Alex stood just behind the monitors, headset on, clipboard in hand, watching as fog began to drift down the steel hallway of the Nostromo replica. The corridor was dim, lit by red emergency lights and flickering overhead lights.
He had rewritten the sequence from the ground up. In the original cut from his past life, the creature had barely four minutes on-screen. Criminal, in his opinion. This time? It was getting twelve.
And no one knew who was playing the role of the alien. Heck, no one saw what was going on in the setup room. All they knew was that someone was there in the set who would act accordingly. Alex said that he wants the jumpscare scene with real expression.
"Alright, everyone. Lock it in," Alex said into his mic. "First of seven scenes. Scar, you're alone in corridor D. Sequence one is all tension, no contact. Lights, fog, cue five seconds behind. I want ambient dread before you even speak. We ready?"
The assistant director, Carl, gave him a thumbs-up from the rail.
"Ready on fog. Ready on lighting. Ready camera two and four."
Alex gave the cue.
"Roll sound. Roll cameras. Scene 49A. Action."
...
Scarlett moved into frame. Her boots echoed softly on the metal floor. A soft hiss of steam vented from a pipe to her right as the fog thickened near the floor.
She didn't speak. Her breathing said everything. Shallow. Measured. Tense.
From behind the monitor, Alex watched the screen like a surgeon. Every camera angle had been calculated, every light flicker timed to create unease without becoming obvious. The scene was like psychological warfare.
Scarlett paused halfway down the corridor. Her flashlight cut through the fog, beam narrow and shaking slightly.
In the silence, a metallic groan echoed from somewhere ahead. Faint. Indistinct.
She turned toward it slowly.
Not fast. Not jumpy. Like someone who wants to believe it's just the ship creaking, but knows better.
Alex leaned into his mic.
"Camera three, tighter on her eyes. I want to feel the doubt."
The cameraman adjusted silently, lens pushing in as Scarlett's eyes scanned the shadows ahead. The lights overhead flickered again.
Another groan.
Closer this time.
Scarlett took a step forward, and as she passed a junction in the wall, a panel behind her hissed open slightly, unnoticed.
A shadow moved in the background.
Not a monster reveal. Just the hint of something wrong. Movement where there shouldn't be any. A limb withdrawing. A clawed hand grazing steel.
Alex clicked his pen once.
"Perfect," he muttered. "Keep going."
Scarlett stopped again. She turned around slowly, shining her flashlight behind her.
Nothing.
The corridor was empty.
But the audience would've seen it. Felt it. Known what she didn't.
"Keep walking," Alex said quietly into the mic.
She did.
And as she rounded the corner at the far end, a low, subsonic vibration kicked in beneath the audio track. Barely there. More felt than heard. The kind that made stomachs twist.
The fog thickened.
Scarlett whispered into the comm strapped to her chest.
"Ripley to bridge. I'm in corridor D. There's... I think something's down here."
No response.
Static.
She paused. Hit the comm again.
"Bridge, do you copy?"
Still nothing.
Then a loud bang from the far end of the hallway. Something metal crashing to the floor.
Scarlett jumped, spun, flashlight beam jerking toward the source.
The camera stayed wide. She was tiny in the frame now. Alone in a tunnel of smoke and steel and fear.
She raised the flashlight again, voice low, shaking now.
"Hello? Parker?"
Silence.
A low scrape.
Not loud.
Slow.
Drawn out.
As if claws were being dragged across steel.
Scarlett started to backtrack. Fast. Her flashlight is shaking more now. The sound grew louder. Then the lights above her began flickering.
The shadow again...
As if something was moving toward her, triggering them in sequence.
Scarlett turned and broke into a run.
She sprinted through the fog. Her boots pounded the floor. Her breath came faster. The lights overhead flashed in rhythm with her movement. One. Two. Three. Then blackout.
Complete darkness.
Silence.
Nothing but her breath.
Alex leaned into the mic again.
"Scar, don't move."
She didn't.
