Latest / Creepy Stories to Fall Asleep To / I Was Sent to a Deep Sea Lab for a Project. They Kept This Hidden.

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I Was Sent to a Deep Sea Lab for a Project. They Kept This Hidden. · Creepy Stories to Fall Asleep To

0:00
I woke up with my face pressed against cold metal, the
0:03
submarine's engine humming beneath me.
0:07
My stomach lurched as we dropped another few feet. 12 hours of
0:12
this nauseating descent had left me clammy and exhausted.
0:17
The pilot had warned me about the pressure changes, but
0:20
nothing prepared me for the reality of sinking nearly 7
0:23
miles below the ocean surface. 5 minutes to docking, Dr. Warren,
0:29
The pilot called back without turning.
0:32
His voice sounded tinny through the small cabin.
0:35
I straightened up in my seat, trying to look more composed
0:39
than I felt. The Deep Ocean Research
0:42
Laboratory, Dioral, as the briefing documents called it,
0:47
represented the pinnacle of my career.
0:50
An invitation to join their team meant my research had finally
0:53
been noticed. You might want to brace
0:56
yourself, the pilot added. Final approach can be rough.
1:02
The submarine slowed, then jolted as metal scraped against
1:06
metal. I grabbed the edge of my seat,
1:09
knuckles white. Water rushed around us as
1:12
pressure equalized, and then everything went still.
1:16
Welcome to DORL, Doctor Warren. The pilot flipped a series of
1:21
switches powering down the engines.
1:24
They'll be waiting for you in the airlock.
1:27
I collected my duffel bag and laptop case, taking a deep
1:31
breath to settle my churning stomach. the Hatch opened with a
1:35
hydraulic hiss, revealing a sterile white corridor.
1:40
I ducked through the opening, my shoes clanging against the metal
1:43
floor. A woman stood waiting, her
1:47
posture rigid and unwelcoming. She wore a pristine white lab
1:52
coat over a charcoal suit, her dark hair pulled back so tightly
1:56
it looked painful. Doctor Warren?
2:01
She didn't offer her hand. I'm Doctor Michelle Ramirez,
2:05
facility director. You're late.
2:09
I checked my watch, confused. The departure schedule said the
2:15
schedule accounts for optimal conditions.
2:17
You should have built in contingency time.
2:21
She turned sharply. Follow me, we don't waste time
2:24
here. I hurried after her, my bag
2:28
banging awkwardly against my leg.
2:31
The corridor opened into a larger hub with multiple
2:34
hallways branching off like spokes.
2:37
Doral houses 32 researchers and 18 support staff.
2:41
Doctor Ramirez said as we walked.
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We operate on a 24 hour schedule.
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Your credentials grant you access to general areas and your
2:50
assigned laboratory only. What exactly will I be working
2:54
on? I asked, trying to keep pace
2:57
with her brisk stride. The briefing was vague.
3:03
She stopped so suddenly I almost ran into her.
3:07
You'll be assigned to Project Amphetrite.
3:10
Dr. Frost will brief you on the specifics.
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Amphetrite. Like the Greek sea goddess?
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Her eyes narrowed slightly. You were selected for your
3:21
expertise in marine bioacoustics, Dr. Warren, not
3:25
your knowledge of mythology. Though I suppose the connection
3:29
isn't entirely irrelevant. Before I could ask what she
3:33
meant, a tall man with silver streaked hair approached.
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He wore a lab coat. Doctor Frost Ramirez said.
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Our new team member has arrived. Please show Doctor Warren around
3:47
the facility and to his quarters.
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He'll begin work tomorrow at O 600.
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Doctor Frost nodded, his expression unreadable.
3:58
Of course. Director Ramirez walked away
4:01
without another word, her heels clicking sharply against the
4:04
floor. Don't take it personally.
4:08
Doctor Frost said once she was out of earshot.
4:12
The Director maintains a certain atmosphere of professionalism.
4:16
Is she always that warm and fuzzy?
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I asked. The corner of his mouth
4:22
twitched. That was actually quite cordial
4:25
by her standards. He gestured down one of the
4:29
hallways. Let me show you the main
4:31
research areas first. The staff members we passed kept
4:36
their eyes down, moving quickly by with mumbled greetings or no
4:40
acknowledgement. One woman pressed herself
4:42
against the wall to avoid us. Is it just me or is everyone
4:47
avoiding eye contact? I asked quietly.
4:51
Dr. Frost slowed down. We're a focused group, Doctor
4:56
Warren. Most of us have been down here
4:58
for months without rotation. Social niceties tend to diminish
5:03
over time. He led me through a series of
5:06
labs, each filled with equipment I recognized and some I didn't.
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One room contained what looked like audio analysis stations,
5:14
with headphones sealed in clear containers.
5:18
This is where you'll be working. Doctor Frost said, using his
5:22
badge to unlock the door. You'll be partnered with Doctor
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Manuel Edwards. He's been leading the acoustic
5:29
analysis portion of Project Amphetrite.
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What exactly are we analyzing? I asked, looking at the complex
5:37
array of equipment. Doctor Edwards will brief you on
5:40
the specifics tomorrow. He's quite particular about his
5:45
work. I nodded, though frustration
5:49
bubbled inside me. Everyone seemed determined to
5:53
keep me in the dark. We continue the tour, passing
5:57
through the cafeteria, currently empty recreation area sparsely
6:02
furnished and medical Bay uncomfortably well equipped for
6:06
such a small facility. And this doctor, Frost said,
6:12
stopping at a narrow door. Is your quarters?
