The Seeker

Chapter 2

I am now 16, and I don't feel very different from when I was 12. I still laugh from Jamie's jokes, he is now 21, and I still help out with the crops. But now the crops have all been gathered and there is nothing to do but turn over the soil so it can gather more nutrients for the next crops. Now I feel as if I have nothing to do and I starting to get bored.

"Mom! Is there anything I can do? I keep sitting here staring at nothing!" I tell my mom. I shouldn't complain but I can't help it. I haven't done anything for days and the boredom is finally getting to me.

She walks over to me from sitting on my bed. We are in my room that has been filled with light from the holes in the top of the ceiling. Judging from the light filtering through the holes, I would say it is about midday.

"Sweetie, you know there are chores like washing the clothes or the dishes. Or maybe you could turn the soil in one of the fields or help make lunch. There are plenty things to do than just sitting here you know?" my mom suggests.

"Ya? And do the stuff I I've been doing for the past 4 days?!" I groan.

"Well it's that or sit here staring at nothing because there are no other chores or jobs to do." she tells me. Her eyes look weary, almost like they are hiding something.

Wait a minute, I think. I look at her hands and they look like they are almost sweaty. Wary eyes, sweaty palms, a lift in her voice... she's hiding something. But what? It takes me not even a second to realize the answer to that question.

"We're going on a raid aren't we!" I exclaim as I leap to my feet and start to run for the exit of my room. As I sprint down the dark hallway for the main lobby, I hear my mother sigh in defeat. For a moment I feel a pang of sympathy, then I wonder why she would not want me on this raid. Unless... I feel, although I cannot see them, my eyes light up and my eyebrows lift. It's a hostage raid! I notice how my feet have faltered in pace while I was thinking and I give a gigantic burst of speed. I have butterflies in my stomach and a happy expression on my face as I sprint down the hall and turn into the lobby.


"No Em. I'm sorry but you can't come with. You're too young." Jamie tells me sternly.

"Oh really?" I reply to him, my voice filled to the breaking point with sarcastic tones."So I'm too young to go on a hostage raid but I'm old enough to go on a resources raid?! That makes complete sense!"

"Em!" Jamie says stubbornly. "I said no and I mean it."

"I think she has a point Jamie. I mean she is 16 and she's gone on many other raids, so why not this one? I think she'll be fine." Jeb says as he comes to my rescue for arguing with Jamie.

"See?" I tell Jamie. I look at his face and see doubt cross over his stubborn expression. "Fine! Just remember that you made me do this! Oh, and don't say I didn't warn ya! Cause I'm warning ya right now!"

I take a step back and start jumping up and down pleading "Oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please, oh please" over and over again until he finally relents.

"Oh thank you so much!" I run up to him and give him a tight hug before going to my room to pack my things. But once I pass a little way into the hallway, I don't hear Jeb's and Jamie's conversation. I probably shouldn't have ever pleaded with Jamie about going on the trip. Because I had not expected the tragedy Jamie would face and the guilt Jeb would face either.


"Ok, so we have 4 hostages and we just need 1 more?" I ask Jamie.

"Yes. After that, we should be done with the raid and we can return back to the cave." he replies.

I nod in agreement. We park in front of a house which we all know has only 1 resident that will be back from a shopping trip in a few minutes.

"Ok, here's the plan. Em, you need to act as if you are lost and hungry. It's a little cold outside and that will help you act your parso don't wear your jacket." says Jamie.

"But I don't get cold easily." I say while taking off my jacket and throwing it to the ground. "So I can't guarantee that I will freeze or even-" I'm interrupted by my own gasp as freezing cold ice-water gets dumped down my hair and streams down my whole body. I start to shake with cold and my teeth start to chatter. I hear Kyle and Jack, Jack was one of the men in the group that joined our resistance, laughing their heads off as I start to fume.

"You idiots!" I whisper-yell. "Do you want us to get caught?! Ugh! Sometimes I swear you're children in costumes!"

"Oh don't over-react! Hey and I thought you never got cold?" Kyle tries to say but I can tell he's trying not to laugh at my freezing-cold state. I look at Jack and it is practically the same thing with him. I think a nice good punch in the face will knock the smiles right off their faces. I pull my arm back but before I can do anything or any damage to the idiots in front of me, Jamie grabs my fist. And I was just about to smack off their laughing expressions, I can tell because they now just realize I was gonna hurt them.

"Hey!" I cry to him in a low voice. "Let me go!"

"No! We're on a mission, but I still agree that their little prank was childish and that they are behaving like children too. But that soul will be here any minute now. So get into positions or else we'll be caught by the freaking Seekers!" The second he finishes the sentence, he turns around on his heel and goes into his position, behind a bush in front of the garage. Kyle and Jack head for their laces in the bushes as well. I head down the street in the forest next to it.

After about 4 seconds the soul's car starts down the street. I wait for it to pass and let it park in the driveway. I take a step out of the forest and head to the parked car. Don't be scared Em, I tell myself. It's just like every other soul capture trip. Just pretend to be hurt and scared and cold. I try to add a limp to my step and I let myself shiver with cold. I can't let her see my eyes. So maybe I could collapse and put my head down. And don't look at the light Em. I walk into the driveway as the lady turns off her headlights and her car. She steps out, not noticing me.

"Help. I'm cold and tired and wet." I complain in a voice that is full of pain.

The woman gasps and reaches for me. I let my right leg shift father to the right and my body crumples to the ground. The woman grabs my arm and I duck my head so she can't see my face. She lifts her head and looks around. I hear Kyle and Jack get out of the bushes and grab her while Jamie puts the cloth over her mouth and nose. She falls to the ground like I had but this time she's not the one lying and acting it all out.

I look around the street to see if anyone saw us, while Jamie and Kyle put the woman in the back of the truck and Jack starts up the engine. I see a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision and I whip my head around. But when I look there is nobody there. Strange... It could have been a dog or a squirrel. I think to myself. But I can't shake off the feeling that we are being watched, and that something terrible will happen.