by Sara Page
I hit the green button on the dashboard and the wall retracts. It’s morning outside. The day is bright and for the moment, full of promise.
I look first to the strand of trees. There’s no alien there. Then I scan the ground, checking for any more offerings. Thankfully, there’s nothing.
I take a step out, then another. Nothing happens. I hear the familiar clicks and chirps of the local wildlife. My ears strain, ready to pick up the slightest disturbance.
I’ve yet to see him during the morning. Yesterday, it was what, two, three hours before he showed up? If I go now and I’m quick, I can get back before he comes back. I circle around the pod, slowly, anxiously, my eyes scanning my surroundings.
Go. I should just go. Which way did I find water last time? I should probably avoid that area. I think it was to my right so I point myself to the left. I do one last, thorough sweep of the area and the area I’m planning to explore. Nothing moves, nothing twitches.
You’re wasting time. You’re already away from the door.
Realizing how vulnerable I am has all the little hairs on my body standing on end.
If he wants to get you he’s going to get you.
Father help me, I gotta get out of here before I freak myself out so much I don’t chance it. I take off running while trying not to look back.
My slippers skip over the blue-green grass until I make it to the line of trees, but I have to slow and take my time as I enter the forest. I pick my way carefully over the branches, rocks, and uneven ground. If I would have known I would be roughing it, I would have worn better shoes.
If I would have known this was going to happen, I would have never gone up in Vrillum’s ship.
The forest is quiet, eerily quiet, and the deeper I go, the cooler it gets. I actually find myself shivering. I wrap my arms around myself and sniff the air. I don’t think I’ll be able to find water with my nose this time. The forest is misty, the air thick with moisture. I’ll have to keep an ear out for moving water or hope I just stumble across it like last time.
My slippers are taking a serious beating. The ground is soft and mud clings to my soles. The deeper I go, the more my feet sink. The canopy overhead thickens. The tree branches seemingly begin to intertwine with each other. Leaves on top of leaves. It grows darker and darker. Between the lack of light and the mist, it feels entirely too creepy for my liking. I decide to turn around and make my way back the way I came.
Maybe I should have marked the way I came.
I was hoping to get lucky again, to stumble across water quickly. The chance I could get myself lost never even crossed my mind. At first, I have my own tracks to follow, my footprints left in the mud. But as I walk out, and the ground hardens, my footsteps disappear and I’m left just to guess.
If only I could have walked in a straight line, I wouldn’t need to worry, but with so many trees in the way, and so many obstacles that could trip me, I picked my way around, choosing the easiest paths. Now, I try to choose the easiest path back, but I have an uneasy feeling. Things don’t quite look the same. And after walking for some time, I realize I’m lost.
The trees should be thinning out, there should be more light, but it’s remained just as dark. I stop and try to get my bearings. I spin in a slow circle, looking for something that seems familiar. All I see is trees and more trees, mist, and more mist.
Just as I’m about to choose a new direction, the path that seems the least misty, I hear the cracking sound of a branch snapping, breaking the eerie silence.
My heart flutters. I spin around, but I don’t see anything. I don’t feel comfortable. My heart is racing a mile a minute. There're too many dark, misty spots where something could be hiding. Suddenly I feel like I’m being watched. It’s probably the space demon.
The urge to flee is almost overwhelming. I decide to stick with my first choice and head down the least misty way. I make it about a dozen feet when I hear another branch snapping behind me. That’s not a coincidence.
I cast a fearful glance over my shoulder, but it’s hard to look back and keep moving forward. There’s too much I have to watch out for. My toe snags on a branch and I go down on one knee. I scramble back upright and rush forward. I’ve learned my lesson.
I focus on the ground and my own feet.
Another branch snaps behind me and then another. Whatever is behind me is rushing to catch up with me.
Please let it be a bunny or something, please. I wish I could run. I wish I knew just where the heck I was going. As I keep moving forward, the mist continues to thin. I make it another dozen feet and thankfully the thing behind me hasn’t caught up to me yet.
