The sun was dipping lower into the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow across the open water. The Sea Phantom hummed steadily, but the tension inside the cockpit had only intensified. The strange sense of being hunted never fully left him—an unease gnawing at his thoughts.
The creatures hadn't returned after the stunner had knocked the first one back. They hadn't made any immediate strikes since, but he could still feel their presence, lurking beneath the surface.
Waiting.
Thomas sat in silence for a while, eyes on the radar screen. The readout was clear now. No contacts. No immediate threats. Just the endless ocean, the familiar hum of the engines, and his own thoughts.
A soft ping broke the quiet.
Sonar—new return.
He glanced at the sonar panel.
Depth: 16m
Speed: Increasing
Direction: Parallel to vessel
Thomas's heart rate kicked up a notch. He didn't wait for the full scan.
"Time to move," he muttered to himself.
