The raft bumped lightly against the rocky shore, the gentle nudge sending a soft jolt through Isla’s knees. She jumped off first to avoid the others noticing her shadow, her boots crunching into the uneven mix of sand and stone. There was a slight mist that clung low to the bridge between ocean and sand, curling over the surface like slow-moving smoke, never quite rising, as if wary of being seen.

Her radio crackled, and Brigid’s voice came through, faint and laced with static. “You’re ashore? Over.”

“Ashore,” Isla replied, glancing at the ship, looking utterly still from a distance—no bobbing or swaying in the sea. “Check in. Fifteen-minute intervals.” Her gaze flicked toward the outline of Brigid and Kael on the upper deck. “Everything quiet on your end?”

There was a muffled laugh through the comms, and Brigid’s voice rose with mock offense. “Kael—stop—I’m on the radio, you’re gonna—” A sharp giggle, followed by Kael’s voice somewhere in the background, “Didn’t know you were so ticklish, Red!”

Isla’s lips twitched. “Copy that. Make sure he’s not just a distraction. Report any—and I mean any anomalies.”

Brigid’s tone sobered, and her words came clearer through the static. “Will do, Cap. You’re all clear for now. Fifteen minutes on the dot.”

“Fifteen?” Kael returned in a mock complaint. “Can’t we make it thirty?”

“Kael! I’ll throw you overboard,” Brigid shot back, voice taut with flustered energy before abruptly cutting off, her ears no doubt burning.

Click.

“Roger that.” Isla released the button with a shake of her head. “The woman’s acting like she’s sixteen again.”

“Can you blame her after the day we’ve had?” Maeva chuckled. “Oh, let me help you, James!”

Isla’s eyebrow lifted as she studied the medic bustle over to the giant of a security officer. Doesn’t seem like our redhead’s the only one throwing out her hook to snag a fish.

Letting the silence close back in as they unloaded the supplies onto the beach, she smiled upon spotting a small box with a fishing pole imprinted on the front. She liked to fish in her spare time, as rare as that was for her.

The shoreline’s only sounds were the dull lap of water and the distant creaks of shifting foliage further inland, which was quieter than she felt they should have been. However, the rhythmic drip-drip of water falling from tree leaves echoed louder than normal, like a leaking faucet left to bleed out.

“How’s this for normal?” Hollow’s voice broke the quiet as he crouched by the raft, squinting at his tablet in one hand, another device connected to it in the other. “Sensors just glitched again. False depth readings. I saw it on the boat, as well. Says the ocean is two feet from the sea floor.” He tilted the device toward Isla, his brows pinched in irritation. “Says the sand is water. We’re all in agreement that we’re on solid ground? Well, as solid as sand can be.”

“Sensors have been acting up the entire way here,” Maeva stated as she stepped off the raft, helping James with the last big gear chest from the other side. She adjusted her pack’s straps once setting the box down, eyes sharp as they darted from the rocky shore to the misty jungle beyond. “That’s not new. Read it all over the reports uploaded to our tablets. It’s been like that since—” she gestured toward the sky. “—AEGIS showed up in this place.”

“Faulty sensors are one thing,” Hollow mumbled, shaking his head, “but false depth readings? That’s not sensor error—that’s something screwing with all sorts of measurement fields.” He didn’t look up from his tablet, his fingers tapping out commands like he was trying to coax it back to sense. “Keep using that radio, though. Call out into the void. See if it calls back.”

Maeva raised an eyebrow at him. “What’s supposed to call back, Hollow?”

“Something that’s been listening,” he smirked, eyes half-lidded with dry amusement. “Or maybe nothing. Maybe I’m just paranoid. Isn’t that what the science guy is supposed to say in these types of movies?”

“Yeah, you’re definitely that,” Maeva grunted, eyes narrowing. “But, as much as I hate to admit it, you’re not wrong either.”

