Reality twisted violently around me. My senses reeled, caught in a storm of shifting light and sound, warping and distorting in ways that defied logic. It was as if space itself were folding inward, stretching and bending in an erratic, chaotic dance. My vision blurred, my stomach churned, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was falling, floating, or just standing still.

Then, as suddenly as it began, the madness ceased. The world snapped back into place. Right as my feet found solid ground, I stumbled forward, barely able to stay standing.

Sucking in a breath, my lungs burned as if I’d been holding it in for too long. Then out of nowhere, a strange sensation started to spark to life on my spine, it became hotter and hotter till A searing pain flared along my upper spine. 

Hissing, my hands shot up to my neck, as if to grab whatever was causing this pain, only for my fingers to trace over something foreign. It felt off, but altogether familiar. Almost as if something had burned patterns into my skin. 

However, before my mind had time to register the strange texture, a new wave of nausea hit me.

I doubled over, barely managing to stagger forward before heaving up the remnants of my last meal onto the golden sand beneath me. My body trembled, sweat slicking my skin despite the lingering chill clawing at my flesh. Gritting my teeth, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and forced myself to straighten.

The moment I lifted my head, a wave of blinding light assaulted my vision. Wincing, I instinctively raised an arm to shield my eyes, squinting against the overwhelming brightness. Adjusting my stance, I turned slightly, trying to avoid staring directly at the sun… wait, no, that's not right, there wasent just one. There were two. 

The realization hit like a sledgehammer, momentarily overriding my disorientation. My breath caught as I gaped at the two celestial bodies hanging high above, their combined radiance casting elongated shadows across the shifting dunes. Slowly, I lowered my arm, my vision adjusting to the alien landscape around me.

Golden sand stretched endlessly in every direction, broken only by jagged rock formations jutting from the earth like the bones of a long-forgotten world. Their sharp edges formed eerie silhouettes against the unnatural sky, standing stark and lifeless beneath the oppressive heat.

“This… this isn’t Mars,” I muttered, my voice hoarse, barely audible over the gentle but ever-present wind. Where the hell am I?

Just then, A groggy voice cut through the confusion. “W… where are we?” Benjamin rasped off to the side as if still recovering from whatever happened.

Turning sharply, I looked in stunned confusion at seeing the others sprawled across the sand, some groaning, others stirring as they began to regain consciousness. Ella pushed herself up, shaking off the disorientation, her wide eyes locking onto the sky.

“Two suns?” she whispered as if unable to believe it.

To the side of her, Emily let out a sharp gasp, patting herself down with growing panic. "No, no, where is my stuff?!" she cried, frantically checking her pockets. Her fingers trembled as she searched for her instruments, but they were gone… just like everything else.

Exhaling, I rubbed the lingering ache at the base of my neck. The strange marking had cooled, no longer searing my skin, but its presence was an unshakable reminder that something had fundamentally changed. My fingertips traced over six distinct lines, spiraling inward like a twisted brand. How did I get this mark? Where are we and where is…

My heart skipped a beat when I reached for my Burst Rifle, only to realize I wasn't in my exoskeleton. Oh crap…

Of all the things to lose.

I scanned the sand around me as if my weapon would magically reappear.

But it didn’t.

However, amidst the chaos, a small wave of relief washed over me as my fingers brushed against the familiar hilt of my knife, securely strapped to my side.

I mean, my rifle would have been better… no, I can't think like that. At least I've got this. It might not be as powerful as my rifle, but having a weapon was better than facing the unknown completely defenseless.

Glancing around, I realized we were all in the same predicament. Then, my eyes rested on Amelia. Unlike the rest of us, she had a handgun strapped to her waist–At least someone’s armed. A flicker of relief passed through me, though it was quickly overshadowed by the unease clawing at my gut.

Amelia's voice cut through the silence, her tone as firm as she could make it, though despite how hard she tried, she couldent hide the uncertainty. "Ok... we need to figure out what's happening… see if we can establish communication and… well, if that doesn't work, try to figure out our next steps."

