Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 31: Shadow Hunter

"Roger don't leave me!" Carmine blood trickled from Rose's mouth as she coughed, her insides disintegrating. "Don't leave," she gurgled, "please. I love you. Roger!"

There was nothing he could do but watch in horror. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Her body slumped to the floor, lifeless and heavy. Roger gently set her body on the floor, taking her locket as he stood. The nightmare felt different this time. It should have ended. He should be awake now. But he wasn't.

Roger looked around. A thick mist surrounded him. The body was gone, as with the rest of his surroundings. He turned, feeling watched. Two embers glowed far in the darkness, staring right at him. His hand instinctively hovered over his weapon, ready at any moment.

The eyes moved, walking towards him. This was no beast. A dark figure emerged, a blurry humanoid outline, shrouded in a onyx tattered and ragged cloak; its face remained unrecognizable.

"Who are you?" His voice echoed as the wind gently blew on him. The figure did not reply. Roger took a step forward, advancing slowly. The figure did not move.

In an instant, the apparition lunged at him, revealing its true identity as it morphed midair, turning into a hideous monster. His mouth opened, revealing a forest of sharp teeth that plunged into Roger's flesh, obliterating his arm to the bone.

He awoke with a jerk, grasping his left arm. His heart pounded, his eyes quickly scanning his small room for any threat, but he was alone, and his arm was fine. He looked to his right in the darkness.

01:17

Roger let out a sigh as he set himself back down, staring at the ceiling. This wasn't the first nightmare of Rose, but nothing came close to that. Who was the apparition? Roger shuddered. Perhaps it was a manifestation of something darker, something from within. Roger closed his eyes, but he would not get any sleep.

* * *

"How are you feeling?"

Tevra smiled. "Much good. Thanks."

Prill continued his medical survey, marking notes on the tablet. "Has Roger visited you yet?"

She shook her head. It was understandable. Roger had to clean up the mess hall, take care of the ship, and readjust environmental systems for tomorrow. It would be a long day.

Prill sighed, finishing his scans. "I am sure he will visit some time."

Tevra closed her eyes. "Need sleep."

The Nevran nodded. "I will go help Roger."

Prill dimmed the infirmary's lights, leaving the room. Tevra closed her eyes, the ambient instruments chirping quietly in the darkness, lulling her to sleep.

* * *

Roger smiled briefly, then gritting his teeth as he dragged a metal table across the room. He sighed, catching his breath as he took a seat, admiring his work. Six hours took half the furniture fixed and sorted. He had stayed up since one, only running on two hours of sleep. He could not go back to sleep after the nightmares, even when he tried. Work gave his mind peace.

He looked out the window, the nebula a sight no longer wanted. The view was an abstract expressionist work, and he hated the splash of colors with no shape but the occasional swirls, no definition, and open field of stars. He would rather see normal space. No, he would rather see anything, even a dark void. Roger smiled. Only one more day, and then the cloud would be behind them.

The double doors opened.

"I thought you were working."

"Just taking a break."