The End to Come Page 19 3D Render, Digital Artwork by emarukk

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The End to Come Page 19

3D Render by emarukk

In the blink of an eye, she found herself not being inside the grand hall of gods but nestled within the secure confines of a small cargo bay. It was a snug, reassuring space that enveloped her like her mother's warm, comforting embrace during moments of distress and uncertainty. The narrow chamber welcomed her with its austere gray bulkheads, standing silent and unyielding. An unsettling silence filled the void, starkly contrasting the chaos she left behind. The cargo bay lay in anticipation, waiting to be pressurized, its stillness only broken by the rhythmic sound of her breathing, the steady thump of her heartbeat, and the gentle hum of her suit's internal systems. Within this cocoon of sound and silence, she felt the entirety of her existence encapsulated.

In an abrupt moment of clarity, she noticed the absence of the drone. It had subtly nudged her into motion before slipping away, its purpose fulfilled, leaving her to drift helplessly forward, propelled solely by her own momentum. Olivia glided slowly across the tiny bay, akin to a languid balloon caught in a gentle breeze, until she made contact with the solid, seemingly distant bulkhead, resulting in a soft yet inelegant thud. Desperately, she attempted to control her movements, her arms thrashing ineffectively within the confines of the suit, resembling tiny, ineffectual flippers. Her efforts proved futile. The suit began to rotate awkwardly because of the collision with the bulkhead. Her attempts at stabilization met with little success. Her legs kicked out against the interior of the suit in a vain bid for balance. Her momentum continued pressing her against the bulkhead; she found herself bending upside down momentarily, her vision filled only with the flickering lights of her suit and the sight of her boots.

Finally, Olivia drifted to a halt. Her back made gentle contact with what could have been the ceiling or perhaps the cockpit bulkhead; in the disorienting embrace of zero gravity, the direction was a deceiving concept. She rotated slowly, her helmet's visor gradually aligning with the shuttle's rear. Through the open gate, she spotted a figure, a stranger, outlined against the infinite, velvety darkness of space. The stranger. Still floating inexorably toward her. The station's ebony void engulfed everything behind him, his silhouette starkly outlined by the sporadic flickering of the station's dimming lights, casting an eerie glow in the vast emptiness.

From this perspective, Verdantia didn't appear to be in ruins. Only the outer curve around the airlock was visible, and it seemed undamaged, along with the small corridor they had exited. The airlock was brightly lit and appeared operational. Supposed someone had shown her this view without any background information. She might have thought the station was unchanged: waiting, stable, and unblemished. The illusion tugged at her heart. However, the distant flickering of lights and flames beyond the sight of the lone armored figure moving toward the shuttle shattered that illusion. Verdantia was gone; she had to come to terms with that. Now, she was inside a ship that felt unfamiliar, drifting alone, waiting for someone who still hadn't revealed his name to come and help her.

It took Olivia a moment to truly comprehend her surroundings and to fully grasp the reality of it. This wasn't a simulation chamber, nor was it a station training pod or one of those dusty old shuttles grounded in maintenance bays. This was real. She was inside a ship. In the vast expanse of space. Floating in orbit, far removed from everything she had ever known. The shuttle's interior defied her expectations. It was cramped, with every surface hard and unyielding, reflecting a utilitarian, clean design. No tangled mess of cables snaked along the walls, nor were there countless access hatches interrupting the smooth surfaces. There were just two seats and several cargo latches or handles designed to aid movement. It was a vessel built for transporting cargo. Contrary to her initial thoughts, nothing about the environment welcomed her. Yet, she clung to the room as if it were the last warm refuge in a collapsing world. Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. The realization hit her with unexpected intensity: I'm on a spaceship. It should have felt like a dream materialized, but instead, it felt as though she had crawled into the belly of a cold, steel beast and now lay in wait, bracing to be consumed.

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Robert SzFri, Apr 04

Karma: 6,401

Your imagery captures the essence of the story, we can see it written on her face. But your story is so incredibly detailed, full of the thoughts, and emotions of the character. We completely understand her emotional state, it makes perfect sense for the person she is, in this situation. Magnificent!

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emarukk

Karma: 2,260

Sat, Apr 05

Thank you! I'm happy I managed to describe her desperate situation well.