We Recieved a Distress Call From an Abandoned Space Station. Something Horrifying Happened.

I stood at the observation deck window, watching E7 grow larger against the backdrop of stars. The station's silhouette looked wrong somehow, too dark in places where lights should have been. I checked the Seals on my suit for the third time, tugging at the connectors with practiced fingers. Commander Walker, this is Director Murray.

I need to remind you that this is reconnaissance only. Teresa's voice came through crisp in my earpiece. Get in, find the source of the signal, document the station's condition, and get out. No heroics. Copy that, director.

I kept my eyes on the approaching station. We'll be quick and careful. See that you are. Earth expects your report in eight hours. I turned from the window to watch my team make their final preparations.

We'd worked together for three years, but something about this mission had everyone on edge. Dominic packed supplies into a field kit at the medical station. I noticed him double checking each item. All meds accounted for, he said when he noticed me watching. Though I'm hoping we won't need them.

Julie checked her sidearm. She removed the magazine, counted the rounds, then locked it back into place. Security protocols reviewed and weapon ready, she reported holstering the gun at her hip. Still think it's overkill for a ghost station? Better to have it and not need it, I said.

Joshua and Virginia check the diagnostic panel. Joshua worked the interface while Virginia took notes on her tablet. Docking systems are green, Joshua called out without looking up. But I'm seeing some weird power fluctuations from the station. Define weird, I said, moving closer.

Virginia turned her tablet toward me. The station's running on minimal power, just enough for basic life support and emergency systems. That's not standard protocol for decommissioning, I said. Not even close. Virginia agreed.

Someone's keeping it alive. Eli sat at the communication station, headphones on one ear as he adjusted his console, his brow furrowed in concentration. EarthLink is stable, Commander, he said. But I'm picking up something strange about that distress signal. I joined him at the console.

What about it? It's broadcasting on an old emergency frequency, one that hasn't been used in at least five years. Eli pointed to a waveform on his screen. And the pattern is unusual, almost like it's been modified. I frowned at the display.

Modified how? Hard to tell, but it's definitely not standard. I moved back to the main viewport, studying the station with growing unease. E7 had been decommissioned 3 years ago after budget cuts forced the space agency to consolidate operations. It should have been completely powered down, with all systems offline and life support disabled.

Dominic. I called over my shoulder. What are the scans show for life support? He joined me at the window, tablet in hand. That's what's bothering me.

Environmental systems are functioning at 20% capacity. Oxygen recyclers, temperature regulation, even some of the water purification systems. He looked up from the screen, meeting my eyes. Rowan, this shouldn't be possible, not after three years without maintenance. Could it be automated systems?

I asked, though I already knew the answer. No way. These systems require regular human intervention. Filters need changing. Components need replacing.

He shook his head. Someone's been keeping this place running. The docking sequence initiated with a soft chime from the ship's computer. I watched as our vessel aligned perfectly with E7's main airlock. 2 perfectly for a station that should have been dead in space.

That was smooth, Julie said, voicing my thoughts. Almost like the station was expecting us. Docking complete, Joshua announced, Pressure equalizing now, I pulled my focus back to the mission. All right, everyone, suit up and prepare to board. Standard exploration protocol.

Comms check every 15 minutes. We gathered at the airlock, the soft hiss of our suit systems the only sound as we waited for the green light. When it came, I led the way, pushing through the connecting tunnel into E7. The air was breathable, but stale, with a metallic Tang that made my throat itch.

Emergency lights illuminated the corridor as we moved. Air quality? I asked, lifting my visor. Breathable, Dominic confirmed, checking his scanner. Oxygen levels are within acceptable parameters, but there's an unusual concentration of metal particles.

Nothing immediately harmful. Joshua ran his hand along a nearby panel, bringing up a status display. Environmental systems are running on auxiliary power. Main reactor is in standby mode. He looked back at me, face pale in the dim light.

