The ship was eerily silent, save for the faint groaning of metal as the structure adjusted to the rapid cooling outside. Snow stirred awake in the darkness, his mind still heavy with exhaustion. Around him, the others lay scattered in whatever semblance of comfort they could manage. Alaiah was curled against a bulkhead, the oversized orange prison top he’d given her draped loosely over her shoulders.
Tobias was snoring softly, his massive frame taking up a good portion of the floor. Jack was huddled near Valencia, who had her arms crossed defensively even in sleep. Cassidy leaned against a wall, her sharp features softened by exhaustion. Riley lay sprawled awkwardly with one arm draped over her head, while Milo had somehow wedged himself into a corner like a child trying to hide from the world. Deacon sat with his back to a crate, eyes closed, though Snow doubted he was truly asleep.
Snow rubbed the back of his neck and leaned forward, his breath visible in the chilly air. Only a few hours until dawn.
And with dawn came the sun.
A glance toward a jagged hole in the ship’s hull reminded him of the scorching heat waiting to turn them to ash. They couldn’t stay here.
Alaiah stirred, blinking awake. Her sharp eyes locked on him, and she gave a small smirk. “You always wake up lookin’ this stressed, or is it just ’cause you know you gotta babysit this crew all day?”
Snow chuckled softly, keeping his voice low so as not to wake the others. “Just thinking about what’s next.”
“Well, don’t think too loud, or you’ll give yourself a headache. What time is it?”
“Not enough time,” Snow replied. “We need to move before dawn. If we’re out there when the sun hits, we’re dead.”
She sat up, pulling his shirt tighter around her. “Then let’s wake these fools and get movin’. Ain’t nobody tryna die today.”
Snow nodded and stood, rolling his shoulders to shake off the stiffness. “Hey, everyone. Time to get up.”
Grumbles and groans rippled through the group as they roused themselves, bleary-eyed and stiff from their makeshift beds. Tobias stretched, his large arms almost hitting the low ceiling. “Already?”
“Unless you want to stay and roast,” Snow said. “We need to find better shelter before dawn.”
“What’s wrong with this place?” Cassidy asked, her voice scratchy from sleep.
“It’s a tin can,” Valencia said bluntly. “If the sun doesn’t bake us, those creatures from last night will figure out how to get in.”
That sobered everyone up quickly. Snow glanced at the rations he’d divided the night before and grabbed what was left. “Eat a little if you need to, but don’t overdo it. We’re conserving supplies.”
Tobias nodded and reached for one of the canteens, taking a small sip before handing it to Jack, who passed it down the line. They ate in silence, the weight of their situation settling over them like a suffocating blanket.
When everyone was ready, Snow stepped toward the broken hatch, scanning the pale light outside. The moons still hung low, but their time was running out.
“Stay close, stay quiet,” he instructed. “We’re heading for that ridge we passed on the way in. It should give us enough shade to hold up until nightfall again.”
“And what if it doesn’t?” Riley asked, her voice sharp with unease.
“Then we keep moving,” Snow said firmly. “We don’t stop until we’re safe.”
Milo snorted. “Safe? On this hellhole? Cute optimism.”
“Just stick together,” Snow said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Let’s move.”
One by one, they slipped out of the ship and into the cold, barren expanse. The rocky terrain stretched out endlessly, a desolate wasteland painted in silver and shadow. Snow led the way, his eyes scanning the horizon for the ridge he’d seen before. Behind him, the group moved cautiously, their footsteps crunching softly against the frozen ground.
The cold bit into their skin, but they pressed on, driven by the knowledge that the sun would be even worse. As they trudged through the wasteland, the silence was broken only by their labored breaths and the occasional rustle of wind.
Then, a sound. Faint at first but growing louder, a clicking noise, rhythmic and unnatural.
“What the hell is that?” Alaiah whispered, her voice tight.
“Not something friendly,” Tobias muttered, gripping a piece of jagged metal he’d picked up earlier.
The clicking grew closer, echoing eerily off the rocks. Snow raised a hand, signaling the group to stop. He scanned the shadows, his pulse quickening.
“There,” Cassidy hissed, pointing to a shape moving in the distance.
It was humanoid but wrong, its limbs too long, its movements jerky and unnatural. The creature’s glowing eyes fixed on them, and it let out a guttural growl that sent a chill down Snow’s spine.
“Move,” he ordered, his voice low but urgent.
The group broke into a brisk pace, their footsteps crunching against the frozen ground. The clicking grew louder, joined by guttural growls and screeches.
“They’re everywhere,” Valencia said, her voice trembling.
“Just keep moving,” Snow said, his tone steady despite the fear clawing at his chest. “We’re almost there.”
The ridge loomed closer, its jagged silhouette rising against the horizon. But so did the creatures, their twisted forms darting between the rocks with inhuman speed.
One of them lunged, its claws swiping at Riley, who stumbled back with a shout. Tobias was there in an instant, slamming the creature with his makeshift weapon and sending it reeling.
“Go!” Tobias barked, shoving Riley ahead
The group sprinted across the barren wasteland, their breaths ragged and their muscles burning with exertion. The guttural growls of the creatures chasing them were getting louder, their shadows darting and twisting in the dim moonlight.
“They’re gaining on us!” Cassidy yelled, glancing over her shoulder.
