Ice Rift (13 page)

A rasp of something hard on a branch directly above him saw the fear, which he had subdued but not conquered, ascend to new heights. Though hesitant to do so, his head turned to observe the slivers of dislodged bark land on his shoulder. His absolute terror rooted him to the spot as securely as the tree he stood beneath. His legs shook and his heart pounded so fast he would not have been surprised if it burst from his chest.

Although it was the last thing he wanted to do, Richard tilted his head back and gazed up the tree trunk. Something crouched on a branch entered the weak beam of light and stared down at him. It was something that should not exist. Something covered in brown and grey, mottled, wet-looking skin adorned with tubes of various sizes as if its blood vessels were on the outside. Vine-like tubes attached to its cheeks, chin and throat, hung down and entered its chest. Richard focused on its open mouth, the half-inch long teeth within and the larger teeth protruding from its lips. It was a monster. It was death. The monster's small yellow eyes with pupils the colour of human blood, focused on its prey as it skulked slowly down the tree.

It shrieked.

A whimper escaped from Richard's trembling form. He now knew what a blood curdling cry was, a phrase described in many horror books; it no longer sounded like a cliché. Warm liquid soaked his groin and ran down his legs to seep into his boots. Richard spied his petrified form reflected in the monster's evil orbs. The globule of saliva that dripped from the creature's teeth-lined maw seemed to fall in slow motion before it splattered on his forehead with a wet smack. Terrified, he watched pain and death approach.

Though Eli had been the first to see the Hunter monster in the foliage-choked corridor, he was the last to escape. He held no blame against the others for abandoning him. He would have done the same in their position. In all but the bravest, when confronted with such a fearsome horror, self-preservation dominated any sense of loyalty to others. The fear and guilt in Theo's eyes had been plain to see when he'd fled and glanced back at his friend caught in the creature's grasp.

Eli had screamed as much in fear as pain when claws had dug deep into his shoulder. In his panicked attempts to break free he'd fallen to the floor, temporarily hidden from the Hunter's murderous gaze by the thick layer of stagnant mist. When he scrambled away, his hand landed on something hard, a short, thick branch. His fingers curled around it when the monster dipped its sadistic head into the fog to search for its victim. Though he'd doubted the blow would do it much damage, Eli was one meal who meant to fight back. Eli swung the club.

The Hunter monster screeched.

The image of ancient tombs and rotting corpses crowded Eli's thoughts when the stench of the creature's foul breath assaulted his senses. He bent his knees and shot his feet forward. The blow connected with the creature's chest. The force of the kick erupted pain from his leg wound and sent the monster flying backward. It crashed into the undergrowth a short distance away, giving him the few seconds he needed to crawl away.

Eli followed the others' trail through a doorway into a room that seemed large, but was impossible to tell as he'd lost his torch when the monster attacked. Using outstretched arms to lead the way through the darkness was an unnerving experience. More than once he imagined his fingers brushing a monster's skin. He hurried away from the doorway and the monster he was certain would follow as soon as it recovered. At first, he rushed with abandonment as fast as he dared blind to his surroundings. His priority was to put as much distance between himself and the creature as swiftly as possible in his wounded condition. When he gauged he was for the moment safe, he slowed his pace. A few deep breaths returned a slight calm to his frayed nerves. Aware any noise he made would alert the monster to his position, he proceeded cautiously. The blood seeping from his wounds caused him to wonder if the monster would be able to smell it above the overpowering stink of rotting vegetation. A terrifying screech diverted his attention. It had sounded close by. The Hunter was coming. A whimper halted his reaction to flee in the opposite direction. It had sounded human.

It must be one of the others.

The thick foliage made it difficult to detect from what direction it had originated. Though loath to attract attention to his position, the opportunity to rejoin his friends overrode his caution, and he softly called out, “Is anyone there?”

Richard knew he should run, but fear rooted him to the spot.

The monster halted its descent. Its head darted toward Eli's voice.

Though risky, Richard's devious brain quickly formed a plan that might save his life. Hope kick-started his courage and in a strained voice, little more than a frightened croak, he responded. “Over here, Eli, by the black tree.”

A rustling of leaves and branches announced the man's approach.

Richard glanced up at the monster. Its attention was momentarily focused on Eli's approach. It gave him the slim chance he desperately required. One small cautious movement at a time, he sidled around the tree.

