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Unexpected Things in the Dark
by A.F. Stewart

“Patrol Team Omega, this is Control Ship Alpha. Do you read, Commander Sharp? What’s your status?”

Answering the orbiting starship, the exploratory team leader’s voice crackles over the bridge communications system, “The entire planet is shrouded in grey cloud cover. It’s not just atmospheric. Nothing but rock and mist, Captain. No sign of habitable terrain or lifeforms.”

“Did you locate the mineral deposits yet? We still can’t get a reading from orbit.”

“Not surprised, sir. I think the topography is playing havoc with sensors. But we may have located the source. Some kind of cavern. We’re moving forward to investigate.”

The bridge fell silent as they awaited the team’s next communication. Then…

“Captain, sir. Something’s not right. It’s not mineral deposits. It’s—it’s something else. I can only describe it as a hoard.”

“A what?”

“Wait, is something moving back there? No, it can’t be! They’re not real. Dragons aren’t real!” A terrifying roar echoed across comms, followed by the shout of, “Run! Run!”

Screams engulfed the channel before dissolving into static…

.

Fiction © Copyright A.F. Stewart
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

More from A.F. Stewart:

Visions and Nightmares

Tragedy spares no one… and takes no prisoners.
In the twilight shadows, secrets are revealed past the whispers of madness.

Wander into the realm of the old gods with Elenora, where humanity and marriage are a prison.
Step through a looking glass of dark horrors with an Alice you never knew.
Join with Zenna to seek the truth as her death by magic grows closer.
Journey with Olivia as she crosses paths with a monster of the forest and runs for her life.
Watch Isobel summon the faerie to solve her problem of an unwanted husband.
Shiver as Doctor Killbride experiments with corpses to create life from death.
All that and more await within the pages.

Ten stories. Ten women.
Who will survive? Who will fall? And who will succumb to their inner evil?
Find out in Visions and Nightmares.

Warning: This book contains disturbing scenes that may be upsetting to some readers.

Available on Amazon!