CreepsMcPasta Creepypasta Radio - "I'm a Oceanographer Working in an Underwater Facility. Stay Away from the Depths" Creepypasta

Episode Date: January 29, 2021

The Creature in the BalticCREEPYPASTA STORY►by CodingWoodsman: https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comm...​Creepypastas are the campfire tales of the internet. Horror stories spread through Reddit r/nosleep, forums and blogs, rather than word of mouth. Whether you believe these scary stories to be true or not is left to your own discretion and imagination. LISTEN TO CREEPYPASTAS ON THE GO-SPOTIFY► https://open.spotify.com/show/7l0iRPd...​iTUNES► https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...​CREEPY THUMBNAIL ART BY►by juvs gacasan: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/1B64X​SUGGESTED CREEPYPASTA PLAYLISTS-►"Good Places to Start"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7YCb...​►"Personal Favourites"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEa2R...​►"Written by me"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX6RA...​►"Long Stories"- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...​FOLLOW ME ON-►Twitter: https://twitter.com/Creeps_McPasta​►Instagram: https://instagram.com/creepsmcpasta/​►Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/creepsmcpasta​►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreepsMcPasta​CREEPYPASTA MUSIC/ SFX- ►http://bit.ly/Audionic​ ♪►http://bit.ly/Myuusic​ ♪►http://bit.ly/incompt​ ♪►http://bit.ly/EpidemicM​ ♪-This creepypasta is for entertainment purposes only-

I am an oceanographer. Ever since my family started bringing me to the beach when I was young, I was fascinated by the sea. But fascination turned to something else when I was hired to work in an underwater sea lab in the Baltic. My name is Will. I had recently graduated with a degree in marine biology and was looking to start my career. I'd always thought that the only underwater research lab had been off the coast of Florida, the Aquarius Reef Base. but here I was, staring at an application to work on another sea lab across the world. I chalked my lack of knowledge up to my own incompetence and applied for the job.

It wasn't long before I got a reply. A sophisticated man with a German accent spoke with me about my education and all the other regular things that you would hear in a job interview. But at the end of the conversation, things start to get a little weird. Are you in any way afraid of any sea life, like sharks, for example? example. Ask Bertram, the German interviewer. I have a healthy fear of ocean predators, I said, but I don't mind swimming with them. They mostly aren't interested in humans.

Good to hear, he said. I completely agree. The job will involve some diving into deeper waters and this can make some people uneasy. To my surprise, I was hired. I boarded a plane and ended up in Rostock, a medium-sized German port city. I made my way over to the port itself. where I was to meet with a team and start travelling to my new home under the sea. I had read the documents they had sent over to familiarise myself with the underwater environment. I had noticed, however, that there were no bathrooms, and this seemed a little strange.

I assumed that I probably would just go in the ocean. I'd been pinging the ocean since I was a kid, but I'd never gone number two. I laughed to myself as I thought how silly it was I was dwelling in such a triviality. When I arrived on the dock, there was Bertram. I recognised him from the video conference we'd had before. He was taller than I figured. Next to him stood another tall, skinny man. Ah, speak of the devil, Bertram said as I approached.

His accent made me chuckled to myself, but his grammar and dictation were very good nonetheless. Will, I would like you to meet Derek, a colleague. Derek also seemed very polite. His English was excellent. We have a team of French, German and English speakers. We mostly speak English, but you'll have to forgive us if occasionally we start ranting on our native tongues together. At that, Derek mumbled something in German, and they both laughed.

We hitched the ride on another vessel out towards the sea. After about an hour, I saw a little ship. That is Hoffnong, said Bertram. Our humble ship. The ship was small and rusty. it looked like it had seen better days. Something seemed off. The facility underwater was much too advanced

to be paired with such a beat-up-looking ship. We geared up for the dive. As far as depth is concerned, the Baltic is pretty shallow. Yet I was surprised to hear that we would be diving down to a depth of 65 metres. The deepest I had ever gone was 30, and going 65 didn't help my growing anxiety.

