Chapter Text
“Convict, are you ready to descend?” The female voice crackled through the radio, sharp and steady against the low hum of the sub’s aging machinery.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” I replied, my voice tight with impatience. “I just want to get this over with.”
“Hold on tight. And try not to die, alright, Convict?” There was a teasing edge to her words, but I could sense the underlying seriousness.
I grumbled in slight annoyance at her statement. “Yeah, okay.”
I glanced around the cramped interior of the sub—a claustrophobic coffin of rusted metal and flickering red lights. The walls were lined with corroded pipes and gauges, the stale — recycled air smelled of damp metal and old oil, thick enough to taste. My fingers curled tightly around the cold, worn edges of my seat, the fabric rough against my skin.
Outside the small, grimy viewport, the world was a murky abyss. The Blood Ocean, they called it—a vast, toxic sea of crimson water that stretched endlessly beyond the horizon. It was a place where light didn’t dare linger, and the crushing pressure promised death with every meter deeper.
Then, I heard it—the slow, grinding creak of the chain as it engaged. The sub shuddered slightly, the mechanical groan echoing through the hull as we began our descent. The chain rattled against the metal frame, a harsh, unrelenting sound that seemed to drag the sub downward into the silent, suffocating depths.
I took a deep breath, the stale air filling my lungs as I tried to steady my racing heart. My eyes locked onto the viewport, watching the dark water swirl and close in. The red glow from the control panel cast eerie shadows across the cramped space, flickering like a dying ember.
I focused, forcing myself to block out the oppressive silence and the weight of the ocean pressing in from all sides. Whatever fate laid beneath, I had no choice but to face it.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the sub came to a slow, shuddering stop—fully lowered into the Blood Ocean. The faint creaks and groans of the hull settling into the crushing depths filled the small cabin. Outside, the thick, crimson water pressed relentlessly against the viewport, an endless sea of viscous darkness.
The radio crackled again, breaking the heavy silence. “Alright, Convict, I’ll give you a couple of warnings. One—don’t go too deep into the Blood Ocean. The sub can handle decent amounts of pressure, but not too much. So don’t go exploring around; it’ll only lead to trouble.”
I glanced up at the radio, skepticism tightening my chest. “Is this thing even tested?” I asked, my voice betraying my doubt.
There was a moment of crackling static before her voice came through again, calm but unapologetic. “No. You’re the first one going down here.”
I narrowed my eyes, my suspicion growing. “And how can I be sure you aren’t lying to me?”
Her tone sharpened, impatience creeping in. “Listen, I don’t have time for this. Just collect the samples, don’t go too deep, and most of all—don’t die. Got it?”
I exhaled slowly, the weight of the mission settling over me. “Yeah, got it.”
I turned my gaze forward, peering through the thick, blood-red water. As expected, visibility was near zero. The murky liquid clung to the glass, swirling in slow eddies that swallowed any hint of light. I shook my head, frustration bubbling up. “Why does everything have to be so difficult?” I muttered under my breath.
Then her voice came again, cutting through the oppressive silence. “Convict, you’ve reached the location. Can you start taking pictures?”
I looked back up at the radio, uncertainty creeping into my voice. “Uhm, how exactly am I supposed to take pictures?”
The radio crackled with static, then I caught her voice drop to a low whisper, barely audible, as if speaking to the other operators nearby: “Did anyone tell this guy anything?”
The radio went silent for a moment, then she spoke again, more patient this time. “Alright, so you see that giant button on the back of the sub?”
I twisted in my seat, my eyes searching the cramped interior until they landed on the large, worn button she described—its surface scratched and faded from years of use.
“Yeah, I do see it. Do you want me to press it?” I asked, already reaching toward it.
“Yeah, press it. It’ll take pictures of the general area.”
I hesitated for a moment, my fingers hovering over the button. The sub felt unbearably small, the walls closing in as the Blood Ocean pressed against every inch of metal. With a deep breath, I pushed the button, the faint whir of the camera system activating echoing softly in the confined space.
A bright flash engulfed the area, forcing me to instinctively cover my face as I stumbled back a few steps. “AGH! WHAT THE FUCK? WHY IS IT SO BRIGHT?" I shouted, my voice cracking with surprise and irritation.
Blinking rapidly, I struggled to clear the blurriness clouding my vision. The sharp sting behind my eyes made me rub them hard, desperate to refocus. It took a moment, but gradually the world snapped back into clarity.
I glanced at the screen that had been pitch black moments before. Now, it displayed a grainy black-and-white image—nothing but barren terrain stretching out in muted shades of gray.
The sudden crackle of the radio shattered the deafening silence.
“Great job, Convict! You finally found the camera!” The female voice returned, dripping with sarcasm.
I forced out a hollow, fake laugh. (This bitch is annoying...) I thought to myself.
She chuckled mockingly through the speaker. “Ha, ha... now get back to work, Convict.”
Before I could respond, the signal cut off.
“W-Wha… HEY! GET BACK HERE!” I shouted, trying to catch her attention.
Silence.
“W-WHERE DID YOU— Fuck you,” I muttered under my breath with frustration and annoyance.
Sighed and I decided to explore the area on my own, snapping pictures of the desolate landscape. Not like I had any other choice.