Holland was straddling him, pinning him against the floor. Behind him, the crew in the control room slowly tilted their heads back, gazing up at the ceiling as though entranced.
"We are the Harvester," they all said, speaking not to him, but to the ceiling above. Yet Rain felt the words were meant for him. "You are an obstacle to our work."
Rain drove his fist into Holland's exposed throat. His head jerked from the impact, but the hands clamped around Rain's neck didn't loosen in the slightest.
"You must cease your resistance and accept death," Holland said in an unnervingly calm tone.
Rain threw another punch, this time aiming for Holland's chest. The force knocked him backward just enough for Rain to twist free. Planting his foot firmly, he kicked Holland squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling to the floor.
As Rain scrambled to his feet, instinct screamed at him to dodge. He spun to the right just as Commander Hector lunged past him, slamming into the radio console. Headsets tumbled from their racks, scattering across the floor.
Matthew advanced next, followed closely by Jason and Claire from the control room crew. From the corner of his eye, Rain noticed others climbing the ladder to join them. The only remaining escape route led down the stairwell to the pressure chamber on the first floor.
Rain swung the sheath of his katana into Rosa, the ship's pilot, striking her in the thigh. She crumpled to the floor, but her limbs contorted unnaturally, supporting her weight like a broken spider.
The sound of an alarm blared, and red combat-alert lights flooded the room. Without hesitation, Rain threw himself toward the captain's chair, gripping the handles of the periscope with all the strength he could muster.
Then the submarine collided with something. At such high speed, Rain could clearly hear the crack of wood splintering outside the hull. They must have hit the dock. The impact sent the figures in the control room tumbling around him, their bodies flung about like ragdolls.
As the shuddering ceased, Rain bolted forward, leaping over the prone bodies of those who lay sprawled on the floor, their faces still tilted upward to the ceiling. The figures stirred sluggishly, as though awakening from a deep sleep. Rain didn't wait to see more; he scrambled up the ladder.
Once inside the pressure chamber, he slammed the hatch shut and locked it. He collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily, his chest heaving with exertion.
That's when he noticed the shadow of someone standing above him.
"You are truly special," Esther said, her head tilted back toward the ceiling. Her blonde hair, now longer than he remembered, fell in perfectly straight lines like threads of gold.
Rain didn't move from where he lay on the floor. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.
"It seems you've encountered my siblings before," Esther replied, her voice eerily monotone. "And you managed to defeat them. That makes you the greatest threat to our kind. Yet I'm curious—how will you plan to do it this time?"
Rain pushed himself upright, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the handgun in her hand. It was pointed at him, though she didn't seem to be looking directly at him.
"So why don't you just shoot?" Rain asked, glancing briefly at the open exit behind her.
"Because killing you would be too merciful," she said, her tone unwavering. "For the greatest enemy of our race, I would prefer to see you suffer." She lowered the gun slowly, her movements deliberate, before tossing it to the ground at his feet.
"Of course, I'll ensure your suffering is exquisite. But I'll give you a chance to choose your fate." She turned her back on him and began walking toward the exit.
"Save her, if you can," her voice echoed faintly as she disappeared beyond the hatch.
Rain darted after her, but when he emerged onto the deck, it was empty.
…
Rain leaned his back against the cold metal of the control panel, his gaze fixed on the single light in the room—the beacon of the harbor's radio system. The rest of the room was framed by half-height consoles, leaving the upper half of the walls as transparent glass that provided an unobstructed view of the sprawling Giza harbor. If Holland were here, he'd probably comment on how magnificent the view was.
His attention shifted to an old record player sitting on a counter nearby, surrounded by a stack of vinyl records. He glanced at the handwritten labels on the sleeves. One read Linkin Park - Bleed It Out. A relic of the old world, no doubt, though Rain knew little about music to appreciate it.
Sonia pressed a button on the console, and the gruff voice of Captain Sayid came crackling through the speakers. "This is the Tutankhamun. Do you read me, crew of the Washington?"
"We hear you, Captain. We've reached the control tower," Sonia replied, her red hair gleaming under the dim glow of the room's emergency lights.
