Connor flew up from his sleeping position. Viciously torn from a peaceful

sleep.

The sound that awoke him was bone chilling. Slightly disoriented and not

sure if it was a mere nightmare, he deftly scanned the surroundings. The

sun was about to set on the horizon. Glancing around, he observed that

everyone were still asleep near the burned out fire. As he was about to lie

down again, the same terrible sound pierced the quiet morning air. A very

loud, shrieking roar. This time however, it sounded closer than before and

woke Warner and Reed, who jumping up, still groggy and disorientated,

threw Connor a questioning look.

"Was that Banshee's?" Reed asked sounding confused .

"No." Connor said flatly and got up quickly to his feet.

The roar is heard again. Seemingly much closer than before, too close for

comfort.

"Holy fuck." Warner uttered and started scampering for his things.

"Everyone! Get the hell up! We need to go! Now!!!" yelled Connor to the still

sleeping and unsuspecting group before him.

They woke up, startled and completely mind fucked. They sat upright

looking at him totally confused.

Madison gave Connor a stinky eye, until they all heard the vicious roar

booming nearby, which put a fire under them all. Bob and Alley hastily

grabbed their belongings together. Darren in his haste to get up, nearly

smashed back into the ground face first.

"Get going! For fuck-sakes!! " Connor shouted at the top of his voice, whilst

helping Alley with Bob.

In a matter of minutes, they had collected all their things, packed and

huddled together, they speedily set off attempting to get past the oncoming

roar.

"We need to move fast and be alert. I have NO fucking idea what that was!

But, it is heading our way! Let's hope going a bit off course leads it away

from us." Connor said. Madison, catching up to his side was clenching her

dagger.

"We will be fine." Connor said comfortingly, in hopes to soothe her nerves.

She smiled anxiously at him. With her smile wobbling dangerously, she

turned her attention back to the path ahead.

They had been sticking to the side of the dilapidated highway as much as

they could.

New forestry and greenery had risen from the soil and spread like a rapid

green, colourful disease all over the landscape, as far as their eyes can see.

Making it far harder to distinguish the tarmac, which seems to be taken

over by plant growth. They had been walking for a few miles, when they

reached a turn off into an old ruin of a town.

"If this location is safe enough, we might even be able to relocate and set up

camp here ... for a temporary base. Seemingly, the dangerous position we

find ourselves in, warrant this for consideration." Connor said more to

himself and deep in thought, as they kept on moving forward, bypassing the

old and abandoned ruins.

"Would Jack approve of a town setting....?" Reed asked, keeping up with

Conner's slower pace, gripping tightly the weapon in his hand.

"I think, buildings ... or tunnels ... might be our best option, if things get any

weirder. God knows, WHAT thing that horrible shriek came from. The

woods might not be as safe as we were used to...", said Connor thoughtfully.

"I agree!" retorted Jack enthusiastically. Both looked up when a blazing fire,

larger than the missiles, flew overhead and rocketed downwards to the

ground a few miles to the east of the town.

"Jesus... not again!?" sighed Reed with evident annoyance.

"No. Wait." Connor said, holding up his hand, and the group came to a halt,

silently staring at the smoke further ahead.

"That was not a missile. Whatever it was, it was already burning and it

crashed." he said. His own words sent chills down his spine. His comrades

looked at him questioningly.

"Meaning....it might have been a plane....or a ship?" he said hesitantly.

Warren was the first to give into a ridiculous chuckle and snorted loudly.

Connor nearly nailed him to the ground with an ice cold stare.

"Fuck!! Are you fucking for real?? Ships? As in spaceships?" Warren spat

out sharply. Connor realised the absurdity of what he had just said, but

what else could it be? There was no WAY it was from earth itself!

"I don't mean to sound crazy, but come on you guys? How do you explain all

this!?" he said pointedly, gesturing inclusively to the lush greenery. Bob

stepped forward and grinned sheepishly.

"I believe you might be right. Alley and I had the chance to look at some of

the pieces of debris at our campsite last night. The materials are defo not

known to us... nor the tech. It might sound ludicrous, but ... we drew the

same conclusion as you. Of course, we did not want to say anything just

yet... " he said firmly, his voice dwindling away and gave Alley a reassuring

smile. She gave a slow affirmative nod.

"I have to agree with you all." Madison piped in. Connor smiled at her for

her effort. The other three beefcakes stood staring at them in disbelief.

