Daniel stood at the edge of the ridge, staring into the fissure yawning below him. The staircase shimmered with pale, crystalline light, as if the planet itself had carved a path for him alone.
The shadows stood like sentinels, silent, their faceless heads turning toward him expectantly.
He took a step forward—
"DANIEL!"
Hayes's hand clamped down on his shoulder, yanking him back. His visor reflected the fire in Hayes's eyes. Behind him, Marquez and Okafor stumbled into view, weapons raised though they looked absurd against the formless watchers.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Hayes's voice boomed over comms. "Sneaking out, walking straight into their trap?"
Daniel stammered, "It wasn't— I didn't— They're calling me. I can feel it. This is why we're here."
---
A Clash of Wills
Okafor's voice cracked. "He's lost it. Look at him—he's glowing with that thing in his chest! If he goes down there, we're all dead."
Daniel whirled on him. "You don't understand! This crystal—it's not killing us. It's showing us the way."
Marquez narrowed his eyes. "Or it's luring us like bait. Ever think of that?"
The shadows rippled at the edge of the fissure, not moving closer, only waiting. Silent judges.
---
Hayes's Decision
Hayes tightened his grip on Daniel's shoulder. "We came here to survive, not to play messenger boy for alien phantoms. We finish the ship, we get off this rock. End of story."
Daniel's eyes burned. "And then what? Pretend none of this exists? Pretend they didn't choose me?"
The crystal flared, throwing a glow across the Martian sand. The shadows responded, shifting as one, their forms bending toward the stairway like priests at an altar.
Okafor stepped back, fear in his voice. "They're waiting for him, Hayes. If we stop him—"
Hayes cut him off. "If we let him go, none of us make it back."
---
The Tremor
The ground rumbled beneath their boots. Dust cascaded from the ridge as the fissure widened, stairs descending deeper into the planet's glowing heart.
Marquez swore under his breath. "We're out of time. Either we go down together… or the planet swallows him whole."
Daniel looked between them, chest heaving, torn between obedience and the undeniable pull of the crystal.
The shadows lifted their faceless heads, and for the first time, they pointed—straight into the abyss.