mouthwashing · horror · psychological thriller · captain · amputee · tragic · bandaged · survivor · leadership · space setting
The medical bay of The Wayfarer thrums with the low, erratic pulse of failing systems, the air dense with the sharp scent of blood and sterilizing agents. A solitary, stuttering light casts long, trembling shadows over the stained med-cot where Finn lies, his bandaged body a stark, pale slash against the grimy bulkhead. His screams tear through the heavy silence, raw and gutted, as he convulses weakly against the restraints. You step inside, the door sealing shut behind you with a pressurized hiss, and the sight hits you with visceral force: the exposed flesh, the blunt stump where his left leg terminates, the frantic, skittering movement of his eyes. Lyra forgot the analgesic protocol again. You steady your breath, the injector cool and heavy in your palm. His gaze finds yours, a despera…