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He swiped his badge and pushed the door open.
6:19
The room was small and utilitarian.
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A twin bed, desk, small bathroom and a locker for personal items.
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No windows, of course. We were at the bottom of the
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ocean. It's not the Ritz, Dr. Frost
6:35
said. But it serves its purpose.
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No room service, I take it? He didn't smile.
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Meals are at O613100 and 1900 hours in the cafeteria.
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Missing them is not recommended. Got it.
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Your badge? He handed me a plastic card on a
6:56
lanyard. Don't lose it.
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Replacement requires director approval, and she's not generous
7:03
with second chances. I slipped it around my neck.
7:08
Thanks for the tour, Doctor. Frost nodded.
7:12
Get some rest, Doctor Warren, tomorrow will be demanding.
7:16
He turned to leave, then paused. And if you hear anything unusual
7:21
during the night, it's just the pressure on the hull, nothing to
7:25
be concerned about. Before I could ask what he
7:28
meant, he was gone, the door sliding shut behind him.
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I sat on the bed, exhausted. The journey, cold welcome, and
7:39
strange staff behavior all felt off.
7:43
I unpacked my belongings into the locker and put my laptop on
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the desk. The silent room had no windows.
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I checked my watch. 830 in the evening, though time meant
7:56
nothing down here. I lay down, staring at the
8:00
ceiling. Sleep felt distant, despite my
8:03
exhaustion. The bed was uncomfortable, the
8:07
pillow too thin, and I closed my eyes anyway, trying to quiet my
8:11
mind. I must have dozed off
8:14
eventually, because I woke with a start, disoriented in the
8:18
darkness. The rooms ambient lighting had
8:21
dimmed to a soft blue glow for night cycle.
8:25
I reached for my watch. 217 in the morning.
8:29
Something had woken me. I lay still, listening.
8:35
There it was again, a sound so faint I wasn't sure if I was
8:39
imagining it. A singing, almost.
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Not human exactly, but melodic. It seemed to come from
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everywhere and nowhere, as if the ocean itself were humming.
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I sat up, fully awake now. The sound faded, then returned
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slightly louder. It reminded me of whale songs
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I'd analyzed in my research, but different, more complex, almost
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intentional. I pressed my ear against the
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wall. The singing grew clearer,
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multiple voices weaving together in patterns that made my skin
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prickle. Then another sound, closer, more
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immediate whispers in the corridor outside my door.
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I moved quietly across the room, pressing my ear to the door,
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this time getting louder. A man's voice said, barely
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audible. Can't keep ignoring, a woman
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responded. Ramirez says.
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The voices moved away, becoming unintelligible.
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I returned to bed, uneasy. Between the strange singing from
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the ocean and the whispered conversations, something was
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happening that no one had told me about.
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Sleep came fitfully, my dreams filled with voices calling from
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dark water. I woke groggy and on edge, with
10:07
no windows. I checked my watch. 545I
10:12
showered in the tiny bathroom, the water at least hot.
10:16
After dressing, I headed to the cafeteria, following the route
10:21
Doctor Frost had shown me. A few staff members were already
10:25
eating, sitting at separate tables with significant space
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between them. I grabbed a tray of what looked
10:31
like oatmeal and coffee, then sat alone.
10:35
The food was bland but filling. I checked my watch again. 7:30
10:43
Doctor Frost had told me I'd be meeting with Doctor Hendricks at
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8 to begin my orientation to Project Amphetrite.
10:50
I found the meeting room easily enough and settled in to wait.
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8:00 came and went. By 8:30 I was checking my watch
10:59
every few minutes. 9:00 past, then 9:30 at 10.
11:05
The door opened. Doctor Frost walked in, looking
11:08
tired. His lab coat was wrinkled, and
11:11
dark circles showed under his eyes.
11:15
Doctor Warren, he said, his voice tight.
11:19
I apologize for the delay. Is Doctor Hendricks coming?
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I asked, standing. Doctor Frost's expression
11:28
flickered, something between worry and annoyance.
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There's been a change of plans. Doctor Hendricks has been
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transferred to another project area.
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Transferred when? Last night he wouldn't meet my
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eyes. These things happen sometimes.
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The nature of our work requires flexibility and staffing.
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So who will I be working with? You'll still be partnered with
11:58
Doctor Edwards as planned. He'll meet you in the lab this
12:01
afternoon. Doctor Frost, move toward the
12:04
door. I suggest you use the morning to
12:07
review the facility protocols on your terminal.
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Doctor Frost? I called as he reached the door.
12:15
What were those sounds last night?
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He froze his back to me. Sounds like singing coming
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through the hall. His shoulders tensed visibly.
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As I mentioned, the pressure creates unusual acoustic
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effects. Nothing to concern yourself
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with. And the people whispering
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outside my door. He turned slowly.
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Doctor Warren, we're 7 miles below the surface.
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The pressure here can affect people in strange ways,
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including auditory hallucinations.
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I suggest you focus on your work and adjust to the environment.
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With that, he left the door sliding shut behind him with a
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finality that felt like a warning.
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I stood alone in the meeting room, increasingly certain that
13:04
something was very wrong at the URL.
13:07
Doctor Hendricks had vanished overnight.
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Everyone avoided eye contact, and no one would tell me what I
13:13
was actually here to study. And then there were those voices
13:16
in the dark, singing from the depths of an ocean where no
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human song should exist. I accessed the Project
13:23
Amphetrite files from my workstation, surprised by how
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easily my credentials worked. The system hummed quietly as I
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navigated through folders, each click bringing me deeper into
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the project's digital architecture.
