Amelia cradled Henry's unconscious form, his face pale and bloodied from where that... thing had struck him earlier in Maria’s lab now reduced to a charnel house filled with unnatural horrors they could barely comprehend. She glanced at her colleague lying motionless amidst shattered glass and alien ichor—Maria was alive but unresponsive.
"Henry," Amelia whispered, gently shaking his shoulder as she tried desperately not think about what lay beyond closed door behind them—the creature that had attacked Henry still lurked out there somewhere in observatory's dark corridors. "Wake up! We need to get moving."
He groaned softly before opening eyes slowly blinking against harsh fluorescent lights overhead.
"Amelia...?" His voice was weak, barely above whisper.
"Yes," she replied relieved he'd regained consciousness even if only briefly,
"We have no choice but keep going—we can't stay here. That thing could come back any moment."
Henry nodded feebly as Amelia helped him stand up on shaky legs before grabbing flashlight off floor nearby where it had fallen during attack.
"Maria?" He asked looking towards their colleague still unmoving amidst carnage.
"We'll take her with us," Amelia said firmly despite dread weighing heavy in stomach at thought of carrying extra weight while trying evade whatever monstrosity stalked them now. "We can't leave anyone behind."
Together, they managed to lift Maria carefully onto Henry's back using makeshift sling fashioned from lab coats found nearby—every movement sent waves pain through Amelia’s muscles but she ignored it focusing solely on task at hand.
Once ready, both turned towards exit leading out into observatory proper. As if sensing their intent creature let loose another one of its blood-curdling shrieks echoing down halls sending chills running up spines despite desperate attempts ignore them.
"Ready?" Amelia asked gripping flashlight tightly like weapon though knew full well against such foe it would prove useless.
Henry nodded grimly, "Let's go."
They stepped cautiously out into hallway bathed in eerie glow emergency lights flickering intermittently casting long ominous shadows dancing macabre ballet across walls lined with framed photographs depicting past discoveries—now seemed almost mocking reminder of humanity’s insignificance compared cosmic horrors lurking just beyond reach.
As they crept along corridor towards main entrance, Amelia couldn't shake feeling being watched; every creak floorboard underfoot echoed loudly in ears making heart pound wildly against ribcage. She glanced back over shoulder repeatedly expecting to see monstrous form looming behind them but each time found only empty darkness punctuated by distant flickering lights.
Suddenly Henry stopped abruptly causing her nearly collide with him.
"What is it?" Amelia hissed, peeking around side trying spot whatever had caused sudden halt in their retreat. But all appeared normal—just more endless corridor stretching out before disappearing into gloom ahead where shadows seemed to writhe menacingly as if alive.
Henry pointed towards wall beside them trembling finger tracing line running along baseboard up onto adjacent surface.
"Look," he whispered hoarsely,
"It's... moving."
Amelia squinted trying make sense pattern indicated by Henry’s shaking digit. At first nothing stood out amidst jumble lines and cracks but then she noticed subtle shift one particular shadow—it pulsed rhythmically like heartbeat growing steadily larger until finally resolving into distinct shape: a face contorted with rage staring back at them from within wall itself.
She gasped stepping backwards instinctively only for Henry grab arm preventing fall.
"It's... it’s inside the walls," he stammered, eyes wide in disbelief,
"How is that possible?"
Amelia shook head slowly side-to-side unable form words past lump lodged firmly into place once more. This defied all logic—how could something exist within solid matter without tearing through from other end?
Before either had chance ponder further implications another shriek echoed down hallway sending them both scrambling away frantically seeking refuge anywhere nearby.
They ducked inside nearest room—a small storage closet filled with old equipment and supplies—but barely managed close door behind before creature's tendrils burst forth smashing wood splinters flying everywhere as it forced entry despite their desperate attempts barricade against onslaught.
"Amelia!" Henry screamed over cacophony destruction surrounding them.
She turned towards him just in time see Maria’s lifeless body being dragged away by one of those writhing appendages disappearing back into wall whence came leaving behind only empty sling hanging limply from his shoulders like grim reminder fate awaiting all who crossed paths with such abomination.
