I love The Host. I think it's better than Twilight, yeah that's something big. This story is based after The Host by about 2 ½ months. You may see some character names that weren't in the book, but were still there, like Oliver. Just go along with it. Hope you enjoy this!

Chapter 1 – Meeting

Ziggy's POV

I stumbled along the alley's darkened street, my feet pounding unevenly on the icy floor. I was trying to keep an even pace but that was just impossible. People were chasing me. Were they Seekers? I didn't know. Probably.

There was no hope. It was over. How had they found me? Had I slipped on one of my raids? The souls abandoned the downtown area, that sort of stuff was not appropriate for them. However they'd not turned off the electricity or water to it, so that made my home.

Still running. I was nearly home. If I could just get inside, they would never find me. But then I did something very stupid.

I needed to know who they were. I spun round, trying only to twist my head but the ice made me slip and I landed flat on the cold floor. Why did this have to happen to me? Well, I suppose it happened to everyone else but still…

I noticed I was still conscious. A warm hand touched mine lightly, and I realized whoever's hand it was, was trying to help me up. I took it unwillingly, knowing there would be death either way. I looked up at the person.

I first saw their clothes. They were not Seekers in their uniform black, so what were they? Next I counted. One woman, four men. The men were dressed in some inconspicuous gray T-shirts and pants and the girl was in a deep pink top with black leg-ins. I then remembered their eyes.

I gasped. They were…human. Five surviving humans standing right next to me! My heart leapt with joy. Tears poured down my face and I grinned stupidly.

"Um, hi?" One of the men, the one that offered me the hand, asked uncertainly. "Are you OK?" I recovered myself.

"Yeah! It's just...just...you're HUMAN?"

"That's us!" The girl stepped forward and smiled warmly. "My name is Melanie, what's yours?"

"Ziggy!"

"Nice name! Now... you're in a spot of bother here, aren't you? The Seekers will find you eventually you know..." I sighed.

"Yes, I do. I'm just trying to survive for as long as I can, you know?"

"Alright. But, we were wondering if you wanted to...you know...come live with us in the desert. There is a nice place, if you want to come..."

This shocked me. How had they got here from the desert? I'd lived all my life either in or near Seattle and these people were implying they were on a nice trip up to Seattle from the desert? Okay...well I'd better answer them.

"I'd love to come! Living with humans is my dream...but first of all you need to tell me how you got to Seattle."

"We drove?" Melanie looked confused.

"How? How did the Seekers not spot you?" Melanie laughed at this.

"We have a van and a lorry. Also, we have two souls driving them. We didn't bring them along because they'd never catch you and they might give you a fright." Then again the man spoke.

"And we shouldn't have brought you along either. You're pregnant. Moral support." He grumbled.

"Jared!" Melanie hissed, frustrated, but then recovered herself. "I suppose you should know who we all are. This is Jared, as you probably know," she pointed to him, "Kyle, Aaron, Brandt and Oliver. Ian's still with Wanda. Oh, and Sunny's driving the lorry and Wanda's doing the van."

"How many of you IS there?" I staggered back, shocked.

"There's 39 in our place, we're tops. There's four other human camps, you may decide to go there later, but the most they've got is 20. Now hurry!" Melanie tugged on my sleeve. "We have a few more places to stop off at, hmm...maybe we could do a BNB for one night, you need to get scrubbed up. You're around the same size as me, I'll lend you some fresh clothes..." She was practically talking to herself as we started to negotiate the death trap of a path.

"I still can't get my head round it. There's more than 50 humans still alive in the USA? And you have some...souls...with you?"

"Yes, times have changed from a few years ago when people were on the run. We're now more civilized. Brandt! Do you know what happened at the court meeting today?" Court meeting?

"No, sorry. Only Sunny knows."

"Court meeting?" I asked.

"Yes, there's a court in Seattle where souls go to give in their human children. Or in the case today, not to give in. That's the reason we're so far away."

"Why would they need a court meeting?"

"Well, it seems that some souls love their children too much and do not want to give them in to being a soul. The outcome of the event is only known by Sunny, so we need to get back to her."

We continued in silence for some time until we stopped in front of a completely normal lorry and van parked on the outskirts of Seattle. I met Jodi, Ian and Wanda, but Melanie ushered me into the back of the van before I heard the verdict of the court. I put on the clothes she'd handed me. Oh, they were so soft! They must not have been worn too many times before.

Melanie, Jared and Ian got in the back with me and Wanda was driving. It was really bumpy but I could tell we were driving slowly. Everyone else piled into the lorry. We juddered to a halt after about an hour of driving. Melanie jumped up.

"You don't mind if I sleep in a bed tonight, do you Jared?"

"Well I'm joining you."

"Me too. Well, not you, Wanda." I giggled.

"Ian and Wanda sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G!" He laughed.

"Jared and Melanie sitting in a car, are they naked? Yes they are!" We pretended to shield our eyes away from them both, sniggering quietly. Wanda opened the door at that instant and asked,

"What's the joke?"

"Just a childish game..." Ian muttered.

"OK whatever. Ziggy, come on, you need a bath. Are any of you lot coming?"

"We all are." Melanie answered.

"Cool! Let's go!" Wanda grinned enthusiastically.

"She's always like this." Jared whispered to me as we jumped out.

That night was amazing. Soaking in the nice hot water...shampooing my hair...sleeping in a nice warm bed...it was lovely. Everyone was really nice. Wanda told me about Jamie, a teenage boy who was staying with them, and also Melanie's brother. It was so amazing, Jared, Melanie and Ian joined in the conversation, talking about old Uncle Jeb and life in the caves.

The next morning, Melanie took the little bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and wrapped the bars of soap in toilet paper before putting them into the rucksack too. We ate breakfast and the woman smiled at us and waved.

"I hope to see you again, thank you for coming!"

The next morning, Wanda and Sunny went out and so we were left to sit there and do nothing.

"Do you like reading, Ziggy?"

"'S Okay, I suppose."

"Wanda bought us a few magazines. You know, from when we were still here. 'Human antiques', they were selling them as. Well, not really selling...more giving away..."

"They were cheap?"

"No, everything's for free. Souls are like that."

"Okay..." I answered, dazed.

Later that day, Wanda and Sunny arrived with lots of shopping bags. Wanda was grumbling something about not needing Aaron, Brandt and Oliver with us and Sunny was agreeing. We all peered into the bags to see what they got. Some cutlery, long-lasting food...some shoes of varying sizes...some clothes that were so small they must be for Sunny... we were stumped at the last bag. It was a plastic box and rather large. About 1m upwards and then ½ m back and to the side. Wanda and Sunny laughed at our reaction.

"It's a solar-powered fridge!" Wanda giggled.

"Look inside!" Sunny added.

Inside the fridge were several fruit and vegetables like apples, pears and tomatoes. We ate a few but left the rest for when we get back.

The next six days were spent in a similar pattern, except we did not stop off at a BNB, we slept in the van or lorry.

"Home sweet Home..." Melanie whispered as we turned onto a dirt track leading up into the desert. It would be my home sweet home too, soon. I knew it.