You step through the door, the airlocks hissing as they seal behind you. The familiar hum of The Skeld envelops you, a low, constant vibration that has become the heartbeat of your world. The walls, cold and sterile, stretch out in every direction, their metallic sheen reflecting the harsh artificial lights above. The corridors are quiet, save for the soft echo of your footsteps.
You make your way down the narrow corridor, the soft hum of the ship the only sound in the otherwise still air. The walls stretch endlessly, illuminated by flickering lights above, casting long shadows that seem to shift with every step. You pass by the usual stations—empty now, the screens blank and quiet. The ship feels almost deserted, but you know that’s just the silence of routine. The sound of distant footsteps from somewhere ahead pulls you from your thoughts, and you instinctively slow your pace. The hallway twists ahead, a small junction leading to the storage room, the engine room, and beyond to the medbay. You hesitate for a moment, wondering which path to take. Something about today feels different, though you can’t quite place it. It’s the way the ship feels quieter than usual, the way your pulse seems a little quicker than normal.
You decide to head towards the electrical room, the task list blinking at you from the corner of your vision.
You make your way through the narrow hallways, your footsteps echoing softly against the cold metal. The usual hum of the ship is comforting, almost familiar, but today there’s something off. Maybe it’s just the stillness of the corridors, the way everything feels too quiet, too empty. like something was missing. You push those thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand. You’re almost there now, your footsteps quickening as you approach the familiar door to the electrical room. It slides open with a soft hiss, and you step inside, the smell of ozone and faint sparks greeting you.
You concentrate on the wires, trying to clear your mind. Focus. Just fix the wires, you tell yourself. Your fingers move with practiced precision, pulling and reconnecting the cables one by one. It’s soothing, mechanical. You think you’re starting to settle into a rhythm when suddenly, without warning, you feel a soft pressure against your back.
You freeze, heart skipping a beat. Someone’s there. You jump, startled, and spin around. There, standing right behind you, is Pink. The blush creeps up your neck before you can stop it, and your words get tangled in your throat.
“I—I’m sorry! I didn’t—” you stammer, utterly flustered.
Pink just blinks at you, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “Didn’t mean to scare you,” she says, her voice light and teasing.
But it’s too much for you. Your brain short-circuits, and without thinking, you bolt from the room, barely sparing her a second glance.
You sprint down the hallway, your heart thudding against your ribs. You barely notice Green standing near the junction, his eyes widening in surprise as you rush past him, your face burning with embarrassment. You don’t stop to explain. Your feet carry you forward, all you can think about is how you ran away from Pink, the girl who makes your heart race every time you see her.
Your feet begin to slow, the pounding of your heart in your ears gradually lessening as you regain your breath. But something feels... off. That nagging feeling creeps back into your chest, a weight settling deep in your stomach. You stop in your tracks, looking around at the sterile corridors. The hum of the ship feels louder now, more intrusive, but it still doesn’t explain why today feels so strange.
It hits you then. Black. You always saw him around this time—your second task of the day. He was always there, right alongside you. You’d talk, sometimes even joke around, as you worked through your task together. But today? Nothing. No Black. You bite your lip, the unease growing. Had something happened to him? Maybe he was just in the medbay, catching a break or getting checked out. That thought seems logical enough, and the medbay is just down the hall.
You take a sharp left, your footsteps quick. The doors slide open with a familiar whoosh. As you step inside, your eyes scan the room—and it's empty, save for Cyan, who’s standing at the scanning station, his eyes focused on the screen in front of him. His suit contrasts with the pale lighting in the room, giving him an almost eerie glow. You swallow nervously, but push forward, heading toward him.
“Hey, Cyan,” you say, your voice a little quieter than usual. “Have you seen Black? He’s... missing from my tasks today. I usually see him around now, but he’s not anywhere.” You try to keep your tone casual, but there's an edge to your voice that betrays your concern.
Cyan glances over his shoulder at you, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Black?" he asks, tilting his head slightly. "No, I haven't seen him today. I’ve been working on my scan for the past hour. You sure he's not just late for his tasks?"