Rushing, I keep rushing. I see the trees thinning out in front of me. It’s hope. I surge onward. The going gets easier and easier. There're less trees around, less stuff on the ground to trip me up. Less stuff to snag my dress on.
The trees spread, yards grow between them. The mist dissipates. Everything is lit up by the morning sun. The next thing I know I actually am running. I’m running and running, my shredded gown fluttering behind me. I’m running as if I actually have a chance.
I make it, somehow I make it. I reach a clearing. There're several rocks and a small river of running water. I run up to the biggest rock and climb up on it. I whip around, expecting to finally see whatever it is that’s chasing me. There’s nothing there.
Was I just imagining it? Freaking myself out?
My eyes comb the trees, the ground, and even the sky. I could have sworn I was being chased, that something was trying to catch me. Why would it stop? Maybe it gave up awhile back?
Well, whatever it is, I conclude, it’s not the alien. I have a feeling that if it was him chasing me, he would have caught me. Or, even if he didn’t catch me, he wouldn’t just stop. Hopefully, I was just running from my own twisted imagination.
I hop off the rock and start to pace around. My heart is still racing and I have to give it time to slow. After a couple of minutes, I bend over. I start to retch. As the panic fades away, I feel the sickness. My breathing is loud and uneven. I pushed myself too hard and too fast, now I’m paying for it.
I didn’t eat breakfast before I left so all I end up getting out is a lot of spit. My stomach eventually settles. I wipe my mouth off with the back of my hand.
Okay, I found water, yay! But now I’m seriously lost. I look up at the sun’s position in the sky and I think at least an hour has passed. Air in the nose and out the mouth. I think I’m done getting sick.
I’ve been gone longer than I would have liked. This whole plan of mine has really gone to shit. If the alien checks on the pod, he’ll know I’m not there, what with the wall being down and all. He’ll have full access to the pod and everything in it. Or he’ll come looking for me. I don’t know which is worse.
I walk over to the water and gaze into it. It’s crystal clear, so clear I can see the muddy bottom. I bend over and dip my hand in the water. It’s not exactly cold, but it’s not exactly warm. A cool bath is better than no bath at all.
I have yet to hear another branch breaking and so far nothing has come upon me. Yet, I feel full of dread. I feel like I’ve gotten myself into quite a mess, and I’m not sure if this time I can get myself out of it.
I lower myself down to the ground, cross my legs and just sit and listen. It’s peaceful, even relaxing here. The quiet is filled only with the sounds of the water flowing and splashing against the rocks.
If only an hour has passed, there is still hope left, I reassure myself. The alien may not check on the pod for several hours. Perhaps I can still take a bath and get back. The feeling of dread eases a bit. The thought of finally rinsing the layers of yuck off my skin lifts my spirits.
I slide off my slippers. They are beyond ruined, torn and caked with a mud that will never come off. I look down to my dress. I’m not even sure it’s still a dress. It’s ripped and shredded. It’s truly rags now, hanging on only by a few expensive threads.
I set the slippers
down to my left, uncross my legs, point my toes and test the water again. It’s still tepid. I would prefer it warm, but I’ll take what I can get. I let my legs go and watch as they drop down beneath the rippling surface. My reflection is there, wavering. I avoid looking at it by sliding the rest of my body in.
The water feels amazing. My feet touch the muddy bottom. I sink down until my shoulders are covered. As the water settles, I catch another glimpse of my reflection so I close my eyes and hold my breath. I sink all the way down until the water is covering my head.
I hold myself under the water until my lungs threaten to burst. Then I surface, gasping for air, only to drop back down when I’ve caught my breath. Under the water, I run my hands along my body, rubbing off the grime the best that I can. Frustratingly, the rags I’m still wearing serve only get in my way. I wish I was brave enough to remove them.