The darkness held for four seconds.
Then...
From the ceiling vent above, something long and wet and wrong slipped down behind her, just barely illuminated by the emergency red glow.
Alex whispered, "Hold it…"
The creature didn't roar. Didn't pounce.
It watched her.
Head tilted. Mandibles twitching. Fluids dripping from its freaky mouth. There was just a small glimpse of its dripping saliva. Then, as Alex made a hand signal, the creature slowly disappeared. Well, the actor jumped up into the vent.
Scarlett slowly reached for her sidearm.
The movement was slow. Careful. She didn't know it was behind her. The audience would want to scream.
"Now," Alex said.
The emergency lights flared.
Scarlett spun, weapon up.
The creature was gone.
Nothing there.
Just fog.
End of scene.
"Cut!" Alex called out.
Silence.
Everyone was spooked out.
Carl gave Alex a double thumbs-up. Rachel nodded from her station.
Scarlett pulled off her comm and let out a breath that sounded like a release valve opening on a pressure tank. "Holy shit."
Alex walked onto the set as the crew reset lights.
"You okay?" he asked, stepping close.
Scarlett nodded, sweat clinging to her jaw. "That was terrifying. You wrote that from some very dark corner of your brain."
Alex smiled. "It worked."
Lilly joined them from the side, slow-clapping with a grin. "Okay, I'll admit it. That scene was pure horror gold. Hitchcock would be jealous."
Scarlett shot her a look. "You're not even the one who almost pissed yourself."
Lilly shrugged. "But I felt it. And I was rooting for you. From very far away."
Alex turned toward the crew.
"Reset corridor D. We're shooting 49B in fifteen. Let's bring in the animatronics for the creature's hand shot. And someone get the FX team ready for the wall slime."
As he walked off to prep the next scene, Scarlett turned to Lilly and whispered.
"You're dating a madman."
Lilly grinned, whispering back. "So are you. But he builds entire spaceships and cooks breakfast. So I'm okay with that."
"You two spent last night together, didn't you?" Scarlett asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Focus on the scene, Scar. You wouldn't want to mess up, would you?" Lilly shot back with her usual smirk that said, 'We did more than just sleep last night.'
...
[Back Hall] [Prosthetic room]
Alex walked through the industrial steel door at the far end of the studio. This was the cooling zone, a specially constructed chill room with an AC system cranked to near freezing. Inside, the hum of vents was loud, the air sharp with the scent of silicone, glue, and sweat.
In the center of the room, under a low-hanging light, sat the man in the suit.
Derek Mears.
The monster himself.
He was slumped in a reinforced chair, the weight of the full-body prosthetics pressing down on him like armor made of nightmares. The alien head, now tilted to the side, still dripped with FX saliva tubes and hydraulic sensors. His long arms, covered in thick, sinewy latex and artificial muscle, rested on padded blocks. Cables snaked from his back to a control panel where two techs monitored suit integrity and internal cooling.
Derek looked up as Alex entered.
His face was barely visible under the ridged black skull mask. His jaw clenched, beads of sweat dripping from his chin despite the frigid air. But his eyes lit up.
He gave Alex a thumbs-up. "That was fun."
Alex chuckled. "Fun? You dropped from a vent like a giant horror snake and almost gave half the crew cardiac arrest."
"Exactly," Derek said through a grin. "It's like being Jason again. Except sweatier. And with way more drool tubes."
One of the FX techs handed Derek a water bottle, which he took with slow, careful fingers.
"You good for another few takes?" Alex asked.
Derek nodded without hesitation. "Hell yeah. Climbing around in that vent rig is a bitch, but the scare payoff's worth it. Tell me we're doing the lunging wall scene next?"
"After the corridor slime shot," Alex said. "Then the full leap. We're layering the tension—keep the audience thinking they've seen the worst... until they haven't."
Derek leaned back. "Perfect. Let me know when you want tail movement. I've got the lower spine servo calibrated for a flick now."
"You're insane," Alex said, grinning.
