Human

Wake up Call

Ray

I'm lying my back when my eyes snap open. Leaves are above me and twigs weave in intricate designs around them. It's like some sort of house.

Or sanctuary?

Sitting up the room comes into focus and I swing my legs off of the stretcher type bed I'm on. Asha is lying a few feet away from me in the same position but her eyes are still shut.

She's rather pale.

I stand and wince at the discomfort in my side, aside from the small twinge - I feel fine. That's odd. I pull my T-shirt up and see that where there was a deep wound, there is now a small scar.

What?

"Be calm child." The voice is soft and silky and I automatically feel safe.

I turn around to see a woman stood by Asha, her hair is a series of tangles and brown curls and could be mistaken for tree branches. Her skin is a light bronze and her eyes glow softly, I'd be an idiot to mistake her for the creature that was there before I passed out. But the resemblance is uncanny.

"I take on many forms Ray West. This is just so Asha does not receive a shock when she wakes. She suffered more damage than I can heal at any given time."

I simply nod. I'm confused and puzzled as to what is happening. The woman looks old but at the same time young and beautiful. Her clothes drape from her figure and spread about the floor, moss green cloth covering dry dirt. I watch as she holds a hand above Asha's torso and hovers it with her eyes shut. Asha sighs softly and I relax, smiling almost as I see her natural blush return. I stand up and look from where I stand. Asha looks so at peace that I feel a weight lift from my shoulders and I strain at the closing of my throat.

You will not cry. Not after all she's been through.

The hut we are in is entirely made from branches and greenery and come to think of it, it's entirely natural. There's nothing modern here, no medicine, technology or even a light. There's just the glow that comes from the small fire that burns by the foot of Asha's stretcher and the light from the woman's eyes.

I shift uneasily on my feet. Asha still hasn't moved and the woman is still holding her hand above her grimacing at nothing I can see. The woman's dress is darker by her hip and I find myself touching my scar. What even is this?

Asha gasps and sits erect her back arching and eyes wide. I step forward but the woman raises a palm to me whilst also grabbing Asha's bed to hold herself upright. Asha turns blankly and grabs the woman's forearm, I watch as the symbols on her arms shimmer gold.

Then they both scream.