Rain cast a sideways glance at Will, the brown-haired boy whose short-cropped hair couldn't mask the fear etched into his features.
It seemed Will was the only one whose memories had been tampered with. Rain could see it clearly. No matter what Sonia might try to explain, Will wasn't likely to believe her.
"What's the situation?" asked Sayid.
"The people in the city are under the control of 'something,'" Sonia explained. "We believe it's the same force that affected our ship. I strongly advise you not to approach Giza."
A tense murmur echoed from the other end, followed by Sayid barking orders in Hieroglyphic Arabic. Then his voice returned, sharp and doubtful. "You're asking me not to launch an assault?"
"Just being near it is enough to fall under its control. If your crew enters Giza, they'll end up like the Washington."
"But you're exceptions, aren't you? Why haven't you been affected?"
Sonia looked startled, as if she hadn't considered this. "Maybe because we were unconscious when it happened."
Will snorted. "How do you expect an entire ship to sleep and come rescue us at the same time?"
Rain stared out into the impenetrable darkness beyond the glass. "Captain Sayid, I have a proposal," he said at last. Of course, he'd proposed a plan to Holland once too. But where Holland exuded confidence, Rain had only cold, clinical calculations. By his estimate, there was a ten percent chance of success.
Will handed him the microphone. Everyone in the room was watching him now.
"Let's hear it," Sayid said, his voice weary but open to possibilities.
…
Rain tested the radio once more, ensuring it was functional, before sliding it securely into the strap of his shoulder bag. Then, he picked up the handgun Esther had thrown to him. He checked the magazine—one bullet. A wry smile touched his lips. That beast certainly had a dark sense of humor, and a flair for detail.
Will was similarly preoccupied, loading his rifle and slipping spare magazines into the side pocket of his vest.
"Why am I staying behind?" Sonia's face was set in a glare of open defiance.
"We only have two guns. Bringing you along would just slow us down," Rain replied with calculated logic, though he avoided meeting her gaze.
"And I'm supposed to trust you'll bring my friend back?" Sonia's sharp glare pinned him in place, her mistrust as palpable as the cold air in the control tower.
"I'll save everyone on the ship," Rain said, his tone even. He adjusted the strap of his sword before climbing out through the open bathroom window.
"Your plan better work," Will muttered, watching him leave.
"Good luck," Rain replied simply.
He dropped down, gripping the rope secured to the pipe in the bathroom, and carefully began to descend.
The floodlight mounted on the control tower cast its pale glow over the marble ground below, revealing a desolate expanse. No one was within sight, but traces of blood and scattered body parts littered the area.
Rain landed softly, immediately breaking into a sprint toward the northern edge of the harbor. As he glanced back, he caught a fleeting glimpse of Will lowering himself down the rope. The young man vanished into the shadows in an instant.
"I've taken position on the deck above Alpha Point," Will's voice crackled through the radio. "The path looks clear."
Rain darted down the labyrinthine walkways, the rows of warehouses stretching endlessly to his right. The area was eerily deserted, not a soul in sight. "Proceed to Beta," he radioed back, quickening his pace.
"I'm perched on the slope above Beta Point. Still clear," Will reported.
Rain kept running, his exhaustion growing heavier with every step. He had been pushing his body to its limits for far too long.
"Move on to Charlie," he instructed.
"Charlie's clear."
Rain pressed forward, rounding the corner of a warehouse.
"I've reached Delta—damn it! Hostiles!" Will's panicked voice shot through the radio.
Rain skidded to a stop and dropped flat against the ground.
Above him, he could hear the steady sound of footsteps echoing from the marble walkway overhead. Dust trickled down through the cracks, marking the exact spots where the unseen figures placed their weight.
Rain waited until the footsteps receded, then cautiously peeked out to assess the situation.
"There are three of them up ahead. Looks like they're heading somewhere," Will updated.
Rain made his decision in an instant. "We'll follow them."
…
Rain moved carefully through the maze of paths, with Will keeping watch from the rooftop of a warehouse.
He began to notice more and more of the upturned faces, their owners walking sluggishly yet deliberately, as if pulled by an unseen force. They came from all directions, yet they seemed to be converging on a single point.
