I don't own The Host. Stephenie Meyer does, and she is awesome.
1. Captured
Ian's POV
It's been over three weeks since I was out on a raid. I've tried to spend as much time as possible with Wanda. We're practically inseparable. Now we are sitting in the car together, in the middle of a town crowded with parasites - sorry, souls. The sun is about to go down, and we are about to walk out into the what seems like a minefield.
"Okay, Ian. You go in, do what you've got to do, and then come straight out again. No detours," Jared says and hands me the knife. I'm about to hide it up in my sleeve when Wanda lays her hand on mine.
"No weapons, Ian. They won't suspect a thing if you just act normal around them."
"Okay," I say and smile at her. I put the knife away. I trust her.
"Alright, then," Jared says. "I'll stay in the car. Wanda, you go to the grocery store. And Ian, you'll go steal some stuff from the healers. Cool." He sounds nervous. It was the first time we're splitting up, and Aaron and Brandt have already left to get the van -we've been trying to change our cars as often as possible after Wanda's seeker found us -, which leaves Jared alone in the car. He is supposed to be a lookout, but I'm sure that won't be unnecessary.
I put my sunglasses on and step out of the car.
"Don't keep me waiting for you," I say to Wanda as we are about to go our separate ways.
"Same goes for you, you goof," she says with a smile on her face. I kiss her on the forehead and start walking towards the hospital.
There are a lot out souls out in the sun today. I can't help myself but look at them, see if anyone notices that I'm human. I never thought I was going to be this paranoid. I walk faster.
Finally, I reach out for the door and step into the main entrance. Here it goes.
There is a soul in a middle-aged woman's body behind the counter that's dressed up as a nurse. I cross the floor slowly while trying to remember what I was suppose to say to her. I shouldn't be nervous. I'm an excellent liar.
"Excuse me," I say as clearly and polite as I can. "I've had this terrible headache. And some pains in my body in general. Can I get something to ease the pain?" That sounded so terribly fake, even though I have been practicing. It didn't come out like it was suppose to.
The woman looks up and gives me a dazzling smile before she answers. "Sure, honey. My name is Ice At Shore, and I'll be pleased to help you." Her voice is soft, and I immediately feel calmer. There is no suspicion to be found in her tone. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
I'm about to answer her when I hear someone cough behind me. It makes wince. There is someone standing so close to me that I can feel his presence, feel his breathing in my neck. I look over my shoulder, and find myself looking at another soul, a man, who is way bigger than me. He doesn't look like a healer. At least he doesn't dress like one.
"Who wears sunglasses inside?" He asks me. He is standing about three feet behind me with crossed arms. My knees feels weak at once when I figure out what he is. He's a seeker. Dressed in black from top to toe. I can see the gun under his shirt. Did he follow me? Has he followed us?
I don't answer him. I simply just try to run past him, but I'm too slow. He grabs me in the shoulders and throws me down on the floor. When I land on my back, my breath gets knocked out of me, and I start gasping out loud. Ice At Shore, the healer, screams terrified. The seeker is holding me down with one hand, and with the other he removes my sunglasses with one quick movement.
"Human," he murmurs while staring into my non-silver glowing eyes. I try to push him away, but it makes my ribs hurt. He is crushing them with his weight. "As I though," he says to himself. Then he takes out a small box that reminds me of hairspray. And like I figured, he sprays something on me. I feel dizzy at once.
He takes something else out of his pocket - a cell phone - and holds it against his ear. "Seeker Thomas here. I've got him. My location is..." His voice starts to sound like mumbling to me.
Then everything turns black.
Jared's POV
I drum my fingers over the wheel, look at the clock on the dashboard. It's only been five minutes. Wanda should be back any time now. Ian still might be talking to the healer about his fake head ache.
Finally, Wanda opens the passenger door and jumps in.
"I've got some water for us, a bag of Cheetos, a few sandwiches and a pack of gum. Seriously, Jared, your breath stinks," she says, giggling, and hands me the paper-bag with our lunch. I couldn't help myself but smile of her silly joke. Who would ever thought that Wanda could joke around like that? Ever since Melanie got her body back, and Wanda moved into this little blondie, she's been completely changed in some ways. I still haven't gotten used to it. The new Wanda is very... girl-like. And kind of childish. Every time she is with Ian she starts to giggle of his stupid jokes. She giggles of her own jokes. She blushes when he kisses her in front of someone else. It's not my intention to make it sound like a bad thing, only a different thing.
"Great. Shouldn't be too long for Ian to be back," I say and takes out a sandwich for myself, and hands one to Wanda as well.
We sit and eat in silence for a while. I look at the time again. It's been almost fifteen minutes.
"He should have been back by now," I say and frown. "I'll go look for him." I open my door, but Wanda grabs my shoulder to stop me.
"No. I'll do it. I mean, I've got the eyes," she says and points at them. Her smile slowly fades. She is also considering the possibility that Ian might be... "I'm sure he's fine," she mumbles as walks out of the car.
I sit and wait for her for no more than three minutes. When she comes back, and I see the painful expression on her face, I know.
Ian's been captured.