Rubbing my head, I sighed deeply. There's no way we could get in contact with the ship.

Emily's panicked voice only confirmed my suspicion. "My… my radio’s just emitting static. Does anyone else have a communication device?"

Owen shook his head, his expression grim.

A sharp, ragged breath cut through the group. "Wha…what the hell is this?!" Ethan’s voice cracked, his usual lazy bravado unraveling. He gestured wildly at the endless stretch of golden dunes, his eyes darting between the twin suns above us. "We were just at the colony! Now… now this?! Two suns?! What the hell is going on?!"

Ella stepped forward, trying to ground him with reason. "Ethan, take a breath. We’ll figure this out, but we need to stay calm."

But Ethan wasn’t hearing it. His fear morphed into anger, his voice rising with every frantic word. "Calm down? You want me to calm down?! Do you even see where we are? This place is a wasteland!"

"Ethan!" Amelia snapped. "Get your shit together! Panicking won't help us. We can breathe the air here, which means there's a chance for survival."

"A chance?” Ethan’s voice wavered between hysteria and disbelief. "Do you have eyes? Look around!"

Though he faltered under Amelia’s unwavering stare.

"We can breathe," she repeated. "And that's what matters right now. So get your shit together."

A thick silence settled over us, the weight of our situation pressing down like a lead blanket.

Emily was the first to break it, her voice quiet but steady enough to be heard. "Okay… okay, Amelia's right." She took a breath, rubbing her arm as she spoke. "Freaking out isn’t gonna help, but…" she hesitated, her eyes scanning the group before continuing, "we don’t have much. Just a couple of days’ worth of food and water… maybe less."

She shifted uncomfortably, her fingers fidgeting at the hem of her sleeve. "I-I mean, if we don’t figure something out soon, we’re gonna be in trouble."

The words settled uneasily among us, as reality began to sink in. No one argued, because she was right. If we don't figure out what happened, or a way to survive. We wouldn't last long in this heat.

Amelia sat down, her brows furrowed in deep thought as she worked through the options. Though we really only had two. Either sit here and wait for a miracle, or make our way through the desert, hoping to find something to live on and possibly even people. 

Then, finally, she spoke.

"It's clear we can't afford to stay here and wait for the slight chance of rescue." She stood, dusting the sand from her hands. Determination hardened her features. "So…. We need to get moving."

A sharp scoff broke the moment.

"Oh, really?" Ethan’s voice dripped with venomous skepticism. "And where exactly do you suggest we go?"

Something inside me snapped.

"Well, what do you think we should do, Ethan?!" I turned on him, frustration seeping into my voice. "Sit here and bake under the sun until we die? You got a better plan?"

His glare met mine, tension hanging thick between us. Neither of us spoke, neither backing down. But before it could go any further, Amelia’s voice cut through.

"Alright, gather everything we can. Atlas is right. We won’t survive by standing still, so we need to figure out our surroundings and make the most of it!"

Her words hit like a splash of cold water, snapping everyone out of the thick haze of tension. But Ethan’s eyes lingered on mine for just a second longer, the fire in them dimming just enough to show the exhaustion beneath his bravado. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of whatever thoughts threatened to surface. I didn’t say anything. Instead, I gave him a short nod, an unspoken truce for now. He hesitated, then huffed and turned away, rubbing the back of his neck. Then that's when I saw it. Something was engraved into his neck right where my mark was.

As if sensing my gaze, he shifted his stance and picked up a random shirt that lay partly buried in the sand, draping it over his neck to hide the mark. 

Did he always have that? Shaking off the thought, I bent over to pick up a backpack that was partly buried. Inside were a couple of freeze-dried rations, a single bottle of half-drunk water, and some random tools and dirty cloth. 

Hu... well, at least it has something. Holding up the food, it turned out to be dehydrated beef stroganoff. Chuckling to myself, I put it back in and rummaged through it a bit more, without finding anything of use. 

