Chapter 1: Awakening
(Melanie)
The muddle of voices in the background woke me from the best sleep I'd had in...well, too long to remember. I heard it grow in volume as I sighed and tried to force my unwilling eyes open, only to be blinded by light. As my eyes adjusted, I could see that there were cracks and holes in the ceiling, but I had no idea where the blinding light was coming from...wait. What the hell? I was thinking like Wanda! I laughed to myself, knowing she'd been in my head far too long, and I waited for her to think some kind of snide comment about how she was getting to m–
Wait. Where was she? What was happening? I was the one who had seen the light, not Wanda. Wanda had left. NO! I felt the tears running down my face, but I was so heartbroken with the loss of my friend that I couldn't even stop to enjoy the sensation of the tears on my cheeks, as good as it felt to feel again. My vision was beginning to come back into focus, and I could see the faces of all the people my Wanderer loved. Doc, Ian, Lily, Trudy, Jamie, J–
"JARED!" I squeaked, now realizing how parched I was and how little I cared. His arms were around me in an instant. Me. Melanie Stryder. Being held for the first time in almost five years by the man I loved. He kissed me gently, but it quickly grew in intensity. My arms wound around his neck, and for a moment I was completely lost. It wasn't until a few people cleared their throats that we remembered where we were. And then I remembered Wanda again. The tears came again, and I felt Jared's fingers running through my hair as he attempted to calm me.
"Shh, Mel, it's okay. I'm right here. Everything's fine. You're okay. I love you." he said calmly. I felt his lips touch my forehead.
"No, no, no," I sobbed. "She's gone. Wanderer is gone. She wouldn't stay. I...I tried to make her stay, but she said there was no other way." I searched for Ian, remorse in my eyes. "I'm so sorry Ian," I apologized to the whole room, whether he was there or not. "I tried to tell her how much we need her, but she wouldn't listen. I know you loved her, and I'm..." My voice broke and I couldn't say any more; I could only sob like a child. I felt to stupid, so helpless. I couldn't save her. I wasn't strong enough to stop her, and I had failed both Ian and Wanda.
"Mel, it's going to be okay," I heard Jared crooning again. I just cried like a weak little baby in response. I was stronger than this, or at least I had been. I guess things change once you've had a Soul living in your body for over a year. I knew why I had become so weak. I had fought so hard to keep Wanda from completely taking control in the early days, and I had won; but now look at me: how ironic that such a huge part of me would have given anything to have her back, even if it meant losing control of my own body again forever.
"Melanie Stryder, look at me." Jared's voice was stern now. It seemed so different to hear it through my own ears again, and not through Wanda's ears. He took my face in his hands.
"I'm sorry," I said, taking a deep breath.
"Don't apologize. I know you're worried but hold on. Look at me. Wanderer is fine. She's not going anywhere. I realized after that last talk with her just what she was planning to do, and I knew that even though I wanted you back so bad, I would still miss Wanda. We all still need her. Well, that and the fact that you and O'Shea over there would probably kill me, either together or on your own." He laughed and gestured toward Ian, who was clutching a CYROTANK. Wanda was safe!
Ian smiled at me warmly, nodding a hello. I realized that although I knew all these people just as well as Wanda did, I had never actually met most of them personally in my life. Suddenly I felt very awkward.
"Hi everybody," I said, smiling sheepishly. Smiling my smile. "I'm Melanie. I guess we have a lot of catching up to do."
Author's notes: - so yeah I don't own The Host or any of the characters and la de dah and all that crap.
- I hope you like this story so far, and for those of you who do, I promise chapter 2 is on
its way!!! :)