Greny burns POV
As we passed through the city square, the tense atmosphere was almost suffocating. The usual bustling energy had turned to chaos and desperation. Parents pulled their children close, shielding them from the rumble of our passing vehicles, while angry shouts echoed from youths hurling frustrations at the police cordoning off access to the rifts. Just one day since the Negrons breached the gate, and already, the fragile threads holding society together were unraveling.
Our convoy came to a halt near the exotic gate, a massive, glowing construct shimmering with an unnatural energy. It was a portal to another world, one that had brought as much fear as it had hope. The chief's clearance was all we needed to move forward, and I found myself checking my watch compulsively—more out of habit than necessity.
"Zeta team, you're a go." The chief's voice crackled through the comms, calm yet authoritative.
That was our green light. With a deep breath, we drove forward into the unknown.
---
The moment we passed through the rift, I braced myself for some dramatic reaction—a surge of energy, a wrenching shift, something. But there was nothing. Just a fleeting shimmer as the vehicle crossed the threshold. The only thing of note was how my watch flickered briefly, the hands resetting as though time itself had jumped backward by three minutes. A minor anomaly, but one I filed away in the back of my mind.
The landscape on the other side was stark and alien. Jagged plains stretched endlessly, their surfaces cracked and scarred as though by ancient upheavals. The air was thin, carrying a faint metallic tang, and the dull, ochre sky hung low, oppressive.
"The drones are operational," Six reported from the back seat, his fingers deftly working the controls of his console. "But the comms device isn't transmitting a signal yet. Guess the interference is worse than we thought."
I glanced back at him, his thin frame barely grabbing hold to the bulletproof vest he wore. He surprisingly looked more of a kid than an adult, his short black hair and beardless face, a stark contrast to his twenty three year-old claim.
"We knew this was likely. Keep monitoring it. If it comes online, I want to know immediately."
"Got it," he replied, his brow furrowed as he adjusted the controller's settings.
Jace, sitting up front, rolled down the window slightly, letting in the sharp, chilly air. "At least the air's breathable. Thin, but tolerable. That Z-Fluid the scientists talked about might be working after all."
"It's fascinating," Ten chimed in from the back, her voice tinged with academic curiosity. "The atmospheric composition is similar to ours, but the topography… it's like the planet has been through countless seismic events. And yet—"
"Please, for the love of sanity, spare us the geology lecture," Jace interrupted, feigning an exaggerated groan. "I'd like to get through this mission without my brain melting."
Ten shot him a withering look but wisely chose not to respond. Despite her petite frame and quiet demeanor, she was not someone to underestimate—either in intellect or in combat.
---
We drove for six grueling hours, the vehicle's tires kicking up fine, grey dust that clung to everything. The landscape remained eerily barren, with no signs of life or movement. The unsettling quiet pressed on us, amplifying the creaks of the vehicle and the occasional murmur of our team.
Finally, I spotted a natural cave formation jutting out of a rocky outcrop in the distance. "We'll camp there for the night," I announced, gesturing toward the structure. The team nodded in agreement, clearly relieved to stop for the evening.
The drones had already mapped out the immediate area, ensuring we wouldn't be ambushed. Even so, I couldn't shake the feeling that something unseen was watching us.
"Cross, Ten, you're on fire duty. Jace, Nelly, Kate—offload the gear and set up the perimeter. The rest of you, come with me. We're scouting the area."
I issued the orders briskly, keeping my voice steady. Routine was our anchor here, the only thing keeping us grounded in a world that felt fundamentally wrong.
By the time we returned, the camp was functional. The fire crackled at the center of our small circle, its light casting long, shifting shadows across the jagged terrain. We heated our rations, the bland meals a stark contrast to the strange beauty of the alien night.
The twin moons dominated the sky—one pale and sharp, the other a dim, brooding grey. The stars were scattered in unfamiliar constellations, their faint light blending with the faint, bioluminescent glow of the distant rock formations.
"It's beautiful," Kate murmured, her voice soft.
"Yeah," Jace replied, his tone laced with unease. "Beautiful in the way a predator is. Makes you forget how dangerous it is until it's too late."
The fire crackled louder in the ensuing silence.
I stood, clearing my throat to draw everyone's attention. They formed a circle around the fire, their faces lit with an orange glow.
Using the dirt, I sketched the pseudo-map we'd been provided with. I marked our current location with an 'X' and drew the three potential routes leading to our objective: the safe house where the blank orb controlling the rift was supposedly stored.
According to John -the scientist - the blank orb was responsible for transmitting some sort of electromagnetic wave that was not only responsible for creating the rifts, but also keeping it active.
Our mission; stalk and confirm the position before regrouping to finally dismantle it.
Route A was the longest but considered the safest. Route B was shorter, though rougher and more unpredictable. And Route C—the fastest—was outright dismissed by John during the briefing, deemed "highly unsafe."
"We're here," I began, pointing to the X. "Our destination is here." I drew a circle in the map's center. "If we take Route A, we'll need about two and a half days to reach it. Route B could cut that time in half if we navigate carefully."
Kate frowned. "Why not Route C? I know it's risky, but—"
"It's not an option," I interrupted firmly. "John was clear about that. Something's wrong with it, and we're not taking unnecessary risks."
She nodded reluctantly, and I continued. She was normally brazen and self conscious, but now she seemed to listen rather than object.
"The plan is simple: we split into two groups. One takes Route A, the other takes Route B. We mark both routes, ensuring we have backup options if things go south. We regroup at this midpoint by tomorrow night. Any questions?"
Kate glanced at Jace, then spoke. "What if one group runs into trouble? Splitting up means we can't reinforce each other."
"That's the risk we're taking," I admitted. "But it also gives us a better chance of gathering intel without drawing attention. Stick to the drones' range and avoid unnecessary engagements. If you encounter anything hostile, retreat immediately."
---
After the briefing, the team settled in for the night. I volunteered for the first watch, my rifle resting across my lap as I stared into the darkness.
The fire had burned low, and the cold air bit at my exposed skin. Despite the desolate silence, the alien world felt alive—its presence pressing against me like an unseen weight.
Kate approached quietly, her rifle slung over her shoulder. "Couldn't sleep?"
I shook my head. "Too much on my mind."
She crouched beside me, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "This place… it's wrong. Like it's not just empty, but deliberately hostile. Makes you wonder if we're the first to step foot here—or just the latest to try."
I stared at her as she spoke. Her hair, was a fine blonde colour that stretched till it nested atop her neck, the texture, a smooth and oily mark. Her fair skin, thoroughly complimented the hair as her blue eyes topped off the package.
Her words echoed my own thoughts, though I kept them to myself. "We'll be fine," I said instead, more to reassure her than myself. "We've trained for this."
She didn't respond, and for a moment, the only sound was the faint crackle of the dying fire. Then, faintly, I heard it—a low, guttural noise that sent a chill down my spine.
Kate froze, her hand moving instinctively to her weapon. "Did you hear that?"
I nodded, my pulse quickening as I scanned the darkness. The noise came again, closer this time—a rumbling growl, deep and resonant.
"Wake the others," I whispered. "Now."
She didn't hesitate, slipping away to rouse the team as I stood, weapon raised, my eyes fixed on the shadows beyond the firelight. Whatever was out there, it wasn't human.
And it wasn't alone.