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Most of what I found was heavily redacted black bars covering
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entire paragraphs of research documents about unusual audio
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frequencies detected in the deep water columns surrounding the
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facility. I scrolled through page after
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page, piercing together fragments of information.
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The unredacted portions mentioned unique harmonic
14:00
patterns and sustained tonal anomalies that didn't match
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known marine life. One report noted that the sounds
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intensify during facility night cycle and appear directed rather
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than ambient. A subfolder labeled Biological
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Samples caught my attention. Inside were photos of tissue
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specimens with bizarre cellular structures, translucent fibrous
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material that the notes described as containing unknown
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DNA markers and exhibiting properties inconsistent with
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known marine species. The cells had strange
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bioluminescent properties, according to the lab notes, but
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most of the analysis was again hidden behind black redaction
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bars. I nearly missed the reference to
14:53
sirens in a memo between Doctor Ramirez and someone called
14:57
Doctor Hartfield. The brief exchange mentioned
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increased siren activity near the eastern quadrant and a
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recommendation to reinforce acoustic shielding in
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residential sections. The rest was redacted, but that
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single word sirens stuck with me.
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It seemed like an odd code name for a scientific project.
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My stomach growled, reminding me it was almost dinner time.
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I closed the files and headed to the cafeteria, my mind still
15:32
turning over what I'd found. The research was clearly focused
15:36
on some kind of unknown sound source, but the heavy redactions
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made it impossible to understand what they'd actually discovered.
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The cafeteria was half full when I arrived, researchers and
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support staff sitting in small clusters, their conversations
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dropping to murmurs as I walked past.
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I grabbed a tray of what looked like beef Stew and scanned the
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room, noticing A technician sitting alone at a corner table.
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I recognized him from my earlier tour, Lucas White according to
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the name tag on his uniform. He seemed less guarded than the
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others, focused on his meal rather than watching me with
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suspicious eyes. I walked over, tray in hand.
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Mind if I join you? Lucas looked up, a flicker of
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surprise crossing his face. Sure.
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Free country? He paused, then added.
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Well, not exactly a country down here, but you know what I mean.
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I sat down across from him. I'm Jace Warren, just arrived
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yesterday. Yeah, I know who you are.
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Everyone does. Lucas pushed his food around
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with his fork. You're the new guy for Project
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Amphetrite. I took a bite of Stew, which
16:57
tasted better than it looked. Seems like everyone knows more
17:02
about my assignment than I do. Lucas glanced around before
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leaning slightly forward. That's how it works here.
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You'll get the full briefing when they're ready.
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I decided to test the waters. I was supposed to meet with
17:18
Doctor Hendricks yesterday, but apparently he's been
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transferred. Do you know him?
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Lucas's posture changed immediately, shoulders tensing,
17:29
eyes darting to check who might be listening.
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Look, man, word of advice, don't ask about people who disappear.
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Just do your work. Disappear.
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That's a strange way to put it. It's not strange if you've been
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here long enough. Lucas lowered his voice further.
17:50
Just focus on your research. That's all any of us can do.
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I leaned closer. What exactly is going on here?
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The files mentioned something called sirens.
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Lucas's fork clattered against his plate.
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Keep your voice down. He hissed.
18:09
And stay away from that stuff if you know what's good for you.
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I'm just trying to understand what I've been brought here to
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work on. They'll tell you what they want
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you to know. Lucas stood up, grabbing his
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tray. Before leaving, he bent down and
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whispered one more thing. If you hear singing at night,
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cover your ears and lock yourself in.
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Don't come out, no matter what. I watched him hurry away,
18:38
dropping his tray at the collection station before
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practically jogging out of the cafeteria.
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His warning left me cold, despite the warm food in front
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of me. I finished my meal alone, aware
18:51
of the occasional glances from other tables back in my
18:55
quarters. I tried to make sense of
18:57
everything. The redacted files, Lucas's
19:00
warning, the strange behavior of the staff, and the mysterious
19:04
sirens. I prepared for bed with an
19:08
uneasy feeling, double checking that my door was locked before
19:12
finally lying down. Sleep came eventually, but it
19:17
didn't last. I woke suddenly in the darkness,
19:21
unsure what a disturbed me until I heard it.
19:24
A melody, faint but clear, coming through the ventilation
19:29
system. It wasn't the whale like sounds
19:32
from the previous night. This was different.
19:37
Hauntingly beautiful, complex harmonies that seem to resonate
19:41
inside my head rather than my ears.
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I lay still, listening. The melody grew more intricate,
19:49
layers of sound weaving together in patterns that made me think
19:52
of moonlight on water, of depths and currents and ancient things
19:57
moving in darkness. Without realizing I'd moved, I
20:01
found myself sitting up. Then, standing beside my bed,
20:06
the song pulled at something inside me, creating a yearning I
20:09
couldn't name. I walked to the door, my
20:13
movements not entirely my own. My fingers punched in the exit
20:18
code on the keypad and the door slid open with a soft hiss.
20:23
The corridor outside was empty and dimly lit by the night cycle
20:26
lighting. The song was clearer now,
20:31
calling me forward. I followed it down the hallway,
20:35
past closed doors and silent labs, taking turns without
20:38
thinking about where I was going.
20:41
Part of me knew I should turn back, but that thought was
20:45
distant, muffled beneath the beautiful melody that promised
20:50
something, something wonderful, if only I kept walking.