You frown, feeling a bit of frustration build in your chest. "No, we always do our tasks together. It’s... just weird." You pause for a moment, your mind racing. Cyan doesn’t seem bothered, but you're not sure if that’s a good thing or not. "You didn’t hear anything, like, strange or—" you stop yourself, not wanting to sound paranoid. Cyan shakes his head slowly.
“Nope, nothing unusual today. Everything’s been quiet.” He shrugs, then turns back to the scanning machine.
You hesitate for a moment longer, but there’s nothing else to say. If Cyan didn’t know anything, then maybe Black was just... elsewhere.
As you step out of the medbay, your mind still racing, you nearly collide with someone. You freeze, looking up to find Pink standing right there, her bright eyes meeting yours. Her presence catches you off guard, and for a moment, you're frozen, unsure of how to react. Your heart flutters, and the nerves from earlier come rushing back, making your palms feel clammy.
“Hey, Yellow,” she says, her voice softer than usual. “Are you okay? You seem... off. Something wrong?”
You try to clear your throat, but it comes out a little shakier than you'd like. "I... I don't know. It’s just... Black, he's—he’s not around today." You instantly feel stupid for sounding so flustered, but you can’t help it. It’s just Pink. You never expected to be in this position, talking to her like this, especially now when you’re already so rattled. "He’s usually with me during our tasks, but... I haven't seen him anywhere. I looked for him in the medbay, but... nothing."
Pink's expression shifts slightly, her brows furrowing just enough to show concern. "That’s... kind of strange, right?" she says, a quiet hum in her voice. "Black's usually around. You two always do your tasks together, don't you?" Her gaze lingers on you for a moment, her lips curling into a faint, almost thoughtful smile. "How close are you two, exactly?"
The way she asks it catches you off guard, it almost feels like... jealousy? No, that’s absurd. But still, the way Pink’s eyes are on you, it makes you self-conscious.
“I mean, we just... we always do our tasks together,” you answer quickly, trying to brush off the fluttering sensation in your chest. "Same time, every day. It's just... weird that he’s not here."
She nods slowly, her lips pressing together. "That is weird," she says after a pause, her voice now softer. “I hope he’s okay.” She glances at you again, her eyes checking for any signs of distress before she offers a small, reassuring smile. "Are you sure you're okay, though?"
Your heart skips a beat, and you nod a little too quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... not used to it, I guess." You let out a soft laugh that feels a little forced, but it's the best you can do.
Pink doesn’t seem fully convinced, but she gives a small, knowing nod. “Alright. Well, let's get going then. We’ve still got tasks to do, right? Maybe we’ll see Black around soon.” Her smile softens as she takes a step toward you.
You exhale a shaky breath, trying to steady yourself. The ship feels strangely smaller now, as if the silence around you is closing in, but having Pink nearby somehow makes it feel a little more bearable. You both fall into step, heading toward your next task. Your heart is still racing, but you try to push it aside for now, focusing instead on the task ahead. You can’t help but steal a glance at Pink as you walk, and for a brief moment, you feel the weight of her attention on you.
You glance at her—just a quick peek—and you can’t help but notice the way her steps almost mirror yours. It’s a little thing, but somehow it makes you feel connected, like maybe this whole strange day isn’t so bad after all.
She’s walking ahead of you, her figure lit by the soft glow of the lights above. For a moment, you forget about everything else—the strange feeling that’s been hanging over you all day, the disappearance of Black. All of it seems to fade into the background as you focus on Pink. Her smile, the way she looks so carefree, makes you feel like maybe, everything will be okay.
But as you’re watching her, your gaze lingering a little longer than you intended, Pink glances back at you, her eyes locking with yours. You quickly look away, your cheeks burning. But then she does something unexpected—she smiles, and not just any smile, but one that feels a little different. It’s soft, almost knowing, and for a moment, you feel like maybe she’s aware of what’s been going on in your head.
“Is everything alright?” she asks, her voice teasing but with a hint of concern. Her gaze softens as she watches you. “You seem... distracted.”
You can’t help but stutter, caught off guard by the directness of her question. “I-I’m fine,” you say, a little too quickly. “Just... just thinking about stuff.” About you.
