Scared of the Dark [Part 2]

Posted on Fri Feb 14th, 2025 @ 4:38pm by Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

3,235 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well

The Pendragon shuddered violently, throwing Adrianna against the bulkhead as a deafening metallic groan echoed through the ship. The lights flickered, then died, plunging the ship into total darkness. The emergency lighting sputtered briefly before failing altogether, leaving only the faint red glow of the exit signs to mark the corridors.

“Adrianna?” Vance’s voice called from behind her, strained but steady.

“I’m here,” she answered, after cursing a few times under her breath, her breathing coming fast as she pushed herself upright.

“We need to get to the bridge. This thing’s cutting through us like paper,” he ordered, “we need a distress signal and a better plan, but the bridge has the strongest of reinforcements on the doors.”

Adrianna nodded, though she knew he couldn’t see her in the pitch black. She reached out, fumbling for him in the darkness, her hand brushing his jacket.

Then the ship lurched again.

She lost her footing, the floor tilting beneath her as she slid into the wall. The sound of tearing metal filled her ears, and when she reached out again, Vance was gone.

“Vance?” she called, her voice breaking.

No answer.

The air felt heavier now, each breath carrying the metallic tang of blood and the faint, acrid stench of burnt circuitry. Somewhere in the distance, she heard a low, guttural growl– a sound that raised every hair on her body.

Adrianna forced herself to move, her boots scraping against the uneven floor as she groped her way down the corridor. Her heart thundered in her chest, each beat echoing in the oppressive silence.

A faint scuttling noise came from above. She froze, tilting her head upwards, though the darkness revealed nothing. The sound grew louder, closer, until it seemed to be directly overhead.

Her breath caught as something heavy shifted in the ventilation shaft above her. It moved with a deliberate, predatory grace, the faint metallic scrape of claws against steel sending a shiver down her spine.

She pressed herself against the wall, her hands trembling as she clutched the small blade she kept hidden at her waist. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had.

The scuttling stopped abruptly. The silence that followed was worse.

Adrianna swallowed hard, her mouth dry. She took another step forward, her boots unnervingly loud against the metal floor.

Then she heard it– a slow, deliberate sound. A dragging noise, like claws being drawn along the walls.

It was behind her.

She turned slowly, her eyes straining to see anything in the darkness. A faint glow appeared down the corridor, two pinpricks of red light hovering just above the ground.

Eyes.

The creature was watching her.

Her pulse roared in her ears as she backed away, her every instinct screaming at her to run but she knew better. Predators liked the chase.

It moved, stepping into the faint glow of the emergency lights. Adrianna’s breath hitched as she got her first proper look at it. The creature was impossibly tall, its limbs grotesquely elongated. Its flesh was a sickly grey, covered in patches of glistening metal that gleamed faintly in the darkness. Its mouth split into a grotesque grin, revealing rows of jagged, needle-like teeth.

And then it tilted its head.

It was studying her.

The lights suddenly went out again as the ship’s systems faltered.

It had vanished from her sight.

The darkness aboard the Pendragon was suffocating, oppressive. Adrianna’s footsteps echoed in the silence as she moved cautiously down the corridor, her blade trembling in her grip. She strained her ears, desperate for any hint of sound beyond the distant hum of the ship’s failing systems. But the quiet was worse than the noise. It was the kind of silence that pressed in on you, heavy and watchful, as though the darkness itself was alive.

“Vance?” she whispered her voice barely audible but clearly desperate. It sounded more like a whimper and a plea for help than anything else.

Her stomach churned with unease. She was alone now, separated from the others by the chaos and the black void that enveloped the ship. The emergency lights sputtered intermittently, throwing the corridor into momentary flashes of blood-red.

And that’s when she saw it again.

A flicker, a movement just at the edge of her vision. The creature’s hulking frame glinted faintly in the scattered sparks from a severed conduit, its form twisting as it melded back into the shadows. Adrianna froze, her breath caught in her throat. Her heart raced as her eyes darted frantically from one end of the corridor to the other, searching for it, but all she found was darkness.

