Nova's eyelids fluttered open.
A fine layer of dust settled across her antennae and lashes. More drifted down from the crumbling walls overhead, while tiny pebbles struck the ground with irregular clicks that echoed through the cavern.
She blinked several times, struggling to focus. The crater around her wavered in her vision, its jagged edges shifting in the dim light.
"Where am I?" she said weakly.
A groan slipped from her throat as she raised a trembling hand to her head.
The moment her fingers brushed her scalp, a sharp sting shot through her.
Nova pulled her hand back and stared at it.
Dark red streaks coated her fingers.
For a moment, she could only look.
A tightness spread through her chest. The sound of her own breathing filled her ears as she stared at the blood.
"This is... my blood..."
The words barely left her lips.
Then the memories came rushing back.
The centipede's armored legs hammering against the ground.
The cavern floor cracking beneath her feet.
The deafening sound of collapsing stone and dirt.
Beatrice shouting her name.
Ari diving after her, his hand reaching toward hers as everything gave way.
Nova's body stiffened.
Her arms wrapped around herself before she even realized it. Her legs shook beneath her as she curled inward.
"I... I'm scared," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't... I don't want to die..."
The cavern stretched out around her, vast and unfamiliar. Multiple tunnels disappeared into the darkness while piles of debris lay scattered across the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut as the dim glow of a distant fungal lantern flickered against her eyelids.
Memories of the mission flashed through her mind.
The reckless lunge at the earthworm.
Ignoring Beatrice's orders.
Believing she could handle it.
Her throat tightened.
"Who did I think I was... ignoring orders?"
She lowered her head.
"Acting tough... pretending I could be strong like them..."
A shaky breath escaped her lips.
"I'm just... a coward."
Somewhere in the cavern, water dripped steadily.
Plink.
The sound echoed through the darkness before fading away.
Another memory resurfaced, forcing its way into her thoughts.
Valeria's calm face appeared in her mind, her words as sharp and clear as the day she had heard them.
"This is the reality outside our colony walls. Death follows us. Sometimes it claims us. If you aren't ready to face that, you don't belong in the military."
Tears ran down her cheeks.
A sudden tremor shook the cavern, sending dust cascading from the jagged ceiling above.
Nova's eyes snapped open, her heart hammering against her chest.
What is that...?
Her stomach dropped.
The centipede...
She looked around quickly before pressing her back against the wall and forcing herself to her feet.
Pain shot through her legs.
She stumbled as her balance faltered, but managed to steady herself against the rock.
With a shaky breath, Nova unsheathed one of her mandibles and tightened her grip on it. Her free hand remained pressed against the wall for support.
Another tremor rolled through the cavern.
The vibrations traveled up her legs and rattled the surrounding stone.
Nova started forward cautiously. A faint glow caught her attention, and she spotted the fungal lantern lying among the debris. She bent down, picked it up, and continued on her way.
I have to get out of here...
The thought had barely crossed her mind when the ground several feet ahead of her convulsed violently.
Dust and small stones burst upward.
Nova screamed and threw an arm over her face as debris scattered through the air.
She opened her eyes slightly.
The centipede erupted from the dirt.
Its armored legs hammered against the soil in a rapid, relentless rhythm as chunks of earth scattered around it. Glowing red eyes locked onto her.
Nova froze.
Then she took a hesitant step back.
And another.
Is this it?
Is this where it all ends?
A metallic glint suddenly flashed at the edge of her vision.
A figure skidded to a stop beside her.
"Look who finally decided to wake up."
Nova's eyes widened.
A faint smirk tugged at Ari's lips. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, streaking down his cheek. He lowered himself into a fighting stance, both blades angled forward.
"Ari..."
The tension in Nova's chest eased slightly.
Her fingers tightened around the handle of her mandible as she stared at him.
The centipede lunged.
Its armored legs tore through the ground as each chitinous segment flexed and surged forward.
"Look out!"
Ari dove forward.
In one swift motion, he scooped Nova into his arms and sprinted away.
Dust and small stones sprayed into the air as the centipede slammed into the wall where she had been standing moments earlier. The impact left behind a massive crater.
Ari's armored feet skidded across the loose soil as he ran through the cavern.
Nova instinctively gripped his shoulder and glanced back.
The centipede was already tearing free from the wall.
Then she looked up at Ari.
Despite the situation, his face remained calm. His eyes moved constantly, tracking every movement the creature made while searching for an opening.
While I was down here... drowning in despair...
Nova lowered her gaze.
He was fighting that thing all by himself.
I thought I could do it, but...