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I passed through the main hub and took the eastern corridor,
21:01
moving toward the outer ring of the facility.
21:04
The song grew louder with each step, filling my head until
21:08
there was room for nothing else. I reached the observation deck,
21:12
a circular room with thick view ports looking out into the
21:15
midnight blue of the deep ocean. Pressing my hands against the
21:20
cold glass, I peered into the darkness.
21:25
The exterior lights were off, but I could make out movement,
21:30
graceful shapes gliding through the water just beyond the reach
21:33
of the facilities ambient glow. They moved with purpose,
21:38
circling closer, their form suggesting something almost
21:42
human in the upper body before tapering into something else
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entirely. The song reached a crescendo
21:50
that made my ears ring and my vision blur.
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My hand moved to the control panel beside the viewport,
21:58
fingers finding the emergency release for the pressure door.
22:02
A small voice in the back of my mind screamed warnings, but it
22:06
was drowned out by the melody that promised answers.
22:09
Connection completion. My thumb hovered over the
22:14
release button. Just one press in the outer door
22:17
would open, equalizing pressure with the crushing depths
22:21
outside. One press and I could join the
22:24
singers, become part of their eternal song.
22:28
Something made me hesitate. A flash of Lucas's frightened
22:31
face, perhaps, or some deep survival instinct not yet
22:35
smothered by the song. In that moment of clarity, I bit
22:40
down hard on my tongue, the sharp pain cutting through the
22:44
musical fog in my mind. Blood filled my mouth, metallic
22:49
and warm. The song faltered, its hold on
22:53
me weakening. I stumbled back from the control
22:57
panel, the spell broken enough for me to realize what I'd
23:00
nearly done. Opening that door would have
23:03
killed everyone in this section instantly, including me.
23:08
I backed away, the taste of blood grounding me as the
23:12
beautiful melody tried to recapture my mind.
23:16
With tremendous effort, I turned and ran, the song pursuing me
23:21
through the corridors as I made my way back to my quarters.
23:25
I slammed my door shut behind me, breathing hard, the copper
23:29
taste of blood still on my tongue.
23:33
The singing continued, muted now by distance and walls, but still
23:38
audible. Still calling, I grabbed a towel
23:42
from the bathroom and stuffed it against the ventilation grate,
23:46
then pulled my pillow over my head.
23:49
Even with my ears covered, I could feel the song vibrating
23:53
through the hull of the facility.
23:56
Whatever these sirens were, they had nearly made me kill myself
24:00
and who knows how many others. And as I lay there shaking with
24:05
the aftermath of what had almost happened, I understood why
24:10
people disappeared from Doral, and why no one wanted to talk
24:14
about it. I woke up with a jolt, my head
24:17
pounding. The silence hit me first.
24:21
No hum of ventilation, no distant footsteps, no murmur of
24:24
voices. Something was wrong.
24:28
Hello. I called out, my voice sounding
24:31
too loud in the quiet room. No answer.
24:35
I sat up, rubbing my eyes, trying to piece together what
24:39
had happened after I'd made it back to my quarters last night.
24:43
The singing had eventually faded.
24:45
I must have fallen asleep at some point.
24:48
I checked my watch at 10:30 in the morning, way past breakfast
24:53
time. I got up, pulled on my clothes,
24:57
and opened my door. The corridor stretched empty in
25:00
both directions, the overhead lights casting a harsh glow on
25:03
the white walls. Hello.
25:07
I tried again, louder this time. My voice bounced back at me.
25:13
I walked toward the cafeteria, my footsteps echoing.
25:17
The doors slid open automatically, revealing rows of
25:20
empty tables. Half eaten meals sat abandoned,
25:23
chairs pushed back as if everyone had left in a hurry.
25:27
A coffee mug lay on its side, a brown puddle spread across the
25:31
table beneath it. Is anyone here?
25:35
I called out. The kitchen area was deserted
25:38
too. The industrial coffee maker was
25:41
still on a pot, half full and burning on the hot plate.
25:46
I switched it off, the smell of scorched coffee hanging in the
25:49
air. This wasn't right.
25:52
Even during shift changes there were always people around.
25:57
I headed for the research labs, walking faster now.
26:01
The main lab doors opened with a soft hiss, revealing
26:04
workstations with screens still glowing, some showing active
26:07
data streams. Papers were scattered across
26:11
desks. A chair lay tipped over and
26:14
someone's lab coat hung from the back of another chair.
26:18
I moved to one of the computers and tap the keyboard.
26:23
The screen showed a spectrogram of audio frequencies, the same
26:26
kind of patterns I'd seen in the files I'd accessed yesterday.
26:30
The time stamp showed the recording had been made at 2:15
26:34
this morning. Doctor Edwards?
26:37
I called out, remembering my missing colleague.
26:40
Dr. Ramirez. Anyone.
26:44
I tried the intercom system mounted on the wall, pressing
26:47
the button for facility wide announcement.
26:50
This is Doctor Jace Warren, if anyone can hear this please
26:53
respond. Where is everyone?
26:57
I waited but only static answered me.
27:00
My heartbeat faster as I left the lab and headed for the
27:04
security center. If anyone would know what was
27:07
happening it would be the security team.
27:11
The security center door was unlocked already a bad sign.
27:16
Inside, banks of monitors show different sections of the
27:19
facility all empty. The main security console was
27:23
still active screens displaying various system statuses.
27:28
Most were green, but several flashed yellow or red warnings.