At the far end of the pier, something awaited.
Rain could feel its presence. The air grew heavier, oppressive, as though he had stepped into a pressurized chamber.
"Do you hear that?" Will's voice crackled through the radio, barely above a whisper.
"No," Rain replied curtly.
"I've been hearing... something. Like someone moaning. It's creeping me out."
Rain strained his ears, but the silence was unbroken. "Where's it coming from?"
Will paused before answering. "I think it's where the townsfolk are headed."
Rain crouched behind a crate near the walkway. "Are you starting to feel... strange?"
"Strange how?"
"Like you suddenly want to look up at the ceiling."
"Nope, and stop saying stuff like that. You're giving me the creeps," Will muttered with a nervous chuckle.
Just then, Sonia's voice cut through the static of the radio. "I already made that joke. Can you guys focus? If even one of them spots you, it's as good as the whole town knowing where you are."
"Could you lay off the pressure for a second?" Will snapped. "It's stressful enough already."
"Rain, are you sure this plan of yours will actually work?" Sonia pressed, her voice tinged with doubt.
Rain ducked lower behind the crate as a sailor shuffled closer. "It won't have a chance to if you keep distracting me."
"I'm serious. How is your plan supposed to kill that thing?"
"Our plan isn't to kill it. It's to save everyone. Killing it is the Egyptian army's responsibility." Rain dropped down to the walkway below, using his arms and legs to cushion his landing and minimize the noise.
"And how do you plan to fight the entire town if that creature controls them to attack you?"
Rain sighed. "I'll kill them." If I have to, he added silently.
"Even Holland?"
"Listen, if this plan fails, no one makes it out alive." Rain leaped to the adjacent walkway. He was close now; he could feel it in the oppressive weight pressing down on him. "Have you connected the radio to the speakers yet?"
"Done. But are you sure this will work?"
Ten percent, he answered silently. "It's the best chance we've got."
The radio fell silent. Sonia must have begrudgingly agreed.
Rain ran through the silence, his footsteps echoing faintly until he reached the corner between two warehouses. Ahead, a massive crowd moved steadily toward Dock 14.
He could hear it now. The sound grew louder and louder as he approached the dock.
Will dropped from the ladder to stand beside him, his face slick with sweat. "This cursed noise is driving me insane. Are you seriously not hearing it?"
Rain only heard the sounds of something breaking, liquid sloshing, and flesh tearing. The grotesque symphony echoed from deep within the dock. "You mean the sound of someone chewing meat?"
"I'm talking about the howling. I can barely hear anything else."
Rain had been wondering for a while now—what exactly was Will hearing?
"Are you holding up okay?" he asked, not out of concern, but because the next phase of the plan relied on Will.
"I'm fine." Will shook his head vigorously. "But the fueling station's on the other side. How do you expect me to get there?" He pointed at the massive crowd moving into the dock. On the far side, the fuel distribution building stood silent and foreboding.
"I'll handle it. Once they're all focused on me, you need to run." Rain moved to the far side of the warehouse, leaving Will behind.
"What? What do you mean 'focused on you'?" Will's voice called out behind him, but Rain didn't respond. This part of the plan was something he hadn't shared with either of them. Of course, they wouldn't agree with what he was about to do.
"What are you doing?" Sonia's voice crackled through the radio, confusion laced in her tone.
"Sticking to the plan," he said flatly. "We can't reach the fueling station unless I draw their attention."
"By using yourself as bait?"
Rain didn't answer. He already understood there was over an 80% chance he'd be killed the moment he revealed himself. But his plan hinged on the remaining 10%.
"Why are you doing this?" Sonia's voice now carried a tone of surprise.
Rain pressed himself against the edge of the building, barely a meter away from the horde marching in unison. "To save everyone on the ship."
"That's not what I mean. I'm asking why you hid the truth about that corridor of flesh."
"Because even though you might think I'm some villain scheming with Heisenberg to take over the ship and kill everyone, the truth is, Sonia, I want the same thing as all of us: to see what lies beneath the sea and make it back safely," Rain said, pouring out thoughts he rarely voiced. But what did it matter? If this ten percent gamble failed, he wouldn't get another chance to speak anyway. "Learning the truth about what's in that corridor would bring enormous danger, not just to the ship, but to the entire Sunless World. That's why I did what I did to you." He fell silent for a moment. "I'm sorry."