Commander, these systems should have failed years ago without maintenance. So someone's been here, Julie said, her hand resting on her sidearm. Recently I looked down the long corridor that led deeper into the station. E7 was huge, a research and development facility with multiple labs, living quarters and storage areas spread across 3 levels.

If someone was here, finding them would take time. We need to cover more ground. I decided we'll split into pairs. Julie, you're with Eli, check the living quarters and recreation areas. Joshua and Virginia, head to Engineering and see if you can get more systems online.

Dominic and I will check the command center and medical Bay. Is splitting up wise? Dominic asked quietly. Given the circumstances, I considered his question. Protocol said to stay together in unknown situations, but time was limited.

We'll maintain constant communication. I said firmly. First sign of trouble. We regroup at the airlock. This place is too big to search effectively as one unit.

I looked at each of them in turn. These people I trusted with my life countless times before. Find out who's been maintaining this station and why they're broadcasting a distress signal. And be careful. Something doesn't feel right about this place.

As the team split up, I sensed we were being watched from somewhere inside the facility. I headed down the corridor with Dominic, the sound of our footsteps echoing in the empty station. The command center was our destination, but the walk there felt longer than it should have. How long has it been since anyone's been here?

I asked, my voice sounding too loud in the quiet hallway. Dominic checked his tablet. Official records show the last maintenance crew left three years and four months ago. Final decommissioning was completed then. So why does it feel like someone's been here recently?

The active systems suggest regular maintenance, Dominic said. But there's no record of any sanctioned visits. We turned a corner into a wider passage. Emergency lights lit the hallway as my flashlight beam revealed dust in the air. The command center should be just ahead, I said, checking the station map on my wrist display.

Dominic nodded. And the medical Bay is adjacent. I'd like to check their supplies, see if anything's been used. As we approach the command center doors, I noticed they were partially open. According to protocol, all interior doors should have sealed automatically when the station powered down.

I signaled to Dominic to stay alert. As I pushed the door wider, the beam of my flashlight swept across the room, catching on something slumped over one of the consoles. At first I thought it was equipment, or maybe clothing someone had left behind. Rowan. Dominic whispered, pointing his light in the same direction.

It wasn't equipment, it was a body. We moved forward cautiously. The figure was wearing a medical officer's uniform, slumped forward over the main command console. As we got closer. I recognize the embroidered name badge.

Doctor Paisley Morgan. I know her, Dominic said, his voice tight. We worked together on the Ganymede mission four years ago. I stepped around to see her face and immediately wished I hadn't. Her body was twisted at an unnatural angle, as if she'd been trying to escape from something while still seated.

Her eyes were wide open, blood vessels burst and red against the whites. Her mouth was frozen in what looked like a silent scream. Dominic moved in with his scanner, professional instincts taking over despite the shock I could see on his face. No visible wounds, he said, running the device over her body. No signs of trauma, except he leaned in closer to examine her eyes.

Extensive capillary rupture in the eyes and facial tissue. Internal hemorrhaging consistent with extreme cardiovascular stress. What could cause that? I asked. Heart attack, stroke, aneurysm.

But the pattern is unusual. He looked up at me. It's almost like she died from fear. I finished for him, like she was scared to death. My community crackled to life, making us both jump.

Commander Eli's voice came through, sounding shaken. We found something in the crew quarters, you need to see this. What is it, Eli? I asked. Bodies sur 6 of them, all crew members based on their uniforms, and they all look wrong.

No visible injuries, but their faces. He trailed off. Let me guess. I said, looking back at Paisley's contorted expression. They look like they died from extreme fright.

Yes, Sir. How did you know? We just found Doctor Paisley Morgan in the command center. Same condition. I made a quick decision.

Stay where you are. Don't touch anything. We're coming to you. Understood, Commander. I turned to Dominic.

Let's move. We headed back into the corridor, moving faster. The emergency lighting barely illuminated the hallways. I caught movement as we rounded the corridor bend. My flashlight revealed a dark figure at the halls far end, a shadow that retreated from the light into the darkness beyond.