I rub my skin until it’s tender and pink. Then I scrub at my scalp, scratching and scraping, trying to get rid of the itch. If only I had soap, I think wistfully as I work on my hair. Water can only do so much, it’s going to take some actual industrial strength soap, hot water, and a lot more scrubbing before I’ll ever truly feel clean again.
All the scrubbing and scratching saps up the last of my energy so I regretfully pull myself out onto the bank. I’m sopping wet and have nothing to dry off with. My rags are heavy and dripping streams. I grab up handfuls and wring them out, but it doesn’t help much. I need to dry off a bit before I set out to find my way back. The forest is cold and misty. If I don’t warm up I’ll catch my death before I ever make it back.
The big rock seems like the best place to rest and dry myself out so I climb back up on it and spread myself out. I lay back with my hands under my head.
The rock is warm beneath me. Even though it’s hard, its way more comfortable than the cold floor I’ve been sleeping on. The rock also has a direct beam of sunlight. I soak up the warmth of the sun but still I start shivering.
It’s my dress. My dress is keeping me cold. The sun just can’t penetrate it.
So far paranoia has kept me from removing my dress. My teeth start to chatter, however, and the choice is taken right out of my hands. I have to remove my dress before I shiver myself sick.
I sit up and work the rags down. The way it clings, it feels more like I’m peeling off a layer of skin. Once the rags are off, I wring the whole thing out and spread it out on the side of the rock. For now it clings to the rock. When it dries off, it will probably slip off and fall to the ground.
Fully nude now, the sun touches and warms every exposed inch of my flesh. I gather up my hair in my hands and twist it, ringing the water out just as I did with my dress. Once my hair is only damp, I lean back with a sigh of contentment on my lips. I fan my hair out on the rock, so it will dry, and try to relax as the heat sinks in.
Eventually, I start to drift off. Maybe it’s because of the nightmare or maybe it’s because I’m naked, but soon my thoughts start to drift towards the alien.
In my dreams, he wants to kiss me and call me his. In reality, I don’t know what to make of him. I must do my best not to confuse my dreams with reality. I must not let my guard drop and let him in.
Why did he bring me food and water? Why help me? I’m pretty sure none of it was poisoned. He didn’t seem to gain anything by it unless his purpose is to gain my trust so I’m less guarded around him. Shit. Maybe he did it so I’d be brave enough to try something reckless, something like this.
I’m so stupid. Stupid got me into this mess.
It’s not even the whole lost in the woods thing I’ve got going on. My stupidity is what got me marooned on this planet to begin with. I trusted my stepbrother, Vrillum. I let him convince me that I should have one last hurrah before my Father officially announced my engagement. I let him sweet talk me into believing one just hasn’t lived until they’ve been off the planet.
This isn’t living, this is surviving, and I’m doing a damn poor job at it.
Chapter Ten
A twig snaps and my eyes pop open in alarm. I’m not sure how long I let myself get lost in thought, but I’m pretty sure it was for too long. I sit up and grab up my dress. I clutch it to my chest as my eyes search for the source of the sound.
Another twig snaps and I catch a glimpse of something small and furry darting around a tree.
My shoulders slump and I release the tension that was building up in a long, relieved breath. It’s just a bunny or some other harmless creature. Nothing to be afraid of. Time to gather up my stuff, though, and get out of here. Before something bigger and badder shows up.
Another twig snaps. I slide off the side of the rock. The furry creature darts out from behind the tree. We stare at each other, ten feet or so between us. It’s small, brown and reminds me of a squirrel. Except where I come from squirrels don’t have big, black eyes or long, razor sharp claws.
Where I come from, squirrels also tend to be skittish around people, and rarely get close to them. This little creature has no fear of me. It runs straight for me and stops only inches from my bare feet. It makes a chirping sound and it’s large, black eyes peer up at me. Its large gleaming eyes make it oh so cute. It reminds me of one of the forest creatures in the cartoons I watched growing up.