Don't worry, it's a one-way trip. so it isn't very dangerous. You don't have to worry about the bends. I remembered how cool it was that the underwater facility used ambient pressure and a moon pool. The entire facility was pressurized. It was still too deep for humans to live

at the pressure between seven and eight atmospheres. Though humans can free dive quite deep, they cannot live in such crushing pressures for extended periods of time. Three atmospheres was what the facility was pressurized to. Still, the time saved not having to go back and forth between sea level and seven atmospheres

may this facility useful for studying the seabed. We have all heard how we know less about our oceans than outer space. This was what fascinated me so much about the sea. The beginning of the descent was uneventful. Things started to become darker and less light was able to penetrate the depths. When we reached 40 meters, it felt like I was entering another world. It was surreal.

I'd never been this deep before. and I remembered my diving instruction mentioning how dangerous it was. People were said to fall into a trance. As we continued to descend into the misty depths, a building appeared. It was taller than I had expected, spanning at least three stories upward. Certainly, this was not the facility that I had read about. Soon enough, however, I saw the moon pool. It was a peculiar thing to emerge from the ocean into an indoor swimming pool,

and to be all traded water for a minute. Bertram and Derek turned and smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back. It was just so badass. I felt like I was in some kind of sci-fi movie. The room we were in was pressurized higher than the rest of the facility and we made our way into a deep pressurization chamber after removing our gear.

Watch your arm, said Derek as I clumsily walked into a loose panel. It graced my skin a little. Sorry, said Bertram. I should have mentioned the loose panel. The facility is much larger than I read, I said, inquiring about the large structure I'd seen. Yes, said Bertram. That document is out of date. The facility has expanded in several areas, though we lowly scientists are to remain in our humble quarters.

He and Derek laughed. I thought that this facility was entirely run by scientists, I said. The job application had been from the website of GMR, a prestigious, research institution in Germany. It started that way, but after funding was cut back, it looked like we were going to have to abandon the facility, said Bertram. But then, they discovered the ore deposits down the hall. The hole? I asked.

We entered the habitat I'd familiarized myself with from the manual. There was a bunkhouse, a mess hall, and a couple other rooms for signs and storage. Is this the new bloke? asked the voice from around the corner. In walked a short man with a smile on his face. He had instant charisma. Don't let the crout scare you, mate. Things are pretty peachy down here.

He shook my hand with vigor that left my arm noodling. He was a middle-aged man, a little older than the rest of them. Name's Doug. I'm from Newcastle. I nodded. This whole crout thing, said Bertram. I just don't understand why you all think it is offensive. It just means cabbage.

Your people's world or two put-downs weren't very good. good. I couldn't help but chuckle at their relationship, when, suddenly, a loud explosion rang out. They all grabbed for something to brace themselves with. Is everything all right? Chemishrew a word voice from deeper into the facility, amidst the flickering buttons and endless readouts. A French woman cautiously came into the room hugging the wall. Despite the fear, the crash moments ago had instilled, she smiled politely to me. Welcome, Will, it's good to see you, she said somewhat nervously. Hi, I said, smiling back.

She was wearing a cap and a bulky crewman coveralls, yet I could tell that she was really beautiful. The buggers are really pushing her look with those explosions, said Doug. They're going to get us killed. Why are there explosions? I asked. We didn't have the funding to keep this place running. We were forced to entice some other parties. I said it then, and I'd say it now.

It was a short-sighted decision. said Doug. Yes, but what choice did we have? Ask Bertram. The rest of the day was spent familiarising myself with a facility. Everything was just like it said in the manual, except for an ominous looking door just after the pressurization chamber. That was new.

Though the whole place looked like a futuristic spaceship, this door seemed to be even more so. It looks strong. At first, there was constant traffic in and out, But after they completed their submarine docking station, her soul hasn't passed through that door in months. We occasionally speak with one of them on the radio, but we have less and less contact as they need us less.

It is a little strange, but it is better than being shut down, said Bertram, as he noticed me looking at the door. Who exactly are they? I asked. At first it was underwater welders and construction workers who worked for a German mining company, all the usual stuff. but after several months the miners left and apparently ownership of the facility changed hands again

though I have heard nothing about who. Juma has been vague about it all. No doubt they wrote to some exploitative act probably attempting to weaponise something beautiful. That is why I get the feeling that we are no longer welcome in our own facility. They wouldn't want their secrets

exposed by us pesky good-intended scientists, said Bertram laughingly. Eventually I had to go to the little boys room, and I finally inquired as to how this was done. They all laughed. It is a pleasure going number two during the day. The fish can get quite frisky, said Doug.

