Chapter Seven

*back to Running Water/Ian's POV*

When I woke up, everything was stiff. My back ached, but it was nothing compared to my feet. This body was used to walking long distances, but it had been a little rusty ever since I became one with it. Ian was quiet, and I reveled in the momentary silence as I picked myself up off the desert ground. My back pack, which I had attempted to use as a pillow, was lumpy and dusty, heavy on my back.

Squinting into the morning light, I tried to recognize something. Anything. Ian had told me we were looking for a ridge, and that we were very close. My heart thumped as I swiveled, trying to find the landmark.

Nothing.

"Ian," I said hoarsely, ignoring my dry throat. "Ian, I don't know where I'm going."

For a few moments, there was no response. Then Ian appeared, cussing quietly. Damnit, Running Water. What do you want?

I swirled again, showing him the vast empty desert. "I don't see any ridges. Are you sure this is the right way? I was sure that I could see something on the horizon last night."

I know this is the right way... he trailed, but he didn't sound confident. Sit tight for a minute. Let me think.

I did just that, settling back onto the hard packed ground. Reaching in the bag, I fumbled, feeling for a bottle. Finding it, I pulled it out, taking a long draw on the water. It was rusty, but it was good, and it soothed the scratching in my throat.

Alright, I know where we are. We're about two miles out. If we start now we can make it before supper. Ian advised, my eyes trailing to the right.

"Which way again?"

West, cowboy, head west.

And so we did, me lugging the bag over my shoulder, Ian chattering in my mind. His personality had perked in the last few days despite us having trekked what felt like endless miles through the hot, dry desert. I knew it was entirely because of the fact we were headed back towards Wanda, and the child he didn't know.

I only hoped they would accept us both when we arrived.

As Ian had predicted, we were within range of the caves by supper. The sun had started to lower, the slowly declining temperature a kiss on my charred skin. Ian was buzzing, nervousness and anxiousness from him coursing through my body.

Wait there, he instructed, my eyes falling on the rock he indicated. There's tire tracks headed out, but not the returning set. A raid will be back in when night falls.

I settled down, leaning against the scorching rock. The shirt on my back provided little resistance, the sweat caked on my forehead making me even more uncomfortable. I couldn't wait for this to all be over, whether they accepted me or not.

I figured if they were going to shank us, at least we'd get a bath before they did so.

As Ian had predicted, as soon as the sun began to sink behind the ridge, a vehicle appeared. It was a jeep, and the sight of it made Ian immensely happy. He wanted to jump up and down, scream even, but I reined him in, keeping my control.

No! I scolded, holding him back. Don't you get what will happen if they see us?

Yeah, they'll be happy to see me!

With a sudden, violent push, Ian pushed against me. I felt him flood through my body, and suddenly it wasn't him who was sitting numbly while someone else took control.

It was me.

"Hey! Hey, over here!" Ian yelled, jumping and waving his arms, a grin plastered on his tanned face. The jeep had noticed us all right. It had swerved off it's course and was racing towards us at a high speed. "It's me! It's me, Ian!"

With a growl, I shoved against him, ripping him from his limbs and tossing him back in the far corners of my mind. No, I growled, furious with him. No, Ian. That was a bad idea.

The jeep screeched to a stop in front of us, the back door swinging open. A man toppled out, his sunglasses pushed back into his black hair. Ian surged at the sight of him, but didn't manage to gain control again.

"Kyle," I croaked, smiling at him.

Kyle didn't return the smile. Another tall, tanned boy slid out behind him, a rifle held loosely in his hand. Jared. "I don't believe it..." Jared muttered, removing his glasses. "It was you."

"What was me?" I asked, confused.

"The note," this voice was female, and it belonged to Mel. I smiled at her, and she returned it. "Good to see you, Ian."

Good to see you too, Mel, Ian said gruffly. "Ian says it's good to see you too," I said happily, glad that Ian's family was taking our arrival so well.

Jared's face froze, his expression hardening. "What do you mean Ian says?"

Alarm coursed through me. Ian was dead silent. Kyle paced forward, scowling. His hand latched out, catching my arm. I winced, trying to pull away, then deciding better of it. I needed to appear friendly. Willing to cooperate.

He squinted, tilting my chin up into the dying light. "Parasite," he mumbled, dropping my arm like I was poisonous. "It's a parasite."

"Kyle..." Jared asked in a measured voice, looking strained. Melanie was shaking her head furiously, shooting daggers at Ian's brother. I could see another person in the jeep, but he remained there, watching us through the tinted window.

"Do it, Jared," Kyle growled, gritting his teeth. "Do it now."

"Kyle, that isn't necessary. You know that Doc can do the procedure-"

"I don't care about the procedure, Jared. What if he isn't in there? I'm not gonna let some leech walk around using my brother as a meat suit. If you won't do it, I will."

Kyle lurched forward, grasping the rifle. Jared didn't resist, letting him take it. Mel was screaming at Kyle, calling him a monster.

My heart sped up as I backed away. "What's...what are you doing? Kyle?"

"Don't you talk to me! Don't you pretend!" Kyle yelled, raising the gun so it pointed at my chest.

Ian was freaking, hollering at me to say something, to do something. I raised my hands, backing away from Kyle and his gun. "Kyle, stop it. Don't do this. Your brother is in here with me. Killing me is killing him."

Kyle laughed, but it was the sound of a crazed person. "Oh, I'm sure he is. Tell me, how does it feel? How does it feel to rip away an innocent boy's life just so you could exist?"

"I didn't rip away anyone's life! Ian is still alive! He is present in my mind! Just like his Wanda was inside Mel," my eyes darted to Mel desperately, hoping she'd back me up. She had her face pressed into Jared's chest, his arms encircling her protectively. Neither of them were looking at us, but I knew they were waiting.

I didn't know if it offended me or honored me that they wouldn't watch.

Wouldn't watch Ian's own brother blow his life away.

Kyle shook his head slowly. "I can't believe you. Your kind lies just so they can survive. It's pathetic." I heard the click as he removed the safety from the gun, my heart racing faster.

Ian, who had been screaming his best with no avail, let out a sigh. I closed my eyes. I am sorry, Ian.

It's okay. Kyle always did have a hard head, he replied weakly, but there was no life to his voice. We both knew we were doomed.

I watched with dead eyes as Kyle's finger toyed the trigger. Heard the gun fire.

But strangely there was no pain...

I wondered if I were dead.

Opening my eyes a crack, I looked around. Mel was peeping out from under Jared's arm, her eyes wide. Jared looked equally as shocked. Kyle was sprawled on the desert floor, moaning, clutching at his face as he rocked back and forth.

A small girl stood over him, clenching the rifle in her hands. She waved the butt of it threateningly again, as if she were going to strike him once more. "You blundering idiot, Kyle O'shea. Sometimes I wonder how someone so smart could possibly be so bull headed at times!" She tsked, tossing the rifle onto the ground towards Jared's feat.

I watched her, not believing my eyes. Ian was stunned silent, his eyes drinking in her sight like he was a drowning man that had just been given air. Both of us were consumed with a whirlwind of emotions and intense feelings.

"Wanda," we gulped at the same time.

She smiled, resting her hands on her hips. "It's about time you got home,"