She raises an eyebrow, clearly not entirely convinced, but she doesn’t press further. “Well, if you say so,” she says, her voice light. “But if you ever need to talk, I’m here, okay?”
You nod, grateful for her kindness, but your mind is still buzzing. You’ve never felt so nervous around her, and it’s all because of that smile—the way she just seemed to know.
You both continue walking, and with Pink so close, it’s almost easier to ignore the unease building up inside you. Every so often, your eyes drift back to her, noticing the little things: the way she moves, the way she hums softly under her breath, the glint of her eyes in the dim light. It’s enough to make your heart race again.
As you reach the junction, Pink’s footsteps slow slightly, and she turns toward the security room, offering you a smile. “I’m just gonna check in with the cameras real quick. You keep heading to your task.”
You nod, trying to act casual, though you can feel the disappointment creeping in. “Alright. I’ll see you around.”
She waves as she disappears into the security room, and you take a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. You make your way through the hallway, but before you can open the door, you hear it. A scream. High-pitched, full of terror. Pink’s voice.
Your heart stops. Without thinking, you turn on your heels and sprint back down the hall, your feet pounding against the metal floor. Every step feels like an eternity as you race toward the sound of her scream. Panic grips your chest, your mind screaming at you that something is horribly wrong.
When you round the corner, you find her standing there, frozen in place. Her wide, horrified eyes are locked on something in front of her. She’s trembling, her breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. You can barely comprehend the scene before you, the sight that’s etched into your mind forever.
There, in the middle of the hallway, lies Black. His body. Lifeless. The floor beneath him glistens sickeningly, a thick pool of dark crimson that seeps into the crevices of the grimy tiles. His suit is shredded, soaked through with dark blood. While his face is barely recognizable—skin slashed and shredded, exposing the raw, pulsing flesh beneath. Eyes wide and vacant, they stare blankly at nothing, droplets dribbling from the corners of his mouth, mingling with the deeper pools around him. The sheer brutality of it all makes your stomach lurch, the scent of copper heavy in the air.
Your legs feel like they’re made of lead, but somehow, you force yourself to step forward, your eyes unable to look away. This wasn’t an accident. This wasn’t something that could be fixed or explained away. Black is gone. And whoever did this... they’re still out there.
You reach Pink, who’s still staring at the body, her face pale, her mouth slightly open in shock. She doesn’t move as you stand beside her, your gaze falling on Black’s body. There’s nothing but the gruesome scene in front of you, and the gnawing realization that the calm, routine life you knew aboard The Skeld is shattered.
You glance at Pink, and her wide eyes meet yours. She’s trembling, and you can see her hands shaking as she reaches out, grabbing your sleeve for support. “What... what happened to him?” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “Who would do this?”
........ ........
The emergency meeting room is dim, the only light coming from the overhead panels, casting harsh shadows on the faces around the table. You sit beside Pink, your hands trembling slightly as you try to collect your thoughts. The sight of Black’s mangled body is burned into your mind
The door hisses open, and the others begin to file in—Green, Red, Purple, White, Gray, and Cyan. They seem to shuffle in slowly, like they’re moving through thick air, their faces filled with a mixture of confusion, fear, and suspicion. Cyan is at the back, his gaze distant, his usual vibrant energy missing. The look in his eyes—empty, hollow—makes your stomach tighten with guilt. Black had been his best friend, and now he’s gone. How could this have happened?
You glance at Pink, who’s sitting stiffly beside you, her eyes darting between the others, clearly on edge. She gives you a quick, reassuring glance before her gaze turns back to the group.
Red is the first to speak, his voice high-pitched and shaky. "What the hell happened?! Who could have done this to Black?" He slams his hands on the table, his breath coming in shallow gasps. "This is a disaster! We can’t trust anyone anymore. How do we even know it’s not one of you? This is insane!"
You wince at his words, but before you can say anything, Pink jumps in. "We don’t know who did it yet. We just found him, Red. There’s no way any of us could have done this. It wasn’t an accident," she adds, her voice firm but with a hint of worry.
Cyan is sitting with his hands clenched together on the table, his jaw tight, but he says nothing. You can see how much he’s struggling, how his mind is racing through the horrifying events. The others seem to be paying attention, but no one can seem to get past their own fear.
