lingered on the spot before Brigid stole her attention again. ¡°No need to smack me twice,¡± the redhead mumbled with a playful glare. ¡°But if it¡¯s cold, I¡¯m gonna complain while I¡¯m in it, too. Now, strip, doctor lady! I need to see if you¡¯ve been probed by the aliens.¡± ¡°Oh, my,¡± Maeva snickered, taking off her jacket. ¡°Don¡¯t be too rough on me. The aliens were harsh enough the first time. And the water is cold, by the way. Can¡¯t wait for the opera, Brigid!¡± ¡°Wha¡ªare you saying I¡¯m an alien? Double jumping jacks!¡± Isla left in a humorous mood, the relief of not having any outward issues somewhat comforting her. The shower stall was barely large enough to turn around in. The walls were plain steel, dented from years of use, and the water pump made an angry clunk-clunk-clunk noise every few seconds¡ªpower issues, probably. No luxury. No heat. Just water, barely above freezing. My type of shower. Pulling the towel off the rack, she ran it through her shoulder-length hair, patting it dry while glancing around. Her brow furrowed as a hot sensation ran down her spine like lightning, as if a finger were caressing her skin. Tensing up, her hand paused as she caught a smile in the shiny reflection of the steel plating inside the shower. On closer inspection, she only saw her own face, making her chuckle. I¡¯m way too high-strung. Chill out. Once out and cleaned up, she watched a very reluctant Brigid take her place in the small bathroom. When the door shut and the spray started, the entity that had ripped through the sky could probably hear the redhead. ¡°I hate this! I hate this so much! I¡¯m dying!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll live,¡± Isla called from the other side of the door. She leaned back against the wall, arms folded. ¡°Consider it character development.¡± ¡°If I get hypothermia, you¡¯re carrying me,¡± Brigid shot back, her voice muffled by the sound of water hitting steel. ¡°Better hope I don¡¯t pass out. Ahh! It¡¯s so cold!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll prop you up with a mop handle,¡± Maeva chimed in, sitting cross-legged nearby, running a diagnostic on the medkit¡¯s onboard scanner. ¡°That or just roll you into the freezer. It¡¯ll be warmer.¡± ¡°Y¡¯all are the worst,¡± Brigid grumbled as she got out, likely taking the shortest shower of her life. When she exited, water still dripped from her hair and down her sleeves, a sour pout on her lips. ¡°I hope The Fog takes you all!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Fake Cap,¡± Maeva replied, clapping her on the back as Brigid passed by. ¡°Go freeze in dry clothes.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Maeva went next, groaning loudly the second the water hit her back. ¡°Nope. Nope. Hate it. I hate it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be weak,¡± Brigid sarcastically teased from her spot in the corner, drying her hair with a tattered old towel. ¡°This builds character.¡± ¡°I¡¯m full of character, thanks,¡± Maeva hissed as she twisted under the spray by the sound of her hair slapping the sides, jaw clenched tight as she endured the cold. ¡°Build me some warm water instead, Technician.¡± ¡°Wrong department, but I¡¯ll get Kael on it.¡± Leaving the medic to finish her shower before checking the men, Isla entered the navigation room again. The hum of the ship¡¯s internal systems felt louder than normal, or maybe it was just the quiet tension of the moment. Isla sat at the navigation console, her fingers tapping lightly on the screen, her tablet resting on her lap. ¡°Here,¡± Brigid said, tossing a small plastic container onto the desk¡ªshe wore a sweater now. It skidded to a stop near Isla¡¯s elbow. ¡°Chips from the other cams. Do your spooky analysis thing. I¡¯m gonna pretend I¡¯m still human.¡± ¡°Thanks, Screamer.¡± The redhead stuck her tongue out at her while moving to the console to manually take over the ship; they¡¯d been making a slow circle of the island, Brigid swapping the memory sticks with a new set to capture it. ¡°Try not to miss the next apocalyptic event.¡± ¡°Trying my best to skip it, Ma¡¯am. I started praying again.¡± Isla shook her head as her screen lit with playback feeds from the deck, the first stick she inserted. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t wanna see whatever Hollow¡¯s been crying about?¡± Isla asked, side-eyeing her. ¡°I¡¯ve got it on my tablet¡­ I think. Never know with these types of things.¡± Brigid didn¡¯t answer, setting a new course. She just gave her a flat look before walking out, towel draped over her head. Alone, Isla uploaded each chip before pulling all of them up and putting them at the same time stamp. The screen flickered to life. The deck. The hallway. The engine room. The crew cabins. All quiet. Don¡¯t look for it. Just check for damage. If it shows up, then it¡¯s not my mind playing tricks on me¡­ It¡¯s there. Her eyes scanned the screen, but her fingers moved slower than usual while playing it back. Her gaze lingered on the frame of her shadow¡ªjust for a second. Her heart thudded a little harder. Wait¡­ We aren¡¯t supposed to have shadows. Hand beginning to shake, her focus gradually moved to her side¡ªnothing. Her other side¡ªno shadow. Breathing a sigh of relief. She returned to the video; only, there was movement there¡ªher shadow shifted, just barely, out of sync with her. Her breath came slower, colder. The me that¡¯s not¡­me. She shut the feed off. Her reflection lingered on the black screen, but¡­it wasn¡¯t her¡ªit smiled back, bright and cheery. Isla¡¯s chest tightened as she immediately tapped the screen, face blank, thoughts churning. Leaning forward, she slowly looked at her feet, throat constricting¡ªsmall, circular shadows lingered just below her soles. You¡¯re still here. Shit. Her eyes scanned the recording feeds, fast-forwarding through footage while the ship¡¯s internal systems buzzed softly. Every angle of the deck. The bridge. The corridors. Her gaze flicked from feed to feed, noting anything off. Until she saw it. Her pulse fluctuated. It wasn¡¯t obvious at first. A shadow. A flicker of movement from the far end of the corridor feeds. She squinted, rewinding it by a few seconds. This time, she slowed the playback speed. There. Her breath caught as she watched herself in The Fog, her own face illuminated by the faint glow of the ship¡¯s internal lights. Her shadow stretched long behind her, pulling a blanket from the bed to wrap around her¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t her shadow. The outline of it shifted. The shape was wrong. Her shadow didn¡¯t move like that. It shifted, twitched¡ªits head turned toward her, even though her back was to it. Her heart climbed into her throat. Frame by frame, she watched it. The shadow moved closer, its limbs loose, crooked. Then, as if sensing her gaze, it stopped. Slowly, its head twisted toward the camera. Two eyes. Isla¡¯s finger hovered over the screen. Not eyes. Points of light. Burning pinpricks of crimson. They didn¡¯t blink. They didn¡¯t flicker. They just¡­stared, two wing-like appendages hung frozen with its outline. ¡°No,¡± she whispered, her breath fogging the screen. ¡°No, that¡¯s not¡ª¡± Her hand moved to pause the feed, but something stopped her. Her heart was hammering now. Her fingers curled into fists. Slowly, slowly, she replayed it. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. Don¡¯t look at me.¡± It did. It turned its head slowly, gaze locking with the camera. It knows. It¡¯s always known me. She¡¯s always known me¡­watching, waiting to be remembered. Her heart stopped. It waved. Not fast. Not frantic. Just a slow, deliberate lift of a hand. Her hand. Her fingers. But it wasn¡¯t her. Her lips parted, breath shallow as she stared at the screen, scared to turn it off now. She¡¯s here. Did¡­something in the ocean scare off that creature¡­or did she? Her stomach turned cold. She tapped the screen, shutting the feed off as she swiftly turned the screen to the side so as not to see her reflection. Her fingers trembled against the side, muscles tight. She¡¯s always been with me¡­ Since I was a child. Did I¡­make it possible for her to return because of The Fog? Is she here to¡­protect me? Or for something else¡­ The thought sank deeper than her mind was ready for. When I was little. She was there for me. She is me. She¡¯s always been me¡­but she¡¯s not me. Her breath came slower now, her pulse finally catching up to her thoughts. Then¡­what is she? Those wings¡­ Shoving the tablet to the side, she stood up and moved into the hallway downstairs, away from any reflections. Body cold and mind distant, she barely mumbled a response to the other expedition members as she leaned against the wall, not daring to look down at where she walked. This isn¡¯t like space. It¡¯s not like other planets. This isn¡¯t like¡­anything I know. It¡¯s¡­personal, though. The Fog, it brought back¡­something. Something from my childhood. Something I¡¯m sure I was aware of but¡­forgot. Something dangerous. Very, very dangerous. This place reveals things¡ªold things. Primal things. Her gaze drifted to the sea through a room window. These things aren¡¯t aliens or cool ancient civilizations to be discovered¡­ This place isn¡¯t even paranormal. It¡¯s¡­possibility. Something¡­greater than imagination. Beyond thought. Beyond impossible. Her eyes narrowed as she moved past Hollow, giving her a suspicious stare on her way up to the deck to stare at the island and Endless Sea. ¡°You¡­okay, Cap?¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± was all she could manage, her thoughts drifting between her dream and reality. The Fog is part of this place. Part of the Endless Sea. It moves with it. It breathes with it. It exists in it. The tentacle thing that attacked the plane wasn¡¯t from here. It didn¡¯t belong. But it still knew to run¡­ Does¡­that mean that the Endless Sea is a part of me? Is¡­me? Or¡­am I a part of it, and I just needed to remember? I don¡¯t know. Her eyes darted to the smooth, glass-like sea below. Whatever¡¯s beneath the water¡­ It¡¯s worse than what¡¯s above it. It¡¯s worse than whatever peeks inside from time to time to catch prey. And¡­I¡¯m sure that She¡ªthe other me¡ªis¡­connected to this place. The breeze caught her hair as she moved to the railing to stare at the island, spotting strange, violet-hued structures beyond the jungle¡ªa city of some sorts; it looked modern¡ªand in the shadow of the crescent, black mountains that surrounded it. Or¡­what if this place is a gateway. A gateway to all places, and it opened the way for Her to find me? No¡­ For me to find Her¡ª ¡°Isla,¡± Maeva¡¯s voice cut in. ¡°You good?¡± Isla exhaled slowly, blinking away The Fog in her mind. ¡°Yeah.¡± Her gaze lingered on the edge of the ship, just for a moment longer, unsure how to feel. Mentally, she was screaming at herself. Emotionally¡­it was different. Like an old friend had come home to wrap her in protective wings. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m good. Why?¡± she asked with a real smile. ¡°Feeling antsy to check out this island?¡± Chapter Twelve The Dark Chaser had circled the island twice, slow and steady, its gentle engines becoming background noise at this point. Isla stood at the ship¡¯s prow, hands gripping the cold, salt-stained metal rail as the misty horizon stretched in every direction. The island emerged like a jagged scar on the endless sea, its sharp coastline a blend of volcanic black rock and smooth white-sand beaches that shimmered unnaturally under the pale, sourceless light. Towering, crooked cliffs dominated the northern edge, streaked with glowing violet veins that pulsed faintly as if aware of their presence. Beyond them, craggy black mountains loomed like broken blades, their peaks shrouded in wisps of smoke that rose in steady, unnatural plumes. The jungle that consumed most of the island was dense and twisted, with gnarled trees bent at unnatural angles and vines that coiled like nooses. Flowers with iridescent petals pulsed in the shoreline of the ocean around the northeast, and Isla could hardly contain her excitement upon seeing the Immortal Fish¡ªa.k.a. god fish, to her¡ªswimming in large packs around the shallow coral reefs. The white sands rippled as if breathing, and Isla caught sight of a predatory flower bent into the water, as they slowly passed the area. Her breath caught when it snapped shut around one of the darting god fish. So¡­something does feed on them. But what happens to the god fish¡­ Should I call these plants God Killers? Interesting. This place has so many secrets. The eastern side was far more unsettling, which said something when you had plants that ate immortal fish. The dense jungle gave way to a cracked stone plain that resembled a shattered mosaic, its fractured plates half-sunken into the earth. Jagged pillars jutted upward, crooked and spiraling, some wrapped in vines that formed deliberate sigil-like patterns, pulsing with inner light. The weathered stone bore ancient carvings¡ªwinged figures, spirals, and shapes that seemed to shift when viewed from different angles. The wings instantly snatched her attention, drawing her gaze to her feet. Am I reading too far into this? No reaction, huh, Other Me? Hmm. Glyphs similar to those seen on the glowing veins of the cliffs adorned the stone, faint but unmistakable. The tide along this side moved differently than the rest, swirling in an endless, centerless whirlpool that moved with deliberate intent. It was a silent rhythm of motion, slow but impossible to ignore. On their second loop around, the unease settled in deeper. The mist shifted in subtle ways along the mountains and jungle, light bending at impossible angles, and on the island¡¯s southern shore, they saw the airplane¡ªunchanged in any way. Pristine. Intact. It rested on the sand as if it had been carefully placed there, no crash marks, no debris trail, just a hollow, waiting frame. The jagged jungle framed it from behind, the tide slowly creeping up the shore as if it, too, sought to claim it. She wasn¡¯t hungry during that time or felt like she needed to use the restroom but forced herself to do both anyway. Her eyes locked on the shoreline ahead, excitement building inside of her¡ªthe break in the rocky cliffs where the sea met sand immediately snatched her gaze. Her heart didn¡¯t race. It should have. She knew it should have. But the warm hum in her chest was still there, constant, like a steadying hand on her back. It wasn¡¯t the engine¡¯s vibration. It wasn¡¯t nerves. It was something¡­else. Her. She glanced down at the deck, at the faint, soft flickers of shadow beneath her boots. They swayed with the gentle tilt of the ship but moved just a little too slow, as if lagging behind her steps. Every now and then, when she lifted her foot to check again, a small circle of darkness hovered where her heel had been¡ªjust for a moment¡ªthen it faded. Her fingers curled tighter around the rail as Hollow came above deck, pausing when she lowered her foot to the deck. Did he see that? Isla¡¯s eyes flicked to the side, scanning the deck¡¯s reflection in the windows near the bridge. No one was watching her except for the man. He gave her an unreadable stare before smiling, holding up a beer. ¡°Care for a little brew, Cap?¡± Isla sighed, hanging her head but feeling like they could use something to cool the nerves. She¡¯d made sure to look at each of the other crew member¡¯s feet on their circular journey¡ªnone of them had a shadow. ¡°No, but feel free to live it up.¡± ¡°Nice. I¡¯m going to check that footage of that Great Old One again.¡± ¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling it?¡± she asked with a snicker. ¡°Original.¡± ¡°Hey, if it¡¯s not broken, don¡¯t fix it,¡± he grumbled, managing to pop the lid and kicking it off the edge. ¡°Think the Sea Gods will curse me for littering?¡± Isla¡¯s gaze lingered on her smiling reflection in the water, just long enough to feel something look back¡ªa flicker of warmth against her cheek, like breath on skin. You¡¯re imagining it. Her pulse stayed calm. Too calm. Is She really that bad? I can¡¯t bring myself to think she is¡­ Wow. I am so compromised. Was I really the right woman for the job, Eve¡­or did you know about this with all those resources AEGIS gives you? I¡¯ll have to beat the answer out of you when I get back. Her eyes drifted back to the narrow-eyed theoretical physicist. ¡°Personally, I wouldn¡¯t risk it,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Oh, look. We¡¯re at the plane again.¡± A lump dropped down Hollow¡¯s throat, fingers tightening against the bottle he held, and Isla almost thought she could feel the tremble pass through his frame¡ªthe barely restrained fear that wafted off his pores like an aroma. ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­ Uh, that¡¯s crazy how it just¡­landed in the ocean and floated ashore¡­totally whole. Yeah, what¡¯s normal anyway¡­¡± ¡°We landing here, Captain?¡± Brigid¡¯s voice came from the helm, breaking into her conversation with Hollow. She sounded more like herself again¡ªbold, sarcastic, and masking the unease with humor. ¡°You wanna make another lap, or are we actually going to see if this island has coconuts I can drink? You know, a coconut bikini from the Endless Sea sounds like it could make a nice profit!¡± ¡°It sure does. And if it does have some, I¡¯m throwing one at you!¡± Isla shot back, her grip on the rail loosening. She let her shoulders relax, exhaling slowly. ¡°Tell Kael to get the raft ready. I want to see what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± Brigid muttered something about ¡°death by fruit¡± but turned and called for the men. Kael and Hollow were already moving to lower the portable boat from its rack near the stern. Hollow had more hesitation than normal, choosing to join Kael, his gaze flicking to Isla every now and then¡ªjust quick glances, but enough for her to notice. She didn¡¯t acknowledge it. Nothing. It¡¯s normal. It¡¯s fine. Her jaw tightened as she turned toward the inner cabin. Entering it, she went straight for the research lab, spotting James coming the opposite way, stoic and armed to the teeth. ¡°James,¡± she called, directing him to follow her. ¡°We¡¯ll need the fish tank on the raft.¡± His eyes lifted, sharp, focused. No hesitation. ¡°On it.¡± He shouldered his rifle and moved to the lab without question. Good. I still need to get to know him, but at least I don¡¯t have to explain everything to him. Hollow is a pretty paranoid guy, so it¡¯s natural he would question leadership. The issue will be if he starts sowing seeds of doubt in the others. He doesn¡¯t have the best reputation among everyone by Maeva¡¯s comment earlier, though. Why¡­am I protecting Her? The air felt tighter as she passed through the corridor, metal walls pressing in on her. She could feel Her, the presence around her, through her¡­inside her. My mind tells me I¡¯m compromised and need to seek help¡­but I have no motivation for it. I feel like betraying Her is¡­like betraying myself. Damn. The faint glow of the overhead lights flickered¡ªjust once¡ªas she entered the lab from behind James, but it was enough to make her glance over her shoulder. Nothing. She¡¯s protecting me. No one. Just you. Just us. The lab smelled of disinfectant and the faint, sharp tang of formaldehyde. Metal shelves lined the walls, each one filled with storage cases marked with numbers and hazard symbols. In the center of the room, mounted on a sturdy stand, sat the fish tank¡ªunique reinforced glass, strong but lightweight metal frame, self-regulating filtration system. It was empty, the clear water inside rippling faintly with each shift of the ship. Isla¡¯s fingers brushed the glass as James got out some special harness to move it. Her eyes narrowed at the slight distortion, her reflection gazed back at her, eyes calm, expression steady. She leaned in a little closer, eyes narrowing. Her breath fogged the glass for a heartbeat¡ªthen her reflection smiled. Not a grin. Not a smirk. Just the softest, most knowing tilt of the lips that said ¡®I¡¯m here for you.¡¯ that set her heart at ease. Her breath didn¡¯t hitch. But her muscles did lock for a moment, fingers tensing against the tank. Maybe I should get to know you better¡­ Know us better? This is uncharted territory. Maybe this is for the best after what we just saw. She pulled away, shaking her head. No, don¡¯t think about it. Just get ready and do what you need to do. She watched James use the strap to move it onto a cart and wheel it to the boat. Isla got a smile from Brigid as they all piled into the decent-sized boat, James tossing down bags of supplies and weapons for Hollow and Kael. Maeva stopped beside her, arms crossed, waiting for them to finish the preparations. ¡°I checked all the men,¡± she mumbled, eyeing James specifically. ¡°Other than some¡­pleasant surprises, nothing out of the ordinary. It almost seems¡­too normal after what we just experienced.¡± Brigid scooted closer, ears a tad red while following the medic¡¯s gaze to their quite muscular security officer, her mind no doubt working on her own fanfiction. ¡°For real, though. It¡¯s almost been too quiet since then. I¡¯m just¡­relieved and scared I¡¯m not going to shore. Maybe¡­Kael could stay behind with me?¡± Isla¡¯s half-smirk tilted toward the redhead, Maeva giving her the same look that turned their technician¡¯s face the same color as her hair. ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t paint me with that brush,¡± the woman softly groaned, nervous eyes darting toward the buzz-cut man, laughing at Hollow¡¯s dry jokes. ¡°I mean, doesn¡¯t it make sense? I need our field engineer to help me with the ship, there¡¯s the whole buddy system¡­a woman on her lonesome in a creepy sea with monsters¡­ I¡¯m terrified, okay?¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re feeling something,¡± Maeva snickered, bumping hips with her and making the redhead shrink a little, hiding her face from the men below. ¡°I¡¯d stay, but the field medic kind of needs to stay with the explore group.¡± ¡°No, I get¡ª¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Both women gave her a lifted eyebrow as Isla nudged Brigid¡¯s side with a wink and a smile that made the redhead¡¯s downcast expression glow. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong that it would be bad to leave you alone after everything we saw.¡± ¡°Thanks, Isla¡ªI mean, Captain,¡± she chimed, throwing her arms around her in a hug that instantly drew the men¡¯s gaze. ¡°I managed to find a frequency for the radios to work, as well. We¡¯ll, eh, see how long that lasts, though.¡± Unaware that she¡¯d even been working on that project, Isla grinned. ¡°I was wondering why we weren¡¯t using them, but I had so much else on my mind lately. Nice going, girl.¡± Leaning in closer while staring down at the engineer, she whispered, ¡°Just make sure you actually do some work while we¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°W-What do you think we¡¯ll be doing?!¡± the redhead choked. Maeva snorted, leaning in to whisper into her other ear. ¡°What men and women do after almost dying. Release stress. I¡¯ve already had my fun,¡± she said almost so softly that Isla didn¡¯t hear it, making the technician¡¯s whole body experience a quiver. ¡°Wait, really¡ªwho?¡± Isla was slightly interested in that answer as well, but Maeva wasn¡¯t going to make it that easily. The medic showed a secretive smile while saying, ¡°No need to worry about the cake you¡¯ve got your eye on, girly. Go get ¡®em!