Manon rolled her eyes, smiling. The fish sometimes eat your waist, she said. Don't let Douglas scare you. They had just fish. There was a dome several metres out from the moonball where you can hang out and do your business, but you won't catch me going out there in the dark, said Doug. Huh, yeah, I can imagine the fish are much more frightening in the dark, I said.

Actually, that's the weird part, said Bertram. There are no fish at night. Manon laughs the shirt she was holding up Bertram's arm pushingly, yet in a soft, motherly way. I'm just saying, I don't go number two at night either, said Bertram. If it's an emergency, I just trap the log right in the moon pool, and you should too, said Doug. Floaters be damned.

That's disgusting, said Manon. Why do the fish not come at night? I asked. We aren't quite sure. Derek thinks it has to do with their body chemistry. The neurodrain levels start to spike as the light stops shining through. They scatter in all directions, said Manon. Except towards the hole, said Derek.

What is this hole? I asked. It is the 20-meter wide hole in the bottom of the ocean at the moon pool to the east. It is hard to miss. We stay away from there, said Derek. I made a point to do my business during the daylight and was alarmed and amused by the amount of fish had attracted. I swam out to the dome and soon several fish began to investigate me. I looked around the area and saw the massive hole to the east.

I could see that the facility must have been built to study the hole. It was starting to get a little darker and I was ready to swim back to the moonhole. When I noticed a small submersible ascending out of the hole, The submersible propelled itself towards the large three-story complex attached to our habitat. A hatch opened and the submersible ascended up into the hatch. My imagination ran wild as to what this mysterious other faction was up to behind that hatch. As weird as it all was, after several days I had fallen into a rhythm and everything became normal.

I would gather samples and document the wildlife by day and study my findings as well as thought to my colleagues at night. occasionally there would be an explosion and like clockwork a submersible or two would descend from the hole at sunset sunset became a time of caution i noticed the fish would remain until it was dark but almost in a flash they all knew to disappear as the last sunrise left it was part of a fascinating cycle i had seen things like this in nature before like when bats all fly out of a cave at the same time or birds migrating for winter but this was different. There was a desperation about it. For the fish, it was more of a desperate scramble. I quickly understood why Dog wouldn't go number two at the dome after dark.

I found out that none of them did. Every day, I would walk by the mysterious door leading to the other facility, but the hallway beyond was always dark, and I could never see that far. It was unnerving. On top of that, there were no port holes or windows of any kind to look into from the outside.

Only the submersibles at sunrise and sunset. One day, I joked. Maybe one of us should try swim at the hatch one time, I said. The mood in the room became very tense. It wasn't long before Manon burst into tears. I didn't understand why. I'm sorry, I said. It's okay, mate.

It isn't your fault, said Doug, as he went to console Manon. I tried to look at birth. He usually explained things to me when I was baffled, but his eyes remained fixed on his breakfast. I looked at Derek. It is time Will knows about Javier, said Derek. Nobody said a word. All that could be heard was Manon sobbing. Who is Javier, I asked.

Javier was the marine biologist you replaced, said Derek, and he also had the idea to swim up the hatch. We were informed that he was dead. over a week later, the assholes, said Doug. We began searching desperately, but after a couple hours, we knew that the air would have run out. We started searching for his body. Apparently, the whole time, he was in the other facility. What? I asked, mortified. Aye, they said there had been an accident and they weren't able to save him, said Doug.

And they waited to tell you? I asked. He nodded. I never looked at the hatch the same way. had Javier been trapped in there and run out of air? Surely there must have been some way he could have entered the facility as it is how the submersibles went in and out. Over the coming days, things went back to normal, or at least as normal as living 60 metres underwater could be.