"Pot," Derek replied. "Kettle."
One of the FX assistants walked over and adjusted the mount that linked the inner jaw mechanism to Derek's helmet. It clicked into place with a hiss.
"I'll give you a heads-up when we're rolling again," Alex added. "Take five more to cool down."
Derek gave a mock salute. "Tell Scarlett I'm sorry for haunting her dreams tonight."
Alex turned to leave. "She'll forgive you. Eventually. And once again, if you feel uncomfortable, you gotta let me know. I don't want you to collapse out there."
"Hey, no worries. I was the one to suggest this real act on scene, instead of motion capture and VFX, and slapping it into the scene during editing. Trust me. I know my limits. If I feel like dying or passing out, I'll hit the panic button," He pointed at the little red button on his wrist.
Just as he stepped back into the hall, Carl was approaching with his tablet.
"We're prepped on corridor D. FX is ready to rig the wall goop. Lights recalibrated. Fog coils reset. You want the tail swing or the hallway impact first?"
"Impact first," Alex said. "Build the tension. Let Derek flex that crawl before we bring in the tail swipe. Once we get the scare beat, I want to switch camera angles for the alien POV shot."
He nodded. "Got it."
...
[After break...]
[Scene 49B: Alien Corridor Strike Sequence]
[Interior – Corridor D – Lights Dimmed – Fog Re-engaged]
Alex stepped back behind the monitor platform and slipped his headset on. The crew was already resetting positions. Cables checked. Fog timed. FX team hunched near the wall valve where the slime rig had been loaded.
Scarlett stood just off the frame, rolling out her shoulders, already back in Ripley's mindset. Her hair was damp with effort, and her brow still held the tension of someone who'd stared into the jaws of something impossible.
"Okay, quiet on set," Carl called out.
"Scene 49B. Take one. Wall strike, tail swipe variant. On my go," Alex said into the mic.
"Rolling sound."
"Rolling cameras."
"Standby FX…"
A low thrum vibrated under the floorboards. The subwoofer setup had been activated again. Just a hint of it. Barely there, like something alive was humming inside the ship.
Alex gave the command.
"Action."
Scarlett came into frame. Flashlight up again. Her pace was slower now, like someone who'd already been scared once and didn't want a repeat.
She paused in front of the panel where the crew had rigged the FX slime burst. Her hand reached out.
Hiss.
The valve burst, launching a stream of thick, transparent fluid onto the steel floor. It hit hard, slicking across her boots and splashing against the lower wall.
Scarlett recoiled fast. The flashlight beam swerved as she stumbled back.
"What the hell..."
She stepped again, steadying herself.
Then...
Clang.
The camera snapped left just as a black, insectoid shape slammed into the wall six feet behind her, halfway in frame. No full reveal. Just the violent blur of a long arm and the echo of something heavy impacting steel.
Scarlett screamed, spun, and fired the prop pistol.
Three flashes. Blanks flared. Empty shells popped out. The audio team caught everything.
But the alien was already gone.
Just a steaming dent in the wall. No creature. No tail. No sound but Scarlett's rapid breathing.
Alex spoke calmly into the headset. "Hold. Keep her still."
Scarlett stood her ground. Gun up. The tension was raw and real. She was shaking slightly now, shoulders up, jaw tight. Her eyes darted left and right.
She whispered into her comm again.
"Bridge... I need support in corridor D. Now."
No answer.
Just that vibration again.
Alex gave the next cue.
"FX team: tail swing. Camera three, wide side angle."
The tech on the left nodded and activated the servo trigger.
From the right side of the frame, the alien's tail whipped forward. Fast. A blur.
It appeared out of nowhere.
It didn't hit Scarlett. It slammed into the wall next to her head, smashing the metal panel with a deafening crunch. Sparks flew. She shrieked and dropped to the floor, scrambling backward across the slippery goop.
The camera held on her face. Wide eyes. Dirt. Blood. Fear.