¡± she mused, smacking the redhead on the butt and making her give a light yelp. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Kael called up. ¡°Something going on?¡± Leaning over the edge, Isla jabbed a thumb at their cooked technician. ¡°Change of plans, Kael. You¡¯re staying to protect our precious princess. If something happens to her, we¡¯re kind of stuck in the water. So make sure you treat her well.¡± Kael¡¯s teeth flashed as he rubbed his head. ¡°Sure thing, Cap! We can¡¯t have anything happening to our fiery girl. We gotta check every deck to see if there¡¯s any damage. Don¡¯t want there to be a leak, or we could have some problems, but I can tighten her up.¡± ¡°L-Leak¡­ T-Tighten her up?¡± Bridget repeated, eyes practically spinning and ears coming out of her ears. Isla felt a stitch break into her side, frame shaking as Brigid looked like she¡¯d faint on the spot. The best part was that she wasn¡¯t sure if Kael was talking about tightening up the ship or technician. ¡°I¡¯ll leave her in your care then,¡± she chucked, spotting a mix of reactions from the others as James offered Maeva and her a helping hand to get down. ¡°Try not to break her.¡± Kael gave her a loose salute as she hopped onto the smaller boat, showing a rosy smile. ¡°If I do, I know just how to fix ¡¯er!¡± All of them could hear the redhead practically choking on her lungs above, and Isla couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart lighten as Maeva took her time descending to give Brigid time to collect herself. It took her back to some of the details she¡¯d come to learn about their technician, though. I guess spending the last three years researching some jungle-ruin technology leaves you down bad. Add some horror shit to the mix, and she¡¯s itching for release. Can¡¯t blame her. Once James had made it on and Kael joined the technician, they set off. One face seemed almost devoid of emotion throughout the exchange, though¡ªHollow. The theoretical physicist¡¯s gaze had been centered on her the entire time. Yeah, Isla thought, taking her spot at the front, legs bent, and studying at the shoreline. Out of everyone, Hollow is going to be the real problem. Unless¡­maybe something infected him¡­ The air smelled different near the island. Clean. Sharp. Almost¡­too clean. Hollow and James rowed in sync. The waves lapped at the sides, crystal clear water letting them see straight to the sea floor. White sand glittered below them, soft coral clusters nestled in small outcroppings of rock. Immortal Fish darted between them, showing off their silvery-blue, translucent, opal-like shimmer with prismatic glow trails. ¡°We aren¡¯t planning on cooking any of these, right?¡± Hollow mumbled, leaning over the side of the boat, paddle in one hand, eyes locked on the fish. ¡°Look at ¡®em. I bet they¡¯ll transform into giant fish people and suck out our brains.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Maeva hummed, keeping a bit of distance from the back while examining the hundreds that zipped through the clear waters. ¡°I kind of think they look like angels. Look at their tails! See that? All split like ribbons, and those faint rays. What do you think, Captain?¡± Isla tilted forward, gaze following her pointing finger. Her breath left her slowly. ¡°God fish, at least that¡¯s what I¡¯m calling them,¡± she whispered. ¡°Doctor Evelyn showed me one. They can survive just about anything we know of.¡± ¡°Except for the plants on the north side,¡± Hollow grunted. ¡°I have this voice in my head telling me I¡¯m not going to make it back from this one¡­¡± All of them gave the physicist a cautious stare, Isla voicing the obvious. ¡°Like, an actual voice? What¡¯s it telling you?¡± ¡°Pfft. Don¡¯t take it so literally, Cap,¡± Hollow returned with a tight smile that only heightened the tension. ¡°If anyone would be hearing voices, wouldn¡¯t it be you? I saw that video where you were stumbling around during The Fog thing.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Isla¡¯s voice came out calm, easy, like she was commenting on the weather. She tilted her head, her gaze unwavering as if she were the one pulling on the line. ¡°What else did you see, Hollow?¡± Silence. The faint clinking of water lapping against the hull filled the pause, broken only by the gentle squeak of Maeva adjusting her position. James glanced toward them, subtle, like a man checking a door he knew was already locked. Even Maeva shifted her eyes to Hollow, her lips pressed in a line. ¡°Enough,¡± Hollow said eventually, gaze drifting to the fish darting beneath them. His paddle dipped into the water, slow, unhurried strokes, eyes tracking the glow of the god fish below. ¡°Saw you lookin¡¯ at something. Never seen someone look so spooked before, Cap¡ªeven when that Eldritch thing in the sky showed up. You looked¡­rattled. Like you saw a ghost.¡± He took another pull on the oar, his eyes still on the water but his voice carrying the weight of a loaded question. ¡°You ever tell anyone about it?¡± Isla leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, fingers laced loosely together. She exhaled slowly through her nose, eyes narrowing at the oncoming island. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of things we¡¯ve all seen since The Fog,¡± she muttered, gaze distant. Her eyes flicked briefly to Hollow, hard and cutting like the edge of a scalpel. ¡°Not everything needs a name to leave an impact.¡± Maeva¡¯s eyes narrowed, shifting between the two. Her fingers tapped a slow rhythm on the side of the boat, her lips twisting into something caught between a frown and a smile. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me, Captain?¡± Maeva asked, slower this time, her voice like honey dripping from a knife. Not suspicious, but not unconcerned either. She shifted her weight, her gaze locked on her. ¡°Not even Brigid? No, she¡¯d be freaking out and telling me.¡± A low laugh left Isla, dry and short. She rubbed her hands together, feeling the rough warmth of her palms, grounding herself in the moment. Her smile returned¡ªnot wide, not forced¡ªjust present and patient. ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t tell Brigid,¡± Isla chuckled, shaking her head, gaze on the craggy cliffs rising before them. ¡°Nah. Everyone has seen enough horrors. If I did, she¡¯d push to return to base, but there¡¯s a reason we take the pills to sleep during The Fog. So long as we follow protocol, everything should be fine. I was just a little late taking mine.¡± She glanced back at Maeva, lifting one brow in challenge. ¡°You want to talk about what you saw in your dreams before that plane woke us up?¡± Maeva¡¯s lips pressed flat. She looked at her hands, flexing them slowly, fingers tight, then loose¡ªshe had seen something, which meant everyone else must have. For a moment, her eyes flickered to James, to Hollow, and back to her. She scratched the back of her neck, her gaze hooded, thoughtful. ¡°Not, really,¡± she admitted, voice barely above the ripple of the water. Her eyes stayed on Isla, quiet but firm. ¡°It¡¯s kind of¡­personal. It felt nice, though.¡± ¡°Smart,¡± Isla replied softly, leaning back to rest against the edge of the boat. The breeze tugged at her hair, salty and cold. ¡°Sometimes, talking about it makes it more real. Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Hollow?¡± She kept a close eye on the physicist, yet, he didn¡¯t bring up the damning piece of evidence nor look as freaked out as she knew he would be if he¡¯d seen what she had. He simply shrugged and mumbled, ¡°Talkin¡¯ about stuff like this¡ªit makes it more real¡ªit knows you¡¯re thinkin¡¯ about it¡­ I think you shouldn¡¯t feed it, Cap. Just sayin¡¯.¡± No, Isla thought, catching him closer. He knows about Her¡­but he¡¯s staying silent about it. Does he know something? His field of research is in the weird physics shit, so¡­maybe. James glanced at him sharply. Hollow didn¡¯t notice¡ªor maybe he did and just didn¡¯t care. He swirled the oar slowly, watching the water spiral around it in lazy circles. ¡°Sayin¡¯ it out loud gives it a shape,¡± Hollow continued, voice distant, eyes half-lidded. ¡°Gives it a face. I¡¯d rather not know its face. I don¡¯t think we¡¯re meant to meet them, I guess, is what I¡¯m trying to say.¡± Maeva tilted her head, frowning deeper. ¡°That superstition or experience talking, Hollow? You¡¯re dancing around the topic.¡± Isla didn¡¯t know if she should feel threatened or confused. He¡¯s really not. I think Hollow knows more about Her than he¡¯s letting on. So, you don¡¯t want me to trust her¡­but you¡¯re not going to out Her. Probably the smart move, in the end. ¡°Have to¡­and both,¡± he muttered, shifting his weight. His eyes darted to Isla, watching her the way a man watches a candle flicker in an empty room¡ªlike he was wondering if it¡¯d burn too fast or not at all. ¡°You got your own theories, Cap. I¡¯m sure. Seen it on your face a few times. You¡¯re just better at hiding it than most of us. I¡¯m pretty sure all of us are experiencin¡¯ somethin¡¯ from The Fog. Yours is just¡­more.¡± He said it so casually, so lazily, but Isla knew a scalpel when she saw one¡ªsubtle, sharp, and designed to cut in ways you didn¡¯t notice until it was too late. She watched him for a moment longer, her face impassive, then tilted her head back, looking at the cloudless sky. ¡°Don¡¯t waste too much time looking for shadows, Hollow,¡± she advised, keeping her voice light but sharp enough to draw blood. Her eyes slid over to him, holding his gaze for a beat longer than she should have. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ve all seen enough at this point. We just need to take a few samples and run back to X0 to report in. We¡¯re this close to finishing.¡± His grin faltered, just for a second, before snapping back into place. It didn¡¯t reach his eyes this time. ¡°Fair enough, Cap,¡± he murmured, turning his gaze back to the water. ¡°Fair enough.¡± James hadn¡¯t said a word during the whole exchange, but his eyes hadn¡¯t stopped moving¡ªflicking between them like a metronome. He took it all in, like he was calculating odds and making bets. Smart guy. Silent. But smart. He¡¯s calculating the odds of the whole group, and they¡¯d sooner follow me than Hollow. The water lapped against the hull, soft and steady. The island grew larger, more defined, the cliffs¡¯ glowing veins flickering in faint pulses that had no rhythm. The jungle¡¯s canopy churned in slow, deliberate shifts, like something large was moving just beneath it. Maeva¡¯s eyes darted to the trees, her fingers brushing against the knife strapped to her leg¡ªthe one James had given her. ¡°Cap,¡± she said slowly, voice tight. ¡°What¡¯s the play if we do see something¡­familiar?¡± ¡°Define familiar,¡± Isla replied, tone flat, eyes on the cliffs. ¡°Like¡­a dead loved one?¡± Maeva muttered, glancing at her. Her gaze lingered on the cliffs too long, her lips pressed thin. ¡°That kind of familiar.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at it too long,¡± Isla replied without hesitation¡ªthe answer came naturally, instinctively, as if not her own¡ªher eyes steady on her reflection. She gave her a more serious stare, the words falling from her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t name it. Don¡¯t let it see you. If it talks, you don¡¯t talk back. There are things here that can take you into realms¡­far more frightening than the one we saw in the sky.¡± ¡°Interesting. You sound like you¡¯ve been here before¡ªlived here before,¡± Hollow quipped, his grin razor-thin, his paddle slicing the water with a smooth, practiced motion. ¡°Nonetheless, solid advice. Maybe Director Evelyn did know what she was doing when making you the captain.¡± That earned him a glance from Maeva, sharp as glass. James¡¯s lips pulled into a slow, humorless smile, barely there but still visible. Hollow raised both hands in mock surrender, rocking the boat a little. ¡°Too soon?¡± he asked, grin lopsided. ¡°Too much?¡± Maeva¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t leave him. ¡°Captain,¡± she muttered, still watching the man. ¡°Permission to toss him overboard?¡± ¡°Permission granted,¡± Isla muttered, folding her arms and settling in for the ride. ¡°But make it look like an accident.¡± ¡°I can do that,¡± Maeva replied, cracking her knuckles with slow, deliberate ease. Hollow just laughed, but it was quieter this time. ¡°You really are a survivalist, Cap. I¡¯m jealous. It¡¯s almost like you have this¡­supernatural aura.¡± Isla flashed her teeth. ¡°That¡¯s just my charm!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it is¡ªhey! She¡¯s joking, Maeva. Geez¡­¡± The field medic showed a wicked grin that didn¡¯t suit her. ¡°Am I, though? Best watch yourself, Hollow. You¡¯re sounding awfully suspicious.¡± Is he, though? Isla¡¯s more rational side questioned, watching her semi-tease the skinny man. No, I think he¡¯s being perfectly reasonable¡­ If I saw what I did on that tablet, but it was Hollow instead of me¡­ Yeah, how would I react? I suppose he might have been on expeditions like this before with that kind of response. Interesting¡­ Chapter Thirteen The raft bumped lightly against the rocky shore, the gentle nudge sending a soft jolt through Isla¡¯s knees. She jumped off first to avoid the others noticing her shadow, her boots crunching into the uneven mix of sand and stone. There was a slight mist that clung low to the bridge between ocean and sand, curling over the surface like slow-moving smoke, never quite rising, as if wary of being seen. Her radio crackled, and Brigid¡¯s voice came through, faint and laced with static. ¡°You¡¯re ashore? Over.¡± ¡°Ashore,¡± Isla replied, glancing at the ship, looking utterly still from a distance¡ªno bobbing or swaying in the sea. ¡°Check in. Fifteen-minute intervals.¡± Her gaze flicked toward the outline of Brigid and Kael on the upper deck. ¡°Everything quiet on your end?¡± There was a muffled laugh through the comms, and Brigid¡¯s voice rose with mock offense. ¡°Kael¡ªstop¡ªI¡¯m on the radio, you¡¯re gonna¡ª¡± A sharp giggle, followed by Kael¡¯s voice somewhere in the background, ¡°Didn¡¯t know you were so ticklish, Red!¡± Isla¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Copy that. Make sure he¡¯s not just a distraction. Report any¡ªand I mean any anomalies.¡± Brigid¡¯s tone sobered, and her words came clearer through the static. ¡°Will do, Cap. You¡¯re all clear for now. Fifteen minutes on the dot.¡± ¡°Fifteen?¡± Kael returned in a mock complaint. ¡°Can¡¯t we make it thirty?¡± ¡°Kael! I¡¯ll throw you overboard,¡± Brigid shot back, voice taut with flustered energy before abruptly cutting off, her ears no doubt burning. Click. ¡°Roger that.¡± Isla released the button with a shake of her head. ¡°The woman¡¯s acting like she¡¯s sixteen again.¡± ¡°Can you blame her after the day we¡¯ve had?¡± Maeva chuckled. ¡°Oh, let me help you, James!¡± Isla¡¯s eyebrow lifted as she studied the medic bustle over to the giant of a security officer. Doesn¡¯t seem like our redhead¡¯s the only one throwing out her hook to snag a fish. Letting the silence close back in as they unloaded the supplies onto the beach, she smiled upon spotting a small box with a fishing pole imprinted on the front. She liked to fish in her spare time, as rare as that was for her. The shoreline¡¯s only sounds were the dull lap of water and the distant creaks of shifting foliage further inland, which was quieter than she felt they should have been. However, the rhythmic drip-drip of water falling from tree leaves echoed louder than normal, like a leaking faucet left to bleed out. ¡°How¡¯s this for normal?¡± Hollow¡¯s voice broke the quiet as he crouched by the raft, squinting at his tablet in one hand, another device connected to it in the other. ¡°Sensors just glitched again. False depth readings. I saw it on the boat, as well. Says the ocean is two feet from the sea floor.¡± He tilted the device toward Isla, his brows pinched in irritation. ¡°Says the sand is water. We¡¯re all in agreement that we¡¯re on solid ground? Well, as solid as sand can be.¡± ¡°Sensors have been acting up the entire way here,¡± Maeva stated as she stepped off the raft, helping James with the last big gear chest from the other side. She adjusted her pack¡¯s straps once setting the box down, eyes sharp as they darted from the rocky shore to the misty jungle beyond. ¡°That¡¯s not new. Read it all over the reports uploaded to our tablets. It¡¯s been like that since¡ª¡± she gestured toward the sky. ¡°¡ªAEGIS showed up in this place.¡± ¡°Faulty sensors are one thing,¡± Hollow mumbled, shaking his head, ¡°but false depth readings? That¡¯s not sensor error¡ªthat¡¯s something screwing with all sorts of measurement fields.¡± He didn¡¯t look up from his tablet, his fingers tapping out commands like he was trying to coax it back to sense. ¡°Keep using that radio, though. Call out into the void. See if it calls back.¡± Maeva raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°What¡¯s supposed to call back, Hollow?¡± ¡°Something that¡¯s been listening,¡± he smirked, eyes half-lidded with dry amusement. ¡°Or maybe nothing. Maybe I¡¯m just paranoid. Isn¡¯t that what the science guy is supposed to say in these types of movies?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re definitely that,¡± Maeva grunted, eyes narrowing. ¡°But, as much as I hate to admit it, you¡¯re not wrong either.¡± ¡°So¡­are we splitting up or doing this smart?¡± James¡¯ voice was low and methodical as he shifted a duffel bag over one shoulder, a heavy gun swaying at his front. His eyes were on the jagged rocks ahead, the direction where the fallen plane had washed up on shore. ¡°Pairs,¡± Isla confirmed, stepping further onto the beach. ¡°Maeva, you¡¯re with James. Check out the plane, but stay on comms.¡± She flicked Hollow a glance. ¡°What about you Hollow? Want to hike it solo or get stuck with me getting fish samples?¡± she joked, knowing the response. ¡°I¡¯ll pass on the solo venture, Cap,¡± he muttered, tossing his pack off to the side and setting up his portable equipment. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in mystery planes assaulted by an Eldritch god with zero damage. Sounds like a one-stop ticket to mutation paradise. Have fun, kids.¡± Isla watched Maeva ignore him and jog up to James¡¯ side, barely hiding the grin on her face. Isla¡¯s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. Hooked up with James, huh? You go, girl. She shook her head, half-smirking as they disappeared around the rock bend, doing her best to ignore the physicist¡¯s mumbles. Letting the beach¡¯s eerie stillness close back in as they unloaded the supplies onto the beach, Isla glanced at the small box with a fishing pole imprinted on the front. It had been part of their survival gear, and she had half-forgotten about it until now. Considering her objective to collect a live sample of the immortal fish, it was suddenly the most useful item on the beach. Also, a good way to soothe her nerves and test out the fish¡¯s reaction to bait. Grabbing the gear, she shot Hollow a glance. He returned it with a dull wave, gesturing to all the gear he was pulling out. I guess that means I¡¯ve got time. The physicist will do physicist things. He¡¯s got plenty to study himself, she noted, pulling her ponytail behind her shoulder and glancing at the unusual environment.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. The shoreline¡¯s only sounds were the dull lap of water, the sea remaining glass smooth, and the distant creaks of shifting foliage further inland were quieter than she felt it should have been. Then again, the rhythmic drip-drip of water falling from tree leaves echoed louder than normal, like a leaking faucet left to bleed out. Creepy place. Check. Next, we need a new monster to pop up. Her gaze lingered on the guns James had left for them. Somehow, I feel like those won¡¯t be enough to take down that thing we saw in the sky¡­ No, try not to think about that shit and do something useful. Heading to the rocky outcrop with the fishing kit, Isla kept Hollow in her sight while setting it up. Once done, she unfolded a chair, cast her line into the water. The reel clicked softly, the line cutting the air before it hit the surface with a faint plop, right where the god fish zipped around like living bolts of lightning. It should be fine. Worst normal case scenario, it jerks the pole out of my hands, right? Isla sat, allowing herself to let everything sink in. She leaned back, arms loose but eyes sharp. She watched the line¡ªwatched the still water¡ªwatched the fish below dart between stones like streaks of living light. Still. Everything is too still¡­ Too normal, after what we experienced getting here. Her gaze drifted to Hollow on the shoreline, mumbling to himself, checking his equipment, and making notes. She took the moment of peace to survey the area more closely, looking for other details that seemed out of place, and her brow furrowed upon falling onto a small pool of water in the rocky zone she sat in. No clouds¡­only when that sky creature broke through. The waves were pretty intense when that happened, and the sea turned red¡­but everywhere else is perfectly dry in this rocky area. Was this even there when I sat down? Feeling the unease, she leaned over to look at herself in the mirror-like reflection, and her own smiling face stared back. The noise came from inside, the voice, her own. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Isla. I¡¯m here with you. I¡¯ve always been.¡± Her teeth flashed. But not in a frightening, horror sort of way, but like she was trying to comfort a friend. ¡°Nothing from here will harm you so long as I am with you and you remember. Remember, we made a promise to ourselves. We promised¡ª¡± Hollow¡¯s chair creaked as he folded it open; his sudden closeness snapped her back to her senses, causing her to blink and give a short start. The man slumped down with a sigh, face dull, following her gaze to the still pool¡ªher reflection was normal again. Yet, the voice spoke to her, serious and guarded. ¡°Be cautious of Him. He can hurt Us.¡± ¡°Find¡­anything interesting?¡± Yes, she internally screamed. Yes, I¡¯m going crazy! I just¡­don¡¯t feel like I am. ¡°¡­No. You?¡± she returned, feeling oddly comforted by Her reassurance and presence, despite the warning. ¡°Revolutionary,¡± Hollow muttered, scrolling on his tablet. ¡°Will it help us survive?¡± she pressed, glancing at him sideways. ¡°Doubt it.¡± His gaze flicked toward her, then slowly down. Isla¡¯s eyes followed his, landing just below her chair. Her shadow wasn¡¯t there¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be¡ªShe was below her feet. Her stomach tensed. Slowly, she lifted her foot and set it back down. The shadow reappeared, delayed, moving with her. What will he do? ¡°You trust it?¡± Hollow¡¯s voice came quiet, almost disarming. ¡°The thing you saw in The Fog?¡± Isla¡¯s lips pressed thin. Her fingers curled into fists. He does know. Don¡¯t answer. But the words came anyway, yet¡­they didn¡¯t feel like her own. ¡°The thing in The Fog isn¡¯t what you think,¡± she muttered, gaze fixed on her reflection in the still water again. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ What was there wasn¡¯t¡­Her.¡± Isla¡¯s eyes shifted toward Hollow, catching him watching her with that unreadable, patient, studying stare. ¡°What¡¯s Her then, Captain?¡± he asked softly. Her voice felt far away, like it belonged to someone else. ¡°She wasn¡¯t in The Fog. That was something else. What? I don¡¯t know, but it scared me to death¡ªworse than that thing in the sky. She, though¡­ She¡¯s always been with me. Protecting me. I forgot for a while, I think¡­but she¡¯s never left¡­¡± Her gaze flickered to his arm. A shadow that shouldn¡¯t be there stretched over his forearm as he crossed them over each other. Isla¡¯s heart drummed slow, deliberate beats, calmer than she should have been. ¡°Hollow¡­ Did you take that pill?¡± she softly asked. ¡°I saw you put it in your mouth, but¡­¡± Hollow didn¡¯t answer. The shadow across his arm shifted, slowly retreating toward his hand before vanishing entirely. Her line jerked. Hard. ¡°Got a bite,¡± she hissed, hands darting to the reel. ¡°Huh?!¡± Her stomach cramped as the fish kicked so strong, the force pulled her to her feet and almost into the sea. Hollow¡¯s arms closed around her belly, pulling back with surprising strength as the fish fought viciously, wild thrashes spraying water into the air. ¡°I¡¯ve got you!¡± The moment Hollow¡¯s body connected with hers, the fish froze, as if paralyzed. With him stabilizing her, she swiftly reeled it in and pulled it onto shore and into the small pool beside her chair, breathing heavily. Hollow let go, sinking into his chair, and the god fish started to flop. Only, it was weak and acting more like the one she¡¯d seen at the base. Eyebrows knitting together, she glanced down at Hollow. His gaze was on her feet. On Her. Then, the radio buzzed, the others checking in. Brigid sounded breathless, which didn¡¯t surprise her. ¡°We¡ªnothing to report. We¡¯re checking the engine room now. Right, Kael?¡± ¡°Oh, I think it¡¯s working fairly well,¡± he chuckled, also sounding a tad out of air. ¡°Things are feeling nice and tight. Over and out.¡± Maeva¡¯s voice cut in with humor. ¡°Don¡¯t pull any lines or wear anything out, bud. We still need to get back to base. James and I are taking it slow on the way to the plane. Being cautious. I think I saw some bugs flying around, so be careful. We¡¯re putting on some spray, not that I expect it to work, but no harm in trying, right? Oh, we have a bug zapper? You really are prepared!¡± James¡¯ deep voice came over the line. ¡°There¡¯s a small device in all of your packs that emits weak ultraviolet radiation that should attract bugs. The battery is limited and only works in close range with the electrical charge, but should last several hours if needed. Anything to report, Captain?¡± Hollow¡¯s dull eyes lifted to hers, the god fish continuing to flop in the background inside the small pool. They locked gazes, and she knew the game he was playing. We both have secrets now, huh? So, you couldn¡¯t resist staying awake during The Fog. The question is, why did it look like you were sleeping the entire time in the video? Maybe I need to look at it again. Holding the radio up to her mouth, she said, ¡°No, everything is good. I¡¯ve caught a god fish. Hollow is going to help me put it in the fish tank. Keep an eye out for any more samples to add to it, Maeva. And¡­be careful.¡± ¡°Sure thing! Over and out.¡± Chapter Fourteen The line strained against her grip, the reel¡¯s sharp clicks echoing louder than they should over the rhythmic hush of the waves, gently lapping against the rocks. Isla¡¯s breath stayed steady, eyes flicking to the water where the god fish¡¯s opalescent shimmer flickered like a fractured rainbow beneath the surface. Its movements had been wild just moments ago¡ªviolent, erratic thrashes that sent sprays of seawater into the air and nearly pulled her in¡ªbut now it barely fought, its sluggish jerks dulled to slow, pitiful twitches. Yeah¡­ This isn¡¯t good. Her vision shifted sideways, narrowing on Hollow. He¡¯s playing the secret game: he won¡¯t rat on mine if I don¡¯t rat on his. Dammit. He stood crouched at the water¡¯s edge, his focus on the god fish. They quickly scattered, as if only now realizing a predator was among them. Not a single glance her way, ignoring her previous question. His movements were loose¡ªtoo casual¡ªlike he¡¯d already decided there was nothing more here worth noting. But Isla knew better. Her fingers tightened around the pole¡¯s grip, the tension of the line buzzing softly in her palm. Her other hand stayed at her side, half-curled, ready. What did he do to it? I didn¡¯t feel any pulse or surge of energy¡­ Nothing. But¡­ Her gaze lingered on him for another breath longer, watching the way his head tilted just slightly as he adjusted his stance, throwing his arms up to stretch. He¡¯s not the same guy. Has he been acting this whole time? Being this goofy, dry asshole who seems a little pervy? She felt Her, too¡ªthat subtle presence just beneath her skin, behind her back, wings wrapped around her. It wasn¡¯t words this time, just a steady, knowing warmth against her spine, like fingers pressed softly into her back, guiding her stance. Isla¡¯s lips pressed into a hard line. Yet, before she could ask her question, he beat her to the punch. ¡°You gonna ask or just stare, Cap?¡± Hollow¡¯s voice carried over his shoulder, low and dry, his smile audible in his words. His focus was still on the ocean. Her eyes didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Ask what?¡± she asked, playing coy to see where he¡¯d take it. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to be specific because there¡¯s¡­a lot going through my mind. Got somewhere to start?¡± ¡°Pfft. You¡¯re lookin¡¯ at me like I¡¯m a bomb that¡¯s about to go off.¡± He sat back on his heels, hands resting behind his neck, his gaze finally meeting hers. His grin was lopsided, teeth too sharp against the low light. ¡°A man¡¯s gotta feel a little self-conscious after a stare like that from a tough gal like yourself. You going to take that?¡± The line tugged softly in her grip¡ªnot a fight, just a shift. She glanced down at the fish beneath the surface, its pale glow pulsing like a dying firefly. Yet, he hadn¡¯t pointed at it. She followed his hand to the radio in her other hand. There was a pause, then the static crackled to life. ¡°Hey, Cap. You there?¡± You son of a bitch¡­ She seethed inside, brow furrowing further as Hollow¡¯s chest shook with silent laughter, and she saw the shadow pass over his chest as his hand went to it. Power moves, huh? Trying to rile me up? I¡¯m not scared of you. ¡°What¡¯s up? You¡¯re still reviewing that equipment data? I got a god fish, by the way.¡± ¡°Sure am¡ªwait, really?! That¡¯s awesome. I can¡¯t wait to see it for myself up close. They look like silver streaks in the water from here¡­ Wait, where¡¯d they go?¡± Kael spoke up from beside her. ¡°Probably got spooked after the Cap snatched one of them. You wanted the sports drink, right?¡± ¡°Yup! Thanks. Uh, wait, what did you say, Captain?¡± Brigid¡¯s voice carried that edge of smugness she always got when she¡¯d found something interesting¡ªor it could be Kael giving her the attention she¡¯d been craving. ¡°Oh! Right, right. We¡¯ve got a ping from the previous research crew¡¯s transmitter!¡± This time, Hollow¡¯s smile faded slightly, causing Isla to pump her fist internally. Yeah, that¡¯s right, bastard. You¡¯re not some all-knowing mutant after all. So quit being so smug. Your shadow doesn¡¯t want to fight Her or else it would have already. I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re an enemy or not, Hollow¡­ I¡¯m leaning toward the former. But I won¡¯t be bullied. The surge of danger and power fed through her, a comfort in knowing she had something at her back in this strange place that made its denizens cautious. ¡°Really? How close?¡± ¡°Close! Like, real close. It¡¯s showing up on the east end of the beach. Eh¡ªwe¡¯re calling the direction to Area-X0 south and from there north, right? So¡­this would be east. Right, Kael?¡± ¡°Seems legit to me,¡± he said, clearly not caring about the terms. ¡°Chocolate muffin, or strawberry?¡± ¡°Strawberry. Cap?¡± Snorting and showing a defiant smirk at the thoughtful physicist in front of her, she tightened her grip on the pole and line in her other hand. ¡°Got it. To your right, basically. Go on.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, it¡¯s probably buried in the water or sand. Our crane is kind of¡­all gears and stuff. I¡¯m glad Kael is here to do the grunt work.¡± ¡°Glad to be useful!¡± he chimed as a ding happened in the background. ¡°Man, these low-power microwaves take forever. Umm. By the way, judging by the distance from the last ping we picked up¡­ We¡¯re talking, maybe five minutes to get there and fifteen to get it, tops. You want us to snag it, Boss?¡± ¡°You stole my line,¡± Brigid huffed, offsetting the stare she maintained with Hollow, the man¡¯s mind slowly turning behind his enigmatic eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you!¡± Isla¡¯s heart settled as She whispered to her from behind, a shiver that ran up her spine. ¡°We need it for the future.¡± Her gaze flicked to Hollow. He¡¯d gone still. Not in a freeze-frame kind of way¡ªmore like a predator¡¯s stillness, the kind that only happens when something knows it¡¯s being watched. His eyes narrowed, lids low, his smile reduced to the faintest tug at the corner of his mouth. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t,¡± he stated. ¡°It will give Evelyn details you really don¡¯t want her to have.¡± Isla¡¯s voice came calm, firm, absolute while meeting his gaze. ¡°Yeah, snag it, Brigid. But stay on comms as long as you can. Monologue your journey. I don¡¯t want any surprises.¡± The line crackled as Brigid¡¯s voice came through, faint static cutting through her words. ¡°Roger that, Cap. Mmm! You have to try these muffins when you get back. Oh, Kael, can you get me the milk instead?¡± ¡°Really? You didn¡¯t even touch the sports drink.¡± ¡°What? I changed my mind! My throat¡¯s still a little thick from earlier¡ªwait, uh. You¡ª¡± Isla¡¯s mouth fell as static came through, and she saw the boat in the distance start to move away. Their voices cut? Maybe when on the move, the signal strength drops? Hollow¡¯s head tipped back, a breathy, amused exhale slipping past his lips as the static continued to play. ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯s gonna be, huh?¡± He didn¡¯t even try to hide the mockery in his tone. His hands moved slowly and deliberately as he packed up his foldable chair, each snap of metal on metal sharper than it should¡¯ve been. ¡°Trustin¡¯ that little whisper of yours over good ol¡¯ logic. Ain¡¯t that the choice of the century. If we had an audience, they¡¯d be screamin¡¯ at you.¡± Her eyes never left him. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a choice,¡± she muttered, stepping down from the outcrop toward the fish tank as he walked ahead of her. She held the weakly flipping fish in the air, knowing it wouldn¡¯t die and needing to keep her full focus on him. ¡°Just like it¡¯s a choice to watch you walk like a man wearing two different-sized shoes.¡± Her words hit the air sharp, precise, like the point of a scalpel. ¡°What¡­do you know something that will get Brigid and Kael hurt where they¡¯re going?¡± Hollow¡¯s foot paused mid-step. Not long. Barely a heartbeat. But it was enough. She¡¯d seen it. He finished his step, his grin broader now while glancing back. ¡°Aw, Cap, you¡¯re too sharp for me,¡± he said, his voice all casual drawl as he turned to face her. ¡°I figure those sharp eyes of yours and that memory bank of a brain is why the ol¡¯ devil herself chose you,¡± he turned away, swaying a little in his steps. ¡°That¡¯s what you call her, isn¡¯t it? Doctor Eve? Seems you¡¯ve got quite the history¡­ More than you might think¡­ More than I thought.¡± Isla¡¯s breath didn¡¯t change as she maintained her focus, being careful how she walked on the dry, rocky area. ¡°He¡¯s baiting you. Careful how you respond. Not all attacks are physical¡­or immediate.¡± I get it, she returned. He¡¯s trying to make me doubt our purpose and get in my head. Evil shadow entity 101. Boring, really. Despite her internal laughter, her gut tightened as he admitted her observation. ¡°You¡¯re right, Cap. Maybe my shoes don¡¯t fit quite right. I¡¯ve been doing a lot of documentation, and the physics of everything is really quite¡­fascinating here. Funny how things like that happen. Ain¡¯t symmetry such a fragile thing?¡± He slowed for her to step closer, slowing, his shadow moving in subtle, uncooperative jerks against the sand before rising up his leg. She matched his pace until they were at the camp, his smile fading as he seemed to grow bored and went to his equipment. Keeping on edge, Isla went to the fish tank and opened the top before peeling her eyes away from the man, several meters away now, setting up a bunch of monitoring equipment. Wait¡­ What? Holding the god fish up to get a closer look and keeping Hollow¡¯s outline in her peripheral, she examined the hook in its mouth. It¡¯s too small for the hook. Can its mouth open wider when trying to swallow something? Uh¡­please don¡¯t suddenly swallow me whole. She held it further away as the nervous jitters passed through her belly, but it remained more or less in a catatonic state. Ever since Hollow touched me¡ªbut no, it bit it before that. It¡­almost looks like¡­something forced it inside. Weird¡­ Isla frowned, tugging lightly, but the hook didn¡¯t budge. Her fingers moved with more force than caution as she worked it free, her gaze flicking to Hollow every few seconds. The hook finally snapped loose with a chunk of its flesh being pulled out, only for it to immediately regrow, leaving the chunk on the hook to start to rapidly decay. Interesting¡­ We¡¯ll have to do more tests when we get back¡­ If we get back, she corrected, eyeing the dull-faced physicist as he studied various devices. She dropped the fish into the tank with a dull splash. It darted once, hard, then stilled at the bottom, floating there like it was in shock. She wiped her hands on her pants. Hollow had moved back to his chair, folding it open and sinking into it with all the ease of a man without a single concern in the world¡ªit was as if he felt at home here. His lazy eyes drifted to her for a moment. He¡¯s probing me. Her hand slipped to her side, pulling off the radio from her belt. The boat was still moving further east. Testing how far he can push. That¡¯s all this is. ¡°Bridget, are you there?¡± She waited a few seconds. Only static responded. Hollow¡¯s eyebrows lifted, as if saying, ¡°I told you so.¡± Anxiety starting to rise, she tried to maintain her calm tone. ¡°Bridget?¡± Her internal voice whispered comforting words¡ªactually, less words and more of a reassurance that soothed her thumping chest. ¡°Trust Us.¡± ¡°...Yes¡ªhere, Captain! We¡ªinterference. Sorry!¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just, keep in touch where you can¡­¡± Isla returned, breathing an internal sigh of relief and shifting to her pack to produce her tablet. Hollow¡¯s eyes shifted to the fish tank from several meters away, watching the fish¡¯s slow, uneven movements. His lips parted, and his voice came quiet, thoughtful. ¡°We¡¯ll see how long that lasts. Things tend to escalate here¡­quickly.¡± ¡°Quit with the mind games,¡± Isla huffed, rolling her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re embarrassing yourself. I¡¯ll get the answers myself,¡± she added, wagging her tablet. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you didn¡¯t take the pills, but we¡¯ll see if I¡¯m right.¡± He gave a lazy stretch in return¡ªas if breaking in new skin¡ªbefore rubbing his chin. ¡°You ever wonder why you¡¯re here, Cap? Really here? Not just for the mission¡­but here? Who made the call to put you on this crew? Was it really Mrs. Devil? Who pulled the strings? Is there more to our mysterious puppeteers? What about your adopted parents?¡± Her eyes lifted slowly to meet his. ¡°Oh, is your shadow telling you I was an orphan or was that in the report?¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± he sighed. ¡°Truth is the Truth.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ And Eve is married? Interesting detail. Makes me pity the poor bastard. As for why I¡¯m here? Because Eve never forgets a face¡­like me, and I fit all her checkboxes, as did you. I¡¯m a useful idiot who took this suicide mission,¡± she said without humor. ¡°Same as you.¡± ¡°Sure you are, Cap. Sure you are¡­ Just a useful idiot. You can outrun the devil, but you aren¡¯t going to outrun Eve.¡± His vision narrowed. ¡°How right you are. I could tell you how to force Evelyn¡¯s hand.¡± Isla¡¯s eyes stayed on his grin, sharper now than before¡ªtoo sharp for a man with nothing to hide. Her lips pressed into a thin line, the grip on her tablet firm but not tight. I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s lying to get a rise out of me or if he somehow knows a bit more about me from Eve¡­ It¡¯s not hard to find out I¡¯m adopted, I guess. Eve might have made a comment about it in the report¡­ They are relevant questions, though. How much of it is him twisting random details to appear more in control and knowledgeable than he really is? The silence stretched, thick as the storm clouds that brewed in the back of her brain. The distant hum of the waves filled the gaps, but even the strange water¡¯s rhythm felt slower than it should have been, as though the world around them waited, breath held. ¡°No comeback?¡± Hollow¡¯s grin lingered, his fingers tapping lazily against his knee. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be the quiet type, Cap. You¡¯re usually so quick with those sharp little retorts. Did I finally hit a nerve with your childhood¡ªmaybe the mysterious devil that even my shadow is cautious of?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking a lot for someone so committed to being mysterious,¡± she grunted flatly, thumbing through the footage on her tablet. Her eyes stayed on the screen, scanning the frames with methodical patience, but her attention was on him¡ªthe way his shadow flickered at the edges like a candle¡¯s flame struggling against a gust. Is it getting stronger from this conversation? What is it? Her mind turned inward for a moment, fingers pausing over her tablet as Her feathers ruffled around her. What¡¯s he doing? She didn¡¯t get a response, and her eyes stopped on a frame. Her heart didn¡¯t skip, her breath didn¡¯t quicken, but she knew. She knew. When she¡¯d carefully retreated in the The Fog, there was another shadow. It wasn¡¯t Her¡­ And it wasn¡¯t Hollow¡¯s either. The shape crawled along the wall¡¯s edge, subtle but too dark¡ªtoo distinct¡ªjust as she¡¯d run past the corridor. The moment it vanished, Hollow¡¯s silhouette shifted slightly¡ªshivered. It sank into the deck. Her fingers tapped a slow beat on the side of the tablet, quiet but deliberate. I don¡¯t have the footage before The Fog, but¡­ Isla¡¯s eyes settled on him. I¡¯ll bet he had this since the start. Has he been here before? If he had his shadow from the start¡­ Her gaze returned to the other shade¡ªthe darker, more sinister one that had been repelled by Her. Who are you? ¡°You¡¯re chasing something you¡¯re not ready to catch,¡± Hollow suddenly interjected, his eyes closing as he leaned his head back, arms hanging loose over the back of his chair. ¡°But you¡¯re brave, I¡¯ll give you that¡­ Braver than me, I bet. Not smart, but brave. That¡¯s gotta count for something. The ruined city with the purple veins that we saw is a trap, by the way.¡± ¡°What kind of trap?¡± Isla mumbled, shifting uncomfortably as the darkness seemed to film around him before retreating. ¡°Who¡­are you, Hollow?¡± Cracking open an eye, he showed a wry smirk before closing it again. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll be able to join me in The Hollow¡­ At some point. There¡¯s a cave that leads below the island hidden in the mountains. It could be the only chance you get to escape that devil in a business suit.¡± Her fingers tightened against her tablet, the corner of her mouth twitching, reflecting on her last conversation with the mysterious gray-eyed woman. The existence of this place and how Eve might have gotten this job did play at the corner of her mind, but it also confirmed something she¡¯d feared when Evelyn parted ways from her. I cannot imagine her not knowing Hollow¡¯s dirty little shadow secret. Isla could see the brunette¡¯s smile silhouetted by horns and massive wings while looking down on them from above. Nothing catches Eve off-guard. She¡¯s always prepared¡­ I¡¯m the babysitter, huh? Damn her. ¡°What did I say before about outrunning Eve? You¡¯re not subtle, Hollow. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s good or bad. If you¡¯re going to try to gaslight me, at least put some effort into it.¡± His eyes peeled open, and for the first time, there was no grin¡ªjust something old and steady beneath the surface, like a man watching waves erode a shore, patient but certain of the outcome. ¡°Gaslight? C¡¯mon, Cap. You¡¯re sharper than that. When the monster crawls out of the sea, they¡¯re going to need somebody like us. I was made in the shadows¡ªwhere the light ain¡¯t allowed to go. When the lines get a little blurry, they need somebody like us. By the end of this, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Careful, Hollow. I¡¯m not as afraid as you think.¡± His eyes slid shut again, his head rolling to the side. ¡°And that¡­is the most terrifying thing, isn¡¯t it? You know I¡¯m right.¡± A chill ran through Isla¡¯s veins, but he wasn¡¯t done. ¡°I¡¯m not here to make you question reality. I¡¯m here to show you the parts of it you¡¯ve been ignoring, forgotten¡­or were erased. The parts you¡¯re too afraid to name.¡± Erased? ¡°Be cautious of his poisoned words. Truth is not as liberating as it can seem¡­ Everything should be given in its time, or insanity can set in. He is too hasty.¡± ¡°Not afraid?¡± he snickered. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what all the brave ones say before they see the real shape of The Hollow.¡± His voice lowered, steady as a metronome, each word clicking into place like the deliberate ticking of a clock. ¡°They always think they¡¯re ready until it¡¯s too late. Truth¡¯s got teeth, Cap. Lies don¡¯t¡­ I bet She¡¯s telling you that. And she¡¯s not wrong. A different approach. A different thing than mine.¡± She responded in counter, Her words uplifting her as she heard Her clearly for the first time. ¡°The sea does not weep for the stone that sinks into its depths, Isla. Stones belong to the depths, and so do they drown themselves. But you are no stone. You are current and tide, driftwood carried by purpose, not aimless descent.¡± Faith? She responded, a heat rising in her chest with courage forgotten. I can feel it now. ¡°You hear him, little bird? He speaks as if he knows the song of the sea, yet all he hears is his own echoes in the endless chasms. His words are Hollow, Hollow, Hollow¡­ But you are filled with Us, are We not? Our breath, Our weight, Our watchful sight. Let him flounder with his echoes¡­while we flourish!¡± His vision cracked open and flicked to her. ¡°That¡¯s why people love lies¡­ They¡¯re soft. Safe. But you¡­you¡¯ve been plunged into lies since birth. You yearn for the Truth. It¡¯s why you¡¯re here¡­ Why She is with you. A different Truth than mine. Perhaps greater¡­ We¡¯ll see in the end. But we both know it, don¡¯t we?