by Sean Adami
Harriet cried, but this time she cried from enjoyment and confusion. Andrew retreated out of the river and stood up without feeling pain in his chest area. He blurted out a coughing laugh of amazement. He said, “What the hell just happened?”
Wiping the tears off her face, she said, “It was unexplainable. I couldn’t believe what had happened.” She took a deep breath in and said quickly, “First of all, you got cut in your stomach gruesomely by that creature beast thingy!” She pointed to the harmless unconscious blue cheetah that lay on the floor. “Then the bee beast stung the creature in the head before it attacked me!” She pointed to the bee creature. “And, finally, these magnificent tadpole creatures saved your life! Literally! I couldn’t believe it! This all happened so fast, and I worried so much for you!”
Andrew said, “Well, all that matters is that I’m fine now.”
Harriet said, “You went unconscious on me. Were you dead? Did you somehow wake up in the physical world?”
Andrew said, “I don’t recall anything that happened after I told you to run. For one thing though, there was no way that I was dead.”
She asked, “Dead dimensionally or physically.”
He said, “Physically. But I’m not exactly sure about being dead dimensionally. My father did tell me that you can’t die in this dimension, but I’m sure why I didn’t wake up in the physical world when I dropped unconsciously.”
She said, “That’s a bit grim.”
Shrugging his shoulders, he said, “Like I showed you before, just ride with it. Don’t spend too much time on every meager detail in this place.” However, Andrew did worry about every detail. Andrew extended his body to where the blue cheetah’s body lay. Mouth open with a small puddle of drool, the cheetah had its eyes open. He felt the fur of the cheetah with his fingertips: frizzy.
Harriet said, “Should we cut open into the creature’s body?”
Andrew asked, “Why?”
“In case we grow hungry.”
Andrew asked, “We can get hungry here? You sure?”
She said, “I’m actually hungry at this very instinct. Our desire to eat comes from our hypothalamus region of our brain. I studied this topic in my research at Spirit Intercom, and I’m very acquainted with the anatomy of the brain. The coded neurons we are currently experiencing aren't blocking the neurons that enter the hypothalamus. Although we are being nurtured with IVs, we still can grow hungry.”
Andrew said, “That’s kinda deep. Well, if you say we should eat it, then cut it up I will.” He grabbed the cheetah’s paw and was in motion of cutting up the beast’s stomach with its own paw. Andrew asked, “Wait! Isn’t this creature still alive? It’s only the dopamine that made it unconscious. The creature is just extremely relaxed. You sure you wanna kill this thing?”
She hesitated and said, “Sorry, just kill it! I’m really hungry, and I can’t stand it. I’ll look away. The sight of blood disturbs me.”
The thought of hunger zapped into Andrew’s mind too. Andrew knew he was going to regret this. Grabbing the paw again, he jerked the sharp claws into the creature’s stomach area with great force. Releasing a tense quiver, the cheetah let off a weak roar, and its body relaxed again. Expecting to see blood gush out of its body, Andrew, instead, saw light-green fluid slowly ooze out the cut-open stomach. Andrew’s reaction: “What the hell?”
Closer to the stomach, Andrew with his two index fingers expanded the cut-open stomach area to see what hid anatomically. With the look of his eye, Andrew saw thin brown roots branched through the internal structure of the stomach. Curved green tracts slightly throbbed. No stomach or blood was present; instead, only thin roots and robust green tubes were displayed inwardly. Andrew’s cut opened up a green tube, causing a light-green substance to secrete. Wiping the substance off his hand, Andrew saw Harriet take a peek. She dug her hands into the organs softly, fiddling with the different tubes and roots.
Harriet said, “That’s something you don’t see everyday. This anatomical structure looks exactly like the one of a plant.” She made a sharp tear into one of the green tubes with the cheetah’s paw. Rubbing her finger onto the light-green liquid, she said, “This substance is sap.”
Andrew said, “Sap?”
She said, “This creature belongs to the kingdom Plantae and has plant molecules, such as chlorophyll, chloroplast, starch, glucose . . . you name it.”
