“Ishimora” By Jordan C

I kept running. I didn’t stop because I could hear the screams fading away behind me. I stood there and watched, helpless because I didn’t know how to kill it. It took her away, dragged her into the vents, that thing, whatever it was. It was human; it was a crewman, one of my friends at one point, until he turned into that hideous, horrid creature. It was occupied for now, but I knew the others would hear me, they could hear everything. At that point I stopped caring and just kept running, hearing my footsteps pounding on the dark, metal floor of this ship. I was stuck running down narrow hallways, with vents above me, still shut luckily because they hadn’t come through yet. How many of us knew these things were on here? People were disappearing, but how could we not know it was those things causing the crew to vanish? In all of my madness, my rage, and constant thoughts, I realized I was almost at Med-Lab. There would still be people in there I could warn and hopefully save.

            As I punched in the code to open the door, I didn’t realize the bloody marks on the floor. It opened, unveiling to me a sight I can’t quite grasp still. Blood was everywhere, covering the hospital beds, the floor, the entrances to the vents, yet no one was in there. It was utter chaos, however I was still gripped by confusion of how this could have happened. I knew, but those who were here didn’t. I walked through the room, taking it all in, hoping I could find someone. Finally, I came across a doctor lying against a turned over cabinet. She was barely alive, in utter shock, unaware of the gruesome injuries she had faced.

            Through her last gasps of air, the only word she was able to say was “run.”

            I looked up and through the flickering bright lights in the lab, I saw the shadow of those things coming right up behind me. There wasn’t anywhere for me to go, except into more hallways that seemed endless. Running, I could hear them, behind me, making their awful noises as they ran after their food. Room after room, chaos and blood was all I saw until finally a door opened to actual people. I stopped and turned around and realized they were gone. Where did they go? Everyone was confused and curious as to what had happened. I tried to explain it to them, as I knew they all knew very well what was going on, but everyone kept trying to deny it. Argument after argument arose until finally the lights went out, causing everyone to stop and panic. I could see the shadows of those things falling through the vents, attacking everyone in the room. Objects flew around the room as those things ran through them, Suddenly, the power kicked in and I could see everything plain as day. The yellow lights glared upon us all, while we each watched this horrid scene fall before us. Crimson red blood contrasted with the dark grey metal floor of the ship. Pieces of crates, trash, and other various things filled the floors. The vents were sprung wide open, their wiring sticking out dangerously. Chairs and tables were turned over and paper was littered upon the floor, something that once was so important, no longer mattered to any of us. The worst thing of it all was seeing what they looked like. A human being turned horrible. The head remained with an elongated jaw filled with razor sharp teeth. The body, which was also elongated, was pale pink, and had no distinct features on it whatsoever. Its elongated legs were also pale pink, with large claws for feet. The arms and hands were the worst. The arms were especially elongated, with these formed razors for the hands that could cut through just about anything. It was so horrific to see these things, it made you freeze in your tracks.

           

            The only thing you could do was run. Trying to find someplace safe or anyone left alive is near impossible now. Room after room, supply after supply, it is the scariest nightmare you would ever experience. How this happened haunts me.  I can’t help but think we did this to ourselves. Not intentionally of course, but there are some things that are better to be left alone. We came out here into space as explorers, loving the unknown and the idea that there was something out there with us. I guess we had always imagined that it wouldn’t be as horrific as all of this. It didn’t matter anymore. No one could hear us, no one could save us, and no one was coming for us. We were stuck out here in this never-ending stretch of darkness full of planets and stars that we would never see again. 

           

            I don’t know how many days it has been. I keep moving or I know those things will find me. I’m not sure how to kill them yet so I just hide. I haven’t seen another person in God knows how long, so I may be all that is left. I made this video log in the hopes someone will receive it and never attempt to come out here. You won’t go back home so be warned. I am going to log off now and keep trying to survive because that is all I can do. This is Lim from the Ishimora signing off. Please, I am begging you, don’t come out here.