The interior was unchanged from last time. Robert convinced himself that the ship was quieter than last time.

That's right there's nothing there. Robert thought. Everything's fine. Just keep moving.

Robert climbed the support beam and reached the ladder. He could detect no other sounds besides his own.

With a little courage, he climbed the ladder. At the top of the ladder, the hallway around him was dark and void of movement or sound.

I guess it's true what they say in the movies. The best place to avoid the murderer is at the scene of the crime. Robert thought, as he clambered up and stood. He glanced over at the doors. So that door was where the ant came out. Should be the safest one, right. it can't still be in there. I better make this fast.

The door opened up to a broken room. it looked something like a mess hall. Light poured in from the cracks in the ceiling. Plates, forks, and bowls were everywhere.

Lining the walls was a set of tables and benches. They were nailed in place. In the far corner was a metal stove, that had been flatted under a collapsing ceiling. Robert bent over to check the plates and bowls.

What the heck? Not even grease is left? It's like everything has been heat cleaned. Robert thought as he leaned against one of the tables. Could the ants have taken everything, even the grease? Hopefully, they didn't keep their water in this room. I think it's time to check the next doors.

Robert headed for the doorway but stopped cold. When he heard a scuttling sound. He rushed to the doorway and looked out to find a giant ant climbing up the ladder.

Oh crap! Robert thought, moving to the other side of the mess hall. It's back. Or is this a new one? Crap! What do I do?

The scuttling sounds approached the mess hall doorway.

Please don't come in here. Robert thought, begging. There's nothing in here you want. Just keep moving.

The ant entered the mess hall, but it was not alone. Three other ants entered behind it.

Two were following behind the first on the floor. While the fourth who was a special little snowflake wanted to walk on the ceiling.

All of them were huge by Earth standards, but they weren't all the same size. The two who entered last. Looked dark red, and was bigger, with larger jaws. If they stood on their back legs, they could easily be taller than Robert. The first ant approached Robert's position.

At that moment. He could have sworn his beating heart would get him killed.

Just as it were within five feet of him. It turned and headed for the iron stove, completely ignoring Robert. The other ants begin helping the first, by moving the rubble and digging the stove out. Robert barely moved through the whole thing. In fact, he couldn't move. His legs had gone numb.

Finally, the ants pried open the flatted iron hatch and removed a pot from inside. the pot still had a lid. A red ant threw the lid away and the lid clattered to the floor. The ant then dipped its front legs into the pot. Feeling the contents maybe.

The ant then moved back, allowing one of the smaller ants to get at the pot. The smaller ant also dipped its front legs into the pot. It must have found something because it then put its head inside.

A disgusting slurping sound begins. It made Robert queasy. He didn't want to know what was happening in the pot.

The small ant soon finished and came back up with a piece of meat in its jaws. It passed the meat off to the nearby larger ant and went back to slurping from the pot. The larger ant carried the meat out of the room.

Robert never felt so sick in his life. He was more disgusted than sacred now.

Why aren't they attacking me? Are they ignoring me? Robert thought. It's like I'm invisible to them?

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The small ant came back up with potato this time. The remaining larger ant, probably feeling left out. Knocked the pot over causing the remaining liquid to spill across the floor.

All the ants circled the puddle and opened their jaws. Robert winced and looked away. The floor was soon licked dry and the pot double-checked.

The ants glanced around before heading for the doorway. Robert held his breath until they were out of sight. Once they were out of sight. Robert breathed a sigh of relief and stumbled over to a nearby bench and set down.

Oh crap, they're finally gone? He thought as he stared at the doorway. hoping they weren't returning. That was horrible.

Robert sighed. Feeling himself calm down and his adrenaline rush slowing. When he felt better, Robert stood and sneaked over to the doorway.

Looking out, he nearly screamed. An ant was on the ladder facing downward. Its head was in the hole to the lower floor. It didn't look like it was moving any time soon either.

Crap! How, do I get out of here than? Robert thought as he glanced around. He kept the ants rear in his peripheral vision as he looked for a way out. Whoa, that might work.

Further down the hallway, away from the ant. Stood another ladder. It looked like it went to the next floor.

Robert risked it. He crept out of the doorway and over to the ladder. He glanced back before climbing. The ant didn't move so he started climbing up, as quietly as possible.