Eli expressed a look of relief when he emerged from the bushes and glimpsed a familiar face in the glow of Richard's headlamp.

“Richard! Am I glad to see you.” Eli's relief quickly changed to concern. Something was wrong, very wrong. Richard, his back pressed against the side of the tree, trembled and gazed heavenward. Eli tilted his head to allow his eyes to follow the track of Richard's light. He gasped on seeing the Hunter monster perched on the trunk and noticed the blood on the side of its head. They had met before. Its eyes focused on the blood oozing from Eli's wounds and sniffed the seductive aroma.

The Hunter leapt from the tree.

Eli knew he wouldn't escape a second time and he would never see his wife or son again. The Hunter landed on his chest, knocking him to the ground. Eli screamed.

Hardly daring to breathe, Richard shuffled silently around the trunk. Eli's cries of mortal agony mingled with the creature's savage shrieks when his body was torn apart were terrifying to witness. The screams faded when death finally claimed the man.

Richard felt no remorse for his actions. He was alive. That was all that mattered. Grotesque sounds of flesh being chewed and blood slurped filled the air. Richard peeked around the tree. The creature hunched over Eli's corpse, its feasting head thankfully hidden within the ground hugging mist. Red splatters stained the surrounding bushes, orange and purple leaves dripped globules of blood. His eyes fell on Eli's rucksack poking out from the mist; it lay just beyond his reach. The camera was inside and probably other stuff he would need. Though indescribably terrified, greed for the valuable camera images goaded his actions. He leaned forward and hooked his shaking fingers around a strap. His eyes never wavered from the creature's back. Flesh ripped. The monster's head appeared above the mist. Richard froze. The monster chewed the gory, blood-dripping morsel, but didn't turn its head. When its face disappeared into the mist to claim another chunk of the dead man's flesh, Richard snatched up the bag and ran.

The Hunter's head darted out of the fog. It stared in the direction of something fleeing through the forest. Detecting no threat, it turned its attention back to its meal.

Richard ignored the branches slapping at his face as he fled from the monster feasting on Eli. Though he hoped it would have sated its hunger, it didn't seem the type of creature that only killed for food. Movement to his right demanded his attention. His light fell across a trembling pale form. Only a mass of creepers he'd disturbed. Something struck his head, knocking him to the ground. Dazed and through fog-filled eyes, he stared up at the branch he'd run into highlighted in his headlamp, now set skew-whiff on his brow. His hand went to his head and felt the bump forming, but no cut leaking blood to attract the forest dwellers. He straightened the headlamp and directed it at the rustling mass of creamy vines. They seemed closer.

Sensing its existence had been detected, the vegetation discarded its stealth tactic and gathered its writhing mass into a cohesive shape. Organic arms and legs, formed from tightly wound creepers, slithered from the mass. A tangled throng of vines became a ferocious head with two red glowing eyes and a tooth-filled jaw fashioned for chewing flesh. The creature formed by the writhing mass was as fascinating as it was frightening to witness. When a creeper arm reached out for Richard, five stems grew from the tip to form a large clawed hand.

Richard was up on his feet and running before it grabbed him. Rustling leaves and cracking twigs behind him indicated the creeper was on the move. Richard tripped, rolled down a small slope and splashed into shallow water.

The creeper drew back the foliage at the top of the slope with its huge arms and stared straight at Richard.

Though it was vegetation, Richard was convinced by its addition of such an abundance of sharp teeth that it wasn't vegetarian. He climbed to his feet and ran through the stream he'd stumbled into. A twist of his head revealed his pursuer hadn't given up. The carnivorous creeper's feet splashed with each hurried step as it lurched after its prey. Even though scared, Richard wished he'd time to snap off a photo as no one would believe such a weird creature when he described it. Thick, thorny roots crept ahead of the beast, snaking through the water menacingly. Richard was pleased to notice his legs produced more speed than the creeper's root-formed appendages and he should easily be able to outrun it.

Piercing shrieks filled the air.

Two Web monsters dropped from the trees and landed directly in front of Richard.

Richard skidded on the wet, slippery stones lining the stream bed when he tried to avoid running into the monsters outstretched claws. Beyond being frightened anymore, he backed away and cocked an ear behind him. He began counting. “Five, four, three…”

Puzzled by the human's reaction, the creatures tilted their heads from side to side as they wondered why it made no attempt to flee.

