“...” Reiana thought about her options.

  Her scanner had an option to send out a low pulse that would create a map of her immediate area ; however, it might alert more sensitive creatures. She could also wander the caves in hope of reaching the surface. The scanner would also track her route so she would be able to tell if she changed altitude, however slight.

  She also had to make a choice regarding another obvious issue. She would have to rely on a tiny light built into the ser gun because it was so dark. Simir to a bck hole,it appeared as though something and nothing both coexist simultaneously. It was challenging to understand how the structure of the area was id out. She reasoned that the creatures could already see in the dark and that it was therefore worth the risk despite the fact that doing so could easily reveal her location.

  In addition, she didn't want to use the rifle on her back unless absolutely needed, there was no telling when she would be able to restock ammo for it, never mind how ridiculously dangerous it was to fire underground.

  She eventually decided that it was more dangerous to stay, than it was to use her equipment.

  She dialed the scanner to the lowest setting it would allow and sent out a pulse. It revealed the tunnels around her out to about fifty meters. It was a byrinth with many dead ends and intersections. “Always go left!” she remembered her sister proudly saying as a kid and couldn’t help but smile to herself. For now that was as good a solution as any.

  As quietly as she could manage, she proceeded through the darkness with only the small light and her scanner. She was alone for what seemed like hours before encountering another of the Rot.

  “...!” She barely managed to turn her light off in time before it would have seen her.

  It was clear from the smaller stature of the creature that it was a Lesser Rotling. It was carrying something in its arms, not even noticing her. It was much smaller than the warrior at just under two feet tall. Its body was squat and head wide and oval with rows of jagged teeth. Overall it reminded her of stories she had heard of goblins back home.

  Strange, she thought to herself. It had to have noticed me there.

  She sent another pulse out before the creature got too far, to see if it would react. Thankfully it didn’t and completely ignored her as it carried a round white object off into the darkness. It was a while before she saw more of them, this time a pair carrying the same round objects, and again they ignored her. She tested her fshlight around them this time, ready to shoot if they reacted but again nothing. They clearly saw her but apparently decided she wasn’t worth reacting to.

  “What the hell is going on here?” she muttered to herself. Granted that makes this much easier.

  She wandered the underground for what seemed like hours more before taking a break. Hiding in a small dead end around a corner, she decided to chance one of the survival bars. Of the handful she pulled out first, there was Grape Curry, Banana Anchovy, and Pineapple Pizza.

  Could be worse, she thought before choosing the st of the bunch and stowing the rest. She wasn’t a stranger to this particur brand but it still was unnerving at how accurate their fvours were. She could almost believe she was eating pizza straight from the oven, if it weren’t for the ground up powdered texture of the bar.

  She stayed there for an hour resting nursing a slight headache that had formed while considering her next move. The scanner’s map told her that she had travelled a considerable distance, not once needing to backtrack or cross over the same path. This pce is enormous. Rei thought to herself. She had already travelled several miles in the dark, with no sign of an exit.

  “Better get moving.” she muttered to no one in particur, brushing her jeans off out of habit.

  Travel was slow in the darkness but eventually she felt a slight incline in the tunnels. As she continued, she felt her headache steadily becoming worse. Eventually she had to take a moment to rest from the pain. It started so minor but was now almost debilitatingly painful.

  “What are you doing in my home, little sneak?” She heard an angry voice booming in her mind. The pain was immense, like the worst migraine of her life after a particurly heavy night of drinking. It was hard to keep herself steady, the voice shook her to her core. She felt an almost primal fear of the being that invaded her mind.

  She clutched her head in pain before calling out. “My pod crashed, and I’m trying to find my way out!”

  She felt a deep rumbling everywhere, it was hard to determine if it was just her or if the entire cave had shook too. It must be ughing…

  “Ah so that’s where that delicious casket came from. I just love when newcomers arrive. They always bring the best food for my family to feast on.” The voice was absolutely oozing with a sinister attitude.

  “Well I don’t know where my ship is, so I’ll just be on my way.” She tried to say in a stronger voice than she felt.

  “You poor lost creature, why don’t you stay a while so I can pick your brain.” Her mind conjured images of a vast jagged mouth sneering in a ghastly smile.

  Rei shuddered at the implications while the creature ughed in her mind. The pain grew so intense that she passed out.