Dreaming of Ayama

by K. A Knight

  Contents

  Prologue

  SURVIVOR LOG 0001

  1. Ground Day Two

  2. Ground Day Two

  SURVIVOR LOG 0002

  3. Ground Day Two

  4. Ground Day Two

  5. Ground Day Three

  6. Ground Day Four

  7. Ground Day Four

  8. Ground Day Four

  9. Ground Day Five

  10. Ground Day Five

  11. Ground Day Five

  12. Ground Day Six

  13. Ground Day Six

  14. Ground Day Six

  15. Ground Day Six

  16. Ground Day Six

  SURVIVOR LOG 0006

  17. Ground Day Six

  18. Ground Day Six

  19. Ground Day Seven

  20. Ground Day Seven

  21. Ground Day Seven

  SURVIVOR LOG 0007

  22. Ground Day Eight

  23. Ground Day Eight

  24. Ground Day Eight

  25. Ground Day Eight

  26. Ground Day Eight

  27. Ground Day Eight

  28. Ground Day Nine

  29. Ground Day Ten

  SURVIVOR LOG 0009

  30. Ground Day Eleven

  31. Ground Day Thirteen

  32. Ground Day Thirteen

  33. Ground Day Fourteen

  About the Author

  Also By K.A Knight

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to places, events or real people are entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2019 K.A. Knight, all rights reserved: Written by K.A. Knight

  Edited By Jess from Elemental Editing and Proofreading

  Formatted by Kaila Duff of Duffette Literary Services

  If wine can’t fix it, gin can.

  My eyes fly open with a gasp. The first thing I notice is how cold I am, bone cold. Shivering, I turn my head slowly. My head is pounding and when I concentrate on my body, I can feel how sore it is. Blinking the liquid from my lashes, I stare at the water next to me in confusion.

  It surrounds my body, lapping at my face in small waves as I glance around. Groaning, I force myself to sit up and gasp in pain as it ricochets around my body. I shuffle back, the water moving with me as I prop myself against the metal hull of the emergency pod behind me.

  Why am I in here? Why am I wet?

  Racking my brain, I try to remember what happened, and then it hits me like a shock to my system as it all comes tumbling back.

  The ship, saying goodbye to Indy. Me and my dad and others locked into the pod as we were jettisoned into space. Tears well in my eyes when I remember the defeated look on Indy’s face. She was saying goodbye forever—I knew it and it broke my heart. Even now, it sends a pain through my chest. She has to get off the ship, it’s Indy! She just has to.

  Sucking in deep breaths, I force myself to stop panicking. What would Indy do? She would figure out where she was. She would ignore things she couldn’t control and make sure she was safe. A sob slips out, because I know I’m not like that. The only time I feel in control and strong is when I am in the med unit. I’m completely out of my element right now.

  Babe, fucking focus or I will come and kick your ass.

  Maybe the crash has given me a concussion, either way I don’t care, not with Indy’s voice in my head guiding me.

  Listening to her, I look around again and take in my surroundings. Okay, emergency pod. There is water, which means we crashed somewhere with Earth-like systems. Especially seeing as though there is a hole in the front of the pod letting in air, if this place was unable to support life then I would be dead by now.

  So, I can go outside. First, I need to find supplies and get outside. Then I can find my dad and everyone else.

  With my plan sorted out and feeling slightly better over my situation, I force myself to get up, using my back on the pod wall to steady myself. When my leg twinges, I look down to see that my suit is ripped and blood is escaping from a shallow cut. I was lucky to escape with just that. I check over the rest of my body and find a knot on the back of my head and a few other cuts—other than that, nothing important sticks out, but I will need to keep checking, especially if I have a concussion.

  Slogging through the knee-high water, I find a backpack on the floor and quickly grab any items I can reach. I manage to get a torch, a change of clothes, and food and water rations. Biting my lip, I survey the crashed pod for anything else I can use. When I spot the green medical bag peeking out of the seat at the back, I grin, and push through the water until I can fish it out and add it to the backpack. I throw it over my shoulder and slip my arms through the straps.

  Looking around once more, I decide to use the hole already created at the front of the pod to try and escape. I climb on the seats, as water streams from my clothing, and reach the hole before sticking my head out—only to freeze at the sight that greets me.

  As Indy would say, “Spaceballs.”

  I slip farther out and groan. I’m in what looks like the middle of a large body of water. I can see land not too far out, but I’m not sure how deep the water is or what natural wildlife, if any, lives inside.

  It looks like I’m stranded, and I don’t dare think about what that means for the others onboard the pod. I vaguely remember the hole ripping open once we broke through the atmosphere and I think at some point someone unbuckled to try and block it, only to be sucked outside.

  I don’t linger on whether my father is alive or drowned, and I know if he was here with me, he would have waited for me to wake up. Turning back around, I look for a flotation device or even a communication tool to help me, but all the equipment is dead. Groaning, I drop my head back and close my eyes, trying to push away the headache. When I open them again, they catch on a silver escape handle built into the ceiling—of course!

