Note: I'm just trying this out. The Host was a great sci-fi romance novel and after I read it, I began my usual daydreaming. I made my own sequel, though it's by a different perspective. So it's like adding a new protagonist to the story and connecting this little piece of scenario to the original concept of the book.
Disclaimer: I own nothing regarding to The Host. *Praise for Stephenie Meyer's highly amusing creation. I was officially hooked.
PLEASE read all the way down this chapter. The beginning might be a little dry but It'll catch up. I PROMISE. But I still have some flaws about writing. PLEASE help by giving reviews or any advice.
Escaped
This is it --- My final chance of proving I'm one of them. Again. I sat down as nonchalantly as I could, watching my biological father amble to welcome our awaiting visitor.
"Seeker," greeted his handsome voice. "Please, come in."
"I'm more than glad to," the deep, ominous tone of the Seeker replied with a smile.
She entered our hefty living room with a long stride. Tonight she was wearing an outright ebony apparel, unlike her usual vibrant colored sweaters and Capris. She was wearing a black jacket and black sweatpants, as if she would run a marathon. Her red frizzy hair was mustered in a high ponytail. Again, her appearance at the moment was not typical for her, especially the absence of the wavy hair that always bounced on her back. Or at least, every time (which is never often) I encounter her tall, muscular figure. Her host had been a professional wrestler.
She let her gaze absorb her surroundings then her eyes fell on me. To souls, this would look only normal and might even be friendly. But to someone like me, it looked threatening.
"Good Evening, Seeker," I acknowledged docilely. She returned the greeting and settled at the recliner right across from me.
"Very nice ensemble," my mother complimented her. "It really brings out the color of your lovely hair." That would be superb. I would love to see the Seeker's head literally on fire. I smiled willingly at her.
"Thank you," the Seeker said. "This room is full of simplicity and I adore the arrangement. Where did you find these fine sofas?"
"They were Noah's gift," she beamed at her husband. With that little glance, I could see the concealed fear in my mother's eyes. Though, the Seeker hadn't noticed. She was mostly looking at my direction.
"They're beautiful."
After an instant of silence, Mom excused herself to the kitchen to retrieve dessert for our guest. We hadn't bothered to cook up dinner, since we were more than eager to get this over with. Just an hour, I reminded myself.
"How is the Emergency Room, Healer Noah? I heard you've been busy," the Seeker inquired conversationally.
"You heard wrong," Dad responded sullenly, inserting a sigh. For a soul, he was very good at this. "There's hardly even a patient who needs the extra assistance. That's why I'm transferring back to regular wards."
"Regular wards?" she seemed surprised. No sign of anger there; souls never favor violence but when I see the Seeker, I always wonder if some actually do. "Wouldn't you rather be back to your higher position? You never do insertions anymore, Healer."
"Sadly, no," he dropped his shoulders. "I believe I have to, or rather want to, alter my positions from time to time. Diversions always imprint other lessons on our brains and by undergoing other statuses in my field, I learn more and more about this world."
"I understand," the Seeker bowed slightly. I stifled a scoff. She wasn't here to make small discussions about my father's healing abilities. She was here to interrogate us, or to be more specific, interrogate me.
I've been quiet too long and decided to talk when Mom was pouring the cups with tea and offered the shortbread cookies to our guest.
"Did you watch the game this weekend? It was a tie and both teams celebrated," I looked expectantly at the one across the table. Personally, I didn't like the whole "let's all be equal and be winners of this sport altogether" concept but if I wanted to play, I'd have to endure the excessive compassion for equivalence.
"I'm sorry, I didn't. I was finishing up a personal research. I'm sure you played very well."
"She was extravagant," my mother appraised and I smiled appreciatively. "If her host was only older, she would have been a professional soccer player by now."
Too bad I didn't have a "soul". Instead, only a secret that my "host" was actually me and I was conceived by souls. I wasn't an alien, no. But my parents are and I've never met my human ones, though I see them everyday. I only felt the love and protection of the souls inside my parents' bodies. Either way, they both felt human to me.
"I wish I'd seen it," the Seeker uttered, managing a remorseful tone. "If only I had not been so intrigued by my investigation yesterday. It is highly fascinating and I was wondering if you all could help me with it."
"Of course! What can we do?" my mother said rather keenly.
"Well," the Seeker initiated deliberately, leaning forward in her seat, "I always fancied meeting other Seekers. You know ---- we have to gather and help those in need of hosts ---" which meant hunting survivors "--- Now, when Nilah mentioned her Seeker…"Her face contorted in a quizzical expression. We'd expected this to happen. I just hope that what we have is enough.
"Night Under the Waters has reverted to his Dolphin self. He decided to stay that way indefinitely, just recently," I informed and one of the Seeker's eyebrows raised. There was a long pause and my parents didn't seem contented.
"Is that so? Well, then I guess I won't be meeting new acquaintances at the moment. I'll be on my way," she stood up and so did we. "Oh, is there any way I could use the rest room before the long drive?"
