I Didn’t Die After All

It may seem surprising, but I didn't die. I definitely exaggerated the fall, though I couldn't rule out any fractures or dislocations. I rolled painfully onto my back and stared at the several-meter-high stone wall I'd clearly fallen from, only to feel the sting of the impact with the ground. And since I finally had the opportunity to lie down, I decided to take advantage of it and finally get some proper rest. I decided that my body and mind must indeed have been in such poor condition that I was now in a very strange, almost too real dream. And since the sun was pleasantly warm, I closed my eyes and soon drifted off.

I woke up a few hours later, when the chill began to bother me. Well, evening came, which is what I could have expected, but not that I was still under that mysterious wall. I wondered how exhausted I must have been to have been asleep for so long. Then I panicked, thinking I was in a coma and stuck in some strange projection of my mind forever. I tried to remember a way to wake up, pinched my arms, unsuccessfully climbed the wall to fall from it again, and finally, in desperation, I slammed my head into it. I hit a sharp edge, and even more blood poured down my face.

While cursing, I tried to staunch the wound on my forehead with my hand. Simultaneously I was searching my pockets for my phone for some light. It would have been helpful to orient myself in time and space, but I found nothing. This only contributed to the disappearance of what remained of my sanity. I rushed forward in search of help, clutching the already blood-soaked fabric of the thing I was wearing to my head. Because instead of using the light to look around, I took a nap. Now I was kicking myself, and even then, my ankle, probably sprained in the fall, was starting to hurt. I also started to feel hungry and thirsty. I didn't think I could come up with such a complicated dream scenario and make it so real.

Was it really so hard to treat myself to a few pleasant moments, I don't know, dinner or a date, instead? I walked blindly, hoping that until I found someone who could help me, I hoped I'd avoid even worse injuries. I was furious, but for no apparent reason or direction, at myself, or perhaps more at this unfriendly world, or at the dire situation I'd found myself in solely thanks to my own stupidity.

A few more trips later, because, of course, I couldn't see anything, I stumbled over a few branches and jumped in fear at some strange sounds. A lovely trip, truly lovely. However, one time I didn't get up, and then I fainted because I completely blacked out. I hoped it would be enough to finally wake me up. With each passing minute spent in this place, I grew more and more hopeful that everything was just a dream.

I was awoken by a strange feeling, as if someone were poking me with a stick, first in the side, then in the leg, then in the face. I tried with all my remaining strength to swat it away, like I was fighting an elusive mosquito. The more I tried to ward it off, the more often I felt the unpleasant stings. I froze for a moment when I heard laughter, and only then did I decide to even try to open my eyes.

It was a mistake; I didn't know who I was expecting to see, but it certainly wasn't the two monsters standing over me. It would be foolish to faint again, but that didn't mean I wasn't gripped by panic and afraid to move even an inch. They were staring into two pairs of yellowish-green eyes with oval pupils, in which I thought I saw amusement. My gaze drifted lower to their snouts and rows of sharp teeth, forcing a smile. When I finally managed to get a good look at the entire silhouette of these vile creatures, shamelessly poking me with a stick, to their delight, I realized it was the whole package: scales, claws, tail, and wings. Holy shit, tail and wings. I was almost certain; my mind couldn't have imagined it. I was far from a fantasy fan, and standing before me were two, probably dragon-people? For the moment, I couldn't think of anything else that would better describe them.

The panic subsided, followed by complete resignation and devastation. I no longer knew what was happening; everything had seemed like a dream, but now it wasn't. I couldn't believe something so absurd as finding myself in a completely different world. And one where there were damn reptiles somehow moving upright on two legs, or rather, excuse me, I should have said paws. These very creatures were binding my hands with rope and lifting me to my feet, supporting me from both sides.

I was terrified they would spread their wings and take to the air with me. I had no desire for such a journey, so I started to struggle. Their grip tightened, and I felt claws digging into my skin and warm blood running down my arm.

"Well, there's still some life left in you," announced the one on my right, a little taller than the other. "And we were afraid there was nothing left of you."

I was surprised that I understood perfectly what he'd said. So I automatically learned the language when I showed up? Great, at least the language barrier is solved. Why am I thinking about the positives of this situation? I should be planning my way back home, not thinking about how nice it would be here. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't find my voice, not when I was the shortest of the three of us.

"At least you kept us from getting bored," the one on the left said.

"What do you mean?" I croaked.

"We've been watching you since you fell off the wall. We don't know where you came from, so out of curiosity, we left you alone. But when you woke up, you put on a nice show." They both chuckled at that. "Why did you smash your head against the wall, you stupid human?

"I thought it was a dream and wanted to wake up," I replied truthfully, completely resigned to the situation.

"A crazy person." The taller one nodded approvingly. "The princess will be very happy."

What I feared happened. A moment later, I was hanging in midair between the two of them, begging in my mind that they were not the joker type.