"Stay still, don't move, control your breathing..." Alex gave direction to her.
Fog curled around Scarlett's boots as she pressed her back to the wall, pulse thrumming in her neck like a drum. Her chest rose and fell in tight, shallow breaths. Her prop pistol shook faintly in her grip. The dim red lights pulsed just enough to reveal the smear of synthetic slime trailing toward her feet.
Alex's voice came through the headset again, low, precise.
"Scar, stay on the floor. Look up slowly when I give the cue. No blinking. No noise."
She didn't respond. She didn't need to.
From the ceiling vent above, the faint hiss of hydraulics activated. A panel slid open.
Clink. Thud.
The alien dropped in from above, limbs unfolding like bone-black scythes. It landed with a wet, metallic slap behind her. The camera caught the moment she stiffened. Her eyes went wide. Her hands froze around the pistol.
The creature stood there, spine arched, head tilted just slightly, as if curious. Its second mouth quivered just beneath its slick jaw. A string of fluid dropped to the floor beside Scarlett's hand.
Alex spoke calmly. "Now. Eyes up. One inch. Don't flinch."
Scarlett's gaze crawled upward.
Slow.
Controlled.
Her lips parted. Barely a breath left her body.
The alien moved.
It crouched low and began to crawl toward her. Each step echoed through the corridor like a countdown. Its long claws tapped against the steel floor. The tail dragged behind it, coiling like a serpent.
The camera swung low, keeping Scarlett in frame as the creature advanced.
Closer.
One arm braced beside her. Then the other.
It lowered its head.
Black, ridged skull inches from her face. The glow of the emergency lights reflected in the fluid dripping from its jaws. Each breath from the creature came out as a clicking rattle. It was creepy.
It tried to hear sound, but there was none.
Head tilted again.
Its second jaw slid forward, twitching at the edge of her cheek. The fluid traced down her neck. Scarlett's eyes welled up, but she didn't blink. Her expression was pure survival: don't move, don't breathe, don't die.
Alex leaned toward the mic. "Now close your eyes."
Scarlett obeyed. Her lashes lowered. The camera tightened.
The alien leaned in closer. Too close.
Its mandibles flexed.
One drop of fluid landed on her collarbone.
Then… it pulled back.
No roar. No hiss. Just the sound of its claws scraping against the floor as it slowly walked away. The tail followed like a whip behind it, vanishing into the shadows. The lights above dimmed one by one as it left, like its presence sucked the power from the corridor.
Silence.
Scarlett opened her eyes.
"Cut," Alex said.
Silence gave way to motion.
Rachel let out a breath from her post by the monitors. Carl nodded, his face a mix of awe and disbelief. The FX team high-fived quietly behind the fog coils.
Scarlett stayed frozen a moment longer, then sat up slowly, her hair damp with sweat, body still shaking.
Alex stepped out from behind the monitor, walking calmly toward her.
"That…" she panted, pushing herself to her feet, "was the worst form of therapy I've ever been through."
He offered her a hand. "But it worked."
"Yeah," she said, breathless. "You got what you wanted?"
"I got something better."
Lilly met them halfway, grinning like she'd won the lottery.
"Okay, that was insane. That last bit, the way it leaned in... It was... Urg! I physically forgot how to breathe."
Scarlett rolled her neck. "My spine forgot how to function, and I think I need to use the restroom."
Alex helped her up. She didn't speak and just gave him that glare of terror before walking away.
Alex chuckled a bit and turned to the crew.
"Scene 49B is a lock. Replay it for sync. Let FX reset for the creature's next shot. We begin in 20."
----
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[6 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
[Early access to Brooklyn 99> 8 advance chs]
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AN: SPOILERS Click to read[1]
[1] After a lot of thinking, I decided to add John Wick's world. Since MC's background is already set and the cops, mafias are there, it was easy to add in a deeper background with JW. It will be an AU set. It's before John's wife's death. Maybe MC can have a retired John as his security head. And it won't be as deep as the movies, right now.