"Oh freaking hell! What does it matter anyways? We do not have the time to

worry about aliens right now or whatever the cause of this acid trip is, we

have bigger worries right now. We must find a safe spot...from what's out

there and we have to get back to the camp." Darren said defiantly. Connor

grinned as it dawned on him, that this is one of the ONLY moments he that

he can recall, that something so smart came out of that shit bag's mouth .

"Fine. Let's search this area for any underground passages or tunnels ...or

buildings, that would be safe haven for us. Then, if we have secured a

location, we need to split into two groups and retrieve Jack and our people

and bring them back here. This is close enough to the marker he set for us.

Until we know a bit more of the sudden changes happening around us, we

might later consider scouting towards the coastal area. Let's get to it guys,

our time have been wasted too much already."

"That's fine... Reed and I will start heading back." Darren offered. Connor

mulled it over and then nodded in acceptance.

****

Meanwhile, further eastwards ...

I have never felt true pain. Pain that made you instantly wish you would

rather die.

My breath could hardly catch in my lungs. My eyes teared as the pain

splintered my skull. I let out a whimpering cry, as the pain enveloped my

senses entirely.

My body had been thrown onto the ground and I lay squirming helplessly.

I clenched at the dirt as I felt the bones in my body snap back together. I

gasped hoarsely, until I was so out of breath, that I just lay there limp and

numb, after the tremendous waves of pain rippled through my body.

My vision adjusted and slowly came into focus.

I saw sprawled out before me, a perfectly shaped hand. Slim fingers,

average shape and size of that of a human female. I frowned and lifted my

hand. It was my hand? I could not believe what I saw. My skin had a fair

complexion of creamy white. I slowly sat upright and stared down at the

perfectly shaped body. My uniform was burnt and torn apart. My body had

shrunk to what I perceive to be, an average size and height for a human

female.

Quizzically I gazed down upon my womanly features. Definitely NOT what I

expected! Yet it was...wonderful! I lifted my hand to touch my head and felt

I no longer had tendrils. It was soft, long lushes of red hair cascading down

my back, pooling on the ground behind me. I was in such shock! I could not

stop staring at the magical transformation that has taken place. For a long

while, I just absorbed my new state, before I decided to actually get up.

My body felt real sore, due to the rapid healing and sudden changes.

However, I was with much effort, able to look for something with which I

could eventually cover myself. I found my robe laying across the bunker

seat of the ship. The one side completely ripped apart and destroyed. I

fixated on the feel of the soil beneath my bare feet and smiled sheepishly to

myself. My smell sense was still as good as it always had been, even though

my nose was now smaller and differently shaped, I began to pick up all the

different smells floating around me.

Burning fuel, melting leather and metal. Soil, water and grass.

Flowers...ahhh, that must be the source of the sweet fragrance that was

permeating the air. I smiled to myself, realising that I had actually survived

the crash ... and that I am experiencing something that I had always dreamt

of without hope, for the very first time.

Childish perhaps....but why not embrace the good in the bad? My fellow

travelers aboard the ship, must have died on impact . The front of the ship

was mashed together like a spring. I felt a burning pang of pain for their

loss of life in such a way and hoped that they had not suffered.

After I retrieved the robe, I tied it around my waist the best I could, with a

piece of the material I tore from the bottom seem, using it as a belt.

Methodically I search the wreck in an effort to find and retrieve anything I

could, that might have survived the crash.

***

Back at the ruin city ...

Connor watched the smoke in the distance puff into the air and the

strangest feeling of fear crept up his spine. Fear....he seldom experienced

that feeling .. and to recognise it now as such, made his knees weak. He had

this gut feeling that they needed to find out what had happened there. But

first things first. The camp was right now more important than anything

else. His eyes swept the area, whilst mentally taking stock of everyone's

activities for now...

Madison and Alley had gone up into the clearing behind the edge of the

town in search of wood for a fire. Whilst the rest of the men were still

clearing the buildings. Luckily, until now, there have not been any

encounters with any unknown monstrosities. His mind suddenly felt raked

over with deep exhaustion. The trip was surely starting to take its toll on

his body. The lack of decent sleep, even more so.

He was about to call out to Reed, that what he assumed were once a drug

store, was cleared, when a thundering sound pierced the air and shook the

earth underfoot.

Madison gazed up quickly towards the hill, as the earth shook violently

beneath her and Alley's feet, who came to an abrupt halt right next to her,

frightened stiff.

Another loud shriek pierced their ears. They were both frozen with shock

and stared helplessly towards the oncoming noise, incapable of movement

from fear.

