I

Where The Sun Doesn't Reach

It was dark and cold. If it weren't for Rowan's flashlight attached to the suit adapted to such pressure, he wouldn't be able to see in front of him. Not that there was much to see in the first place. All there was too see was sand and marine snow drifting slowly to the bottom. The Mariana Trench was mostly devoid of life---Rowan hadn't seen a single moving thing except for the sand clouding beneath his heavy footsteps. "Command? Hello?" He helplessly called out into the radio, hoping, praying that someone would respond. Eventually, his hope waned. He was completely lost in this desolate wasteland. This was supposed to be a successful mission where he reached a rare coral reef where Lophelia Pertusa coral grew. Ever since a prior marine biologist discovered it on a radar, she couldn't shut up about a manned mission to find it. If only she had gone herself, then maybe, just maybe, Rowan wouldn't be in such a stressful predicament.

The rest of his team was gone. Two men, dead, their bodies would most likely never be found again and their families would never receive closure. What exactly had attacked them? Rowan only remembered the teeth. They were long and sharp, glimmering ominously when his flashlight reached it. The mouth of the beast was darker than the water surrounding it and even the thought of those teeth penetrating his suit and then his skin sent shivers down his spine that had nothing to do with the cold surrounding him. But just as quickly as it came and swooped away the two men one by one, it was gone. It had a large and fast body, which was very unusual considering that most creatures so deep had a slow metabolism, limiting them to sluggish movements to reserve power for when it was actually needed.

Rowan deftly brought up the screen that displayed his vitals. After averting his gaze from his racing pulse, his heart dropped when he saw that his remaining oxygen was at a measly 18 percent. If he wanted to escape this situation, he needed his oxygen. "Please just answer, goddamnit!" He yelled into the radio once again, his frustration bubbling up, causing a vein to prortude in his neck. He knew he shouldn't be so loud, especially since he was a sole witness in his comrades' death to such a horrific creature, but he was beginning to lose his mind. It wasn't as if he was intentionally suicidal, but he had little options. Suddenly, he heard the crackle of the radio and a distorted voice reached his ears.

"Novikov? Do you copy?" Even though the voice on the other side was nearly inaudible, he could make out the distinct sound of his surname and relief blossomed in his chest. But soon, it died down when he heard a low, rumbling growl. He could practically feel the vibrations travelling through the water and into his suit.