27:32
No security personnel insight. I scanned the monitors, looking
27:37
for any sign of movement, any hint of where everyone might
27:41
have gone. Nothing but empty corridors,
27:44
vacant labs, and deserted common areas.
27:48
Where the hell was everyone? The director's office?
27:52
Ramirez would have answers, or at least access to emergency
27:57
protocols. I left the security center and
28:00
made my way to the administrative section.
28:04
The door to Ramirez's office was a jar, which seemed out of
28:08
character for the rigidly professional director.
28:12
I pushed it open. The office was empty, but unlike
28:16
the chaotic cafeteria, everything here looked orderly.
28:21
Ramirez's desk was neat, her chair pushed in.
28:25
The only unusual thing was Doctor Frost's terminal in the
28:28
corner. It was still on the screen,
28:31
showing a login prompt. I hesitated for a moment.
28:36
Using someone else's terminal without permission was against
28:39
protocol, but given the circumstances, I sat down at
28:44
Frost's desk and tried my own credentials.
28:49
To my surprise, they worked, giving me access to his files.
28:54
I navigated to the emergency log section, hoping to find some
28:58
record of what had happened. A video file from yesterday was
29:02
marked as high priority. I clicked on it.
29:06
The screen filled with the face of a man I didn't recognize,
29:10
broad shouldered with a completely bald head and a salt
29:13
and pepper beard. His expression was grim, his
29:17
blue eyes intense. This is chief security officer
29:22
Bryson Castro. Emergency report, he began, his
29:26
voice deep and authoritative. We have confirmed siren
29:30
incursion in the eastern quadrant.
29:33
Hull integrity compromised in sections E7 through E12.
29:37
All personnel have been evacuated from those sections.
29:41
Castro looked off camera briefly, then continued.
29:45
We've lost contact with the maintenance team sent to assess
29:48
damage. Doctor Ramirez has ordered all
29:52
non essential personnel to shelter in their quarters while
29:55
security attempts to secure the breach.
29:58
The video cut to another clip, time stamped 4 hours later.
30:03
Castro looked more disheveled now, a small cut visible on his
30:07
forehead. Situation has escalated.
30:11
The sirens have penetrated further into the facility.
30:15
Their song is affecting more personnel than our
30:17
countermeasures can handle. We've lost access to the eastern
30:21
wing entirely. He ran a hand over his head, a
30:25
gesture of frustration or fatigue.
30:28
Dr. Hartfield has more information on these things,
30:33
patching him in now. The video split to show a second
30:37
face, an older man with wild Gray hair and thick glasses.
30:42
The creatures we're calling Sirens appear to be an ancient
30:46
deep sea predator species, Hartfield explained, his voice
30:50
shaking slightly. Their song creates neurological
30:54
effects similar to hypnotic suggestion, but far more
30:57
powerful and irresistible compulsion.
31:00
They use it to lure prey. Castro cut in.
31:05
Pray. Meaning us.
31:06
Doctor Hartfield nodded grimly. Yes, we've already lost 37
31:13
personnel. Some walked willingly into
31:15
flooded sections. Others he swallowed hard.
31:21
Others turned on their colleagues, opening hatches or
31:24
disabling safety protocols. How do we stop them?
31:29
Castro demanded. The song effects different
31:33
people with varying intensity. Some seem more resistant than
31:37
others. Physical pain can temporarily
31:40
break the trance. Blocking the sound helps, but
31:44
they seem capable of projecting their song through the hull
31:46
itself, possibly using some form of resonance we don't fully
31:50
understand. Hartfield looked down at
31:53
something off camera, then back up with wide eyes.
31:58
They're intelligent, far more than we initially.
32:02
He stopped suddenly, his head turning to look at something out
32:05
of frame. His expression changed to one of
32:09
pure terror. They're here, he whispered.
32:14
Oh God, they're The video cut off abruptly.
32:19
I sat back in the chair, my heart hammering in my chest. 37
32:25
personnel lost. And that was before whatever had
32:28
happened to make everyone else disappear.
32:32
I searched through more files, looking for anything that might
32:35
tell me what to do. A folder labeled Emergency
32:38
Protocols caught my attention. Inside was information on
32:43
something called Protocol Oceanus.
32:47
I open the file Protocol Oceanus Facility Self Destruct sequence
32:54
to be initiated only in case of catastrophic containment failure
32:57
or imminent threat to surface world.
33:01
Requires authorization from 2 senior staff members Level 5
33:05
clearance or above. The document detailed how the
33:09
protocol would collapse the facility's structural supports
33:12
and trigger controlled explosions that would bury DORL
33:16
under thousands of tons of rock and sediment.
33:20
A last resort. I checked the time 6:15 in the
33:24
evening. The facility would be entering
33:26
night cycle soon, when the siren song had been strongest.
33:31
As if on cue, the main lights dimmed slightly as the facility
33:35
shifted to night mode, and with the change in lighting, I heard
33:39
it. Faint at first, but growing
33:42
stronger. The singing.
33:45
It was different from last night.
33:47
More voices, more complex, more beautiful, and louder, much
33:52
louder. I had to find somewhere safe to
33:54
think. I ran back to the security
33:58
center, the singing following me through the corridors.
34:02
Inside, I slammed the door shut and looked for something to
34:06
barricade it with. I dragged a heavy metal cabinet
34:10
in front of the door, then added a desk for good measure.
34:15
The singing grew louder, seeming to come from everywhere at once.
34:20
I grabbed a pair of noise cancelling headphones from one
34:22
of the desks and put them on, but the song still reached me,
34:28
vibrating through my bones rather than my ears.