“…two, one!” Richard dived to the side.

The quick reaction of one of the Web monsters saved its life; it leapt up the bank and disappeared into the undergrowth. The other wasn't so fortunate. It saw the advancing deadly creeper too late. It screeched in agony when vines shot out and pierced its flesh. It erupted in a spray of blood and gore when blooms exploded from all over its body. The main bulk of its attacker detached itself and continued its pursuit.

Richard had witnessed the creature's brutal, and no doubt painful, demise when the carnivorous creeper had propagated its seed. He had no wish to suffer the same fate. He had run up the bank and into the undergrowth in an attempt to escape everything intent on making him their next meal. He ran into a grassy clearing and almost collided with the Web monster fleeing from the vicious vegetation. They looked at each other as they ran. It snarled. Richard swung the rucksack at its head. It fell to the ground. Creeper tendrils snaked out of the undergrowth. Richard vacated the clearing before the ferocious foliage appeared and planted more seeds.

The Web monster also sensed the approaching danger. It climbed to its feet and leapt into the air. Its arms reached for an overhanging branch. The plant monster lashed out a tendril. The Web monster screeched in agony. Its body exploded in bloodstained blooms.

Keen not to become a human grow-bag, Richard hugged the rucksack to his chest to prevent it from becoming snagged on the bushes he barged through, and ran as fast as his tired body would propel him. With the thing hot on his trail, the appearance of the metal wall fashioned to imitate rough stone that blocked his way, was at first a deep concern with the thing hot on his trail, but he quickly surmised, if there was a wall there might be a door. Hopeful that one might be close by, he followed the barrier and found one. A quick search beneath the undergrowth covering parts of the wall revealed the control. The door opened, he rushed through. Though he felt like slamming the door, it wasn't possible. Instead, he slammed the door button. As the door slid closed the carnivorous creeper rushed at him. Its arm-like tendrils gripped trees and bushes to propel it forward at alarming speed. It slammed against the door a moment too late.

Thankful to be free of the garden from hell, Richard let out a relieved sigh. Panting from his frantic escape, he backed against the wall. Too tired to care if some foul creature dragged from the deepest depths of Hell appeared and feasted on his flesh, he slid to the floor and closed his eyes.

“WE SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT Eli,” said Henry, his voice tainted with guilt.

Theo placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “There was nothing we could do, the monster had him. If we'd tried to help we'd all be dead.” The sight of his friend's terrified face would haunt him the rest of his life.

“Though I know it to be true, it does nothing to lessen my guilt.”

“I know, Henry, but we have to concentrate on getting out of here before we suffer the same fate.” Max scanned his flashlight around the surrounding area, but saw little through the dark, overgrown forest surrounding them. They needed to get out of this place as soon as possible and meet up with the others before the monster claimed another victim. There was also a good chance other dangers were hidden amongst the thick foliage waiting to ensnare them. At least in the corridors they could see the nightmares coming.

“Let's try this way,” said Theo, keen to keep moving. “There might be other exits on the far side.”

Theo led Henry and Max deeper into the dense vegetation.

Though it was difficult moving through the foliage-choked room, they gradually made progress. The screeches of monsters unseen that occasionally pierced the moist air were a constant reminder they weren't alone.

Intrigued by the unexpected sound of gently flowing water, they manoeuvred around a moss-covered rock and paused at the edge of a shallow stream. Water bubbled over smooth stones covering the streambed. Rough, grey rocks, some quite large, lined the sides of the tranquil stream that was free of mist. All were draped in tendrils of thin vines with orange leaves and red moss grew on their lower craggy surfaces. The stream, which they were seeing for the first time, was a sign they were heading in the right direction, across to the far side of the room. When they crossed the stream, the frantic splashing of water from upstream halted them. Their heads turned toward the sound when shrieks rang out.

“What was that?” said Theo.

“Does it matter?” said Max. Fearful that whatever made the sounds would head their way, Max pushed Henry forward. “Don't stop.”

They climbed the sloping bank, moved between some rocks and reentered the forest. Their plan was to head in one direction until they reached the edge of the room, and search for an exit along the wall. They hadn't gone far when the darkness began to fade. They glanced up at the ring of glowing panels around the glass roof section.

