"Wanda, Ian!" Mel called from outside of our room, banging on the heavy, red door. I slowly opened my eyes, blinking hard and looking around. It was now dark outside, judging by the light coming in from the cracks, and Mel must be getting us for the raid.
I sat up and quickly realized that was a bad idea. I belatedly realized I wasn't wearing any clothes. "Do I have to come in there?" My eyes widened in embarrassed horror and I quickly wrapped the sheets around myself.
"No! We'll be out in a minute, Mel," I answered. I could practically hear her roll her eyes, but she soon walked away, her footsteps echoing in the caves. Ian was still sleeping beside me, his bare body glowing in the dim light. I looked down at myself in shame. I had just done something so terribly, terribly selfish. Something so satisfying and indulging, yet so spoiling. I whimpered in guilt.
"Wanderer?" Ian yawned, hearing me. I covered my mouth and prayed that he hadn't heard my sigh of defeat. He rolled around and smiled up at me, his eyes grazing over my body for a second. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"Yes," I lied. "Mel just came to get us. We're leaving soon." I fumbled out of bed, careful to keep the blanket covering me from Ian. Though we had both seen each other completely by now, I still felt uncomfortable when he looked at me straight on. Ian chuckled at me self-consciousness, though I know it offended him. Which made me feel even worse. I turned away and started to pull my clothes on again, fumbling with my tangled shirt. "Here," Ian whispered from behind me. I gasped as he wrapped his arms around me from the back and took the top from my hands, gently tossing it aside. He kissed me from behind, tilting his head around to meet my lips. His hands brushed me lightly across my chest, and I didn't even try to stop him. It felt too perfect.
All too soon, he pulled away and handed me my shirt. I struggled with it for a second more before sliding it over myself, feeling more comfortable now that I was covered up. Ian, too my dismay, also covered himself up before pulling me out of the door, a grin plastered on his face. "What?" I asked, looking at him, confused.
"You're just so beautiful, Wanda," he whispered, twining his hands in mine. I bit my lip, feeling uncomfortable. I know he meant it in the nicest way, but it always made me think of my body. Pet's body. I tried to keep my gaze steady as I walked down the cave, but Ian wasn't buying it. "Wanderer, stop. I don't mean it like that. And I'm sorry I keep telling you that, but I can't help myself. You are beautiful. More than that. Everything about you is so incredible, so magical." He slid his hand against my cheek and I dared to look up at him, guilt swallowing my face. "Last night was amazing because you were there, Wanda. Not because of your body, but because of every little move you made, every word you said, every kiss you gave. I love you, Wanda. Not your body. You."
I nodded, unsure of how to react. I wanted to dismiss everything he said, but his eyes told me he was telling the truth. Instead, I said, "Thank you, Ian. I . . . I had a good time last night." I couldn't keep a straight face.
"Oh, really?" He cracked a smile, squeezing my waist tighter. "Well, just let me know when you need some alone time." Together, we continued to walk through the dark, quiet caves. Everyone was asleep except for those of us who were going on this meetup. By the time we got to the cave entrance, we could hear the soft murmur of voices. Mel, Jared and Jeb were talking softly in the cave's entrance. As we walked in, they all turned their heads toward us and smiled.
"Finally," Mel laughed. "What were you doing in there?" My eyes went wide in horror. How could she possibly know? She looked at me in confusion and I realized she was just trying to make a joke.
"Just sleeping," Ian yawned, covering for me. I took a breath of relief. "Where's Aaron? Kyle?" The two were supposed to come, but they weren't anywhere around.
"Aaron had a little incident working this morning. Hurt himself pretty bad. Doc doesn't want him to go," Jared explained.
"Why was he working?" I asked, concerned. We're not supposed to work the day of a raid, even for one as quick as this one.
"I needed some of the stronger boys to help me with somethin' and volunteered," Jeb sighed. "It was my fault. He'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Oh." Jared was now talking to Ian about plans for the trip, making gestures about directions and such. I watched as Kyle trudged up from the caves and towards us. Jeb smiled at him and waved everybody over to the entrance. Jeb always came on these meetings, mainly because any deals and exchanges of information had to go from him. Having him come with us just made things easier. Jared comes because he was the master of all raids. Mel goes because of him. Kyle comes because he never misses a raid. I come to help explain the Soul-related things, while Ian comes to protect me.