“So…are we splitting up or doing this smart?” James’ voice was low and methodical as he shifted a duffel bag over one shoulder, a heavy gun swaying at his front. His eyes were on the jagged rocks ahead, the direction where the fallen plane had washed up on shore.

“Pairs,” Isla confirmed, stepping further onto the beach. “Maeva, you’re with James. Check out the plane, but stay on comms.” She flicked Hollow a glance. “What about you Hollow? Want to hike it solo or get stuck with me getting fish samples?” she joked, knowing the response.

“I’ll pass on the solo venture, Cap,” he muttered, tossing his pack off to the side and setting up his portable equipment. “I’m not interested in mystery planes assaulted by an Eldritch god with zero damage. Sounds like a one-stop ticket to mutation paradise. Have fun, kids.”

Isla watched Maeva ignore him and jog up to James’ side, barely hiding the grin on her face. Isla’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. Hooked up with James, huh? You go, girl.

She shook her head, half-smirking as they disappeared around the rock bend, doing her best to ignore the physicist’s mumbles.

Letting the beach’s eerie stillness close back in as they unloaded the supplies onto the beach, Isla glanced at the small box with a fishing pole imprinted on the front. It had been part of their survival gear, and she had half-forgotten about it until now. Considering her objective to collect a live sample of the immortal fish, it was suddenly the most useful item on the beach. Also, a good way to soothe her nerves and test out the fish’s reaction to bait.

Grabbing the gear, she shot Hollow a glance. He returned it with a dull wave, gesturing to all the gear he was pulling out. I guess that means I’ve got time. The physicist will do physicist things. He’s got plenty to study himself, she noted, pulling her ponytail behind her shoulder and glancing at the unusual environment.

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The shoreline’s only sounds were the dull lap of water, the sea remaining glass smooth, and the distant creaks of shifting foliage further inland were quieter than she felt it should have been. Then again, the rhythmic drip-drip of water falling from tree leaves echoed louder than normal, like a leaking faucet left to bleed out.

Creepy place. Check. Next, we need a new monster to pop up. Her gaze lingered on the guns James had left for them. Somehow, I feel like those won’t be enough to take down that thing we saw in the sky… No, try not to think about that shit and do something useful.

Heading to the rocky outcrop with the fishing kit, Isla kept Hollow in her sight while setting it up. Once done, she unfolded a chair, cast her line into the water. The reel clicked softly, the line cutting the air before it hit the surface with a faint plop, right where the god fish zipped around like living bolts of lightning.

It should be fine. Worst normal case scenario, it jerks the pole out of my hands, right? Isla sat, allowing herself to let everything sink in. She leaned back, arms loose but eyes sharp. She watched the line—watched the still water—watched the fish below dart between stones like streaks of living light. Still. Everything is too still… Too normal, after what we experienced getting here.

Her gaze drifted to Hollow on the shoreline, mumbling to himself, checking his equipment, and making notes. She took the moment of peace to survey the area more closely, looking for other details that seemed out of place, and her brow furrowed upon falling onto a small pool of water in the rocky zone she sat in.

No clouds…only when that sky creature broke through. The waves were pretty intense when that happened, and the sea turned red…but everywhere else is perfectly dry in this rocky area. Was this even there when I sat down?

Feeling the unease, she leaned over to look at herself in the mirror-like reflection, and her own smiling face stared back. The noise came from inside, the voice, her own.

“Don’t worry, Isla. I’m here with you. I’ve always been.” Her teeth flashed. But not in a frightening, horror sort of way, but like she was trying to comfort a friend. “Nothing from here will harm you so long as I am with you and you remember. Remember, we made a promise to ourselves. We promised—”

Hollow’s chair creaked as he folded it open; his sudden closeness snapped her back to her senses, causing her to blink and give a short start. The man slumped down with a sigh, face dull, following her gaze to the still pool—her reflection was normal again. Yet, the voice spoke to her, serious and guarded.

“Be cautious of Him. He can hurt Us.”

“Find…anything interesting?”

Yes, she internally screamed. Yes, I’m going crazy! I just…don’t feel like I am.

