Nova's eyelids fluttered open. A fine layer of dust tickled her antennae and eyelids, drifting down from the crumbling walls above.
From above, tiny pebbles tapped faintly against the ground, breaking the silence with irregular clicks.
She blinked hard, trying to focus. The walls around her wavered in her blurred vision, shapes shifting in the dim light.
Where am I?
Her throat felt raw, her voice barely a rasp, the sound muffled by the heavy, stale air.
A groan escaped her as she lifted a trembling hand to her head. A sharp pain flared instantly, spreading across her skull in hot pulses. The rough plates of her exoskeleton shifted slightly as she touched the wound. She drew her hand back—and froze. Crimson streaked her fingers, glinting faintly in the dim light.
Her breathing quickened. Each inhale scraped against her throat. Panic flooded her chest, shallow and erratic.
This is… my blood…
The metallic tang of it lingered on her tongue. Her stomach turned. Then the memories came—broken, jarring flashes that struck like impacts: the centipede's armored legs pounding the ground, the cavern floor giving way beneath her, the deafening clatter of collapsing stone and dirt, Beatrice shouting her name, and Ari diving without hesitation after her into the pit.
Her chest heaved, each breath shallow and ragged, scraping against her throat. Her legs trembled beneath her, quivering as she hugged herself tightly. Her antennae pressed flat against her head, stiff and twitching at every faint vibration of shifting dust and loose stone.
"I… I'm scared," she whispered, voice trembling so violently it barely carried through the thick, musty air. "I don't… I don't want to die…"
The cavern around her felt impossibly vast, its walls looming and oppressive. Dust drifted lazily from above, tiny stones clattering against the packed soil with soft, uneven taps. She squeezed her eyes shut, the dim glow of distant fungi flickering across her vision.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, every muscle taut. The weight of fear pressed on her chest, making each breath shallow and jagged. Every nerve screamed, every instinct urged her to run, to hide, to survive—but the crater's walls hemmed her in, cold and unyielding beneath her armored feet.
Her chest heaved as panic clawed through her. The memories of the mission—the reckless lunge at the earthworm, ignoring Beatrice's orders—flashed sharply, jagged and unforgiving.
Her voice cracked. "Who did I think I was… ignoring orders?" The words trembled in the hollow air, barely more than a whisper. "Acting tough… pretending I could be strong like them…"
A shaky breath escaped her lips. "I'm just… a coward."
The confession stung worse than the pain in her head. It pressed heavily against her chest, suffocating, as if speaking it aloud made it more real.
Her fingers dug into her arms, nails scraping faintly against the smooth ridges of her exoskeleton. Somewhere in the cavern, water dripped steadily, the quiet plink echoing off the walls—a subtle reminder that she was utterly, painfully alone.
Nova's chest tightened as the memory resurfaced. Valeria's calm, unflinching gaze pressed into her mind, the words sharp and clear: "This is the reality outside our colony walls. Death follows us. Sometimes it claims us. If you aren't ready to face that, you don't belong in the military."
The echo sent a shiver down her spine. Dust clung to her sweat-slicked face, gritty against her tears. She pressed her palms to the rough, damp wall of the pit, feeling cold soil crumble slightly under her armored fingers. Her breaths came short and ragged, scraping against her throat.
A sudden tremor shook the walls beneath her, sending dust cascading from the jagged ceiling. Packed soil rattled against her armored feet, and small stones tumbled with sharp clinks that echoed through the pit.
Nova's eyes snapped open, heart hammering. Her fingers scraped against the cold, gritty soil as she clutched the uneven wall. The tremor shivered up her legs, and for a moment, she froze, every nerve screaming.
Pressing her back against the rough surface, the jagged wall bit lightly into her armored carapace. Dust motes hung thick in the faint glow of distant fungi, drifting slowly, while small pebbles rolled across her feet with soft, uneven taps. Her chest rose and fell in sharp, shallow gasps, each tremor sending tiny shocks through her legs.
She unsheathed one of her mandibles, the cool metal glinting faintly in the dim light. Turning her head made pain flare along her skull, and she pressed her free hand against the wall for support. Her armored feet shuffled carefully over loose stones and dust, each step deliberate as her muscles tensed and her antennae twitched at the faint vibrations of the cavern floor.
Nova pressed forward cautiously, her antennae quivering with each faint vibration in the packed soil. The tremors grew stronger, rattling the walls and reverberating up her legs. She swallowed hard, teeth pressing together as her armored feet sank slightly into loose dirt. Shadows flickered across the jagged walls with every shudder, and the pit seemed to twist and shrink around her, each movement a subtle reminder of how precarious her footing was.
Suddenly, the ground a short distance beneath her feet shuddered violently. Dust and small stones erupted around her, spraying debris into the air. She screamed instinctively, raising her arms to shield her face. Tiny pebbles clattered against her armored carapace, and the gritty soil scratched against her palms. The world became a chaotic blur of rock and dirt.
When she dared to open her eyes, the sight froze her in place. The centipede erupted from the dirt, larger and more menacing than she remembered. Its armored legs hammered against the soil in a rapid, relentless rhythm, sending vibrations through the cavern floor. Glowing red eyes locked onto her, unblinking and predatory.
But she wasn't alone. A flash of motion—metallic glint from his mandibles—skidded beside her. Ari landed with precise control, both blades in hand, his armor streaked with dirt and fresh cuts. The faint scrape of metal against his palms echoed as he adjusted his grip, ready for the centipede's next move.
