Sunny was looking at aeric with a baffled expression
"You went down there alone? Are you insane? There are monsters everywhere!"
"I was careful," Aeric replied, examining his handiwork with what appeared to be genuine satisfaction. "Stayed on the far side of this thing, away from whatever you were so worried about. Found some decent patches of seaweed without running into any trouble."
Sunny felt his eye twitch. Even in a nightmare realm filled with deadly creatures, Aeric somehow managed to sound like he'd just completed a routine errand rather than risked his life for some basic clothing.
"You didn't see anything? No creatures at all?"
Aeric shrugged. "Some bones scattered around, one crab scavenger that was too far to notice me. Nothing dangerous. The whole area seemed pretty empty, actually."
"Empty?" Sunny's blood ran cold. He quickly explained what he'd witnessed through his shadow - the massive shark corpse, the hundreds of scavenger crabs tearing it apart, the brutal hierarchy of feeding that had kept him paralyzed with terror.
As he spoke, Aeric's expression grew more attentive, though he maintained his casual posture.
"Around the north side?" Aeric asked. "Near those tall coral formations that look like broken pillars?"
"Yes, exactly there. How could you not see it?"
"Because I went south," Aeric said matter-of-factly. "Figured if there were dangerous things on one side, I'd try the other side first. Basic logic."
The implications hit Sunny like a physical blow. If Aeric had gone to the same area where the feeding frenzy was taking place, he would have been torn apart by hundreds of monsters. His survival had been nothing more than a lucky guess.
"The sun is setting," Aeric observed, nodding toward the horizon where the light was beginning to fade. "The sea is about to return, isn't it, Sunless?"
Sunny grimaced at the nickname but nodded. "When night falls, the tide comes back. And it brings things with it."
As if summoned by his words, a distant rumbling echoed across the exposed seabed. Far on the horizon, a wall of darkness was approaching - the black waters returning to reclaim their domain with unnatural speed.
"Wonderful," Aeric said dryly. "I was just starting to like having dry land under my feet."
The water level was rising with startling speed now, waves beginning to crash against the base of their stone platform. The sound echoed strangely in the hollow spaces of what Sunny was beginning to realize might be some kind of massive statue.
"So what's the plan?" Aeric asked.
"Don't die," Sunny replied flatly. "Stay up here and hope nothing decides we look tasty enough to make the climb."
"That's not really a plan. That's just... hoping."
"You have a better idea?"
Aeric was quiet for a moment, studying the rising water and the shapes moving within it. "Not really," he admitted. after a while both were laying in the middle of the platform back to each other idly chatting away until sleep came, which was hard considering their situations
The water reached what appeared to be its peak level, transforming their refuge into a small island in a sea of darkness. All around them, the night was alive with movement and sound - a constant reminder that they were surrounded by predators.
That's when they saw it.
A sudden flare of brilliant light erupted in the distance, cutting through the darkness like a beacon. It was warm and golden, completely unlike the cold bioluminescence of the sea creatures.
"What is that?" Aeric asked, his casual tone replaced by genuine wonder.
Sunny felt his heart leap with hope. "Fire. Real fire." He stood up carefully, trying to get a better view. "There are other sleepers out there!"
The light burned brightly for several minutes, a defiant flame in the endless darkness of the Forgotten Shore. It seemed to pulse and flicker, as if being maintained by someone who was struggling to keep it alive. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it began to fade.
"No, no, no," Sunny whispered, watching helplessly as the light grew dimmer and dimmer until it finally disappeared entirely, leaving only the memory of its warmth.
"They're alive," he said, more to himself than to Aeric. "Someone else is also there, someone from our batch!"
"Where did it come from?" Aeric was on his feet now too, scanning the darkness for any sign of the light's return.
Sunny tried to judge the direction and distance, though the coral formations made it difficult to get an accurate reading. "Southeast, I think. Maybe a kilometer away, maybe two. Hard to tell ."
They stood in silence for several moments, both processing what they'd witnessed. The implications were enormous - other sleepers meant potential allies, shared resources, and most importantly, proof that survival was possible in this nightmare realm.
"We should go to them," Aeric said suddenly.
"What? Are you insane?"
"Think about it logically," Aeric continued, his tone taking on the persuasive quality of someone used to making arguments. "Sitting here isn't a sustainable strategy. We have no food, no fresh water, and no real shelter. Eventually, something will find a way up here, or we'll starve, or we'll make a fatal mistake."
"We could also get killed trying to reach them, the labyrinth is filled with thousands of nightmare creatures!!."
"True. But at least that way we'd be taking action instead of just waiting to die." Aeric gestured toward the darkness where the light had appeared. "Besides, if they managed to create fire, they clearly have some kind of advantage we don't. Resources, abilities, knowledge - something that's keeping them alive."
