The silence beneath

: The D

e first to re

rock-smooth, cir

d like a dome. No pick marks. No supports. Just soli

as thick.

ne s

idn't

d over them, as

eren't

-

: Elise

ed at the ch

hed. "Did

rom the dark. No flashl

asped.

aid n

torn at the corners like her skin

ssy. Fixed on som

" Carte

linke

uthed s

nd cam

and and pointe

sed-once-like

alked into the sha

-

: Someth

alled out, but he was already

at glistened like oil. His flashlight dimmed. The deep

s pressing on his

rway ahead. No

es

single, long cra

other side,

voice. W

gg

-

1: Nash

ipping his drone controller like a weapon. "Th

arvings-symbols that flickered s

d," he whispered. "That's why

urned

ha

t say an

had clea

hing had us

retched-briefly-into a

sm

-

: Carter

another chamber

stood a

d. Fam

tur

ms

sewn shut with black thread. The mi

owly and tore the sti

d sp

ered, using C

let i

er collap

r scr

nd cam

-

3: Arju

ng an

n his o

rly, cosmic

e buzzed to li

a live feed. From i

inside h

it, fell to

s mouth to s

imbed

-

The Sile

he collapsing tunnel,

arely conscious, eyes

't speak.

y r

hem rumbled, then

sealed it

llowed the last

-

in Part Three: "