Sonia said nothing. Rain could only hope she understood.
"If you want me to stay quiet, you have to save Esther first. Got it?"
"That's part of the plan."
"Damn it. I still don't trust you."
"I understand."
"So... make sure you survive."
Rain left the radio on and pushed himself to his feet. He stepped out from the edge of the building, blending into the crowd moving steadily toward the dock.
Well, perhaps blending in wasn't the right word. He stood out starkly among the others, their faces all tilted upward. But for now, no one paid him any attention. Rain walked with no real purpose, simply following the flow of the crowd.
At last, he reached the open expanse before Dock 14. As Rain passed beneath the enormous sign bearing the number, he noticed the crowd around him beginning to part, splitting into two neat lines and leaving an empty path down the center. The people who had been aimlessly shuffling now stood still in perfect rows on either side.
Rain stepped forward without hesitation, following the path left open for him. The sound around him swelled—cracks, rending flesh, the gush of liquids spilling, and the snap of something solid breaking apart.
When he rounded the final line of still, staring figures, he saw it.
Ahead was the dock, where the rows of people came to an abrupt halt before a slab of marble jutting out into the sea. The marble path was slick with blood, so much that it shone crimson in the dim light. Scattered across its surface were fragments of bone, chunks of flesh, and viscera, strewn about like grotesque debris.
On the marble ledge, above the water's surface, a group of ten people stood in a straight line. They weren't moving, merely waiting, like passengers queuing for a ship that would never arrive.
But what loomed beside the marble pier wasn't a ship.
It was pitch black, a mass so enormous it rivaled a battleship in size. Its sheer height cast a monstrous shadow across the dock, making the darkness feel even darker. At first glance, it could have been mistaken for a mountain or some impossibly tall submarine, but Rain knew better.
A mouth as wide as the Washington gaped open and shut, sending ripples through the water, waves splashing wildly with each movement. The grotesque crunching sounds Rain had heard earlier emanated from within. Around the dock, the water was dyed the same vivid red as the marble.
Then Rain's gaze lifted, locking onto the creature's eyes—six luminous amber orbs arranged in two neat rows on either side of its face.
Those eyes were staring back at him.
"You came, after all," the crowd around him spoke in eerie unison. "Please wait a moment."
A harsh wheezing filled the air, followed by a steady whooshing sound that grew louder and louder.
From the creature's back erupted a massive column of water, spraying high into the air before breaking apart and cascading down like rain.
Rain stopped a few paces away from the crimson pool on the ground. He wiped the droplets splattered across his face, only to realize they were blood. The geyser erupting from the creature's back wasn't water—it was a torrent of red. The steady sound of solid objects hitting the ground echoed around him. Organs, he guessed, raining down from the heavens.
Then, it opened its mouth.
The gaping maw stretched wide like a cavern, lined with two rows of dagger-like teeth, jagged and overlapping. Beyond the fangs was a gullet writhing with countless tendrils, each squirming as though alive.
The people along the marble path began moving again.
A man leading the procession stepped forward, entering the creature's maw without hesitation. He turned back briefly to help a child—no older than ten—climb down after him. Following them was a heavyset woman, and then an elderly lady crawling on all fours.
Rain watched as all ten figures stepped into the mouth of the thing. Once inside, they stood still, faces upturned, gazing blankly at the fleshy walls surrounding them. He scanned the group carefully, searching for familiar faces. None of them were from the Washington.
"You don't intend to help them?" the ten figures spoke in unison, their voices echoing unnaturally.
Rain glanced at the fuel line by the dock, where black liquid was steadily dripping into the sea. He didn't answer.
The mouth of the creature closed. Scarlet liquid spilled from the edges, streaming into the sea. The sickening crunch of bones shattered the air, reverberating through the dock.
Rain resumed walking, stepping onto the blood-slick path over the sea. His boots squelched with every step as he moved closer to the towering monstrosity, the deafening sound of chewing all around him.