Andrew said, “Lemme get this straight. This injurious creature is, and I repeat, a plant ?” Andrew’s eyebrows rose.
She said, “Correct. It’s anatomy does not deceive. You have no clue how amazing this is. This creature is a marvel of enchantment! Nothing this extraordinary has ever been witnessed by a human being.” Harriet continued maneuvering her hands in the creature’s insides for more scientific fascination.
Andrew asked, “So what are we going to do with this creature?”
She said, “Continue dissecting.” She plunged her hands deeply into the creature. At this point, her arms were completely covered with sticky sap. Suddenly, Harriet felt three small beads with her right palm. Enclosing her hand, she pulled her hand out of the mangled creature’s insides. She opened her hand and three brown seeds appeared. Raising her sappy hand to her open jawline, Harriet was enlightened.
Andrew saw Harriet’s jubilance and asked, “What is it?” Harriet kept staring at the seeds with perplexity.
Harriet said, “Do you have any idea what these seeds are?”
Andrew said, “What? Lima beans?”
She said, “These seeds came from that cheetah creature, meaning that they must have the same DNA. Therefore, when the cheetah dies and decomposes, the leftover seeds in its body grow, which could only mean one thing.”
Andrew, still clueless, asked, “What?”
She said, “When all these creatures die, they repopulate their species by leaving their internal seeds to grow in the soil, which also means that these creatures grow on trees! Just like fruit! This is remarkable!”
Andrew, who now understood, said, “Damn. That’s crazy. So you’re telling me that all the creatures here grow on trees?”
She said, “Strangely, yes! The whole ecosystem is all based on plant growth and chlorophyll. We have to share this information!”
Andrew said, “Spirit Intercom probably does know by now. They can watch us through their neural sensors. Back to what you said, this is absolutely incredible!” He took the three seeds from Harriet and got a closer look. They appeared as normal seeds to him. “Just the fact that they’re born on trees is so odd.” As he gave the seeds back to Harriet, Andrew asked, “How can you suspect that all the creatures are like this? How do you know or not if that bee creature we’ve been flying on has blood in its circulation?”
Putting the seeds into her pocket, she said, “A reproductive method as unique as this must be widespread throughout this entire planet. There is just no way that their reprodcutive glands are sex-based, considering that sex-based reproduction only deviates from Earth. The odds are close to none.”
Andrew said, “Makes sense, I guess.”
Feeling that she got everything out what she needed to say, Harriet looked at the sky and so did Andrew. Completely unaware of the time, they only knew it was pure nightfall. Andrew felt a big breath of cold air from the wind tickle his back. Andrew said, “It’s getting pretty chilly.”
Harriet said, “ Sure is .” She cradled her body from the cold as well. Insufficient in adrenaline, they both grew cold. Relaxation equated to coldness.
Trying to be resourceful, Andrew said, “How about we start a fire?”
Harriet said, “Sounds good to me.” Taking action, Andrew gathered some of the loose bark from the trees and assorted them into one big pile.
Taking note of his determination, Harriet appreciated his work. “Thanks, Andrew.”
All Andrew needed was a spark to start the fire. Owning some knowledge on how to start fire from third-grade boy scouts, Andrew found two dry wooden sticks. Attemp
ting to create friction, the sticks wouldn’t budge. After minutes of failed attempts, Andrew finally gave up.
Andrew with frustration exclaimed, “Why won’t these goddamn sticks burn already!” His boy scout skills wouldn’t get him anywhere. However, a spurt of adrenaline from rubbing the twigs gave him some warmth. Andrew asked, “What the hell should we do? We’re tired, cold, hungry, and have nowhere to sleep with a dead cheetah by our feet!”
Losing patience too, Harriet said, “I don’t know. What do you expect me to do! We’re in the same boat, Andrew!”
“Ya, well, you’re the smart one here. Do something!”
“I think it’d be better if we tried to calm down.”
Andrew yelled, “That’s what’s making us cold in the first place! We need to find a solution now. How much longer in this dimension anyway? I adore the beauty and all, but not the surviving aspect.”