Did you see that? I asked, my voice low. Dominic looked where I was pointing. See what? I thought I saw someone or something.

I kept my light trained on the spot, but there was nothing there now. Never mind, let's keep moving. We continued through the residential sections of the station. The temperature had dropped a few degrees in this area. Temperature fluctuations could indicate system malfunctions, Dominic said, noticing my glance at the display.

Or someone adjusting the environmental controls, I added. We finally reached the crew quarters, where Eli and Julie were waiting for us. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a common area with several bodies scattered around. Julie stood near the entrance, her hand resting on her holstered weapon. Eli was by the far wall, keeping his distance from the nearest body.

Commander. Julie acknowledged as we entered. Her face was composed, but I could see tension in her shoulders. I moved further into the room, taking in the scene. Six bodies, just as Eli had reported.

Each one was in a different position. 1 slumped in a chair, another sprawled on the floor, two more by what looked like a game table. All of them showed the same symptoms as Paisley, contorted postures, expressions of terror burst blood vessels in their eyes. They all died at the same time, Dominic said, examining the nearest body.

Based on decomposition, I'd estimate three to four days ago. That matches when the distress signal started, Eli noted. I looked around the room, but the station was decommissioned 3 years ago. What were they doing here? No official mission records, Julie said, checking her tablet.

Either this was off the books or, or they weren't supposed to be here. I finished. I walked over to one of the bodies, a man in a technician's uniform. His hand was clutching a data pad so tightly that his knuckles were white. I carefully worked it free from his grip and tried to activate it, but the battery was dead.

We need to restore power and get the security systems online, I decided. That's our priority now. We need to know what happened here. I tapped my calm Joshua. Virginia, what's your status?

We're an engineering commander. Virginia's voice came back. Main power systems are intact, but offline. We can bring them back up, but it will take time. Make it happen.

We need full power and security systems online ASAP. Understood, Commander. We're on it. I turn to the others. Eli, Julie, you're with us.

We're heading to the command center to access the security logs. Once Joshua and Virginia get power restored, we might be able to piece together what happened here. We left the crew quarters and moved as a group through the corridors. I noticed the others glancing nervously at shadows as we walked. When we reached the command center, Paisley's body was exactly as we'd left it.

I asked Julie to move her to the side while Eli and I started working on the consoles. Even on auxiliary power, we should be able to access some of the security logs, Eli said, his fingers moving quickly over the control panel. Suddenly, the lights throughout the station surged brightly, then dimmed to a steady glow, brighter than the emergency lighting, but not at full power.

Looks like Joshua and Virginia got something working, I said. As if in response to the power surge, the monitors around the command center flickered to life. Static filled the screens momentarily before resolving into footage. Not live feeds, but recorded video from the station's security system. This is from three years ago, Eli said, checking the timestamp when the station was being decommissioned.

We watched as the footage showed the previous crew going about their normal duties. Then something changed. The people on screen began looking around nervously, some pointing at things off camera. Their movements became more frantic. One woman pressed her hands against her ears, as if trying to block out a sound.

A man backed away from something we couldn't see, terror clear on his face. Then, 1 by 1, they began to collapse just like the bodies we'd found, their faces twisted in fear as they died. At the edges of the frame, dark shapes moved, figures that shifted and flowed. What the hell are those?

Julie whispered, pointing at the shapes. Before anyone could answer, a tremendous crash echoed through the station, the sound coming from the direction of engineering. Joshua, Virginia, I called into my calm, but there was no response. I looked at the others, seeing my own fear reflected in their eyes. Let's move now.

I tried the calm again, pressing it hard against my ear to catch any response. Joshua Virginia, do you copy? The static crackled, harsh and empty. I looked at Dominic, Julie, and Eli, their faces tense in the dim light of the command center. No response.