  Spinning quickly, I grab whatever I can and build a rickety staircase. I shake it slightly, testing the boxes and broken parts of seats to make sure it’s safe before beginning my climb. When I get to the top, I yank on the handle but the hatch sticks.

  Grunting, I push harder, ramming my shoulder into it. The hatch opens and I start to pull myself through when the items I was using to climb on tumble beneath my feet, leaving me dangling in the air with no support below.

  Increasing my grip on the wet outside of the ship, I yank myself up and out until I sprawl on my back on top of the pod—out of breath and slightly dehydrated, I would guess. I force myself to sit up and ignore the temptation to drink my water rations, then climb slowly to my feet. Keeping my arms to the side for balance, I perch on the outside of the pod, hoping I don’t fall into the water. I really don’t want to know what lives in there, nor do I want to find out whatever weird alien creatures are waiting in its black depths in person.

  Behind me the water stretches as far as I can see, and when I shield my eyes and stare into the sky, my mouth falls open in shock. Two freaking suns. Two, as in two in the sky.

  Okaaay.

  I’m going to ignore that for now, so I look back down and eye the shore again. Nibbling on my lip, I sniff back my tears. Why did it have to be water?

  I can’t swim—like, at all. Indy always tried to teach me and I'm okay in shallow water where I can stand up, but actually swimming? Not a chance. So, that means I’m stranded on this pod.

  Slumping back to the rapidly warming metal, I bring my knees to my chest and allow myself to cry. I must have cried myself to sleep because when my eyes flutter open next, they are cracked and dry, my mouth is parched, and my skin is baking. Half lethargic, I manage to open the backpack and drink some of my water rations before going back to sleep—even knowing I shouldn't if I have a concussion, but I can't help it.

  When I wa
ke again, the sky is black and two moons are shining down on me. Forcing myself to eat and drink, I huddle around myself for warmth.

  A noise catches my attention and I freeze before scooting to the edge of the pod and leaning over, careful to keep my grip so I don’t slip.

  Jerking my head back in shock, I cover my mouth and the scream wanting to escape. There, staring back at me from the opaque water, is a green, glowing animal.

  As I watch, the water lights up with different colours. Blue, green, pink, and purple all glowing neon under the moons’ rays as it swims just under the surface. It's beautiful and terrifying, especially when I spot fangs.

  Scooting back to the middle of the pod, I eye the land I can barely see again, but when I do I freeze, and hope blossoms in my chest. A light, clearly artificial, is on the edge of the land, just within view.

  If I can catch their attention, I can be rescued… but surely they must have seen me crash? Unless they didn’t or they thought it was empty.

  Nibbling my lip, I debate my options. I don’t have a flare or any means of signaling—except from a torch.

  Grabbing it from the backpack, I flick it on and shine it around. I face the shore and flash it for hours before conceding that they can't see me, so I flick it off again to save the battery.

  With nothing else to do, I lay back and watch the sky, wondering if Indy is under the same one.

  “You better be babe, you are no martyr,” I mutter out loud, and something slaps the side of the pod, making me scream and close my eyes. “Water, of course it's bloody water,” I complain before forcing myself to try and sleep.

  I turn over with a groan in my unit’s bed, and try and slap the alarm, but my hand hits something hot and hard. Cracking my eyes open, I shoot upright as everything comes crashing back, and I flop down with a sigh, throwing my hand over my eyes to block myself from the suns.

  The suns!

  Bolting up again, I climb to my feet and look to land. There is someone there, I know it, and unless I get off this pod soon, I’m going to die here.

  Waving my hands, I start to yell.

  “Hello!” I cup my mouth, shouting as loud as I can.

  “Please! Someone help me!” I scream.

  I carry on until my voice cracks, and forces me to bend down and take a drink from my rations. When I look back up, intent on screaming again, I narrow my eyes as a shape on the shore catches my eye.

  “Hello?”

  It moves—oh my God, it moves! It’s a person!

  “Please, please help me!” I scream, waving and nearly crying with joy.

  It starts to move again, and I keep waving and screaming like a mad person. With a gasp, I fall back when they dive into the water. What are they doing?

  “Go back! There are monsters!” I shout, but they ignore me and keep swimming. Looking over the edge of the pod, I peer into the near inky black water and try to make out what's below, but it’s no use.

  “Go back!” I scream again.

  They are ignoring me, so I force myself to shut my mouth and wait with bated breath. Squinting my eyes, I follow the blob as they swim closer. It’s not until they are a couple of meters away that I notice they aren't human.

  Shrieking in terror, I fall back and scoot to the edge of the pod on my ass. I throw a worried look at the water below when I hear a sound. A pale blue alien climbs onto the pod roof, dripping water everywhere.

  A pitiful noise escapes my mouth and I cringe when it reaches out with a long, four-fingered hand. It hesitates, and a tail flicks behind it and bangs on the roof, conveying its irritation, or maybe I have finally gone crazy.

  “Dorthu iloue,” it grunts, its words sounding garbled.

  “Please, please don’t hurt me,” I cry, but when it makes no move towards me again, I sit up a little straighter.

