FtF Anthology 2022

Prompt 4 (Crimson)

The landing had been rough, the thick lining of dark clouds rocked the shuttle as it made its descent into the planet's atmosphere. They threatened to tear the metal shuttle apart if it hadn't landed when it did.

It was difficult to see beyond the dark, red tinted cloud coverage that obscured the view as a single passenger in the shuttle glanced out the small window. No movement could be seen, vegetation looked as if it didn't exist and any physical structure was hidden deep within the crimson haze. If he was going to check the condition of the shuttle, he was going to have to risk traversing the thick cloud blanket blind and trust no creature would attack him so long as he was out there.

With his space suit already on and secured, Chiana situated his oxygen mask along with thick goggles for protection. He opened the shuttle door and gave a wary glance around before exiting the very craft he landed in.

As Chiana stepped onto the surface of the plant for the first time, he was surprised at how squishy the ground felt, scared it would gobble him right up if he stood in place for too long. The air itself was moist, a red mist collecting upon his suit and the outer shell of the shuttle. It was like red rain, thick and weighty as it built up on his spacesuit.

Chiana began moving around the shuttle, assessing any damage that may have been done to it. His main objective was to get off the strange planet and return to Callus-451 so he could report the attack on the Lindenburg Space Station.

Despite not seeing much damage, he was still needing to make repairs if he wanted to get off the planet in one piece. That meant scavenging further into the unknown and finding supplies or resources he could use.

With his gaze lowering to the ground, rather unsettled by the way it tried to suck him in, he was a bit hesitant on actually leaving the shuttle. The way the ground undulated under his feet reminded him of how the heart, pushing blood through the veins so it could survive. The vines didn't help the image, the way they stretched out into every direction only to disappear into the crimson cloud coverage.

Sighing heavily at the prospect of traversing the unknown lands around him, Chiana pat himself down to make certain he had all his tools still on him. When satisfied that he did, he took his first steps away from the shuttle and into the thick red fog that surrounded him. The ground squelched with each step he made, making him far more uncomfortable being out there.

The further Chiana walked into the crimson fog, new dark shadows began to form around him. They had no real form and remained in one place regardless of his advancements towards them. They were tall and thin, stretching out to either side as if someone was holding their arms out to stop him from continuing any further.

That, however, didn't stop Chiana.

Advancing upon the shadows, realization stung Chiana like a bee to the arm as the unknown quickly became known.

Large pointy pillars reached high into the sky and far to either side. It appeared as if the cloud coverage was being emitted from large spouts and syphens at the top and at each point stretching from either side of the large pillar. They added to the already massive amount of coverage that shielded the crimson planet. It also seemed to be the final destination for most of the thick vines that pulsated over the ground beneath him. Whatever they were, they thinned out and seemed to disappear into the pillar that rose before him. The mechanism very strange to Chiana.

Feeling compelled, Chiana reached out with a single hand and rested it upon the surface of the pillar. Almost instantly, he pulled it back, the pillar burning so hot it could be felt through his glove.

His eyes fell upon his hand, now covered in a blackened crimson soot that refused to come off no matter how hard he scrubbed at it.

The planet was producing its own heat through the use of the pillars and the natural veins that grew upon it. He figured the cloud coverage was the steam produced by the pillars and the vines. However, if there was such machinery on the surface, where were all the people that ran the machines?

As the thought crossed Chiana's mind, the most horrifying screech rushed at him. It was like a banshee screaming at its prey right before attacking.

Not sticking around, Chiana nearly ran into the pillar as he whipped around to run in the opposite direction. Whatever was out there, he didn't want to be caught by.

His feet carried him through the new terrain, forcing himself to dodge the ever growing forest pillars. The vines thickened, making it more difficult to traverse around them without climbing over or ducking beneath them. Chiana did so in an attempt to put distance between him and whatever was out there.

However, his advances through the vegetation was abruptly halted when something grabbed his ankles, lifting him off the ground and dangling him high in the air. A panicked scream forced its way from Chiana as he struggled to free himself.

He was stopped when a creature with coal black eyes and blood red skin rushed up to stare him in the face. It spoke in a language that Chiana did not understand, a mix between growling and hissing to be as menacing as possible.

Before Chiana could free himself, the vines slid higher up his legs and slammed him down onto the squishy ground. The beast that had been threatening him turned away, rushing off into the dense crimson haze. Chiana followed as he was dragged off screaming, his fate set as the local creature took him to wherever its lair was.