My ears were killing me.

A gentle throbbing was insistently pounding at my skull. A beat of pain that seemed inconsequential next to what it had been before.

What had it been before?

I struggled through my memory to find a trace of what had happened, but I came up blank.

Even before I opened my eyes I knew I wasn't at the apartment: that wretched place smelt damp and musky. And although a damp scent lingered in the air, it was fresher. More like a spring morning

The odour that wafted into my nostrils was a comforting aroma of fallen leaves and moss-covered trees. Sadly it was overpowered by a coppery tang that could be nothing other than blood.

Perfect.

Forcing myself to open my eyes and take in my surroundings I let myself adjust to the sudden brightness it brought, yet not before it could send a pang of discomfort through my head.

I gasped in disbelief. I didn't see how something could be so beautiful. It had stolen the air from my lungs leaving me utterly breathless at the sight.

Was I dead? Because if I was I didn't care. This was heaven. A sanctuary of endless colour, of the most detailed and delicate designs ever to be seen. The sort of intricate natural beauty only nature could create.

Slowly, I sat up letting a cool breeze wash over me.

It was indeed a forest. However, it wasn't a normal forest. Imagine the Amazon rainforest and its abundance of life and think of that as a cat next to a lion and you will have what this forest is.

Blues, purples, and greens swirled together into trees taller than the Eiffel Tower. Vines and flowers intertwined. Animals and insects I didn't realise existed scuttled back and forth in a hum so loud it could rival London rush hour.

Right then, while admiring the spectacle, everything came rushing back like a tidal wave. Violent and brutal.

The eclipse.

My breath caught in my throat. Where was I? This was no Paris. Did I go to England? This was no London. The last thing I remembered was walking out of the shop with Andre, then the overwhelming pain with that bizarre eclipse.

Andre. Where was Andre?

Rushing to my feet I scanned the forest. Just a few seconds prior I had been calling it heaven, now it felt more like a cage. The trees are so dense, I would have to claw my way through to find anything. Anyone?

'Andre' I shouted out, 'Andre are you there?'

I picked up the bag that had come with me and started walking aimlessly towards a gap in the trees. Where I had awoken was a small clearing. Maybe I should stay there. Wait. Hope someone finds me. Hope someone is here.

'Andre,' I screamed again. Desperate for a sign of familiarity. Clinging to the idea that I had someone with me.

I walked forward listening to the crunch of decomposing leaves beneath my feet. I circled the area, 'Please let him be close,' I pleaded to anything that would listen. I gazed up at the canopy, as if that held an answer. The sun only blinded me as it found a way to my eyes through the cracks in the leaves. 'Me and the sun don't seem to be getting on very well at the moment.' I thought to myself.

The hum of birds taunted me. Dancing on branches of deep blue. The wind was no better. I mean seriously I was dressed for winter. Yes my coat was old and tattered but it did its job well enough. And the god forsaken wind had the audacity to be warm. Making me all sweaty and sticky, which was not a pretty sight. I would discard the coat but I was already carrying my bags and couldn't afford to leave it behind. I carried on.

Again and again I shouted his name. Until my voice became hoarse and my throat was
yearning for water. I took a swig from a bottle I luckily had bought from the shops. For once I was actually happy that my French tap water was questionable. I savoured the little water I allowed myself. I should probably ration.

'Is anyone out there?' I tried to shout but my voice came out just a bit louder than a whisper.

I truly was alone.

–

As the night drew closer I stumbled back to the small clearing to find a place so I could at least lie down. I didn't know what animals lurked in the shadows but I had no choice. It's not like I can sleep in a tree.

I found a few leaves and brought them back with me, making a makeshift bed and blanket encase the temperature plummeted. I ate an apple I had bought earlier and gulped down some water. At least I was used to meagre meals. I watched as the sky darkened.

That's when everything came to life. Gorgeous luminescent flowers bloomed into an enchanting display of colours. A hum of bioluminescent insects sprung to life as they chattered around the trees. Trees that transformed into purple torches lighting the world in elegant hues, which could only be matched by the floating iridescent blobs that seemed to be like jellyfish with tentacles that sucked onto the honeycomb bark.

