The Day Human Kind Were Taken

Smoke and Mirrors

That's not human I thought horrified. I was a tall, muscular, grey skinned humanoid creature  who was shirtless and wearing black pants. The creature hid in the shadows of the alley way of a small restaurant. He... I assume it's a he, was grinning as he spoke to a dainty woman in long purple dress that sparkled even in the absence of light were she stood. Her silken hair hung like a smooth, glossy black curtain down her back. The girl radiated authority and wisdom although she didn't look much older than 25. The rest of the group were giggling and didn't notice the odd pair speaking a language that simply sounded alien.  

The girl turned and I froze unwillingly, trapped in her frosty blue eyes. I stood clutching my shopping bag tight waiting, hoping to be released from her awful gaze. The creature beside her smile faltered when it turned and saw me staring. The girl turned and gave him an order not looking away from my still frame. Fear gripped me with icy tendrils, my voice stuck in the lump that had formed in my throat. The others had continued walking further down the street their giggling growing faint, I should be hurrying to catch up. I wanted to. But I was stuck, as if someone has stuck my shoes to the sidewalk with glue against my will. A few seconds had pasted and the creature sighed and released a shiny silver canister into the street.

The can rolled on the uneven concrete and stopped a meter from me. The others turned the corner and disappear. Then all at once the canister opened and a emitted a puff of smoke, gas. The sickly scent of drugs reached my nose and stung my lungs.  I yelp in fright, my head began to pound. The whole alley was clouding with the rotting sweet smoke. My limbs were heavy and my vision spun. Released from the paralysing stare I stumbled away from the alley.

I was on the ground, my hands torn and bleeding, with no memory of how I fell. Time slowed to a crawl, my hand were pulsing with heat through the shallow scraped skin. My thoughts were drawn slowly and painfully. My consciousness waned.

 A pair of large rough hands pull me from the sidewalk. 

"I iz berry sorre for dis." A deep slow voice whispers barely audible.

Then everything when black as I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

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When I woke I was in a dimly lit room with my hands and ankles bound. The rope cutting into my skin. The drug used it the street lingered making each stabbing breath agony and my thoughts sluggish. Around me other bound bodies stretched either way. It seemed we were all held captive in a large hall like area. Creatures unlike anything I had seen before romed between the rows systematically. Unlike the massive, hulking grey man, these creatures were small, brown skinned, with bright green thumbs and green teeth. They were dressed in naturally sourced materials, one of the closest seem tobe wear some kind of bark and mosses. They reminded me a lot of a plant themselves too. These creatures oozed un-naturalness.  I struggle against my bonds, wanting to run, to leave. The closest plantish thing was about 20 meters from me and moving fast, her eyes skimming the unconscious faces of the bound prisoners. 

Seconds later her gaze rested on me. I was trapped. It looked defenceless,  kind and gentle, but looks could be deceiving. I huddle into a small ball, shrinking back in fear. She turned away from me and said something in the alien language to another of the plant people. The once silent room was filled with the passing on of the message. 

The rope on my wrist cut painfully into my skin as I continue to struggle to get away from the strange creature. Blood began to drip from the small wound, staining the inner side of the rope a rich deep red. The little plant person yelped and dropped to her knees and reached for my hands. I drew back slightly, staring into it's kind brown eyes. Slowly I place my bound hands in her outstretched ones. It's a girl, I decided while staring at her. She smile softly and untied the rope that bound my wrists, humming a gentle tune as she did. Her humming sounded like trees rustling in the wind and more like nature thani it sounded like a song. Her voice had a calming effect on me, one I couldn't resist even if I tried.

An attractive looking man with dark hair and blue eyes was standing beside the plant girl when she stood up. She then spoke, stopping her therapeutic humming, her voice was angry as she pointed to me and then to the rest of the room. Why was she angry at the man? Instead of yelling back the man waited for her to stop before speaking in a calm soothing voice before kneeling beside me and unting my ankles.

"Hello. Can you tell me your name?" He said in a crisp accent. 

The girl still stood their eyeing my wrists with annoyance as if waiting for further instructions. Was the man controlling these little plant people? Was he the reason I was here? If I didn't do what I was asked, would I be punished?

I hesitate before quietly saying "Isla."

He smiles. Why was he smiling?!  I want to go home!

"Nice to meet you Isla, I'm Alden. Why don't you get up and I will help you enroll." His english poisoned with his odd accent

"Enroll?" I squeaked in terror without meaning to.

I snap my mouth shut and look away from the man. Enroll where, where even was I?

He just nodded and helped me to my feet. My legs felt half-asleep.  Alden gestured for the plant lady to continue down the row.

"What was that?" I ask quietly, nervously. My curiosity getting the better of me.

He follows my gaze. "Oh, that's Heliconia, she's a gnome."

Huh, strange. Gnomes weren't real, they were garden statues with pointy hats. This must  be some kind of elaborate prank, and it wasn't funny. I stayed quiet for the rest of the walk out of the hall like room.

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