Ella took charge of the rations, gathering whatever made it through with us, from bags slightly filled with random gear to small morsels of food and water. 

The water containers — our most precious resource at the moment — were divided between Amelia and Bejamin, each securing them tightly to their packs. However, I caught sight of Ethan keeping one for himself. 

Henry focused on salvaging whatever equipment had survived the trip. He sifted through the scattered remnants, pulling out a notebook, a few pencils, and other odds and ends – none of which were helpful in the moment. A small medkit and the last of our communication devices were the only things of real value, though even they hardly felt like a lifeline. With a quiet grunt, he adjusted the weight of his pack, his usual demeanor absent. In its place was a silent determination, a focus that spoke louder than words.

With our packs full and straps digging into our shoulders, we were as ready as we’d ever be. Amelia took point, setting a steady, determined pace, while the rest of us fell in line behind her. Henry brought up the rear, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger.

The desert stretched endlessly before us, each step dragging under the weight of uncertainty. The thought of how little food we had gnawed at the back of my mind; we had even fewer rations than expected. If we didn’t find shelter or resources soon, our situation would turn from difficult to dire.

I glanced at the towering stone formations in the distance, their jagged peaks reaching into the sky like ancient sentinels. The relentless heat of the twin suns bore down on us, but if we could reach those rocks, they could offer the shade and relief we desperately needed.

As we trudged forward, I absentmindedly rubbed the base of my neck, my fingers tracing the strange pattern etched into my skin. The sensation sent a faint chill through me, as if my body was trying to understand something my mind couldn’t yet grasp.

"Hadn't noticed that tattoo before. When did you get it?"

Benjamin’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. Freezing me in place for a split second, as I consider my response. Would telling him the truth make him suspicious? Or would he think I was responsible for whatever had happened? 

Opting for the safer option, I forced a shrug. "Just something I got as a kid. Though my neck’s a little sore from the landing."

Benjamin’s gaze lingered, his expression unreadable. After a beat, he gave a slight nod. "Huh. Must've missed that during the inspection."

My chest tightened. That was it? That’s all he was going to say? My mind scrambled for an explanation. Was he suspicious? Or did he actually miss it?

I gave a forced chuckle, trying to hide the rising tension in my chest. "Guess it’s easy to overlook."

Benjamin didn’t respond. He just looked ahead and kept walking, the silence stretching out between us like a thread pulled too tight.

The conversation fizzled, leaving only the crunch of sand beneath our boots and the occasional gust of hot wind that did little to ease the relentless heat. 

The towering stone formations loomed closer now, their jagged peaks reaching skyward like the ribcage of some long-dead titan. 

Even with the shadows of the rock formations creeping toward us, the heat was merciless, wrapping around our bodies like a suffocating blanket.

"We should rest," Amelia finally announced, her voice carrying the weight of exhaustion we all felt.

"Ohh, I one-hundred percent agree," Henry huffed, his breath coming in short, strained bursts.

"Let’s find some proper shade first," Benjamin added, scanning the area. "No sense in stopping just to cook under this heat."

Amelia looked to the towering structures ahead, noting the alcoves riddled across the lower portions. "There," she pointed. "Looks like a good spot."

With no argument. We adjusted course, trudging toward the formation, our bodies sluggish and drained. When we finally reached the shelter of the towering rocks, the temperature shift was instantaneous. The air was still dry, but the shade was a welcome reprieve, with its subtle chill soothing our sun-scorched skin.

I collapsed into the natural alcoves within the stone, leaning back against the rough surface, just relishing the calm feeling seeping into my skin and the almost blissful sensation of breathing in the cool air. Ohh… I could stay like this forever. Slouching further, I let my gaze shift upwards. 

 The towering formations loomed above us like silent sentinels, their weathered surfaces standing against the passage of time.

Finally, as the day waned, the twin suns began their slow descent, their once-blazing rays softening into warm gold. The harsh heat gradually ebbed, giving way to a growing coolness that seeped into the desert air.