I didn't dare broach the subject of Javier. I just kept my head down and did my work. There was plenty of plant life to catalogue, not to mention all of the different species of fish and jellyfish. occasionally a pot of sea animals were passed through. As I was performing my nightly bathroom ritual before the dark set in, one night I noticed the submersible ascending from the hole as always. Only this time, he seemed to be having trouble moving through the water.

It almost seemed to be stuttering. As I looked closer, I saw what looked like markings on the outside of the vessel, as if it had been in some kind of accident down there. I shuddered to think of what could have happened if the craft had been damaged more. There I tread in the out-house dome, pondering what I just saw.

It made me feel uneasy, but nothing like what I felt after what I saw next. My gaze fell back on the giant sinkhole. There, at the very edge, I saw something that'll horrify me for the rest of my life. I saw a head, looking back.

The rest of the body was hidden down the hole. Just ahead, as if it was peering at me. Even with the water clouding the distance between us, I felt his stare burn into my soul. Here, 60 metres below the middle of the ocean, was a face, completely unencumbered by gear, no air tank.

What was he breathing? I must have been hallucinating, but the moment lasted for what seemed like a lifetime. Up until then, it was the longest moment on my life. His eyes locked to mine, just his head. As it got darker, I came out of my confused trance. I made a dash for the moonpool. I didn't dare look back.

I leapt out of the moon pool and into the decompression chamber. I was terrified. I stared at the moon pool through the window, half expecting the head to emerge from the water. How could a man have been in the hole? He would have had to have held his breath for at least five minutes, as I haven't seen anyone else as I swam to the dome. Although with training, a human can hold their breath that long, something was just off.

I had goosebumps all over my body. I had heard of pressurized air playing tricks on people's minds. Perhaps I had nitrogen narcosis. I quickly went in and told the others. Elevated levels of nitrogen affects us in different ways, said Manon as she examined me. It is possible that you hallucinated. I must have, I said. If anything like this happens again, come tell us right away, she said.

I noticed Derek looking at me from across the habitat. He quickly looked away when I made eye contact. There was something about it that made me feel like he knew more. I decided to sleep it off, but had wild dreams about what I saw. I woke up in a cold sweat. I felt more exhausted than before. The crew, for the most part, hadn't noticed that I was a little off, all except Derek. He approached me that night.

You must be feeling a little rattled, he said. I was good friends with Javier. When he died, I sort of lost it a little bit. I couldn't sleep or eat. I even saw things too. He became very serious. This place is dangerous, more so than the others understand, said Derek. He brought me over to a laptop and opened up a folder with images.

He then brought up a picture of the crew, all happily posing. There they all were. Doug, Manum, Derek and Bertram. Then my eyes came to rest on the fifth person. And when they did, electricity ran through my body all at once as horror welled up from the depths of my soul into my throat. There stood the very same face that it stared at me from the hall. And all at once, I knew who that was, what Derek had seen and what it meant. I could barely speak, I just muttered.

That was the man I saw, I said. We have to tell the others and they are not going to believe it or like it, he said. We headed up to the common room where the others were gathered. Derek led bluntly in a dire tone. We both saw heavy air alive in the water, he said. Doug almost dropped to what he was doing and turned around to look at us, then looked at Bertram, who was as bewildered as him. Then they both broke into laughter.

Manon looked very upset. That is not funny Derek and Will. I didn't think you were like this, she said. Derek showed me a picture of Havier, and he was without a doubt the same face that looked at me, I said. I didn't care about impressing Manon anymore. Something was horribly wrong.

I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me because Havier had just died. I heard you can see people sometimes who have just died, said Derek. So I didn't think much of it, but one thing is very clear. we need to leave, he said. It was empowering to be next to him.

I would have never had the courage to say these things. There was a moment of silence. Okay, I'll put a calling for the ship to come pick up whoever wants to leave, I guess. But this is my life's work. I can't just leave because you think you saw a ghost, you understand? said Doug, respectfully. I strongly urge you to reconsider, said Derek. And we can't wait for the ship to get us.