Thinking out loud, Harriet asked, “How about we eat the cheetah? It stores glucose in its green fibers.”
Andrew said, “I want real food! I’m a carnivore. This place is like vegetarian-hell land. I wanna get outta this place. Hey father, if you’re watching me, please send me back to the physical world. I want out!”
Harriet said, “Andrew, I’ve already tried doing that. Just like how prayers are never answered, Spirit Intercom won’t answer our woes.”
Andrew said, “Sorry if I’m being impatient. Please, just try to get this fire going. I’m freezing!” The necessity for a fire was in Andrew’s mind ever since that cold breeze poked him.
Harriet got to her knees and tried rubbing the two twigs together. After a few minutes of failure, similar to Andrew’s, she threw the twigs to the floor. She said, “Don’t you think it’s possible that fires can’t exist in this atmosphere? Oxygen is key to starting a fire, and I think there’s a lack of it in this world.”
Andrew said, “Enough with the science! Why wouldn’t they be able to flame? Just try harder and put in more effort into the twigs.”
Harriet stood up and said assertively, “Speak for yourself!”
Andrew’s eyebrows dipped and his face grimaced. He felt an unimaginable severity of frustration. Andrew was done with yells and commands. He knew that they wouldn’t go anywhere.
Reaching peak irritation, Andrew said, “Well, if you’re not gonna help me, then I guess I better help myself.”
Harriet asked, “What do you mean? I’m trying to be as helpful as possible. The atmosphere possibly has too low of an oxygen percentage to start the fire.” (The atmosphere here only had 16% oxygen, whereas it took 21% to start a fire.)
Andrew said, “Bullshit! I’m tired of your science shenanigans. I’m out of here. Good luck on your own.”
“Where could you possibly go?”
Andrew said, “Away.” Leaving the vicinity of Harriet, he approached the bee and climbed up to its thorax.
Harriet began panicking. She said, “Hey! Wait! Where are you going? Don’t even think about that!” She tried running to the bee, but she was too late. The bee had already begun fluttering its wings.
Andrew said, “Sorry, but I have to start living for myself.” He heaved the bee’s antennas towards his body, and the bee flew off, leaving Harriet stranded.
CHAPTER 11:
Why would Andrew separate?
Why couldn’t he and Harriet relate?
Andrew was inflamed,
Not feeling any blame.
His mind fluttering like the bee’s wings, Andrew rode over the night sky, unwary of where his next destination could take him. Malnourished and tired, Andrew zoned out the scenery that was presented as the bee travelled. Simultaneously feeling sad and angry towards Harriet, Andrew thought, she’ll manage. Still shivering from the cold night, he rubbed his hands against the bee’s abdomen, trying to create heat with the friction. Blisters crested on his fingertips.
After gliding for a few more moments, Andrew fell asleep, and soon enough, his body fell asleep. Muscles relaxing, Andrew let go of the bee’s antennas, and his body slid down the bee’s back. Unconscious while falling down hundreds of feet, Andrew collided with sharp-edged branches of the tall trees, somewhat slowing down his fall. Moving with enormous velocity, one thick branch pulverized his lower back, immediately waking him up with pain. Andrew’s body underwent infernal injuries. Cracking bones left and right, every limb was misshapen with each gravitational hit with a branch. Agony, strain, and spasms: this was all Andrew could feel. Releasing tumultuous shrieks, his vocal chords gave out. The fall felt never-ending. Collision after collision. Mourn after mourn. Inside of a dimension where neural feelings were exaggerated, Andrew had never gone through this much pain. After what seemed to be a nonstop hell-trip, he made a hard pounding onto the mud floor. He felt this was worse than death. The pain was excruciating and unbearable. He couldn’t get up. Bones and muscles throbbed turbulently. Tears overfilled his eyelids, and he couldn’t see anything but the blurry red all over his body with tears mixing with his blood. This pain was indescribable. No other human on Earth in every lifetime had felt the pain Andrew was going through. He wailed and wailed, wanting someone to put him out of his misery. One loose branch broke off and fell, knocking Andrew’s head. Andrew’s wish was granted and he finally lost conscience.
