The bovine beast skidded and crashed into the far wall of the turning. It glimpsed those chasing it almost upon it and spurted forward when one leaped.
Its attacker hit the wall, sprung away and landed on the back of the fleeing beast. It raised the front of its body up and stabbed its pincer-horns into the beast’s hairy flesh, causing it to howl in pain and stumble. As it slid along the floor the other two arrived and after a few vicious stabs, ended its life.
After remaining still for a few moments and listening to the all too familiar sounds of the monsters distant feeding, Richard carefully lifted the panel aside and climbed to his feet. He stared at the T-junction at the end of the corridor where the sound originated from and slowly approached. When he grew nearer he noticed the staircase set in an alcove on the far side of the T-Junction. Though he had no idea how far he was below the hangar level, he believed his best chance of finding the exit was to head up until he came across something he recognized.
Prepared for a rushed retreat if anything appeared, Richard cautiously approached the turning. He hugged the wall, inched towards the corner and slowly peeked around the edge. The three alien beetles were gathered around a gruesome mass of ripped flesh they fed upon. Unfortunately only one of them had their back to him. If he moved for the stairs he would be seen, chased, caught and eaten. As he turned back to consider his options, he noticed a flash of red light at the end of the left T-junction corridor. Though it was only a brief glimpse, he thought he had noticed a dark form moving nearer. When a yellow flash erupted a few moments later and lit up the corridor again, the dark form was definitely nearer.
Richard slowly backed into the darkness of the corridor and pressed his shaking body behind a metal support rib.
The sounds of the hunt EV1L had heard previously and that had distracted it from its search for the two-legged creature, had changed into the unmistakable sounds of feasting―evidence the hunt had been successful. Hopeful it would have the same satisfactory outcome, it turned into the dark corridor that branched off to the right and headed towards the sound of feasting. It stopped each time the two flashes of light penetrated into the corridor from behind and caused the three creatures to shoot wary gazes in its direction. Not realizing they had become the prey, the alien beetles paid the patch of shadow little attention and resumed eating.
Richard warily watched the dark shape drift into view at the T-junction and halt for a few moments before continuing along the corridor. When it had passed by, he moved to the corner and gazed after the shadow demon.
EV1L was upon the feeding creatures before they realized it was there. Its smoky form curled around them and engulfed them all in its dark embrace. Though all three experienced excruciating pain, none were able to scream as their paralyzed bodies became absorbed by their attacker. EV1L writhed in pleasure as their sustenance flowed through it.
Taking advantage of the ghoulish distraction, Richard crossed to the staircase and silently climbed its treads. At the top he stepped off into another corridor he didn’t recognize and gazed at the three options open to him. He turned left and fled along the dark corridor spookily highlighted by his nervously held flashlight.
The nutrition EV1L had gained from the three creatures had given it strength but it still wasn’t enough to solidify its gaseous form. It turned and headed for the staircase it had heard something climb a few moments before.
Lucy looked and felt like a new woman when she stepped from the room twenty minutes later and aimed the alien pistol each way along the corridor to check it was clear of any threat. She had fashioned the alien jacket into a short dress and used a strip of material for a belt, which she had tucked the spare weapon into. Material wrapped around her feet and ankles held the sections of thick material she had cut into soles in place. Her hair was tied back and though still a little grubby, she felt good and ready for anything the spaceship threw at her.
Lucy placed the spear against the wall at arm’s length, aimed the alien pistol at the wall beside the tip and pulled the trigger. The small, red light ball exploded in a bright burst. The cloth wrapped around the end of the spear smoldered before flames grew and spread. Lucy nodded her head in satisfaction and, feeling braver than she had ever felt before, headed along the corridor with the flaming torch lighting her way.
Though Richard saw nothing to explain his latest bout of fear, he sensed something approaching. His suspicions were confirmed when a dark wavering patch of darkness drifted into the beam. The creature from below was on his trail. Richard turned and ran. When the ship trembled yet again, a support beam crashed to the floor behind him. The increased groans and bangs that echoed through the ship did not bode well for its stability. Richard threw caution to the wind and ran even faster. The ship rolled, sending him crashing against the wall; he stumbled, regained his footing and continued on. He rounded a corner and then another and fled up a staircase and along the corridor at the top. When the ship rolled in the other direction and a thundering explosion vibrated through the ship, he swayed off balance into a side room, tripped and smashed his head. The weapon fell from his hands and the flashlight went dark when it struck the floor. Richard’s collision with the hard floor also resulted in darkness when the black hood of unconsciousness slipped over him.
In a hurried gait, Sullivan led the SEALs through the ship. They had worked out they were two levels above the route they had taken to reach the spiral staircase, so the plan was to head for the back of the ship to avoid all the obstacles encountered on their outward journey, find a way down to the hangar level and head for the exit.
All felt the increased roll and yaw of the iceberg-entombed spaceship and with it the increased groans and creaks of the protesting ice. When the explosion in the weapon store ripped through the ship they were far enough away to escape the resulting carnage, but heard the resulting crashes as parts of the ship collapsed and felt the vibrations rippling through its rooms and corridors. Though they heard an occasional screech or howl from the spaceship’s alien inhabitants, none had intercepted them.
When Sullivan approached a junction, he halted the team, aimed his weapon at the turning ahead and listened to the running footsteps heading towards them. The men raised their rifles. A light flashed on the wall. Shots rang out when something appeared.
Colbert knocked Sullivan’s rifle at the ceiling and shouted, “Hold your fire. Monsters don’t have flashlights.”
“Don’t shoot!” shouted a man’s voice.
The SEALs stared at Jack and Jane when they cautiously appeared and stared back at them.
Colbert, a little surprised by their sudden appearance, stepped forward. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“Believe me, it’s not by choice,” replied Jane.