What was that crash? Julie asked, her hand already on her sidearm. I shook my head. I don't know, but we're not splitting up anymore. Everyone stays together from now on.

I grabbed my flashlight from my belt. We need to get to Engineering and find out what happened to them. We moved as a group through the corridors, our footsteps echoing against metal floors. The station felt different now, colder, more hostile. The security footage we'd seen kept playing in my head, those dark shapes at the edges of the frame, the terrified expressions frozen on the dead crew's faces.

Commander Eli said quietly beside me. Those shadows in the video, they looked almost like. Let's focus on finding Joshua in Virginia. I cut him off. I wasn't ready to put words to what we'd seen.

The route to engineering seemed longer than it should have been. Lights flickered overhead, casting moving shadows that made Julie raise her weapon more than once. When we finally reached the engineering section, the main door stood half open. Joshua, Virginia. I called out.

Pushing the door wider, the engineering Bay was a mess. Toolkits lay scattered across the floor, diagnostic panels blinked with warning lights, and a maintenance ladder had toppled onto a workstation, the likely source of the crash we'd heard. But no sign of our engineers. They were just here, Dominic said, picking up Virginia's tablet.

The screen still showed active diagnostics. They wouldn't leave their equipment like this. Julie moved deeper into the room, scanning each corner with her flashlight. No signs of a struggle. It's like they just walked away or we're taken.

Eli added, his voice barely audible. I felt it then, the temperature dropping around us. My breath clouded in front of my face and goosebumps rose on my arms under my uniform. Everyone feel that? I asked.

Dominic nodded, rubbing his arms, temperatures falling rapidly. This isn't normal system behavior. A nearby console lit up suddenly, drawing all our attention. Green text appeared on the black screen, 1 character at a time, as if someone was typing Get out. What the hell?

Julie whispered. I didn't wait to see if more would appear. We're evacuating now, back to the ship. No one argued. We turned and ran, retracing our steps toward the docking Bay where our vessel waited.

The station seemed to fight us at every turn. Overhead lights surged and died in waves. Doors that should have remained open began slamming shut randomly, forcing us to change course multiple times. The station's systems are malfunctioning. Dominic panted as we ran.

This isn't a malfunction, Julie said, her voice hard with certainty. We passed a row of status monitors, and I nearly stopped in my tracks. Each screen we passed flickered to life, showing the same dark, indistinct shapes we'd seen in the security footage. Shadow figures with no clear features, but unmistakably watching us, following our progress.

Don't look at them. I ordered, pushing forward. Just keep moving. We reached a four way junction, pausing to catch our breath and get our bearings. I turned to make sure everyone was still with us.

Where's Eli? I asked, suddenly realizing we were one short. Julie spun around, her flashlight beam cutting through the darkness behind us. He was right behind me. Eli.

I called out, my voice echoing down the empty corridor. Eli, do you copy? Dominic grabbed my arm. Look. On the floor lay Eli's com unit, it's light still blinking green to indicate an active connection.

But Eli himself was gone. No sound, no struggle, no warning. He'd simply vanished. How is that possible? Julie whispered, picking up the calm.

I would have heard something. We were right next to each other. A soft hissing sound came from somewhere above us. Dominic looked up at the air vents, his face pale. Listen, he said.

Do you hear that? I strained my ears. There it was, barely audible whispers coming from the ventilation system, too faint to make out words, but clearly not mechanical. We need to warn Earth, Dominic said suddenly. Whatever's happening here, whatever took the original crew and now Joshua, Virginia, and Eli, it's still broadcasting that distress signal to bring more people.

He was right. Change of plans, we head to the communication hub. We need to override that signal with a warning. We altered course, moving as quickly and quietly as possible. The temperature continued to drop and I could see frost forming on metal surfaces.

The shadows on the screens seem to grow more agitated, shifting and stretching as if trying to reach through the glass. We were passing the medical Bay when it happened. Julie, who had taken point with her weapon drawn, suddenly jerked backward as if yanked by an invisible rope. She didn't even have time to scream before she was pulled through the medical Bay doors, which slammed shut behind her.