“Just keep running!” Snow barked, his heart hammering in his chest.
Ahead, the ridge was still a good hundred yards away, but it offered their only chance of shelter for the night. Snow pushed himself harder, his instincts screaming for survival.
Suddenly, a fiery streak tore through the sky above them.
“What the—?” Alaiah started, her words cutting off as the streak grew larger, descending rapidly toward the ground.
A deafening crash echoed through the night as a pod slammed into the earth just a few feet ahead, sending up a cloud of dust and debris. The creatures screeched to a halt, their glowing eyes fixed on the new arrival.
The group hesitated for only a moment, their instincts battling between curiosity and fear. Snow’s gaze snapped to the pod as it hissed and began to open.
“Let’s go!” Tobias urged, grabbing Riley by the arm.
But before they could move, the pod’s door fully opened, revealing a terrified face—a boy, no older than ten, his eyes wide with panic. He scrambled to climb out, but his foot was caught in a tangle of harnesses.
“He’s stuck!” Valencia said, her voice sharp.
“We don’t have time for this,” Cassidy snapped. “Those things are coming!”
The creatures were already stirring, shaking off their confusion and turning their attention back to the group.
“Leave him,” Tobias growled. “We’ve gotta go!”
Snow hesitated for only a moment, his gaze flicking between the boy and the advancing creatures.
“No,” he said firmly, shoving his pack into Alaiah’s hands. “I’m not leaving a kid behind.”
“Snow!” Alaiah shouted, her tone laced with desperation.
But he was already running.
The boy thrashed against the straps, his small hands tugging at the tangled mess. Snow dropped to his knees in front of the pod, grabbing the harness and yanking with all his strength.
“Hold still, kid,” Snow said, his voice calm despite the chaos.
The boy’s face was streaked with tears. “I can’t—I can’t get out!”
“You’re gonna be fine,” Snow said, pulling harder.
Behind him, the creatures closed in, their screeches echoing through the air.
“Snow, hurry!” Alaiah shouted, her voice cutting through the din.
With one final tug, the harness snapped free, and Snow scooped the boy into his arms. He turned just as one of the creatures lunged, its claws swiping inches from his back.
“Move!” Tobias roared, swinging his makeshift weapon to knock the creature off balance.
Snow sprinted toward the group, the boy clinging to his neck. The creatures howled in frustration, their glowing eyes burning with fury.
“Go, go, go!” Riley yelled as they reached the ridge, ducking into a narrow crevice.
Snow shoved the boy ahead, then turned to block the opening with the others. The creatures skidded to a halt just outside, their shrieks of rage filling the night as they clawed at the rocks.
Breathing hard, Snow leaned against the wall of the crevice. The boy sat trembling in the corner, his wide eyes darting between the strangers around him.
“You okay, kid?” Snow asked, his voice softening.
The boy nodded shakily, hugging his knees to his chest.
Alaiah shot Snow a look, her lips pursed. “You really got a death wish, huh?”
“Couldn’t just leave him,” Snow said simply.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LOadi6k86
Snow sat across from the boy, his expression softening despite the tension still hanging in the air. The group was huddled in the narrow crevice, the muffled growls of the creatures outside a chilling reminder of how close they had come to death.
The boy hugged his knees tightly, his small frame trembling with exhaustion and fear. Snow leaned forward, his voice gentle but firm.
“What’s your name, kid?”
The boy glanced up, his eyes wide and wary. “L-Lucas,” he stammered.
“Lucas,” Snow repeated, nodding. “Okay. Can you tell me why you’re here? Why they sent you?”
Lucas hesitated, his gaze darting around the group. His lips trembled as he spoke. “I—I’m an orphan,” he said quietly. “I wasn’t adopted… and when you’re not adopted by the time you’re ten, they… they send you here.”
The air seemed to freeze.
“What?” Alaiah said, her voice sharp, her New York accent cutting through the silence. “You for real right now? They just toss you out here like trash ’cause you ain’t got a family?”
The boy nodded, his small hands clutching his knees even tighter.
Cassidy shook her head in disbelief, her voice laced with anger. “That’s disgusting.”
“Damn society’s gone straight to hell,” Tobias muttered, his large arms crossed as he leaned against the rocky wall.
“Gone to hell?” Riley scoffed, her voice bitter. “It was always hell for people like us. This just proves it.”
Valencia’s lip curled as she stared at Lucas, her usual sarcasm replaced by quiet rage. “Ten years old,” she said softly. “That’s all the time you get before they decide you’re not worth saving. What kind of world is this?”
Deacon, who had been silent until now, let out a dark chuckle. “It’s a machine, and we’re just cogs. If you don’t fit, they grind you up and toss you out. Simple as that.”
Snow’s jaw tightened as he looked at Lucas, his chest heavy with a mix of anger and sadness. He had seen the system fail countless times, but this—this was something else entirely.
“Listen, Lucas,” Snow said, his voice steady. “You didn’t deserve this. None of us did. But you’re with us now, and we’re gonna look out for you. I promise.”
The boy’s eyes glistened with tears as he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”
Alaiah leaned forward, her tone softer than usual but still carrying her characteristic edge. “Aye, Lucas. Don’t let that break you, a’ight? You got a whole crew now. We ain’t exactly the Brady Bunch, but we got you. We yo family now, uncles sisters whatever you need.”
