1. Fire

Red. Ambarussa awoke to red. It took him a moment to realize that the ship's interior should not be lit, not at this ungodly hour. What was happening?

The light crept closer. Flames. Why was the ship burning? He had to get out! But the flames blocked the only exit from his below-deck quarters.

They were now in the room with him. Nearer, nearer to his still-prone body they drew. Maybe he was in a nightmare...

But no nightmare could burn like this.