I looked at the creature in disbelief. Scales decorated its lithe body in intricate whorls and patterns that shifted and shined and mesmerised in the dark—a giant tail sprouting from the place where human legs would be. Then, its stunning reptilian eyes met mine.

I got it then. It showed me flashes of colours that I knew and colours that I didn't. And expanse of time so infinite that if I stretched my brain far enough to contemplate it, it would snap. And then I understood the most mind-snapping thing of all—these creatures aren't the aliens. Humans are.

I screamed.