Sunny wanted to argue, but he found himself nodding reluctantly. As terrifying as the prospect was, Aeric's logic was sound. Their current situation was ultimately hopeless unless something changed.
"When?" he asked.
"Morning," Aeric replied without hesitation. "When the see goes back and takes the horrors in it with it. We will travel through the labyrinth while hiding from the scavengers, send your shadow to scout ahead like you did in the morning."
"Or we will be surrounded by those scavengers and die a gruesome death"
"Possibly. But it's still our best chance." Aeric settled back down on the stone, apparently having made his decision. "We wait for dawn, then we move."
The logic was sound, but that didn't make the waiting any easier. They sat in the darkness, surrounded by the sounds of things that wanted to kill them, knowing that come morning they would voluntarily enter that same environment.
"You know," Aeric said conversationally after a few minutes of tense silence, "I have to admit this isn't quite how I imagined my first Nightmare would go."
"What did you imagine?"
"Something more... straightforward, I suppose. A clear enemy, a specific challenge to overcome. Not this survival horror scenario where we're completely outmatched and have to rely on luck and timing."
Sunny glanced at his companion. Despite his casual tone, there was something in Aeric's voice - not fear, exactly, but a kind of thoughtful consideration that suggested he was taking their situation seriously.
"Are you afraid?" Sunny asked.
"Of dying? Not particularly." Aeric's response was matter-of-fact. "Of failing, maybe. Of proving that I'm not as capable as I think I am." He paused, seeming to consider his words. "I've always been good at solving problems, at finding solutions where others couldn't. But this... this isn't the kind of problem you solve with cleverness or determination."
"Then how do you solve it?"
"You don't solve it. You survive it. And hope that's enough."
The water around their platform continued to teem with life - predatory life that viewed them as nothing more than potential food. Occasionally, something would surface briefly, giving them a glimpse of teeth or tentacles or eyes that reflected the dim bioluminescent glow before disappearing back into the depths.
The hours passed slowly. They took turns keeping watch, though in truth both of them were too tense to really sleep. The creatures in the water seemed to follow patterns - periods of intense activity followed by relative calm, as if they were taking turns hunting or responding to some underwater signals that the humans couldn't perceive.
"There's definitely some kind of social structure," Aeric observed during one of the active periods, when the water around their platform was practically boiling with movement. "Look how they avoid each other's hunting zones. No direct competition for the same prey."
"Fascinating," Sunny said dryly. "I'll be sure to mention that in my last will and testament."
"Mock it if you want, but information is the only advantage we have. The more we understand about their behavior, the better our chances of avoiding them tomorrow."
"It's like a city down there," Sunny murmured during one particularly intense display of underwater movement. "A city of monsters."
"Every ecosystem is a city of sorts," Aeric replied. "Predators, prey, scavengers, all playing their roles in maintaining the balance."
"And where do we fit in that balance?"
"We don't. That's the problem." Aeric's tone was matter-of-fact. "We're an invasive species in an environment we don't understand, with no natural defenses and no established niche. From the ecosystem's perspective, we're an anomaly to be eliminated."
"Cheerful thought."
"But accurate. Which is why we need to find the other sleepers. Safety in numbers, shared resources, and most importantly, other humans who might have figured out how to establish a foothold in this place. with usefull aspects such as your own"
after that They sat in terrified silence, waiting for something massive and terrible to emerge from the depths and end their brief existence. But as the minutes passed and the roar wasn't repeated, the normal activity gradually resumed around them.
"Dawn's coming," Aeric observed, nodding toward the lightening horizon. "The tide should start going out soon."
"Are you still planning to go through with this insane idea?"
"Do you have a better suggestion?"
Sunny was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. "No. I don't."
"Then we go. We find the other sleepers, we pool our resources and knowledge, and we figure out how to survive in this place." Aeric's voice carried its familiar note of confidence, though there was an underlying tension that hadn't been there before. "It's not a great plan, but it's better than sitting here waiting to die."
The water around their platform was beginning to recede as the sun climbed higher, revealing the tips of coral formations that had been completely submerged during the night. With the retreat of the sea came the retreat of its inhabitants - most of them, anyway.
As the tide continued to ebb, more and more of the coral labyrinth was revealed. It was a maze of impossible complexity - channels and passages that twisted and turned in ways that defied mapping, chambers that opened into vast caverns, and obstacles that would challenge even experienced climbers.
"The water's gone."
"Yes," Sunny replied, watching the sea level drop rapidly. " we can move."
Aeric stood up, wincing slightly as he moved his bruised leg.
"So we head toward that light we saw?"
Sunny nodded. "Southeast. But we need to move fast - the scavengers will be concentrated around the carcass for now, which gives us our best chance to get through the labyrinth safely."
"And if we encounter any stragglers?"
"We run," Sunny said flatly. "You're not ready to fight one of those things, and I'm not stupid enough to try alone."
