3055 A.E. (After Extinction)
"Entering the atmosphere, Captain!" Jones announces from the deck, nervous sweat dripping down his neck,
we've been space bound fifteen years, finally discovering a potential candidate to inhabit, I hope the ground is wet.
I miss the sound of rain, so fingers crossed for some residue that doesn't melt my suit, that would be pretty cool,
maybe a lake or ocean too, something that doesn't engulf the ship or produce creatures that'll try to eat my crew.
"Any news from The Revenue?"
"No, radio's cold, it seems we're alone."
"Don't worry, I'll get y'all home soon."
There's four of us. Two marines, a scientist and a medic. Mankind's where we left it, on a dying planet with no moon,
but honestly, my only guess is we step out onto the surface and the currents suck us into endlessness like a vacuum.
The doctor predicts otherwise, apparently, several drones have landed safely and photographed crisp skies,
our ship's built like a shield, no windows to look out, so we won't know until we open the door and risk life.
"Landing in five... four... three..."
"Here we go, drumroll please!"
"God, let us breathe..."
We land safely, thankfully, no noticeable pressure and I don't hear storms like on Mars,
so maybe we can add this planet to the charts and start to reproduce beyond the stars.
We suit up and prepare to open the hatch, "here's to oxygen instead of poisonous gas!"
I hit the button and all of a sudden, it's like I'm staring at a history hologram of grass.
There's flowers and butterflies, mountains hiding behind cotton clouds and whistling winds,
I begin to hear my men whispering when I get a hint of relief within my shivering skin.
It's everything we'd hoped for, crystal lakes and snow formed along the horizon,
we've been searching for a new beginning ever since Earth and a comet collided.
I always believed in our dreams and now it seems that belief was worth the time spent,
since day one, I knew there was something beyond the sun and that I'd find it.
"Let's explore a little bit, maybe we'll find something!" I smile and lead the expedition,
I listen as they share predictions, pondering the possibility of alternative dimensions.
Prepared for predatorily intentions, wondering what damage our weapons would inflict it,
what if we discover a beast and we can't kill it or can't even repent it? A suicide sentence.
"Hey, doc, that pack you have covers all conditions? Flesh wounds and toxic inflictions?"
"Yeah, we'll be fine as long as I'm alive!" He jests, but my chest suddenly feels compressed,
we arrive at a cave behind a waterfall, part of me screams to turn back to the point of stress.
Reaper tightens his vest, "I'll take nose incase this goes south into a monster's mouth..."
I ignore my doubts and let the others go first so I can cover the tail of our awkward route.
A chilly drought climbs up my spine, our flashlights barely reveal what waits ahead,
my weary awareness now a heavy dread, and my fears quickly replaced with red.
Claws like swords morph Jones into shredded meat, he's devoured before we can shriek,
it happens so fast we can hardly see what's ripping us apart in the brief glimpses unsheathed.
I can't read it's movements, Reaper unloads clips into dark tombs when I hear it scream,
something touches my feet, I aim my rifle and it's the doctor's head staring up at me.
"REAPER! THE EXIT! LET'S GO!" I begin running, dodging and weaving through tunnels,
my lungs imploding and expanding, every breath becoming more and more of a struggle.
The air is growing more demanding, the shadows causing delusions, adding to the trouble,
Reaper runs into me as we crash into a corner, the creature pulls him from the tussle.
I dive through the waterfall alone, my weapon ready as tears block my vision,
wishing I would've listened to my initial opinion, now my team is dead from my wrong decision.
I turn around to find my ship has been torn to pieces, and I lay here in the rain, cold...
the last hope for humanity, surrounded by demons, with no way home.