“…No. You?” she returned, feeling oddly comforted by Her reassurance and presence, despite the warning.

“Revolutionary,” Hollow muttered, scrolling on his tablet.

“Will it help us survive?” she pressed, glancing at him sideways.

“Doubt it.” His gaze flicked toward her, then slowly down. Isla’s eyes followed his, landing just below her chair. Her shadow wasn’t there—it wouldn’t be—She was below her feet.

Her stomach tensed. Slowly, she lifted her foot and set it back down. The shadow reappeared, delayed, moving with her.

What will he do?

“You trust it?” Hollow’s voice came quiet, almost disarming. “The thing you saw in The Fog?”

Isla’s lips pressed thin. Her fingers curled into fists.

He does know. Don’t answer.

But the words came anyway, yet…they didn’t feel like her own. “The thing in The Fog isn’t what you think,” she muttered, gaze fixed on her reflection in the still water again. “It’s not… What was there wasn’t…Her.”

Isla’s eyes shifted toward Hollow, catching him watching her with that unreadable, patient, studying stare. “What’s Her then, Captain?” he asked softly.

Her voice felt far away, like it belonged to someone else. “She wasn’t in The Fog. That was something else. What? I don’t know, but it scared me to death—worse than that thing in the sky. She, though… She’s always been with me. Protecting me. I forgot for a while, I think…but she’s never left…”

Her gaze flickered to his arm. A shadow that shouldn’t be there stretched over his forearm as he crossed them over each other. Isla’s heart drummed slow, deliberate beats, calmer than she should have been.

“Hollow… Did you take that pill?” she softly asked. “I saw you put it in your mouth, but…”

Hollow didn’t answer. The shadow across his arm shifted, slowly retreating toward his hand before vanishing entirely.

Her line jerked. Hard.

“Got a bite,” she hissed, hands darting to the reel. “Huh?!”

Her stomach cramped as the fish kicked so strong, the force pulled her to her feet and almost into the sea. Hollow’s arms closed around her belly, pulling back with surprising strength as the fish fought viciously, wild thrashes spraying water into the air.

“I’ve got you!”

The moment Hollow’s body connected with hers, the fish froze, as if paralyzed. With him stabilizing her, she swiftly reeled it in and pulled it onto shore and into the small pool beside her chair, breathing heavily.

Hollow let go, sinking into his chair, and the god fish started to flop. Only, it was weak and acting more like the one she’d seen at the base.

Eyebrows knitting together, she glanced down at Hollow.

His gaze was on her feet.

On Her.

Then, the radio buzzed, the others checking in.

Brigid sounded breathless, which didn’t surprise her. “We—nothing to report. We’re checking the engine room now. Right, Kael?”

“Oh, I think it’s working fairly well,” he chuckled, also sounding a tad out of air. “Things are feeling nice and tight. Over and out.”

Maeva’s voice cut in with humor. “Don’t pull any lines or wear anything out, bud. We still need to get back to base. James and I are taking it slow on the way to the plane. Being cautious. I think I saw some bugs flying around, so be careful. We’re putting on some spray, not that I expect it to work, but no harm in trying, right? Oh, we have a bug zapper? You really are prepared!”

James’ deep voice came over the line. “There’s a small device in all of your packs that emits weak ultraviolet radiation that should attract bugs. The battery is limited and only works in close range with the electrical charge, but should last several hours if needed. Anything to report, Captain?”

Hollow’s dull eyes lifted to hers, the god fish continuing to flop in the background inside the small pool. They locked gazes, and she knew the game he was playing.

We both have secrets now, huh? So, you couldn’t resist staying awake during The Fog. The question is, why did it look like you were sleeping the entire time in the video? Maybe I need to look at it again.

Holding the radio up to her mouth, she said, “No, everything is good. I’ve caught a god fish. Hollow is going to help me put it in the fish tank. Keep an eye out for any more samples to add to it, Maeva. And…be careful.”

“Sure thing! Over and out.”