Knocked out for the rest of the night, Andrew finally awoke to the source of light arising. A pebble-like object penetrated Andrew’s head. Andrew perched his head up and saw quite the figure. Slightly smaller than his own size, the creature that threw the object had arms and legs just like a normal human except that the creature had a mouth of a venus flytrap with small spiky hairs on the outer rim of the mouth. In addition, its limbs were made of wood. Arrays of triangular purple flower petals circumferenced the upper region of the creature’s head. Andrew reckoned this creature was a hybrid of a human being and a plant. Its green-pupil eyes focused on Andrew. He gave the creature the name “animate plant” in his head. Startled by this living thing, Andrew slowly rose his body upward as aches and wounds taunted him. He slowly and steadily positioned his hand in an awkward defending stance. Andrew first asked in a calm manner, “Hello? Who are you?”
The animate plant without moving its mouth said, “Free your mind of all anguish that you acquire towards me.”
Andrew asked, “You speak? How is your ‘mouth’ not moving?”
The creature said in a monotone voice, “Hello Andrew. This is a message from the interdimensional communicator system. These creatures physically cannot speak, but the coded neurons you are currently experiencing can interpret the neurological thinking comprehension of your so-called ‘animate plants.’ The neural sensors, additionally, can make your ‘animate plants’ understand your thinking comprehension thanks to our state-of-the-art technology. Therefore, what you hear is their neurological thinking put into words.’”
Contemplation finished, Andrew said, “Hmmm. Interesting.” Wanting to test this phenomenon, Andrew said, “Hello, creature.”
The animate plant said, “Hello.”
Putting too much weight on his right foot, Andrew fell down. He felt that he may have broken a bone. Unveiling slight groans, he lay on the floor, rubbing his foot. Andrew looked at the animate plant and saw it pick up a wooden bucket. The animate plant quickly poured the bucket, and tadpoles stuck onto Andrew’s body. His automatic response was to flinch, but he realized that the tadpoles were healing him. This was his first time experiencing the tadpoles while being awake. The tadpoles projected their bioluminescence synchronously, healing his open wounds, fractured bones, and aching muscles. The tadpoles repelled off his body and fell on the fertile soil that Andrew was lying on. Now presumed dead, the tadpoles died from the lack of water. Disregarding this, Andrew said, “Hey, plant creature. Thanks so much! My wounds are completely gone.”
With full energy Andrew stood up. The animate plant said, “Quick! Follow me!”
“What? Where are you even heading off to?”
The animate plant scurried
with its three-toed-pronged wooden feet. Andrew followed. He was not the fastest runner, so it was hard to keep up. Still surrounded by uneven terrain and high-reaching trees, Andrew did his best to stay behind the creature. After running for a few minutes, the creature presented a dopamine bee to Andrew. The large bee was stationary. Andrew was petrified at first but saw it didn’t attack him. He was convinced this was the bee that he fell off from last night.
Andrew asked, “How did you know it was here?”
The animate plant said, “You’re welcome.”
“No, I am asking how did you know it was here?”
The creature said, “No problem.”
Andrew thought, ahh . . . whatever. He climbed onto the bee’s back. The animate plant was still staring at him.
The creature said, “I ride with you. Let me take you to my home.” Andrew stared back at its green eyes.
Andrew said, “Hop on.” The animate plant made a big leap onto the bee’s back, sitting behind Andrew.
The animate plant said, “I take control.”
Andrew asked, “How?” Lifting Andrew’s torso, the animate plant maneuvered Andrew’s body over its head so that it was sitting in front of him. Enwrapping its malleable wooden hands around the bee’s antennas, the animate plant pulled down the antennas gradually, and the bee cruised up towards the atmosphere.
As they were flying, Andrew asked, “So, what kind of creature are you exactly?”
The creature said, “I am Plant. Every function in my body is intrinsic of Mother Nature. Mother Nature defines me as Plant .”
Andrew thought, he seems very self-aware. He asked, “What should I call you by?”