The submersible *Leviathan* sliced through inky blackness, its powerful lights illuminating only a fraction of the abyssal void surrounding it like an endless grave. Dr. Amelia Hart sat at her console, fingers dancing over controls with practiced ease as she guided their descent into Earth's deepest trench.

"Depth: 360 fathoms," reported co-pilot Marcus Lee from his station behind hers.

Amelia nodded absently, eyes scanning the monitor displaying real-time data feeds – temperature plummeting towards freezing point; pressure increasing exponentially. She felt a familiar thrill mixed with apprehension at venturing into this alien world.

"Everything's nominal so far," added engineer Alexei Petrovich from his seat by Marcus.

Amelia glanced back briefly, offering him an encouraging smile before turning her attention to the main viewport ahead of them all – their only window onto Hades itself. The water outside was as dark and unyielding-looking now than it had been when they'd first begun descending hours ago.

"How much longer until we reach our target depth?" asked Marcus.

"Another 1,200 meters," replied Amelia without taking her eyes off the view before them – or rather lack thereof. "We should start seeing some bioluminescent life forms soon."

As if on cue, a faint glow appeared in their periphery: an anglerfish floating by like something out of Lovecraft's nightmares.

"Jesus Christ," muttered Marcus under his breath.

Amelia chuckled softly but didn't respond. She'd seen far stranger creatures down here than that one; this was still relatively shallow compared to where they were headed...

Suddenly, the submersible shuddered violently – an impact resonating through its hull like a gunshot.

"What in God's name...?" began Alexei before another jolt sent him grasping for support.

Amelia checked their instruments frantically. "We've lost contact with one of our external cameras," she announced grimly, heart pounding against her ribs as adrenaline surged within veins taut from tension gripping every muscle tight now.

"Something out there just took a bite right off the damn sub."

Marcus swore under his breath again while Alexei simply stared wide-eyed at Amelia. She could see fear starting to creep into both their expressions – mirroring what she felt herself but refused let show.

"We're fine," insisted Amelia, more for her own benefit than theirs perhaps; trying desperately hard not think about whatever monstrous thing lurked just beyond reach of *Leviathan*'s lights now... "Let's keep going."

They continued downward into the crushing darkness. Every so often another jolt would rock them but none severe enough yet to cause real concern – though each one did little more than reinforce dread coiling ever tighter around guts.

Then, without warning...

*CRUNCH*

The sound echoed through their tiny metal world like thunderclap striking directly overhead; followed immediately by a sickening *squish*. Alarms blared shrilly as red lights flashed emergency warnings across consoles before them all.

"Pressure hull breach!" shouted Alexei over cacophony, hands flying to controls attempting damage control.

Amelia felt blood drain from face. This was bad – very fuckingbad indeed...

"We're taking on water," confirmed Marcus unnecessarily given the alarm's blaring insistence already filling cabin with its urgent wail.

"How much time do we have?" asked Amelia calmly despite feeling anything but inside chest now pounding fit to burst.

Alexei shook head grimly. "Not long enough for rescue team reach us."

Meaning they were well and truly fucked then...

Amelia swallowed hard against lump forming in throat, mind racing desperately seeking solution amidst mounting panic threatening overwhelm senses.

"Can we... can we make it back up?" she asked hopefully even knowing answer already.

Alexei shook head again. "Not with this damage – not enough power left."

So that was option A out then...

Amelia's gaze flicked involuntarily towards viewport once more, peering into fathomless blackness beyond as if expecting some hellish leviathan itself to materialize any second now... And maybe it would too given what they'd already encountered down here thus far.

"We need another plan," she stated flatly – no room for doubt or debate; not when facing imminent death staring them all square in face like this.

Marcus nodded agreement, though looked equally lost as Alexei regarding potential alternatives under current circumstances. They were trapped inside sinking metal coffin miles beneath ocean surface with zero chance outside help arriving time.

Amelia's eyes narrowed thoughtfully while she considered their dire situation – weighing options available against slim odds survival hinged upon...