“Guys,” you finally speak up, your voice shaking slightly, “it was horrible. Pink and I found him like that in the hallway. His body... it was... it was torn apart. There’s no way anyone could have done this on their own.”
Green speaks again, his voice sharp and accusatory. "Look, it’s obvious, isn’t it? You and Pink were the first ones to find the body. And now, nobody’s seen Black before that. You two had the perfect opportunity." His eyes are cold as they lock onto you. “I’m telling you, something’s not right about this. You’re hiding something, Yellow. You’ve always seemed... off.”
The words hit you like a punch to the gut, and you try to breathe, try to fight the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm you. Anger, confusion, disbelief—all of it swirls together, making your head spin.
“No,” you manage to choke out, your voice raw. “That’s insane. I didn’t do anything. I—” You glance at Pink for support, but her eyes are wide with shock, her brow furrowed as she looks at Green, as if she can’t believe what she’s hearing either.
Red, always the emotional one, can barely sit still. He’s shifting in his seat, his eyes darting between you and Green. “Wait, wait. This is ridiculous! Yellow would never do something like this! You’re just scared, Green. We’re all scared. But accusing people isn’t going to help.”
But Green isn’t backing down. “This is serious, Red. Someone is dead. Someone who was part of this crew. If we don’t figure out who did it now—” He pauses, his gaze flicking between you and White, as if silently seeking confirmation. “—then we’re all at risk. How do we know it’s not one of you? What if you both just snapped?”
“Stop!” Pink’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade. She stands abruptly, her chair scraping across the floor, a crack of authority in her tone. “This isn’t helping. None of us are killers. We need to figure this out together. Yelling and blaming won’t get us anywhere. I won’t sit here and let Green throw accusations around without any evidence.”
You’re stunned. Pink, who always seemed so composed, so calm in the face of everything, is shaking with barely contained frustration. Her hands are clenched into fists, and her eyes blaze with something fierce—something protective.
She turns to Green, her voice low but unwavering. “This is insane. We’re all grieving here. Don’t make it worse by pointing fingers.”
For a moment, Green looks taken aback by Pink’s sudden outburst, but he doesn’t back down. Instead, his gaze hardens, and he shoots you another accusatory glare. “You can’t possibly expect me to believe that nothing’s wrong. Yellow’s been acting weird today, and now... now Black’s dead. Coincidence?”
“It’s not a coincidence,” Cyan’s voice finally breaks the silence. It’s quiet, hollow, and utterly devoid of the usual spark he carries. He’s been silent for most of the meeting, his hands resting heavily on the table as he stares blankly at the surface in front of him, lost in his own thoughts. But now, his words are laced with pain. “Black... he was my best friend. He wouldn’t just... just... die for no reason. Something happened. Something terrible happened.”
His voice trembles slightly, but he keeps his gaze fixed firmly ahead, unwilling—or unable—to look anyone in the eye. You can see the raw pain in his posture, in the way his shoulders slump, as if the weight of Black’s death is crushing him from the inside out.
Purple and Gray exchange a glance, and then Purple speaks. “We were in the medbay when it happened. I don’t know what went on in the halls, but I can vouch for Cyan and Gray. We were all together. Gray got hurt taking out the trash. He’s got the bandage to prove it.” He nods toward Gray, who silently lifts his sleeve, showing a hastily wrapped bandage around his arm. “None of us were near the scene.”
White, who’s been silent up until now, leans forward, eyes scanning the group with cold precision. “And what about you two?” He glances at Pink and then at you. “You both found the body, right? It just so happens that you were the first ones to stumble upon it?”
You feel a pang of frustration—no, anger—as White’s cold eyes meet yours. “This is getting out of hand,” you mutter. “I didn’t do it. I’m telling you, I didn’t.”
“I’m not saying you did,” White responds, his tone dripping with skepticism. “But your timing is suspicious. And Pink—” He glances at her, his gaze more calculating than anything else. “You’re clearly defending Yellow. Why? What’s your involvement in this?”