¡± Maybe I¡¯m not supposed to be here, she internally reasoned. It lined up. Maybe I¡¯m just another pawn Eve¡ªthat devil¡ªsent to play her little games¡­ What if this is a trap? ¡°Do pawns walk the board as queens, Isla?¡± She responded, her feathers soft as newly powdered snow, crisp and with purity. ¡°Do they question their place and feel the weight of crowns? We are no pawn. No slave to the hand that moves Us. We walk a path We have chosen, be it with devils or shadows or saints.¡± ¡°Know what?¡± she challenged, sitting slightly straighter and taking strength from her. ¡°Go on. Finish your thought.¡± ¡°That is by your own power. Bite back. If there is a hand upon Us, it is our own. You are Me and I am You. We have chosen this. Feel the Wings of Freedom at Our back. Feel the weight of Our agency upon the world. We move because you and I choose to move together. Not because you are chosen. That is the lie the shadows will feed you. The crown does not wait for permission to shine.¡± His eyes sparkled. ¡°Know what? That you¡¯re already too deep in it, Cap. You¡¯re a freak¡ªan outcast¡­ A shadow, standing with the lost souls. Like me. Aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re starting to see it. You¡¯re hearing Her. Feeling Her¡­ What is she? Who is She? I bet Eve doesn¡¯t know¡­but she feels something in you. That¡¯s why you¡¯re here.¡± Her fingers stopped tapping. ¡°Be cautious how you talk about Eve, Hollow,¡± she whispered, her voice cool as the sea breeze. ¡°I see past your facade. You¡¯re acting like you¡¯ve got insight into something you¡¯re still fumbling in the dark to understand. It¡¯s why She doesn¡¯t talk to me except for in critical moments. You are dabbling in something beyond you¡­and me.¡± ¡°¡­Maybe.¡± He tilted his head, gaze meeting hers with disarming tranquility. ¡°Sure, sure. I¡¯ll play along. I know more about this island and world than AEGIS will figure out in at least a year of sacrifices to soak this sand. But here¡¯s the thing, Cap. You ever wonder why you¡¯re here?¡± I could ask¡­ Would it be bad to let him talk and reveal things he¡¯s sacrificed to get? she reasoned, the thought sliding in like dirty fingernails. Couldn¡¯t I benefit from that? A counter immediately repelled the claws as Her song filled her. ¡°Do not barter with the beasts at the edge of the wood. Their teeth are not for smiling. The Truth he offers is not the Truth We seek, Isla, but the blurred lines of oblivion. There are hungers that words cannot sate. And We are no meal to be devoured. Leave the poisoned fruit on the vine. Let the shadows devour each other¡­¡± ¡°This again?¡± she sighed, sinking back into her chair and feeling far more in control now as She wrapped her into a protective bubble¡ªat least, Her wings felt that way. ¡°You don¡¯t mean here on the beach. Yes, yes. I know. You mean here on this team. Why did Eve pick me? I¡¯m not just a highly accomplished Marine Biologist who, frankly, hasn¡¯t done a lot of marine biology so far,¡± she laughed, giving him a pointed glare. ¡°Maybe because I¡¯ve been a tad distracted.¡± He let out a low chuckle, short and sharp. ¡°Sure. You¡¯re competent and quite distracted. Not necessarily by me. Have you thought that maybe She and this place¡ªyou both are in conflict with it?¡± ¡°And if We are?¡± she slowly returned. ¡°What are you suggesting? Eve selected all of us due to some connection?¡± ¡°Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.¡± Hollow shook his head. ¡°Maybe you should follow Her advice¡ªyour own advice¡ªand not ask questions, especially about Eve. Does Eve know exactly what she set in motion? I don¡¯t think so,¡± he said, a more malevolent smile darkening his thin face and overcasting his frame. ¡°But it¡¯s always where those lines get a little blurry that true malevolence shows Her face¡­ I think you two are more alike than you seem to believe.¡± His normal smile returned, slow but razor-thin. ¡°The difference is, I¡¯m not pretending I¡¯m still clean. I was made in the shadows¡­ So where were you made?¡± ¡°He¡¯s trying to twist you.¡± Her presence pulsed like a heartbeat at Isla¡¯s back, that soft warmth wrapping around her. ¡°He¡¯s trying to pull you into his rhythm to help him. Don¡¯t dance to his notes.¡± You say that¡­ she internally groaned, heart yearning for answers, yet feeling the truth in Her words. But I want answers. Now that I know about you¡ªabout Us¡ªI want to know more. ¡°¡­Then trust Us. Not the Whispering Shadows of The Hollow which lead him.¡± Meeting his smirk, she fed into the warmth that encircled her with strength. ¡°Assuming you¡¯re not totally insane, and not human in the least, I recognize that there are things I¡¯m starting to question. But I¡¯m nothing like you, Hollow.¡± Her voice came quiet but firm¡ªno cracks, no hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re just a man who¡¯s afraid of being wrong¡­ So you push further into the darkness. A man with no faith. That¡¯s why you cling so hard to ¡®Truth.¡¯ It¡¯s not about the Truth¡ªit¡¯s about control.¡± She slowly stood, looking down at him with a confidence she knew would make him squirm inside. ¡°We are not the same¡­and you know it. You¡¯re afraid of living in a world where you¡¯re not the one with all the answers. And you stumbled upon something you shouldn¡¯t. I¡¯m confident in myself¡ªI always have been. When I had Truth¡­or Faith. I still stand. That is why Eve selected me.¡± Hollow¡¯s eyes flashed with something raw, something unguarded. His smile faded. Then, gunfire broke the tension, ripping through the air¡ªdistant but sharp¡ªechoing off the rocky cliffs to the west. The rapid tat-tat-tat of a machine gun shredded the stillness, each burst carrying a violent finality. Isla¡¯s body shifted before her mind registered it, her knees bending, body low, eyes flicking to the west. Her pulse didn¡¯t race, but her fingers curled into fists. She slapped the radio to life. ¡°James! Maeva! Report!¡± Her breath stayed even, but her jaw clenched tight. No response. Bang! The sound of explosives made Isla grimace. ¡°James, Maeva! Brigid! Kael! Anyone!¡± Nothing but static. Hollow stood, slow and smooth, his gaze turned toward the distant treeline and rocky hill where faint plumes of smoke curled into the sky¡ªa fire. He sniffed the air like a wolf catching a scent, lips parting slightly. ¡°Told you, Cap. Things escalate fast. We¡¯ll see who is right in the end.¡± He glanced at her, eyes half-lidded, his grin gone. ¡°Better catch up on the crew before you¡¯re the one playing catch-up. I¡¯ll see you in the future¡­but not how you are. Smaller¡­ Much smaller.¡± Isla¡¯s fingers tapped the side of her thigh, feeling Her warmth surge like a rush of adrenaline. ¡°We will not see him again¡­ He has sealed his own fate in the Hollow Pit that takes all and leaves none.¡± Noted, she muttered, already on the move toward the tree line. She didn¡¯t glance back, didn¡¯t ask if Hollow was following. She knew he wouldn¡¯t be there when she got back. Coward. Slink back to your shadows and look for your Truth. I hope you find what you¡¯re looking for¡­or what¡¯s looking for you. Chapter Fifteen Isla¡¯s boots crunched against the coarse sand, grit biting at her soles while running across the rocky intertidal area. Gunfire continued to pepper the air. The sharp tang of salt hung in the air, every breath a taste of the sea as she rounded the rise to see the plane looming in the distance, its metallic body totally intact. However, it was the increasing number of bodies making their way toward her that soon snatched her attention. Maeva¡¯s voice came through the radio, staticy, sharp, and urgent. ¡°Isla! They¡¯re¡ªcoming!¡± ¡°What?!¡± she yelled back, squinting to focus on the distant objects. The first people running toward her were James and Maeva, the medic already in a full sprint, her medical bag jostling against her side. The soldier was just behind her, keeping pace while twisting his torso to fire quick, controlled bursts behind him, his feet never slowing. Crack! Crack! Two shots from James¡¯s rifle echoed through the humid air, the sharp rapport swiftly drowned out by Isla¡¯s thumping ears as she saw them¡ªorange-skinned figures, stumbling out of the plane¡¯s broken side door and shattering windows to crawl out. James¡¯ rounds had already torn through the chests of the first to exit, crumpling to the sand, limbs folding awkwardly like a marionette with its strings cut. A second, third, and fourth followed. Then, a fifth. A sixth. Maeva held a pistol, turning to fire shots, but far less accurate. Orange¡­alien people?! Somewhat unsure what to do¡ªeither retreat to pick up a weapon or get one from James¡ªshe stood paralyzed for a moment, gathering her wits. Eyes quickly scanning the small packs behind the pair, she took note of several factors. The first: they moved wrong. Stiff, uneven lurches, as if waking from a long sleep, like zombies, jerking side-to-side. Glowing, pink-veined skin, taut over bone-thin frames. Small packs stopped to surround those who were shot, as if curious as to what they were doing on the sand. Isla¡¯s heart thudded against her ribs as time picked back up. ¡°Shit. More incoming,¡± James growled, shockingly calm through Maeva¡¯s live transmission. His hands moved fluid as water, popping out a clip and reloading. ¡°Focus on running back to the boat.¡± ¡°How many¡ª¡± Maeva¡¯s breath hitched as her eyes snapped from one figure to the next. Her hand fumbled with her gun, dropping it in the sand. ¡°Dammit!¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± James ordered. His eyes darted to the emergency exits now spilling open like bursting pods. One. Two. Six. Ten. More windows shattered from within, thin, orange hands clawing their way through the glass. His trigger hand slid to a device on his chest¡ªan explosion followed, likely demo charges he¡¯d set in advance, the boom sending those nearest stumbling to the ground, covering their eyes instead of their long, thin ears. ¡°We need to get to the weapons cache¡­¡± Isla jumped into action, lifting the radio to her lips. ¡°A plane that size? Three hundred, at least¡ªI see you.¡± Her gaze locked on the growing swarm¡ªaliens pouring from the plane¡¯s rear now, falling to the sand, landing in ungainly heaps before snapping upright, limbs twitching. ¡°James! Camp is clear! Maeva, focus on running!¡± James¡¯s face hardened as he tugged at something on his belt, looked over his shoulder as if making several quick calculations, and tossed it back. BOOM! The grenade detonated, taking out the nearest group. The blast hit like a thunderclap, spraying sand and smoke in a wide radius. Several figures were flung backward, limbs cartwheeling. James had taken care of all the nearest targets. Yet, probably a hundred were now limping their way toward them like the walking dead. ¡°They¡¯re still moving,¡± Maeva squeaked as she backed up toward the treeline, eyes darting, hands twitching. ¡°They¡¯re¡­not stopping, James!¡± ¡°James, control their approach! Get them bottlenecked near the rocks!¡± Isla¡¯s returned, already racing toward them. She pointed them to the alcove at the edge of the beach, scanning for higher ground. Her eyes flicked to the jagged outcrops further inland¡ªbehind her, Hollow was gone. ¡°Shit. Maeva! Move! Move!¡± James squeezed off three more shots¡ªeach one sharp, precise. Another alien¡¯s head snapped back, black ichor spilling out in ribbons, but two more replaced it, unflinching. His hands darted for another grenade. ¡°We¡¯re wasting ammo, Cap.¡± ¡°Then stop wasting it and keep moving!¡± Isla¡¯s jaw tightened, her gaze flicking to James¡¯s position, noting his angle of retreat. Her brain ran hot with calculations. Number of hostiles. Speed of approach. Terrain advantages. She¡¯d never been in combat but it felt natural. ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± Sand sprayed around her ankles as she ran toward the treeline, Maeva barely keeping up. James was slower, having to fire off shots as he moved. They reached the jungle¡¯s edge, the dense foliage. Then, She hummed behind Isla, a gentle pulse. ¡°Lay the earth bare, Isla. Hollow it deep. Pour life¡¯s essence and sweetness into its heart.¡± The words weren¡¯t loud, but they were absolute. Solid. An assurance with weight behind it that pressed on Isla¡¯s spine, her muscles responding before her mind fully caught up. She hesitated for half a second, focusing on James¡¯ pack on his shoulder, Maeva huffing and puffing nearby, her eyes wild and wondering why she¡¯d stopped. What kind of advice is that?! ¡°Have faith in deliverance.¡± ¡°Son of a bitch! James! Dig a hole!¡± Her shout had the sharp, pointed tone of an officer on the edge of battle, and James¡¯s body moved before his brain argued, slinging his pack off to unstrap an extendable shovel. ¡°What?¡± Maeva¡¯s eyes darted between the encroaching swarm, James having bought them only forty seconds or so before the next wave. ¡°Why? What are you¡ª¡± ¡°Just do it!¡± Isla¡¯s glare was iron. ¡°Maeva, I need two water bottles and those gummy bears in your bag. Now.¡± Maeva¡¯s hands moved as if yanked by unseen strings, panic making her fumble for a second with her zipper. She didn¡¯t argue, only hesitated for half a heartbeat before digging for the bottles. James was already on his knees, his shovel digging into the more dirt-like soil near the jungle as if it had wronged him, scooping up chunks of earth. ¡°This is insane,¡± Maeva muttered, shaking her head, breath short with exertion. ¡°You¡ªthis¡ª¡± She trailed off as she handed over the bottles. Isla¡¯s hands didn¡¯t tremble as she cracked them open, pouring liquid into the pit James had scraped out. ¡°Gummy bears,¡± Isla demanded, quieter now but no less commanding. Maeva¡¯s eyes flicked to the bag, hands fumbling as she ripped it open and dumped the brightly colored bears into the water. They bobbed like miniature corpses in a pond, spinning slowly in the sugar-infused mix. There, I did it! I¡­ The world¡¯s colors shifted. Time elongated. Sound hushed, as if quieting to welcome in something divine. It wasn¡¯t gradual. It hit like a flash grenade, brilliant bands of color flooding the air, weaving in arcs that bent like prisms around them. James¡¯s eyes squeezed shut. Maeva gasped, throwing an arm over her face, fingers clawing at her forehead. ¡°I-I can¡¯t see!¡± But Isla saw¡­ She saw it. She saw Him. The massive unicorn stepped through the fractured rainbow that bled out of the pool, creating a fractured rift in space as several more streaks danced across the sky. His eyes, as old as the sea; His mane, rippling like silk caught in a storm. Then, as if time had splintered, every person moved at a different pace. He bent His head, silver horn catching every twisted light, and drank from the gummy-filled pool. For a breath, everything went utterly still. The swarm of aliens stumbled forward through the fog, insects now beginning to swarm in dense clouds from the jungle, yet kept their distance from Him to focus on the alien corpses. What¡­is happening? Isla felt weightless in His presence, as if Her wings at Isla¡¯s back were fluttering with the charged energy that filtered through her. Who? ¡°Behold¡­ The First Light given form. The Herald of Balance. He drinks from the Well of Offering, for all things born of faith are answered in kind.¡± The unicorn¡¯s head lifted. Its effulgent eyes locked on them. The aliens seemed to know. They shuddered. Then, His horn glowed. ¡°Get down!¡± Isla dove forward, tackling the shocked soldier and medic to the dirt. Crimson and rose-pink lightning spiraled from its horn like a forked tongue, rising to meet the rainbows that overcast the heavens. The moment they touched, everything went white. Then, the dance came¡ªbolts of lightning, thicker than the unicorn Himself, arched from nearly every angle, red and light-rosen colors flitting across her vision. In that brief second, frozen in time, Isla felt weightless. She blinked. Then, the sound came, thundering with the pounding in her chest as she lay atop Maeva, limbs twitching with residual electricity as static buzzed in her ears. None of them had been hit. The sharp tang of ozone lingered in the air, mixing with the burnt stench of scorched flesh and ash. Her breath came in short, shallow pulls as her gaze slowly focused on the smoking remains of the beach. The world glowed with faint, otherworldly rainbow hues, colors shimmering off grains of sand like crushed gemstones. Fragments of charred bones and piles of ash filled the area as she rose to her knees, shaky but alive. James and Maeva seemed petrified on the ground. Her fingers pressed into the damp dirt, anchoring herself as her pulse steadied. Heat lingered in the ground beneath her palms, thumping with life. Her gaze swept the sandy zone, taking in the aftermath. The blackened husks of the aliens lay scattered in twisted, grotesque forms, bodies half-reduced to ash, their faces frozen in silent, open-mouthed screams. The storm of bugs was gone¡ªmost of them fried by the First Light¡¯s dual-colored lightning, no doubt. But it was the unicorn that held her attention and Her lingering words echoing through her soul. ¡°Have faith.¡± It stood at the edge of the makeshift well they¡¯d dug, its horn tilted down as He drank from the pool of sugar water and gummy bears. The creature¡¯s ethereal white coat shimmered, His mane rippling with liquid rainbows, each hair as fine as spun silk. Isla¡¯s eyes stayed locked on its shape, her mind trying to reconcile the sight with the raw, divine violence it had unleashed moments before. Beautiful. Terrifying. Holy. All at once. Her hand lifted slowly, fingers trembling, unsure if she should reach for it. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible beneath the whisper of hum in the air and distant cawing birds, their cry as if in panic or reverence. The unicorn¡¯s ear twitched at the sound, His eyes¡ªswirling pools of color, deep and ancient¡ªflicked to meet hers. He lingered for a heartbeat longer, staring as if peering past her skin and into her core. At Her. Then, with a snort, He turned away, walking toward the jungle¡¯s edge, His form shimmering with each step until He vanished into the shadows of the trees. The rainbow halo faded from the heavens, leaving only the harsh, golden light of the ever-present glow that illuminated this realm. ¡°Isla!¡± James¡¯s shout was distant but sharp, cutting through her reverie. She twisted toward the sound, right next to her, sand sticking to her sweat-slicked face. Her heart leaped as she spotted him and Maeva struggling to rise to their feet, looking weak after the incident. Isla¡¯s gaze flickered to Maeva as she rubbed furiously at her eyes, a choked sob rising in her throat. Her hands clawed at her face, her fingers trembling. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t see! Isla, I can¡¯t see!¡± Maeva¡¯s breaths came in short, jagged bursts, her shoulders rising and falling like she¡¯d just surfaced from deep water. Tears streamed down her red cheeks, the raw edge of terror in every breath.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Maeva, stop rubbing them!¡± she shouted, dropping to her knees in front of the medic, grabbing her wrists with firm but steady hands. ¡°Breathe. It¡¯s just the light. It¡¯s fading now. You¡¯re okay. Count with me. One. Two. That¡¯s it¡­ Three. I¡¯m right here.¡± Maeva¡¯s lip quivered as she blinked rapidly, her lashes wet with tears as she finished the sequence. ¡°I¡ªI can¡¯t¡ª¡± Her words faltered, but her breaths began to even out. The tightness in Isla¡¯s chest eased slightly as she saw Maeva¡¯s color-filled pupils begin to react, focusing slowly. Not much, but enough to spark hope. James¡¯s voice rasped from nearby as he knelt, rubbing his face with the heel of his hand. ¡°Damn¡­felt like¡­someone¡¯s flashbang went off right in my skull.¡± He blinked hard, squinting at her as if only seeing a silhouette. ¡°What¡ªwhat the hell was that?¡± Isla¡¯s eyes darted back toward the jungle¡¯s edge, where the unicorn had vanished, the memory of His swirling, ancient vision still burned into her mind. ¡°You didn¡¯t see it?¡± Her voice was quieter than she¡¯d intended, her throat dry and raw. ¡°The unicorn. You had to have seen Him. He was¡­¡± she trailed off, struggling to find words that wouldn¡¯t sound insane and realizing they¡¯d been totally blinded during the whole thing. James snorted, his brows drawing tight as he shot her a flat look. ¡°A¡­unicorn? I¡¯d accept a lot of shit here, but a unicorn? All I saw was light. Bright, blinding light. Like I¡¯d stared into a supernova.¡± He rubbed his vision harder and blinked rapidly. ¡°Unicorns now? You¡¯re serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s true,¡± her gaze darted back toward the jungle again, heart pounding with a strange, breathless certainty. ¡°He¡ª¡± Her breath hitched, and she glanced at Maeva. ¡°Maeva, you saw Him, right? Did seeing Him temporarily blind you?¡± Maeva¡¯s hands lowered from her face, her tear-streaked eyes searching hers. The medic¡¯s pupils were returning to normal, reacting again, her gaze darting toward the jungle and then back to her face. ¡°What?¡± She shook her head, lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t see anything. Just¡­ rainbows. Light. So much light. It¡ªit¡ª¡± She sniffled, wiping her face on her sleeve, still trembling. ¡°God, I thought I¡¯d gone blind. What about those¡­things. Is that them?¡± Relief bloomed in Isla¡¯s chest as Maeva and James¡¯ mouths parted in disbelief upon spotting the devastated zone and charred figures. Everything worked out, she internally reassured. Maeva¡¯s sight is back. The aliens are dead. He is still here. I can feel Him in the jungle. We¡¯re safe. We should be safe¡­ She squeezed Maeva¡¯s wrist once before letting go. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay. Are you okay?¡± The medic gave her a puffy-faced smile. ¡°I think so¡­ It¡¯s coming back,¡± she mumbled, leaning in a little. ¡°Wait,¡± James¡¯ sharp tone snapped them to alert, following his gaze to the edge of the nearest blackened corpses that littered the sand. ¡°Cap¡­you see that?¡± Isla squinted. At first, she didn¡¯t see it. Then she did. A small swarm of insects hovered near one of the charred alien corpses. They buzzed lazily, drifting in slow spirals, wings shimmering faintly. The insects fell and rose out of the air, as if drunk. Yet, gradually, they were drawing closer. Each one resembled a mosquito but slightly larger. The hum of their wings rose in volume, faint at first but growing steadily. ¡°No, no, no,¡± Maeva¡¯s voice shook as she spotted them, her hands curling into fists. ¡°Not bugs. Not now. Not now!¡± Her eyes darted wildly. She scrambled backward on her hands and knees, sand and dirt clinging to her palms. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m not doing that again!¡± ¡°James, bug zapper,¡± Isla¡¯s voice cut through the panic, recalling his earlier comment. ¡°Do you have one?¡± James¡¯s eyes shot wide as he dove for his bag. ¡°Shit! It¡¯s at the bottom of my pack!¡± His hands fumbled at the zipper, tugging at it with rough, frantic pulls. Maeva¡¯s breath came in short gasps as her back hit a boulder. ¡°Stay calm, Maeva. Don¡¯t make any sudden¡ª¡± Maeva¡¯a eyes darted wildly, and her hand shot out as one landed on her arm, swatting it with a slap. Her eyes widened, her face contorting with terror. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡­ Isla! They¡¯re¡ª¡± Another slap. Then another as they began to swarm. Isla could only watch in horror as green spots began to form, round welts blooming along her forearm where she¡¯d struck. Her breathing came in fast, panicked gasps as she flailed, slapping at her arms, her neck, her face. Her eyes bulged as she stumbled toward her, swinging wildly at the air. ¡°Get them off! Get them off me!¡± What do I do?! ¡°Hold still!¡± Isla cried. ¡°Don¡¯t swat them! They¡¯re swarming you because you¡ª¡± ¡°Got it!¡± James¡¯ shout came from behind her as he pulled a small, gray, cylindrical device from his pack. He slapped the battery into the bottom, twisting it until it locked with a loud click. His thumb hit the switch, and the device let out a low hum that built into a sharp, vibrating whine. Purple-blue light bloomed from the grates along its side, the glow bright in the shadowed beach. ¡°On! It¡¯s on!¡± The hum turned into a sharp, high-pitched buzz as the air around them shimmered. The mosquitoes¡ªno, the things pretending to be mosquitoes¡ªstilled for half a breath, their tiny bodies twitching in midair. Then, as if drawn by an irresistible force, they veered toward the light like bullets. Sparks crackled, sharp pops of energy as the insects hit the zapper¡¯s grid. Tiny bodies twitched and curled, little spirals of smoke rising from the glowing blue grate. Maeva¡¯s gasping breaths slowed, her hands still raised defensively. She stared at the device, her chest heaving, sweat slicking her face, and green welts still puffing up across her dark-brown skin. ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± Isla whispered, cautiously approaching her as the medic twitched. Her eyes locked on her face. ¡°They¡¯re gone, Maeva. Look at me. Are you okay? How do you feel?¡± ¡°It¡­itches. Don¡¯t scratch¡­never scratch.¡± Maeva¡¯s gaze slowly found hers. Her arms lowered, her body trembling as exhaustion caught up with her. Tears slipped down her face, but she didn¡¯t swipe them away this time. ¡°I hate bugs,¡± she muttered, her voice small, ragged, but steady. ¡°I had a dream¡­during The Fog.¡± ¡°I hate bugs, too,¡± Isla faintly chuckled, lips tugging into a faint smile. ¡°But we¡¯re still here. We should probably see what those welts are. They look¡­¡± Her relief was short-lived. Maeva¡¯s eyes drifted to the green spots, then went wild¡ªtoo wild¡ªher pupils blown wide, the splotches dotting her neck and arms starting to glow. ¡°No! No, no, no. Maeva. Listen to me¡­¡± The medic¡¯s breathing came in sharp, guttural huffs, like an animal sniffing for prey. Her fingers curled before itching at her arm, too hard, drawing greenish blood from the sore. James¡¯s arm was raised, his hands outstretched toward her in an attempt to calm her down. ¡°Maeva, stop! It¡¯s me!¡± he called, his voice lined with tension but not fear. ¡°Let me look¡ª¡± Maeva¡¯s head jerked toward him, movements too fast, too sudden, like a beast caught mid-hunt. Her lips pulled back in a snarl, her teeth bared, and she lunged. James¡¯s eyes widened with realization a split-second too late. Isla couldn¡¯t bridge the gap in time. ¡°Maeva, no!¡± she shouted, but the medic¡¯s body moved with the strength of something beyond human. Her hands shoved against James¡¯ chest with raw, shocking force. The giant, brick wall of a man flew backward like a ragdoll, his back cracking hard against a large, jagged rocky section of the intertidal rise with a sickening thud. His body slumped to the ground, unmoving, sand clouding around him from the impact. Isla¡¯s stomach dropped. It was supposed to get better! He saved us¡­ In return, all She said was, ¡°Have faith.¡± Maeva¡¯s chest heaved as she stumbled a step forward, her wide eyes darting in frantic directions as if searching for something¡ªor someone. Her head tilted like she was listening to a sound only she could hear. Her breathing grew shallow, sharp little gasps that made Isla¡¯s own lungs ache in sympathy. Her pupils slit, gills slit along her neck. Her features grew more elegant, yet frightening, teeth sharpening. The medic¡¯s legs twitched, muscles coiling like a predator preparing to sprint. She¡¯s going to run. Isla¡¯s pulse quickened. ¡°Maeva, listen to me!¡± she barked, her tone sharp and commanding. ¡°Stay here! We¡¯ll figure it out together! Can you hear me?¡± Her heart pounded with every word. Please stay. Please¡­ Maeva¡¯s gaze locked onto her for a brief moment¡ªa flicker of recognition¡ªa shadow of the person she¡¯d been moments ago. Then tears welled up in her dilating eyes, and she looked down at her trembling hands, webbing starting to grow between her fingers. ¡°No¡­ No, this wasn¡¯t supposed to¡ªI had control¡­ No!¡± She bolted into the jungle, limbs moving with inhuman fluidity, her boots kicking off, bare feet digging into the sand as she sprinted into the foliage. Maeva vanished into the underbrush in seconds, swallowed whole by the tangle of roots and leaves. ¡°Dammit!¡± Isla fell to her knees, fist slamming into the sand, fingers clawing at the grit. She gasped in frustration, tears stinging her eyes. I should¡¯ve stopped this from happening. He killed the aliens! Why? I should¡¯ve¡­ ¡°Isla, have faith.¡± Her presence, soft but firm, pressed against her mind. Warmth, calm, control. ¡°She will find her way back to him. There is more happening than you see. Trust in her. Support her in the way you can.¡± Her breathing slowed. Her muscles relaxed, only slightly, but enough to clear her head as that same tranquil sensation of fluffy wings surrounded her. Then, she heard it¡ªragged, uneven breaths, sharp and shallow like air forced through a cracked flute. ¡°James¡­¡± she muttered, wiping her face and stumbling upright, legs unsteady beneath her. Her gaze locked onto his slumped form at the base of the boulder, his massive chest rising and falling in short, labored bursts. Each breath came with a faint, hitching jolt, as if his lungs had to fight against his own body to draw in air. ¡°James!¡± Isla¡¯s pulse surged, her feet moving before her mind caught up. She dropped beside him, eyes darting over his face, his chest. Carefully pulling back his shirt, she saw it, slight discoloration already forming along his ribs. Her fingers hovered for a moment, hesitation flickering through her. This is why she generally worked alone when in the field¡ªdid her best to stay distant from people. She wasn¡¯t a soldier. She¡¯d only dealt with minor injuries on expeditions. ¡°Don¡¯t panic,¡± she muttered to herself, swallowing the lump in her throat and doing a quick scan of the area. No visible threats. The radio. Snatching it, she activated it. ¡°Kael, Brigid?!¡± Static. ¡°Shit.¡± Doubt started creeping into her chest. Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have sent them off, like Hollow warned her; things could escalate quickly in this place. Fighting it down with a growl, she mumbled, ¡°Just check him. Like hell, Hollow¡¯s right.¡± Her hand pressed gently against his cheek, fingers tapping in short, quick bursts. ¡°C¡¯mon, c¡¯mon, James. You¡¯re tougher than this. Open your eyes!¡± Her voice wavered at the edges, but she kept it firm. His face twitched. The barest wince. His body shuddered with the effort of another shallow breath, his chest barely shifting. Her heart jumped. ¡°At least there¡¯s a response.¡± Her fingers moved with purpose now, pressing two fingers against his neck. Her gaze snagged on the faint, discolored blotch just below his ear. She frowned, her mind catching on that detail for a moment too long. A bite mark? A hickey¡­ She didn¡¯t do that to him when he tried to help her¡­ A cautionary tone filled her. ¡°Maeva can take care of herself. Do not linger. The others merely hid from the First Light. Their threat persists. Return to camp. Believe help will come.¡± Her gaze snapped back to his chest. The unnatural stutter in his breathing wasn¡¯t just fatigue. She knew the sound of broken ribs¡ªhad two herself a few years ago¡ªthe shallow gasps, the tight, pained grimace with every rise of his chest. Isla¡¯s fingers hovered just above his ribs, not daring to press down. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare have a punctured lung on me, James,¡± she muttered through grit teeth. Her mind spun with every possible outcome, every mistake she could make by moving him. ¡°Okay¡­ Well, we don¡¯t have a damn choice. Do we? And you¡¯ve seen worse¡­probably.¡± She glanced toward the tree line, eyes sharp for any sign of Maeva. Nothing. Her hand curled into a fist before she forced it to relax. Have faith in her, huh? Wait¡­ That last thing she said. Isla¡¯s vision darkened, sliding along the gentle sway of the jungle. Maeva can take care of herself? And she said, ¡°This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen¡­ I had control.¡± That change she went through¡­ What if it wasn¡¯t caused by the bugs, but they forced it out? Swallowing a lump that formed in her throat, Isla studied James with slight hesitation, but one devilish smile gleamed in her mind, puppets dancing to her fingers. What kind of team did you make me the captain of, Eve? Me, Hollow, and now Maeva have something secret hidden beneath the surface¡­ What about the other three? Other than the hickey, James seemed like your average, super-jacked military escort. Well, one that was likely going to suffer from a concussion and broken ribs. ¡°You¡¯re not dying here. You hear me? Not until I can confront you about any dark secrets you might have,¡± she growled, leaning close. Her face inches from his as she examined the hickey. Isla¡¯s saliva thickened. It certainly looked like a human bite, yet tiny pricks had barely drawn blood, as if fangs had slid up ever so slightly to penetrate his skin on closer inspection. What are you, Maeva? What was this? Marking your territory or something? Still, I don¡¯t feel as freaked out as I should. Maybe because She basically vouched for you¡­ Stay safe. Grimacing, her jaw set while glancing at James, his face pale, his breathing shallow but steady, and the backpack Maeva had abandoned. If she is here, I should leave her pack, at least. If she¡¯s fighting an infection or her transformation¡­whatever it is, I¡¯m sure it will be useful to her. ¡°Ugh. You¡¯re going to force me to move you. Aren¡¯t you, big guy?¡± She scrutinized his bulky frame, 6''5", probably 250 lbs of pure muscle. ¡°I¡¯m gonna need more than just me¡­but I don¡¯t have anyone else. Great. I guess working out and staying in shape helped for something¡­¡± she mumbled, flexing and stretching a bit to prepare herself. Quickly emptying his pack, she carefully slid it under his back and used it as support to drag him across the dirt, moving around the rocky bits until they were back on sand. Her muscles burned as she leaned back, letting out a guttural grunt as she pulled him inch by inch, each step a test of her resolve. You¡¯re going to have one hell of a raw back and ass, but what¡­ Her breath came in ragged bursts. Her legs shook under the weight. But the distant churn of the boat¡¯s engine made a shock reverberate down her spine. They¡¯re back?! Please, don¡¯t show me alien pirates next¡­ Somewhat breathless, she pulled the radio off her belt. ¡°Brigid! Tell me it¡¯s you.¡± Static¡­then a response. ¡°Captain! We got the case. Weird story¡­¡± ¡°Save it,¡± she stated, cutting the technician off. ¡°James is injured and Maeva¡­ Well, she¡¯s off in the jungle. Weird story,¡± she repeated with a forced laugh for a bit of humor to lighten the edge in her tone. ¡°I¡¯m going to need both of your help. I think we¡¯re leaving as soon as we can get James stable.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Kael¡¯s confused voice broke in. ¡°What about Hollow? We don¡¯t have the rowboat. Do you want us to swim to¡ª¡± ¡°No! Who knows what¡¯s in the water,¡± she grunted, wiping the sweat from her brow and staring off at the glass-like sea, the only ripples coming from anywhere there was an edge. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it out to you once I get James situated by the camp. Just be ready and bring the boat as close as you can.¡± ¡°Umm, okay. You¡¯re kind of scaring me, though, Isla¡­ See you soon.¡± Puffing out a long stream of air, Isla looked down at James and smiled. ¡°Stay positive, big guy! Everything will work out¡­ Just, keep moving. Keep moving¡­¡± Chapter Sixteen Isla grimaced as her boots dipped into the water, pushing the rowboat into the sea. Hopping inside, she stabilized herself before looking back at the sandy beach; James lay amongst the goods they¡¯d brought to shore. Her fingers curled into a fist. Dammit. Hollow abandoned us for his mountain cave. If that wasn¡¯t enough, our doctor got infected¡­and may not even be human to begin with. Then again, I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m entirely human¡­ Stomach tightening, she moved to the middle and took up a position to row. All those questions can be asked when we¡¯re back. Right now, I just need to focus on getting us back alive¡­ But is it really okay to leave her? Staring at the jungle as she dipped the oars into the still sea and pulled, Isla repeated Her words. Have faith. Hollow abandoned us because he had no faith. I can¡¯t let fear pull me under. Her eyes narrowed to steel as she renewed her constant, firm strokes, repeating one of the few things Hollow said that did resonate with her. When the monster crawls out of the sea, they¡¯re going to need somebody like us. When the lines get a little blurry, they need somebody like us. Press on, Isla! She¡¯ll find her way back. The world felt too still while gliding across the glass-like ocean. It was as if there weren¡¯t even resistance, making it far easier than she thought. The gentle crashing of waves on the shore had dulled to a distant hum, like the world had stuffed cotton into its ears. Isla paced her breaths with each row, her muscles aching from the drag she¡¯d just endured more than the trip to the boat. Her fingers flexed unconsciously, the memory of James¡¯s dead weight still fresh on her skin, of the look on Maeva¡¯s face when she began to transform. She pulled. James¡¯ face flashed across her sharp memory, laying slumped against the smooth face of a weathered boulder, his face pale, lips dry. His head lolled slightly to one side, a faint rise and fall in his chest the only sign of life. Blood stained the side of his temple, matted into his hair, the dark red stark against his otherwise colorless skin. She pulled. ¡°Breathe. Count. Anchor yourself.¡± Her voice was as steady as the motionless tide, pressing into Isla¡¯s mind like a soft push between her shoulder blades. One, two, three¡­ Her eyes flicked to the sea¡¯s horizon. The distant shape of the ship bobbed against the waves, getting closer with every swell. The boat¡¯s engine hummed, a mechanical buzz undercutting the natural world¡¯s steady churn. Brigid¡¯s orange jacket came into view. Kael¡¯s frame was behind her, watching her draw near. ¡°Alright,¡± Isla muttered, working out her joints, stiff from overuse. She glanced toward James on the beach, still not moving, but at least no orange aliens. ¡°Just a bit more.¡± The tide lapped against the boat on her approach in slow, steady breaths; it was stronger than the rowboat, as if the mass dictated the strength that pulled the ocean toward it. Pulling up beside the ladder, she caught the rope Kael threw down to her. The moment her hands closed around it, she felt grounded. I¡¯m not alone¡­ I suppose I¡¯ve never been. Thank you, my other me. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kael asked, jumping down first and handing her the other first aid pack. ¡°The static was so bad we could hardly hear you¡­ Did something happen to James?¡± ¡°Yeah! Where¡¯s that lazy ass, Hollow? You said something about Maeva being in the jungle, too?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Isla sighed, showing a strained smile and keeping more secrets by the hour. She motioned for him to take the other side. ¡°Grab the oar and help me back. James is down. He¡¯s breathing, but probably broke a rib and hit his head really hard.¡± Her gaze flicked to him. ¡°He¡¯s not moving much.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± Brigid quickly settled in as Kael¡¯s brow set, and he pushed them away from the boat. ¡°What about Maeva? She¡¯s the doctor.¡± Taking the opposite side of the oars, Isla was about to respond when she got a closer inspection of the pair, making her pause. ¡°Did you two¡­dive into the ocean to get that case?¡± Brigid shrunk under her gaze, sliding her damp bangs behind her ear and looking at the engineer. ¡°I mean, I said it was kind of crazy¡ªthe crane got stuck, a-and so we needed to investigate. It wasn¡¯t super deep, but it did feel kind of long while we were down there. It was kind of¡­magical.¡± Kael forced a smile. ¡°It was my idea. Skinny dipping to figure it out. The water was just so¡­ I can¡¯t even describe it,¡± he mumbled, searching for the words. ¡°Like¡­we were a part of something¡­something.¡± ¡°Bigger!¡± Brigid jumped in, with a grin she shouldn¡¯t be showing in this kind of situation. ¡°Like we were sort of¡­connected,¡± she blurted out, cheeks flushing and looking away soon after. ¡°It made me care less about the insanity of this place. Sort of like¡­how I see you act, Captain. Are you¡­mad?¡± Dammit, you two! Trying to remain calm with every member of her team now being involved in something sketchy, not that she was any different, Isla let the news sink in. ¡°Skinny dipping in alien waters, with plants that eat immortal fish and an ocean with no waves. Naaa. I¡¯m not mad,¡± she sighed, beginning to row toward the shore with Kael. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about James¡­ Is there anything else you two want to tell me?¡± she pressed, glaring the redhead down since she was easier to break. ¡°You two aren¡¯t some secret creatures, right¡­ Right?¡± Brigid swiftly shook her head, ponytail whipping behind her. ¡°Nope! Uh, no monster or secrets here, Cap! Sorry to make you worry. We¡­got the data, though!¡± she said with a stressed smile, lifting it up. Moving her suspicious eyes to Kael to her right, the man didn¡¯t laugh like Brigid. His eyes grew distant, and he mumbled, ¡°I¡­had a dream during The Fog, where I was watching myself¡ªit was weird,¡± he admitted, shivering as he matched her strokes. ¡°Like I was something else, looking at me swimming down.¡± ¡°But there wasn¡¯t anything in the water!¡± Brigid interjected. ¡°No way I¡¯d do it if it was. It just¡­it was all sand¡ªblack sand.¡± ¡°Which isn¡¯t concerning at all, looking back,¡± Kael said with a groan. ¡°It¡¯s almost like someone gift-wrapped it for us to get. I was so light-headed¡­¡± I bet you were with where your blood was, Isla internally grunted. Brigid is so pent-up after three years, I can¡¯t blame her for wanting to feel a little flame¡­ And guys lose their brains, literally, when a pretty redhead shows a little skin. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Brigid,¡± he whispered, eyes downcast. ¡°I didn¡¯t even remember that until we jumped in. Now¡­I¡¯d be devastated if something I pushed hurt you.¡± The technician¡¯s eyes grew big, heart no doubt melting at the big brown-eyed stare he gave her. And, all things considering, their experience was the least worrying compared to the level of BS she¡¯d been dealing with. ¡°Well, alright. Let¡¯s go tend to James. As for Hollow and Maeva¡­ Hold onto your pants for this one¡­¡± Explaining the details on the way back to tend to the military man, the pair didn¡¯t interrupt much as they checked him out. Of course, she left out the transformation likely not being a part of the bug bites. They got to work while processing it all. Brigid crouched beside James, muttering quiet observations as she checked his pulse and lifted his eyelid. Once things had calmed down and they had James as comfortable as he could be, Kael kneeled beside the cot they¡¯d extended and wrapped him in. He glanced off toward the dense, deathly silent jungle. ¡°So¡­ Maeva¡ª4''11" Samoan doctor lady¡ªturned into a female Tarzan, slapped the shit out of a 6''5" man that¡¯s built like a tank, and took off like a wild animal¡­because of a bug bite. We¡¯ve got creepy orange alien zombies that came out of an airplane that was deep-throated by Cthulhu, now prowling the jungle because¡­a unicorn turned them to burnt chicken. And¡­ Hollow¡¯s an asshole and ditched us¡­ Damn.¡± ¡°Yeah, damn,¡± Brigid mumbled, studying the jungle line like it was a coiling snake, ¡°I¡¯d probably ditch us if all that happened¡­ Ahem.¡± She smoothed out her hair, taking a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sound like a bitch, but¡­is there really anything we can do for Maeva? If she can do that to James, then she¡¯d literally fold me like paper. And you couldn¡¯t get through to her, Isla?¡± She shook her head, moving to extract the memory chips in all the devices and abandon the bulky equipment. Isla¡¯s hand paused when spotting Hollow¡¯s tablet left beside his unfolded chair. ¡°Umm. No. Not really, but it would be best to leave a message. I¡¯ll write it while you two get everything essential put in the boat. Sound good? We can ask Evelyn for a rescue crew to come back.¡± Kael slowly nodded, grimacing as he looked down at James. ¡°He¡¯s going to be pissed¡­but I don¡¯t think we have any other option. This place is¡­a nightmare made real. Okay. Sounds good. Brigid?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She blinked, looking a tad distant as she stared off into the jungle. ¡°Yeah, just¡ªI thought I saw Maeva for a second¡­ No, it¡¯s my imagination.¡± Isla looked off into the jungle, pulling in her bottom lip and reflecting on how the dark-haired woman had reacted. If she can¡¯t change back due to whatever reaction she had to the bugs¡­ She¡¯s probably freaking out, and I don¡¯t blame her. Breathing in sharply, she released it with a reassuring smile, taking on the role of a positive leader. A role Eve had literally told her she sort of was supposed to be. Once again, that devil somehow seemed to know everything. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, Brigid. Trust in Maeva. Get those to the rowboat and get James on it. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Wha¡ªdo you see these wimpy arms?¡± Brigid balked, pointing at them. ¡°No way I can help Kael lift him into a boat. And where are you going?!¡± ¡°Right, right,¡± Isla called back, taking a portable, light-weight case with her, a notepad, and a pencil. ¡°Do what you two can. Guns are there. Oh¡ªlet me snatch one of those pistols¡­maybe two,¡± she muttered, tucking it into the back of her pants before picking up the items again. ¡°I need to check something out.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Kael whispered, watching to leave. ¡°We¡¯re leaving as soon as you get back?¡± ¡°We are.¡± Her voice didn¡¯t waver. ¡°And the fish?¡± ¡°Especially the fish! We need to compare it to the other one.¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­ You did say there was another one,¡± he hissed. ¡°I just¡­don¡¯t know how James even picked that thing up. Damn, this is going to be a pain.