Kin slowly picked his way up the long channel, bouncing from wall to wall gently and allowing his momentum to push him forward. His rangefinder estimated the length to the end of the channel as more than ten kilometers. So he settled in for a long journey, opting to expend as little energy as possible. Whenever he saw a door, he entered it to forage for food and materials. This had proved rather profitable, as he had come across two weeks more of air, four more food canisters, and two clips of pressurised gas, each enough for a hundred shots from his pressure pistol.

It was suicidal. Kin knew. He had spent enough time in the dark to know that he should have returned to base for supplies. But he was also tired. Tired of the dull ache in his leg. Tired of the fear.

Tired of the scuttling thing that had his mother’s face.

And he thought, I’m going to get out of here as soon as possible, or I’m not going to get out at all.

So he pushed on recklessly into the depths of this gargantuan metal giant, following a thread that Mion assured would connect him to safety. Back to his old life.

Although he wasn’t sure, after all he’d seen, whether he could go back to it.

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No matter. Here it was act first and philosophise second, because one couldn’t think his way out of the jaws of a Siren.

Mion’s proximity alert lit up. “Forty-four meters. Forty-two meters.”

Kin cast his flashlight around slowly, making sure to observe its beam with utmost care. After a couple of seconds, he blinded a Siren swimming directly towards him.

He pulled out his pressure pistol, waited, took aim, and then shot it in the head.

A dull crack resounded through the water and the monster drew back. Kin pulled the trigger again, this time targeting its ribs and tail. After a while it sank senseless to the bottom of the channel.

Kin followed it. When he arrived, floating directly above the beast, he pulled out his knife and got to work.

Kin had shot several Sirens in the past few hours. However, he was aware that ammo was limited and thus had proceeded to dissect the first few ones. By now, he knew what to do.

First, two diagonal cuts along the body to sever the tail muscles while he held it face-down. Next, the arms had to be opened lengthwise to prevent being clawed. Finally he could start cutting away at the back of the neck.

The Siren writhed weakly and screamed. By now Kin had taught himself to ignore the voices in his head that seemed to emanate from the lesser Sirens, although anything bigger was a threat.

Shaking his head, Kin continued cutting. He cut and cut until he came across a pale yellow cord embedded in a piece of bone. With one stab, he twisted it in two.

The Siren stopped writhing.

Kin continued moving.

He had attained his first victory against the abyss.