Eyes in the Dark
There are moments in life when the human brain performs a remarkable service.
It simply...
stops thinking.
Dr. Aiden Cole's brain had apparently clocked out.
He stared at the dozens of glowing blue eyes surrounding him.
"..."
"...No."
A beat.
"I respectfully decline."
The eyes didn't care.
One pair blinked.
Then another.
Then all of them moved.
Not toward him.
Around him.
Slowly.
Like wolves circling prey.
Aiden cleared his throat.
"Listen."
"I'm new here."
"I don't know the local customs."
"If this is your version of saying hello..."
"...it's terrifying."
No response.
He reached very, very slowly for the emergency flare attached to his belt.
"Let's all stay calm."
Another step.
Another.
The creatures remained hidden behind the pillars.
Watching.
Waiting.
"See?"
"We're communicating already."
"I don't scream."
"You don't eat me."
"I think we're making progress."
A soft clicking echoed from somewhere above.
Another answered.
Then another.
The clicks bounced through the cavern like a strange language.
His scanner remained dead.
His flashlight...
dead.
Only the tiny emergency flare rested in his shaking hand.
He looked down at it.
Then back into the darkness.
"...This is either going to save my life..."
"...or make me everyone's favorite snack."
He pulled the pin.
FSSSHHHHH!
Brilliant crimson light exploded through the cavern.
The reaction was immediate.
Every glowing eye vanished.
The clicking stopped.
Silence.
Aiden frowned.
"...Huh."
He cautiously raised the flare higher.
The crimson light spilled across the nearest pillar.
The creature stood only three meters away.
It wasn't a monster.
Not exactly.
It stood on four limbs.
Its body was lean, almost elegant, covered in overlapping black plates that resembled volcanic glass.
No fur.
No visible mouth.
Its head curved backward like polished obsidian.
Where a face should have been...
only two enormous pale-blue eyes.
It stared at him.
Curious.
Not aggressive.
Behind it...
another.
Then another.
Dozens.
None attacked.
They simply watched.
Aiden blinked.
"...Okay..."
"I've made a terrible assumption."
The nearest creature tilted its head.
Exactly the way a curious dog might.
"You don't actually want to kill me..."
The creature clicked softly.
"...Do you?"
Another click echoed from deeper within the cavern.
This one...
different.
Lower.
Longer.
Every creature froze.
The curious one immediately stepped backward.
Its body lowered toward the ground.
The others did the same.
Like frightened children.
Aiden frowned.
"Uh..."
"Should I also be worried?"
A deep vibration rolled through the stone beneath his boots.
The pillars trembled.
Dust drifted from the ceiling.
The smaller creatures scattered instantly.
Within seconds...
the cavern was empty.
Only Aiden remained.
"..."
"...That seems bad."
The vibration came again.
Closer.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
THOOM.
The ground shook.
Another.
THOOM.
Aiden slowly turned toward the darkness beyond the pillars.
Something enormous was approaching.
He couldn't see it.
Only hear it.
Each step echoed like distant thunder.
His flare burned lower.
The crimson light weakened.
"Come on..."
"Stay alive."
Another step.
THOOM.
Something brushed against one of the pillars.
The entire stone column cracked.
Not shattered.
Cracked.
As though struck by a wrecking ball.
Aiden took one involuntary step backward.
"...You know..."
"I suddenly miss the little ones."
The darkness shifted.
A gigantic silhouette emerged.
It had to duck beneath the ancient archway.
Its shoulders alone were wider than Aiden's landing craft.
Long stone-like limbs.
Massive claws.
A body armored in the same black mineral plates as the smaller creatures.
Its face remained hidden.
Only two immense blue eyes glowed in the darkness.
Unlike the smaller creatures...
these eyes weren't curious.
They were assessing.
Aiden felt very, very small.
The giant lowered its head.
Slowly.
Almost cautiously.
Until those impossible eyes were level with him.
Neither moved.
Several long seconds passed.
Aiden swallowed.
"...Hi."
Silence.
"I'd shake your hand..."
"...but I feel like I'd lose mine."
The giant blinked once.
Aiden blinked back.
"Is..."
"...is blinking polite?"
The creature inhaled.
A sound like wind rushing through a canyon filled the cavern.
Then...
it leaned closer.
Not to attack.
To smell him.
Aiden stayed perfectly still.
"Good..."
"Excellent..."
"We're using our indoor voices."
The giant suddenly jerked backward.
Its pupils narrowed.
It sniffed again.
Then looked directly at Aiden's backpack.
Specifically...
the ancient key.
A low rumble escaped the creature's chest.
Not anger.
Recognition.
The giant slowly took one step backward.
Then another.
Without taking its eyes off him...
it lowered its massive head.
Not in submission.
Not in fear.
Respect.
Aiden frowned.
"...I'm sorry..."
"...did the giant alien just bow to me?"
Before he could process what had happened—
A piercing metallic scream echoed throughout the cavern.
Not organic.
Mechanical.
Every creature immediately looked upward.
The giant's posture changed in an instant.
Calm...
became alert.
Its blue eyes shifted toward the ceiling.
The smaller creatures emerged again, clicking frantically.
They weren't watching Aiden anymore.
They were terrified.
Another metallic scream echoed through the ruins.
Closer.
Much closer.
The giant let out a deafening roar.
Not at Aiden.
A warning.
The entire cavern shook.
Then...
something crashed through the ceiling.
A shower of stone exploded across the chamber.
Aiden threw himself behind a pillar as a sleek metallic object slammed into the cavern floor.
Smoke hissed from its sides.
Bright white searchlights cut through the darkness.
A familiar mechanical voice echoed from the machine.
UNAUTHORIZED BIOLOGICAL CONTACT DETECTED.
PURGE PROTOCOL INITIATED.
Aiden's eyes widened.
"..."
"...Well."
He sighed.
"I knew humans would find a way to ruin this."