The third floor was a massive lit room. Fulled with bunk beds and holes in the ceiling that let light in. The bunks were a mess. Like a college parties' level of messiness. Damaged bedding, clothing, and random stuff were everywhere.

Must be some kind of barrack. Robert thought, as he climbed up and looked around. There should be a way to get outside from here.

Robert crept through the room, carefully looking for another ladder or any other kind of exit.

On the far side of the chamber were many doors and a single ladder. The doors probably lead to other parts of this deck. Robert ignored them as he focused solely on a faraway ladder. The ladder's ceiling hole with fulled with blue sky.

An exit! Robert thought as he walked over. Finally a way out.

Robert climbed up in a rush, ignoring how noisily he was. The sunlight blinded him as he reached the top.

The main deck was sandblasted clean. A large pile of sand covered the lower side and holes in the floor, presented an immediate danger.

No ants at least, that's a good start. Robert thought, looking over the holes. I hope the floor can still hold weight.

Robert moved carefully towards the lower side of the ship and looked out. The vast desert and sky expanded outward endlessly. It was swirling into unreal depths of blues and tans.

“Oh wow. what a view.” Robert muttered as he looked around “Hum? Too bad, it's all trying to kill me."

As they say, every rose has its thorns, so watch out. Robert thought as he glanced downward. The distance to the ground was a good thirty feet. Now how do I get down without breaking my legs? Maybe they had a ladder somewhere?

Robert tried to explore the top deck but found that it was way too risky. He almost fell in after placing one foot out of place. The wooden board fell away landing on the floor below.

Shoot, what could have been me. Robert thought, as he carefully tested the way back to the ladder. He climbed down and at the bottom of the ladder. Robert had a thought.

Hey, this thing's a ladder, right? I could use this. Robert thought as he looked it over. Hum? Well, it wouldn't reach all the way, but if I used another one. Then maybe.

The ladder was twice his high and it was secured to the ceiling. The base had a hook like a candy cane.

Robert tried to remove the ladder. But since he didn't have a saw on him, it wouldn't budge an inch.

There must be a way to remove this. Why even have a ladder. If you can't move it around? Robert thought as he glanced around. There should be some tools around here somewhere. Maybe a saw. Robert walked back towards the beds.

The beds were ripped up and useless. Many personal effects were covering the floor. a few books, a lot of clothing, and many pieces of paper were most of the mess. Robert noticed a dirty little animal doll hidden in a corner.

A child's doll? Crap. Those poor idiots. Robert thought as he stopped himself from reading any of the papers. Knowing it will only make him further upset. I wonder if this was their stuff? Those guys that died?

Robert tied one of the doors and found a small room that was covered in maps. The maps were all the same, just with different sizes and locations. Under the deck, he found a toolbox. He was so happy he forgot to grab a map.

He carried the toolbox back to the ladder and within seconds cut the ladder free.

Crap that was too loud. The ants could have heard me. Robert thought as he looked around. There were no signs that the ants were coming, but he glanced around again anyway. I need to be more careful.

Robert leaned the ladder against the wall and climbed. Once reaching the top, he stood and pulled it up next to him.

Ok. I just need to put it over the side now. Robert thought as he Slid it across the deck behind him.

The drop over the edge was as menacing as before. Robert lifted the ladder over the edge and hung the ladder down. It hardly reached the ground.

Heck, I still need something for the last ten feet or so. Robert thought as he look down. I need another ladder or...

Just then, the three ants appeared below him from a hole in the ship. They were running away from the ship and heading for the sand dunes.

Are they leaving really fast? What the heck spooked them? Robert Thought, as he watched the ant run.

A flash of movement catches Robert's attraction. A group of four strange-looking wheels, came rolling over the dunes and into view. The wheels turned at a surprising sharp angle and rushed the ants. They rammed the ants at top speed. Sending the ants flying.

Ten smaller wheels came into view behind the first four. While the ants were still recovering. The wheels uncurled like pill bugs and revealed themselves to be wolf-like pill bugs.

What the hell are those?! Robert thought.

The pill bug wolves weren't covered in fur like dogs would be, but rather large scales. They looked four feet long from head to tail. Pillbug wolves surrounded the ants. The ants who fully recovered charged their attackers with their jaws snapping wildly.