An ocean of stars

 

Ever had a fever dream where everything was perfect, the world celebrated the good in everyone and living in poverty was a poet’s view of a bohemian life. I wish I could live that life now, I am hiding in a slum in the middle of a swamp in some godforsaken town. I was once an academic searching for the truth about all religion. I found something that haunts me now and I can feel the tendrils of it clawing their way into my mind. There is a storm coming and from what people are talking, its going to be bad. I see the face of that sleeping titan in the sky when I look up, he hunts for me in his dreams and now I can feel the icy touch in my dreams. I cannot sleep anymore and when I do, I am floating in the space between waking and dreaming. I float among the stars while drowning in the deepest part of the sea.

I see the children of the endless crawling out of the ocean, using their ruined fingers to dig into the ground and their dead eyes looking for me. I am the only one left who gazed upon the true form of the endless, I saw the past ages in its eyes and the fall of mankind. This has become the curse I cannot run from and now the cost of knowing it will be borne by many in this drowning city. Before the storm consumes this place and me with it, I must put this down so that anyone foolish enough to follow the saffron threads knows the cost of the truth.

We were part of a team that was tasked to explore a newly discovered part of the Antarctic. I was a photographer, and my job was to make sure that we had enough photographic records of the site should we find something significant. The law of discovery was that we would not take anything but photographic proof and leave the place as we had found it. The place was discovered through a passing satellite, due to the aggressive climate changes the ice had melted revealing an old settlement on an area that had not been properly surveyed. Getting to the location involved us using the Arctic trucks and a drone to guide us to the location. It was tough going but the weather held, and we managed to make good time, the location was roughly 14 miles inland so we were able to cross with little trouble.

The site was a village that could have been built long before Babylonians or any other civilisations, we found pottery that looked much older. The structures were similar to the Mayans but built to protect against strong winds and showed signs of using flat stone slabs as roofs. It was a treasure trove of new information and probably a history of where some of the ancients travelled to or from. Professor Winters was like a child in a toy store; he went through all the ruins step by step. While we were setting up camp, he would wander the ruins looking at artefacts and pulling me away to take photos of things he found. I was just as excited but as I began to see things scrawled on the walls, I sensed that this place had a darker past. There were no remains to be found, it was as if everyone had just left the village and wandered off. I saw drawings of octopi adorning reliquaries that did not make sense, then there was the pictograms of fish that bore the heads of people. I tried to point them out, but Winters said that these people could have been fishermen by trade. I did my own research but could not find anything close to what we were finding, I did find some references from another expedition but that did not have enough for me to go on.

As the days wore on and more was unearthed by the team, there was sense of dread in the air. Amanda, a fellow researcher, found a cobbled path that let to another possible site. Winters wanted to explore immediately but Wagner, his colleague, wanted to cover the village first then expand the search area. It took the convincing of the entire team for Winters to relent, I could see him looking towards the road when he thought I wasn’t watching. After a week Wagner agreed to Winters’ pleas to expand the area of search, I was the only one who could keep up with him so drew the shortest straw by default. I followed him closely as he used a ground penetrating scanner to follow the path. Every so often I had to place a marker on the ground to we did not get lost; I asked him if he knew where we were going but I was ignored. I was in a truck following an educated man who acted like he found Jacob’s Ladder, I wish I knew then to just turn around and leave him to his fate.

After 40 minutes we reached a cliff side and Winters said that the path ended there, he began to examine the cliff wall for an opening. I radioed back to base on our progress while trying to keep the icy chill out. The truck was the only place I could stay warm, but Winters wanted me to follow him in finding the opening. We found the cave a few feet from where we stopped, it was covered with a thin sheet of ice that Winters broke using the truck. I was scared the falling ice would pierce the body of the truck when we entered the opening. I told him off about his reckless behaviour, but he kept ignoring me, telling me that I did not know how he was going to rewrite history. I watched as he exited the truck and began walking into the cave looking at everything, I took my gear and camera and followed the history struck professor. The cave was surprisingly clean and dry; it was as if the ice wall protected the opening from the winter storms and snow. Looking at the walls they were plain but bore marks of human handiwork. The deeper we went the worse I began to feel, the air in here was heavy and I found myself using the oxygen tank to breath. Winters ignored my pleas to wait for the rest of the team, and I could only follow to ensure his safety.

We finally reached a descent that forced the professor to stop, he paced around the path leading down then turned to me and asked if I carried the hiking gear and I lied saying that I left it at the camp. He wasn’t happy to hear this and sat down near the decline and asked to have it brought to us. I said I will have someone bring it over, but it will take an hour to which he just huffed. I went back to the truck and asked the team if a few of them could join us, there was already a team including Wagner on their way. I heard the approaching truck when I got down and saw them approach. Standing outside in the cold I waved for them, they joined me and Wagner asked about Winters and I told her about the overgrown child waiting inside. I could not see the expression Wagner wore under her mask but knew she must have rolled her eyes, we took our gear and began the descent into the cave. I found Winters where I left him and Wagner gave him an earful about how he was acting, Winters ignored her also and began to pace the width of the cave waiting for the team to set up the climbing ropes.