As Rain drew closer, he saw two figures standing at the very edge of the dock, directly before the monstrous creature.
"You risked your life to save this girl. I want to know why." Esther's voice rang out from the end of the dock, her tone detached and analytical. Behind her stood Holland, his presence stoic yet menacing.
Rain didn't respond. He kept walking, his pace steady and unhurried.
"Is it because of your connection to her? Because you have no other choice? Or because you're afraid to die alone?"
"Have you ever been afraid?" Rain asked, his voice calm but probing.
"Never. But we understand its meaning. Fear is the instinctive emotion all living beings have to protect themselves from the unknown."
"You should be afraid." Rain stopped, raising the handgun he'd been holding and aiming it directly at the thing.
At that moment, Will's voice crackled through the radio.
"Damn it! They've spotted me!" His voice was frantic, punctuated by static and heavy breathing. Gunshots echoed faintly in the background. "I can't ignite the charges, Rain! I'm sorry, damn it!"
"Whatever your plan was, it's failed." Esther's voice was as cold as ever.
Rain was about to pull the trigger when Holland lunged at him, slamming into him with enough force to send him sprawling onto the blood-soaked ground. The gun flew from his grip, skittering out of reach.
Rain rolled quickly, pushing himself upright to face Holland.
"Eradicating your kind is not difficult for us," Holland said, his tone almost conversational, though his eyes burned with malice. "But I've always wondered… Could we defeat you on equal footing?" In his hand, he held a long machete, the blade gleaming under the dim, crimson light.
Rain reached for his sword, drawing it from its sheath in one smooth motion.
"At the same time, this makes for an excellent experiment." This time it was Esther who spoke. "We want to understand what humans mean by this thing you call 'relationships.' Our hypothesis is that humans value their connections to one another unequally. But since relationships are intangible and cannot be quantified, I'm curious. If you could only save one person, who would you choose? So, here's the deal—I'll spare you and the girl if you can kill your captain."
Rain froze for a moment before hastily raising his sword to block Holland's incoming strike.
The hesitation cost him. Unable to deflect in time, Holland's blade sliced across Rain's torso in a long, brutal arc. He felt the warmth of blood spilling from the wound almost instantly.
Rain used his sword to slap Holland's blade away. The other man stepped back with fluid precision, his movements calculated.
It wasn't just a retreat—Holland shifted into a position that blocked Rain's path to the gun lying on the ground. A strategic placement, perfectly executed.
"You appear to be injured," Esther said, her voice clinical. "I estimate you don't have long before you bleed out. In this situation, I believe it would be prudent for you to attack."
Rain's eyes flicked to the six amber eyes staring back at him from the massive head of the thing. The resemblance to human eyes was unsettling, save for the deep, glowing amber replacing the whites.
He raised his hand and flipped the creature the middle finger.
"What does that mean?" Esther asked, her tone genuinely curious.
"It means I'm going to kill you." At least, that's what Holland had told him. Everyone Holland had ever done it to seemed to get angry, so Rain assumed it worked.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Rain launched himself at Holland. His opponent readied his machete, adjusting his stance to meet Rain's incoming strike. Rain spun mid-charge, reversing his grip on the sword as he turned his back to Holland, then pivoted sharply to aim his attack at Holland's legs.
The clash of metal rang out as Holland adjusted his blade's angle in a fraction of a second, deflecting the strike and sending a spray of sparks into the air.
Rain used the force of the deflection to spin again, faking another swing while preparing to sweep Holland's legs out from under him.
Holland didn't fall for it. He lunged forward, slamming into Rain from behind and hooking his foot around Rain's ankle, sending him sprawling to the ground. Holland wasted no time, straddling him.
Here we go again. Rain thought as he swung a fist toward Holland's torso, only to have his wrist caught and pinned to the ground.
Holland's right fist connected with Rain's face.
Rain blacked out for a moment, only to be jolted back to consciousness by the next punch, and the searing pain that followed.
Pinned down with only one arm free, Rain realized he had no way to counterattack.
So much for that ten percent, he thought bitterly as he slipped into unconsciousness again—only to be jarred awake by another strike.
Finally, Holland stopped. Rain spat blood from his mouth and gasped for breath.