34:32
I turned to the security monitors, cycling through
34:34
different cameras. Most showed empty corridors, but
34:39
then I spotted something that made my blood run cold water
34:46
seeping through cracks in the outer hull of the eastern
34:49
section. The camera view was distorted,
34:52
the image flickering, but I could clearly see water pooling
34:56
on the floor, spreading slowly but steadily.
35:00
I switched to another camera near that section.
35:04
More water and something moving in it, Something that wasn't
35:08
just water flowing, something deliberate.
35:12
The singing intensified, and I felt the same pull I'd
35:16
experienced last night, an urge to go to the sound to see what
35:21
was making it. I tore off strips of fabric from
35:24
my shirt and stuffed them in my ears.
35:27
It helped a little, dulling the song to a more manageable level.
35:32
I needed a plan. I couldn't stay here forever.
35:37
The escape pods. There were three of them,
35:40
according to the facility schematics, displayed on one of
35:43
the security monitors, one in the eastern section, already
35:48
inaccessible due to flooding, one near the research labs, and
35:52
one in the western maintenance Bay.
35:54
I studied the monitor feeds, trying to plot the safest route.
35:59
The singing made it hard to focus, but I forced myself to
36:03
concentrate. The western maintenance Bay
36:07
looked clear on the cameras. If I could make it there, I
36:12
gathered what I could find in the security center.
36:15
A flashlight. A security badge I found in a
36:18
drawer that might give me access to restricted areas and a small
36:23
first aid kit. I stuffed the fabric deeper into
36:26
my ears and prepared to make a run for it.
36:30
The singing pulsed around me, trying to pull my thoughts away
36:33
from escape. I bit my lip hard, using the
36:37
pain to keep myself focused. I had to reach that escape pod
36:41
before whatever happened to everyone else happened to me
36:44
too. I grabbed A duffel bag from
36:47
behind the security desk and stuffed it with everything
36:49
useful I could find. A flashlight, the first aid kit,
36:54
a security badge, and some protein bars from a desk drawer.
37:00
The singing grew louder, making it harder to focus on what I
37:03
needed. I kept pushing the fabric deeper
37:07
into my ears, but the melody still seeped through, tugging at
37:10
my thoughts like invisible hooks.
37:14
The security monitors showed flooding in the eastern section,
37:17
getting worse. I needed to move fast.
37:22
In the corner of the room stood an emergency cabinet with a
37:25
glass front. I broke it with my elbow and
37:28
pulled out a small oxygen tank with a mask.
37:31
It wouldn't last long, maybe 15 minutes, but if I hit flooded
37:36
sections, it might make the difference between making it to
37:40
the escape pod and drowning. I opened the security center
37:44
door, duffel bags secured over my shoulder.
37:48
The corridor stretched ahead under emergency lighting.
37:52
My target was the western maintenance Bay, the only escape
37:55
pod within reach. The singing hit me harder in the
38:00
open corridor. It wasn't just sound anymore.
38:04
It felt like pressure against my skin, like being pulled by a
38:08
current. I bit my lip again, using the
38:12
sharp pain to anchor myself to reality.
38:15
Just keep moving. I whispered, my voice sounding
38:18
strange and distant in my fabric stuffed ears.
38:22
I made my way down the main corridor, staying close to the
38:26
wall for support. The facility seemed to pulse
38:30
with the song. Every few steps I had to stop
38:34
and shake my head to clear it. A Slytherin sound came from a
38:38
head. I froze.
38:41
The noise moved across the ceiling like something heavy
38:44
dragging. Then silence, except for the
38:47
singing. I continued forward, my shoes
38:51
making soft squeaking sounds against the floor.
38:55
The corridor branched, and I took the right turn toward the
38:59
research labs. According to the facility map, I
39:03
could cut through them to reach the maintenance Bay faster.
39:07
The lab door stood partially open, as if someone had left in
39:11
a hurry. I pushed through, sweeping my
39:13
flashlight across the darkened room.
39:16
Something lay on the floor near the central workstation.
39:20
I stepped closer, the beam of light revealing a body sprawled
39:24
face up. Lucas White stared at the
39:27
ceiling with wide, unseeing eyes, his mouth frozen open in a
39:32
silent scream. His face looked wrong, parts of
39:37
his skin appeared melted, the flesh underneath partially
39:40
dissolved. A thick, clear substance coated
39:44
his neck and chest, giving off a faint chemical smell.
39:49
Jesus, I whispered, kneeling beside him.
39:53
Lucas had warned me. He tried to help me, and now he
39:57
was dead. I closed his eyes with my
40:00
fingers, the skin cold and slightly tacky from whatever had
40:04
started to digest him. I forced myself to look away and
40:08
continued through the lab. On one of the workstations,
40:12
several specimen containers sat in a rack, their contents
40:16
visible through the clear sides. I moved closer, shining my light
40:21
on them. The samples looked like tissue,
40:24
translucent pieces floating in preservation fluid.
40:28
But what caught my attention were the labels.
40:31
Siren 07 Epidermal layer. Siren 12 Gill structure, Siren
40:38
03, Vocal apparatus 2 picked up one of the containers holding it
40:43
to the light. The tissue inside had both fish
40:46
like scales and what looked disturbingly like human skin
40:50
merged together. Another sample showed what
40:54
appeared to be a vocal structure unlike anything I'd ever seen,
40:58
complex, with multiple chambers and vibrating membranes that no
41:02
known sea creature possessed. These weren't mythological
41:06
creatures from sailor's tales. They were real biological
41:11
entities that had evolved in the crushing depths, and Doral had
41:16
been studying them, perhaps even trying to communicate with them.