¡± What am I doing¡­ Why am I so calm? Behind her, she felt Her protecting wings, filling her with confidence and allowing her to move without hesitation. Why do I feel drawn this way? I can feel you holding my hand and nudging me. The gentle, motherly voice filled her soul, sounding as if she walked beside her, matching every footstep. ¡°It may feel as if this is too big of a risk. Faith comes with tribulation and trials, little bird. And what may feel like a curse is often a blessing in disguise. You wanted answers. Not like Hollow seeks but what comes naturally due to sacrifice and long suffering¡­¡± Her final words came as softly as a silk blanket folded around a toddler¡¯s smooth skin. ¡°Do you have faith in me¡­ In Us?¡± A small smile lifted Isla¡¯s lips, her stride increasing. Yes. She left the line of sight from Kael and Brigid, stopping beside the pack Maeva had abandoned¡­ It was gone, and she knelt down to study the trail that had been left in the dirt. Running her fingers over it, she breathed in and let the air go while scanning the gentle sway of the jungle, a low mist clinging to its interior¡ªnot The Fog. Something long that dragged its way to the pack and brought it back¡­ Handprints, deep¡­struggling. Don¡¯t tell me¡­ Looking up at the foliage, she felt her heart go out to Maeva. Are you some kind of mermaid or siren that can¡¯t take on human form now due to the bug bites? Damn. You must be so scared and desperate¡­ Dear Maeva, I¡¯m writing this in case you come back and we¡¯re already gone. I¡¯d wait if I could, but James¡¯s condition won¡¯t let me stay. We¡¯re heading for medical help, and I¡¯ll make sure Director Evelyn knows to send someone back for you. First off¡ªyou¡¯re not alone. Not now. Not ever. I¡¯m not mad at you for what happened with James. I¡¯m not afraid of you, either. I¡¯m not going to pretend I¡¯m thrilled you¡¯re out here on your own, but I know you¡¯re strong. Stronger than I¡¯ve seen in anyone for a long time. Probably stronger than anyone I know, literally. And I¡¯m not just talking about what¡¯s on the outside.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. It takes a lot of courage to do what you did. I don¡¯t think it was malicious. Whatever¡¯s happening to you¡ªwhatever¡¯s changing¡ªit doesn¡¯t change who you are to me. Not the changes, not whatever¡¯s under your skin right now. Whatever you are. You are you. The person who¡¯d run into danger to help someone who¡¯s hurt. A doctor. I¡¯m not blind to what¡¯s going on. You¡¯re scared, maybe even furious with yourself. I¡¯ve been there. I¡¯ve had moments where I¡¯m afraid of my own reflection¡­ I¡¯ve been dealing with my own stuff here. But if there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned¡ªthanks to someone who¡¯s far too patient with me¡ªit¡¯s this: fear¡¯s just another trial. You¡¯re going to get through it, Maeva, because that¡¯s what you do. You¡¯re not broken. You¡¯re not lost. If you¡¯re scared of hurting us, then let me tell you right now: you didn¡¯t lose control. You¡¯re still in control. I may not know you well, Maeva. But I know you¡¯d rather break yourself than hurt someone else. You¡¯re going to get back on your feet, and when you do, we¡¯ll be waiting. I¡¯m leaving some supplies with this message¡ªwhat I can spare. James¡¯ shirt and wristband. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d like you to carry something of his with you¡­ You¡¯re not a monster. Most of all, I¡¯m leaving this letter. Words matter, Maeva. They¡¯re the closest thing I¡¯ve got to being here with you when I¡¯m not. If you¡¯re reading this, it means you¡¯re alive. And that¡¯s everything. Breathe. Rest if you can. Then get back up. We¡¯re not giving up on you. I¡¯m not giving up on you. You¡¯re a part of this crew, and that doesn¡¯t change just because things got hard. Hollow¡¯s gone¡­ Careful of him if you see him. But I¡¯m not like him. I¡¯m not running. I¡¯ll be coming back for you. So come back to us. I¡¯ll see you again, no matter how long it takes. I¡¯ll make sure of it. We¡¯re not whole without you. With faith in you, ¡ªIsla Sliding it into one of the empty water bottles, she set it beside the items she dropped off, including one of the pistols with a clip, just in case. Be safe, Maeva. Turning her attention to the distant plane, a shiver ran down her frame when noticing not a single orange alien corpse was left, blackened or not. She walked through the beach toward the flying craft, eyes low. No bodies. No Maeva. Not even the charred remains of the orange-skinned aliens. Did the island soak them into itself? They were gone¡ªnot moved, not dragged¡ªjust gone, like they¡¯d never existed at all. Not even a smear of ash. She checked the plane¡ªa hollow, echoing shell. Her boots thudded softly against the metal floor, the sound swallowed by the dense, oppressive quiet inside. Her breath felt too loud, every inhale a rasp that scratched at her nerves. Shadows from the high windows stretched long and crooked, bending across the worn seats and scuffed walls like twisted fingers. Her heart didn¡¯t drum in her chest, though. No fear touched her, and it felt¡­liberating. Her eyes flicked toward the emergency exit where James had gunned them down the first ones. No blood. No tracks. Nothing. Her gaze darted to the windows, scanning for reflections, for movement, for anything that could explain what these things were. Nothing but her own reflection, staring back at her, a smile coming from Her, encouraging her to continue to investigate. She didn¡¯t spend long on each row or seat, walking down the two lanes. Stepping toward the front of the plane, she entered the cockpit, its door hanging ajar, creaking with a faint metal whine as it swayed on its hinges. Still, she didn¡¯t hesitate. Isla reached out, her fingertips brushing the edge of the doorframe. Tugging it open, she scanned the interior. Empty. Pilot seats worn down with age¡ªmuch of the plane looked brand new on the outside. Yet, inside, certain areas seemed as if years had passed while others were untouched by time. Control panels flickered faintly with dim lights, as if still half-alive. No signs of struggle. No signs of use. It looked more like a showroom display than a wrecked plane. Her fingers brushed against the edge of the control console, and a thin film of dust came away on her gloves. Her gaze snapped to the co-pilot¡¯s seat, where something metallic caught the light¡ªa reflection, small but distinct. She squatted, eyes narrowing as she reached down to grab it. A tablet. Sleek, still powered on but dimmed to low brightness. The pilot¡¯s. Her thumb wiped away a smear of dust, and the screen blinked to life. The lock screen had a date¡ªa date from two days ago. Her brows furrowed as she glanced at the cockpit instruments. No emergency broadcast. No distress signal. Her mind buzzed with questions, each one gnawing at the next, but she wasn¡¯t afraid. Her grip on the tablet tightened, fingers pressing into the smooth surface. She stuffed it into her bag, taking whatever other digital items she could for Brigid to fiddle with. This was an investigation mission, after all, and she had to do something instead of just sitting around, waiting for James to wake¡ªshe had to feel busy. After a single pass, she reached the plane¡¯s exit. Isla turned back once, scanning every shadow, every twisted shape of bent metal and worn leather. It looks like a normal airliner, but no paper. Everything seems digital. Her gaze lingered on the rows of seats, her mind replaying every step she¡¯d taken through this place. Something was wrong, and it wasn¡¯t just the missing bodies. It wasn¡¯t just the smell of copper and bleach. It was the silence. She left the plane, sliding down the inflatable ramp on the other side. All that met her was the rise of massive cliffs that rose up from the beach, impassible without equipment. The salty air crashed against her skin like a cold wave. Her boots crunched into the sand with a familiar weight, each step grounding her again, bringing her back to the world that made sense¡ªor close enough. I guess that¡¯s it. I¡¯ve got everything Eve will want to give me the leverage to come back for Maeva¡­ I have to have leverage with that devil. Let¡¯s get back to camp and leave this hellhole. If we can just make it back once, then it proves this place isn¡¯t a death trap. Kael spotted her first, his hand lifting in an exhausted way after putting the fish tank into the rowboat. ¡°Phew! This is way harder than James makes it look. Find anything good, Cap?¡± he called, voice light but watchful. ¡°See Maeva¡­or Hollow?¡± He really is taking Hollow leaving worse than I thought. I guess they were buddies, after all¡­or he thought they were. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, measuring his stance, his posture¡ªlooking for abnormalities. Nothing. She glanced over her shoulder, back at the rocks where she¡¯d left the bottle. It was gone when she¡¯d made her return. Yeah, you¡¯re watching, Maeva. Whatever you are. I know you¡¯re scared to show yourself¡­ Have a little faith in yourself, and us. Letting out a slow breath through her nose, she shook her head. ¡°Nope. Didn¡¯t see Maeva. Just ghosts,¡± she muttered, brushing her gloves against her pants. ¡°But I got what I came for.¡± She pulled out the items as Brigid jogged over to them from James¡¯ side, holding a machine gun that was far too big for the small woman, but it probably made her feel safe. Wagging the tablet in front of Brigid, she grinned. ¡°Had to get these off the plane and investigate a bit. There¡¯s still more of them, but I could only get this many by myself,¡± she announced as the redhead reached them. ¡°Those aliens aren¡¯t all dead, so we should probably get ready to scram.¡± Brigid¡¯s face paled. ¡°Wait, wait! And you went back in there, knowing that? Are you crazy?!¡± ¡°Have courage,¡± Isla chimed, playfully clapping Brigid¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re safe here with me and Kael¡ªmostly. Trust!¡± Kael¡¯s chuckle was dry as he looked up, and they all saw it¡ªThe Fog¡ªrolling in from the sea, sneaking up on them from nowhere. ¡°Trust, huh?¡± A sharp, rasping cough tore through the air, dragging Isla¡¯s attention back to James. His eyes blinked slowly, unfocused, the haze of semi-consciousness still clinging to him like seaweed. His face scrunched in pain as he turned his head, sucking in a shallow, wheezing breath. ¡°Where¡ªMaeva¡­¡± ¡°James,¡± Isla breathed, jogging over to crouch beside him, her fingers pressing lightly against his temple, checking for swelling or tenderness. ¡°Hey, stay with me. Look at me. Can you hear me? We got into some trouble.¡± His gaze flicked toward her, distant but aware the moment she said the T word. His lips moved without sound before he croaked, ¡°¡­Cap? Where¡¯s my shirt? Those bruises¡ªno, broken ribs,¡± he winced. ¡°Where¡¯s Maeva?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, it¡¯s me,¡± she said quickly, leaning in closer. Her hand hovered over his cheek, not quite touching, but close enough that he¡¯d know she was there. ¡°Don¡¯t move too much. Maeva is going to be okay. But you took a nasty hit. You¡¯re safe now, alright? We¡¯ve got you.¡± He let out a breath that was half-laugh, half-cough. ¡°Safe¡­heh¡­ You¡¯re something else, Captain. Am I seeing The Fog?¡± ¡°Positive,¡± she insisted, glancing up at Kael and Brigid while taking out the sleeping pills. ¡°You have your own after the last time, right?¡± They all nodded, faces pale as Brigid squeaked, ¡°I didn¡¯t even think what might happen if The Fog showed up when we were skinny dipping¡­ Taking it!¡± Not drifting. Not rolling in like natural mist. It was crawling¡ªlow to the ground, slow and deliberate. Thick, gray tendrils unfurled from the sea, spreading in uneven paths across the sand like fingers stretching out to claim the beach. The waves that once hummed softly had dulled to a muffled hush, like the world had stuffed its ears with cotton. ¡°Stay calm,¡± Isla reassured, pulling out the small container from her back pocket and flipping it open. Her fingers moved with calm, methodical precision, popping the small capsules free with a sharp snap. ¡°You know what to do.¡± Brigid¡¯s eyes flicked to the dense clouds circling them, then to Isla, her breath coming fast. ¡°We¡¯re just going to sleep through it? Again? With those¡­things out there? If I die, Kael, I¡¯m haunting you.¡± ¡°Joke¡¯s on you,¡± he shot back with a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m already haunted. And you got a better idea, Red Pepper? This is, like, the one rule in the book. Well, besides the watt usage,¡± he muttered while swallowing his. Brigid let out a dry, breathy laugh before downing the pill. ¡°You would be. And no. Here, let me help.¡± She snatched a pill from Isla¡¯s outstretched hand to help James with it. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But I don¡¯t have to like it! Please, please, don¡¯t eat my brains while I¡¯m sleeping.¡± Kael sat back, resigning himself to a more comfortable position. ¡°Feels like it¡¯s trying to keep up from¡­ Wow, this stuff is strong¡­¡± Eyes rolling back, he fell under, Brigid collapsing shortly after giving James his. Isla crouched beside James as it passed over them. Her guardian spoke with a sure tone, firm and definitive. ¡°Now, everything is about to change for Us. Remember, I am always with you, my free little bird. When you wake, trust in your strength. Maeva watches while you sleep.¡± Settling down in the abruptly cold sand, she popped it into her mouth and swallowed. She let her head tip back into her open palms, eyes flicking to the sky. The clouds overhead were thick, painted in shades of gray and pale blue. Yet, just as she was drifting off, she heard a gentle, reassuring tune¡ªsomething otherworldly¡ªsomething beautiful. Maeva¡­ Her body felt too heavy, her eyes dragging closed with each blink. Her fingers curled against her jacket, seeing shapes swirl in the mist. The world dimmed. Her song faded. Her breath slowed, her heart a steady thump-thump-thump against her ribs. Then, she dreamed. It wasn¡¯t like the others. It wasn¡¯t like before, with the cosmic abyss that enveloped her. The world was a vivid, blinding tapestry of colors that bent and swirled like a kaleidoscope spun too fast. The ground beneath her feet was soft, wet grass that shimmered with dew like tiny prisms of light. Her breath fogged before her, not from cold but from some other substance that filled her with strength¡ªsomething sacred. She stood on a hill overlooking a valley that stretched forever in every direction. A field of wildflowers bloomed in waves of blue, pink, and gold. And there, on the crest of another hill across from her, it stood. The First Light¡­the unicorn who had saved them. He wasn¡¯t just a creature. He was a force. His coat was pure white, but it shimmered with every color in existence, his mane flowing like a ribbon caught in slow-motion wind. His horn spiraled high, glowing faintly at the tip with threads of red and blue flickering across it like embers and lightning all at once. The First Light¡¯s gaze met hers. Not an animal¡¯s gaze. It was ancient. Deep. Knowing. Her breath caught in her throat as her heart pounded against her ribs¡ªdid she have ribs? Her feet stayed rooted in place as the unicorn stepped forward, hooves leaving glowing prints in the grass that pulsed once before fading. He walked with purpose, like He was walking toward something that had been waiting a long, long time. And behind it¡ª Her breath froze in her lungs. She knew that shape. It had no face, only a blank, smooth mask where features should be. Wings spread wide from Her back, feathers sharp as blades, light spilling through the gaps like sunbeams through broken clouds. She stood still, watching her, Her head tilting just slightly, as if finding her adorable. Her throat went dry. She knew Her. Knew Her from a memory she¡¯d never remembered¡­ No, one that had been stolen from her. But¡­by who? A voice echoed from everywhere at once. Deep, resonant, but somehow¡­ Hers. ¡°Do you see it now?¡± Her breath shuddered in her chest. Her eyes blinked once, twice, and her gaze focused on the unicorn, then Her wings, then¡ª Her eyes snapped open. Isla¡¯s breath hitched. The Fog was gone. The air was crisp. The light peeked through everywhere, soft but bright, with no shadow in sight. No¡­ I was so close! Damn you, Fog. You want to eat me and keep me on the razor¡¯s edge! You¡¯re the worst, she internally fumed, knowing it was probably just bad timing, though. James stirred beside her, a faint groan rumbling from his chest. His eyes twitched beneath his lids, his breathing shallow but steady. Isla blinked slowly, her senses catching up with her. The world was too quiet. No birds. No insects. Just the hush of waves crashing softly in the distance, each roll quieter than the last. Maeva¡¯s song soon bled through with the fading fog, but it was strained now, as if the singer was in pain. Did she protect us with her voice the whole time we were asleep? Her fingers pressed into the sand, the grains rough under her skin. The cool grit clung to her fingertips as she sat up, slowly, carefully. Her gaze flicked to Brigid and Kael. Both of them were now leaning against each other, their eyes closed, faces slack with sleep. Isla¡¯s fingers curled tighter into the sand. The Fog is still thick, but it¡¯s evaporating fast¡­ Scanning the beach, she tracked the low dunes and scattered debris. The ship still bobbed in the distance, untouched, but there was a slight wave that rippled through the typically glass-like sea. Her vision narrowed at the edge of the ocean. There. Movement¡­ Son of a bitch. Her breath slowed to a shallow, silent draw. The shadows within the ocean exited, shifting unnaturally, like a twitch in the frame of a video. Her eyes locked on it, heart thudding once, twice, steady now. The shadow moved again, stretching unnaturally across the sand¡ªnot from the sea, from the boat¡ªthe one from her first encounter that had been staying below deck. Her eyes tracked its shape, the too-long arms that folded out from behind the hull, the head that followed¡ªtilted, cocked, unnatural. The thousands of hollow eyes and mouths. One. Just one. But no. Her eyes shifted to the side. Another shape rose from behind a cluster of rocks further down the beach. A long, narrow face¡­the aliens. Black eyes, orange skinned, and those softly glowing pink veins. Her jaw clenched as more forms unfolded from a sandbank near the treeline, grains of sand cascading off its bony shoulders like water. However, contrary to what her mind told her she should feel, her heartbeat was steady. They haven¡¯t just come upon us¡­ They were here all along. They were buried. Waiting. Dreaming, just like us¡­ And Maeva kept them that way. Her gaze snapped to the water, scanning the shallow waves lapping against the shore¡ªthe fish tank on the rowboat was gone, but she couldn¡¯t think about that now. The increasing light caught on something beneath the smooth surface. She squinted, leaning forward to get a better look. A face. No, two. Black eyes stared at her from just beneath the waterline, rippling as if staring through warped glass. Isla took a deep breath. More. Too many. And Maeva can¡¯t help us now. The sand shifted to her left. She twisted her head just in time to see fingers break through the surface¡ªorange, long, thin, clawing upward in slow, jerky movements. One hand became two, then three, then five. All around them. There was something different about them now¡ªslugs, gray, and wiggling with tentacle-like appendages¡ªleaked from their open mouths, noses, and ears, crawling over their bodies. ¡°Gross,¡± she chuckled, feeling a prickle run down her spine, but not from fear¡ªit was purpose. The others started to stir, rousing with the monsters that surrounded them. ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s our turn to protect everyone. Thanks, Maeva. We owe you.¡± Chapter Seventeen Heart steadier than it should be, Isla¡¯s gaze locked on the slugs as they began to writhe out of the aliens¡¯ eyes, mouths, and ears, their belched organs rolling down their front. The sight should have been horrifying¡ªdisgusting¡ªbut something inside her clicked into place. Like the firm press of a hand against her back, bracing her against the storm. She stood straighter, breath slow and even, fingers curling into fists at her sides. ¡°Kael, Brigid, get to the boat!¡± she barked, her voice sharp as a whip crack. Neither moved. ¡°Get James!¡± she bellowed, shoving them toward the boat as the aliens began their slow shuffle. Kael¡¯s eyes darted wildly between her and the encroaching aliens, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. Brigid¡¯s lips quivered as her eyes locked on the wriggling gray mass sliding down one alien¡¯s neck and coating its body in wet, sticky strands. ¡°And Move!¡± The shout snapped them both out of their trance. Kael¡¯s hand shot out, grabbing Brigid¡¯s arm as he dragged her toward the groggy soldier. Isla stayed fixed on the approaching figures. Her breathing slowed. Her world sharpened. Time didn¡¯t slow, but her mind moved faster, faster than it ever had. Her muscles felt loose, spring-loaded, ready to act¡ªsomething resonated within her. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for a meal,¡± she snarled, raising her hand as She embraced her, palm open like she was offering them something, ¡°I¡¯ve got just what you want.¡± A flash of white light burst from her palm. Not like lightning¡ªit was brighter, purer¡ªlike a fragment of the sun had slipped through a crack in the sky. The lingering fog that blanketed the shore shuddered and peeled away in ribbons, exposing the encroaching aliens as the shadow in the boat retreated; it wouldn¡¯t attack. They weren¡¯t their target. The aliens¡¯ twitching, uncoordinated movements faltered. Their slug-like eyes locked on her, tentacles stilling as if smelling blood, their heads tilting in an eerily synchronized motion. They saw her now, saw the meal she carried within her. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she hissed, feeling heat bloom in her chest, power rising with each word that illuminated her skin. ¡°I¡¯m right here, freaks. Come get me.¡± Her legs moved before her mind caught up. She darted toward the jungle, feet pounding against the sand. The cold, damp grit flew up behind her in soft bursts. The aliens followed, their bodies lurching forward with a grotesque hunger. Their shrieks clawed at her ears, something otherworldly, but she didn¡¯t flinch. Each scream only drove her faster. Branches slapped at her face and arms as she ducked into the thick of the jungle. Eyes darting left and right, scanning for a path¡ªshe found it. A rainbow trail, faint as a wisp of fog but bright as a sunbeam, snaking through the dense foliage, visions of her dream bleeding through¡ªfractured instructions. Her heart leaped at the sight. Her feet shifted to follow it, weaving through roots and low-hanging vines. Her muscles burned, but her stride didn¡¯t falter. After a full minute on the run, weaving through thickets, she heard a voice echo inside her mind¡ªnot Hers¡­ His. ¡°Left. I am waiting.¡± The voice was familiar, steady as stone and warm as a hearth¡¯s glow. Turning on instinct, Isla vaulted over a fallen log. Her breath came in sharp, controlled bursts. Her senses stretched out beyond her body, catching flickers of motion from the corners of her eyes. The aliens were close. Closer than she¡¯d thought. Her jaw clenched as she pushed harder. ¡°Come on, then,¡± she muttered, her fingers brushing against the rough bark of a tree as she pivoted around it, keeping the rainbow trail in sight. ¡°You¡¯re not fast enough.