The glassy current shimmered under a sky that was not a sky—dark yet alive, pulsing faintly like the inside of a living heart. The crew stood at the riverbank, each of them stiff with unease.
The shadows across the current did not move. They only lingered, their smoky forms swaying like guardians waiting for supplicants to step forward.
Commander Hayes' voice was sharp. "We find another way."
Daniel shook his head slowly, the crystal in his chest glowing brighter as if answering the river's silent call. "There is no other way. It's pulling us across. It wants us there."
Dr. Marquez studied the surface, her voice trembling. "But how do you cross a river made of memory? If it reflects what's inside you… what happens when you step in?"
No one answered.
---
The First Attempt
Okafor's patience broke first. "Fine. I'll test it."
Before anyone could stop him, he lowered one boot into the current. The glass rippled, yet it didn't shatter. Instead, his reflection spread outward, multiplying a thousand times. Faces of himself—young, old, smiling, broken—rose from the river, their mouths moving in silence.
Okafor froze. His eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat. Then he stumbled backward, wrenching his leg free.
"What did you see?" Hayes demanded.
Okafor's voice cracked. "Me. All of me. But… one of them wasn't me. It looked like me, but its eyes—its eyes were burning red."
The river stilled again, hiding its secrets beneath a glassy sheen.
---
Daniel's Turn
The crystal pulsed harder against Daniel's chest, each beat syncing with the current. He knew—without understanding why—that the river would not allow anyone else safe passage.
He stepped forward.
Marquez reached for his arm. "Daniel, don't—"
But it was too late. His foot touched the current, and the river flared with light. This time, it didn't show endless versions of himself. It showed one.
A boy standing on red soil under a sky of storms. Mars. In his hands, the same crystal glowed—but larger, brighter, alive. Behind him, armies clashed. Titans of fire and shadow tore the land apart, while cloaked figures stood like judges on a distant ridge.
And then the boy turned. His face was Daniel's.
The vision shattered. The river calmed.
When Daniel blinked again, he was standing on the other side.
---
The Others Follow
A path of light stretched briefly across the current. Hayes, Marquez, and Okafor crossed quickly, none daring to look down at the visions whispering beneath their boots.
When they reached the other side, the path vanished. The shadows that had been waiting melted into the trees, leaving only silence.
Hayes exhaled sharply, his hand gripping the strap of his rifle. "We keep moving. But from now on, nothing happens without my command. Understood?"
They all nodded, though their eyes lingered on Daniel, who still clutched the glowing crystal.
The forest ahead bent inward, forming an archway of black roots. Beyond it, faint lights shimmered—structures, or perhaps more illusions.