Snap and crunch were the sounds of branches breaking me and my fall. I regained consciousness a second before the first impact. The golden dagger gleamed as it spun through the air besides me. The life or death situation slowed down my perception of time enough to question whether I was falling at less than terminal velocity.

Thankfully, I tumbled when I contacted the trunk of the tree. I rolled down the arch of the trunk as gracefully as could ever hope to be expected and stopped at the bags my mother had packed. The cursed dagger bounced through the branches until it landed point down in my thigh.

I screamed in pain and rage, mostly at my mother. Gritting my teeth and balling my fist, I reached for the dagger, only hesitating briefly before I yanked it from my femur. It didn’t bleed as much as expected. The only sign that my mother had stabbed me in the chest was the slit in my shirt.

I dropped the dagger at my side and looked around. Trees that were more root than trunk made up the bulk of my surroundings. The black bark and purple-gray leaves were a strange sight, but seemed to match perfectly with the yellow sky. The vegetation wouldn’t feel totally out of place at home, but its color was closer to blue than green. I had the unfamiliar feeling an animal might have when confronted with a brightly colored creature that might be poisonous.

I hoped I was still asleep at my desk but I knew that wasn't true.

Pulling out the first-aid kit I had seen while inspecting my father’s sword, I ripped my pants open wide enough to clean and bandage the wound. I got up to test out my leg and minus the stinging pain; I was completely mobile.

The dirt I stood on was oddly comforting. I smiled for the first time since waking up, noticing the classic brown color. Finding that dirt felt like finding a friend while lost in a foreign country.

My smile faltered, realizing how fucked I was. I needed to find water, shelter and food or, better yet, intelligent life. I studied the horizon through the gaps in the alien forest, looking for some sign of civilisation. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my bags and started walking. I would walk until I found water.

After what felt like hours of pushing through alien vegetation, I heard something other than the rustling grass and leaves. It was faint and getting louder every second. A pulsing whine like a capacitor charging rang through the forest. As it got louder, I felt the ground vibrate with the pulse and then suddenly the sound stopped.

I looked around, waiting for something to happen, and a second later there was a flash, followed by a deafening explosion. I could see the object in the sky now. It had a long rectangular hull with random irregularly shaped extrusions and depressions along its length. Fire engulfed the rear of the ship and left billows of smoke and debris trailing behind. The ship sank lower and lower in the sky before I lost sight of it behind the trees. The ground shook when it crashed and continued to shake as it skidded and rolled.

The sound of trees being crushed and torn apart heralded the ship before I saw the gray hull rushing towards me. I ran in the opposite direction as fast as I could and my speed surprised me. I imagined running in low gravity felt like this. A rock caught my foot, and I tumbled to the ground, rolling until I slammed into yet another damned tree. My vision blurred, and I had difficulty distinguishing up from down. A shadow was cast over me and again the forest was quiet.

Regaining my balance, I stood up and saw the front half of the ship had stopped half a dozen feet from where I fell. Toxic smelling smoke fell in a haze around the ship, limiting my visibility. A frown formed on my face as I thought about how the first aliens I would meet would likely be corpses. I had to check even if it was dangerous. Covering my face with the sleeve of my shirt, I searched for an entrance. Finding none, I stumbled over debris and rubble to the end of the ship that had broken apart.

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The interior looked like a spacious passenger plane, but instead of seats, rows of chains hung from the ceiling. The chains attached to the arms and legs of what I could only describe as angels. Their wings were a variety of colors, but all were bloody and broken. Most were missing arms that still hung from chains on the ceiling and legs that were still chained to the floor. Blood and bits of gore covered every surface. None wore clothing. The only movement was the swinging of chains and the occasional spark from electrical shorts.

I should feel sick, but I only felt sadness and something else I couldn’t quite describe. I needed something. Maybe I just needed to flee this nightmare in front of me. If there was someone alive in here, I couldn’t leave them, not in this hell, especially angels. Somehow I cracked a smile at the joke and waded through the bodies looking for survivors.

I stepped through pools of blood, flipping over bodies, checking necks for pulses and mouths for breathing. After an hour of digging through the carnage, my fingers felt the healthy pulse of a woman.

One survivor among hundreds.

Picking her up in a princess carry I navigated our way out of the ship and to the bags I had dropped. As soon as I set her down an explosion knocked me off my feet. The ship was now engulfed in flames. I could already smell the burning flesh of the dead. When the surrounding forest began to catch fire I knew I needed to move.

I looked down at the alien woman and the older more instinctual part of my brain briefly considered leaving her. But I wasn't an animal. I wouldn't want to be left behind to be burned alive and therefore I wouldn't leave her behind if it was within my power.

I scooped her back up, trying to keep her wings neatly folded against her back and set off once more.

The sun began to set about an hour after departing the wreckage. I had put the setting sun on my right and tried to follow the natural downwards slope of the land to increase my chances of finding water. There were no traces of any type of creatures living in the forest besides the trees and other plant life and it was getting mighty irry.

It was unlikely that I would find water before the sun set and I could no longer see. I stopped at the next clearing and decided to make camp. I was surprised how much energy I still had after hiking a dozen miles or so carrying this alien woman and the overstuffed bags my mother had packed for me.

I gently laid the woman down on a soft looking patch of grass and made sure she was still alive. She had many cuts and bruises but nothing serious at first glance.

I unzipped the duffle and backpack and prepared to take inventory of my supplies but I froze at the sight of a neatly folded note at the top of the pack. I picked it up, carefully unfolded the letter and softly read the contents aloud.

"Dear Son, Damon Heliot XII,

After your father died I realized you wouldn't survive here on earth. You are not completely human. A few years before you were born I accidentally brought your father from a planet in the Cygnus constellation known to humanity as Kepler-452b. I was hoping to get a favor from a demon but I got your father Damen instead. (Grinning Face With Sweat Emoji) I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I know you have always thought of me as being a little crazy and I didn't want you to think your mother was completely insane. (Sad Face Emoji) I don't have much time to write this letter so I'll be brief. When your father first arrived here on earth he radiated with a power that slowly faded over the years until his death. This is why I had to take such drastic measures to get you home. I could feel your aura slowly diminishing and I knew this was your only chance. I've included some books to put your mind on the right path. Maybe you can open a bookstore too like your mother. (Smiley Face Emoji) I'll know if you're okay.

With Love,

Sarah Heliot

PS. It's okay if you start craving blood. (Face Savoring Delicious Food emoji)