I lunged for the doors, but they wouldn't budget Julie. I shouted, pounding on the metal. Julie. Dominic grabbed my shoulder. Rowan, we can't help her if we're caught too.

We have to keep moving. Every instinct told me to stay and fight to get through those doors, but the rational part of me knew he was right. With a sick feeling in my gut, I turned away and we ran the remaining distance to the communication hub. The hub was a small room with multiple broadcast stations.

Dominic immediately went to the main console while I stood guard at the door, watching for any movement in the corridor. I'm accessing the signal now. Dominic said, his fingers flying over the keyboard. This doesn't make sense. What is it?

The distress signal. It's not a distress signal at all. Not originally. His voice grew more urgent. It was a warning.

Look at this. I glanced over his shoulder at the screen. The signal pattern had been altered, but underneath the modifications the original message was still there. Danger, non human presence, Do not approach. Someone changed it.

Dominic said. They modified a warning into a call for help to lure more ships Here. I finished. But why? The monitors around us suddenly came to life, each one filling with those same shadow figures, dozens of them now pressing against the screens as if trying to breakthrough.

The temperature plummeted so quickly I could feel the moisture in my eyes starting to crystallize. Dominic gasped beside me, clutching at his chest. I turned to see blood vessels bursting in his eyes, his face contorting in pain and fear, the same symptoms we'd seen in all the bodies. Dominic. I grabbed him as he started to collapse.

They're not. He choked, blood trickling from his nose. They're not physical. They feed on on fear, on life. His body convulsed as he fought to speak.

Run, Rowan. Hide. Don't let them see you. With the last of his strength, he pushed me toward the door. Go.

I stood frozen, watching my best friend die in front of me, his face locked in that same expression of terror I'd seen on Paisley and the others. Within seconds, he was gone. The shadows pressed closer on every screen, and I felt a crushing pressure building in my chest. The beginning of what had killed Dominic and all the others.

Fighting panic, I backed toward the door. I was alone now. Everyone was gone, and whatever had taken them was still here, still hunting. As I slipped out into the corridor, the last thing I saw was Dominic's body slumped over the console, his final warning still ringing in my ears. Hide, don't let them see you.

I ran down the corridor, my boots pounding against the metal floor. The shadows were everywhere, not just trailing behind me, but appearing ahead of me too. Every monitor I passed lit up with dark shapes that seemed to watch me, turning to follow as I sprinted past. Leave me alone. I shouted, my voice bouncing uselessly off the walls.

The nearest screen flickered, showing what looked like a face made of darkness, its features stretching into something like a smile. The temperature dropped so suddenly I could see my breath clouding in front of me. A door to my right was partially open. Without thinking, I squeezed through the gap and found myself in a small storage room lined with lockers.

My flashlight beam swept across the space, revealing maintenance equipment and emergency supplies. One of the lockers hung open. I yanked out the contents, spare parts, some kind of technical manual, and crawled inside, pulling the door shut behind me. The metal was cold against my back as I tried to control my breathing. I clicked off my flashlight, plunging myself Into Darkness.

The locker was barely big enough for me to sit with my knees pulled up to my chest. I could hear my own ragged breathing, too loud in the confined space outside. The temperature continued to drop until the metal walls of my hiding place felt like ice against my back. I don't know how long I stayed there.

Minutes stretched into what felt like ours. My legs cramped, but I was too afraid to move. The only sound was my own breathing and the occasional distant mechanical groan of the station. Rowan. I nearly jumped out of my skin when Dominic's voice came through my calm.

Dominic. I whispered, hardly daring to hope. Where are you? Are you OK? Listen carefully, his voice said, calm and measured as always.

They hunt by sight. They can't find you if they can't see you. Who are they? What are they? I asked.

No time. You need to get to the escape pod. Dominic continued. Stay in shadows. Don't look at screens.

