The Abyss Whispers

y sky. Snow flurries drifted lazily, carried by the sharp wind that howled across the deck and seeped through layers of clothing. The crew, bundled in thick coats and s

ars of handling. Inside were her father's notes-maps, theories, and cryptic musings that had consumed much of his life. Evelyn pressed her lips into a thin line, her

ng sight of the marine biologist adjusting her gloves as she spoke to one of the technicians. "Mak

lingered only a moment before fading into a look of focused determination. She had a way

ng under his breath. He'd been muttering all morning, his fingers t

just loud enough to carry over the wind. "The wh

lling her eyes. She slapped the back of his parka lightly as she pass

his shoulders hunching further

Captain Graves. The older woman was as much a fixture of the ship as the engine itself-stoic, no-non

yn replied, he

er weathered face unreadable be

ake, and we're all going home in body bags.

t her, nodding curtly. "I

longer before moving on, her boot

rld in shades of gray and blue. It was the kind of landscape that swallowed you whole if you le

the cables and double-check connections. Evelyn moved closer, watching as the first hydrophone was l

signed to withstand extreme conditions. Evelyn had overseen every detail of the preparation her

fe, filling the room with the ambient noise of the ocean-a low, steady rumble punctuated by th

r one of the consoles. Her tone was casual, but

chest. He didn't say anything, but his eyes darted between

e sound

miss as interference or mechanical feedback. But as the crew listened, the rhythm grew clearer, mor

overing over the controls. "

ver heard," one of th

unrelenting. And then, almost i

he room fell silent as everyone strained to listen. The whispers grew louder, intertwining with the rhythmic thrum

he console so tightly her knuckles turned white. The sound wasn"t unf

id abruptly, her voic

t her, startle

it!" Evel

quickly over the controls. The whispers vanishe

m was deafening. Drew

voice low and unsteady.

he tension. "Come on, Drew. It's just-probably g

racing. The whispers had felt alive, tangible in a way that defied logi

d finally, her voice fl

wasn't true. The whispers weren't

e. Her hand drifted to the journal at her side, fingers brushing over the worn leat

e dark water outside the window. The aby