It won’t stop staring at me.
The carbon blade of my knife presses into my thigh, growing hotter against my skin. Just one movement and then this thing, this creature that looks too human, will be dead. When I drag it back to base it might even be enough to get me qualified for the expedition.
But I can’t bring myself to even blink.
It has caught me in its unwavering stare, the eyes an impossible shade of violet that seem to dig into my brain. We stand there, neither of us daring to move as my breath fogs up my mask. Once. Twice.
Then all at once, it moves.
In a second the blade is in my hand and I swipe at the creature. But it is fast, inconceivably fast, ducking beneath the lethal blade again and again, and with every movement it grows closer.
Until it’s claws slam into my chest.
‘You were a stupid little boy, weren’t you,’ it whispers. ‘Trying to prove yourself by running out alone?’ Its claws dig deeper into the flesh. ‘What a silly mistake.’
But with one last effort, my blade slashes through its neck.
‘What did you do?!’ A voice screams.