Don't let them see your eyes. But where are you? I can come get you. Just get to the escape pod. He cut me off.

I'll guide you the command center first. I've accessed the station systems. I can help you. I hesitated, then slowly pushed open the locker door. The storage room was still empty.

The air is so cold now that my joints ached as I unfolded myself from the cramped space. They're in the main corridors, Dominic's voice said. Take the maintenance tunnels. There's an access panel behind the supply shelves. I found the panel and pulled it open, revealing A narrow crawl space.

Switching my flashlight to its dimmest setting, I crawled in. The maintenance tunnel was tight, dusty, and ran with pipes along both sides. I moved as quietly as I could, following Dominic's occasional directions through turns and junctions. You're approaching the command center, he said after what seemed like forever. Be careful when you exit.

I pushed open an access panel and climbed out into the command center. The room was dark, except for the glow of a few active monitors, and there, slumped over the main console, was Dominic. My stomach dropped. I rushed to him, already knowing what I'd find. His body was cold.

Blood vessels burst in his eyes, that same expression of terror frozen on his face. He'd been dead for hours. Dominic. I whispered, my hand on his shoulder. Rowan, you need to hurry.

His voice came through my calm again, making me jump back from the body. This is impossible. I said, looking from the dead body to my calm unit. You're the escape pod, Bay is 2 levels down. The voice continued, sounding exactly like Dominic.

Take the emergency ladder, the main lifts aren't safe. I backed away from the body, my mind racing. Whatever was happening, whatever these things were, they could mimic voices. They were using Dominic to lure me somewhere, but the escape pods were my only way off the station. I had no choice.

I'm going, I said, deciding to play along. I found the emergency ladder and descended 2 levels. The metal runs cold under my fingers. Every shadow made me freeze, every distant sound had me holding my breath. Left at the junction, Dominic's voice instructed.

The pod Bay is 50 meters ahead. I followed the directions, moving as quickly and quietly as I could. The corridor to the escape pods was lined with darkened screens. As I passed, each one flickered to life, showing only darkness. I kept my eyes on the floor, remembering what Dominic or whatever was using his voice had said about them hunting by sight.

The pod Bay door was sealed. I punched in my command override and it slid open with a hiss. Inside, a row of small escape pods lined the wall. All but one had their hatches open, their interiors dark. The last pod is prepped and ready.

Dominic's voice said. Hurry, Rowan. I moved toward the pod, trying to ignore the way the temperature had plummeted again. My breath came out in white clouds as I reached for the Hatch controls. Something moved in my peripheral vision.

I turned to see a shadow stretching across the floor toward me, not cast by anything but moving on its own. It was darker than the absence of light, a void that seemed to pull at my vision, and it was moving with purpose, reaching for me. I yanked the Hatch open and threw myself inside the escape pod, slamming my hand on the interior seal control. the Hatch closed just as the shadow reached it, dark tendrils like fingers stretching up toward the seal.

My hands shook as I activated the launch sequence. The pod rumbled to life, clamps releasing as it prepared to eject. Through the small viewport I could see more shadows gathering in the Bay, pressing against the pods exterior. The launch countdown reached 0, and the pod shot away from the station with a violent jerk.

I watched through the viewport as E7 receded, becoming smaller against the backdrop of stars. My heart was still pounding in my chest. The Comm unit crackled. Rowan. Dominic's voice again.

They're still broadcasting. The distress signal is still active. I looked down at the pod systems. Sure enough, I was picking up the same distress signal that had brought us to E7 in the 1st place. They'll keep luring ships.

The voice continued. You have to warn Earth. The transmission cut out, leaving me in silence. I stared at the Comm unit, then at the distance shape of E7, now just a speck among the stars. I reached for the PODS communication system with trembling hands.

I needed to send a warning, needed to make sure no one else would respond to that signal. Whatever had claimed the station and killed my crew was still there, still hunting, and I was the only one left who knew the truth.