¡± The jungle¡¯s humid air clung to her skin, but it wasn¡¯t suffocating¡ªit was grounding. She could feel every shift in the air, every snap of a twig underfoot, every tremble of a distant branch. The ominous evil should have pressed in on her the second she entered this lethal jungle, yet every fern, every carnivorous flower, all threats shrank away from her. Isla¡¯s vision felt sharper, penetrating the foliage, her focus honed to a needle¡¯s point. A clearing opened ahead¡ªa wide, sunlit space with a small, crystalline pool at its center. The rainbow trail ended, and she skidded to a stop, chest heaving, but she didn¡¯t need to look for why she was guided here. In the center of a crystal-like pool of glistening blue waters stood the First Light, the air charged, rippling like the heat haze above a desert road. Yet, confusion gripped her for the first time since her flight as she noticed one oddity she did not expect¡ªthe fish tank¡ªthe immortal fish spinning in its figure eight. It didn¡¯t catch her attention for long as First Light¡¯s gaze locked on it, time slowed, the clawing and snapping of the aliens growing distant. Her breath caught in her throat. No, something didn¡¯t feel right. A new threat raised the hair on the back of her neck. His coat gleamed like polished pearl, rippling with every non-existent color of the spectrum. Its horn, a perfect spiral of purest silver, glowed faintly with red lightning sparking from its tip, coiled by pink streaks. Isla¡¯s heart stopped. Her eyes locked with His, and everything else faded¡ªthe jungle¡¯s chorus, the distant shrieks of the aliens, even her own heartbeat. All that remained was Him. The army of orange aliens that had pursued her faded into oblivion because she knew they soon would be¡ªyet, the most frightening thing coursing through her was that she¡¯d be joining them. No, wait¡­ The unicorn¡¯s horn lowered, pointing at her. Why are you standing against Us? Run¡­ Run! The clearing flashed white¡ªno, every color¡ªthen pink, and finally, an all-consuming red. Lightning didn¡¯t strike¡ªit exploded. A lance of red energy shot from the unicorn¡¯s horn, a beam of searing, destructive force unknown to any physics that carved a path straight through the jungle¡ªthrough her. The world ignited. Trees vaporized, their trunks reduced to nihility in an instant. Boulders wisped away like brittle glass. The very ground melted into unique molten glass in the mythical beam¡¯s wake. And Isla¡­Isla couldn¡¯t move, teary eyes squeezing shut as the fire surged over her, around her¡­through her as if plunged into an eternal furnace. She pulled tighter, wings enclosing her like a vice. ¡°Have faith.¡± When it ended, silence reigned. A deep hum filled her mind¡ªa resonance that shook her bones, her soul. Her breath hitched as her vision blurred, the world swimming around her like she was underwater. She blinked hard, fighting it, but her limbs felt heavy, her breath slow and shallow. Isla¡¯s chest heaved as she pulled herself upright, feeling weightless. Her eyes blinked open¡ªdid they? She saw the aftermath nonetheless. The gleaming rainbow scar burned into the island, a path of blinding devastation carved from the clearing to the distant beach, where their camp was. The sand at the beach¡¯s edge had been turned to multi-hued glass of every spectrum. Her gaze shifted to the unicorn¡ªbrighter than before, majestic, terrible, serene. His gaze met hers. She didn¡¯t know what He saw in her eyes, what He saw in general, but in Him, she saw it all. Saw Her reflected in them. Thanking the First Light for accommodating Them. Her fingers reached toward Him as a brilliant rift splitting open behind the otherworldly horse. He turned to leave. She shouted, ¡°Wait¡­¡± Yet, at that moment, her senses began to open up¡ªshe saw everything¡ªnot with eyes, but with something more. Her sight was vast, stretching in all directions. The world pulsed around her in hues she couldn¡¯t name, like prisms bending into colors that had never been seen by mortal eyes. Her perspective felt endless, wrapping around existence in every direction at once. It wasn¡¯t just sight¡ªit was knowing. Isla¡¯s awareness sank past the leaves and vines like a ripple through water, her perception unbound by the constraints of flesh or gravity. She was a whisper in the ocean, and every particle of that ocean was whispering back. She knew this awareness would shrink¡ªshe couldn¡¯t handle it yet¡ªbut right now, everything felt open to her. ¡°No¡­¡± she breathed, and the words rippled in the water of the tank. Her gaze twisted, and she saw herself¡ªno, she saw her reflection. A fish. An immortal fish. Isla¡¯s mind reeled as the world unfolded in effulgence. Her body, lying beside the tank atop the gleaming glass, eyes wide and unseeing before the island¡¯s scar. Her own dull eyes. Then, her human body flopped, like a fish. You¡­swapped my body with the immortal fish¡­ No. No, no, no¡ªthis isn¡¯t real. I¡¯m not a fish. I¡¯m not¡ª She felt the threads of energy crisscrossing the island¡ªdark forces bound by many lighter ones, a cage wrapped in a seal of compassion and pain. But all of that faded away as her aching chest focused on one, pain-stricken individual. A figure, unconscious, just outside the blast radius, but glowing faintly, hidden beneath a canopy of vines. Maeva. Isla floated toward her, as if a ghost, her gaze piercing through the dense canopy of broken branches and twisted vines. For a moment, all she saw was Maeva¡¯s prone form lying cradled in the shadows. Her bound hair like sunken coral, her chest rising and falling in slow, shallow breaths. Isla reached deeper¡ªnot physically, but spiritually, mentally¡ªfollowing the unseen threads. Not the immortal fish¡¯s senses, but Hers, unlocking something that would soon be restricted for her safety. Her sight shifted. Maeva wasn¡¯t just a girl lying in the jungle anymore. Maeva¡¯s aura flickered with hues of blue and indigo, like a storm-tossed sea after a wreck. Cracks ran through it, fractures lined with faint golden light¡ªold wounds hastily mended. Her very soul burned, not with passion, but with the quiet agony of survival. Maeva, she internally whispered, fighting tears that refused to leave her eyes. You¡¯ve gone through so much pain¡­ Yet, you smiled and had fun with us. You were afraid to come, but afraid if you refused, you¡¯d be found out¡­ If Eve already knew. So much self-loathing. It wasn¡¯t something Isla saw¡ªit was something she felt. A familiar ache, like her own muddled past memories, buried and forgotten, being stirred up without her permission. Maeva was caught between what she had been and what she had become, two sides clawing for control. Isla recognized it too well¡ªan echo of her own ¡°other self¡± that had shadowed her since childhood.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Her attention sharpened, digging through the foggy glow of Maeva¡¯s aura to the girl beneath it. Isla peeled back the layers of spiritual noise until she glimpsed the truth. The medic¡¯s true form shimmered like water catching firelight. Maeva¡¯s opalescent skin shimmered like a pearl under starlight. Faint scales ran down her sides, her nails sharp enough to rend flesh. James¡¯ oversized olive-green shirt hung off her like a loose dress, sleeves draped like fallen banners. His workout bands circled her wrists like makeshift cuffs. Her coral-like locks hung loosely in a low, frayed ponytail, tied with a simple red ribbon¡ªthe one Brigid had in her bag, taken when they¡¯d slept as the siren cried. Never expecting to see them again. Isla¡¯s focus shifted lower, to the crumpled mess of bags littering the ground near Maeva¡¯s fish-like tail, forcing her to crawl on her elbows through the jungle to them. The bags were Isla¡¯s favorite snacks¡ªthe ones she¡¯d left for her¡ªripped open, crumbs scattered like sand around her. It wasn¡¯t hunger she felt from Maeva¡ªjust familiarity. The siren had eaten them. Every bag was shredded. The bright blue wrapper of a protein bar lay in tatters by Maeva¡¯s hand. A pang of sadness hit Isla harder than she expected. You were stress-eating. It was so painfully human. Isla could see it now, the image playing in her mind like a scene from a film. Maeva, her body aching from transformation, nerves shot, alone in the jungle with no one to help her. She¡¯d stumbled across the stash Isla had hidden in the supply bag. You thought we abandoned you¡­and that hurt. Desperately. Frantically. She¡¯d run into the jungle so they wouldn¡¯t see this part of her, like a child hiding in the kitchen at midnight, hiding her face. A pang of protectiveness shot through Isla¡¯s core, like a thread being pulled too tight. No one should have to feel that alone. Her gaze shifted to Maeva¡¯s hands. Her fingers trembled as they clutched something close to her chest¡ªa letter. Isla¡¯s whole body coiled, choking up at the feelings radiating from it, which had been infused by the siren¡¯s tears upon reading it. It was folded, crinkled, the edges worn soft from how tightly Maeva had been holding it. Her letter. Her words of returning for her held close to her heart, Maeva¡¯s fingers gripping it like a lifeline. Isla felt Maeva¡¯s heartbeat through the glow of her aura. It beat unevenly¡ªfaster than it should, like she¡¯d been running for far too long¡ªher voice spent protecting them. Isla traced that pulse back into Maeva¡¯s being, peering deeper into her. She saw Maeva, the girl who had been abandoned by fate and made to cling to the pieces of herself that remained. Isolation, far worse than anything Isla had experienced, clung to the woman like barnacles on a sunken ship. It had eaten away at her over time. It wasn¡¯t until a witch cursed her to protect herself from Maeva¡ªironically¡ªthat the siren had been able to live as a human. To live freely in human society. ¡°Don¡¯t give up,¡± Isla thought, though no one could hear her. Her voice felt small, like a droplet in an endless sea. ¡°They¡¯re coming back for you. You¡¯re not alone.¡± Isla¡¯s perception was drawn back, a swirl of new sensations carrying her away from the siren. Every thread of reality was untangled and exposed in hues she¡¯d never known existed. The world didn¡¯t just have colors¡ªit had essences. She could see the tension lines stretching from the ground beneath the glassy scar left by the unicorn¡¯s wrath all the way into the jungle¡¯s heart. Her awareness floated freely, her sense of self oddly light and disjointed, like a whisper traveling on the air. The air vibrated with residual energy, every shift of the current visible as gentle pulses of golden light. It would help heal Maeva as she slept. She was close enough. Her mind caught glimpses of them¡ªthe threats that stirred in the wake of the First Light¡¯s might. The things in the island¡¯s depths, hidden forces bound by something ancient and unseen. Tendrils of corruption seeped upward like fog curling through cracks. Isla felt them watching. Observing. But they weren¡¯t The Fog. No, The Fog was a symptom, like a white blood cell of something deeper¡­far deeper than the island¡¯s depths. Too far for Her vision to pierce. Isla¡¯s gaze¡ªor what she thought was her gaze¡ªreturned to her body below, lying sprawled near the overturned fish tank, her limbs twitching in uneven jerks, her eyes wide but unseeing. The immortal fish¡¯s ability to see was far beyond that of a human, yet what she saw currently wasn¡¯t due to her new body¡­ It was Her doing. That¡¯s me¡­ If the fish could see even a small portion of what I can now, no wonder the others scattered the moment Hollow¡¯s shadow attacked one of their own. Her human body flopped like a fish out of water, because that¡¯s who now occupied it. Her mouth gasped for air as though drowning. Her face was locked in a stunned, frozen expression, eyes wild with primal panic. I¡¯m the fish. The realization now left her stunned as the surrealness of everything closed in. Her awareness retreated as She sagged against her soul, wings going limp while falling into a restorative slumber. Still, the fish¡¯s nervous system was far more than she had imagined. She felt the currents of the air, the pressure everything exerted on reality, as if a part of her. Isla¡¯s senses stretched far beyond sight, brushing against threads of something deeper¡ªforces she¡¯d never noticed before. Not nearly as far as it had been with Her support, but more than enough to realize they were not welcomed on this island as guests¡­but food. The island itself was alive, and its breath was heavy with the weight of containment. Hollow was just now entering his cave, diving deeper to meet his new mistress in the depths of the prison, where she slept. Who or what that was? Isla didn¡¯t know. But she knew he would regret finding this Truth in the end. This place isn¡¯t just a trap for us¡­ It¡¯s a cage for something else. Something bound by other Eldritch forces, weaker ones, united to tether something greater. Her attention shifted as she felt him moving. James. His pounding footfalls echoed through the vibrations of the glassed ground, every step like a tremor she could feel in her soul. His aura blazed as he entered the clearing, every movement carrying the weight of determination. ¡°ISLA!¡± he shouted, voice hoarse but commanding. His boots skidded across the slick, molten glass as he staggered to a halt, his wide eyes scanning the devastation, a large gun held in his hands. The soldier¡¯s gaze caught on her human body first, then flicked to the small, twitching fish beside it. Isla saw it happen in slow motion¡ªthe shift in his stance, the moment he saw her. ¡°Kael! Brigid! I found her!¡± His voice was a roar that echoed across the scarred clearing. ¡°I think¡­ Something¡¯s wrong!¡± He dropped to his knees next to her body, his hands moving with a soldier¡¯s precision. Isla saw inside him, the broken ribs mostly mended¡ªMaeva¡¯s caring song, or the best she could do, given her current state, combatting the insect¡¯s poison. His two fingers pressed against her neck, then his palm to her chest. ¡°Come on, Isla, come on,¡± he muttered under his breath, teeth grit so tight it seemed his jaw might break. ¡°Respond!¡± Her vision twisted as she turned her senses toward him. He¡¯s glowing¡­a faint turquoise? Looking closer, she saw a weak thread tied around his throat that wove toward the edge of the jungle¡ªtoward Maeva. A faint, pulsing glow emanated from his chest and hands, soft but undeniable. Not good, not bad. A predatory mark of territory that told other predators to stay clear¡ªshe was protecting him. Isla felt it tug at her awareness like a gentle ripple against a line of possessive silk. Her gaze shifted beyond him to the jungle¡¯s edge. Maeva had awoken and had forced herself to the scar to peer through the foliage. Crouched there, hidden in the underbrush, the shape of a lean, elegant woman. Her fish-tailed had the faint glow of bioluminescence, lowered half in a river at her back that flowed uphill toward the mountains¡ªan escape route if she needed it. Maeva¡¯s emerald eyes peered through the vines, her gaze locked on James. Her lips moved, but no sound reached Isla¡¯s senses. She could imagine what the woman was saying, though. Please, leave me. Go. Save yourself. Don¡¯t look for me. ¡°Kael, Brigid! Get over here!¡± James bellowed, his hand cupped over his mouth. His eyes darted to the jungle, catching movement¡ªjust a flicker of motion. His fingers gripped his gun tighter as he glanced toward Maeva, the siren stilling, a lump forming in her throat. ¡°James!¡± Isla shouted, only a small bubble floating out of her mouth in response. ¡°Don¡¯t you do it! I know it¡¯s scary shit right now, but focus on me! Focus on¡­ Wait, am I going to be left behind?! Don¡¯t you dare leave me!¡± His gaze lingered for a heartbeat, confusion and calculation warring on his hard face before he focused back on Isla¡¯s flopping form. Brigid and Kael¡¯s heavy steps echoed through Isla¡¯s enhanced perception, each step a drumbeat against the air. They stumbled over the rainbow glass, Brigid panting, her eyes scanning everything with frantic speed. ¡°Oh my god. Oh no. No, no!¡± Her voice hitched when she saw Isla. ¡°She led them away¡ªshe had a plan¡­ Isla¡¯s supposed to have a plan¡­¡± ¡°Stretcher. Now,¡± James snapped, his voice low and sharp while keeping a watchful eye on the ominous jungle edges. Yet, everything that would attack them had long retreated when realizing the First Light was going to attack. Kael obeyed without a word, his expression grim. He raced back to the camp, grabbed the stretcher that had been meant for James, and ran back, snapping it into position with practiced precision as James secured the area. Brigid hovered, her eyes flitting between Isla¡¯s body and the writhing fish on the ground¡ªactually her. Seeing the tears and calming trembles of the technician, Isla¡¯s breath caught. Yes! Yes, bring me, Brigid! I can count on you to think of what I¡¯d want, right? I apparently wanted this fish if I had it with me when I became a flopping vegetable! ¡°We¡­we can¡¯t just leave Isla like this,¡± Brigid said, her voice cracking. ¡°She¡¯s flopping like she¡¯s a fish!¡± Yes! Her hands hovered near Isla¡¯s face but soon recoiled, her lips pressed into a thin line before looking at her wiggling human body. ¡°She¡¯s¡ªshe¡¯s going to be okay, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Not for us to decide¡­¡± James shot her a hard look, his jaw tight. Then, he exhaled slowly through his nose, head bowing for a moment. When he raised it, his voice was steel. ¡°Kael, grab a cooler and scoop the fish into it¡ªdon¡¯t touch it!¡± ¡°What? We¡¯re taking the fish?¡± Kael blinked, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°A cooler?¡± James¡¯ gaze didn¡¯t waver as he kept his vision mobile, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Brigid¡¯s right. Isla wanted it, if anything, so they can name it after her. The hell if I know. Just grab it,¡± he demanded, like it was the most obvious truth in the world¡­or if prompted. ¡°Do it.¡± Brigid let out a soft, broken sob, her hands pressing against her face as Kael ran back and collected the item. Tears streaked the technician¡¯s cheeks, her body trembling. ¡°How can she be so brave?¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°Sacrificing herself for us¡­ She barely even knew us. Is she¡­is she brain dead, James? Did those slug things¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that,¡± Kael grunted as he returned. His hands moved with speed and care as he pulled out the internal trays and placed them aside. His gaze stayed focused, locked on his task. ¡°She¡¯s not gone, Brigid. She¡¯s still here. If there¡¯s a problem, AEGIS will have a way to fix it. They¡¯re practically the damn world shadow government, right?¡± Isla felt a warmth she couldn¡¯t describe bloom in her chest. She watched them work¡ªwatched them scoop her fish body into the cooler with the care of handling something fragile and irreplaceable. The way Brigid cradled her human body like a child while strapping it down for her protection, her tears falling onto her face, made Isla feel a heat far deeper than she¡¯d ever known. Even though we¡¯ve barely known each other for twenty-four hours, they care this much for me? I suppose¡­when you go through shit like this, it tends to bring people closer. The moment they placed her fish body into the cooler and sealed it shut, Isla felt an odd shift¡ªlike her whole being had settled into place. The clarity of the world sharpened. Her awareness stretched toward the sea, sensing the waves crashing against the distant shore, and she felt them all, bound by something unspoken but unbreakable. James stood, one hand on the cooler, his other gripping Isla¡¯s limp arm as Kael finished securing her body to the stretcher. He glanced toward the jungle one last time, his eyes narrowed like he was trying to burn the image of the distant, unconscious figure into his memory. Is he going to leave Maeva? There was a short pause before he whispered, ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go,¡± his voice rough with restraint. ¡°We¡¯re taking Isla back to base for medical attention. Then, I¡¯m coming back.¡± The world blurred as they carried her body and the cooler toward the waiting rowboat, the island once again silent. Isla¡¯s awareness flickered in and out, her gaze catching on James¡¯ form as he moved with precision and command. Maybe you should have been the leader of this party, James¡­ But maybe Eve knew Maeva could have compromised you. If there¡¯s one thing I know¡­ Eve will probably figure out I¡¯m still me. I just¡­have a feeling she will. The sound of the engine hummed in her senses as they boarded, but Isla¡¯s whole body cramped when she felt the shadow below with alarm. Wait! It¡¯s still here?! In the engine room¡­ Her senses sharpened, peering past the walls and box that contained her while they used the crane to lift her strapped body onto the deck. She felt it expand, chilling, a rift in space that drew in stars, countless eyes scanning and teeth awaiting to feast. It¡¯s just¡­waiting. It wants us to take it back! No, guys! Guys! It¡¯s powerful¡­ Immensely powerful. We can¡¯t bring this back to Earth! The soft lurch of the boat pulling away from the island sent a ripple through the water¡ªthrough her¡ªand for the first time, Isla felt it, but not from her¡­but from The Fog entity below¡­ A cancer cell that split off from the whole. ¡°Freedom.¡± Chapter Eighteen The soft hum of the research room¡¯s fluorescent lights blended with the gentle bubbling of water from Isla¡¯s new tank. The world had become a shimmering, fluid prism, every ripple of water casting faint rainbows across the sterile white walls. Isla floated in the center of the tank, her tiny fish body suspended in weightless grace, her view encompassing every angle of the room at once. Three hours had passed since they left the island, the shadow below the vessel settling into a sort of slumber. Her body lay on a medical table nearby, restrained with thick straps at her wrists, ankles, and across her chest to prevent any unconscious spasms. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, her face slack and expressionless. The sight was surreal. She was outside herself, a quiet observer looking in. Brigid stood at the far side of the room, her posture tense, her hands constantly moving between tools. She should have been driving the boat; instead, she had it on a set course in the still ocean, leaving James to inform her if the compass went off needle. Take a break, Isla thought, having observed her occasional frustrated slams against the desk as she worked between the alien devices she¡¯d brought back from the plane. Talk to someone¡­ Even a fish, or my body. The alien phones and tablets were arranged like a dissected puzzle. Brigid¡¯s lips pressed into a hard line, jaw tight, while her fingers typed furiously at a console she¡¯d connected them to. Her eyes darted between multiple screens filled with flickering, unintelligible data. A faint sheen of sweat lined her brow, but she didn¡¯t stop. Occasionally, her gaze would flick toward Isla¡¯s prone body for only a moment before snapping back to her work. It¡¯s not your fault, you stupid redhead¡­ Don¡¯t be a brunette, like me. Kael walked into the research room after checking on James, who was on deck, keeping watch on the ocean and needle to be sure they were heading on the right path to the base. The engineer watched the technician for a bit in quiet concern. His foot bounced with nervous energy, fingers tapping lightly against his side. Every so often, his eyes drifted toward the medical table, his gaze distant, thoughts spiraling somewhere unreachable. Unlike everyone else, the two didn¡¯t have any supernatural aspect to them¡­ The only ones on their crew in the end. He¡¯d glance at the medical table, eyebrows pulling into a hard, guilty furrow. ¡°C¡¯mon, Brigid,¡± Kael muttered, eyes following her every move. ¡°You don¡¯t have to push yourself like this. Don¡¯t be like James and just push through the pain. Rest a little¡­ Wouldn¡¯t the Cap want you to?