"Wait," said Amelia suddenly, snapping fingers together in realization dawning sudden clarity amidst chaos surrounding them. "The sample chamber."

Both men turned towards her questioningly.

"It has its own independent power source and environmental controls separate from main sub systems right?" she asked Alexei specifically.

He nodded slowly after moment's consideration before replying affirmatively: "'Da, yes – it does."

"Then we can use that to... what? Escape somehow through there maybe..." trailed off Marcus uncertainly still trying wrap head around idea forming haphazard in Amelia's mind now racing ahead of them all again...

"No," corrected she sharply. "We won't escape but at least one person might survive long enough for someone topside hear our story."

Their expressions shifted from confusion towards comprehension dawning horror.

"You mean... you want to..." began Marcus before trailing off unable continue voicing thought too terrible even contemplate aloud.

Amelia met his gaze steadily, resolve hardening lines around mouth set firm determination. "Yes," she confirmed quietly yet resolutely nonetheless – knowing full well implications such decision entailed...

"Fuck that!" exploded Alexei vehemently slamming fist down onto console beside him in defiance refusal accept fate Amelia proposed so callously now seemed intent upon embracing wholeheartedly.

She ignored outburst instead focusing solely on Marcus whose opinion mattered most here; he was their engineer after all – knew better than anyone else whether plan stood chance success or not.

"What do you think?" asked she quietly, imploringly almost...

He hesitated long moment before finally sighing heavily defeated resignation written plain across features. "'Da," agreed softly at last nodding once more towards Alexei now glaring daggers murderous intent directed solely Amelia herself meanwhile.

She ignored both men's fury turned instead back toward viewport staring out into abyss beyond – steeling nerves against what must come next...

"Alright then let me explain how we're going to do this," began she briskly, all business once more now having settled course ahead lay before them like it or not...

Over following minutes Amelia outlined strategy based around utilizing sample chamber's independent systems allowing one person – herself hopefully though couldn't guarantee such outcome yet still clung desperate hope might prove true somehow amidst chaos surrounding current predicament.

Meanwhile Alexei worked frantically alongside Marcus attempting salvage whatever remained functional aboard stricken vessel; trying desperately stem floodwaters pouring ever faster through breach hull threatening swallow them whole any second now...

Once preparations complete, Amelia turned towards both men standing ready beside her – faces etched grim determination mirroring own resolve within hearts pounding fiercely against ribs.

"Ready?" asked she softly.

They nodded silently unable speak past lumps lodged firmly in throats constricting airflow tight chests already heavy laden sorrow anticipation loss soon come...

Amelia reached out grasp each hand briefly squeezing reassurance before letting go again – then turned towards chamber door waiting open ready receive her inside...

"Goodbye," whispered she softly turning back one last time gaze upon faces comrades now lost forever too early cruel fate decreed so befall them all here today beneath cold unfeeling waves above...

With heavy heart, Amelia stepped into sample chamber sealing hatch shut behind herself – cutting off view outside world beyond tiny metal confines soon become her entire existence until... well whatever lay ahead after that.

She settled onto floor leaning back against wall opposite small porthole window offering sole connection external environment surrounding submersible now sinking deeper fathoms darkness each passing second ticking away precious time left...

Amelia activated chamber's environmental controls setting temperature, pressure and oxygen levels appropriate simulate conditions outside – hoping thereby trick whatever monstrous thing lurked beyond into believing her still alive edible prey perhaps.

Then she waited... listening intently ears straining catch faintest sounds echo through waterlogged corridors surrounding *Leviathan* now slowly succumbing forces tearing apart seams hull unable withstand pressure exerted miles above...

Occasionally another jolt would send shudders resonating throughout structure itself – each one bringing ever closer moment when finally gave way completely...

And still Amelia waited, breath held tight lungs burning desperate need inhale exhale again yet refusing relinquish vigilance even slightest degree lest miss crucial instant everything changed forevermore.

Finally...