The group fell into a heavy silence, the reality of Lucas’s story settling over them like a suffocating blanket.
Snow sat apart from the group, his back pressed against the cold, jagged wall of the crevice. The shadows of the dimly lit space played tricks on his mind, mingling with the echoes of Lucas’s story. His fists were clenched, his jaw tight. Every word the boy had said dug into his chest like a knife.
He had always believed in the system, believed it was there to protect the vulnerable, to bring justice. But now, staring at a ten-year-old boy cast aside like garbage, he felt a cold wave of doubt wash over him.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Snow turned to see Valencia standing a few feet away. Her usual air of sarcastic detachment was replaced with something softer, almost hesitant.
“Go ahead,” he muttered, gesturing to the ground next to him.
She sat down, tucking her legs under herself. For a while, they didn’t speak, the silence between them filled only by the faint sounds of the creatures prowling outside. Finally, Valencia broke the silence.
“This ain’t news to me, you know,” she said quietly. “What Lucas said.”
Snow glanced at her, his brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Valencia’s gaze dropped to her hands, which were nervously picking at the edge of her sleeve. “My cousin. Amir. He was seven when he got taken to one of those ‘homes.’ Parents OD’d, and there wasn’t anyone else to take him in. I was too young to even understand what was going on at the time.” Her voice grew shakier as she continued. “One day, I went to visit him, and he was just… gone. No explanation. No warning. Just gone.”
Snow’s chest tightened as he listened. He didn’t say anything, letting her continue.
“At first, they told us he got adopted, but I didn’t believe it. Amir was a little rough around the edges, you know? Not the type of kid people rush to take home. Years later, I started hearing rumors about where kids like him really ended up. I thought they were just stories to scare us, but now…” Her voice broke, and she wiped at her eyes angrily. “Now I’m wondering if his bones are somewhere out here too.”
Snow clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. The thought of it, of a child’s life discarded like that, of people like Amir and Lucas being treated as expendable, it made his blood boil.
Valencia sniffled, composing herself, but her voice still trembled. “I guess what I’m saying is, the world’s been broken for a long time. People like us… we’re just the proof.”
Snow exhaled sharply, his anger bubbling over. He slammed his fist against the ground, startling Valencia. “I believed in it, you know,” he said through gritted teeth. “I believed in the system. I put people in it because I thought I was helping them, thought I was doing what was right. What if I was wrong? What if I was part of the problem?”
Valencia tilted her head, studying him. “You were a cop, right?”
“Yeah,” Snow admitted, his voice bitter. “I thought I was cleaning up the streets, saving people. But now I’m wondering if I was just feeding the machine.”
Valencia put a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm despite her earlier tears. “Listen, you can’t go back and fix what’s already happened. But you can make damn sure Lucas and the rest of us don’t end up like them.”
Snow looked at her, her words sinking in.
She continued, her voice steady now. “We’re all here for a reason, Snow. Some of us deserve it; some of us don’t. But none of us deserve to die like this. You want to make it right? Get us off this rock alive. That’s how you pay your dues.”
He nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. “You’re right. Every single one of us is getting out of here. Alive. I don’t care what it takes.”
Valencia gave him a small, grim smile. “Good. ’Cause if anyone’s gonna keep us from falling apart, it’s you.”
With that, she kissed his cheek catching him off guard, and returned to the group. Snow turned his gaze to the group, scattered and weary but still holding on. The weight of their survival pressed heavily on him, but he welcomed it. For Lucas. For Valencia’s cousin.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEvQObOdse
The faint glow of dawn began to seep through the cracks in their refuge, casting an eerie light across the group. It started as a subtle warmth, but within minutes, the air grew stifling. The rising heat was oppressive, thick and smothering, as if the planet itself were trying to suffocate them.
“Damn, it’s already gettin’ hot,” Alaiah muttered, wiping her forehead. “What kinda place goes from icebox to oven in a few hours? This ain’t natural.”
Cassidy was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed and her expression sour. “It’s hell, that’s what it is. Makes you wonder what’s worse—dying by the heat or one of those creatures out there.”
“Don’t gotta wonder for long,” Tobias grumbled, adjusting his sweat-soaked shirt.
The group fell into a heavy silence, the weight of their circumstances pressing down on them like the heat itself. Even Lucas, who had been clinging to Snow like a lifeline, sat quietly, his small body curled against the wall.
Then, unexpectedly, a voice broke through the stillness.
“🎵 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound... 🎵”
It was Deacon. His voice was low and rich, carrying the familiar hymn through the suffocating air like a fragile thread of hope.
Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Now’s not the time for a sermon.”
But Deacon ignored her, his voice growing stronger.
“🎵 That saved a wretch like me... 🎵”
One by one, the others turned to look at him. Val scoffed, but a hint of a smirk tugged at her lips. Tobias let out a gruff laugh, shaking his head.
“Man’s out here singin’ while we roast alive,” Tobias muttered.
“Let him sing,” Valencia said softly.
To Snow’s surprise, Alaiah joined in, her voice carrying a rough, soulful edge.
“🎵 I once was lost, but now am found... 🎵”
Even Cassidy’s resistance seemed to falter. She didn’t sing, but her lips twitched as if she were biting back the words.