"Look who finally decided to wake up." A faint smirk tugged at Ari's lips. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, streaking down his cheek and the dark exoskeleton along his shoulders. His eyes, sharp and calculating, flicked toward the centipede, calm and steady, showing no hint of panic.
"Ari…" Nova whispered, her voice barely audible. Her antennae quivered as she tightened her grip around her mandible, knuckles pressing against the cool metal.
The ground shuddered violently. The centipede lunged, armored legs hammering the packed soil in a rapid, relentless rhythm. Each chitinous segment flexed as it surged upward, sending vibrations rattling through Nova's legs and antennae. Its glowing red eyes locked onto her, unblinking and terrifying.
"Look out!" Ari lunged, diving forward. In one swift, fluid motion, he scooped Nova into his arms. Her legs flailed briefly, fingers digging into the ridges of his exoskeleton, eyes wide with fear. Dust and small stones sprayed into the air as the centipede's claws slammed into the ground where she had just stood, leaving a massive crater.
Ari's armored feet skidded over the loose soil as he ran, mandibles drawn and glinting faintly in the dim fungal light. The scrape of metal against his palms was sharp in the quiet cavern. His face remained calm and focused, eyes flicking constantly to dodge the creature's claws, each step measured and precise.
Ari's feet crunched softly against the cavern floor as he carried her, each step precise, controlled, effortless. Dust and small stones shifted beneath him, scraping against his armored soles, but he never faltered, eyes flicking constantly toward any lingering threat.
While I was here… drowning in despair… Nova thought, chest tight, antennae twitching. He was facing that creature head-on, all alone. I thought I could get stronger, but… I can't catch up to someone like him.
"Are you alright? You've been awfully quiet this whole time. Not badly hurt, are you?" His voice was steady, measured, calm but attentive, the faint tension in his gaze showing he was still scanning the cavern as he looked down at her.
"No…" she hesitated, the word barely above a whisper. Her fingers clenched slightly at her sides, embarrassed by how small and helpless she felt in his arms. "S-so… can you please… put me down?" she added awkwardly, her antennae twitching nervously.
"Right. I'm sorry." Ari nodded, careful, and lowered her to the ground. His armored feet shifted slightly to give her space as she regained her footing, brushing dust from her exoskeleton and her hair.
Nova felt a flush creep over her face, a mix of relief and lingering embarrassment. She adjusted the grip on her mandible, avoiding his eyes, though her chest still pounded with adrenaline—and something else, something quieter, awe-filled.
"Let's keep moving. We don't know when that creature will strike again." His voice was calm, edged with urgency. Eyes sharp and scanning the dark tunnel ahead, antennae twitching at every subtle vibration in the soil, his stance remained controlled and ready.
Nova nodded, tightening her grip on her mandible as she fell in step beside him. The cavern was pitch-dark, broken only by the faint glow from distant cracks in the ceiling where sunlight barely filtered through. Her armored feet shifted carefully over loose stones and packed dirt, each step sending tiny pebbles skittering across the floor.
For a moment, silence stretched between them as Nova followed closely behind, eyes fixed on Ari's steady pace. Finally, she broke the quiet.
"What… what is that creature doing here?" Her voice was small, tentative, and her antennae twitched nervously.
"Isn't it obvious?" His face remained calm, eyes forward, antennae flicking at faint vibrations in the soil. "It's hunting for food. Those earthworms are a valuable source."
"So… it was the one who made this massive crater your patrol team discovered?" Nova asked, piecing it together, fingers brushing against the ridges of her exoskeleton.
"No. This crater was definitely caused by the earthworms." His tone was serious, measured. "At first, we thought they were digging toward us to stay warm for winter. But that wasn't the case. They were fleeing underground from that centipede-like monster."
Ari suddenly winced, jaw tightening and antennae flicking sharply.
"Are you alright?" Nova asked hesitantly, fingers brushing against her own exoskeleton in nervous uncertainty. Her antennae twitched as she tried to gauge his reaction. "The centipede… it really hurt you badly."
Ari chuckled softly, a faint rasp that didn't reach his eyes, trying to mask the pain. "No, I didn't get these injuries from that creature." His gaze met hers for a brief moment, calm and measured. "When the floor collapsed beneath you and you fell, I instinctively jumped after you. Near the bottom, I took most of the impact myself."
Nova's chest tightened at his words, and she looked down, embarrassed and guilty.
"And without giving me a moment to rest," Ari continued, "that creature attacked again. I had to lure it away from you while you were unconscious."
Nova swallowed hard, her antennae twitching as she realized the full weight of what he'd done. While she had been trapped in panic and despair, Ari had faced not one, but two life-threatening situations to protect her.
Ari steadied himself and rose to his feet, brushing dust from his armor. His breathing slowed, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.
"Thank you…" Nova's voice was faint, nearly lost in the stillness.
Ari glanced over, antennae flicking slightly. "Did you say something?"
"No, I didn't." She turned away quickly, heat rising across her face. Her armored feet scuffed softly against the loose soil as she stepped ahead, trying to hide her expression in the dim shadows and drifting dust.
"So… where do you plan to go now?" Her voice was soft but steady, antennae flicking nervously as she kept pace.
"I'll try to find an exit." His tone was firm, measured. "There has to be at least one down here."
They moved forward together, armored feet crunching softly over loose soil and scattered pebbles. Their silhouettes faded into the vast darkness of the cavern, the echo of their steps the only sound lingering in the still, musty air.