Aaron Miller

I had barely slept, half dozing in fits by the dying embers, my eyes fixed anxiously on the open hatch. Every minute felt like an hour. Every hour felt like eternity. Ben had vanished without a trace, leaving only unanswered questions echoing inside that concrete darkness. Desperation overcame my fear as daylight strengthened.

I had barely slept, half dozing in fits by the dying embers, my eyes fixed anxiously on the open hatch. Every minute felt like an hour. Every hour felt like eternity. Ben had vanished without a trace, leaving only unanswered questions echoing inside that concrete darkness. Desperation overcame my fear as daylight strengthened.

Ignoring the scream of instinct in my head, I gripped my flashlight tightly and leaned cautiously over the edge of the hatch. The latter descended into black water, flooding the space that had been empty just hours before. My stomach turned sharply. There had been no rain, no sound of flooding overnight.

Ignoring the scream of instinct in my head, I gripped my flashlight tightly and leaned cautiously over the edge of the hatch. The latter descended into black water, flooding the space that had been empty just hours before. My stomach turned sharply. There had been no rain, no sound of flooding overnight.

ben my voice broke as it echoed down into the water-logged void i climbed down two rungs holding my breath shining the flashlight into the murky depths there was nothing but dark water stagnant and cold the surface still as glass i reached out brushing my fingers against it Immediately, a cold shock jolted through my body, intense enough to wrench a startled cry from my throat.

ben my voice broke as it echoed down into the water-logged void i climbed down two rungs holding my breath shining the flashlight into the murky depths there was nothing but dark water stagnant and cold the surface still as glass i reached out brushing my fingers against it Immediately, a cold shock jolted through my body, intense enough to wrench a startled cry from my throat.

Panicking, I nearly lost my grip on the ladder, scrambling desperately back up until I was safely above ground again. Staring numbly at the hatch, I knew something was profoundly wrong, unnatural. I moved instinctively upstream, half running, half stumbling, seeking clarity, or a source, or just an escape. But the runoff abruptly stopped.

Panicking, I nearly lost my grip on the ladder, scrambling desperately back up until I was safely above ground again. Staring numbly at the hatch, I knew something was profoundly wrong, unnatural. I moved instinctively upstream, half running, half stumbling, seeking clarity, or a source, or just an escape. But the runoff abruptly stopped.

no spring no creek no source the stream-bed simply ended dry as bones at a flat stone basin my mind raced none of this made sense geologically or practically the water simply appeared beneath that concrete wall no rational explanation fit i felt sick disoriented I retreated downstream, but the woods quickly became unfamiliar. Paths I was sure I'd traveled turned unfamiliar and confusing.

no spring no creek no source the stream-bed simply ended dry as bones at a flat stone basin my mind raced none of this made sense geologically or practically the water simply appeared beneath that concrete wall no rational explanation fit i felt sick disoriented I retreated downstream, but the woods quickly became unfamiliar. Paths I was sure I'd traveled turned unfamiliar and confusing.

Hours passed. The sun rose higher, scorching now as if mocking the earlier cold. My head spun from thirst and exhaustion, lips cracking painfully. Night crept in mercilessly. settling over the forest once more i tried to build another fire hands trembling uncontrollably but managed only the smallest flame i huddled close shivering feeling vulnerable beneath endless dark branches

Hours passed. The sun rose higher, scorching now as if mocking the earlier cold. My head spun from thirst and exhaustion, lips cracking painfully. Night crept in mercilessly. settling over the forest once more i tried to build another fire hands trembling uncontrollably but managed only the smallest flame i huddled close shivering feeling vulnerable beneath endless dark branches

Hours crawled by, paranoia setting in, eyes darting toward every rustle and snap from the forest around me. Then came a distinct sound, a dragging, stumbling noise, slow and deliberate. My breath halted, heart thudding painfully. From the gloom, a figure appeared, pale moonlight illuminating just enough to recognize a familiar shape. Ben? My voice cracked again, tentative, almost pleading.

Hours crawled by, paranoia setting in, eyes darting toward every rustle and snap from the forest around me. Then came a distinct sound, a dragging, stumbling noise, slow and deliberate. My breath halted, heart thudding painfully. From the gloom, a figure appeared, pale moonlight illuminating just enough to recognize a familiar shape. Ben? My voice cracked again, tentative, almost pleading.

He walked stiffly, unnaturally upright, face vacant and pale, eyes staring forward blankly, seeing nothing. I stumbled back in horror as he drew closer, feet dragging limply. His mouth hung slightly open, dried blood crusted around cracked lips. He looked drained, hollow, a twisted imitation of my friend.

He walked stiffly, unnaturally upright, face vacant and pale, eyes staring forward blankly, seeing nothing. I stumbled back in horror as he drew closer, feet dragging limply. His mouth hung slightly open, dried blood crusted around cracked lips. He looked drained, hollow, a twisted imitation of my friend.

ben i shouted desperately hoping somehow to break him free of whatever terrible trance held him captive he halted sharply head tilting slightly as if listening to something distant then without warning he turned sharply away disappearing silently into the darkness again Terror surged through me. Without thinking, I bolted blindly through the trees, fleeing from whatever he'd become.

ben i shouted desperately hoping somehow to break him free of whatever terrible trance held him captive he halted sharply head tilting slightly as if listening to something distant then without warning he turned sharply away disappearing silently into the darkness again Terror surged through me. Without thinking, I bolted blindly through the trees, fleeing from whatever he'd become.

Branches tore my clothes and scratched my skin raw. My ankle twisted painfully, sending me sprawling face-first into a bed of pine needles. Pain exploded up my leg. Whimpering, I dragged myself beneath a thick bush, lungs heaving, heart hammering painfully. Minutes blurred into hours as I lay hidden, terrified to move, listening desperately for signs of pursuit.

Branches tore my clothes and scratched my skin raw. My ankle twisted painfully, sending me sprawling face-first into a bed of pine needles. Pain exploded up my leg. Whimpering, I dragged myself beneath a thick bush, lungs heaving, heart hammering painfully. Minutes blurred into hours as I lay hidden, terrified to move, listening desperately for signs of pursuit.