Lucas, still curled against the wall, began humming along, his small, uncertain voice joining the melody. Snow looked around at the faces of his companions, some hardened, some broken, all clinging to this brief moment of reprieve.
It was absurd, he thought. They were on a hellish prison planet, hunted by monsters, with death lurking at every turn. And yet, here they were, singing a hymn like it was Sunday service.
But it worked. The tension eased, and the misery lifted just enough for them to take a breath.
“🎵 T’was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved... 🎵”
Snow found himself humming too, the melody stirring something in him he couldn’t quite place.
Deacon finished the verse, his deep voice lingering in the heavy air. The silence that followed wasn’t oppressive this time but comforting like a shared exhale after a long-held breath.
“Alright, preacher,” Tobias said with a chuckle. “You got your moment. But next time, let’s sing somethin’ that ain’t gonna make me think ’bout my sins, yeah?”
Deacon leaned back with a faint smile, his eyes closed. “Music’s got a way of remindin’ us we’re still human. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.”
Snow nodded in agreement, his gaze shifting to the horizon where the sun climbed higher. “It’s not wrong. It’s what’s keeping us going.”
But as the temperature continued to rise, Snow’s focus sharpened. They couldn’t stay here much longer. The sun wasn’t just hot, it was deadly, and they all knew it.
“Alright, break’s over,” Snow said, his voice firm. “We need to find shade before this heat does us in. Everyone get your gear and stay close. We go in deeper. We move as a group and protect each other.”
Alaiah shot him a sideways glance, smirking. “Look at you, boss man. Callin’ the shots.”
Snow smirked back, but his tone was serious. “You want to survive, you follow orders remember? Let’s move.”
The group trudged deeper into the cave, their footsteps echoing against the damp stone walls. It was a welcome relief from the blistering heat outside. The air grew cooler with each step, and a faint luminescence painted the rocky surfaces with an otherworldly glow.
Alaiah ran her fingers along the wall, her expression skeptical. “Aye, Why it look like the stars fell down here?”
Snow glanced around, his eyes narrowing. Tiny crystalline formations jutted out from the walls, shimmering with faint blue and green hues. They pulsed softly, casting shifting shadows that seemed alive in the dimness.
Valencia crouched to examine one of the crystals more closely. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Almost looks like bioluminescence, but… it’s solid. Maybe mineral-based?”
Jax’s voice rang out from behind them. “Forget beautiful. This stuff is money.”
Everyone turned to see Jax prying a crystal from the wall with a jagged piece of metal. He held it up to the light, inspecting its clarity. “Look at this. If we ever get off this cursed rock, this is our ticket to living like kings.”
“Or queens,” Cassidy said dryly, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall.
Alaiah snorted. “Boy, you already plannin’ your next hustle? We still stuck on this death trap.”
Jax grinned, tucking the crystal into his pocket. “I’m just saying. Ain’t no harm in a little preparation.”
“Don’t get greedy,” Snow said sharply, his voice echoing in the cavern. “This place isn’t a treasure trove. It’s a trap. Stay focused.”
Tobias gave a low chuckle, his deep voice rumbling through the tunnel. “Man’s got a point. Shiny rocks ain’t gonna mean squat if we’re dead.”
Deacon tilted his head, his eyes scanning the glowing walls. “You notice how the creatures didn’t follow us in here? They pulled back just before dawn, right at the cave entrance.”
Valencia straightened, her expression growing serious. “He’s right. They didn’t chase us inside. Why would they stop?”
Snow’s jaw tightened, his mind racing. “Maybe they don’t like the light from these crystals,” he suggested, though doubt flickered in his tone.
“Or maybe,” Tobias said darkly, “they’re already down here, waiting.”
The group fell silent, the weight of the possibility settling over them.
Alaiah rolled her shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. “Well, that’s just great. Now, I gotta worry about some cave monsters too. Like we ain’t got enough problems.”
Lucas, who had been trailing close to Snow, tugged on his sleeve. “Do you think they’re really in here?”
Snow knelt to the boy’s level, his gaze steady. “I don’t know. But if they are, we’ll be ready.”
Valencia shifted uncomfortably, her hand brushing against her makeshift weapon. “We need to stay sharp. Keep moving, but quiet. No one touches anything else unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Jax rolled his eyes but said nothing, slipping the crystal deeper into his pocket.
As they ventured further, the cave opened into a larger chamber, the walls studded with even more crystals. Their glow intensified, casting the space in a surreal, almost dreamlike light.
Cassidy let out a low whistle. “This place is insane. Like something out of a sci-fi movie.”
Deacon ran a hand along his beard, his expression unreadable. “Looks like a church. Sacred, almost.”
Alaiah snorted. “Yeah, a church of death. Don’t let it fool you. Pretty don’t mean safe.”
Snow held up a hand, signaling for everyone to stop. He scanned the chamber, his eyes narrowing. “Stay close. Stay quiet. If those creatures retreated, they might’ve come in through another entrance. We can’t let our guard down.”
Tobias hefted his metal pipe, his massive shoulders tense. “You call it, boss. We’ll follow.”
Snow nodded, motioning for the group to proceed cautiously. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching them, hidden in the shadows of the glowing cave.
As they moved deeper, the silence became almost oppressive, broken only by the occasional drip of water and the crunch of their footsteps on loose gravel.