Pink opens her mouth to respond, but you’re quicker, your words spilling out in a rush. “What are you accusing her of? Pink had nothing to do with it. She was there with me—” You stop, your breath catching as the realization hits you. You sound so defensive.
But White’s eyes narrow as he watches you. “Trying to help? Or trying to protect you?”
“No,” Red protests loudly. “This is all wrong! It’s like we’re not even talking about Black anymore! What are we supposed to do? Argue? Let this ship tear us apart while there’s a killer among us?” His voice cracks, and he falls silent, shaking his head as if he can’t understand how things could have gotten this far.
The silence in the room stretches long and heavy, suffocating
Then Pink turns to you, her expression softening. She places a hand on your arm, her touch warm and grounding. “Yellow,” she says quietly, “I don’t think you did this. I know you didn’t. We’ll figure this out.” Her voice trembles just slightly, and you can hear the rawness in it.
........ ........
The dim light of the room flickered softly, casting long shadows against the walls, creating an eerie sense of stillness. You could feel the weight of the silence pressing in from every direction, but there was something comforting about the presence of Pink and Red. They were the only ones who hadn’t doubted you, the only ones who believed you when it seemed like everyone else was ready to tear each other apart.
Pink shifted beside you on the bed, her legs curled under her as she nervously fiddled with the hem of her sleeve. She glanced up at you with wide, uncertain eyes, her usual confident demeanor long gone in the wake of Black’s brutal death. You could tell she was trying to stay strong, but the vulnerability in her expression made something tighten in your chest.
Red sat in the corner by the door, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he stared at the threshold like he expected someone—or something—to burst in at any moment. You caught his eye and gave him a small, reassuring smile, but his face remained tense, lips pressed in a thin line.
The tension in the room hung in the air, thick and unspoken, but Pink’s voice finally broke the silence, soft and hesitant. “I... I don’t know what to think anymore. It’s all just too much.” She bit her lip, her gaze dropping to her hands resting in her lap, fingers nervously tapping. “I just... I want this to be over.”
You nodded in agreement, your own thoughts a chaotic jumble of guilt, confusion, and fear. It didn’t feel real—none of it did. How could it? A murder so close to home, the brutality of it, the fear that someone in this very room could be responsible. It was enough to make your head spin.
The bed creaked as Pink shifted closer to you, a small, tentative movement that had your heart skipping a beat. She glanced at you through her bangs, her cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink, and a shy smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Hey, um..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, soft and vulnerable. "I know it’s been... a lot. But, um... I want you to know I’m here, okay? I’m not going anywhere."
You felt a warmth spread through your chest, the sincerity in her voice grounding you. Her usual bubbly energy was replaced by something softer, more intimate. Your breath caught in your throat as she nudged closer, her shoulder brushing against yours.
You didn’t say anything for a moment, just let the weight of her words sink in, the reassurance that you weren’t alone in this chaos. But then, as if pulled by some invisible force, Pink curled into you, her back against yours as she slipped under the covers with you. The bed felt smaller now, but in the best possible way, like the world outside was just a little bit further away.
Her arm brushed against yours as she settled in, her breathing a little heavier than usual, and you could feel the warmth of her body against yours. Pink had always been the softer one of the two of you, her touch comforting, almost soothing in a way you didn’t even realize you needed.
You smiled softly, feeling a warmth spread through you. This wasn’t how you thought the night would go—hell, this wasn’t how you thought anything would go. But here, with Pink beside you, there was something more than just the looming horror. There was comfort. There was closeness.
“Thank you,” you whispered, your voice barely audible in the dark.
Pink’s eyes fluttered closed, a small, tired smile curving on her lips. “You don’t have to thank me.” She squeezed your hand, her fingers soft and warm against your own.
You nodded, feeling your heart settle just a little bit. In the midst of the darkness, in the middle of all this fear and uncertainty, maybe it was enough to have someone by your side.
She shifted again, curling up a little closer to you, and you could feel the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing as she drifted off to sleep. The room felt safer now, despite everything that had happened. You could still hear the muffled hum of the ship’s engines in the distance, the quiet whirring of the lights above, but in this small moment, with Pink’s warmth against you, the world outside felt a little less overwhelming.
And maybe, just maybe, you could finally rest.