The Crystal Chamber

The second survey crew landed near an object embedded in the southern hemisphere of a dead world.‭ ‬They’d lost contact with the first team months ago.

The artifact resembled an enormous crystalline worm buried in the earth.‭ ‬A nearby cave led them down into a chamber filled with alien devices.‭ ‬Numerous bones lay scattered all around.

What they thought was the artifact blocked the passageway on the opposite side.

A portal was set into the construct,‭ ‬lined with spikes that sparkled like icicles.

They understood too late as the chamber began broadcasting black noise.

The worm was ready to feed.

Author Bio: 

Maria Kelly lives in Pinellas Park,‭ ‬Florida where she writes poetry and fiction,‭ ‬usually in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre.‭ ‬She also attends college,‭ ‬working toward her M.F.A.‭ ‬in Creative Writing.‭ ‬Ms.‭ ‬Kelly has had a baker’s dozen of poems and short stories published,‭ ‬including a recent publication in a local zombie-themed anthology,‭ "‬Zombie Nation:‭ ‬St.‭ ‬Pete.‭"