Episode 18: The Final Descent
239 Words
The Aurora tumbled through the Rift’s abyss, gravity twisting in ways that made no sense. Up and down no longer existed. The ship’s lights flickered, casting jagged shadows across the bridge.
Voss braced himself against his chair. “Ng, give me something!”
Ng’s hands were a blur over the controls. “Engines are still dead! Whatever’s pulling us—it’s not natural gravity!”
Dr. Rao’s voice was strained. “That’s because we’re not in space anymore. The Rift is collapsing inward—it’s trying to erase us!”
A metallic groan rippled through the ship’s frame. Panels overhead burst apart, sending sparks raining down.
Then—the Hollow Reflection moved.
The creature, still shifting through their faces, let out a garbled, inhuman laugh. Its mouth stretched too wide. Its voice was everyone’s at once.
“You belong to the Rift.”
Then—it lunged.
Holt fired her weapon without hesitation.
The shot ripped through its body—but instead of falling, the creature expanded, its form distorting, growing larger.
Dr. Rao gasped. “Captain—it feeds on energy!”
Voss’s heart pounded. Then how do we stop it?
Luma’s voice crackled.
“Captain—I have a way.”
Voss didn’t hesitate. “Tell me.”
Luma’s voice was steady. “We reverse the Signal.”
Then—the Rift began to collapse inward.
And the Aurora was falling straight into it.
To be continued…
- Writer
