“Hopefully those monsters we met are nocturnal,” said Max.
Henry stared at the steadily brightening light filtering through the thick foliage. “If they are, the light could bring a new set of daytime creatures foraging for food.”
Max sighed. “Then I suggest we keep moving.”
Theo led them on.
Jack thought it would be suicide to rush through the astonishing forest and alert any creatures that might dwell within of their presence. After he’d led them what he thought was a safe distance from the door and the monster that might appear through it, they’d come across a clump of thick bushes adorned with large leaves, gathered around the base of one of the huge trees. It made an ideal temporary refuge. Hidden within, they turned off their lights and listened to the shrieks, howls and wanderings of unknown things moving through the lush, alien vegetation, which thankfully, seemed free of bugs and insects.
After a while, Jane noticed the shape of individual leaves in the gloom and pulled aside a leafy branch. “It’s getting lighter.”
Lucy and Jack peered through the gap.
“It’s as if the sun is rising,” said Lucy, astonished.
Jack’s eyes searched the area. He saw nothing moving. “We haven’t heard anything for a while, so maybe it’s safe to venture out.”
They vacated their temporary sanctuary and pushed through the undergrowth. When they entered a small clearing, they stopped and gazed at the light panels high above them that gradually increased in luminosity, allowing them a glimpse of the room’s architecture for the first time. Towering arches, of what looked like stone, stretched up to a central round glass roof, parts of which were visible through gaps in the leafy canopy. The wall sections between the ached supports were covered in jagged protrusions of rock. Some of the larger ones stretched a few yards out into the room. What seemed to be caves, dotted areas of the walls, their ominous openings inviting imaginations to picture the foul creatures that dwelled within. Spotting movement, they watched as one of the Hunter creatures climbed up the wall and disappear into one of the dark openings.
“It seems they’re nocturnal, so we might be okay now.” Jack’s gaze searched their surroundings for signs of movement, but all was still.
Forgetting their fearful predicament, Lucy gazed around in wonder. “This must be some sort of biosphere.”
A large craggy boulder, about three-yards-high and four wide, stood at the far side of the clearing. An ivy type of growth with blue leaves covered the top and draped down its craggy sides, and bright red moss grew over the lower parts. The ground hugging mist, only a few inches deep here, swirled around their ankles when they walked over to the rock, revealing patches of the stone floor beneath their feet.
Jack placed a hand on the rock; it was cold. When he tapped it with his knuckles, a hollow metallic boom rang out. “It’s metal.”
Jane studied the rock. Even close up the texture and form of the metal-work imitated rock convincingly.
Lucy ran a hand over the strange vegetation. “I would love to collect a sample of this.”
Jack’s head twisted toward the rustling of leaves. Something was coming. He snapped off a length of the blue ivy and handed it to Lucy. “Let’s go,” he whispered. He led them around the side of the rock. Before Lucy followed, she grabbed a handful of red moss and stuffed it and the ivy into a pocket.
When they emerged from the far side of the rock, Jack cocked an ear. “Can you hear water?”
They fell to silence and listened to the distant sound of splashing water.
Jane pointed off to the right. “I think it’s coming from over there.”
A few steps brought them to a stone path slick with moisture. A plethora of root tendrils, both large and small, had spread across the stones to suck up the available moisture. They followed the path and stepped over the larger tree roots in their way and passed beneath towering trees that stretched up to the roof high above them. The relaxing sound of trickling water became louder, evidence they neared its source.
The source of the trickling water was revealed when Jack pushed aside a leafy branch and held it until the two women had passed.
“What a beautiful sight,” stated Jane.
The cascade of water that flowed from a small cave near the top of the high rock wall meandered down the rock face and plunged off an overhang near the bottom. It splashed into a large pool of water that overflowed onto the path and fed a small stream leading off into the room. Water dripped from large icicles hanging from some of the broken panes in the roof and fell into the pool or the verdant area.
“I guess the melting ice explains how the plants are kept watered,” said Lucy. “If these plants are similar to Earth’s, there must be a system to control the influx of oxygen and extract the build-up of CO2. The plants would die if there wasn’t.”
Jane stepped across the numerous roots that had crept into the pool to suck up the life sustaining water and peered into its depths. Small dark alien life-forms swam in the deepest parts the light barely penetrated. She turned away and watched Jack cautiously move aside a leafy branch and peer further into the thick foliage. Though different in looks to the man she’d lost, he had many similarities to Kyle. Both were ruggedly handsome, considerate, and emanated a sense of security and trust. Jack was not a man to abandon anyone who needed his help. Though she’d been attracted to him when they’d first met, she had done nothing to prompt a relationship. She was well aware of the reason—Kyle. Though his loss had occurred many years ago, it was still fresh in her mind, as were their wonderful memories together. She stared at Jack’s stubble-covered chin and knew from intimate moments with Kyle when he’d neglected the razor for a few days, it would be prickly if they kissed. Perhaps the time for letting Kyle go was drawing near. She blushed and quickly redirected her gaze when Jack turned to look at her.
Jack wore a mask of worry. “I think something’s stalking us.”
Jane scanned the area for a clue to his anxiety.
A distant shriek filtered though the undergrowth.
Though the creature sounded far away, and he saw nothing in the immediate vicinity to threaten them, Jack remained uneasy. He felt with all his senses that eyes were upon them. A rustle of leaves, no stronger than a gentle breeze would cause, alerted him to its presence; there was no wind in the ship. A killer was on the prowl. He turned to his companions cowering in his shadow and bade them to silence with a finger to his lips. He pointed back the way they’d come and whispered, “It’s over there.”
A rustling of branches confirmed to Jane that he was correct. Lucy’s trembling hand gently gripped her arm in search of comfort and reassurance. Though uncertain it was something she could honestly provide, she nevertheless placed a hand on Lucy’s and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Maybe it’s Henry or one of the others?” she whispered.
Jack shrugged. “Perhaps, but I’m not willing to risk our lives finding out. We’ll head away from it.”
Lucy stared at the sound of something creeping through the undergrowth. Its slow movements sounded purposeful and sinister. When fear threatened to take hold of her senses, she forced herself not to panic. “What do we do?” she asked, nervously.
Jack had no idea, but he thought staying still and silent was a good first step until they’d identified its exact position. He relayed this to his two frightened comrades.
All three hardly dared to breathe while their eyes and ears scanned the lush vegetation surrounding them in an effort to pinpoint the object of their fear. The only noise was the rapid beating of their hearts and the trickling waterfall, the sight of which only a few moments earlier had painted a tranquil scene that had belied the horror that lurked nearby.