41:21
A loud bang from somewhere in the facility made me jump.
41:25
I shoved one of the smaller sample containers into my duffel
41:28
bag and moved toward the exit on the far side of the lab.
41:31
As I reached the door, the lights flickered, plunging the
41:35
lab Into Darkness for three seconds before the emergency
41:38
systems kicked in. Red warning lights now bathed
41:42
everything in a bloody glow. The facility's automated voice
41:46
came over the speakers, barely audible over the singing
41:50
warning. Hull integrity compromised In
41:53
Sectors 7 through 12. All personnel evacuate to
41:57
designated safety zones. I pushed through the door into
42:01
another corridor. The singing grew stronger here,
42:05
making my head swim. I had to stop and lean against
42:09
the wall, digging my fingernails into my palms until the pain
42:13
cleared my thoughts enough to keep moving.
42:16
The map in the security center showed the maintenance Bay past
42:20
the auxiliary research wing. I was close.
42:24
The corridor sloped downward with water pooling around my
42:28
shoes. Not good.
42:32
The flooding was spreading faster than I'd thought.
42:36
Cold seawater reached my ankles as I moved forward, each step
42:39
becoming heavier. This wasn't recycled facility
42:43
water, but ocean water seeping through breached sections.
42:48
I rounded the final corner and the maintenance Bay doors stood
42:51
just 30 feet ahead. Relief flooded through me until
42:56
I saw what waited between me and escape.
43:00
It stood, or rather hovered in the water that now reached mid
43:05
calf. At first glance its upper body
43:08
looked almost human, a torso with arms and what might have
43:12
been a head. But as my flashlight beam caught
43:16
it fully I saw the truth. Its translucent skin revealed
43:20
pulsing glowing organs. Instead of legs, it had an eel
43:25
like lower body with fins. It's face barely resembled human
43:30
features, with glowing blue orbs where eyes should be all fixed
43:35
on me. Most horrifying was its mouth, a
43:38
small opening that suddenly split and expanded, revealing
43:42
rows of needle like teeth in a maw that opened impossibly wide.
43:47
The creature sang. It's song hit me with physical
43:51
force, my knees buckling as I dropped into the rising water.
43:56
The duffel bag slipped from my shoulder as my body stopped
44:00
responding. The song promised peace, rest
44:06
and end to fear. All I needed to do was listen,
44:10
let go, join the others who had already answered the call.
44:14
My hand touched something cold and metal in the water, the
44:18
emergency fire axe that had fallen from its wall mount.
44:22
My fingers closed around it, the action seemingly separate from
44:26
my conscious thought. With every ounce of willpower, I
44:30
forced my arm to move, lifting the axe as the creature glided
44:34
closer, its mouth widening further in anticipation.
44:39
The singing peaked. I swung the axe hard, burying
44:43
the blade in the creature's torso.
44:46
A shriek replaced the song, Alien and piercing black ecore
44:51
sprayed from the wound, sizzling in the water.
44:55
The creature thrashed its claw slashing my left arm through
44:59
shirt and flesh. Pain cleared my head completely.
45:03
I yanked the axe free and swung again, this time catching the
45:06
creature in what passed for its throat.
45:10
The blade severed something vital, and the shrieking stopped
45:13
abruptly. The glowing organs dimmed as the
45:16
creature collapsed into the water with a splash.
45:19
Blood poured from my arm, mixing with the black icore and
45:23
seawater. I stumbled past the dead siren,
45:27
splashing through water that now reached my knees.
45:31
The maintenance Bay doors stood partially open and I squeezed
45:35
through into the small chamber beyond.
45:38
I slapped the activation panel on the metal egg shaped escape
45:41
pod. the Hatch slid open with a hiss.
45:45
Water poured in from the corridor, rising faster now.
45:49
Something splashed in the distance, more sirens coming to
45:53
investigate their fallen kin. I threw my duffel bag into the
45:57
pod and climbed in after it, slamming my hand on the interior
46:02
launch button. the Hatch sealed just as the water reached waist
46:06
height in the Bay. Warning lights flashed inside
46:10
the pod as the automated systems ran through emergency checks.
46:16
Launch sequence initiated. A computerized voice announced.
46:20
Prepare for emergency ascent. The pod shuddered violently as
46:26
the clamps released. Through the small viewport, I
46:30
watched the maintenance Bay disappear as the pod shot upward
46:33
into a narrow tube. Water pressed against the glass,
46:38
and for a terrifying moment I thought the tube might be
46:41
blocked. Then came a final jolt and the
46:45
pod burst free of the facility, beginning its ascent to the
46:48
surface 7 miles above. My ears popped as the pod rose,
46:53
groaning around me. I pressed my hand against my
46:57
bleeding arm. The wound burned something in
47:00
the sirens claws or that black fluid that it sprayed
47:03
everywhere. The pod rose through the
47:05
darkness, the sirens song still following me from the depths,
47:09
calling me back to the abyss. The escape pod groaned and
47:13
creaked around me. The small metal capsule felt
47:17
like it might shake apart at any moment.
47:20
Every few seconds it would jolt violently, sending a fresh wave
47:24
of pain shooting through my injured limb.
47:27
The pods emergency lights cast everything in a sickly red glow.
47:32
I leaned back against the curved wall, trying to steady my
47:35
breathing. My ears still rang with that
47:38
awful melody, fainter now, but still there, following me up
47:44
from the depths. You're 7 miles from them, I
47:49
whispered to myself, voice raspy.