“Dawn has broken,” said Theo.

“Hopefully those monsters we met are nocturnal,” said Max.

Henry stared at the steadily brightening light filtering through the thick foliage. “If they are, the light could bring a new set of daytime creatures foraging for food.”

Max sighed. “Then I suggest we keep moving.”

Theo led them on.

*****

Jack thought it would be suicide to rush through the astonishing forest and alert any creatures that might dwell within of their presence. After he'd led them what he thought was a safe distance from the door and the monster that might appear through it, they'd come across a clump of thick bushes adorned with large leaves, gathered around the base of one of the huge trees. It made an ideal temporary refuge. Hidden within, they turned off their lights and listened to the shrieks, howls and wanderings of unknown things moving through the lush, alien vegetation, which thankfully, seemed free of bugs and insects.

After a while, Jane noticed the shape of individual leaves in the gloom and pulled aside a leafy branch. “It's getting lighter.”

Lucy and Jack peered through the gap.

“It's as if the sun is rising,” said Lucy, astonished.

Jack's eyes searched the area. He saw nothing moving. “We haven't heard anything for a while, so maybe it's safe to venture out.”

They vacated their temporary sanctuary and pushed through the undergrowth. When they entered a small clearing, they stopped and gazed at the light panels high above them that gradually increased in luminosity, allowing them a glimpse of the room's architecture for the first time. Towering arches, of what looked like stone, stretched up to a central round glass roof, parts of which were visible through gaps in the leafy canopy. The wall sections between the ached supports were covered in jagged protrusions of rock. Some of the larger ones stretched a few yards out into the room. What seemed to be caves, dotted areas of the walls, their ominous openings inviting imaginations to picture the foul creatures that dwelled within. Spotting movement, they watched as one of the Hunter creatures climbed up the wall and disappear into one of the dark openings.

“It seems they're nocturnal, so we might be okay now.” Jack's gaze searched their surroundings for signs of movement, but all was still.

Forgetting their fearful predicament, Lucy gazed around in wonder. “This must be some sort of biosphere.”

A large craggy boulder, about three-yards-high and four wide, stood at the far side of the clearing. An ivy type of growth with blue leaves covered the top and draped down its craggy sides, and bright red moss grew over the lower parts. The ground hugging mist, only a few inches deep here, swirled around their ankles when they walked over to the rock, revealing patches of the stone floor beneath their feet.

Jack placed a hand on the rock; it was cold. When he tapped it with his knuckles, a hollow metallic boom rang out. “It's metal.”

Jane studied the rock. Even close up the texture and form of the metal-work imitated rock convincingly.

Lucy ran a hand over the strange vegetation. “I would love to collect a sample of this.”

Jack's head twisted toward the rustling of leaves. Something was coming. He snapped off a length of the blue ivy and handed it to Lucy. “Let's go,” he whispered. He led them around the side of the rock. Before Lucy followed, she grabbed a handful of red moss and stuffed it and the ivy into a pocket.

When they emerged from the far side of the rock, Jack cocked an ear. “Can you hear water?”

They fell to silence and listened to the distant sound of splashing water.

Jane pointed off to the right. “I think it's coming from over there.”

A few steps brought them to a stone path slick with moisture. A plethora of root tendrils, both large and small, had spread across the stones to suck up the available moisture. They followed the path and stepped over the larger tree roots in their way and passed beneath towering trees that stretched up to the roof high above them. The relaxing sound of trickling water became louder, evidence they neared its source.

The source of the trickling water was revealed when Jack pushed aside a leafy branch and held it until the two women had passed.

“What a beautiful sight,” stated Jane.

The cascade of water that flowed from a small cave near the top of the high rock wall meandered down the rock face and plunged off an overhang near the bottom. It splashed into a large pool of water that overflowed onto the path and fed a small stream leading off into the room. Water dripped from large icicles hanging from some of the broken panes in the roof and fell into the pool or the verdant area.

“I guess the melting ice explains how the plants are kept watered,” said Lucy. “If these plants are similar to Earth's, there must be a system to control the influx of oxygen and extract the build-up of CO2. The plants would die if there wasn't.”