“Hello there, little guy,” I say softly.
The little creature makes another chirping noise. Is it trying to communicate with me?
“Were you what was chasing me?”
The creature only blinks.
“Well, I gotta get going… have fun…”
The little animal is adorable, but I know better than to reach out to touch it or to try to pick it up. It’s a wild animal and the last thing I need to deal with is a scratch or some kind of alien rabies. I have all my shots, but I’m not vaccinated for the stuff on this planet. I hope it doesn’t follow me back to the pod.
I take a step to the side and look up. There’s a loud commotion off in the distance that draws my attention. I lift my foot as if to take another step but stop dead in my tracks. Ice floods my veins. It’s hard to breathe. My heart thunders behind my ribs.
About fifty yards or so is the big purple alien and he’s running. He’s heading straight for me.
“Shit,” I curse.
The little animal hisses and bares its fangs. It darts forward and tries to take a bite out of my foot. I yank my foot back just in time and dance away from it.
Just what I needed.
I scramble backwards, but the only place to go is to the water or to the left. I mean to go to the left, but the little animal comes after me again.
“Hey!” I yelled at it, “Shoo! Bugger off!”
I kick at it and it retreats back.
I side step to the left and stop short. Another fuzzy creature pops its head out from behind a tree and chirps.
“I will stomp you if you don’t back off!” I warn the little animals, but they ignore me. They’re chirping at each other and I bet, I just bet they’re hashing out a plan.
The water it is. I hope the little buggers can’t swim. I start to ease myself back. The alien is gaining ground. He’s going to catch me if I don’t do something quick.
Something chirps behind me.
I cast a glance over my shoulder and sure enough, on the other side of the water is another fuzzy creature with fangs.
What do I do now?
The fuzzball in front of me rushes forward while its buddy comes at me from the left. I kick out at the one in front of me and swing my dress at the one to my left. They both back off of me for a moment then they start to circle around me.
Dammit, why do they have to be so intelligent and nasty?
I’d have to spin to keep my eyes on them, but then I remember I’ve taken my eyes off the alien. He should have reached me by now. My eyes flick away for just a moment and one of the creatures shrieks. I look down in confusion. It’s gone.
Where did it go?
I look to the other creature. It shrieks as wel
l as a rock smashes into it and sends its little body flying away from me. I look up and there the purple alien is, five yards away from me with another rock poised and ready in his hand.
“Thank you!” I call out and take off running to the left.
The forest erupts with chirps. Little heads with large black eyes and snarling fangs pop out from everywhere. I dig my heels in the dirt and come to a screeching halt.
There’s so many… Where did they all come from? I can’t even…
I turn right back around and start running towards the alien.
“Help!” I scream.
I think I’ll take my chances with him.
The alien drops the rock and raises his fists in the air. He reminds me of a massive purple gorilla as all the muscles in his body seemingly flex and he lets out a blood-curdling roar.
It feels as if everything inside me just drops. My bottom fell out. He rushes forward and my life flashes before my eyes. This is it. I’m so dead.
I’m too scared to even care.
The alien rushes past me. I could have sworn he was going to barrel right through me, but he swerves and gives me a wide berth.
I hear the carnage behind me before I actually see it. The sounds of the creatures getting hurt is disturbing. I know they’re mean, nasty little things that would have eaten me but their sounds of pain are too high pitched. They sound like puppies getting kicked. It’s hard on the soul.
Slowly, I spin around, afraid of what I’m going to find. But something inside me has to see what is going on. I have to know.
I clutch my dress to my chest and shiver. It’s still wet and cold.
The alien is fighting dozens of the fuzzy creatures. He’s covered in their blood. They launch at him from the ground and even from above. There’s so many of them. The alien’s fists don’t slow. Most of the creatures get punched or kicked, but a lucky few get grabbed. If he doesn’t send them rocketing through the air, to splatter against a tree, he rips off their little heads. He’s completely berserk.