Trina sighed heavily as she entered her quarters, the gentle hum of the starship enveloping her like a familiar lullaby. She had spent another exhausting day analyzing data from the black hole they were studying. With every passing moment, her eyelids drooped further, and the soft glow of the room's ambient lights only encouraged her descent into slumber.
Trina slipped under her thin, silver-hued blanket, feeling the chill of the room against her skin. Just as she began to drift off, a strange sensation tugged at her mind. It was as if something was watching her, lurking in the shadows. She shook her head, dismissing it as paranoia fueled by fatigue.
Trina was nearly asleep when she felt it—a feather-light touch, brushing against her bare foot. Her heart skipped a beat, adrenaline flooding her veins. The sensation was unmistakably real, and she froze, eyes wide open in the dim light. She tried to convince herself it was a trick of her weary mind.
Gathering her courage, Trina sat up, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. She saw nothing, but the sensation of the touch lingered, sending shivers down her spine. "Who's there?" she called out, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart. Silence was her only answer, deepening the mystery.
Trina swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet hitting the cool floor. She moved carefully, her senses heightened, and noticed a faint glow emanating from beneath her bed. Kneeling down, she found a small, previously unnoticed compartment. Its door was ajar, an iridescent tentacle retreating into the darkness.
As Trina peered closer, the compartment revealed a small, bioluminescent creature, its eyes wide with curiosity rather than malice. The realization dawned on her—it was not an invader but a stowaway, perhaps as curious about the ship and its inhabitants as they were about the universe. "Well, little friend," she murmured, a smile tugging at her lips, "I guess you're just as lost as we are."
