The submarine fails

A deafening crash reverberated through the submarine, sending me tumbling to the cold metal floor. The entire vessel groaned under the pressure, as if the ocean itself had grown claws and was trying to rip us apart.

Water sprayed from cracks in the walls, hissing angrily as it hit the exposed wiring. The red emergency lights flickered, casting jagged shadows that danced like specters in the chaos.

“Everyone hold on!” someone screamed, but the voice was lost in the cacophony of alarms and panicked shouts.

I scrambled to my feet, clutching onto the nearest railing for support. My heart was pounding so loudly it nearly drowned out the noise around me. The submarine lurched violently, and I had to grip the railing harder to avoid being thrown back down.

Another collision. This one was worse. The sound was like thunder, but it came from all around us, as though the ocean was alive and enraged.

“Status report!” Dr. Graves’ voice barked over the intercom, calm and commanding despite the chaos.

“Critical damage to the hull!” someone shouted back. “We’re losing systems—engine failure imminent!”

I barely heard the words. My mind was elsewhere, racing through the events that had led us to this point. Light’s voice echoed in my memory, his cryptic warnings, his taunts.

You bore me, little human.

I clenched my jaw. He’d said it so casually, like none of this mattered to him. But now I wasn’t so sure.

Another shudder rippled through the submarine, and I staggered into the wall. Mira appeared beside me, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear.

“Lila,” she said, grabbing my arm. “We’re going to sink.”

“No,” I muttered, shaking my head. “We’re already trapped.”

Her brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

I looked at her, my voice trembling as I spoke. “This isn’t an accident. He planned this.”

Mira’s grip tightened. “You’re not saying—”

“Yes,” I cut her off. “Him. He’s behind this.”

“How could he possibly—”

“Do you really think he’s just some animal we pulled out of the ocean?” My voice rose, frustration and fear bleeding into every word. “You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The way he gets into your head. The way he changes everything just by being here. This is him, Mira. This is all him.”

Mira opened her mouth to respond, but a loud metallic groan filled the air, silencing us both. The lights flickered again, plunging us into near darkness for a moment before the emergency lights sputtered back on.

“We need to get to the control room,” I said, grabbing her hand.

She nodded, and we started moving through the narrow, shaking corridors. Water was pooling on the floor now, cold and slick underfoot. The scent of salt and oil filled the air, making it harder to breathe.

When we reached the control room, it was chaos. Crew members were shouting over one another, their faces pale with panic. Dr. Graves stood in the center, barking orders with a calm that seemed almost unnatural.

“We’ve lost propulsion entirely,” one of the engineers reported. “We’re dead in the water.”

“Then we improvise,” Graves said, his voice cutting through the panic like a blade. “Seal off the lower decks and reroute power to life support.”

“We won’t last more than a few hours,” another crew member argued. “The hull’s integrity is compromised—pressure will crush us if we go any deeper.”

I stepped forward, my voice louder than I expected. “We’re not going deeper. We’re not going anywhere.”

Graves turned to me, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Explain yourself, March.”

“This isn’t just a mechanical failure,” I said, forcing the words out even though I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. “This is him. Him.”

A few of the crew exchanged nervous glances, but Graves didn’t flinch. “You’re suggesting the creature orchestrated this?”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “He’s been toying with us since the beginning. You said it yourself—his capabilities are beyond anything we’ve ever encountered. Why wouldn’t he use them to trap us down here?”

Graves scoffed. “You’re letting superstition cloud your judgment. The creature is a specimen, nothing more. It’s our equipment that’s failing us, not some mythical force.”

I took a step closer to him, my hands shaking. “You don’t understand. He doesn’t want us to leave. He’s keeping us here for his own sick amusement.”

“And what do you propose we do about it, March?” Graves snapped. “Pray? Sacrifice a goat to appease your so-called king?”

The crew laughed nervously, but I didn’t waver. “We have to stop fighting him. He’s stronger than us, smarter than us. The more we push, the harder he’ll push back. If we don’t find a way to appease him, we’re all going to die down here.”

Graves shook his head, turning away from me. “Enough of this nonsense. Get back to your station, March.”

But I didn’t move. I couldn’t.

Another shudder rocked the submarine, and this time it felt different—less like a collision and more like a warning.

I closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath. His voice echoed in my mind, cold and mocking.

You bore me, little human. But not for much longer.

When I opened my eyes, Graves was staring at me, his expression unreadable.

“Do your job, March,” he said, his voice low. “Or I’ll find someone else who will.”

I turned and walked away, my mind racing.

This wasn’t just a disaster. It was a game.

And Light was playing to win.