Xenotroph
by
Vincent Riddle

T MINUS 4 HOURS AND 1 MINUTE

The force field collapses, and we run.

My first thought is to sprint into the hills, but a boy in front abruptly stops at the top of a rise, and a spinning cloud of dust envelops him, stripping flesh from bones.

Upon seeing this, the crew bolts into a forest of giant ferns, and I might have chased them had I not glimpsed the red flash of something lurking beneath the fronds.

I should feel remorse for the dead boy, Santos--remorse because I stole his brother’s ride to this planet. But Santos was the one who discovered me in the cryo tank when we arrived, yanking me out too quickly, hurting me, screaming curses and spittle into my face. He deserved punishment.

I have mere seconds to decide...