The End to Come - Page 2 3D Render, Digital Artwork by emarukk

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The End to Come - Page 2

3D Render by emarukk

Olivia clutched the red flower tightly, her knuckles stark white against the delicate, slender stem. The space station shuddered around her, the very structure groaning under the strain. The air was heavy with the pungent, acrid scent of burning circuits mingling with the metallic tang of scorched metal. Distant explosions echoed through the corridors, their force reverberating through the bulkheads and making the ground beneath her feet tremble like a living entity. All around her, she felt silence except for the distant crumble and wailing of breaking station. Olivia only listened to the dwindling whine of Lucas' power core, a descending wail fading into an eerie hush. Then, something began to stir from the smoke-choked corridor behind her, a whisper of movement in the thick, suffocating haze.

She didn't hear the figure approaching; his movements were too precise and measured, like a predator stalking its prey. He was clad in sleek, lightweight power armor, the type favored by mercenaries and bounty hunters for its balance of protection and agility. The armor's plating was a dull matte, marred by scorch marks and scratches—a testament to countless battles fought and survived. His attention lights glowed softly, a muted luminescence that indicated he was confident and unafraid of his surroundings. He crouched low to the ground, seamlessly blending into the shadows as his drone rose silently from behind him. It glided into the room with a ghostly grace, propelled by anti-gravity engines that emitted a faint, rhythmic hum, like a heartbeat echoing in the stillness.

A sudden, brilliant flash seized Olivia's attention, drawing her gaze skyward just as the drone descended to her level. Its scanning beam sliced through the darkness, bathing her in a stark, unyielding spotlight. Her breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively scrambled backward, raising her arm to shield her eyes from the blinding glare. A surge of panic raced through her chest like wildfire. The rebels hadn't left; they had returned to complete their ominous mission.

The drone hovered steadily in mid-air, its large camera lens whirring softly as it meticulously adjusted its focus. A moment later, a second scanner pulse swept over Olivia, vibrating with almost electric energy that seemed to charge the air around her. Olivia's heartbeat thundered in her ears like a relentless drumbeat, each thud echoing her mounting anxiety. She pressed herself tightly against the weathered and crumbling deck, her mind a whirlwind of frantic thoughts. Should she attempt to flee? Was there even a safe haven left to escape to? Her terror was fixated on the drone, its cold, mechanical eye unblinking and merciless as it bore into her. Yet, she remained oblivious to the genuine peril—the silent, shadowy figure lurking nearby, its presence masked by darkness, observing her every move with predatory intent.