The ship creaked ominously, the sound sending a jolt of panic through her. She pressed herself against the wall, trying to make herself smaller, trying to disappear. Her chest rose and fell in rapid bursts as she struggled to keep her breathing quiet. No amount of intelligence training could have prepared her for this nightmare.

A faint sound like husky breathing reached her ears– soft, deliberate.

It was coming closer.

Her knuckles whitened as she gripped her blade tighter, her pulse ringing in her ears. The sound grew louder, the rhythmic scrape of claws against metal. It was toying with her, drawing out the moment, savouring her fear.

Another flicker of light illuminated the corridor. The creature was closer now, its glowing red eyes fixed on her with a blood curdling and knowing intensity. She could make out the glint of its metallic implants, the sinewy flesh stretched over its grotesque frame. It moved with a horrifying fluidity, its long, unnatural limbs carrying it forward with slow, deliberate grace.

Adrianna stumbled backwards, her back hitting a junction panel with a dull thud. Her breath hitched as the creature paused, tilting its head as though listening. Its lips peeled back into a mockery of a grin, jagged teeth glinting faintly in the sparse light.

The lights flickered again, plunging her into darkness. When they sputtered back to life, the creature was gone again.

“Dio mio,” the curse falling from her lips, the sound barely escaping into reality.

The air grew colder, and Adrianna could feel it– its presence, lingering just out of sight. Her mind raced, trying to remember the layout of the ship, searching for any possible escape route or smuggling hatch. But the Pendragon had become a labyrinth of shadows, every corridor a potential trap– and it was far from a big ship.

Another sound– a deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air, reverberating off of anything solid. It was close. She turned, the blade trembling in her hand as her eyes searched the darkness. The emergency lights flickered again, and this time the creature was right in front of her, mere inches from her, its towering frame filling the corridor.

She stumbled backwards, her breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. The creature didn’t move, its glowing eyes locked onto hers.

It was toying with her, savouring the chase.

Adrianna felt a sob rising in her throat, but she swallowed it down. “E che Dio abbia pietà delle nostre anime,” she whispered, more to herself than to any deity that may be listening. It simply translated to ‘may god have mercy on our souls’.

The lights flickered again.

When they came back on, the corridor was empty.

Her knees nearly buckled, her grip on the blade faltering. The silence returned, but it wasn’t comforting. It was worse. The Pendragon felt endless, an infinite expanse of darkness and terror.

Adrianna was alone, and the creature knew it.

It was only a matter of time.

Adrianna gripped the blade tighter, ensuring she had a good grip, her knuckles white. “Dio mi aiuti,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

As the emergency lighting flickered off, then suddenly back on. It was back. The creature didn’t move. It just stared, the red glow of its eyes never wavering.

Then, with agonising slowness, it took a step forward.

Adrianna’s back hit the bulkhead. There was nowhere left to go. She could feel her heartbeat reverberating through her entire body, a wild, panicked rhythm.

“Anche se andassi per valle tenebrosa…” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own breathing, praying to any deity that may be listening for a merciful death– for forgiveness for anything she had done, as she recited the Lord’s prayer.

The creature’s claws scraped against the floor as it advanced, the sound sharp and deliberate, like nails on a chalkboard. It moved with a terrifying confidence, its gaze locked onto hers.

“Vance, I need you. Now,” she whimpered.

The beast stopped suddenly, tilting its head again, as though listening.

Adrianna’s blood ran cold.

The creature let out a low, guttural sound, almost like a laugh. It moved backwards, its glowing eyes never breaking contact with hers. Then it slithered into the shadows, disappearing as suddenly as it had appeared.

Adrianna sagged against the wall, her legs trembling. The corridor was silent again, but she knew better than to think it was gone. It was playing with her.