I reached up. 'Hey,' I whispered. It skittered off. Afraid. I chuckled and tried again. This time I was more cautious. In response the blob edged closer, it seemed conscious.

I looked at it a little closer, two pink eyes came from the angelic white body. The long appendages were baby blue in a mosaic pattern that stopped when it reached the underside, in its place were little suction cups. .

'I've never seen anything like you before,' I told the creature. A soft musical note came from it.

'I'm a bit lost,' again it vibrated, this time softer.
I interpreted it as 'Yes, I can see that,'

I inched closer, 'I won't hurt you,' it didn't reply, just reached out a tentacle and placed it upon my hand.

I didn't know what I expected but I definitely didn't anticipate the immediate warmth that flooded through my body. The way my muscles melted. All my worries just flew away. It was an addiction, the feeling of having no problems in the world.

I sighed.

'Do you have a name?' I asked thoroughly expecting no response. 'Yes,' I would have jumped back in shock but I was just so relaxed I didn't question the melodic voice. Instead I just said, 'What is it?'

'Blinx,' I blinked.

'I'm Ali,'

'I know,' I blinked again, not completely caring.

'How?' I received no reply, 'What are you?' I tried a different approach.

'I'm a Le'ar,' I was confused. I had never heard of that before. 'Of course you haven't heard of it before. This isn't Earth.' This time I do stumble back, shock evident on my face.

'W-wh-what?' I stuttered in disbelief.
'You didn't know. How dumb are you?' Blinx laughed. I ignored it.

'How can you speak English if this isn't Earth?'

'I am not speaking.'  I was starting to get annoyed, the relaxation thing quickly ebbing away.

'How then?'

'Go to sleep,' Blinx ordered, 'in the morning I will take you somewhere.' then it left. Just vanishing into nothing. It didn't float away. Just disintegrated.

I don't know what to do. This isn't Earth. 'Well of course it isn't when have you ever heard of a forest like this before,' my own thoughts cursed my stupidity. But in all fairness if you woke up in an unknown place that looked like nothing you have seen before would you immediately think you weren't on Earth. As far as I'm aware Earth had no knowledge of another planet even sustaining life. And even if there was, we can't travel at the speed of light.

So I'm sorry if my first thoughts weren't 'this is another Planet'.

Then the realisation actually sank in: I'm on another Planet, I'm completely alone, I know nothing about this place, I have no notable skills. My chest tightened as a stray tear leaked from my eye. I'm alone. Completely alone. My breaths sped up to uneven shallow gasps as the emptiness pressed in. Shadows surrounded me. It wasn't silent but no human comfort could be sought. I felt a sudden need for contact, for conversation, for someone.

I lay down. With a heavy weight in my chest, I could only hope that tomorrow Blinx would be around, because now Blinx - even if it was a rude blob - was the only companion around. Shutting my eyes was a relief I hadn't known I needed.

That night my dreams were plagued by a black raven with burning red eyes.

–

When I woke for the second time in the forest, this time I didn't stop to admire the beauty. Instead I immediately got up and set about sorting what food I had. I emptied the contents of the carrier bag to find 5 bottles of water (one was half drunk); 2 apples; a box of cereal bars; sliced bread; and some cheese. I had bought enough to last me a day and then food for the plane. Luckily the cereal bars would last a while, on the other hand the water supply was worryingly small. I'd have to ask Blinx about that - if it showed up. I ate a small portion of some bread and cheese.

I got up and repacked the bag. I would wait here and hope that the blob or Le'ar would return.

Time passed and I had nothing to do but wait. I opened my phone an old edition that I never really used as I rarely contacted anyone. Unsurprisingly there was no internet. The irritance steadily grew as I also became aware that I only had 20% charge left. I took a few photos as I had nothing better to do, switched it to power saving and turned it off, hoping to preserve the charge for whatever it's worth.

My boredom continued and still no sign of Blinx. Did it even happen? Had I imagined it? So now I'm officially crazy. I sighed, tapping my foot against the leaves. Crunching them in a rhythmic pattern.

I'm a 23 year old woman, completely alone, no significant money to my name and apparently I am in another world. That or I'm crazy and have some disorder. Wouldn't be surprised if I did. It made more sense. Like come on. Another planet. I mean no one would miss me but it would be nice to go back.