The group continued deeper into the cave, the air grew cooler and the ground more uneven, the path winding in narrow curves. The crystals lining the walls had shifted from small, isolated bursts of light to a full display of luminescence, lighting their way like glowing veins pulsing with life.
Alaiah stepped lightly, her eyes narrowing in awe as she reached out to touch a particularly large crystal that jutted from the wall. The moment her fingers brushed against its surface, it seemed to thrum with energy, the light growing brighter, and then it dimmed again.
“This place is something else,” she muttered. “You see this, Snow? It’s like the cave’s alive.”
Snow glanced over at her, his brow furrowing in thought. “Yeah, I see it. It’s like the crystals are reacting to our presence.” He hesitated, then added, “Keep your distance from them. We don’t know what they’re capable of.”
“Yeah, yeah. No touchy-feely, I got it.” Alaiah rolled her eyes but kept walking.
Tobias, towering over the others, was the next to speak. “I don’t like how quiet it is down here. Feels like something’s watching us.”
Valencia, who had been trailing behind, shuddered at the comment, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I thought the same thing.”
The tension between them thickened, but they pushed on, the path ahead opening up into a vast cavern. The ground was damp here, and the air smelled earthy like rainwater soaking into dry soil.
“Hold up,” Snow ordered, raising a hand. The others immediately stopped, looking ahead at what had caught his attention.
A small stream of water glowed faintly in the darkness. The surface shimmered with an iridescent quality, casting ripples of neon-blue light that danced along the rocky banks. The water looked almost unnatural, like liquid glass pulsing with energy.
Deacon’s voice broke the silence. “Is that… water?” His tone was a mix of awe and suspicion. “It doesn’t look right.”
Snow moved cautiously toward the stream, his boots crunching on the gravel. He knelt by the water’s edge, hesitating before dipping his hand in. As soon as his fingers made contact with the glowing liquid, the sensation was immediate, cold, but not numbing. It was a strange kind of coolness, almost soothing, but tinged with something unfamiliar.
“Strange,” Snow muttered, lifting his hand, droplets sliding off his fingers like liquid light. He rubbed them together, inspecting them. “It’s not like anything I’ve seen before. Maybe it’s just minerals in the water.”
As the group gathered around the glowing stream, the flickering light from the crystals illuminated the water, casting an eerie glow on their faces. They stood in a loose circle, eyeing the liquid warily. The air was heavy with tension as they debated what to do. The water, shimmering and unnatural, was too tempting to ignore, but Snow’s warning still echoed in their minds.
“Man, I don’t trust this,” Tobias muttered, his eyes narrowing. “What if it’s toxic? We don’t know what this stuff really is.”
“Yeah,” Snow agreed, his brow furrowed. “We can’t just drink something like this without knowing what’s in it.”
Jax, always the reckless one, took a step closer to the stream, his eyes glinting with both hunger and impatience. “Y’all are acting like we got all the time in the world. We’re stranded here. We’ve got nothing. Maybe this is exactly what we need. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Before anyone could stop him, Jax knelt beside the stream and scooped up a handful of the glowing water. Without hesitation, he drank it. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, the liquid slipping down with a soft, sickening noise. He exhaled slowly, looking up at the group with a defiant smirk.
“There. I drank it. Nothing happened. Now we can all stop staring like a bunch of damn animals.”
A tense silence followed as the group watched Jax. He looked fine, no immediate effects. No obvious poison, no convulsions.
“Are you serious, Jax?” Snow said, his voice cautious. “You just drank that without thinking? What if it does something to you?”
Jax shrugged, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “You think I’m gonna die just ’cause I drank some water bro?. Yalll need to relax.”
Still, Snow wasn’t convinced. He exchanged looks with the others.
“You’re a damn idiot. Now we need to keep an eye on you, Jax,” Snow said, his voice firm. “We’ll watch you for 24 hours. See if anything changes. If you start glowing or growing an extra arm, we’ll know it’s not safe.”
Alaiah, her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow and laughed. “If you die that’s whatcho ass get.”
Jax scoffed. “Please, princess. I’m fine. I’m just thirsty. No harm done.” He grabbed a couple of canteens and began to fill them with the glowing water, ignoring the warnings. “If it’s good for me, it’s good for everyone.”
“We’ll see about that,” Snow muttered under his breath, not entirely convinced.
The group decided to move on, with the canteens of glowing water in tow, but they kept their distance from Jax, watching him carefully for any signs of change. The path through the cave grew narrower, and the air turned cooler, but the sense of unease lingered. They needed to find shelter, a place to rest before the sun rose again.
“Let’s keep moving,” Snow said, his voice low. “We’ve got a long way to go before dawn. Stay alert.”
As they pressed on, the cave seemed to stretch on forever. The glowing crystals pulsated along the walls, their light growing dimmer the deeper they went. The sound of their footsteps echoed off the cavern’s walls, the silence almost deafening.
Then, the ground beneath them began to tremble.
At first, it was a subtle vibration, a low hum that made the hair on the back of their necks stand on end. Snow stopped, holding up a hand to signal everyone to freeze.
“What is that?” Tobias whispered his voice tight with caution.
Snow squinted into the darkness ahead. “Stay close. Don’t make a sound.”
But it was too late.