“You do not understand Lina, this could change the history of the world.”

“Or it could end it, we have no idea what is down there and you care only for yourself. I have a mind to let you go down there alone and suffer whatever fate that befalls you Dr. Winters.”

They argued for a few more minutes before they were interrupted by me, I informed them that the ropes were ready and Winters immediately grabbed one and began mking his way down. Wagner did move and neither did the other 2 team members, they stood there watching the obsessed man descend into the darkness without a care. Wagner did not want to risk anyone else going down so asked me to follow but keep an open channel in case of anything. I signed and followed the man, before moving forward I took an communications wire from Jim and then began my descent. It was a signal booster for the radio that was connected to a long wire to help make sure I was still connected to the team. As I made my way down the cave, I began to less frost and more water. It was as if there was a source of heat nearby, I kept my eyes open as I followed closely. Winters was muttering to himself now, something I had never seen the man do. He was obsessed with this expedition, I had been on a few trips before and none where the man acted like this.

We reached a flattened tunnel and I tugged the rope to let the team know we were proceeding without the rope. Winters was now jogging forward, I called out to him to stop but the man would not listen. I was about to run but realised the signal booster that was clipped on my jacket, I unclipped it and placed it near the ropes and ran to catch up with Winters. We was standing at an opening, I joined him to see something unexpected.

Before us was a massive cavern, larger than anything I had ever seen before. I stood there looking at the vast cavern, there was light coming through the top which looked o be ice letting the light in. How this place existed was beyond my imagination and I could see Winters was also taken aback by the scale. There was a bridge in front of us leading to a central chamber, I heard a low moan from somewhere and felt like we were not welcome here. Before I could talk, Winters was already making his way forward and it was like he was possessed. I radioed to Wagner on what we found, she mentioned me not move forward and wait for them, I informed her on Winters and she cursed. I told her not to come until I confirmed that the place was safe and she agreed.

I had to followed Winters to the central chamber, the air here was colder than I thought. Looking down at the bottom chasm I could not shake the feeling that something was down there. The chamber was more like a tower with a dome at the top, it had a single opening the bridge connected to. Hurrying to catch up with Winters I had to also watch my step scared that I might slip and fall. I managed to reach the tower and entering the doorway I found my self looking at the staircase leading down, Winters was already making his way down and I decided to follow before I realised it. Making our way down Wagner called for a status report and I informed her of the staircase and I was following Winters down, she said that 3 others decided to also join us in case help was needed. I let her know of the bridge and the view of the place.

It took the better part of an hour before we reached the bottom, once there it let to another tunnel. I was tired so I took a few minutes to catch my breath but Winters was like a machine, he did not stop only moved forward. I had to run behind him just catch up, when I did I saw a face devoid of expression. He had removed his face mask, there were ice crystals on his bear and his breath was fogging, I tried to stop him but he pushed me away. I tried to speak to him, scream at him, nothing worked it was like he was completely possessed by something. Following him I tried to contact Wagner again but the signal was going through so I just walked silently behind the possessed man.

We finally reached another large cavern that was dark, my flashlight beam did not penetrate the gloom, the cold air here was heavy. I tried to find a way forward but could not, we were at the edge and there was a narrow path to the side, Winters stopped for a second to look at the dark centre of the chamber then turned to the right and walked on the narrow ledge. I followed him carefully to avoid falling, I tried to reach Wagner but only got static. Moving the beam of light between the path and the chamber I could not see where Winters would be going. After a while he began to descend stairs and could not do anything but follow. I looked behind me hoping to see some light from the entrance but it was just as dark. The walls were rock and not ice, this made me believe we were on solid ground. The revelation of this alone struck me, we were deep in the Antarctic and whatever was here could be older than I expected.

Reaching the bottom Winters started walking into the dark, I followed him trying to see where we were going but could not make any sense. Then I saw the deep red / orange glow coming from the centre of the cavern. It was like a beam of light from a hole, I too found myself just walking like a possessed man. Nothing made sense and now I could not stop.

Sweeping the beam around I finally saw them, the villagers sat on the ground frozen. I saw rows and row of people kneeling on the ground frozen looking at the light beam. Their faces frozen with the expressions of awe, what were they marvelling at I wondered as I walked. Winters finally began speak again but this time he was shouting out a chant, I did not know what that chant was. What language it was I could not discern, it was alien to my ears, he walked forward and chanting like a priest. I was scared but all this, as we approached the centre I saw it.

