A week had passed in a blur of scientific analysis, medical observation, and collective relief. The creature, that grotesque, parasitic entity, had detached itself from Marina, its lifeless form a stark reminder of the terror it had inflicted. And then, the miracle: Marina had woken up.
Paruru was the first to visit her friend. The reunion was a bittersweet moment. Relief washed over Paruru as she saw Marina's eyes open, but a deep-seated worry remained. Marina was weak, pale, and there was a haunting emptiness in her gaze.
The rest of the crew, especially Paulo, were overjoyed. The celebration was muted, a somber undercurrent to the joy. The memory of the creature, its alien horror, cast a long shadow.
Yet, amidst the relief, a new unease began to creep into Marina. A strange sensation, a gnawing discomfort in her abdomen. It was as if something was stirring within her, something alien and unwanted. At first, she dismissed it as a side effect of the ordeal, a phantom pain of sorts. But as days turned into nights, the feeling intensified.
It was a dread that chilled her to the bone. A fear that was not of the creature, but of something far more terrifying: the possibility that a part of it still lived within her.
YOU ARE READING
Paruru Festival
Short Story"An anthology of short stories featuring Haruka Shimazaki in various roles, each with a different co-star. The collection includes both six-chapter stories and one-shot chapters, with each tale standing alone in its own unique setting and narrative...