Trees snapped, cascaded sideways and fell down with crashing sounds.

It was then that they saw IT and it send paralyzing shivers of fear down

their spines.

Spilling over the hill, rose the gigantic figure of the monster. Its dark

shadow cascading over the clearing and their faces, wiping away the day by

its sheer size. Alley wrapped her hand around Madison's and started to pull

her back forcefully. Madison was unable to move, she was petrified by fear

and sheer shock, that made her limbs immobile.

Connor, took this all in and felt his stomach drop a thousand feet.

Instinctively he bolstered into action, speeding like a mad man towards

Alley and Madison. He came to a screeching halt, when his eyes took in the

looming, menacing monster. He was as shocked as they were, until he

heard Alley's frantic screams whilst attempting to pull Madison into a run,

which shook him from his stupor.

He leaped forward, signaled with flailing arms at Alley to run. She looked

up and saw the yellow eyes of the monster gaze down at her. He let out a

threatening snarl. His gigantic head cocked to the one side, as to inspect

them carefully.

It was then that Madison gained some life and her screams ripped the air.

She turned to run and this seem to piss IT off. It shrieked again and stepped

forward shaking the ground forcibly. The girls were a few paces ahead of

Connor. They ran for their lives. Suddenly all hell broke loose, as out of

nowhere Darren came speeding with Bob hot on his tail. Warren was near

the first broken house and shouted at them to make haste.

Bob got their first. He lifted his back pack and slammed it into Warrens

chest.

"Get out the bombs!! Shits about to go down!" he shouted and gave a

sudden maniacal laugh.

Warren dug out the homemade bombs and slipped two under his arms.

He pulled out the blow torch and lit the tops. Bob signaled to Alley and

Madison to run to the right. The monster shrieked deeply and then leapt

into a run with long strides.

He was gaining on them..

Connor saw Madison falter and fall behind, but Darren nearest to the girls

by then, had his arm out and scooped her into the wing of his arm. At that

moment, Alley tripped and fell onto her stomach on top of a bunch of rocks.

Connor swooped out his machete and picked up the pace. He ran full speed

and slid underneath the belly of the beast, ripping a long slice into the

leathery belly skin. He combat rolled to the left. The beast stopped and let

out a moan, followed by a rage filled growl.

IT napped its gaze towards Connor, the source of its pain and stepped

forward. Snapping its jaw at Connor, it revealed the biggest teeth Connor

had ever seen.

From the peripheral of his eye, Connor saw Bob and Warren stealthily

approaching IT from behind.

Rees had his bow at the ready and Warren aimed a bomb at IT. Connor had

only seconds, so he darted toward the houses, just as Warren threw the

flaming bomb towards the beast. Reed shot burning arrows at its head, that

distracted it from the oncoming burning explosive.

Connor was not so lucky to escape unscathed, because as the beast snapped

viciously at him in hot pursuit, a tooth caught his leg, renting his calf.

Connor propelled forwards into a spiraling fall and crashed into the trunk

of a tree.

A second later, the bomb exploded. The force of it and the loud booming,

disoriented and stunned the beast temporarily, whilst IT stood shaking its

head. The second bomb exploded right behind it. They saw blood

splattering in all directions as the impact of the bomb blew its gigantic foot

apart and it toppled loudly to the ground. Helpless.

Warren carefully approached the beast from behind and threw several tar

bombs at it. It shrieked and moaned in utter pain, whilst flailing it's claws,

frantically attempting to get up, but its balance was impaired and it

couldn't. Reed shot a burning arrow into the nearest tar bomb. The flames

ignited and they had to watch the creature burn alive, whilst its terrible

shrieks soared from out of the flames.

Madison ran towards Connor, crying hysterically. Alley huddled in her

father's comforting embrace.

"Connor?! Wake the fuck up!!" she shouted at him and slammed her hand

onto his chest.

"Would you calm down?" he groaned and painfully sat upright. He saw the

blood oozing through the back of his pants and knew he had to fix it up fast,

before he loses too much blood.

"Are you going to be okay?" she asked in a whiny tone. He nodded and tried

to get onto his feet.

"Jesus ... I ... I ... " she stopped trying to talk and cried again.

"What the fuck was THAT?" Warren asked, throwing his weapons to the

ground with disgust as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"FUCK!!! This whole god damn world has come to a fucking crazy end!! Next

thing you know, Connors alien theory will be proven correct ... and we will

be chased around by little green FUCKERS!!" Reed spat out and threw

himself down on the grass.

