TTWC - Adrift

Darkness. Red. Feeling urges and the strange desire to scratch my nose.

Turning my head to the side, seeing the stars.

"You can't rub your nose, you idiot - you're in a helmet.", the mic copied the words and relayed them outward in radiating spherical waves.

"CrrrrrCHECK"

The radio silence interrupted by something. I couldn't tell what it was. I was hanging in space, pieces of hull and shredded panels tumbling in slow motion.

"Say again?"

"CrrrrCHECKAASDZRD"

Ending in a electronic howl, dipping towards the non-human spectrum on the low end.

Shit, a snake. At least that was what we called them, all coiled and armored, spiky protrusions glinting in the harsh light of the sun. They were automated clean-up, which meant...

I'm the garbage.

"CrrrCHK CHK CHK"

It was triangulating my location. Dammit. I reached for the controls, trying to make a short burn to see where it was.

A small stinging sensation on my right leg. Warmth spread and I was smiling. It doped me. It it.... so pleasant. I feel like I'm in the sun, turning over on the towel near the beach.

"Oh, the water is beautiful"

"Crrrr CHIK OP OP"

Moving and tumbling, it came in on a vector just ahead, black surface reflecting the lights on my EV unit, kaleidoscope of stars rippling on its segmented armor.

"Yes, I do love you - but you didn't let me tell you that. You were scared, and when you went into the water. I left, I couldn't stand it.", I was pouring out my heart, when she had left me there. And it made sense, I had to tell someone,"If I could take it back I would've, and you would be with me, but I was too proud, too stupid to see...."

I began to cry.

"Crr CHIK NNOP"

Black tentacles circled my legs and arms.

A mouth opened, full of razor teeth to feed.