He had lost.
"I'll give you one final choice," Esther's voice reached him, distant and clinical. "Agree to my terms, and I'll spare your life—but everyone else will die."
Rain couldn't even summon the strength to answer. He felt his torso slick with blood from the gash across his chest.
Then, another voice broke through the haze.
"Rain! Rain! I know its weakness! Answer me! Rain!"
It was Sonia, her voice clear over the crackle of the radio in his pocket.
Rain tried to move his arm, but Holland's grip was iron—or maybe Rain simply didn't have any strength left.
"It seems you've chosen to die. I wish I understood why, but it looks like you're beyond answering now," Holland said, raising the blade to press against Rain's neck.
"Goodbye."
And then the music started.
A rhythmic pounding of drums, followed by the unmistakable electric guitar solo that filled the air like a defiant roar.
The sound came from the loudspeakers scattered throughout the port. Moments later, the singer's voice thundered through Giza, shaking the silent city awake.
Undoubtedly, it was Sonia's doing.
Holland froze. His head snapped downward, and his eyes darted around in confusion.
"What is this…?" He looked at Rain, at the blade still hovering above his throat.
Rain seized the moment, shoving Holland off and scrambling toward the fallen pistol. When he rose, he noticed the townsfolk at the port no longer craning their necks skyward.
They stood blinking, dazed, some rushing to embrace loved ones with tears streaming down their faces. Others laughed and shouted in joy, all under the echoing rock anthem of a bygone world.
"I bleed it out!" the singer growled from the speakers.
Rain rose to his feet, pistol in hand, and aimed at 'the thing.'
With a flick of his arm, he fired a single round into the water.
Flames erupted as the oil floating on the water ignited, spreading in a rapid inferno. The waters surrounding the port transformed into a blazing sea of fire in seconds.
That's when he saw her. Esther stood at the edge of the platform, her back to the beast, her eyes darting around in visible confusion. Behind her, the creature's gaping maw began to open.
Rain sprinted forward without a second thought.
Just as their eyes met, a tendril shot forward, piercing Esther's shoulder and lifting her toward the creature's mouth.
Rain leapt, slashing his sword downward. The blade severed the tendril, spraying black ichor everywhere. He shoved Esther away just as the beast's jaws snapped shut, barely missing him.
Bang!
The darkness around Rain vanished as the creature lurched backward with a guttural roar of pain. Black liquid streamed from the middle left of its six glowing amber eyes.
Rain saw Will standing on the pier nearby, aiming his machine gun.
"Run!" Will shouted as he unleashed a hail of bullets at the monster.
Rain didn't need to be told twice. He dashed forward, scooped Esther off the ground, and sprinted toward the mainland.
"Hey! Wait! What are you doing!?"
Esther protested, her voice a mix of irritation and confusion, but Rain ignored her. Behind him, he could feel the marble walkway cracking under the beast's immense weight. Shadows loomed closer, accompanied by a deep, guttural growl.
Esther must have looked back because she suddenly clung to him tightly, screaming, "Run faster, Rain! It's almost here!"
Rain nearly slipped on a pool of blood, but sheer adrenaline kept him upright without losing momentum. He knew, however, that his strength was almost gone.
Don't fall. Don't stop running. Don't look back.
"Rain, Captain Sayid sees the signal! He's launching heat-seeking missiles in five seconds!"
Don't fall. Don't stop running. Don't look back.
Rain leaped over collapsing stones, the creature's growls reverberating above him. When his foot hit the ground, he realized immediately that the blood puddle was deeper than expected. His balance faltered, and he began to tip forward, Esther screaming in his arms.
Holland's hand grabbed his collar, yanking him back with enough force to throw both him and Esther onto the pier.
Rain caught a glimpse of the monster lunging toward them, its gaping maw illuminated by the flames around it, just as he and Esther rolled across the marble floor.
And then, orange lights streaked down from the darkness of the cavern ceiling.
Rain closed his eyes against the blinding brilliance, followed by a deafening boom and a shockwave that sent him tumbling again.
The last thing Rain heard was the triumphant scream of the song still blaring through the speakers:
"I bleed it out!"