From the shadows ahead, a massive, grotesque shape lurched forward. A giant maggot-like creature, its wriggling body covered in sickly, translucent skin, emerged from the darkness. Its maw, filled with rows of jagged teeth, opened wide, releasing a sharp hiss that echoed through the cave. Its body was a bloated mass, twitching and undulating as it slithered toward them.
Before anyone could react, another one appeared, followed by more. They were everywhere, crawling out of the shadows like a wave of writhing horrors. Their eyes gleamed like dark, empty pits, and their huge bodies surged forward, the creatures’ movements accompanied by the sickening sound of their fleshy bodies scraping against the stone.
“Shit!” Jax shouted, his voice breaking the silence. “ We running or what lets go!”
Snow didn’t have to say anything. He turned and bolted, his legs pumping as he pushed past the others. The maggots, sensing the movement, shrieked, their jaws snapping as they gave chase.
“Run! Don’t stop!” Snow barked.
They sprinted through the cave, the sound of the creatures’ hideous hiss and their bloated bodies crashing against the cave walls growing louder.
“We need to get out of here!” Tobias yelled, the desperation clear in his voice.
Snow glanced back and saw the first maggot shoot a stream of thick, sizzling acid toward the group. The burning liquid hit the stone walls with a hiss, sizzling into the rock. Snow ducked, narrowly avoiding the spray.
“Through there!” Snow shouted, pointing to a narrow passageway up ahead.
The group scrambled toward it, the creatures still hot on their heels, their grotesque forms closing in quickly. They ducked and swerved, barely avoiding the acid spittle as they pressed on through the tight tunnel.
With a final burst of speed, they emerged into an open space, on the other side of the cave. The creatures were still coming, their monstrous bodies crawling faster than they could run, but the group managed to get enough distance.
Once they were out in the open shade, Snow skidded to a halt, panting. His heart raced in his chest, his mind reeling from the close call but, then he noticed something.
Alaiah was struggling to keep up. Every step made her grimace, her foot still burning from the acid spit of the maggots. She was clearly trying to hide the pain, but it was becoming more and more obvious as she stumbled behind the group.
“Wait,” Snow said, as he turned back walking towards her.. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” she snapped, trying to push him away, though her body betrayed her. The limp in her step was unmistakable.
Snow frowned squatting down, looking at her foot. A burn from acid deepened as her skin blistered badly in reaction to it. He could see the bone through the wound and closed his eyes in sadness. “No. You’re not fine.” He walked toward her trying to pick her up.
Alaiah shot him a defiant look, trying to stay upright. “I said I’m fine, Snow. Just… keep going. I’ll catch up.”
“No,” Snow insisted, his voice low but firm. ” I’ll carry you.”
Alaiah didn’t want to admit it, but her pride was getting the better of her. “Don’t. I don’t need to be carried.”
But the pain was obvious, and Snow wasn’t going to argue. With no time to waste, he scooped her up, gently but firmly, and hoisted her over his shoulder so she could not fight. “We’re doing this.”
She sighed in frustration but didn’t protest further, knowing she didn’t have the strength to fight him on it. The group continued on, the air thick with tension as they made their wayr into a cavern, hoping for some sort of refuge. It was a huge expanse but it went no deeper. Almost like a huge den. It was cool and felt safe.
Snow carefully set Alaiah down on the ground, her face grimacing as she tried to shift her foot. “This should be good enough for the night,” he said. “We’ll get you fixed up.”
Suddenly, a low rumbling growl echoed from the shadows at the far end of the cavern. The sound sent a chill down their spines. A pair of glowing eyes gleamed in the dark, staring at them from the shadows, followed by the unmistakable outline of a massive creature, an alien wolf-like creature. Its fur was matted, torn in places, and its eyes glinted with both hunger and pain.
The group froze.
Snow stepped forward cautiously, trying to assess the situation. The creature didn’t immediately attack, but its posture was tense, ready to strike.
“Easy,” Snow said, voice low and calm, trying not to provoke it. “We’re not here to hurt you.”
The wolf growled louder, its teeth bared in a warning. Despite the injury, it wasn’t backing down. The group exchanged uneasy glances. This wasn’t like any wolf they had ever seen. It wasn’t just a predator; it was a creature from another world.
“We need to be careful,” Jax whispered, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. “That thing looks like it could tear us apart.”
Before Snow could respond, the wolf lunged suddenly, with terrifying speed, directly at Jax. The group scrambled back in surprise as the beast knocked Jax to the ground. He gasped, but the creature wasn’t after him, it was after something else.
In one swift move, the wolf tore into Jax’s pocket and pulled out one of his glowing crystals, its eyes locking onto it with desperate hunger. The creature immediately began to gnaw on the crystal, its wounds visibly starting to heal as the glow seemed to seep into its body.
“Shit!” Jax muttered in fear, still dazed but watching the wolf intently.
The wolf seemed to relax as it devoured the crystal, its injuries slowly starting to close. The group watched in stunned silence, realizing that the crystal was healing it. It growled and roared into Snow’s face before finally running out of the cavern. Everyone sighed in relief.
“The crystal….Tobias, watch the door. We need to try this,” Snow said, his voice steady but urgent. “We need to see if these crystals work on you, too.”
Alaiah shook her head immediately, her pride flaring again. “No. I’m not eating that. You do know that’s a rock right?”
“You don’t have a choice,” Snow said, walking toward her. “This could be the only way to save you. If it worked on that thing, it could work for you too.”