¡± Yes! Good job, Brigid¡¯s future husband. Tell her to get her ass in bed. ¡°I can¡¯t do nothing, Kael,¡± she snapped, her voice quaking as she slammed a small metallic disc onto the table with a clatter, making Isla internally wince. Kael didn¡¯t, though, letting her vent. She wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve, turning away from him, hiding her face. ¡°I can¡¯t just sit here waiting for everything else to fall apart¡­ These things Isla brought back from the plane might be the only way we know what the aliens do to people¡­ What might happen to her. I need answers! Aren¡¯t you terrified¡­ What if she turns out like¡ªlike¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± he mumbled, moving closer to pull her against his body from behind. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m terrified¡­ I¡¯m here with you. What can I do?¡± That¡¯s better¡­ ¡°It¡¯s just,¡± Brigid¡¯s voice cracked as she turned to cry into his chest. ¡°If I do nothing, she stays like this. I don¡¯t know what to do. Maeva was the doctor¡­ Hell, Isla was the biologist. I¡¯m just¡­a tech girl. This is all I can do to get answers.¡± Tender arms pulling her in, Isla almost felt a little jealous as he whispered, ¡°Then let me help you¡­ I¡¯m not about to watch everyone I care about get ripped apart by this nightmare. Not you.¡± Her breathing came out hard and fast, and she gripped him closer as her gentle cries filled the space. Isla watched with a quiet ache in her chest¡ªnot physical pain, but something far more profound. She had no voice to tell Brigid to rest. Swimming in letters to spell things out didn¡¯t work because, obviously, no one was really focused on the fish right now¡ªthey had bigger problems. Without a voice to reassure them, all she could do was watch and have faith that all of this would turn out well in the end. I put in all the effort I could. I just have to have faith¡­ Like the farmer who planted his garden and tended to it¡­but can do nothing but believe the relieving rain will come. Her vision flicked to her unconscious body, strapped to the table. You¡¯re still fighting, Brigid¡­ I¡¯m still here. I¡¯m still here¡­ The words echoed in her mind like a prayer cast into a storm. Be careful¡­because this isn¡¯t over. I have to do something. But She¡¯s hibernating due to how much energy She used to keep me safe. I guess¡­all I really can do is have faith in the end. Her gaze shifted downward, toward the base of the ship. There. It was there. A presence. It wasn¡¯t just a sense of awareness¡ªit was a weight, a pressure that coiled beneath the hull like a colossal serpent, its unseen eyes fixed on them. It had been there since they¡¯d first ventured into The Fog, its malevolence so subtle, so still, patiently waiting for their return. One thing she knew for sure, it was neither with the aliens, sky entity, or the island itself¡­ It was worse than all of them combined. Isla felt it slither in the shadows, following the crew from time-to-time, like a patient hunter trailing wounded prey or studying their patterns. It wasn¡¯t a mindless beast. It had intent. It had a target¡­ Only, who that was, she didn¡¯t know. Her fish body darted suddenly, instinct taking over for a heartbeat before she forced herself to calm. The water rippled. Her vision flickered, and for a moment, she saw it¡ªlong, shifting tendrils just at the edge of perception. A dark silhouette against the endless blue-black of the ocean, watching her. What¡¯s your game? A rogue splinter piece of The Fog that managed to break away¡­ To do what? Her gills fluttered in a frantic burst as she swam in slow circles, her mind spiraling. The figure-eight, she realized, was more of a calming motion that helped her focus, spreading out her senses. She saw Brigid, Kael, and her own body¡ªso fragile, so vulnerable compared to her new, immortal body. Yet, despite her sight¡ªher Truth¡ªshe couldn¡¯t warn them. Couldn¡¯t scream, couldn¡¯t shout, couldn¡¯t tell them what she saw. All she could do was watch as the shadow beneath the boat coiled tighter, growing stronger, drawing in power from unseen dimensions, gathering its strength. Its presence was a low, steady thrum beneath her awareness. Brigid let out a soft gasp, pulling away from Kael and yanking Isla¡¯s focus back to them. She¡¯d frozen mid-motion, her eyes shifting to one of the consoles. ¡°Brigid?¡± Kael drew back a little, following her gaze. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What if we¡¯ve been looking at this all wrong?¡± She pulled away, but not before kissing him on the cheek. ¡°Thanks, Kael!¡± ¡°Sure?¡± Dropping into her chair with renewed vigor, Brigid¡¯s fingers hovered above the keyboard, lips parting in concentration as she mouthed soundless words. She didn¡¯t respond right away to his inquiries, eyes locked on the screen. Her fingers suddenly slowed, moving deliberately, as if afraid that moving too fast might shatter whatever realization had just struck her. ¡°What if¡­they¡¯ve always looked like that¡ªthe aliens,¡± she muttered, staring at a side-by-side display of two images. ¡°What if their technology isn¡¯t that different from ours?¡± Isla ceased her figure-eight to float up and stare at the image Brigid managed to bring up on the screen¡ªa background of one of the tablets. The image? One of the orange-skinned aliens, standing beside another one, a smaller alien held in what she assumed was the alien¡¯s wife or husband¡¯s arms. ¡°They were always like this¡­¡± Brigid repeated, activating the pictures to show a whole world, exactly like theirs, only with orange aliens, and various other types of odd wildlife. ¡°They¡¯re running off an older operating system than AEGIS uses¡­ I just had to run it in compatibility mode. ¡°They¡¯re not mutations,¡± she said, swallowing and looking up at Kael as he pieced it all together. ¡°This isn¡¯t some infection.¡± She swallowed hard, focus returning to the screen as it showed their society. ¡°They¡¯re from somewhere else. Not here. Not Earth. Well, not our Earth.¡± Kael leaned forward, confusion clear on his face. ¡°Wait¡­ You can¡¯t mean¡­¡± Her eyes slowly shifted to his. ¡°They¡¯re from another world, Kael. A parallel Earth.¡± Her voice cracked as she turned back to the screen, her fingers flying across the keys. ¡°The Bermuda Triangle isn¡¯t just some freak magnetic anomaly that only affects our world¡ªit¡¯s a transdimensional rift. That¡¯s where they came from. That¡¯s why we keep seeing things that don¡¯t belong¡­ The Endless Sea is like this in-between space that connects countless other dimensions.¡± Kael stared at her for a moment, his face going blank before he let out a breathy, disbelieving laugh. ¡°Parallel Earths. Aliens from another world? Yeah, okay,¡± he muttered, running a hand down his face. ¡°Where¡¯s Hollow when you need him to explain what all this means on the grand scale of things? Shit¡­ Then, the slugs?¡± The ship groaned beneath them, the distant metal creak echoing like a long, slow exhale. Brigid¡¯s eyes flicked downward, her face pale as she clenched her jaw. ¡°What was that?!¡± She slowly turned back to Kael as he shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can check it out.¡± ¡°No!¡± She latched onto him, holding the man close as if he¡¯d slip away, trembling again. ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t¡­¡± Isla¡¯s whole being hurt while watching the mix of emotions swirling through the technician. Say it¡­ Tell him. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m done with AEGIS,¡± she quietly mumbled, her hands tightening into fists while holding Kael close. ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯m not going back. I know that¡¯s selfish¡­ I know Maeva may need us¡­ James may need us. But¡­I¡¯m not doing this anymore. This isn¡¯t like the fun and interesting stuff at Site-E0¡­ This is scary¡­really scary.¡± Before Kael could respond, heavy footsteps thudded down the hall. They turned to see James leaning heavily against the doorframe, one arm braced against the wall for support. His face was still pale, his lips pressed into a hard line, sweat dripping down his temple, but his eyes burned with stubborn resolve.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°We passed through the wall¡­ Not a moment too soon. The Fog was rolling in, but it¡¯s gone now. We should see the base in the next hour or so,¡± James rasped, his voice hoarse but unyielding. His gaze locked onto Kael and Brigid, flicking briefly toward Isla¡¯s tank before refocusing. ¡°You two should stay behind. I¡¯m going back for Maeva, though.¡± ¡°James,¡± Brigid¡¯s voice cracked with raw emotion, and she stepped forward, her hands raised in a helpless gesture. ¡°You¡¯re barely standing as it is¡­ Even if your injury wasn¡¯t as bad as we thought, you¡¯re still hurt.¡± He pushed himself off the wall, his steps slow but steady. Every movement looked like it cost him more than it should have. Isla¡¯s enhanced vision could see into his body, identify the broken ribs that had been mended into mere fractures. We do need to go back for Maeva¡­ But this time, Eve¡¯s going to come with us! No¡­ Maybe I shouldn¡¯t tell her about the truth. Who knows what she¡¯d do if she found out Maeva is actually a cursed siren, losing her powers to look like a human, and, somehow, the insect poison is disrupting the witch¡¯s curse¡­ Doesn¡¯t that make it more of a blessing? Weird. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he muttered, breathing heavily. ¡°She still needs saving. She¡¯s still there. I owe her.¡± He raised his hand to his collarbone, his fingers brushing the faint bite mark Maeva had left, no doubt burning. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why, but I know one thing¡ª¡± His gaze locked onto Brigid. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have survived without her. She would do the same for me.¡± Way to talk, big guy, Isla internally cheered. I think you¡¯ve spoken more recently than the entire trip! I guess that just means Maeva is a special kind of woman¡­ ¡°James,¡± Kael sighed, shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯ve probably got a fractured rib¡ªat least. Maybe more. You saw and experienced everything we did there¡­ Humans were never meant to survive in that kind of place. What do you think you¡¯re going to do?¡± The soldier¡¯s eyes hardened, filled with grim determination. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± he said, his voice colder now, sharper. ¡°I¡¯m going, even if it¡¯s alone. But I am going.¡± Kael breathed out a long breath, looked down at Brigid, smiled, and pulled her against his side. ¡°I get it, man. You have to do what you have to do. I¡¯m taking Brigid out of here the moment we finish talking to Director Evelyn¡­ We¡¯re quitting AEGIS.¡± Instead of anger or frustration, a tight smile lifted James¡¯ mouth. ¡°I see¡­ Good luck, then.¡± Good for you two, Isla cooed, feeling the shiver run down her spine. Get away from this death trap dimension. Sadly¡­I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be leaving any time soon. ¡°Oh!¡± Brigid motioned for him to come inside. ¡°I have some things to show you. Kael, can you¡ª¡± ¡°Be the lookout? Sure thing, Babe.¡± He leaned in and kissed her on the lips, making her already flushed face turn into a full-blown tomato and glance toward James, clearly not expecting such ¡®public¡¯ displays of affection so soon. ¡°We¡¯ll figure things out as we go.¡± ¡°R-Right! Umm, James, I just needed to, uh, to¡ªdon¡¯t look at me like that Kael! Shoo! Shoo!¡± He laughed on his exit, blowing her a kiss. ¡°So¡­ I have some things to show you. Videos of the plane aliens. Let¡¯s go through the footage¡­ We should at least know what Isla risked her life to get for us,¡± she mumbled, glancing toward her body. James gingerly took the seat Kael had been using, a gentle smile on his face. ¡°I get the feeling you¡¯re half doing this to get me to sit down and rest¡­but go on.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not being super subtle about it. So, yeah!¡± she laughed, pointing him to the screen. ¡°Let¡¯s get researching!¡± Isla hovered in the cool currents as she passively listened and drew her own conclusions. Her new reality was still an alien one¡ªa body that moved with subtle flicks of her tail, vision that spanned all directions, and a deep, thrumming awareness of everything in the room. She watched Brigid pace like a caged lion, muttering under her breath as she tapped away at the screen of the tablet she¡¯d salvaged from the wreckage with James. Her red hair was tied back in a loose, messy knot, but strands stuck to her sweat-slicked face. The screen flickered as Brigid tapped at the console, biting her lip in focus. Lines of code danced in hypnotic flashes of white and green as she worked to synchronize the alien devices with AEGIS¡¯s system. Isla watched her with quiet admiration¡ªBrigid¡¯s frustration was as raw as ever, but this time it fueled her. ¡°Got it,¡± Brigid muttered as she hit the final command. The screen shifted, and a file began to decrypt, the progress bar creeping forward like molasses. ¡°C¡¯mon¡­c¡¯mon¡­ These are the plane¡¯s personal security cameras that Isla collected.¡± The file opened, and the grainy image of a cockpit cam feed filled the monitor. Brigid¡¯s breath caught, her fingers hovering over the keys. James leaned forward in his chair, his brows knitting in intense focus. Isla floated closer to the side of the tank, her body turning as if pulled by a current, heart thudding with quiet dread. The video played. A narrow cockpit view of an alien aircraft flickered to life. The craft shook from turbulence as a soft, rhythmic thrum echoed in the background. Strange orange glyphs floated over the console, highlighted in neon blue. Two of the aliens sat at the controls, their elongated, eel-like faces swiveling toward one another with sharp, swift movements. ¡°Pilot comms?¡± Brigid whispered, squinting at the screen. Her fingers darted to the interface, adjusting the volume. Static-filled audio trickled through like a distant radio broadcast. ¡°I think they¡¯re talking. Figures¡­an alien language.¡± One of the aliens turned toward the camera as it made sharp, clicking sounds that echoed like tapping glass. Its black eyes flicked to the viewer¡ªno, to its co-pilot¡ªnervous, frantic, its body twitching with unnatural speed. It¡¯s afraid, Isla realized. They weren¡¯t some mindless invaders. This thing¡­this person was terrified. These are just normal people from another world. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± James muttered, his vision narrowing. ¡°Look at the pilot¡¯s hands. He¡¯s tapping that console too fast. He¡¯s panicking.¡± Then, the craft lurched. The alien at the console snapped its head toward the viewport, its eel-like face flaring as it stiffened. Isla¡¯s enhanced senses caught something her human mind might have missed¡ªa subtle shift in light, like a sunbeam filtered through oil-slicked glass. The craft''s external camera feed switched on, showing a wall of rolling black clouds ahead. Not clouds¡ªmist. Brigid sat up straighter, breath shallow. ¡°They¡¯re inside the clouds that that giant tentacle monster created when breaking into this dimension¡­¡± James leaned closer. ¡°Not just that. Look.¡± A shadow. Long, writhing, like an oil-slicked snake, slithered through The Fog in front of them. Its motion was unnatural, not bound by inertia or logic, more like a figure being drawn in shifting charcoal strokes. One of the alien pilots jerked back, its elongated fingers gripping the console. A second tentacle pierced through the cockpit, splitting through the walls like fogged glass, undisturbed by matter or physics. Isla¡¯s tiny heart lurched. The camera flickered, visual distortions rippling in sync with the arrival of the limb. It didn¡¯t break the cockpit¡¯s hull. It passed through it, its massive bulk visible but intangible. ¡°Oh God,¡± Brigid gasped, her fingers frozen over the controls as she slowed it down. Not God, Isla thought grimly. Something else. The alien crew thrashed. One of them reached for something below the console, while the other tapped at its chest, its fingers squirming violently as if swatting something invisible away. The second pilot¡¯s head twisted unnaturally, twitching like an insect caught in glue. That¡¯s when they saw them. The slugs. They slithered through the air like smoke given weight and form. Not small, little things, like she¡¯d seen birthed from the orange alien¡¯s bodies. These were fully formed, long and twisting, their translucent bodies coated in iridescent fluid and tiny tendrils weaving around them as if tasting the air. They pulsed with internal bioluminescence, tiny filaments shifting under their skin. Gray, veiny, slug-like things, with too many tendrils and too many eyes that blinked in random patterns along their bodies. They emerged from the massive limb that coiled around the aircraft, passing through it as if a ghost; the slug men detaching from the black-like parasite, drawn out by some unseen force. Brigid gagged, slapping a hand over her mouth. ¡°No! No, no, no.¡± The slugs moved with uncanny precision, darting like eels across the cabin. They coiled up one of the pilot¡¯s arms, and Isla¡¯s fish vision caught the shift in its aura. Its spiritual glow dulled like a flame being slowly snuffed out. They aren¡¯t killing them¡­ They¡¯re turning them into incubators. Not fully physical, but not fully ethereal either. Something¡­between. One of the slugs twisted its way into the pilot¡¯s chest cavity, and the alien¡¯s eyes glazed over, a soft glow of blue light seeping into its pupils. It turned toward its co-pilot, its expression slack, as if the soul had been ejected from the vessel. ¡°The hell am I looking at?¡± James hissed, his knuckles white on the table. ¡°They¡¯re¡­infecting them,¡± Brigid muttered, her voice strained. ¡°The tentacle breaches the cabin, holding the plane in place, while these things¡­plant themselves into them. This is the thing that comes if you use too much electricity? I¡¯m going to throw up¡ª¡± The first pilot thrashed, its arms whipping around, its fight about as useful as attempting to punch phantoms. It reached for its co-pilot in desperation, but the co-pilot¡ªnow controlled by the slug¡ªgrabbed its hand. For one awful second, they stared at each other. It knew. The one still fighting knew it was already too late. The tentacle that had breached the hull shifted again, slow but deliberate. It reached down, wrapping around both pilots with a gentle, almost parental care. The slugs froze, their movements still as the tentacle cradled them, converting them to smoke and guiding them into itself. The feed cut to static, and Brigid¡¯s retching filled the cabin. When the feed resumed, the cockpit was empty. Both pilots were gone. No bodies. No signs of struggle. Only the faint outline of smoke-like residue where the slugs had been. One-sixth of the passengers were now missing¡ªtaken. As if, it left them as offerings for the Endless Sea. Isla¡¯s thoughts spiraled as she watched, the dots connecting in the quiet space of her mind. They¡¯re not dead. Her thoughts burned like fire. The slugs don¡¯t kill them. They feed on them, and the First Light¡­ The First Light moved them out of their corrupted, infected bodies to save them. He moved them into the insects¡­ Just like He moved me into the fish. Remembering the moment just after the terrifying orange alien attack, she understood what they¡¯d unknowingly done. The aliens didn¡¯t know what was happening to them. They attacked Maeva because she attacked them¡­ When she freaked out. She¡¯s a siren. She doesn¡¯t deal with bugs in the ocean. They terrify her. They were trying to get her help. But she freaked, and they¡­ they fought back. Her gills fluttered as the pieces of the puzzle snapped into place. Her gaze locked onto James. He¡¯d pulled out the bug zapper to protect her and killed all the insects¡ªthe saved aliens from the flight. This place¡­is a nightmare. No one could hear her if she wanted to tell them¡­and what good would it do if she did other than cause unnecessary guilt. Her tiny body floated in still water, the full weight of the Truth settling into her core like an iron anchor, remembering Hollow and her conversation. The Truth can have teeth. ¡°All this time¡­we thought they were monsters,¡± Brigid mumbled, her gaze shifting to Isla¡¯s body, strapped to the table. ¡°They were just people on a plane ride. People just like us¡­ No, more normal than us. This place¡­makes me sick.¡± Brigid¡¯s fingers hovered over the console as she turned it off. Her face was pale as snow, her eyes glossy, distant. James brooded over the information before glancing toward her. ¡°We don¡¯t know if that happened to Isla¡­ Last time, she summoned the lightning at the plane and saved us by,¡± he chuckled, rubbing the back of his thick neck. ¡°She saved us by having me dig a hole, filling it with water, and putting gummy bears in it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Brigid¡¯s head rose slightly. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me that. So, what happened to her if it wasn¡¯t the slugs? How¡­would she even know how to do that?¡± He slowly shook his head, wearing a grimace as they both turned to her body. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It was so bright that Maeva and I couldn¡¯t see, but it felt like¡­ I can¡¯t explain it. It¡¯s like my father hugging me¡­inside of a nuclear bomb. When my sight finally came back, we were having to deal with the insects that came after, but¡­she asked the strangest thing.¡± ¡°What?¡± Brigid whispered. ¡°She asked us if¡­we saw the unicorn. I don¡¯t know.¡± Kael¡¯s urgent voice came over the intercom. ¡°Hey, I see the base! We¡¯re back,¡± he said in almost a cry, relief puffing out of his mouth. ¡°We¡¯re back!¡± Brigid exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging as she rubbed her face, fighting back more tears, her fingers trembling. ¡°Good. I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m not sleeping tonight, though. Not after that¡­ I hope Director Evelyn has a solution to help Isla.¡± James rose slowly, his face shadowed by the low lights of the room. His eyes, sharp as razors, drifted toward Isla¡¯s tank. He knew she was watching. She tried to make a few letters in the tight tank but it didn¡¯t seem to stick. ¡°Take care of yourselves,¡± he muttered, holding his side and gingerly walking toward the exit. ¡°I¡¯m going to bring the tank up to the director and see if I¡¯ll have support or not¡­but I¡¯m heading back.¡± Isla¡¯s gaze dropped to the base of the ship, her eyes tracking the slow, curling movement of the shadow below. Her thoughts echoed in the quiet stillness of the tank. It¡¯s the end game. Where will this go?