"No!" Amelia cried out reaching futilely after colleague now lost forever amidst cosmic horror.
Henry grabbed her arm pulling hard enough break free grasp on reality momentarily before shaking head clear. "We need to keep moving," he urged roughly, voice laced fear and desperation,
"There's nothing we can do for Maria anymore—we have ourselves think about."
Amelia nodded numbly allowing him lead way deeper into observatory complex hoping against hope find some means escape this nightmare they'd stumbled upon.
They ran through more corridors lined with twisted shadows that seemed to reach out grab them as passed by; each step echoed loudly off cold stone floors sending echoes bouncing crazily around empty halls now devoid human presence save themselves. Every turn brought new horrors—more faces contorted rage appearing suddenly within walls, tendrils bursting forth from ceilings above threatening smash skulls beneath.
Finally reached main entrance hall where grand staircase swept upwards towards exit looming high overhead like beacon salvation amidst chaos surrounding them.
"Almost there," Henry panted beside her as they climbed steps two at time desperate reach safety beyond observatory's confines before creature caught up again. But just when thought escape was within grasp—
A massive tentacle slammed down across stairs blocking path ahead with sickening thud sending shockwaves through entire structure causing dust rain from ceiling above.
Amelia skidded to halt barely avoiding collision while Henry wasn't so lucky; he went sprawling onto hard marble surface below, crying out in pain as bone snapped beneath weight Maria's lifeless form still strapped across back.
"Henry!" Amelia cried rushing towards him despite knowing full well danger lurking nearby. She helped pull off makeshift sling now stained dark red blood before checking injuries—arm broken definitely but seemed no internal bleeding thankfully.
He looked up at her through tear-filled eyes, "Go on without me," he rasped,
"You can still make it out... leave this place behind."
Amelia shook head vehemently. No way would abandon him here amidst such madness—not after everything they'd been through together.
"Not happening,” she said firmly helping lift back onto feet despite protests from injured limb, "We stick together remember? That's what friends do—they don't give up on each other."
Together again began slow ascent towards exit now guarded by monstrous appendage pulsating rhythmically like heartbeat mocking their futile attempts escape. As they neared top Amelia noticed something strange about tentacle—it seemed almost... translucent revealing glimpses whatever lay beyond.
She squinted trying make sense what she saw but couldn't quite discern details through writhing mass blocking way.
"What is it?" Henry asked beside her following gaze upwards towards obstruction looming overhead. "What do you see?"
Amelia shook head slowly side-to-side, “I’m not sure... something's different about this one though."
They reached final step directly beneath tentacle now hovering mere inches above their heads menacingly as if daring strike down at any moment.
"Now what?" Henry whispered looking around desperately for some means bypass barrier without getting crushed in process.
Amelia took deep breath steeling herself against fear threatening overwhelm senses. Then reaching out tentative hand touched tip appendage gently—it felt cold and slick like wet flesh beneath fingertips yet yielded slightly under pressure revealing more of whatever lay hidden within.
"Look," she said pointing towards opening now visible amidst writhing mass,
"There's a gap... I think we can squeeze through."
Henry looked skeptical but seeing no other option nodded grimly accepting her plan. Together they began inch their way along underside tentacle careful avoid touching sides lest trigger attack from above.
As passed beneath Amelia caught glimpse something moving inside—shadowy form writhing against translucent surface blocking view completely until finally emerged into open space beyond where could see clearly what lay ahead: a vast chamber filled with pulsating flesh-mounds stretching out as far eye could see under dim glow emergency lights flickering intermittently casting eerie shadows across scene before them.
"What... is this place?" Henry asked beside her voice barely above whisper, eyes wide in disbelief at sight unfolding around him. "It's like nothing I've ever seen..."
Amelia shook head slowly side-to-side unable form words past lump lodged firmly back into throat once more.
"I don't know," she managed finally after several moments silence hanging heavy between them,
"But whatever it is—we need to keep moving."