Jane stepped across the numerous roots that had crept into the pool to suck up the life sustaining water and peered into its depths. Small dark alien life-forms swam in the deepest parts the light barely penetrated. She turned away and watched Jack cautiously move aside a leafy branch and peer further into the thick foliage. Though different in looks to the man she'd lost, he had many similarities to Kyle. Both were ruggedly handsome, considerate, and emanated a sense of security and trust. Jack was not a man to abandon anyone who needed his help. Though she'd been attracted to him when they'd first met, she had done nothing to prompt a relationship. She was well aware of the reason― Kyle. Though his loss had occurred many years ago, it was still fresh in her mind, as were their wonderful memories together. She stared at Jack's stubble-covered chin and knew from intimate moments with Kyle when he'd neglected the razor for a few days, it would be prickly if they kissed. Perhaps the time for letting Kyle go was drawing near. She blushed and quickly redirected her gaze when Jack turned to look at her.

Jack wore a mask of worry. “I think something's stalking us.”

Jane scanned the area for a clue to his anxiety.

A distant shriek filtered though the undergrowth.

Though the creature sounded far away, and he saw nothing in the immediate vicinity to threaten them, Jack remained uneasy. He felt with all his senses that eyes were upon them. A rustle of leaves, no stronger than a gentle breeze would cause, alerted him to its presence; there was no wind in the ship. A killer was on the prowl. He turned to his companions cowering in his shadow and bade them to silence with a finger to his lips. He pointed back the way they'd come and whispered, “It's over there.”

A rustling of branches confirmed to Jane that he was correct. Lucy's trembling hand gently gripped her arm in search of comfort and reassurance. Though uncertain it was something she could honestly provide, she nevertheless placed a hand on Lucy's and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Maybe it's Henry or one of the others?” she whispered.

Jack shrugged. “Perhaps, but I'm not willing to risk our lives finding out. We'll head away from it.”

Lucy stared at the sound of something creeping through the undergrowth. Its slow movements sounded purposeful and sinister. When fear threatened to take hold of her senses, she forced herself not to panic. “What do we do?” she asked, nervously.

Jack had no idea, but he thought staying still and silent was a good first step until they'd identified its exact position. He relayed this to his two frightened comrades.

All three hardly dared to breathe while their eyes and ears scanned the lush vegetation surrounding them in an effort to pinpoint the object of their fear. The only noise was the rapid beating of their hearts and the trickling waterfall, the sight of which only a few moments earlier had painted a tranquil scene that had belied the horror that lurked nearby.

The monster's urge to satisfy its ravenous hunger had increased when it caught the faint scent of the strange intruders and was set on seeking them out so it wouldn't remain unfulfilled, but it was out of its element. The dark corridors had not been too dissimilar to its preferred hunting ground; dark tunnels formed in rock and earth. This area, crammed with growth, blocked its sonar hunting capabilities, making it unable to use its preferred method to locate its prey. The strong scent of some of the plants and trees also made its prey invisible to its sense of smell. It was though not completely hindered; it had its hearing. It turned its head slowly in an attempt to locate its prey. It heard nothing except the sound of flowing water. Its prey must have detected its presence and remained motionless. It would have to flush them out. It moved toward the position it had last detected them.

Jack thought he detected something indistinct moving through the undergrowth, a twisted lurking menace that stalked its prey while seeking the opportune moment to pounce and kill. “I think it's moving in behind us,” he whispered. He noticed Lucy's fear-drenched expression. “Are you okay?”

She shook her head slightly. She had never felt so terrified. “Not really.”

Jack knew how she felt. “We should move. With a room this large there has to be another exit somewhere. Shift past me as quietly as you can and I'll try and keep between you and whatever's following us.” When he received a nod from the two women, he backed into the bushes to give them room to squeeze by. Jane and Lucy headed through the undergrowth, careful not to disturb the foliage more than could be avoided. Jack, fully alert for danger, followed behind.

Though an occasional rustle of leaves and branches came from behind him, Jack didn't think the stalker knew where they were, but was searching for them. A glance ahead revealed a branch they would need to duck under. Jane went first, placing her feet carefully between the large trees roots snaking out from its massive gnarled trunk. When she was clear, Lucy ducked and crept forward. Her foot slipped off a root, tripping her to the ground. Though she'd barely made a sound, it had been enough to alert their pursuer.