“I’m sure he’s fine,” I said.

My eyes focused on where the line disappeared into the darkness in front of us. The only sound was the high-pitched whirring as the line rapidly reeled in. When I saw a hazy figure move in the darkness, at first I relaxed in relief.

Then I saw that it wasn’t Crankshaft at all. A pale figure, equine in shape but eyeless and alien in features swam rapidly towards us.

Minnow let out a shriek, but the creature swam right over us. A moment later it was followed by a second, and then a third.

By the time Crankshaft appeared, limbs flailing as the line pulled him closer, countless of the horrifying creatures had passed us by. And I knew the only place they could be going was the city.

When he stumbled out of the airlock and jerked his helmet off, I worried that we would already be too late.

“We have to go,” I gasped out. “Back to the city. Hurry!”