I watched the scene in horror on the VHS tape, coiled under my robe, tucked tight in my wheelchair. My limbs pulsed in pain.

The being we studied for years suddenly rose from the ground before us. I heard Mark crying behind me, looking on at something that we never thought possible. In the flesh, the creature looked different from our laboratory sketches. There was a human like aspect to its face, its arms, coiled with veins. The eyes were brown and the lips were pink, and although it did not have a nose, the makings of a human were there. Yet, we knew this was an alien to us and to all we knew.

With a step forward, it came our way. But it faltered, and fell back to its knees. Squirming as it tried to get back up, I watched as it flailed, not using its arms or legs for support. I turned to Mark, scared to take my eyes away from the creature for even a second, and he was staring, mouth wide open. The creature made a strange noise, almost like a radio being turned on, as it continued to try to get up but failed.

I didn’t know if we should help the poor creature. It was lacking intelligence we could have sculpted in the lab.

I extended an arm forward, and a large tendril shot out from its lips. The vine coiled around my wrist and pulled me forward, as Mark screamed, and I cried, and my wrist came clean off as if shortened by a scalpel. Then, with open mouth it fed, standing to its feet, my limbs hanging from its sturdy jaw.

The creature was more intelligent than we thought. Only now, it was too late.