Chapter 19
Edna
The vines flailed everywhere.
I still kept the knife that was included in our individual goodie bags.
The other humans dumped the contents of their bags on the floor and grabbed their knives too.
I slashed at a vine targeting me.
The blade sunk into the vine before staying still.
I retrieved the blade with all my might.
Some red juice spurted out of the wound and a screech sounded. The noise pierced into my eardrums.
It caused disorientation.
I didn't have any time to focus on the other humans.
One distraction and I am a goner.
All my attention was on my battle.
My danger alarm was blaring loudly.
I don't know.what would happen if I fall into this plant's clutches and I was not willing to find out.
I dodged and stayed on my tippy toes. I was ready to move anytime.
This plant was testing all the martial arts and self-defense I had learned during my lifetime.
Sweat slipped from my forehead downwards.
My breath came out of my mouth in pants.
My sweaty palms tightened around my dagger.
Another vine shot towards me.
I lowered my head to evade it.
The vine was cunning though.
It turned around in a tricky way.
I was unprepared.
The vine was close to my body.
During our battle, I had sustained some injuries from the vines. I wasn't about to add to that.
I acted quickly.
I brought my blade down.
The vine acquired another injury.
Another deafening screech shook my eardrums.
This screech was different somehow.
After it stopped, numerous vines gathered around.
It was like a bloody tsunami.
The vines writhed and twisted creepily.
A shiver went down my spine.
I clenched my weapon tightly as I stared at the vines.
I felt like something was watching me. Those hidden eyes held fury.
The gathered vines threw themselves at me with ferocious momentum.
I tried to dodge and slash.
I cut a few vines down.
The vines I destroyed was a drop in the bucket in comparison to the twisting river the vines made.
More vines were coming towards me.
There was a limit to the vines I could dodge and slash.
My arms and forearms ached badly.
The pain and numbness was doing a good work of driving me over the edge.
My attacks were weakening and there was nothing I could do about it.
The vines seemed to be angry at my slashes.
The tsunami these vines made still targeted me.
I inserted my knife into a flailing vine. Red juice came out of the wound and the vine stopped moving.
I didn't get a chance to breath.
Something hit me abruptly.
The force behind the attack made me fly. I was airborne for a brief second before I headed downwards. My body hit the wall.
Crippling pain intertwined with the area that hit the wall.
My skull ached and throbbed.
Something poured out of the back of my head. The liquid was sticky and the smell of rust filled the air.
I was injured.
My bones felt like they weren't mine anymore.
"Ah!" A scream tore itself out of my mouth.
The vines moving towards me stopped for a second.
The next second, the vines continued their offensive.
This time, the vines didn't try to hurt me physically. A tiny vine hidden in the river of red vines sneaked closer to me. It slithered behind me.
I waved my hands weakly to fight against the vines besieging me.
There was no power in my body and the attack I just experienced sapped the little strength I could gather.
Was I going to die here?
I was unwilling!
Something drilled into the wound at the back of my head without mercy.
An unfathomable darkness appeared in my vision. The darkness spread itself rapidly.
Finally, it swallowed my consciousness.
When I regained consciousness, I found myself in some kind of magical place.
Everything was dreamy and pink.
Although I knew I was in the middle of a battle, my body was relaxing in comfort.
It was hard to prevent my body from acting on its own.
My expression became wary.
Something tugged at my heart.
I followed the pull.
There was no other option.
A vine must have drilled into my wound. I don't know how I got here and I don't know how I will get out.
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It was better to follow the clues I have first.
I got to the place the pull was bringing me to in a few minutes.
There was a huge cluster of red vines before me.
The vines moved without wind or interference.
It was the vine that attacked the inn.
A few minutes to ago, I was thankful I didn't experience the cruelty of this desert. I did not know that reality would slap me in the face a few moments later.
I should not have rejoiced early.
Humans can't stay on this planet.
New surprises kept coming up one after the other. If we even settle here, our standing might be low.
The aliens here have superpowers, the technology here is advanced too and now, there are mutated plants with intelligent consciousness appearing.
Humans don't have any superpowers and our bodies are weaker than these aliens.
Staying here is a recipe for disaster.
This plant must have intelligence.
Being present in this unknown place solidified my guess.
The vines seperated until I found something in the center of the vine cluster.
There was a woman's face at the center of the vines.
Her eyes were open. Her black pupils was like a haunting curse.
She was beautiful.
Her red lips was pursed.
Her eyes were large and she seemed to have light makeup on.
Her whole demeanor was majestic.
Her static pupils turned to my figure when I arrived.
"Girl, welcome." She said slowly.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"This place is a mixture of your mind and mine. I brought you here." The plant said.
"Why am I here?" I questioned.
Deep down, I knew that this plant could have killed me when her vine drilled into my wound.
She brought me here instead.
There must be a motive for her actions. She would gain something by sparing me.
If I know what it is, it might give me an edge in saving my life.
"Your blood is special. Taking your body would give me an upgrade. I would be a special cross between plants and two-legged creatures." The woman said, "I want you to give your body to me." She stared at me with calm eyes.
It was like she was sure I will give my body up to her without complaints.
"No." I responded, "Merging with you wouldn't be beneficial to me, right? I will be assimilated as nutrients."
The woman's brows scrunched together, "It is an honor to be the next step of my upgrade! Your status as my nutrient is immense grace. Why will you say no?"
I laughed in a ridiculing tone, "I don't want that honor and grace. I am fine like this. I don't know why I can't say no to my death."
"Your refusal doesn't have any impact on the current situation. Whatever I want, I get! I will have your body and there is nothing you will be able to do stop it." She chuckled.
I was confused.
I could not wrap my head around her words.
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The space we were in faded away into darkness.
When the inky darkness cleared, I could see the interior of room Tekita booked for us in the inn.
The vines attacking the guests of this inn twisted to my position.
The vines drilled into the wound at the back of my head.
I tried to fight back.
My attempt failed.
I could not even move my finger.
A terrible guess came to mind.
The plant was in control of my whole body.
I could see everything but I can not respond.
The vines had destroyed the walls and doors of this inn as they moved.
Numerous eyes fell on me.
Pain thrummed in every nerve of my body but I could not make a sound.
Yulia, Habiba and the other humans stared at me with fear.
Finally, there was no vines in the inn.
Only dead and broken vines littered the floor.
The living vines were in my body.
Something moved beneath the skin of my face.
My skin bulged and writhed.
My legs tingled.
My lower body began to change.
In the blink of an eye, I changed from an human into some kind of half beast.
Vines extended out of my lower body.
My legs disappeared and writhing, red vines took their place.
I could feel my lips curve into a cold smile.
My consciousness started to reduce.
This mutated plant was trying to assimilate me after taking control of my body.
I can not die away like this.
I haven't lived my life to the fullest yet. I promised Tyler that I would live well.
Besides, I have not seen Kieran in person yet.
There were many things I still have to do. I can't leave the world now. It is impossible.
The vines extending from my body resumed their attacks on the guests.
Some guests were fleeing in random directions while the major part of the guests that watched me change into something unknown fell into the vines' clutches.
I gathered my mental energy and began my counterattack.
I was going to fight until my last breath!
Even if I lose, I must make this body useless to the invading plant.
The first time this plant messed with me would be her last.