hey guys! i recently read The Host and loved it. so i thought i would write a fic about it
disclaimer: The Host does not belong to me I take no credit for it's plot line or characters. That belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter One
My eyes fluttered, but would not open. I knew what had to happen first. They had told me before the operation what was to come, and I was prepared.
Or so I thought.
Color unfolded behind my closed lids, the sound of guns firing roaring in my ears. The last memory of this body.
Sweat trickled down my brow but I didn't have time to wipe it away. Raising my gun, I unloaded a new wave of bullets into the oncoming Seekers. They just didn't know when to quit.
Beside me, his teeth bared in a snarl, my brother Kyle aggressively reloads his gun. "Goddamn parasites. I hate each and every one of them," he growls, watching with grim satisfaction as another body falls to the dry desert ground. "Well, except for your Wanda of course."
Wanda. The name sparked something inside me, and I shivered. This body must have had a bond of sorts with this girl. I slid back into the memory.
Two shapes run towards us, one visibly shorter than the other. Melanie and her kid brother, Jamie. I grab Melanie's arm, pulling her aside as I fire another bullet deep into the chest of one of the pursing Seekers. Her eyes are wide under the weak light the moon provides us. She's scared.
"Where's Wanda?" I demand, lowering the barrel of my gun.
Melanie nods into the darkness behind Kyle. "With Jared. They're bringing the Jeep around. Jeb's already gone ahead."
I nod, returning to the warfare for a few more seconds. Jamie is shivering, and I can see Melanie tuck him into her arms from the corner of my eye. She loves the kid fiercely. I suppose she needs to in a world like this. We don't have much, and when you have someone, you're always wondering when you're gonna lose them.
In the distance, there is the sound of tires approaching fast. Jared. I smile to myself, knowing we only have a few more moments of combat before help arrives. The others are safe in the caves. Our home will not be lost.
Crack. There's a sharp cry of pain, and Jamie falls to the ground, nursing his arm gingerly. Melanie howls, dropping beside him. Blood stains the sand. "Kyle!" I roar, tossing him my gun. His wrist snaps up to catch it, but his head doesn't turn.
I kneel beside Melanie and her brother. The bullet isn't deep. We could get it out if-
The Jeep rolls up beside us. Jared swings out, scooping Jamie into his arms without a question. Melanie hurtles into the back seat after him. I can see Wanda in the front seat, and she is shaking with fear. They came looking for her, after all. She thinks it's her fault.
I nod to her. She motions to get out of the car, but I shake my head no. She doesn't need to be seen.
"Ian, c'mon. We gotta go," Jared shoves me towards the car. Kyle is already running, his shoulders squared and his head low. The Seekers have noticed our get away vehicle and are swarming towards us.
One of them breaks away from the pack, speeding towards us. In it's hand it grips a knife, it's eyes locked on the tires of the Jeep. I know it's plan. Popping the tires would make us stranded.
Realizing what has to be done, I run towards the Seeker, my brow furrowed.
"No, Ian!" Kyle screams, pausing with his hand on the door. He turns, maybe meaning to come back for me, but Jared is on him. Shoving him in and away.
His conflicted amber eyes meet mine, and I nod. He knows the sacrifice I am making.
The Seeker is nearly on top of me, but I feel no fear. "Do not move!" It instructs me, holding the knife out towards me in what it thinks must be a threatening matter. If I wanted to, I could disarm him in two seconds. That is not what I want to do.
I lower my hands, standing still. The Seeker pack stills, whispering among themselves. Why is this one giving itself up, they wonder. The humans never surrender so peacefully.
Closing my eyes, I step towards them. A Seeker grabs my wrist, tugging me towards him. A beam of light is shone in both my eyes, confirming my human status. He purses his lips. "Why do you give up so easily?" It asks, watching as the Jeep peels away into the desert with a look of regret. One gained. Five lost.
"Because that's my family out there. And I need to protect them."