Prologue

It was a bright, frosty morning. The path glistened like a carpet of crushed diamonds in the early morning sunshine. I walked, barefoot, across it, ignoring the sharp stones which had embedded themselves in my worn out and bruises soles. The shoes I used to wear were too small now, and the bottoms had completely fallen through, rendering them useless.

As I looked back, I realised I was leaving a trail of blood. They'll find me even easier now… With nothing but a few leaves, I began to clean my cut feet. What was the point? I'll just bleed again as soon as I continue walking. Then again, the Jupiter 2 was less than a quarter of a mile away, I could vaguely see it through the thick bark and overshadowing leaves.

"Come on Penny," Judy tugged at my arm, and I groaned.

If it hadn't been for her, I'd probably be having a fit. In fact, if anyone in our family… even Dr Smith… had been here then I would be alright. Their snarls were growing louder, I realised, and Judy was getting more and more irritated. Forcefully, I dragged my bleeding feet forward, wincing at every step.

"The Jupiter is right over there," I mumbled as we left the path and began running awkwardly through the burning sand.

How did I even get here? I was just taking a stroll when suddenly Judy came running up to me and-

"Penny!" I heard my sister scream and I snapped my head backwards.

There it was. The thing. The monster stalking us. In fact, calling it a monster would be too friendly for this type of abnormal and malicious entity. Its razor-sharp teeth were cutting through Judy's legs like butter, and her screams made my head spin.

Without hesitation I leapt forward, grabbing her stone-cold hands. The entity glared at me straight in the eyes, before retreating into the forest. Panting, I turned her over. Or I tried to. She wasn't there… No one was. The Jupiter 2 was gone. The forest and the ground around me was disintegrating into black dust… All I could see were those red eyes, glaring at me from the darkness. More and more appeared, and I felt myself spinning and falling into nothingness… I saw my sister, my brother, my parents, Don and Dr Smith, all falling beside me. Their mouths opened to scream as their bodies turned to dust as well. Judy reached out to me, her eyes terrified, and grabbed my hand, before her face crumbled into her neck like sand…

"NO!" I screamed, sitting up. Beads of sweat poured from my forehead and down my flushed, crimson cheeks.

Mum came running in, followed by Dad, Don and Judy. They were here. Alive. What was going on… It was a nightmare, but it felt so real. My mother hugged me tightly, telling Don to get me some water. I moved my head slightly, looking over of my dark window.

There… in the distance… were those same glowing red eyes…