Episode 16: The Rift’s Shadow
210 Words
The Aurora trembled as the Rift expanded outside, stretching and twisting space around them. It wasn’t just an anomaly anymore—it was awake.
Voss struggled to keep his balance as the ship lurched violently. Sparks rained from the overhead panels.
“Luma! What’s happening?”
Luma’s voice was distorted, glitching in and out. “Captain… the Rift is destabilizing reality around us. An external force is interfering with our systems.”
Dr. Rao’s hands were shaking as she read her console. “Captain, I don’t think the Rift is just expanding—it’s consuming space.”
Ng’s voice was tense. “We need to get the hell out of here.”
Voss gritted his teeth. “Then do it.”
Ng slammed his hands on the controls—but nothing happened. “Engines are locked out! I don’t have control!”
The ship lurched again, but this time, it wasn’t being pulled. It was being held.
Then—the entity moved.
The Hollow Reflection, the creature that had stolen their forms, twitched and turned its head toward them.
Its face was Voss’s face.
It smiled.
And then, in his own voice, it whispered:
“The Rift never lets go.”
Suddenly, the ship plunged into darkness.
To be continued…
- Writer
