The sun hung low in the sky as our ship bobbed on the surface of the ocean, casting long shadows over the water. The researchers were still scrambling to restore the submersible feed, but I could sense the unease spreading through the crew. No one spoke much after the static-filled screen went dark, but the air was thick with tension.
Dragonir stood at the bow, staring out into the horizon, his brow furrowed in thought. I joined him, leaning against the railing, the salty breeze brushing through my hair. The quiet between us was heavy with unspoken questions.
"What do you think happened?" I asked, breaking the silence. "That shadow—was it a creature, or something else?"
He didn't answer right away, his eyes scanning the distance, as if searching for an explanation. "I don't know," he said finally, his voice low. "But I don't think it was a creature we're familiar with. There's something unnatural about it."
I nodded, feeling the same gnawing suspicion. Whatever had interrupted the submersible wasn't just some deep-sea predator. It felt deliberate, as though it had been watching us, waiting for us to get close.
The researchers called for a meeting below deck to discuss the situation, but I hesitated, glancing once more at the dark water beneath us. "Do you think we should go down with them?" I asked Dragonir.
He turned to me, his expression serious. "No. I think we need to investigate something else—something that's been bothering me since we got here."
"What is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Dragonir motioned for me to follow, leading me toward the aft of the ship, away from the others. The sounds of the crew and their frantic attempts to regain the submersible's signal grew faint as we descended a narrow staircase to the lower deck. We stopped outside a small, locked compartment, and I noticed the plaque beside the door: Research and Equipment Storage - Authorized Personnel Only.
"I've seen the head researcher go in here several times today," Dragonir said quietly. "Every time he leaves, he's more nervous than before."
I frowned, glancing at the door. "You think there's something in there they're not telling us about?"
He nodded. "I have a feeling that whatever caused the disturbance in the trench might not be entirely... natural. And I think they know more than they're letting on."
Dragonir produced a small set of lock-picking tools from his coat pocket—a skill he'd learned during his years of training as a warrior. Within moments, the lock clicked, and the door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit storage room lined with shelves.
We slipped inside, closing the door behind us. The room smelled faintly of chemicals and seawater. Boxes labeled with scientific terms were stacked against the walls, and in the center of the room stood a long, metal case, its surface pristine and cold.
Dragonir approached the case cautiously, and I followed, a knot forming in my stomach. Something about this felt wrong. He ran his fingers along the edge of the case before pressing a small button on its side. With a soft hiss, the top slid open.
Inside, resting on velvet padding, was a strange, smooth object—about the size of a large book. It shimmered with an unnatural light, pulsing faintly in the dimness.
"What is that?" I whispered, my heart racing.
Dragonir didn't respond right away, his eyes locked on the object. He reached out to touch it, but just before his fingers could graze its surface, a voice startled us both.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
We spun around to see the head researcher standing in the doorway, his face pale but his expression steely. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice tight. "This is highly classified research."
Dragonir took a step forward, his posture calm but firm. "Classified or not, we have a right to know. What is that thing? And what does it have to do with the shadows we've been seeing?"
The researcher's eyes flicked to the object in the case, his expression hardening. "It's... complicated. But you're right—this object, we believe, is responsible for the disturbances in the trench."
I felt a shiver crawl up my spine. "What do you mean?"
The researcher sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "This is no ordinary artifact. It was recovered from the depths of the Abyssal Trench several months ago, during an earlier expedition. Ever since we brought it to the surface, strange things have been happening—shadows in the water, sonar malfunctions, equipment failures."
"Why didn't you tell us this before?" Dragonir asked, his voice edged with frustration.
"Because we weren't sure," the researcher admitted. "We thought it might just be coincidence. But now... it seems the artifact has a will of its own. It's been calling to something deep in the trench, something ancient. And we fear that whatever it is, it's starting to wake up."
My heart pounded in my chest. The shadows, the strange occurrences around the academy, the unease that had followed me for weeks—it was all connected to this. "What do we do now?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.
The researcher hesitated, his eyes dark with uncertainty. "We were going to wait, observe. But now... it might be too late to stop what's coming."
Dragonir's gaze hardened. "We need to get rid of it. Whatever this thing is, it's dangerous."
The researcher shook his head. "You don't understand. This artifact—if we destroy it, we risk unleashing whatever it's been holding back. It's a seal, of sorts. A key. And once it's broken..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear. Something was coming—something that had been locked away in the depths of the ocean for eons. And we had unwittingly triggered its release.
"We need to act fast," Dragonir said, his voice resolute. "Whether we destroy it or contain it, we can't just sit here and wait for whatever's down there to rise."
The researcher nodded reluctantly. "Agreed. But we'll need everyone on board to prepare for what's to come."
As we left the storage room, the weight of the unknown pressed down on me. The sea, once a source of fascination, now felt like a vast, silent threat. And in its depths, something ancient was stirring, ready to break free.
The echoes of the deep were growing louder, and soon, they would no longer be whispers.