Aeric's jaw tightened at the reminder of his weakness, but he nodded curtly.
"Fine. Lead the way."
They began their descent from the stone platform, using the crude rope Aeric had woven from seaweed. The climb down was treacherous, made worse by Aeric's injuries, but they managed to reach the muddy ground without incident.
"Stay close," Sunny whispered as they entered the coral maze. "And stay quiet."
His shadow raced ahead, scouting the path while the two boys moved carefully through the twisting passages. The labyrinth was eerily quiet except for the distant sounds of feeding from the direction of the statue.
They moved steadily southeast, taking advantage of the temporary respite to cover as much ground as possible. Aeric struggled to keep up, his wounded leg slowing their progress, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward without complaint.
"There," Sunny said after an hour of careful navigation, pointing toward a cluster of tall coral formations in the distance. "If anyone made that light, they'd need high ground to stay safe when the sea returns."
"How far?"
"Three, maybe four kilometers. We can make it if we don't run into trouble."
As if summoned by his words, his shadow suddenly returned with urgent news - a group of scavengers was moving through a passage they needed to cross.
"Detour," Sunny muttered, leading them down a different path.
The long night finally began to recede as pale light crept across the horizon. Sunny felt his body aching from the hours of tension, but relief flooded through him as the familiar rumbling began.
Just as he remembered from the previous days, the black water started to retreat with the coming dawn, revealing the coral labyrinth once more.
Aeric, who had been silent for most of the night, suddenly sat up straighter.
"The water's going down."
"Yes," Sunny replied, watching the sea level drop rapidly. "In an hour, we can move."
Soon, the familiar landscape was revealed - crimson coral formations rising from black mud, creating the maze-like paths they would need to navigate. And there, scattered around the base of the headless statue, the carapace scavengers emerged from their hiding spots to continue their feast on the giant carcass.
Aeric stood up, wincing slightly as he moved his bruised leg.
"So we head toward that light we saw?"
Sunny nodded. "Southeast. But we need to move fast - the scavengers will be concentrated around the statue for now, which gives us our best chance to get through the labyrinth safely."
"And if we encounter any stragglers?"
"We run," Sunny said flatly. "You're not ready to fight one of those things, and I'm not stupid enough to try alone."
Aeric's jaw tightened at the reminder of his weakness, but he nodded curtly.
"Fine. Lead the way."
They began their descent from the stone platform, using the crude rope Aeric had woven from seaweed. The climb down was treacherous, made worse by Aeric's injuries, but they managed to reach the muddy ground without incident.
"Stay close," Sunny whispered as they entered the coral maze. "And stay quiet."
His shadow raced ahead, scouting the path while the two boys moved carefully through the twisting passages. The labyrinth was eerily quiet except for the distant sounds of feeding from the direction of the statue.
They moved steadily southeast, taking advantage of the temporary respite to cover as much ground as possible. Aeric struggled to keep up, his wounded leg slowing their progress, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward without complaint.
"There," Sunny said after an hour of careful navigation, pointing toward a cluster of tall coral formations in the distance. "If anyone made that light, they'd need high ground to stay safe when the sea returns."
"How far?"
"Three, maybe four kilometers. We can make it if we don't run into trouble."
As if summoned by his words, his shadow suddenly returned with urgent news - a group of scavengers was moving through a passage they needed to cross.
"Detour," Sunny muttered, leading them down a different path.
Immediately, a strange feeling enveloped his mind. It was as though the world beyond the labyrinth did not exist anymore, and all that was left were its twisting, dark paths.
'This thing almost seems endless.'
Shaking his head, Sunny sent the shadow to scout ahead again, hoping to be notified of any latent danger in advance, and began to move forward. their life now depended on whether or not he would reach the distant hill before the sun began to set. let alone the other sleepers
He didn't even want to think about what would happen if they were still inside the labyrinth once the dark sea came back in an unstoppable flood.
The shadow moved ahead of him, not meeting any hurdles. Sometimes it would climb high to scout the direction of different paths, allowing Sunny to choose the optimal route most of the time. However, they still had to backtrack a considerable distance once or twice, ending up either in a dead-end or on a path leading in the wrong direction.
Despite that, everything seemed to be going smoothly.
Sunny even had time to carefully study the interior of the labyrinth, noticing more details of its composition, as well as a frightening amount of unrecognizable bones hiding in the mud beneath his feet. aeric meanwhile had beside to reinforce his "clothes" with bones wrapped around the sea wead
Because of how well things were going, he lowered his guard a little. His arrogance was also to blame — with the protagonist of the novel with him and aware of potential plot armor, he assumed he had nothing to worry about
That's why, when the mud directly in front of him started to move, he was not fast enough to pull sunless back and a massive pincer shot out of the ground tearing through the air and threatening to cut sunny's body with one strike