After a few minutes of going over our plan of action-a pretty standard meet up in an abandoned house-we were running through the desert, the sand blowing in our faces, the wind rushing our skin. It was dark outside and it took a while for my eyes to adjust, but Ian kept me steady. When we finally reached the Jeep, we hustled in and started the car. Kyle draped the tarp over the back and we were off.
"So," Mel whispered after about half an hour. We were sitting in the way back, with Kyle and Ian infront of us and Jared and Jeb at the wheel. We were both rolled up in balls, trying to fit there, but neither of us minded. Mel remembered the way I had curled up in the caves after first arriving, and my body was so small that it didn't make a difference to me. The boys were chatting quietly. "How was it?"
"Huh?" I looked at her in confusion. Was this some human thing I haven't picked up on yet?
"How was it? I didn't think it'd ever happen with you two, but I guess I was wrong!" Mel chuckled to herself as my face went white, finally understanding. I felt so horrified and ashamed that I nearly burst out crying, but held in it. "Oh, Wanda. Don't be like that." She swatted my arm playfully. "You don't have to be embarrassed. It's just the human thing to do." She emphasized the word.
"How'd you know? That we . . ." I raised my eyebrows.
"It was all over your face, Wanda. You're cheeks are practically fluorescent. And the fact that your shirt is on backwards," Mel laughed. I looked shockingly at my shirt, which was indeed turned around. I hastily switched it around while Mel shook her head at me. "Sometimes, Wanda, it's impossible to believe that someone so oblivious is alive."
"Oblivious?" Was Mel trying to insult me?
"Not in a bad way, Wanda. Just in the way that you don't seem to understand how things work. It's cute, really."
"Oh," I nodded. Just another thing to remind me that I am a Soul, not a human. Mel belatedly realized that she had offended me, but I smiled at her. I couldn't make her feel guilty. It wasn't her fault that I was a Soul.
"Hey!" Jeb called from up front. "We're 'bout there. I can see 'em in the distance."
"Thanks, Uncle Jeb," Mel replied. Ian twisted around to look at me and smiled. He slipped his hand into mine and squeezed quickly. Mel sat up on her knees, ready to get out. After about a minute or so, the Jeep slowed down as Jared pulled into a dark, abandoned area. There was a small house to our right, no lights on. I could just make out the shape of another car a hundred feet or so away, disguised well. That must be the other group.
"Let's go. Remember, don't say anything until we know it's them." The only troubling part about these meet ups is the fact that they could be traps. Our messages could be intercepted and changed, only to lead us right into the Seekers hands. Hopefully, this wasn't the case.
I quietly followed Melanie out of the car and towards the house. Ian immediately caught up to me and held me close. His hand gently stroked the scar on my neck. He had a strange attachment to the scar. He told me once it was because he felt closest to me when he touched it, knowing that my real self was right under the faded line. "All clear," I heard Jared whisper from ahead, where he stood at the door to the house. He slipped inside and Jeb and Kyle followed. Mel ducked in after, followed by Ian and I.
At first, the room was totally dark. Then, I began to make out a few figures. Two large guys, both carrying thick bags. A young girl, maybe twelve, cradling one of their legs. And a tall woman, leaning against the wall, a smile on her face. "Jeb, I presume?" she asked. Her voice was inquisitive, her smirk rising.
Jeb stepped forward extending his hand. "That's right! And you must be Lynn." The men visibly relaxed after examining Jeb, mainly his eyes, and the tiny girl smiled sheepishly.
"I am. I'm so glad that we were able to meet you. I've been looking for other resistances for a long time now, and only a few months ago we stumbled across Mark's group." Mark was the leader of the humans who set up the messaging system. "Without them, we might not have survived. They've taught us so much about surviving."
"Well I'm glad that you met them. Our numbers are growin' smaller each day, and any human is a friend 'a mine," Jeb smiled.
"This is James, Carter, and Anna," Lynn said, gesturing to the small group. I examined Anna, the young brunette clinging to James. She had the same curious grin on her face that Lynn had, and I suddenly realized she was her daughter. James must be her partner. "The others are still sleeping, I'm afraid. This has been a very long raid for us."
"This here is Jared and Mel, Kyle, and Ian and Wanda," Jeb introduced. Lynn smiled at each of us as she scanned the line. Her eyes settled on me and I could see the others follow her gaze. Her eyebrows furrowed in hatred and before I could blink, the sound of a gunshot was ringing through my ears.