Ben Mason used to sleep through an entire night. He would go to bed early most nights, if he wasn't caught up in a book, and fall asleep easily. He'd even wake up early, even on weekends. Hal gave him crap for it, but Ben never paid any attention to it. But that was before the invasion. Now, he was lucky if he got an hour sleep most nights. And when he didn't, his dreams were filled with skitters, mechs, the harness, and death. The lack of sleep didn't seem to affected him any, which only irritated him more. Whatever the skitters had done to him, it was driving him crazy.
His brothers and dad were asleep on the cots beside him. Ben felt a rush of envy for them, able to sleep so easily while he couldn't. He watched Matt roll onto his right side, moaning slightly. Ben hoped he wasn't having a nightmare. It wouldn't be the first night Matt woke them all up screaming, but Ben hoped it wouldn't be tonight.
Ben sighed heavily and kicked his blanket off. Sleep wasn't comforting him any time soon, why lay in bed any longer. He sat up from his cot and grabbed his shirt and shoes. He pulled his shirt on over his head, keeping mind of the rods still protruding out his back. He slipped his feet into his boots and quietly left the room.
The high school was as quiet as a graveyard, and just as cheery. Ben quietly walked through the hall, looking out the window. The skitter station glowed brightly in the cold evening sky. A symbol of everything the 2nd Mass was up against. He watched the ships fly in and dock in the hangers. Ben leaned his hand against the glass, closing it into a tight fist. The monsters had taken everything they could from him…from the world. And all he could do was run and hide with most of the 2nd Mass.
Suddenly, something caught Ben's attention. Something on the ground. He looked down at the dark ground. Something-no, someone-was running toward the base. He could make out the figuring running down the street toward them. They were carrying several bags over their back and a gun. They ran to the school and slipped through the barrier. They stopped for a moment, next to Dai. The person seemed to be pulling something from one of the packs and handed it to Dai. From above, Ben managed to estimate the person's height, compared to Dai they were about five and a half feet. Dai and the person exchanged pats before moving on. Ben watched the person enter the school.
Ben turned from the window and ran toward the front doors. He didn't know why he was so interested in this mystery person, but he was. He turned around the corner where the entrance was and stopped. He saw the person walking down the hall just in front of him. Ben followed them down the hall. He bit his lip nervously and walked down the hall. He hung close to the walls and watched the runner in the hall. He followed them to the supply room. Ben hung back as he watched them unload their packs. Ben was amazed at how much the person had managed to carry and stuff into their bags.
The person stood straight and slung their empty bags on their shoulder. They reached up and pulled off the black beanie on their head. A wave of skinny braids fell from the beanie. The braids fell six inches below her shoulders, decked out in different style beads. They turned toward the door. Ben ducked out of sight. The runner was a girl, no older than Hal. Her face was oval shaped with a slender jawline. She swung the braids over her shoulder and walked out of the room.
Ben leaned against the wall as she walked away. He stared at her in complete awe as she walked away. He was…transfixed by her. He couldn't understand it, but he had to meet her. He watched her until she took the next corner, out of his sight. For a moment, Ben just stood in the quiet hall, watching the corner. Then, he turned and headed back toward his room.
He walked back to his room, his family was still asleep. Ben kicked off his shoes and pulled off his shirt. He lay on the cot and stared up at the ceiling. He couldn't figure it out. The girl couldn't have been smaller than him, her brother's age, and still managed to haul back three packs worth of supplies like they were nothing. Ben wondered if she could teach him.
okay, first chapter not going to be great, but it'll get better. i swear. oh...this is my first falling skies fic.