I can't catch up to someone like him.
"Are you alright?" Ari asked. "You've been awfully quiet this whole time. You're not badly hurt, are you?"
"No..."
Nova hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly against his shoulder.
"S-so... could you please put me down?"
"Right... sorry."
Ari slowed to a stop and carefully lowered her to the ground.
The moment her feet touched the dirt, warmth spread across her face.
She adjusted her grip on her mandible and avoided looking at him.
What's wrong with me...?
"Let's keep moving," Ari said as he scanned the surrounding tunnels. "We don't know when the centipede will attack again."
Nova nodded.
The two continued forward through the cavern.
For a while, silence stretched between them.
Nova followed a few steps behind, her eyes fixed on Ari's back.
Only now did she notice the bruises and cracks scattered across his exoskeleton.
She hesitated before speaking.
"What... what is that creature doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Ari replied, keeping his eyes forward. "It's hunting for food. Those earthworms just happened to be a valuable source."
"So it was the one that caused the massive crater your patrol team discovered?"
"No."
Ari shook his head.
"This crater was definitely caused by the earthworms."
His voice grew more serious.
"At first, I thought they were digging toward our colony to stay warm during winter. But that wasn't the case."
He glanced toward the tunnel ahead.
"They were fleeing underground from that centipede."
Suddenly, Ari winced.
His jaw tightened as he grabbed his shoulder.
Nova immediately stepped closer.
"Are you alright?"
She stepped closer.
"The centipede... it hurt you that badly?"
Ari closed one eye.
"No. I didn't get these injuries from that creature."
He looked at her briefly.
"When the floor collapsed beneath you, I jumped after you."
Nova fell silent.
"Near the bottom, I took most of the impact myself."
Her mouth parted slightly.
"And without giving me a chance to recover," Ari continued, "that creature attacked again. I had to lure it away while you were unconscious."
No way...
Nova stared at him.
So he was protecting me this whole time...
After the way I treated him...
He still risked his life for me.
Why?
"Why did you do that?" Nova suddenly asked.
Ari glanced at her.
"Do what?"
"Jump after me."
Ari blinked.
"Well... I don't know. I guess my instincts just told me to."
Nova stared at him.
"That's not an answer."
Her voice rose slightly.
"Are you stupid or something? How did you even survive this long?"
Ari frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Nova clenched her fists.
"After the way I acted. After ignoring orders and causing this mess. After dragging the whole squad into it. After how I treated you..."
Her voice faltered.
"You still risked your life for me."
Ari stared at her for a moment.
"So?"
"So?"
Nova's eyes widened.
"I nearly got everyone killed!"
Ari shrugged.
Nova clenched her teeth.
"That's it?"
"What else am I supposed to say?"
Ari scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah, you messed up."
His tone remained calm.
"But the fact that we're both still alive means more than that."
Nova fell silent.
Ari straightened and looked ahead.
"Dwelling on your mistakes won't change what happened. Just learn from it and move on."
For a moment, the only sound between them was the distant dripping of water echoing through the cavern.
Nova lowered her gaze. Her lips trembled.
"Thank you..."
Her voice was barely audible.
Ari turned toward her.
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"No, I didn't."
Nova quickly turned away.
Heat rushed across her face as she hurried ahead.
Ari blinked.
"Um... Nova?"
She kept walking.
"You're heading the wrong way."
Nova stopped.
Then she slowly turned around.
"Do you know the way out?" she asked.
Ari scratched his cheek.
"Well, that's..."
Nova folded her arms.
"So... where exactly are you planning to go?"
"I'll find an exit."
His answer came without hesitation.
"There has to be at least one way out of here."
Ari took a deep breath .
"And don't worry about it."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"We'll make it out alive."
His voice remained steady.
"And we'll get back to the surface."
The pair continued through the tunnel in silence.
Then a foul odor drifted through the air.
Ari immediately stopped.
Nova nearly walked into his back.
"What is it?"
The smell hit her a moment later.
She quickly covered her nose.
"What's that smell?"
Ari slowly raised the fungal lantern.
The tunnel opened into a small cavern.
Nova's stomach twisted.
An enormous earthworm corpse lay sprawled across the ground.
Entire sections of its body had been torn away. Dark blood stained the surrounding dirt, while chunks of flesh were scattered across the cavern floor.
Nova swallowed.
"So this is where it brings them to feed."
Ari nodded.
A distant tremor suddenly rolled through the cavern.
Dust drifted from the ceiling.
Both ants froze.
"We have to move."
Nova nodded.
Together, they disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel.