“Where?”
I point to the carcass. Or what’s left of it.
His eyes follow my finger, narrow when they land on the body—torn, crumpled, still leaking that sour-smelling black ooze into the dirt. He steps away to radio something in, barking orders I only half-hear.
I wrap my arms around myself and try not to look like I’m shaking. It’s not fear—not exactly. It’s thememoryof fear. The ghost of a feeling I didn’t get to fully feel becausehewas there.
I hear Darwin’s voice before I see him.
“Jill! Jesus, are you—are you hurt?”
He’s running, tripping over his own feet, eyes wide behind his lenses. He almost crashes into me, then pulls back like he’s not sure if he’s allowed to touch me.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
“You’resure? We—God, we heard screaming—Ciampa sent me to?—”
“IsaidI’m fine.” I don’t mean to snap, but my voice cuts him off like a blade. He recoils slightly. I soften. “Sorry. It just… happened so fast.”
Grady returns. His tone’s clipped. Controlled. “Base perimeter’s being locked down. No one leaves until this is assessed. Ciampa’s waiting in the lab.”
Darwin touches my elbow again, gently this time. “Come on. Let’s get you checked out.”
I let him guide me. Let him pretend he’s helping. But my thoughts are elsewhere.
Back in the clearing.
Back withhim.
The image is burned into my mind. His frame—massive, coiled with power. His eyes—golden, glowing, not wild but aware. There was something in that look. Recognition. Connection. Somethingreal.
He saved me.
And I didn’t tell them.
Not because I’m scared. Not because I’m confused.
Because Iknowwhat they’d do.
I’ve seen what happens when they think they’ve found their monster.
They shoot first. Fabricate later.
Theywon’tunderstand.
So I let the lie grow legs. I let Ciampa hover like a concerned uncle and mumble something about trauma responses and neurochemical shock.
I let Darwin take my vitals and offer me bland protein paste from a sealed pack like it’s a cure for existential dread.
I nod, I thank them, I play the part.
And then I crawl into my bunk and pull the blanket up and stare at the ceiling with eyes that won’t shut.
Because Ifeltsomething out there.
Something tied to me now.
And I don’t know what it means.
