The Fungal Abyss - By Wong Cheuk Yin Charlene

Written By: Wong Cheuk Yin Charlene

Category: Short story

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the gripping short story "The Fungal Abyss," Wong Cheuk Yin Charlene transports readers into a world fraught with danger and wonder beneath the ocean's surface. Featured in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this narrative takes place in the enigmatic Bermuda Triangle, where science fiction meets survival adventure. Charlene's work invites readers to journey into a mysterious realm where courage and ingenuity are tested amidst swirling portals and alien landscapes.

About the Work

"The Fungal Abyss" explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and the unyielding human spirit. Through vivid imagery and dynamic dialogue, Charlene Wong crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story's mood is both thrilling and poignant, capturing the essence of heroism amidst chaos. With its rich descriptions of alien terrains and unexpected plot twists, this tale is a testament to the power of teamwork and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

The Fungal abyss

Original Submission by Wong Cheuk Yin Charlene

THE FUNGAL ABYSS

Written by Charlene Wong

Alarms blared a blinding crimson inside the metal belly of the submarine, but Raven was way more annoyed by Haven’s face than the threat of drowning. As the chief of security, her job was to protect the crew from the Bermuda Triangle—not deal with mad scientists. "Tell me you did not just mix old pepperoni pizza with bio-chemicals," Raven growled, her hand tightening around her shock-baton. Haven rolled his eyes, frantically typing into a melting keyboard as the ship violently shuddered, replying, "It's called Ghost Goo, officer, and it's the only thing that can activate the portal before those giant purple vines rip our hull to shreds!" "WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN WE’RE IN A RUSH?!" Haven screamed as his glasses slid down his nose, staring at the digital dashboard flashing an impossible number: 3000°C. Raven stared at the smoking engine, asking, "Can’t we just set back the temperature?" "NO! YOU IDIOT! THERE’S A FIRE IN THERE!" Haven shrieked as the core turned into a literal sun. There was no time to think. Raven looked at the thick glass window of the cockpit, her security instincts kicking in. "Hold your breath, nerd!" she yelled, and with a wild swing of her shock-baton at maximum voltage, she shattered the glass. A wall of freezing, black Atlantic ocean water slammed into the burning ship, and the violent current sucked them straight down through the glowing portal benathe the hull.

They fell through a void of swirling purple light and crashed face-first onto something incredibly bouncy. Raven groaned, shaking her head to realize the ground beneath her wasn't metal or sand, but soft, glowing blue grass where towering red mushrooms stretched into the sky like trees, draped in thick purple vines. "Where... where are we?" Haven gasped, coughing up ocean water, until a cheerful voice echoed from the shadows, saying, "You're in the Fungal Abyss." Raven instantly drew her weapon as a boy with messy hair stepped out carrying glowing blue firewood, smiling warmly as he added, "Hi! I'm Leo. I'm kind of too dumb to survive here alone, so I'm really, really glad you guys dropped in!" For five long days, the trio survived in the glowing twilight, tracking glowing, six-legged alien creatures through the blue grass for food while Leo gathered luminescent firewood to keep the massive camp bonfire burning, constantly reminding them that the light was the only thing keeping the invincible flying Abyssal Phantom away. Meanwhile, Haven never slept, frantically building a teleportation tool to get them back to the ship, though their peace was disrupted when Raven found a nest of alien eggs and accidentally hatched a terrifying shark-mouthed monster seal by spilling random chemicals on them, forcing her to rapidly shoot it down with her security guns before it could bite Haven's face off.

On the fifth night, Haven’s teleportation machine finally whirred to life, flashing a bright neon green as she laughed like a maniac and announced they could finally go home. Leo’s eyes lit up as he eagerly stepped forward to snatch the device, pleading to hold it and press the button. "Okay! Everyone hold my hands!" Leo smiled warmly, and as Raven grabbed his left hand and Haven grabbed his right, he pressed the glowing green button. The machine began a loud electronic countdown: Three... as blue portal energy crackled around them, and Two... as the wind whipped their boots. Suddenly, Leo’s warm smile vanished, replaced by a cold, terrifying smirk as he violently ripped his hands away from their grip. "Wait, what are you—" Raven yelled, but it was too late as the timer hit One! A flash of blinding white light swallowed Leo, vanishing him into thin air with the teleporter. Silence crashed over the camp, but the horror wasn't over; before leaving, Leo had kicked their bonfire into a nearby silver puddle, causing the water to hiss and extinguishing the light completely, plunging the camp into total darkness.

