CHAPTER 7

I felt angry. Betrayed.

That smile Elle gave me several minutes ago was a fake one. It wasn't her smiling. It was the Yeerk in her head, pretending to smile.

But I should have expected that. Anyone could be a Controller. Your parents, your friends, even someone from your school.

So I pitied Elle. She was another human trapped inside her head by a slug.

"Really? It's too convenient for you to be here," her Yeerk friend demanded.

Elle looked bored. "I do not have time for this-"

"Don't even try, Werch! " His beefy hand grabbed her by her collar, nearly taking her off her feet. "I want to know now. Why are you here?"

"I'll say it again. This human had a delivery to make. I'm being the good little well-behaved Grub you Gutters want me to be."

His scowl grew tighter. He let go. "That attitude of yours. I don't understand why nobody has disposed of you."

"Why don't you ask your superiors? I'm sure they'll gladly accept your demand," she warned, her stern gaze turning icy cold in a split second. "But that's a risk you don't want to take, do you?"

"Careful, you little y'vez! You won't be talking once I'm done with you."

I had to be in the middle of a Yeerk argument. But this treatment was a little strange. It wasn't odd for Yeerks to disagree - we've seen some backstab each other.

The thing was...this plainly looked like bullying.

No way. A Yeerk being bullied? I found that funny.

But I also felt a bit sorry. It's weird, feeling sorry for my enemy… How could you not remember what it was like being bullied yourself?

"Please, stop before you trip over your own ignorance." Elle's Yeerk fished out the paper she had before.

"What's this?"

"The receipt for this delivery. With this exact address. I've also logged it in the restaurant's details before coming here. I don't have an ulterior motive. None you can find out of me," she explained. "The only thing you should be concerned about is that an irritating human prankster has been sending me off to odd places today. "

"Ha! A prankster. You can come up with better lies-"

"His number is written there. So why don't you start there and stop them from making pointless calls? Because you have nothing against me. No proof of any 'criminal activity'. This discussion is just to fuel your egotistical half-witted quota of the day."

"You-!"

"And besides, a Yeerk here in public," Elel cut short. "Means you were given an assignment from the higher-ups. How about stop wasting your time with me and do your job?"

That stopped him from trying to roughhouse her even further. In broad daylight. She caught him red-handed and he didn't like that.

"You want an excuse from me. I won't give it," she said. "Now. Get out of my sight."

That convincing threat was enough even for me to leave. The big man did not budge.

"I better not see you around here again," the Controller warned. And out of the blue, he turned back and poked his head out.

I should have bolted. But there was nowhere to hide. I squeezed myself as far as possible into the laundromat's door - the only hiding space I could find. Screaming in my head not to see me. No, he was definitely gonna see me!

And right inside the laundromat, I could see Rachel. She had been sitting with a magazine until she spotted me. She was ready to bolt. Come and save me.

I quietly waved at her to stay. I couldn't let her get involved. Not when he hadn't spotted me.

The Controller cursed. "He must have left. You little Werch. Your timing was impeccable."

Elle hmphed to herself loudly. "That is on your own accord. But it's that easy to pass the blame on me, isn't it?"

"I'm warning you, Grub. Werch'ett like you should be dead," he spat. "I'm reporting you to your watcher."

She simply averted her gaze away. "Do whatever you like. I have deliveries to make."

The man clutched his teeth with shaking fists. He wanted to...I dunno, attack her or something. Instead, as a desperate attempt to have the final say, he snapped the paper off her hands, crumbled it and threw it to the ground.

With a grunt through his nose, he stormed off.

I pushed my face right into the glass panel. The only thing keeping me from losing it was Rachel, looking so worried for me. I knew she was ready to come charging out as a bear right in the laundromat at any moment. Bristles were growing on her face. The guy in charge of the place was too focused on his newspaper.

So I kept waving at her. Stay calm. Stay calm.

Somehow, the words got to her. Of course, I could have just thought-speak to her. But she knew and settled down a bit.

Thankfully, the Controller was looking straight, before he turned right. Had he done the opposite, he'd have seen me right away. But I still wasn't out of the woods. Because El hadn't left. Looking very calm for having gone through all that.

(Ok. He's going the other way. Now, get out of there before that girl sees you.)

"Elle. Are you alright?"

The languid expression relaxed, replaced by a frightened, worried look. "I'm ok. Scared but...I'm ok."

The stern face came back again with angry eyes. She spoke again with the strange tone. "It was unfortunate we had to come across a Gutter. Why can't they leave us alone..."

Hold on. Was this Yeerk talking to herself?

"Hey." The expressions and tones switched around. "Why are the Yeerks after Tobias? Is he being targeted?"

That sentence was a bit off-putting for some reason. At first, I thought the Yeerks were coming after me. The Tobias who came for the document.

"I don't know. But it's none of our concern."

"Yeah. But-"

"Elle. We cannot interfere with my people. You know the consequences."

Elle deflated. "I know…" Then she seemed to beam up. "Maybe we could tell him to stay away from any big guys in suits?"

She pondered with that brooding look. Then she shook her head. "No, we cannot risk it." She tried to say something but cut herself off. "You heard that Yeerk. Whatever reason that human child has, my people want it. From now on, we should avoid this Tobias. For your protection."

Avoid me? Weren't they the ones after me?

And protection from what?

"...Yeah. I guess it's for the best."

"Let's go do the next delivery."

She slowly trotted to her bike. She didn't see me. At least, I don't think she did.

Then I heard a small laugh. Wait, no. Did they see me-

"What's so funny?"

"Amusing that you've picked up a reputation. Debbie Darko."

I peeked carefully over my shoulder. Elle was completely facing away from me but I could see her pout. The kind when someone, a friend, teases you and you didn't like it. "Shuddup. It's not my fault we didn't want to linger with anyone."

We?

"I know." The tone was soft, a bit sad. "I guess that's my fault."

She shook her head. "No, V'trix. It's how everything is."

The wide smile shrunk down but it was still there. Just different. She nodded again as if agreeing with herself.

Agreeing with herself? That sounded weird in my head. Why would she need to do that?

I've said this before. Yeerks need to enslave humans. And once you have one in your head, you can't do anything. You can't speak, move, or even cry for help. You're locked up in your mind.

That's what I've been told. You have absolutely nothing - your body, your voice, your identity are gone. They are the Yeerk's.

Elle's Yeerk was just like any other. She controlled Elle. Elle couldn't talk.

She rode off. I didn't move until she was completely past the traffic lights.

I opened my mouth and gasped for air. I had been holding my breath the entire time. I couldn't believe I got away with that.

Then I noticed the crumpled ball. I picked it up.

The door behind me slammed open loudly as I flattened out the paper.

"Tobias! Are you ok?"

"Yeah. I'm ok." I was much calmer now. Now that Rachel was here. I was alright. I was safe.

She heaved a heavy sigh of relief, lopping against the window. "Gave me a fright there."

I was about to apologize to her. Trying to hide in plain sight was a stupid decision on my part. Because now I knew. The Yeerks were targeting the old Tobias. They wanted to learn my secrets. And kill me.

Then I noticed the date.

The receipt had today's date. The month. The 21st.

DeGroot was undoubtedly and uncannily right.

My birthday was in four days time.