"What WAS that ugly piece of shit?" Darren asked, pointing towards the

burning corpse which until a few minutes back, was still showing signs of

movement.

" THAT ... was a dinosaur...." Connor retorted flatly, with a heavy sigh.

"A ... a DINOSAUR? You MUST be fucking kidding me!?" Reed said in

disbelief.

"Nope. I am sure that is ...was, a dinosaur." said Connor with conviction.

"He is not wrong. I saw the drawings of those dinosaurs in books ... when I

crossed the cities way back." Bob said and the group became silent. Their

minds seemed to find the reality of this hard to grasp. After all, who would

blame them?

"What do we do? We need to warn the others... they must be informed...."

said Madison shaken and bewildered.

"You can't.... They're all gone...." the tired voice came from behind them and

they spun around. Jane stood grasping for air. Her body was rigid and her

face paler than snow.

Her clothes were covered in blood. Her once beautiful curls, caked with dirt

and dried blood.

"Jane!?" Connor jumped to his feet, but the pain nearly send him back on his

arse. Warren caught her just in time as she collapsed.

***

Two days. Two very long and grueling days did they have to sit and wait for

Jane to revive.

Meanwhile, Connor got his leg sorted out with a hot knife to seal the

wound. Some of his herbal anti biotics and clean bandages did the rest. The

dinosaur cut him deep, but luckily not deep enough for a serious loss of

limb. They waited for her recovery. It was nerve wrecking for the group to

sit and wait, not knowing what happened to her and why she came to be

there. Her only words spoken before she lost consciousness, were the

worst thing for them to grasp. The uncertainty they had to endure, made

them feel restless, even all that they had faced the last dew days dimmed in

comparison.

They eventually took shelter in an old industrial building that was still in

tact enough, to provide them with shelter, warmth and a measure of

security. But even that, seemed to them like they were still in a nightmare.

Just the thought of them being safe, but that their people weren't, was

excruciating.

"Christ! Won't she ever wake up?!" Reed exclaimed irritably, feeling he

couldn't take this waiting anymore. Connor shot him a seething stare and

continued to wipe the moisture off her forehead.

Her eyes momentarily fluttered and then she gasped for breath. Her hands

clung helplessly to the sides of the make shift cot. Her eyes met Connor's

calm, enquiring stare. He smiled warmly at her and tears immediately

pooled up in her eyes.

She whimpered like an injured animal and her tears rolled slowly down her

hollow cheeks.

"Come. You need to drink some water. Sit up." he gently cradled her back,

helping her into a sitting position.

She swallowed carefully from the metal cup, but soon thirst got the better

of her and she grabbed hold of the cup to gulp down all of it. Connor refilled

the cup for her again and she quickly emptied that too. She lay back into his

arms exhausted from the effort of drinking and sighed deeply.

"Jane. We know you're tired, but I have to ask you. We need to know what

happened?" he pressed upon her, his voice sounding anxious. Everyone

moved closer to the cot. Worry and anxiety were etched upon the faces that

looked at Jane. She looked at them with sad, pained eyes and took a deep

breath.

"You were gone for only two days ... when they came. I had just woken up

from sleep, after a long shift the previous night. When I went outside my

tent, I saw them surrounding the camp. Sage. They found us ... " her voice

cracked and trembled. Connor's innards took a wild lurch and he felt like

gagging, as her words sank in ...

"They took everyone hostage. Miles and I were the only ones to escape. We

ran as fast as we could. We tried to catch up with you guys. At first, we got

lost at some point, because the map got wet after unexpected rain. So it was

of no use anymore ... We came across two banshees lurking in the dead

forests. Miles insisted that we take this short cut.

I didn't want to .. just knew it was going to come and bite us in the arse. So,

anyway... They attacked us and Miles... Miles got hurt.

Before I found you, we were nearing a clearing, coming out of the dead

forest ... and the most amazing thing is, that everything have changed!

Everything is green! Green grass, trees, plants, flowers!!" her eyes stretched

in awe.

" We were taken by surprise. In awe of what we saw, we were distracted I

guess, caught up in the moment. Then out of nowhere, we were attacked by

these horrid vicious little creatures of about my length. They were...

reptilian! They pounced and got hold of Miles... Tore him to bits and ate him

... right there!!They were too fast and he couldn't escape! He stood NO

chance! He couldn't even TRY to get away!" she yelled, as terrible sobs tore

out from deep inside of her.

Connor slowly and soothingly rubbed her shoulder, till she could speak

again.