We need to take the Hoffman now. suddenly this wasn't sounding like such a good idea the hofnung had seen better days bertram started to argue with derrick and german mannin and doug started jumping in and i had no idea what was going on at last however derrick went out with an exclamation that silenced the rest he then turned to me i know it seems like the hofnung isn't seaworthy but she is she passed her a quiet inspection

there was five years ago derrick really said dug there is a reason we don't use her anymore. She's a floating platform, just in case something happens down here. Really, what is another day to wait for the ship? He said. If you had seen what we had seen, you would understand, said Derek.

I wasn't sure what to do. On the one hand, waiting another day for a proper ship to take us back seemed reasonable. Yet, what if that thing in the water came into the moon pool tonight? What if it came into the decompression chamber? Very well, I'm going to do that.

to make the call to be picked up, said Derek. He left and came back moments later. There is a storm coming. They can't make it here for two days, he said. My stomach started to turn. That rusty old boat was starting to look more and more enticing. I was starting to feel better about everything. There were tests to be run and flora to be cataloged.

Manon even helped me, which put me at ease. During the day she started asking me questions So are you sure that it was heavy air that you saw She asked Yes I said He must still be alive but we watched each other for minutes I don't know anyone who can hold their breath at long Manon looked at me horrified

He was a good swimmer she said But five minutes I know I said After I finally started to feel normal again I started to feel tired even though it was just the afternoon something about the pressure or being cooped up

that was why I went to sleep early that night going to sleep early turned out to be a giant mistake I woke up in the late evening around 10 I had to poop something fierce I instinctively went over to the decompression chamber when I entered the moon pool

for the first time I saw pitch black water I stood there watching it ripple beyond was just the murky black depths. I remember Doug admitting he wouldn't go to the bathroom at night, and now I understood. I walked up to the edge and looked down. There was absolutely no way I was going to swim to the outhouse dome.

With little options left, I pulled down my trousers and attempted to squat right over the moon pool. Still squatting there, I couldn't help but look back every couple seconds to make sure something wasn't coming up to grab me. It felt silly, but it was a very vulnerable position to be in. After trying for a couple minutes, I stood back up. It is amazing what kind of things the body will do when it knows it is not safe. I suddenly felt no urge to go to the bathroom at all.

I slowly backed away from the edge of the moon pool, keeping my eyes on its dark, rippling depths. I thought I saw something move. I felt a deep fear. I had to get out of there. I went for the decompression chamber, and to my horror, I saw out of my peripheral a mask resting out of the water. I threw myself into the chamber, and, as fast as I could, try to throw the door closed. A monstrous dark grey-screen tentacle moved with startling speed, and just as I was shutting the door, wrapped around my leg, sinking several spines into me. I cried at the pain as the creature began to drag me out of the chamber.

I slammed the door on the tentacle, but it was thick. and strong and continued to drag me. The second tentacle, just like the first, was starting to crest out of the moonpool. Just then, I looked up, and it was the same metal sheet panel that grazed me when I first walked in. I ripped it off the wall with surprising ease. With all my might, for my life, I cleaved the tentacle. It didn't sever, but I cut it deeply, and it released me.

Before the second tentacle could reach the chamber, I slammed the door with all my might. I looked at the tentacles prodding and probing the sealed door. It was absolutely horrifying. I knew they had every intent on dragging me down into the depths. They were terrifying like a giant octopus with spiny thorns attached to hook its prey. After what seemed like hours, the decompression finished. I had already been screaming and the others gathered at the door. I exited the chamber and turned to the others.

We have to get the hell out of here now. I screamed. Calm down, said Manon. What happened? There is some kind of... I stopped. I didn't know what to say. I know this sounds crazy, but a massive predatory invertebrate grabbed me in the moonpool.

Like... Like a Pacific octopus? Doug asked curiously. They were not understanding the gravity of the situation. The tentacles weren't visible from this angle, and I dare not open the door to show them. Instead, I showed them my leg. It was bleeding, though not profusely. The bunch of wounds were still clearly visible.

