Twilight creeped back down the upstairs hallway, careful not to step on any floorboards that appear out of place. Each step sounded like small explosions to her ears, and her heartbeat seemed to produce a much louder noise than before.

As she made it back to the bedroom, she slowly pushed the door shut.

'They really don't trust me, do they?' She thinks to herself, clambering back under the sheets. 'Obviously they're prepared, but did I really seem that offensive? Maybe it was Rainbow, she left somewhat of an impression.' She closes her eyes, continuing to attempt to understand the creatures resting downstairs.

'I should be careful tomorrow, things might get out of hand if I spook them too much.' With that final thought, she drifted to sleep.

A shot rings out with a loud echo, punching me hard in the chest. It was as if the force of a jackhammer just rammed its way into my chest. It knocks me off of my feet and slamming to the ground.

"Get up, hurry! Everyone, heads down!" Elliot speaks in a muffled volume.

Without time to act, I lay my head back and relax. Too dazed to understand what is happening, or care. What happens to me here, happens to me.

What happens to me, however, is a hazy episode of me being dragged away. Sounds slowly become more clear as the ringing stops. I begin to crawl to my senses. All I can see is gunfire, everywhere. Dust, debris, and an exploded pocket on my chest. Without a drop of blood to be seen.

Thank god for armor plating.

"Get off, where's it coming from!?" I yell, yanking out of my teammate's grip. I turn around to see Elliot staring back at me.

"Everywhere, it's an ambush! They must've known we were coming!"

I look around, as it quickly becomes apparent that this was no understatement. We have to be outnumbered two to one at least, there's no way I can survive this. The only reason I'm still here is the rock Elliot kindly dropped me next to.

Grabbing for my rifle, I smack down the safety lever and have at it, firing pot-shots into the dust field facing away from the road.

I hear a scream, and it rattles my flesh to the bone.

It doesn't stop, it seems like it's getting louder, louder, and louder still.

My ears have to be bleeding now, the screaming is louder than any gunshot on Earth.

It's horrifying, I can hear his pain. Every bit of it. I just killed a human being, is this what it's like? Oh god I can't take it anymore.

I practically leap upwards, gasping for air, my cheeks already soaked with tears. I feel weightless, like everything is falling. Slowly objects appear in the room, furniture slides in from seemingly nowhere, and gravity shifts to a whole new direction. All together, I get SUPER motion sick.

Looking around, I have no idea where I am. This is a weird looking house, am I dead? Is this the afterlife?

I look to my side and see Elliot sleeping, before turning to look at the only source of light: Sunlight through a small window with the curtains ajar.

It all comes flooding back to me, I relive the entire journey to this planet under a second. I'm not home, I'm far from it. I really might never see anyone else ever again.

I'm not a softie, over the years I've gotten pretty battle-hardened myself. But with all that has happened, and all that could...

I suppose I was just in a crying mood.

Author's Note

Filler chapter, I've got some interesting ideas coming up! I'll work on at least 1/2 of the next chapter tonight, if not ALL of it!