"Anyways, that's how I got away. When they were doing that ... and the next

day, I found you guys." Jane looked at Connor piercingly, and said, "Sage's

soldiers took our people with strict orders NOT to hurt anyone, unless

given a reason. Why would she want US?" As her words drifted of, it

seemed as if the air in the room where they were all gathered, took on a

frostiness, as the truth became a twisted mystery.

Reeds booming voice, breaks the earie spell. "Fuck!! Shit!! Those crazy

cunts probably want us for slaves! We all KNOW how this goes. Sage has

taken people for years now. They are NEVER heard of again! That is some

crazy, blood thirsty, arsehole leader! Fuck! Fuck and fuck!! We are fucken

doomed!" Reed seemed madly, seemingly really messed up and enraged

beyond limits. Connor knew they all felt the same way. This was NOT good

news.

"Lay back and rest." he said to Jane calmly, pushing her gently back into the

cot and strode silently over to the securely shut metallic doors. There were

metallic steps leading upwards before it, with dirty stained windows on the

left side. He mounted the steps and stood peering out through the hazy

window. The town was deadly quiet. Not even a breeze. His mind was

racing with the worst possible scenarios. His father...his father could be

dead already for all he knew. This realisation nearly made him want to

puke. He had no idea what to do next.

"Hey." Madison placed her hand lightly on his shoulder and smiled.

"We have to find a way to get them back." she said courageously.

"That... might not be possible." he said heavily.

"Connor, come on. We have to do something? We have to be with our own

people." her eyes became misty. He knew what she felt and the urge she

was experiencing to be brave and fight to set them free. The reality is that

Sage was not an enemy that they could face alone. Not with only seven

people and little to nothing weapons or ammo. They were totally out

numbered and useless when it came to do battle with them.

"Madison. We first have to find out more. Perhaps return home." at least

there they would be able to obtain weapons and food, IF there were

anything left behind.

"Home?" she asked quizzically.

"Yes. We can work from there." His decision was quick, but he knew it was

more strategical. If they took everyone and left the camp area unraided,

then perhaps they stood a chance to retrieve all of their hidden supplies.

"Why would we want to go back there?" Madison asked with a tinge of

despair.

"We need whatever is left." His voice sounded firm.

Jane was back on her feet and got herself cleaned up. She had a bite to eat

from their sparse food supply. Connor shared his plans with the group and

with heavy hearts they all agreed to it.

They packed up and cleared out at dawn the next morning. Knowing the

journey back was going to be challenging, they speedily pushed forward.

This time they decided to cut straight through the whole route. To get home

quickly. Jane was not at her strongest yet and Connor's wound was hurtful

but healing. Bob was trudging along. His recovery was slower than what

they had hoped for. Alley stayed by her fathers side every minute. He

looked a bit bleak in the face, which made Connor worry. If there was an

infection brewing they had trouble ahead, but if his body was merely weak

from over exhaustion it will persist because there wasn't enough time for

recovery.

The group was silent, everyone looked pale and worried, as the daylight

came and they backtracked homewards. They just had to be alert, stay

strong. It was a matter of survival now. They needed to get home fast.

***

I stayed at the crash site the whole night, listening to the night sounds and

watching the night life that surrounded me that first night.

Two days later, I ventured much further afield. I walked eastwards and

kept mostly to the bushy and tree areas, careful to avoid any possible

contact with creatures or humans. I must admit that I was terrified. I was

trembling with unknown fear.

For so long had I admired humans ... but now I was afraid. Afraid they

would see through my camouflage. I familiarized myself with every plant

and animal I came across, in those first days that I was alone. I enjoyed the

adventure. I had become fearful. Uncertainty plagued my mind. Who or

what might I find next? If I were to reach a civilization soon, how would I

handle it? How will I be treated? Will they sense I am different? How do I go

from there, further upon my quest?

I was making my way down a sloping hill, when I heard faint chattering.

My ears twitched and zoned into the oncoming sound of the strange voices

I heard. It was people. It was humans! Instinctively, I cowered behind a

bush and peered at them from behind the lush overhanging branches.

They were getting closer. Very close. I sat down where I could be seen and

waited.

My heart pounded like a military drum. I closed my eyes and tried to focus

and remain calm. Suddenly they appeared.

A girl....beautiful, with an olive skin tone and long flowing hair came first in

sight. Beside her walked a tall, very tall man. His face was turned away

from me. They haven't seen me yet. I blinked and he turned his face

forward and then I could see his features clearly. That was when I saw him

for the very first time and I KNEW he was different....