The others began to inspect my leg. Derek went into another room and came back with a couple of knives. They were the only weapons we had available. At first light, all of us should make a break for the Hoffnung, said Derek. But what about the storm? said Bertram. I'd rather take my chances with the storm than be down here. At least I would die in natural death, said Derek. I don't think the others understand.

stood, but I knew exactly what he meant. The idea of drowning in the open waters somehow seemed like a tolerable alternative. It suddenly made sense. The explosions, the beat-up submersibles, this animal was being studded by the other facility. One thing is certain, said Derek. The creature only seems to be around at night, and we seem to be safe in here. I'm swimming for the hoffning in the morning. I strongly urge the rest of you to come.

I nodded. The others looked amongst themselves, not knowing what to think. We all went to our banks and tried to sleep. After hours of tossing and turning and staring at the entrance, half expecting a dark grey tentacle to slither around the corner. My wound felt better. Manon had bandaged it and applied disinfectant. I slowly started to nod off.

When I awoke, I started my daily routine. I even got ready to go out and swim to the bathroom when I stopped dead in my tracks. I felt a deep sense of horror, as if I was just remembering what had happened to me in the moonpool just hours before. I suddenly felt no urge to go to the bathroom at all.

I just stood there, gazing at the pressure chamber. All of the others had risen and were mulling about. Have any of you seen Doug? said Manon. I'm waiting for his data, but I haven't seen him. Maybe he hasn't woken up, I said. He isn't in his bunk, said Manon.

I'm starting to get worried. He probably just went for some samples, said Bertram. You're probably right, said Manon, and she started busying herself with the work. I finally worked up the courage to go out to the bathroom dome. The water was moving faster than usual, but nothing I couldn't swim against. I could see how being a poor swimmer could be very hazardous

and understood now why they insisted on strong swimmers in the job application. Out at the dome I looked around and realised there wasn't a fish in sight. Usually during this time of day the ocean was full of them, but now it was barren and it was unnerving. I looked around the eerie depths trying to make out what I could through the misty seawater. I noticed something strange. The hatch up to the other part of the facility was open, that same hatch that Javier had swam up.

Upon thinking about Javier, my eyes darted back to the place where I had seen his eyes, staring at me from the hole. I shuddered and suddenly started to feel very vulnerable. I got done with my business and started back towards the moonpool. When I entered the habitat, I saw that Manon was coming my way with Bertram and Derek. There you are, she said. We are going to look for Doug. He should have been back by now.

The hatch is open, I said. They all look to one another. We will have to think about that later, she said. Everyone suit up and make sure you are full of oxygen. The water was still moving fast due to the stormy conditions. It was difficult to fight against the current, but Doug should have come back by now, and there was a chance he was stuck and running low on air.

We had to look for him. We checked down the slope in the opposite direction of the hole, but there was no sign of Doug. We finally came to the hole. We shone a light down into the depths, nothing but darkness. After a while, our oxygen levels were getting low and we returned to the habitat.

On our way back, we all saw the open hatch. No doubt, we're all thinking the same thing. Doug might have gone up the hatch for some reason. When we had shed our gear in the moonpool, Derek was diverse to mention this. We need to get in touch with the other part of the habitat, he said. I will try to radio them again.

As I walked past the door, I connected the two habitats, I peered down its corridor. Surely we could override the locks and walk in there. It seemed like the right thing to do, given the circumstances. I shot my light down the corridor through the glass. It was strange. Something at the very end of the corridor seemed to be floating. I squinted and tried to discern what I was looking at.

Hey guys, I said. I think something is moving in there. We all gathered at the first. the glass of the door and peered into the darkness. There was something that seemed to be hovering. It was drifting closer. I knew what it was before my mind could register what I was seeing. It was a strange feeling.

On one hand there was a pen, but on the other it was drifting right in the middle of the air. The pen was floating because the chamber had filled with water. It won't break through, said Derek. This door is designed to withstand pressures far beyond the air. this, it was always a possibility that one of the habitats would be compromised. His words did little to reassure me. I kept staring at that pen, as it seemed to drift aimlessly, ricocheted off one of the walls gently.

What happened to all the people? asked Bertram. There was nothing but silence for a moment. Then, Manon spoke. We have to go in there, said Manon. There must be where dog is. Maybe he is trapped. Derek and Bertram exchanged glances and started speaking in German.