"The rest room is just down the hall. Second door, across the mirror."
She sauntered towards the bathroom and once the door was shut, we all looked dubiously at each others' faces.
"Nilah, your bag is under the coffee table," Mom prompted in a whisper, her eyes longing for an embrace. I didn't move. I knew better to think that an embrace would surely mean goodbye and that time was not tonight. That time would never come.
"Kendra," Dad shook his head at his wife, implying not to make me fret about the possible further outcome of this night. But why were we worrying so much? The Seeker had only been here for not even an hour and she was about to leave. We should be relieved but we were far from it. Maybe the idea of the Seeker still being in our house was still vexing us. And this was no ordinary Seeker. This one is actually suspicious and vigilant.
"Remember, I've filled the car with necessities," she ignored my father. "Including your eyes," she added and stared at the contacts that were still intact.
Instinctively, I grabbed the compact mirror above the books beside the lamp and saw the reflection of my now-silvered irises; they glowed under the fluorescent lighting of the room. I touched the contacts creating the faux iris and slid it side to side, finally adjusted it right in the center. I blinked then massaged my hand over the light scar at the nape of my neck under my dark golden hair. It was evenly ridged, thanks to my Healer father. These were my only protection from being captured.
Silent footsteps changed the atmosphere and we moved towards the closed front door to meet the Seeker. As she walked towards us, I noticed a change in her countenance. Her eyes were extremely inquisitive and (if possible) ablaze. She halted a few feet from us and held out a small translucent box. I suppressed an eye-widened expression and tried to breathe steadily. She was gawking at us, especially me. That was my box and I held my breath as she opened it. Inside were two circular concave lenses. My special contacts.
"Now, why would any of you need these? I don't see the purpose of them," she said and I clenched my hands behind my back.
"Like I said before," Dad spoke suddenly, "I wish to learn more about this world."
"By recreating contact lenses? But they're merely a replica of our eyes. I can distinguish that this pair has been used and who would be using these?"
"No one but me, Seeker. I've been studying the feel of them quite recently. I'm interested in other fields also and I think what humans used to see clearly is interesting," he concluded though the Seeker was not finished yet.
"The lenses are not your size, Healer," she emphasized politely. "And the last time I heard, your wife was never involved in your little experiments. That leaves…" She took a step forward me and I repressed my legs from receding. She scrutinized me, stopping as she perceived no expected action from my body. I wasn't giving anything away. I clung to my innocent visage.
"You never had a Seeker, haven't you, sweetie?" she pronounced almost accusingly. "Night Under the Waters never existed."
"Not on this planet, he doesn't anymore," I replied, suppressing the tremor of my chin as I spoke. "He's happy with the Dolphins."
"How many lives have you lived?" she inquired.
"This is my first." And will be the only one.
"Who is your Comforter?"
"Glistening Flower is currently out of the state."
"Liar."
She moved forward, still holding the tiny box filled with solution and my silver contacts. Now I began panicking and staggered backwards, my parents in front of me.
"I've observed you all and investigated. How can you fall for a human?" she almost snarled the word, though not nearly losing her temper. Souls never have tempers, unless there are a few exceptions.
"She's our daughter," my mother implored, tears filling her eyes. "We love her and will do anything to spare her life."
"Kendra, we won't eradicate her completely," the Seeker's lips were curving upward, almost reassuring. She placed a hand on her shoulder and quickly reclaimed it. "She'll still be here. In appearance, at least. Wouldn't you love to have a real soul to love? Someone of our species?"
"She is her own soul," she answered tersely. "We love our human and no soul could replace her."
They enclosed me from the Seeker's view and the next sound that emitted from her lips was a scowl. Then everything went black.
I sprinted through the darkness for the coffee table and clutched the back pack in the arm. I knew our house so well that I never tumbled over anything for most of the seconds I ran.
"Mom!" I bellowed and heard her voice from the far corner of the dark room.
"Leave!" she yelled back and I obeyed.
I heard the screams and attempted thrashings of the Seeker. I also heard my parents' grunts as they kept their restraints. There were several crashing and shattering of glass. Then the horrid sounds were becoming slowly distant and I knew they were dragging her into the hall. This night had turned to violence --- something I've never witnessed in my life.
The door was slightly ajar and before I escaped the debris, I called, "Mom, Dad, I --- I love you!"
I thought I'd hear a response but instead, a loud shriek sounded through the walkway and before I could sprint towards the cry of my dad, my mother's voice ordered, "Get out of here now! We'll be fine!"
"Dad…" I yelped and took a few steps forward.
"Nilah, I've got this! Leave this instant! Find them!"
I gritted my teeth and reluctantly scurried to the door and shut it behind me with a loud jolt. I ran to the Range Rover, the car I got a few months before, the day I turned sixteen. I threw the bag on the passenger seat and inserted the key in the ignition. Soon, I was on the road and after a few minutes, on the freeway, allowing the tears to fall as I drive southward out of the state, where I hoped to find real humans like me.