Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Chapter 3 - Spiders
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I knew this planet wasn't going to be easy.
The Paradise's autopilot hadn't led us here by accident. Dan and the rescue team's deaths were likely a predetermined tragedy.
I knew.
I knew all this,
Yet, the countless scars on [his] body, a being whose age I couldn't even fathom, spoke volumes about pain and loss.
Amy and I could only watch in silence as [he] limped away.
There wasn't much we could do.
“…Amy, let’s move to another location. Let’s stay in that cave you detected earlier.”
“Yes.”
We weren’t safe from the unknown creatures hunting [him].
If we encountered them, we could become their next victims…
So we had to stay hidden.
Careful not to provoke them.
***
Night, Day 39 of isolation.
02:15, planetary rotation standard.
Thunderstorm, expected precipitation 80mm.
12°C, very chilly.
The rain came down hard, accompanied by flashes of lightning and earth-shattering thunder.
I covered my ears, trying to sleep,
But it was a restless night.
Rumble- boom-
The thunder made my head pound.
“Doctor, it is currently 02:15.”
“I know…”
Amy, ever helpful, reminded me to sleep, but it was impossible to rest in this unsettling environment.
Perhaps it was the thunderstorm,
Or perhaps it was the memory of [his] scars…
I tossed and turned, feeling the damp chill of the cave.
The blanket I had found in one of the Paradise’s containers helped retain some warmth. I would have gone mad without it.
I never realized how important warmth was.
Being cold was agonizing.
“Amy, talk to me. About anything.”
Amy blinked, then spoke.
“Your stress levels are significantly elevated.”
“How do I lower them?”
“Deep breathing exercises are recommended. Five minutes of relaxed breathing should alleviate some of the psychological burden.”
I followed her instructions, slowly inhaling and exhaling. The sensation of my lungs expanding and contracting wasn't unpleasant.
“Meditation is also effective in calming the mind. If you wish, I can play a melody conducive to meditation and deep breathing.”
“Please.”
Amy sang softly, her voice gentle. The melody didn’t suit the dark, stormy night.
Her voice was too soft,
The thunder and the wind too loud.
I huddled in the small cave, straining to hear Amy’s song,
But the outside noise only grew louder.
“Damn it, Amy! Stop!”
I didn’t mean to snap at her.
Her beautiful, incongruous song brought tears to my eyes.
“Stop… stop singing. Don’t sing…”
“My apologies.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry… it’s fine…”
I sat up and hugged Amy close. Her calm voice trembled slightly as she said my name.
“Dr. Juho?”
I didn't understand my own behavior.
I was terrified.
“…It is acceptable. Missing one night of sleep will not adversely affect your physical condition.”
Amy’s words were reassuring.
If she had a body, she would probably be patting my back.
“Yeah, thanks…”
We lay back down on the mat, still huddled together. Holding Amy’s head close calmed me somewhat.
“However, Doctor… in this position, I cannot monitor the cave entrance.”
“It’s fine. You need to rest too.”
I held her close, trying to relax. The thunder seemed to have subsided.
Instead of the ringing in my ears, I heard Amy’s soft breathing. I imagined her listening to the beat of my heart.
“Doctor.”
But what she said next,
“A cry was heard approximately 100 meters from the cave entrance.”
Shattered the fragile peace.
Amy and I quickly hid behind a rock formation near the back of the cave. We were concealed from anyone entering.
Screech- screech-
The chilling cries echoed through the damp cave, more like the wails of ghosts than the sounds of animals.
How else could I describe them?
Like nails scraping against a chalkboard…
Whenever lightning flashed, their shadows flickered on the cave walls. I swallowed nervously, watching them.
If it weren't for the heavy rain and thunder, they would have surely detected us. We were incredibly lucky.
“…Heeeeagh! Gyaaagh!”
An unfamiliar scream pierced the night, echoing within the cave. The sound of something crawling across the damp earth reverberated against the cave walls.
“Heeek! Gah! Keeeagh!”
My legs trembled, and I could barely stand.
Each flash of lightning illuminated the cave, revealing fragmented scenes, like a shadow play.
A creature, its lower body and half of its torso missing, desperately crawled towards us, its remaining hand flailing, screaming as if praying for salvation.
But with the next flash of lightning,
It lost its remaining arm.
The arm melted away,
From the shoulder down,
Slowly.
“Gasp…!”
I covered my mouth and nose, squeezing my eyes shut.
The sickening stench of death filled the cave.
And then,
Only the creature’s desperate cries remained.
“Heegh! Keeeeagh! Keeeeegh!”
Even though I didn't understand the language, I understood the screams.
They were filled with pure terror.
But as the cries grew closer, a sense of dread washed over me.
I couldn't help this creature.
I didn't have the ability, nor the resources.
Even if I tried, wouldn’t we both die? Would they stop just because there was another victim?
Of course not.
Of course not, but…
“Keegh! Squeal! Keeeagh!”
The creature, its arm a mangled, jelly-like mess, continued crawling deeper into the cave.
Its will to survive was incredibly strong.
Just like mine.
“Keeek… gah…”
It crawled close enough to see Amy and me, hidden in the shadows.
Our eyes met.
Judging by its muscular torso, the creature must have been twice my size.
“Keeeeagh! Keeeeagh!”
And yet, its screams were filled with a desperate urgency that chilled me to the bone.
Perhaps it resented being dragged away alone. Or perhaps it wanted company in its suffering.
Click- click-
Its pursuers entered the cave.
Even without the lightning, I could see them now.
“Oh.”
“Keeeeagh!”
Sharp, claw-like legs pierced the creature’s chest. They resembled Jenny’s black tail.
“Sisters, there’s another male here.”
They were large.
Their spider-like lower bodies were thick and bulbous.
“Keeeeaaagh!”
Impaled on the sharp legs, the alien creature stopped struggling. Its melted flesh and muscle oozed onto the cave floor.
Perhaps the legs were coated with venom,
A fitting weapon for spider-like creatures.
“It’s true. Well done.”
“Is this the male Mother is looking for?”
“No. That one is larger. And stronger.”
Amy and I struggled to maintain our composure in the face of this horrific scene.
“Should we cut this one too?”
I had seen the creature’s arm melt away, and I knew they impaled their victims and carried them off…
“E-excuse me…!”
“Oh my.”
I forced myself to speak, suppressing the tremor in my voice.
“It seems he can talk.”
“A-as you can see, I’m weak. I’ll die if you pierce me…! ”
The spider creatures circled me, their eyes filled with curiosity. The clicking of their legs was sharp and unsettling.
“C-could I just walk with you…?”
I was on the brink of death.
I would do anything to survive. Pride was irrelevant. I groveled, hoping for a chance.
“Sisters, what should we do?”
The four spiders conferred. The smallest one avoided my gaze, looking only at her sisters.
“Let’s take him as he is. Look at him. He’s the most beautiful male we’ve ever seen. Let’s not hurt him.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
The other three stared at me, their faces flushed.
I didn't know whether to be grateful,
Or to curse my fate.