Manon interrupted them and they all started yelling at each other. I stood there, puzzled, until they finally switched back to English. I can't believe you too, said Manon. Doug would have done it to save you. Doug is dead, said Derek. Or worse. What do you mean, or worse? said Manon. He has to have been out of air for a while now and we all know it, said Derek.

Bertram and I are going for the Hoffnung. We aren't waiting for the ship. Bertram stood there, looking as guilty as he was terrified. Finally, they were starting to understand. We had to get the hell out of here. I opened my mouth to agree adamantly, but Manon spoke first. I am going over there, she said defiantly. She looked at me and waited for me to speak.

Okay, I said, I will go with you to look for Doug. "'This is crazy,' said Derek. "'I don't want to be on that sinking boat in a storm any minute longer than I have to. "'We can't wait for you.' "'One hour,' said Manon. "'That is all we need.' Derek and Bertram started arguing in German again. "'We will wait one hour,' said Bertram.

"'Then we will head to the surface together.' Suiting up went fast. We did our final checks and dove back into the moonpool. The hatch seemed to beckon me. I thought of Javier. of how I'd seen his head staring at me. Even now, he gave me chills, but I put it in in the back of my mind.

Soon, we could almost see up the shaft. I thought about how much had happened in my life since I'd taken this job, how much I had learned and seen. It was hard to remember what my life used to be like. It seemed like so long ago that I had been sleeping in a nice bed and eating all the food I wanted.

Mostly, I thought about how much I'd taken for granted. You don't realize how important it is to feel safe until you don't. We reached the entrance of the shaft. It became dark fast. Manon turned on the light and my heart sank. At the end of the shaft was a metal door, but it looked as though it had been warped.

What could have done this? Luckily, our diver's masks had radio communication built in. What could have done this? said Manon. She looked over at me. She knew what I was thinking already. There is no creature ever discovered like the one you hallucinated Will. I went to retort, but stopped. There was no point in arguing.

I wanted to live, not to be right. Let's hope not, I said. It took everything I had, but I managed to start kicking and swam up into the shaft. Manon soon followed after me. We traced the dark room with our lights. It seemed to have been some kind of submersible docking room. what once was a moonpool had been overtaken by water. All manner of clutter floated about.

It was unnerving to be there in the darkness, 60 metres beneath the surface of the water, in a breached habitat that had gone silent. I swatted a tablet away from my head as we continued onward. The decompression chamber was wide open. Both the large doors stood and sealed. I knew what had happened. That creature had tried to grab me.

A giant octopus creature Had gotten through the decompression chamber I couldn't stop thinking about those tentacles that had grabbed me They looked like they were as thick as tree trunks As they disappeared into that black water I will never forget it As we swam into the next room It was large and quite long

It was full of all types of computers and lab equipment But in the centre of the room and to my horror There it was That same dark grey tentacle It must have been 50 feet long. I instinctively swam away. This was horror movie 101. I had done everything I could to convince Manor that my story was true.

If she didn't believe me now, it was on her. To my relief, I saw her swimming fast behind me. She now understood that our lives were in imminent danger. As we ran at the corner of the room with a hatch, we saw a dog. It seemed like a miracle. there he was floating there in his diving gear. We made it up towards the moon pool and started to get out of our gear. That is when I caught out of the corner of my eye, Doug's oxygen meter had been empty.

Still, I didn't think much about it as we made away to the decompression chamber. I wish I had. Doug, I have to say, it is good to see a stupid face, said Manon. Why didn't you respond to my radio? Doug gave a slight smile. We looked everywhere for you, I said. He looked at me. He looked like he had some kind of debris in his eye.

Still, he said nothing. He just stared at me. That is when I realised that Bertram and Derek were nowhere to be found. Derek? Bertram, I cried out. You don't think they would have left without us, do you? said Manon. Suddenly, I heard a loud crash a distance from the habitat.

It was as loud. as the explosions, but it was different. I could tell Manon thought the same thing as we looked at each other in horror. Putting it out of our mind, Manon and I desperately scrambled around the habitat. When we returned, we noticed Doug standing by the decompression chamber. He seemed to be examining it. You're okay there, Doug? I asked. He turned to me and gave me that same hollow stare.

