Aaron Miller

Cautiously, we stepped closer. My heart thumped heavily in my chest. The structure was massive, solid concrete, weather-stained and partly covered by moss, decades old at least. A faint mechanical hum drifted from somewhere inside, stronger now, vibrating gently through the soles of my boots. Maybe an old dam, or some kind of waterworks?

Cautiously, we stepped closer. My heart thumped heavily in my chest. The structure was massive, solid concrete, weather-stained and partly covered by moss, decades old at least. A faint mechanical hum drifted from somewhere inside, stronger now, vibrating gently through the soles of my boots. Maybe an old dam, or some kind of waterworks?

Ben suggested nervously, but the words felt thin, inadequate. I circled the structure, searching for a clue. Nearby trees, bare of bark, stood silently, stripped smooth as bone. Amid thick brush at the edge of the clearing, something metallic caught my eye. I stepped closer, brushing aside vines and dirt to reveal a rusted steel hatch, half buried beneath soil and vegetation.

Ben suggested nervously, but the words felt thin, inadequate. I circled the structure, searching for a clue. Nearby trees, bare of bark, stood silently, stripped smooth as bone. Amid thick brush at the edge of the clearing, something metallic caught my eye. I stepped closer, brushing aside vines and dirt to reveal a rusted steel hatch, half buried beneath soil and vegetation.

Faded letters stenciled onto its surface read, USGS, Authorized Personnel Only. Ben peered over my shoulder, reading aloud quietly, U.S. Geological Survey. What would they have done out here? I shrugged uncertainly. Monitoring, maybe. Some old research station or something abandoned. Ben knelt and tested the hatch handle cautiously. It moved slightly, the ancient hinges squealing in protest.

Faded letters stenciled onto its surface read, USGS, Authorized Personnel Only. Ben peered over my shoulder, reading aloud quietly, U.S. Geological Survey. What would they have done out here? I shrugged uncertainly. Monitoring, maybe. Some old research station or something abandoned. Ben knelt and tested the hatch handle cautiously. It moved slightly, the ancient hinges squealing in protest.

Ben, I don't think— But he'd already wrenched the hatch open fully, revealing a steel-wrung ladder descending into absolute darkness. Cold air flowed upward, carrying a damp, metallic odor. I'll just take a quick look, he said hurriedly, pulling his headlamp from his pack and clicking it on. Ben, wait. We don't know what's down there. He waved off my concern impatiently.

Ben, I don't think— But he'd already wrenched the hatch open fully, revealing a steel-wrung ladder descending into absolute darkness. Cold air flowed upward, carrying a damp, metallic odor. I'll just take a quick look, he said hurriedly, pulling his headlamp from his pack and clicking it on. Ben, wait. We don't know what's down there. He waved off my concern impatiently.

I'll be back in ten minutes, just want to see. Before I could object again, he swung himself onto the ladder and descended into the blackness, his light fading quickly as he dropped down, rung by rung. A sense of dread rose steadily in my gut as his steps echoed, then gradually fell silent. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. Ben? I called down the hatch.

I'll be back in ten minutes, just want to see. Before I could object again, he swung himself onto the ladder and descended into the blackness, his light fading quickly as he dropped down, rung by rung. A sense of dread rose steadily in my gut as his steps echoed, then gradually fell silent. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. Ben? I called down the hatch.

My voice bounced hollowly against unseen walls. No answer came. The humming suddenly stopped, the forest falling utterly silent. I strained my ears into the silence below, listening. A sound scraped briefly, like fingernails against concrete, quick and sharp. Then silence again. I knelt, peering into the darkness, heart racing. Ben, answer me, man! Nothing, just the gaping, empty dark.

My voice bounced hollowly against unseen walls. No answer came. The humming suddenly stopped, the forest falling utterly silent. I strained my ears into the silence below, listening. A sound scraped briefly, like fingernails against concrete, quick and sharp. Then silence again. I knelt, peering into the darkness, heart racing. Ben, answer me, man! Nothing, just the gaping, empty dark.

An hour passed, panic now clawing at my nerves. I debated following him, but hesitated. The darkness below felt thick, unnatural. Every instinct screamed at me to stay put. I paced helplessly, heart pounding, searching the clearing for any sign of Ben, praying he'd emerge smiling, joking about getting lost.

An hour passed, panic now clawing at my nerves. I debated following him, but hesitated. The darkness below felt thick, unnatural. Every instinct screamed at me to stay put. I paced helplessly, heart pounding, searching the clearing for any sign of Ben, praying he'd emerge smiling, joking about getting lost.

but he never did as night began to fall again my anxiety deepened into despair i built a fire next to the hatch desperate for its small circle of flickering light shadows danced wildly around the clearing deepening the darkness beyond From the corner of my eye, a flash of color broke through the gloom. I turned sharply, squinting into the woods.

but he never did as night began to fall again my anxiety deepened into despair i built a fire next to the hatch desperate for its small circle of flickering light shadows danced wildly around the clearing deepening the darkness beyond From the corner of my eye, a flash of color broke through the gloom. I turned sharply, squinting into the woods.

Far off between trees, a strange red glow flickered, moving slightly, wavering like a distant lantern. Every hair on my neck rose. Ben? I called weakly. But I knew immediately it wasn't him. The glow hovered a few moments longer before blinking out suddenly, plunging the forest back into total darkness.

Far off between trees, a strange red glow flickered, moving slightly, wavering like a distant lantern. Every hair on my neck rose. Ben? I called weakly. But I knew immediately it wasn't him. The glow hovered a few moments longer before blinking out suddenly, plunging the forest back into total darkness.

My heart thundered as I retreated closer to the fire, shivering not from the cold but from dread. Something watched me from the shadows, unseen but undeniably present. All I could do was sit vigilantly by the fire, eyes fixed upon the open hatch, listening as the silence stretched endlessly into the night. Dawn arrived cold and muted, slipping into the forest without fanfare.

My heart thundered as I retreated closer to the fire, shivering not from the cold but from dread. Something watched me from the shadows, unseen but undeniably present. All I could do was sit vigilantly by the fire, eyes fixed upon the open hatch, listening as the silence stretched endlessly into the night. Dawn arrived cold and muted, slipping into the forest without fanfare.