And the game was far from over.

Adrianna's breaths came in short, sharp gasps as she pressed herself flat against the wall. Her comm crackled faintly, Vance's voice distant, but she couldn’t focus on it. The creature was still out there, lurking in the dark. She could feel it– feel the tension– feeling it watching her.

Then the silence shattered.

The creature roared, the sound deafening and primal, a guttural bellow that reverberated through the corridor. Adrianna screamed as it surged out of the shadows, slamming her against the wall with a force that knocked the air from her lungs.

Its claws dug into the wall on either side of her head, its glowing red eyes inches from her own. It was enormous, its twisted, grotesque form casting grotesque shadows across the corridor. She could smell it now, a nauseating blend of blood and chemicals.

Adrianna trembled, her blade useless in her hand because her fear made her freeze, ignoring a fight or flight demand. The creature leaned in, its jagged teeth glinting in the dim light as it opened its jaw wide. Hot, rancid breath washed over her face, making her gag. It was preparing to feast on her fear.

“Vance,” she whimpered, barely above a squeak as the adrenaline gripped her vocal chords so that she couldn't scream for help.

A metallic clank echoed from above, followed by the sharp hiss of pressurised air being vented into space. The creature hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing as it cocked its head to the side in a momentary hesitation.

Then the air shifted.

A powerful suction ripped through the corridor, pulling at everything not bolted down. Adrianna’s hair whipped around her face as the creature howled in fury, its claws digging into the wall further to keep from being dragged away but instead it acted like a tin opener, slicing the panels leaving it with nothing to grip to.

Adrianna’s scream was swallowed by the deafening roar of the vent as it yawned open, the force of the suction tearing her from the wall. She twisted in the air, her arms flailing as the pull of the vacuum dragged her toward the gaping void. Her fingers clawed at the walls, her nails scraping uselessly against the unyielding metal, finally finding a seam between panels.

“Vance!” she screamed, her voice a raw, terrified plea.

The creature ahead of her, once a predator, was now a victim of the same relentless force. Its claws screeched against the walls like nails down a blackboard as it fought to hold on, its glowing eyes fixed in primal terror. But even it couldn’t withstand the pull. With a final, guttural roar, it was ripped from its perch, its massive body hurtling past Adrianna and straight toward the vent.

Near the controls, Vance had already braced himself. His belt was looped tightly around a metal strut, anchoring him to the wall. His left hand was tied to the manual override lever, his body hunched low as the beast shot toward him.

It came so fast that he barely had time to react. The creature’s claws lashed out, missing his face by inches as he ducked, his heart hammering in his chest. Then, with a deafening whoosh, it disappeared into the dark void, its final roar echoing into silence.

But the danger was far from over.

The suction redoubled, pulling Adrianna harder toward the vent, forcing her fingers to slip from their hold. Her body twisted wildly, her outstretched hand reaching for Vance as she crossed the threshold of the vent’s edge. Her eyes locked on his, wide with terror, and for a moment, he could see the sheer, unfiltered panic in her expression.

“Adrianna!” he shouted, his voice raw.

He lunged toward her, stretching as far as his tied arm would allow. Just as her body pitched forward into the abyss, his hand shot out and caught her wrist.

The force nearly tore her from his grip. Her body jerked violently, her legs vanishing into the black void of the vent as the vacuum tried to claim her. His belt groaned under the strain, the leather digging cruelly into his skin as he clung to her with everything he had.

“Don’t let go!” she cried, desperately begging him, her voice shaking as her free hand scrambled at his forearm.

“Never!” he snarled, his jaw clenched as he planted his feet against the floor. Every muscle in his body burned, his veins bulging as he fought the impossible force pulling her from him.

Adrianna’s fingers slipped slightly, her terrified sob catching in her throat. “I can’t hold–”

“Yes, you can!” Vance roared, demanding her focus, his voice cracking with desperation, “You will!”

