The shuttle descended towards the coordinates of the Aquarius research facility, revealing a stark contrast to what they had expected. Instead of a sprawling complex, they saw a small, unassuming building that resembled a modest house, perched on the edge of a vast, murky lake.
"That can't be right," Lucas muttered, peering at the viewscreen. "The reports said this was a major research center."
Rylee's eyes narrowed as she studied the scene. "Look there," she said, pointing to a weathered dock jutting out into the water. A few dilapidated boats bobbed listlessly against their moorings, their hulls coated in a thick layer of grime.
As they landed and disembarked, the team was hit by the acrid smell of stagnant water and decay. The lake stretched out before them, its surface an oily, opaque brown that seemed to swallow the light.
"Most of the facility must be underground," Nigel said, consulting his datapad. "According to the schematics, it extends several miles beneath the surface."
They approached the building cautiously, weapons at the ready. The door creaked open at Rylee's touch, revealing a dusty interior that looked as if it hadn't been disturbed in years.
"This is getting old," Chelsea sighed, her voice tight with frustration. "Another abandoned site. Are we ever going to find anyone alive?"
Marcus shook his head, his eyes scanning the room for any clues. "We have to keep looking. The answers have to be here somewhere."
They found a hidden elevator behind a false wall, its controls still operational despite the apparent age of the structure. As they descended into the depths of the facility, the air grew colder and damper.
The elevator opened onto a vast network of tunnels and caverns, interspersed with more modern structures. Every few levels, they encountered stations filled with sophisticated measuring equipment, all connected to various water sources.
"This must have been part of the planet's water purification system," Nigel explained, examining one of the consoles. "It looks like they were monitoring and treating water from underground lakes and streams."
As they delved deeper, the sense of wrongness that had been plaguing them since their arrival intensified. The air felt thick, almost oppressive, and strange echoes seemed to follow their footsteps.
Suddenly, Nigel let out a startled gasp. He had been checking readings from one of the monitoring stations and now stood frozen, his face pale.
"What is it?" Rylee asked, moving to his side.
Nigel shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "This... this can't be right. According to these readings, one of the rivers flowing through here is... blood. Pure blood."
"That's impossible," Lucas scoffed, but his voice lacked conviction.
"I know it doesn't make sense," Nigel insisted, his fingers flying over the controls. "Even if every person on the planet had been drained, it wouldn't account for a fraction of this volume. It's... it's insane."
Before anyone could respond, a low moan echoed through the cavern. The team whirled around, weapons raised, to see a group of figures stumbling towards them out of the darkness.
"Oh God," Chelsea breathed, her voice filled with horror.
The creatures approaching them were barely recognizable as human. Their bodies were rotted and decayed, strange pod-like growths protruding from their flesh. They moved with a jerky, unnatural gait, as if being puppeteered by some unseen force.
"We need to get out of here," Marcus said, his voice tight with urgency. "Now."
As the team began to retreat, more of the infected creatures poured out of the surrounding tunnels. The air filled with their guttural moans and the sickening squelch of their movements.
"The elevator's too slow," Rylee shouted over the growing cacophony. "We need to find another way up!"
They ran through the winding corridors, the horde of infected close behind. Every turn seemed to bring more of the creatures, their numbers growing with each passing moment.
As they rounded a corner, Marcus spotted a narrow shaft leading upwards, emergency lights flickering weakly along its length.
"There!" he called out, pointing towards the potential escape route. "It might lead to the surface!"
With no other options, the team began to climb, the infected clawing at their heels. The shaft seemed to stretch endlessly upward, each handhold a struggle against exhaustion and terror.
As they neared the top, they could hear the creatures below, their inhuman shrieks echoing through the confined space. The team pushed themselves to their limits, knowing that one slip, one moment of hesitation, could mean death.
Finally, they emerged into the fading light of day, scrambling out onto the shore of the murky lake. Without pausing to catch their breath, they sprinted for the shuttle, the sounds of pursuit growing ever closer.
As they reached the ship, Rylee slammed her hand on the door controls. "Go, go, go!" she shouted as soon as everyone was inside.
The shuttle lifted off just as the first of the infected burst out of the research facility. As they climbed into the sky, leaving the nightmarish scene behind, the team exchanged haunted looks.
"Were those..." Chelsea said, trailing off.
"Yeah," Rylee answered. "Those were the people working at this facility."
"Anyone else wish we hadn't been given this mission?" Lucas asked.
"I wished that from the first second I heard about it," Nigel replied.
Marcus sat in stunned silence, trying to piece the world back together in his mind. Nothing made sense, and his psyche felt on the brink of collapse.