Sitting on a massive stone chair sat a giant creature, its head was that of a giant black squid, the mouth was covered with tentacles. A human body but the hands had large claw ended fingers, the feet ended the same way. It was a massive figure that could have been a statue but it was breathing, I could not think of it as a slumbering statue. Slowly breathing in and out, the aura of malice radiated it and I felt fear at my very core. I took a step back then another, I did not want to be here. I looked at Winters and he was at the edge of the glowing pit, his hands were raised to the sleeping statue shouting out chants. I wanted to get away from here yet something was trying to pull me forward. The feeling of being judged was above me and I could not help but cry. I could feel the tears rolling down my face, I looked up at the face of the statue and it was then I saw the dark abyssal eyes look upon me. I saw the open universe in them, I saw the endless dark seas, I saw then end of the galaxy, the floating ice statues of others like it in the deep dark void of space.

“Come forward unbeliever!” came the command in my mind, I stopped and almost took a step forward. A hand grasped my shoulder, it was a team member and she pulled me back. I moved back and she kept her gaze to the ground, in a muffled voice she said that we needed to leave now. I looked towards Winters and saw him fall forwards with his hands raised into the pit, it was like time slowed. He drifted into the pit and I saw the steam rise to embrace him as he went down, then what felt like minutes a great growl was heard in the vast cavern and the ground shook. I turned to run as did the others, we ran with out lights erratically shinning our paths, the cavern shook even more as we ran. Then all of a sudden it was illuminated by a bright orange light, I looked to see where light was coming from and saw the pit was belching out lava. It was like a eruption, I could not stop and when we reached the stairs, one by one we began our ascent. It was getting worse by the second and the shaking ground did not make the ascent any easier.

I knew the stairs in the tower will be a mission but survival instincts kicked in and the rest of the escape felt like a blur, we climbed up and the moved as fast was could along the wall reaching the opening. We then ran towards the tower, looking back the lava was moving forward consuming the frozen people, the statue remained untouched but I could see the open eyes still looking at me. Fear drove me forward and we had to escape.

Up the tower we rushed, the long hour to climb down felt longer going up but the tremors of the eruption pushed us forward. By the time we got to the top the shaking had reduced, and it was merely just a low sound now, I followed the three who can come down to help us. I found Wagner at the mouth of the cave speaking on radio to the rest of the team. She looked concerned and when I told her what happened she looked into the cave and then back to me, “I was afraid we would find something like that, this is the second site so far. Come we need to leave now.”

I joined them in their snow truck, the one I came in was driven by another team member, sitting next to Wagner I looked out at the cave opening wondering why I was never told about the first one. I checked my camera and realised that I had not taken any photos for the record and mentioned that to Wagner and she told it was for the best. I was tired and began to nod off, as soon as I closed my eyes I dreamt of drowning in an ocean that felt like I was simultaneously underwater and in space. There were stars all around me and I turned to see where I was, there was nothing but I felt like I was going to drown. The cold was gripping my chest and I felt the temperature in my body fall, I was having trouble trying to find a way out but the more I struggled the more I felt the cold fear creep up my body.

Suddenly I began to shake uncontrollably then felt a rush and my eye opened. I was been shaken by Wagner, she looked at me with alarm. “What is happening to you, you were speaking in the old tongue, what did you see down there?”

I told her everything and she just looked at me like in shock, she then turned to ask the other member who was there and they told her they saw me staring at a large pillar of ice and was walking towards a lava pit. I looked at the member confused, I told them it was a statue not a pillar but they stuck to what they saw. The only thing we agreed upon was that Winters threw himself into the lava pit screaming something. There was no way I was seeing something different than them, I was about to talk but Wagner stopped me and told me that we would talk later.

After reaching the main base camp, I found that the team had already wrapped up and were ready to leave. I stood there confused and asked how come we were leaving, Wagner told me that it was no longer safe to remain there. Nora, a team member, pulled me aside and let me know that my gear was stowed away and that we should leave, I wanted to protest but she told me that it would be safer for everyone that we just left. With no option but to follow the team I relented and helped stow the rest of the gear and we left the place. I found myself again with Wagner and this time Nora joined us, I asked them what did I just see and it was Wagner who explained everything.

“The first site was found in the 70’s by an expedition team that was sent to investigate a whaler town near Grant’s Point. There a team member found a journal that gave them a trail to follow to a similar cave. The team mounted an expedition to find out what happened at the cave and were never heard from again, a rescue operation was sent to find them but all they found was a destroyed cave. Nothing was uncovered save for a tape recording of a team member saying that they found an old god sleeping there. Another team 3 years ago tried to find another way in but were not successful, they did find scrolls that matched what we found in this place but I cannot say they are the same. All I can tell you is that when you spoke in that old tongue we needed to leave.”

I just sat there dazed by all this, I told her about the dream and she told me that I was marked now. I did not believe her then but now I am scared. My dreams of the open sea in the vast open void of space haunts me every time, then there are signs of something trying to pull me back there.

I hear something walking around the little hut I hide in every night slubbering out something that sounded like my name.

The storm is here.