With a guttural shout, he hauled her upward, his arm trembling under the strain. Her free hand found his arm, and he pulled her to him, his grip ironclad and bruising her skin. The pull of the vacuum dragged at both of them, his boots skidding across the floor as he fought to keep them from being swallowed whole, but the belt around him kept him from being yanked further.

Summoning every ounce of strength, he heaved her forward, her waist clearing the edge of the vent as her body slammed into his. He held her tightly, both of them collapsing against the wall as the vent continued to roar behind them.

With one last effort, Vance twisted his body slightly, slamming his free hand down on the vent control that he'd tied himself to. The heavy doors groaned, then slammed shut with a deafening clang.

The suction stopped instantly, the air falling eerily silent.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Vance’s chest heaved against Adrianna as he clung to her, his arms locked around her trembling frame. Slowly, the reality of what had just happened began to settle in, the adrenaline fading and leaving behind a crushing weight.

Then he felt it– the shaking of her body. At first, he thought it was just the aftershock of what they’d endured but when he pulled back slightly, he froze. Adrianna, the woman who had faced death with a fearless glare, was crying. Tears streamed silently down her pale face, her lips trembling as she tried to suppress the sobs threatening to break free from her lips. She buried her face in his chest, her fingers clutching his shirt with a desperation he had never seen before. Her nails felt like they were clawing at him.

Vance stared at her, stunned. He had seen her angry, defiant, cold, and calculating. But this? This was a side of her he’d never thought existed– raw, vulnerable, and utterly broken.

“Adrianna…” he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.

She didn’t respond, her tears soaking into his shirt as she trembled against him. For a moment, he didn’t know what to do. His hand hovered awkwardly above her back before finally settling there, holding her close.

“You’re okay,” he murmured, his voice soft, almost trembling, “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”

She didn’t answer, but her grip on him tightened, as if letting go would shatter her entirely.

So he held her. He didn’t say anything else– didn’t try to reassure her with empty words or tell her to pull herself together. He simply held her, his arms unyielding, as the darkness of the ship seemed to press in around them.

For once, Vance wasn’t sure who needed the comfort more– her or him. He buried his face in her hair, trying to find composure but simply scenting her and kissing her head.

There were still another two crates. What if there were more of them? He needed to get back on his feet, but right now he couldn't leave her– he didn't want to.

***

Vance was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost reverent, “and you didn’t say a word. You acted as if nothing happened within days. None of us slept well for weeks after that, and you’ve just… kept this buried all this time?”

She shrugged, a faint, bitter smile on her lips, “Madonna, what was I supposed to say? ‘Oh, by the way, I’m terrified of the dark because I thought a bioweapon was going to eat us alive’? Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.”

He leaned back, exhaling slowly as he processed her words. “So that’s why you never dim the lights fully when we go to bed,” he said quietly. “I always thought it was just a quirk of yours. I never realised that there was a reason for it.”

Adrianna shrugged again, but there was a vulnerability in her eyes now that he hadn’t seen before, “I hate not being able to see what’s around me. I can’t stand the thought of being trapped by fear like that again.”

Vance reached out, cupping her face gently in his hands, “Adri, we went through hell, and you still held it together. That’s not just brave– it’s incredible. You don’t have to justify leaving the lights on, not to me. If it helps you feel safe, then that’s what we do. No questions asked.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile, curling up to him, getting settled for an evening before bed, “you’re really okay with putting up with all of this? Realising that some things from our past were lies or half truths, I mean.”

“Dove,” he said softly, his eyes locking with hers, “if that’s what it takes to have you by my side, I’d climb every ladder on this ship so that you didn't have to, and keep the lights blazing all night. You're still you– if anything, it makes me love you more to know that you aren't as invincible as you always appeared. That said, if you ever tell me that you only ever laughed at my jokes because of being undercover– yeah… we're over.”

She snorted and swatted him for ruining a moment, “no comment, amore mio.”

 

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