I'd seen that stare before somewhere. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. He soon returned to the decompression interface. He just stared at it. Any ideas on where Derek and Bertram are, Doug? I asked more to make conversation than anything. We stood there in silence for a moment. I dared not walk away.

Manon had made a way over to us after searching for Derek. By the look at my face, she could tell that there was something wrong. Doug? she asked. After a moment of silence, Doug's hand rose and pressed one of the buttons. He pressed another button. He was starting to figure it out. I tried to block the panel, but he swatted me away with a speed that was uncharacteristic of Doug. He was trying to open the decompression chamber.

I tried to push him away from the panel, but he headbutted me hard. I fell to the ground. I felt woozy. I tried to stand up but fell over again. Manon, I cried out. Don't let him open the chamber. Manon stood there, horrified, as I finally got to my feet. But, it was too late.

Doug managed to open the decompression chamber. Still, there was a fail-safe mechanism. Both doors couldn't be opened at once, unless overridden in an emergency. I had read about it in the manual before I came aboard. There was a way, but if it was done underwater that depth, the moon-paw's integrity would fail, and the water would rush into the habitat. that. Doug stood there once more, thinking with that horrifying, hollow stare. My head was still spinning, but I managed to grab a hold of his arm, and we both went tumbling over.

I managed to dodge some swings at my head and scrambled backwards. Doug refocus his attention on the panel. Suddenly, a loud alarm sounded. It was over. The moon-pole integrity had been compromised. Water immediately began rushing in. Manin and I looked at each other in horror. She rushed over to a cabinet. The water was already up to our knees and rising fast. Doug simply stared at us, void of emotion. Water poured forth, and in seconds I had taken a deep breath from the air at the top. I tried to think of something, anything.

But before I could, Manon grabbed my hand. She had found the life raft. We swam for it. We both started towards the moonpool, when all of a sudden I felt a strong hand grip my leg. It was Doug. I thrashed and kicked. but to no avail.

I tried to fight Doug with all I had left, but he was too strong, and I was running out of oxygen. The edges of my vision was starting to turn black, and my lungs were crying out. This was it. Suddenly, Manon drove a fixed blade into Doug's stomach. He momentarily let go,

and we scrambled out of the moon pool with Doug right behind us. To my horror, I saw Doug swimming down after us, blood pouring out. Manon screamed and pointed towards the hole. There was Javier, Bertram and Derek swimming for us. All were that hollow, lifeless look in their eyes. All we had to do was clear the building above us, and we could pull the rip cord.

It was so close. That is when I saw Hoffman. It was the ship that was supposed to be above us, but there it was. I could barely make it out through the murky water, but it was hard to miss something so big. The storm, or maybe the others, had sunk it. That was what the crashing sound had been. We cleared the structure, and just as the creatures were closing in on us, Manon ripped the cord.

Holding on, we started to ascend fast. I watched as we left that horrible place behind. It disappeared into the misty ocean underneath my feet. We hung there, blind and helpless, all the while thinking to ourselves. What if the others swam up after us? How long would it take for them to reach us? My joints were hurting, and I knew why. The decompression sickness was setting in.

Still, we were alive. The more I strained the lock, the more I started to make out several shadows. They were getting closer. I could start to make out the human bodies now. There were more than several meters away swimming for us. My joints were in agony, and I felt so tired. I needed to sleep. Still, the sight of the surface so close, its glimmering majesty, just a little farther.

We broke the surface gasping for air. The life wrap was so close. We scrambled into it as I felt that fear of having my last leg gripped. But it wasn't. We had made it. We quickly looked over the side. A chill ran down my spine as I saw them. Right beneath the surface, the faces of Javier, Derek, Doug and Bertram.

All of the eyes fixed on us. There they remained as if unable to break the surface. Doug was still bleeding profusely from his stomach and the cloud of red was gathering We collapsed in the bed of the life raft Exhausted We had made it We could feel their hands scratching out us through the raft

It was unnerving But the raft seemed to be holding The sun was setting and the sky was a beautiful pink colour That brings us to now The last light has gone away now The others are still scratching at the bottom of the raft The sun is no longer holding it at bay. The creature will surely come for us tonight.