They stepped cautiously forward onto soft surface beneath feet that seemed almost alive squirming slightly under weight each step taken. As ventured deeper chamber walls began close in around sides threatening crush all hope escape ever existed.
Suddenly Henry stopped abruptly causing Amelia nearly collide with him again.
"Look," he said pointing towards something embedded within nearest flesh-mound directly ahead—it appeared to be some kind of metallic object half-buried amidst writhing mass pulsating rhythmically like heartbeat surrounding it. "What is that?"
Amelia squinted trying make out details but couldn't quite discern shape through distortion caused by constant movement all around them.
"I'm not sure," she admitted reluctantly,
"Could be anything... maybe we should just keep going."
Henry hesitated briefly before nodding agreement though reluctance evident expression etched deep lines across forehead. Together continued onward towards exit looming high overhead now seemingly impossibly far away amidst sea flesh-mounds stretching out endlessly around them.
As they drew closer Amelia realized object embedded within mound wasn't merely metallic—it was a device of some sort, intricate patterns carved into surface glinting dully under flickering lights above. And then she saw it: inscription etched along edge bearing familiar symbols used throughout history by various civilizations across Earth... yet none quite like these.
She reached out tentative hand touching cold metal beneath fingertips feeling strange energy coursing through veins suddenly as if connected directly to source power itself.
"What is this thing?" Henry asked beside her voice barely above whisper, eyes reflecting same awe filling Amelia's heart at sight before them. "It looks ancient..."
Amelia nodded slowly side-to-side unable tear gaze away from device now humming softly beneath touch sending vibrations resonating deep within chest cavity threatening overwhelm senses completely.
"I think it might be... some kind of communication tool," she said finally after several moments silence hanging heavy between them,
"Like nothing we've ever encountered before."
Henry looked at her sharply, "You mean like how they're talking to each other?" He gestured towards walls surrounding chamber where faces still contorted rage stared back defiantly despite their presence amidst this alien landscape.
Amelia nodded grimly. If true then implications were staggering—entire universe might be filled with such beings capable communicating across vast distances using methods beyond human comprehension.
"We need to get out of here," she said urgently grabbing his arm pulling him away from device lest fall under spell cast by its otherworldy allure,
"Whatever this thing is, it's not meant for us."
They turned back towards exit now seemingly even further way amidst labyrinthine corridors formed flesh-mounds stretching endlessly around them. As began retrace steps taken earlier Amelia couldn't shake feeling being watched—same sensation experienced throughout observatory complex only stronger here within heart cosmic horror itself.
Suddenly Henry stopped again causing her nearly collide with him once more.
"Amelia," he said pointing towards something moving amidst shadows cast by flickering lights above,
"What's that?"
She followed direction indicated finger but saw nothing except writhing mass flesh pulsating rhythmically like heartbeat surrounding them. Then suddenly it emerged from darkness—a creature unlike any other they'd encountered thus far: small, delicate almost fragile in appearance yet possessing same malevolent glow eyes burning deep within its core.
"What is that thing?" Henry whispered beside her voice barely audible over hum emanating device behind now resonating louder than ever threatening overwhelm senses completely. "It's... beautiful."
Amelia stared at creature unable speak past lump lodged firmly back into throat once more as realization dawned upon mind: this was no mere animal—it possessed intelligence, consciousness aware of their presence amidst its domain.
As liquid nitrogen spread across ground like a frozen wave, tentacles thrashed wildly attempting escape icy grip encroaching upon them but to no avail—each appendage stiffened solidified into immovability as temperature plummeted far below zero degrees Celsius. Soon entire creature lay motionless beneath glistening layer frost; its glowing eyes dimmed until extinguished completely leaving behind nothing more than grotesque sculpture carved from ice.
Amelia and Henry stared at monstrosity now frozen in place unable comprehend what they had just witnessed—an alien entity capable of defying every known law physics biology humanity yet reduced mere statue before them by simple act tipping over tank filled liquid nitrogen. It seemed almost too easy; surely there must be more to this cosmic horror than met eye?
Their thoughts were interrupted sudden explosion nearby causing observatory walls tremble around them sending dust raining down from ceiling above.
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