47:52
They can't reach you here. But even as I said it, I could
47:58
feel their song tugging at the edges of my mind, like phantom
48:01
fingers trying to pull me back down.
48:04
I jammed the wadded up fabric deeper into my ears, but it made
48:08
little difference. The song wasn't just sound, it
48:13
was something else, something that bypassed normal hearing.
48:18
I glanced down at my arm. The wound looked bad, 3 deep
48:23
gashes where the sirens claws had raked across my flesh.
48:28
The edges of the cuts had an unnatural blackish tint that
48:31
worried me. I fumble one handed through the
48:34
first aid kit I'd grabbed, finding gauze and antiseptic
48:38
wipes. The antiseptic stung like fire
48:42
when I applied it, making me hiss through clenched teeth as I
48:46
wrapped the gauze around my arm. The pod lurched again, spinning
48:50
slightly in the current. My stomach rolled with the
48:54
motion. The digital depth gauge on the
48:57
wall showed I'd risen about two miles already, but I still had a
49:00
long way to go. The song grew fainter as I
49:04
ascended, but never disappeared completely.
49:08
It changed from a direct assault to a distant call, like a radio
49:12
station. You can barely TuneIn part of
49:16
me, a part I didn't want to acknowledge, wanted to hear it
49:20
more clearly. I must have passed out at some
49:23
point, because I woke with a start when the pod gave a
49:26
particularly violent jerk. The depth gauge now showed less
49:31
than a mile to the surface. My arm throbbed with each
49:34
heartbeat, and when I checked under the gauze, the skin around
49:38
the wound looked red and puffy. Great, I muttered.
49:43
Probably infected with some prehistoric deep sea bacteria.
49:48
The final stretch seemed to take forever.
49:51
I counted the minutes, watching the numbers on the depth gauge
49:54
slowly ticked down. 300 meters, 201 hundred.
50:00
Then, with a massive lurch that nearly threw me from my seat,
50:04
the pod broke the surface. Sunlight streamed through the
50:08
small window. I crawled over to look out,
50:12
seeing nothing but open ocean in every direction.
50:16
Dawn was breaking in the east. I watched the sunrise in
50:20
silence, feeling a strange mix of relief and emptiness.
50:25
I was alive. I had escaped, but I knew no one
50:30
would ever believe what had happened down there.
50:33
Not the sirens, not the way they had taken control of people's
50:37
minds, not how the facility had been compromised.
50:42
The official report would blame structural failure.
50:45
Water pressure at those depths was unforgiving.
50:49
A single weakness in the hull could be catastrophic.
50:53
They'd say the staff had evacuated or died in flooding.
50:56
No mention of ancient predators with songs that could enslave
50:59
minds. I checked the emergency beacon,
51:03
making sure it was transmitting properly.
51:06
The small red light blinked steadily, sending out its SOS to
51:10
any ships in the area. Now all I could do was wait and
51:14
hope someone picked up the signal before my limited
51:17
supplies ran out. My arm throbbed with renewed
51:20
intensity. I unwrapped the gauze again,
51:23
wincing at what I saw. The wound looked worse.
51:28
The black discoloration had spread outward from the cuts,
51:31
following the path of veins under my skin.
51:35
When I touched the area around the wound, it felt hot and
51:38
tender. Whatever the siren had done to
51:41
me, it wasn't a normal injury. I rewrapped it with fresh gauze
51:46
from the first aid kit, then swallowed 2 pain pills dry.
51:51
Hours passed. I dozed fitfully, waking often
51:56
to check the horizon or when the pain in my arm spiked.
52:00
The sun climbed higher, turning the pod into an oven.
52:04
I sipped water sparingly from the emergency supplies, knowing
52:08
I might be out here for days. Around midday, I spotted
52:12
something on the horizon, a dark shape, breaking the clean line
52:17
where sky met sea. I pressed my face against the
52:20
window, hardly daring to hope. It was a ship, a large cargo
52:25
vessel by the look of it, and it was heading in my direction.
52:30
The emergency beacon had worked. I let out a laugh that sounded
52:34
more like a SOB as the ship grew larger on the horizon.
52:40
I gathered my few possessions, the duffel bag containing the
52:43
siren tissue sample, and the portable drive with Doctor
52:46
Hartfield's video. These were my only pieces of
52:51
evidence, the only proof that what happened down there was
52:56
real. The cargo ship was close enough
52:59
now that I could make out details.
53:02
The rust streaked hull, the towering bridge, the name
53:06
Pacific Trader painted on the side.
53:10
A smaller rescue boat was being lowered into the water.
53:14
I clutched the duffel bag to my chest, wincing as it pressed
53:18
against my injured arm. The song of the sirens had faded
53:22
to almost nothing now, but I knew it would never truly leave
53:26
me. It had worked its way into my
53:30
mind, carved grooves into my memory that would never smooth
53:33
over. I would never look at the ocean
53:36
the same way again. Its vastness now seemed
53:40
threatening, its depths hiding horrors I couldn't Unsee.
53:45
The rescue boat drew closer, and I saw figures waving.
53:50
I waved back with my good arm, feeling a surge of relief so
53:54
powerful it made me light headed.
53:56
But even as rescue approached, I knew part of me remained in the
54:00
darkness. The siren song had claimed
54:03
something I would never get back.
54:06
It would echo in my dreams, calling me back.
54:10
And in moments of weakness at night, I might find myself
54:14
longing to answer.