I don't own The Host. Stephenie Meyer does.
This is a sequel of In Pieces, so if you haven't read that one yet, I recommend you go do that first :)
1. Nightmares
Ian's POV
Seeker Thomas is standing with his back against me. I can't see what he is doing now. But at the moment, I really don't care. My arms are burning, and I can hardly see anything but blood on them. Is that his plan? To carve the skin away, piece by piece?
Then he turns around, holding a glowing iron rod in one of his hands. He's wearing gloves so he won't burn himself on it. My breathing gets heavier as I start to panic.
"WHERE ARE THEY?" The Seeker shouts. "WHERE ARE THE HUMANS HIDING?"
"Please, don't," I cry. I'm trying to move in my chair, trying to get away somehow. But no matter how hard I try, it just feels like the ropes are getting tighter.
Seeker Thomas cuts the rope that is tied around my chest with a knife he picks up, and then he throws it behind his shoulder.
"You don't want me to do this, Ian," he pleads as he push my head down so all I can see is my stomach."Tell me," he demands. I keep on groaning, keep on making terrified noises. It's like I can't breathe.
"TELL ME!" He shouts, but he doesn't wait for an answer this time. The iron tears it's way through my shirt, and through the skin on my back like a razor blade. I can hear the sound of hot iron sizzling when it sinks into my skin. It keeps going deeper and deeper...
Wanda's POV
Ian awakes us with a howl.
"NO!" He screams while throwing himself around in the bed, with tears streaming down his face.
"Ian," I say and lay my hand on his chest, trying to calm him down. His eyes flash open. I can see that the nightmare is still flashing through mind, and I give him time so he can come back to himself. Brandt gives me an irritated look, but I ignore him.
Everyone but Ian looks concerned out the windows and at the door. Did someone hear us? Are they going to check up on us?
The only sound we can hear at the moment is Jeb's snoring. Of course he didn't wake up, I think to myself. His hearing has been slightly less functional after we attacked the souls that found the caves. He was pretty close to the grenade when it exploded. Luckily, his hearing is still there somehow, just not as much as before.
After a while, Trudy breaks the silence with a sigh.
"This has to stop," she says and rubs her eyes. "He can't keep screaming like that. We are in the middle of soul-city for God's sake."
I gaze at her. "It's not like he can do anything about it," I say and begin stroking his hair.
"Well, we can. Just tape his mouth whenever he is going to sleep," she suggests and looks at Ian.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Melanie says and stare angrily at Trudy.
"With me? I am not the one who is waking the whole fucking city up!"
"Maybe we should tape your filthy mouth-"
"Guys. Guys!" Ian says as he cuts Trudy's and Melanie's discussion off. He sits up in the bed and lays his head in his hands. "I know that I'm making things difficult-"
"The hell you are", Trudy cuts in angry.
"Shut up, Trudy," Melanie says. Jared is laying next to her on the sofa, and there is barely room for the both of them there. Jared doesn't want to be a part of this discussion anymore, he has already been through it a million times. He knows that Ian can't help it.
Sunny is also being very quiet, but that is how she's always been. Can't really expect her to say her opinion about something. She is too shy.
"What if you just leave me here?" Ian says and looks up from his hands. I try to protest, but he continues. "I'll find myself a car and travel by myself from now on. I'll find Nate's cabins in no time."
"No, Ian, I won't let you do that," I say and shake my head. The though of leaving Ian behind breaks my heart. I know that he can't travel by himself. He can't even fill gas at the gas station anymore, because he is afraid that he'll get captured again. He hasn't told me, but I know just by looking him in the eyes. He is terrified.
"I think that is a great idea," Trudy says. Melanie throws a shoe at Trudy's head this time. Brandt starts to laugh.
"Ouch!" She says and rubs her head.
"He is not going to be left alone anymore," Melanie stated. I smile grateful to her. She knows what is right, and she even knows what I want. All the time. She is the closest thing I can get to a sister.
"I'm very glad you won't leave me behind, but-" I stop his mouth with my finger.
"No, Ian. You'll stay," I demand. Then he doesn't say anything more.
"Try and go back to sleep now," Jared says tired with his eyes still closed. He wraps his arms around Melanie and buries his head in her hair.
"Okay," Melanie whispers and closes her eyes, too.
Trudy hasn't calmed down yet. She looks up at Ian apologetically. "Ian, maybe you should-"
"Yeah, I know," he says. "I'll just... go for a walk then."
"I'm going with you," I say and put my jacket on. He doesn't protest, just takes my hand and I follow him out the door.
"I need some fresh air, anyway," he murmurs as he closes the door behind himself.