She recoiled at the thought. “No Snow. That’s alien. I’m human Who knows what it’ll do to me?”
Deacon stepped in, his voice soft but persistent. “Alaiah, you’re barely able to walk. By morning that acid could take your foot off clean. Acid doesn’t stop it keeps going until it is stopped. We don’t have time to argue. You’re risking losing a limb and if that, infection and then your life. If this can help, we have to try.”
Tobias nodded, his face grim but determined. “ He’s right you know. I saw how quickly that thing healed. Your foot could be better in no time.”
Alaiah met Snow’s eyes, her expression torn. “ Or it might kill me! I don’t….”
Snow knelt in front of her, meeting her gaze. “ The thing is you’re risking your life either way. If it helps, here,” He puts a piece into his mouth as she reaches to stop him a bit too late. “I’ll go first. Then, if you die at least you won’t be alone right?” He chewed it and she watched in silence. He looked down as his cuts and bruises slowly disappeared. She and everyone else watched both amazed and nervously. He then held a piece out to her.
Alaiah hesitated, looking down at her foot, the pain still unbearable. She had never been one to give in easily, but Snow was right. They had no other options. She finally let out a long breath and took the piece of crystal Snow offered her, though her hand trembled slightly.
“Aight, here goes nothin’” she muttered, biting into the crystal.
As soon as she did, the taste overwhelmed her, a strange sweetness, almost like sugar and salt combined. It wasn’t bad, but it was unfamiliar. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the tingling began. Slowly, the pain in her foot started to fade. The burn began to ease, and the blisters shrank, her skin healing right before her eyes.
Alaiah gasped, looking down in disbelief. “It… it’s working.…”
The others watched in stunned silence as the crystal’s healing powers took effect. The blisters were gone now, and her foot was almost fully healed.
“I can’t believe it,” Alaiah whispered, awe in her voice. Everyone else looked relieved.
Snow nodded, a rare sense of satisfaction settling over him. “It works. And so far we’re not dead right.”
He stood, pinching her cheek as she slapped his hand away. He then glanced around the cavern, before noticing a large boulder nearby. “I’ll block the entrance. We should make sure we’re protected while we rest.”
With his back turned Snow began pushing the boulder toward the entrance. His hands were sweating from the effort, his muscles sore from the journey, but he couldn’t afford to take chances. They had already seen how dangerous the creatures on this planet could be, and with night falling, he wanted to make sure no more could get in.
The sound of a low growl stopped him in his tracks.
He looked up quickly, eyes wide with alarm, just in time to see the wolf lunge toward the entrance, its body coiled and ready to leap. It snarled and whined, teeth bared, its focus solely on the entrance trying to get back in as if sensing some unseen threat.
Before Snow could react, the wolf pawed him pulling him out of the cave and sending him sprawling to the ground. His breath was knocked out of him as the creature pushed past him, trying to get to the entrance first.
“Shit!” Snow scrambled to his feet, but the wolf was already halfway to the door, its massive form going towards the exit. It turned its head toward him, its eyes cold and full of warning, a clear standoff now between them.
“Snow!” Jax yelled, rushing forward to help, but the wolf kept coming determined to reach the entrance.
The group backed up, unsure of what to do. Then, with a low, terrifying growl, something sprang toward the wolf from above, knocking him back with brutal force.
“Snow!” Alaiah screamed, but it was too late. The others rushed to the entrance, trying to find a way out, but the rocks began to fall from where the other creatures stampeded from above, blocking their path.
“We’re trapped!” Tobias said, his voice rising with panic. “Snow….”
The group was on edge, their worst fears setting in. They could hear the sounds of fighting, claws scraping against stone, and Snow’s cries of pain echoing faintly through the rocky walls. “No… no!” Valencia muttered, pressing her hands against her temples in frustration. “We can’t just leave him!”
But the rocks had fallen around them, and they couldn’t get out. The group huddled together, hearts pounding, each one wondering if Snow was truly gone.
Then, silence.
Complete and utter silence.
They waited, breath held, listening for any signs of movement. But there was nothing. No more sounds of battle. No screams. No growls. Just silence.
Suddenly, they heard the distinct sound of scratching, soft at first, then growing louder. It was coming from the entrance.
They barely had time to react before the heavy boulders blocking the door shifted and cracked. The entrance tore open with a violent push, and the wolf, the same creature that had tossed Snow outside, charged in, its massive body looming in the doorway.
The group scrambled back, startled and confused. The wolf wasn’t attacking. Instead, it dropped Snow’s limp body onto the ground in front of them, his clothes torn and bloodied from the earlier fight. It was clear that he had been in a brutal struggle, but he was alive.
The wolf stepped inside, its eyes flicking between the group, wary but not aggressive. It turned around and positioned itself in front of the entrance, seemingly protecting it. The cave had become its territory.
Snow groaned, slowly starting to regain consciousness. He blinked, groggy and disoriented, and looked up at the wolf creature who stared back. Then, with a rasping breath, he managed to speak.
“Holy shit…,” Snow muttered.
The others, still in shock, watched as Snow reached into his bag pulled out the last of his crystals, and bit off some. His voice was slow, but it carried a sense of awe.
“I guess I owe you one, huh?” Snow said, gently offering the crystal to the wolf it quickly devoured it.