From the shadows of the giant mushrooms, the glowing, razor-sharp teeth of the Abyssal Phantom began to appear as the invincible fish monster uncoiled its massive wings and dived from the sky. Worse, without the fire's light, the hanging purple vines woke up like angry snakes, whipping down to tie up the girls. "Haven, follow my lead!" Raven yelled, grabbing Haven’s arm and sprinting directly toward the flying monster, running in a tight, dizzying circle right underneath its snapping jaws. The hostile purple vines shot down, aiming for the girls, but Raven and Haven were too fast; every time a vine snapped downward, they dodged, causing the vines to lash around the flying Anglerfish instead. Round and round they ran, weaving a trap in the dark until the invincible monster let out an outraged screech, completely tangled and pinned to the floor by the angry vines. "Now! The mushrooms!" Raven yelled, and they bolted up a massive stalk, looking through the misty ceiling to see the diving hole of their submarine floating directly above them. They leaped off the edge, and BOING! the red mushroom cap bent down and blasted them skyward like a massive trampoline, sending them bouncing from mushroom to mushroom, straight out of the Fungal Abyss and up into the submarine's underbelly diving hole.

BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP! A deafening siren shattered the cockpit, revealing that the other scientists had already panic-fled in the other pods, leaving only one capsule left. Through the corridor glass, they saw Leo sitting in the captain’s chair, holding a slice of pizza and laughing into the intercom, "Wow, you guys are harder to kill than the last crew! The boss sent me here because I try to blow up entire fleets, and I just rigged your engine fuel with C-4!" The dashboard clock bled in bright neon letters: 01:00... 00:59... Leo didn't stay to fight, bolting down the hallway toward the very last escape capsule, Pod 3, turning the mission into a three-way battle royale for survival. "It's mine!" Leo screamed, lunging for the open hatch, but Raven roared, tackling him to the floor as he swung a heavy metal pipe-wrench. Raven parried with her crackling shock-baton, sending sparks exploding in the launch bay, and with a final sweep of her leg, she knocked the mad bomber out cold.

00:10... 00:09... The escape pod’s heavy hydraulic door began to slide shut, but suddenly, Raven’s security-trained ears caught a faint, frantic metallic clicking coming from inside the pod’s own control panel: Tick... tick... tick... Leo hadn't rigged the submarine core; the mad demolitions expert had rigged the last remaining escape capsule, turning the pod into a flying coffin. There was no time to explain or defuse it. Raven looked down at Haven, the cold shield she always wore completely melting away as she whispered with a sad, brave smile, "Yeah. Correction: You are going to be rich and famous, nerd." Before Haven could finish her sentence, Raven slammed her heavy boot into Haven’s shoulder, kicking her straight out of the escape pod and onto the launch bay floor. 00:04... Haven crashed hard against the cold metal, looking up with tears of anger as the door slammed shut and locked from the inside. Through the thick glass hatch, Raven gave Haven a gentle, final salute, pointing down toward the green teleporter on the floor, her lips mouthing the words: Use it. 00:01... 00:00! The escape pod shot out into the black ocean and exploded into a blinding flash of fire, leaving Haven frozen as she realized Raven had sacrificed herself to save her life. Wiping the tears from her face, Haven grabbed the teleporter, jammed the ghost goo solution in, and slammed the button, letting a vortex of purple light swallow her whole just as the ship collapsed.

Three weeks later, the grand docks of the Atlantic Marine Headquarters were packed with flashing cameras as corporate superiors handed Haven a giant check for thousands of dollars while the crowd chanted her name. But Haven walked straight up to the microphone, her voice echoing across the ocean harbor as she stated, "I am not the hero of the Bermuda Triangle. The person who saved the world is still down there. Her name is Raven. And she never lived to tell..." The crowd went completely silent as Haven laid the giant trophy down on the stage and walked away from the money, walking back toward her coastal lab and touching the green teleporter in her pocket. Looking out over the dark Atlantic waves, she knew she was going to spend every single day building a way to go back to the Fungal Abyss, because a true partner never leaves a hero behind.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates diverse voices across the globe, offering a platform for writers to showcase their creativity and storytelling prowess. This prestigious competition welcomes submissions that push the boundaries of literary expression, fostering a community of writers dedicated to exploring new narratives and perspectives.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Wong Cheuk Yin Charlene for sharing "The Fungal Abyss" with us. Her contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 is a testament to her skill and creativity in crafting immersive stories. We look forward to seeing how her work continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.