The Day Human Kind Were Taken

Alien Leafs

When I woke the light sliced violently across my corneas. The soft grass underneath me indicated that it wasn't all just a bad dream.

I was still trapped. 

My face was crusty from tears. My limbs felt paralysed. I felt... I felt... I didn't know how I felt. Everything felt to big, to impossible. It was as if someone had taken all my feelings and left an empty shell behind.

I was no longer alone either. About 50 others, ranging in ethnicity, age and body type milled around me. It made me wonder how long I had slept. 

Hours passed, my limbs stiffened from the lack of movement, but I couldn't will myself to move. Water and food was passed out during what seemed to be the third hour since I awoke. I guzzled the water greedily, taming the desert like conditions of my throat. The water was slightly sweet and crisp, in fact it could very well be the very best water I have ever had. The food, thick green leave with scattered blue veins, some kind of weird root vegetable wet, and soggy purple leaves were stored in the plain white paper box I was given. It look gross and alien-ish so I left it untouched beside me. The lights in the garden never dimmed or went off, I just sat there, unmoving while new people were brought in overtime. Some were in fitful rest-less sleep, some cried until their was no tears left and others roamed the room kicking out at the walls or the gardens in anger.

I thought of my Mum, my Aunt, Mamiko and her friends. The new start that had been stolen from me, even if I did escape this disaster life wouldn't ever go back to normal. I was so lost in thought I didn't see the large glittering mass of people enter the room. An entourage of un-naturally attractive sparkly people surrounded in hulking grey giants.

"Hello," A dark male with sharp chiseled features and curly black hair started loudly. " We are awfully sorry about this."

His voice lacked the sorrow that would make that statement true. And I wasn't the only one to notice.

"Yeah right!" An angry voice yelled from the crowd.

"We are! We never wanted to do this but you humans have given us no choice." A disney princess looking blond women in a floaty pink dress yelps out in horror.

Yeah right, I think to myself, there is always a choice. And this was clearly the wrong choice. Wait did she say... you humans? As if she wasn't one? What was happening?!

"This is a test of the system." The chiseled man continues. "In about an hour you all will be shifted to gray, your temporary living quarters." 

At this whispers hiss around the room like a vipers den. 

"From there you will be sorted into the factions."

Someone's food box went soaring in their direction. One of the grey men, or I assume it was a man, drew their sword and slashed the box in half before it could reach the councilors.

"We know your scared, and angry, but this doesn't have to be a bad thing." A man with pointy ears observes sadly. "You will likely live better, healthier lives here than in your own cities. you will receive more information later in gray, but for now, look after yourselves. Oh.." The man turn back around before leaving and points and the shattered food box. "I can bet that taste better than anything you have ever had."

And with that, the strange people and their grey bodyguards leave us again. I stare down at my own food box and pick one of the veiny leaves, bringing it to my mouth hesitantly. I took a small bite then immediately wanted to stuff the whole thing in my mouth. The weird pointy eared dude was right, this was the most delicious thing I had ever eaten. It tasted like fried chicken and rice, only much, much better. For the next ten minutes I fill my starving body with the strange plants, many others had left theirs untouched or thrown it at a wall, so as I ate many looked at me with shock.

I ignored the stares and got up for the first time in hours, stretching my aching limbs to walk around. The gardens had suffered a bit of destruction but were still gorgeous. I walked along a gravel path for a minute before spotting a young child huddled against a tree. He looked about five, and it broke my heart. I look around helplessly for his parents before realising they probably weren't here. That poor kid. Before I know what I'm doing I walk up to the child.

"What's your name?" I ask gently.

The kid looks at me for a moment before whispering his reply. 

"Thomas."

He had a strong english accent, but at least he spoke a language I understood.

"Hi Thomas. I'm Isla." I say after a moment truly not knowing what else to say, so instead I sit down under the tree beside him and an untouched white box and bottle.

"Your not hungry?" I asked alittle shocked considering we had been there for hours.

He shook his head. "It looks gross."

"Yeah, but it tastes amazing." I say picking it up.

I take out one of the smaller leafs and hold it up. "Are you sure you don't want it?"

Thomas shakes his head again. I shrung and bite into the leaf. 

"This is good." I say happily through a full mouth and offer the box to him.

He double takes then picks up a leaf before taking a small bite. His eyes bulge in shock. Next thing I know the kid is stuffing his face just as I had. I smile and sit the leaf in my hand back in the box. I guess he was hungry after all.

I shift the water bottle to lay beside him and lean against the rough bark. The scene was oddly peaceful considering our situation, and raging people running all over the show, snarling at everything.