A/N: Hey, this is my first fanfiction. I LOVE the Host, and I just started to write this. Review and tell me if you want to go on/any suggestions!! :)

Disclaimer: Seriously? You think I would be awesome enough to write the Host and own all the characters?!? Well... You're wrong... :(

Burning

I was still in shock from yesterday, and I was pretty sure that everyone else was too. It was one thing to meet a new human, maybe even two or three. But it was a whole other thing to realize that there were over 80 humans left on earth. All my friends were elated by that fact, but I was focused on a different one. One that I was sure no one else could understand.

Wanda, the traitor of the souls, was not alone. Burns, from the fire planet, had joined our society too. Did that have to do with his history from his previous home? I didn't care. I wasn't alone. How uplifting it was to discover this fact, after so many times I had agonized over me being so torturous to my society. Though I didn't know if he had told them as much as I had revealed about every souls secret and I didn't dare ask him if it turned out the answer was no. Other questions I didn't hold back.

"Why did he do it?", "Where did he live?", "How did he escape?"…All of these questions flowed out of my mouth as soon as I thought them, only sometimes did I wait to think what he must be thinking which made me stop abruptly but then continue as soon as I recovered my confidence. Of course Ian didn't have the same reaction as I did to Burns.

As I kept up my interest with Burns, after I had gotten over my shyness, Ian seemed to be protective as ever. He never left my side, not like he did it so much before, but this was different. It looked as though he was competing for my attention all the time. I couldn't understand what was wrong with him. Why did he act this way? Did he doubt the love pledge I'd given to him on that rainy day? I paused half a second waiting for someone to answer me; I sighed. I was on my own now. It wasn't quite that easy to remember though. Melanie always had good advice on human reactions.

Since my insertion into this new body she was my good friend but inseparable from Jared. So trying to discuss this with her was definitely out, and I doubted that Ian would leave me alone too.

I sighed again. Ian and I were in line for breakfast, the sun is not up yet so the food will be hot. We had woken up early and had been late so there were very few seats left. Seeing that we had 21 new guests in the cave had been a part of the reason that we were pressed for space, literally. The caves had already been tight with very few rooms, but now having to house 56 people was taking a toll on all of us. Doc had moved out of the hospital and moved in with Sharon and Maggie so some people could sleep there. Still, some had to sleep in the halls on mats, but they didn't complain. This was the reason why Nate and his crew had decided that they were to move out tomorrow and come with us on the raid; supplies was running low and we were on to cave rations again. Jared had decided that to remain inconspicuous Nate and his party were to go separate ways.

I spotted Jamie's dark hair and bright eyes over the crowd. He waved and motioned towards the empty seats next to him and I nodded. After getting my meager serving I towed Ian to Jamie's table. It pleased him to not sit with Burns, since I'd sat with him almost every meal.

"Hey Jamie," I said, approaching the table.

"Hi Wanda, Ian! So Mel and Jared and I were talking about me goin' on the raid tomorrow too," Jamie added before sipping his soup.

My jaw clenched and glanced at Melanie. How could she suggest this? Did she forget that he'd almost died on the last raid he went on?

"Chill Wanda," she defended herself, "I think it would be good experience for him and we will both be there and I highly doubt that he would be using a weapon."

"But what if we got caught?" I retorted. There was no way that he was going to be swallowing that deathly pill.

She simply rolled her eyes and said, "No chance"

I glared at her with raging fury. This surprised me since souls were naturally non-violent, especially Pet. She was probably the exact opposite of what you would expect to be murderous, but I was proving that theory wrong. But then I realized that she probably didn't want to leave Jamie alone and unprotected by a family member or close friend. I sighed and gave up.

"Who else is going?" I asked half-heartedly. I wanted to know who would be an ally for him.

"Um…" she stalled. I crumpled my eyebrows with suspicion, she didn't sound like she didn't know, just that she felt compelled not to tell me. "me, Jared, Jamie, Ian, you, and...Lily."

Mel clenched Jared's giant hand turning the knuckles white.

I frowned, "Ok. It should be good for her to get out." I actually hadn't really seen much of Lily lately. She was becoming good friends with Nate and the others, but I didn't understand it would be so tedious for the others to have her join us on the raid with Nate. Was that why she was going; to say goodbye? That couldn't possibly be it, could it be though? Again, I surprised myself with my un-soul-like behavior, questioning them as if they were withholding a secret. I shuddered remembering one of my tortured memories stolen from Melanie. Unfortunately that one stuck with me. But still, it didn't make sense. Jared wouldn't want a larger party…Oh! That was it…Jared was always so careful. I bet he wanted to change stories and have Lily be a charader, and she was the only one fit since Doc had just recently put Smooth on her scar. I smiled to myself. Deception with humans was getting easier and easier. Soon I would be able to see through some of their lies…

Ian interrupted my thoughts, "So I guess we have some work in the eastern fields today."

"Yep! Should be fun," I perked. Before, when I was in Melanie, I did the harder jobs which did not include harvesting, but now with my bodies limitations I was permitted to do this job. Hopefully I would not need assistance with this one…

Ian snorted, "I don't see why you find it so 'fun', Wanda, it is just like the other jobs-

"That I don't get to do," I retorted. He was oblivious to my frustration with the helpless state I was in.

In my peripheral vision I saw Melanie rolled her eyes and Jared smiled at the table where their hands were linked.

I kept staring at Ian trying to ignore the emotional let down that was depressing me. Why should I be disappointed when I have Ian, so sweet, loving, caring…

Suddenly I smelled something like oil and burned rubber mixed together, and one of Pet's memories instantly jumps at me.

I'm sitting in the kitchen on a bright sunny morning while Cloud Spinners is getting me my breakfast. She usually takes a long time when she's cooking so I swing my feet while I'm waiting for her.

I smell something funny.

Getting up from my chair I run to the kitchen to find smoke rising from the toaster.

Cloud Spinners isn't here.

Something from the corner of my eye catches my attention, it's red and wispy.

It's sort of pretty. I put my hand on it. I scream. It's so HOT!

I can't put a name to it, but I feel like this usually isn't encountered with souls. Is that what is in the kitchen? Curious, I climb out of the bench.

"I'm going to go get another roll," I say, keeping my eyes down like Mel told me once.

"But you haven't even finished yours yet!" Jamie interjected.

"I think I'm going to go get two, I won't be long," I added.

After unclasping my hand from Ian's I take tiny strides to the kitchen. I walk into the cave next over expecting Trudy in here, but she isn't there.

"Hello?" I call. Someone should be in here monitoring the food…

Once again, straight infront of me this time, I see the orangey, wisp of air. I start moving closer to it slowly. The string of light is bigger this time though coming off as waves rather than a bulb. It's hotter too. The object seems to illuminate the whole cave, even stronger than the flashlights. Moving closer I can see that some of the rolls were absorbed in it. An instinct comes of in me like a siren bell, warning me to do something.

I frown, what can I do? Although I am incompetent of doing something, I still reach out planning to move it somewhere. When my skin reaches it's target I gasp. Startled from the pain it makes, I pull my hand away to late. My finger is burning. It didn't feel like it was burning. It felt like cold heat, but it hurt too much. Finally, I started to scream.

My delayed reaction told me blow it out, but it did not help. The flame is spreading. I collapsed hitting my head hard on metal, and someone came in. I was too gone to notice who it was. They said something, but I was screaming to loud to hear. Mercifully, the pain stops as something cool and thin streams on my skin. I think it was water. I try to think of how to thank them, but the collision on my head claims me to unconsciousness.