The wolf moved closer, seemingly understanding that the man wasn’t a threat anymore. Snow reached out slowly, and to his surprise, the creature didn’t pull away. He gently touched its fur, feeling the softness despite its earlier aggression. Suddenly it backed away quickly.
“Snow!” Lucas cried out, rushing toward him. Without hesitation, he threw his arms around Snow in a tight hug, his body trembling with the weight of the fear he’d been holding in. “I thought …,” Lucas whispered, his voice cracking.
Snow’s heart softened, and he wrapped his arms around the young man, offering a comforting squeeze. He could feel Lucas shaking, the tears still fresh on his cheeks. “Hey, I’m alright. We’re alright,” Snow murmured, his voice warm and steady, trying to soothe the anxiety that had clearly gripped the others.
Lucas sniffed, pulling back just slightly, and wiped his eyes, though he couldn’t quite hide the tears that had escaped. He gave Snow a small, grateful smile but didn’t say anything more, clearly exhausted by the ordeal.
Tobias gave Snow a quick but firm nod. “Come on,” he said, guiding Snow toward a wall at the far side of the cave. “Get some rest. You’ve been through hell.”
Snow allowed himself to be led, his body protesting with every step as they reached a small corner of the cave. He lowered himself carefully to the ground beside Alaiah, who was now sitting against the rock, looking more at ease than before but still weary.
Tobias immediately set to work, moving rocks and debris to reinforce their position in the cave, his movements sharp and methodical. He didn’t speak much, but there was no mistaking the intensity of his focus. The others helped where they could, but most of them, like Snow, were in need of rest.
As the cave began to settle into a semblance of safety, Snow leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment to catch his breath. His body was sore, but he was alive. That was all that mattered.
Alaiah, who had been silent up until now, spoke up softly from beside him. “You didn’t have to carry me,” she said, her voice low but sincere. “I could’ve managed on my own, but you insisted, and... well, I don’t think I could’ve made it without you.”
Snow opened his eyes and glanced at her. Her foot had healed considerably since she’d eaten the crystal, though there was still a faint bruise. “It wasn’t a problem, Alaiah,” Snow replied with a small smile. “We’re in this together, right? And you didn’t have to go through that alone.”
Alaiah looked down at her hands, her expression softening. “I know,” she said, her voice quieter now, the sharp edges gone. “And I appreciate it.”
Snow’s smile widened, though there was a tinge of humility in his eyes. “It’s nothing, really. We all look out for each other. But... I’m glad I could help.”
She gave him a genuine, grateful smile. “You’ve been a big help to all of us. Even it. That wolf thing, I thought it was going to tear us apart at first, but now... I don’t know. It’s like it likes you.”
Snow looked over at the wolf, who was still lying by the entrance, slowly healing itself as it rested. The tension had lessened between them, and he had to admit, it was a strange, fragile alliance. “Maybe we saved each other,” he said softly, not wanting to get too comfortable with the idea just yet, but acknowledging the wolf’s role in his survival.
Alaiah nodded slowly, her gaze turning thoughtful. “Yeah. Maybe.”
There was a comfortable silence between them for a moment, both resting in the aftershock of everything that had happened. Snow could tell that the worst of the physical pain was starting to ease, though the mental and emotional weight of the day still lingered. It was clear from the way Lucas had clung to him that the group had been deeply shaken, just as he had.
.He glanced at Alaiah, her body was leaning slightly toward him as she stared into the dim light of the cave. The tension in her posture told him she was still on edge, despite the relief they’d found in the temporary safety of the cave.
“I’m sorry,” Snow said softly, breaking the silence between them. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”
Alaiah shot him a small, almost amused glance, the faintest trace of a smile on her lips. “You didn’t make me worry,” she said, her voice teasing but with a hint of something softer beneath the surface. “You just gave me a hell of a scare, that’s all.”
Snow rubbed his temple, a sheepish smile pulling at his lips. “Yeah, well... I’m not exactly in the habit of getting thrown aside by aliens either. Wasn’t exactly planned.”
Alaiah’s smile deepened, but then, without warning, she shifted closer, resting her head gently on his shoulder. The move was subtle, almost like she didn’t want to make it a big deal, but Snow could feel the weight of it, her trust, her need for comfort, and in a strange way, her reliance on him.
Snow stiffened for a moment, surprised, but then his muscles relaxed. He didn’t say anything, unsure of how to put the gratitude he felt into words. Instead, he allowed the quiet, the stillness of the cave, and the warmth of her head against his shoulder to fill the space between them.
“We’ll get through this, I promise.”
Alaiah didn’t respond, but the soft exhale of breath against his shoulder was enough for him to know that she’d heard him. She was finally allowing herself to unwind, even if just for a moment, as exhaustion began to take over.
Slowly, Snow felt his own eyelids growing heavier. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving behind a dull ache in his body, but the steady rhythm of her breathing beside him was oddly comforting. He shifted slightly, careful not to disturb her, and leaned his head back against the cool stone, letting the weight of everything finally catch up to him.
The cave was quiet, save for the distant sounds of the other members of the group settling in for the night, their voices muffled and weary. But at this moment, with Alaiah ok, and the rest of the group safe for now, Snow allowed himself the peace of knowing they had survived another day on Cell 0.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhI1DPR02S
