"Hidden in the heart". Those were the 4 words that were translated from the inscriptions. No one knew what it meant. 5 onboard the ship. 3 girls and 2 men. Some thought it was referencing the heart of a star, seeing the material it was made of; whereas others didn't know what to think.
The rescue operation had led them to this dark place, empty of light. We started this mission with 2 men and 2 women; but, now we head home with more. There was no secret that the two men, Piro and Akua, both liked one of the women; after all, how could you not. Missy, had beautiful cheeks of Rose and hair to match that of the gods; to top it all off she had the fiery spirit of a Lion along with the intelligence of a dolphin too. It was clear who would get her, if anyone; it would be Piro, he was equally as ferocious, and if you compared him to his competition there was no doubt.
Watching from the shadows of the ongoing war for love, was Emily. Like Akua, she was just normal; no match for Missy at all. Though even though Piro was the obvious choice if you wanted to go after a man, Emily found herself drawn to Akua. He was emotional and good-natured, what he lacked for in physical strength he made up for in his genuine kindness.
When they received the alert from this ship in the middle of nowhere, Piro and Missy thought it no point going to help as by the time they got there everyone would probably be dead. Akua forced them to try and help as there could be maybe one person still alive and fortunately there was.
She was unconscious but alive. Piro and Missy stood behind her looking guilty as Emily treated her injuries as well as she could. That was when they spotted something shining extremely brightly among the wrecked ship. After a vote to see what it was succeeded, Piro put on his suit and prepared to go into the vacuum to get it. As he was pulled back into the ship, he showed his crew mates the strange glowing orb with markings on it and Emily immediately started to decode some of the inscriptions and found an odd riddle. The riddle was 4 words long and left the crew dumbfounded. "Hidden in the heart", it seemed so obvious but no one could put their finger on it. On the way back from the rescue operation to the base; Piro had put the orb in a small, see-through chamber that was said to be unbreakable and Akua had moved the woman they had saved to the infirmary room.
Emily came up with the suggestion of emotions as when you experience them they release a special chemical, maybe that's what it wanted. She brought up more facts about emotions and why it could be that. Piro, who was easily persuaded, instantly believed this the moment Emily started using long words he had never heard before. He got down on one knee in front of Missy and confessed his love for her then and there, obviously hoping for some kind of hidden treasure. Seconds after he had done so the ships autopilot stopped the spacecraft and down the short corridor linked to all the other rooms there started thudding as if an elephant was walking.
Missy and Piro did not seem to notice this and could not take their eyes off each other. Missy admitted to liking Piro for a long time but she was waiting for him to make the first move. While this was happening, Emily felt uneasy and decided to close the door to the cockpit.
The thudding in the corridor was getting louder now as Akua and Emily were getting increasingly worried. Piro and Missy had started to make out now as they apparently could not hear the thudding in the corridor at all. Emily attempted to break them apart to concentrate on the matter at hand, she could not get through to them at all. Akua pulled Emily away from them with terror at sudden realisation in his eyes. He pointed out that whatever was out there could get the woman they had saved as she was not closed off. Unfortunately, the way to close off one of the doors was to hit a button next to the door.
Suddenly, the door to the cockpit opened to reveal the woman who had been saved standing there! Her move was agape, like that of a snake, to show a black void where her mouth should be. Her eyes had turned completely black, empty of any light at all. Akua pushed Emily behind him as he backed into the wall, hoping she wouldn't see them. The woman looked around the cockpit until she settled on the couple focused on each other. She started slowly advancing towards them, a huge thud as her foot made contact with the floor. Piro quickly glanced at the woman while still making out passionately and suddenly broke apart from his apparent love in terror. Missy noticed her too and they both started screaming and swearing as the woman stared at Piro. She told him that he did not love Missy but rather wanted to own her. She jumped onto Piro and tackled him with the strength of a bull and clawed at his stomach, ripping out his organs, until he died then proceeding to take a huge bite out of his neck. Missy stood there paralysed with fear as she watched someone she had claimed to love a minute ago die a gruesome death.
The orb broke through the unbreakable material and as the remains of Piro's body turned to light it absorbed it. The woman got up, face covered in blood, and turned to Missy. She told her she was guilty of the same crime and killed her swiftly and mercilessly. Emily and Akua were petrified at the abrupt and horrifying demise of their crewmates. Emily hugged Akua's waist and buried her face in his chest. She thought if she was going to die she wanted to tell him. She admitted to him then and there that she had loved him for years and just wanted him to know; she didn't care if he didn't love her back. The women, now looking at the two, seemed to be waiting on Akua's answer with intent in her soulless eyes.
Akua realised a great truth right there as he realised he never liked Missy, he loved Emily. She was smart, funny and he had had a feeling deep down for her all along. He admitted his feelings, and with as much passion as he could muster he kissed her. The woman walked over and told the two that they were true; she tapped both of their chests with her wrinkled hands and a brilliant light appeared as she instead was absorbed by the artefact. The treasure hidden in the heart, that is what they were given. After all, what can match the feeling of love other than the cool flow of the water with the normality of life?