  It sits opposite me, tilting its head as it takes me in. A bang on the pod wall behind me, which is submerged in the water, has me screaming and falling towards the alien. A whine escapes my throat and I stand up, wrapping my arms around myself to try and escape both threats, but the roof is only so big.

  It stands as well, looks at the water, and its mouth stretches in what I’m guessing is supposed to be a smile. Something hits the pod again, sending us rocking, and I fly into the alien. It grunts but catches me, and when its arms wind around me I scream. The next thing I know I’m in the water, clinging to an alien as it starts to swim.

  Still screaming, I look over my shoulder to see the pod has flipped on its side, and there is a large, yellow octopus-like creature with fangs sitting on it. Clinging to the alien, I turn back around, and climb higher on him so I don’t drown.

  It grunts something, but I ignore him and clamber up his back. It swims fast, its skin soft with what I now realise is fur, and when it starts to walk I realise we are on land. It stops, obviously confused as to why I’m still clinging to it.

  Dropping to my feet with an indignant huff, I straighten my clothes. It watches me curiously, before leaning in, picking up my hair, and sniffing it. Slapping its hand lightly, I wag my finger in reproach.

  “No touchy, bad alien,” I scold looking around at the land. It’s beautiful, so colourful and bright—Ah!

  Screaming again, I beat the alien back as he moves. The weirdo throws me over his shoulder and then he starts to run, and I’m juggled around like a sack of potatoes.

  Eventually, I get bored with screaming and battering his back with my fists and just slump there, staring at the strange green ground. It’s not the colour of grass and looks more...squishy.

  The ground changes into a grey looking metal, and when I push myself up, I see what looks like a building and we are heading right to it. The alien doesn't stop until we are inside, then it drops me on my feet again and leaves me alone as it moves around the room. Is it...tidying?

  Throwing me what I would almost call nervous glances, it moves things around, hiding them behind its body. Eyes wide, I take in the room he brought me to. It looks like a command center. Screens, lights, and technology I have never seen before cover the walls and the desks in the middle. To one side is a metal bed hovering off the floor and a doorway leading off. I bet it’s a bathroom, wait, do aliens pee?

  As if my thoughts conjured it, I realise I desperately do need to go. Throwing the bustling alien a worried look, I recognise trying to communicate what I need will take too long, so I head to the door. There is no handle or way to open it. Waving my hand in front, I jump when it just dissolves.

  Okay.

  I step through and eye the weird looking contraptions. Why can’t there just be a toilet? Turning, I wave my hand again and jump when the door forms behind me. Staring at the square box hovering off the floor, I conclude it must be the toilet. My bladder is warning me if I don’t go soon—well, you get the picture. Unbuttoning my pants, I quickly sit down and do my business, just as the door dissolves to reveal a confused looking alien.

  “Oh my God! Get out! I screech, as it stands in the doorway staring at me.

  “Get out, get out!” I chant, covering myself with my hands.

  It makes a weird choking noise, looking at me before spinning and fleeing.

  Oh God. I bury my face in my hands and let the mortification sweep through me. An alien just saw my privates before any boy ever did.

  Once I’ve done my pants up and figured out how to flush, which takes a long time, I head back through the door to see the alien waiting for me. He is standing in the middle of the room, twisting his hands together, not looking at me. I notice his four long fingers and gulp, just another reminder I am dealing with a different species.

  “Hey...look, it’s okay. Why don’t we start again? I’m Effie.” I hold out my hand.

  It turns back to me, its lips pulling down as its darts looks from my hand to my face. Unable to help it, I giggle, and it jumps at the noise, flashing two sharp looking fangs at me. Slowly, so I don’t spook it, I walk forward and grab its hand. My eyes widen and the smooth skin, but I
quickly shake my thoughts away and show it how to shake hands. It watches the action and when I step back, it moves towards me, grabs my hands, and shakes so hard that it rattles my brain.

  “Okay, we can work on that,” I grumble, pulling my hand away with a grimace.

  I tap my chest. “Effie.”

  It’s head tilts like the old cats of Earth used to, so I repeat the action again. “Effie.”

  It taps its chest. “Effff.”

  I laugh, I can’t help it. “No.” I tap my chest. “Effie.” Then I lean over and tap its chest and wait, ignoring the hard planes of muscle I feel under my hand.

  It looks at me in confusion for a while before its mouth opens and it sounds out the word. “Niiidolaaa.” It sounds like a bunch of letters and I frown. It must understand my confusion, because it tries again. “Niiiiddooolllak.”

  Nope. “Okay, how about I call you Nid?”

  It tilts its head again and I sigh. Communication is going to be hard. I had planned to ask if he has found any other survivors or seen any other crashes. I need to find my father and Indy.

  Looking around again, I decide to explore. I walk around, picking things up, but I have no idea what they are. Once I put them back down again, the alien, who is following close behind me, picks them up and looks at them before placing them back down. It’s adorable and I can’t help but smile. I feel something touch my leg and when I look down, my eyes widen at the tail there. Okay, I’m just going to ignore that for now.