I couldn't mope around forever. Deciding that I had to do something before I ripped the hair of my head I found the nearest tree. Wasn't partially hard, I am in a forest. My chosen tree had a few branches that were head height with me. The thick trunk was an azure blue, silver strands woven into a tapestry, fabricating little crevices that would be perfect handholds. Wrapping my hand around one such crevice, I hauled myself up reaching the first branch. I paused to look around, then continued to scale the tree. Gradually I managed to make my way further up, encountering small insects that didn't look completely pleased by my invasion.

'Suck it up Buttercup,' I whispered to one such orange beetle that growled at me, 'I didn't choose to be here anymore than you want me here.' It gave me a look with its beady black eyes. 'Are you going to move?' It stayed still, about the size of my little finger. It took up quite a bit of space on the ledge I wanted to use. 'Shall I move you?' It gave me another look before scurrying off. 'Good choice little bug.'

Once I could climb no further up I looked out around. Nothing but trees as far as I could see. I had hoped to see some sort of settlement. I mean every single insect seems intelligent and Blinx certainly was. So it wouldn't be too much to assume a larger creature would make a larger, more noticeable home.

'What are you doing?' A disapproving voice interrupted my thoughts, making me lose my footing. Luckily I was holding on otherwise that would have been bye bye Ali. I turned around to face Blinx. So it did turn up. I wasn't making it up.

'Can you stop calling me it? I find it highly offensive. I'm a she. Obviously,' She glared at me. 'Were you too stupid to figure that out as well.'

This time I glared at her, 'No you just give off masculine qualities, I wouldn't want to assume your gender,' to be honest I didn't think she had a gender. Clearly that wasn't a well received mistake.

'Humans!' she huffed, 'No manners,'

'Compared to you I think I'm rather polite,' the smirk on my face was probably punchable.

'See just proving my point,' she scoffed. 'Get down now. We have somewhere to be.'
Her command made me want to stay but I was alone and being stubborn was not going to help me so did as she said. While I made my descent she floated around her baby blue tentacles elegantly guiding her towards the orange beetle.

'Thank you for watching her for me,' she told it. The beetle gave me the stink eye for the third time and seemed to tell Blinx something. My suspicions were only confirmed when she turned to me in fury.

'Are you so rude to everyone?' she questioned the anger dripping of her words.

'Yes.' I replied simply. Still climbing down.

She gave me a look that promised death, turning back to the beetle she said 'I'm incredibly sorry. She doesn't understand this world.' The beetle seemed to have told her something as when Blinx next spoke it was aimed at me.

'You are lucky she forgave you. The Teeble's are known to hold grudges. I would hate for you to be on her bad side,'

'Why? It's a beetle.' I said.

'Stupid Girl. She's a Teeble and they can be dangerous if they grow. Nasty teeth. She - Wen - let you off because she can understand your situation and it wasn't her tree. If it was, you'd be splat on the floor.' Blinx explained exasperatedly. I winced. Oops.

'Oh, my bad.' I turned to Wen, 'I apologise,' It wasn't very heartfelt but I did mean it. Mostly.

Both the beatle and blob shared a look, sighing.

As I reached the ground we said our farewells to the Teeble and I followed Blinx in silence.

I had no way to track time but I presumed several hours passed and we still hadn't arrived. I wanted to say something but everytime I had asked before she had just sighed and ignored me. Needless to say she was thoroughly winding me up. I had absolutely no control over this situation and because of this need for companionship I stayed. Otherwise I would have been gone.

Finally we reached another clearing. I had expected to see something other than just another area without trees.

'So what was the point of this?' I drawled.

'Just grow some patience.' Blinx demanded clearly growing frustrated. Just to stop her leaving me I bit my tongue and refrained myself from retorting.

'Wait here for a moment.' She told me.

'Okay.'

With a flick of her tentacles she disappeared into the thicket, birds humming as she left. I swallowed an earthy spice that filled my senses. The citrus breeze ruffled my hair as I was once again alone.

Not 5 minutes passed before she returned a man following behind. I gasped, 'André.'