Chapter 7 – Attacking

"I still just don't get why," Kyle muttered as we strolled into the main plaza from breakfast, "Jared is doing this. Keeping it prisoner like that. It's going to take over his life."

I just let out a sigh.

"We just have to do something," he clenched his fists tightly, turning the knuckles white.

"It won't last," I said quietly. "Jared will – he'll see the sense in killing it… eventually."

"But what's the point then?" He grumbled. "If it's going to die then we might as well make it happen sooner."

Jared had decided to keep the parasite hostage. But he was unsure. Part of him felt that he couldn't kill his Melanie but the other half wanted to destroy the creature that possessed her body.

We had a terrible argument with Jared and Jeb about the whole thing but Jeb wouldn't have it. He made up a new rule. The rule was that who ever the body belonged to decided what happed to it. Jeb could make up any rule he wanted because it's 'his house'.

I looked at Kyle. My eyes dark and serious. "Then, lets do it," I whispered. "No one will see. And even if they do, they wont say anything because they don't care. But we should go and find Brant to help us."

"Let's do it," his eyes burned with fury.

I ran down the eastern tunnel to find Brant, he was playing soccer with Andy and Paige; the old soccer ball was lumpy and deflated.

"Brant," I hissed at him to come.

"Hey, Ian." He waved. "What's up? You need some help with something?"

"We're going to kill it," I whispered.

"Oh," he tensed as he spoke; ready to fight. "I'll help."

"Good. Now hurry, we don't want Jeb to see us."

We bolted down the long, narrow tunnel until we reached the bright cavern where we slowed, becoming casual. Kyle was slouched against the purple – brown wall, his face was set into a cold glare and every muscle in his body was tensed.

"Ready?" He asked.

We nodded and strode down the corridor. We could see the glow of a blue light at the end of the tunnel; it highlighted Jared's gloomy frown. He rose from his sitting position on the ground silently as we approached.

"Ah. Here you are," Kyle said casually.

Jared didn't respond.

"We're not going to allow this, Jared," I declared. "We've all lost somebody – hell, we've all lost everybody. But this is ridiculous."

"If you won't let Doc have it, then it's got to die," Kyle added, his voice a growl.

"You can't keep it prisoner here," I continued. "Eventually, it will escape and we'll all be exposed."

Jared stepped closer to the storage shelf; where it was hiding.

"Don't make this difficult, Jared," Brant grumbled. "It has to be done."

There was silence in the room.

"We don't want to hurt you, Jared. We're all brothers here. But we will if you make us," Kyle glared at Jared. "Move aside."

He stood rock still, not uttering a word.

"Jared … please," I pleaded. I had no intention of hurting Jared, I didn't want to hurt him - but that wouldn't bother Kyle. I rarely got into fights but it always seemed as if Kyle was in search of one and didn't seem to mind the outcome of a crooked nose.

Kyle's body tensed; ready to fight when Jared lunged forward and punched him in the stomach. Kyle grunted and clutched his front as I let out a gasp, I wasn't expecting Jared be so stubborn about his little prisoner.

"No!" cried a voice, it was croaky and higher pitched than any of the other men in the room.

We all turned to stare at the parasite launching it's frail, skinny body out of the tight hole that we usually used for storage. My mouth fell open and hung there as I watched it drag two long, shaky strides until it was between Jared and Kyle.

Kyle roughly shoved it away from him, causing it to fall towards the ground but before it landed Jared caught it's wrist and yanked it back up to it's feet. When he realised he was still holding it's wrist he released it as if it's skin was on fire.

"Get back in there," he roared and shoved it's shoulder in the direction of the cell. The motion sent it staggering backwards, however the creature was too determined and wouldn't give up.

Taking a step towards Kyle, with it's back to Jared it said, "I'm what you want. Leave him alone."

I snapped my open jaw shut and folded my arms across my chest. The alien was trying to twist our minds.

"Tricky bugger," I muttered.

"I said get back in there," Jared hissed.

It turned around, "It's not your duty to protect me at your own expense."

He grimaced and reached his hand towards it so he could push it towards the hole. It was too quick for him and skipped away from his hand towards us.

I grabbed it's arms and pinned them behind it's back, twisting them till the joints popped. It struggled and gasped at the pain.

About 4 years ago I would never hurt another human being - or any living creature for that matter, but things had changed. Living in a world full of fear and hatred had moulded me into a different person. However the creature I imprisoned in my arms was not human. It was the enemy in my eyes and they blazed with hatred.

"Get your hands off her!' Jared shouted, charging towards me.

Kyle caught him and pulled him into a rough wrestling hold. Brant grabbed his thrashing arms.

"Don't hurt him!" The parasite screeched, it's voice was coated in deception.

Jared elbowed Kyle's stomach causing Kyle to gasp and lose his grip. Jared twisted away from his attackers and then lunged towards Kyle and smashed his fist into his nose. Blood oozed down his face and spattered the floor.

"Finish it, Ian!" He yelled as he hurtled into Jared, knocking him over.

"No!" Jared and the parasite cried helplessly.

I wrapped my hands around it's throat, choking off it's air. My whole mind focused on the image of the silver centipede. The last phone call I ever answered. The reflective, pleading eyes staring into mine. I tried to ignore the human face in front of me and told myself that it was the right thing to do.

It clawed at my hands with useless, stubby nails. This only made me tighten my grip and I slowly dragged it of the floor and pressed it against the wall.

Suddenly the sounds of two metallic clicks made us all freeze in panic.

"Kyle, Ian, Brant – back off!" Jeb barked. He was stood at the entrance to the storage room, his rifle was held tightly in his hands pointed at us.

No one moved, we just stood there like statues. The only movement was the parasite's clawing hands and twitching legs.

Swiftly, Jared ducked under Kyle's arm and sprung at me. His fist flied through the air and smashed into my face. I dropped the body in my hands and reached towards my mouth. I could feel warm liquid pouring down my chin. I howled in pain and glared at Jared as he retreated to Jeb's side.

"You're guests here boys, and don't forget it," Jeb growled. "I told you not to go looking for the girl. She's my guest too, for the moment, and I don't take kindly to any of my guests killing any of the others."

"Jeb," I moaned, "Jeb, this is insane."

"What's your plan?" Kyle demanded. "We have a right to know. We have to decide whether this place is safe or if it's time to move on. So… how long will you keep this thing as your pet? What will you do with it when you've finished playing God? All of us deserve to know the answers to these questions."

"Don't have your answers, Kyle," Jeb said. "It's not up to me."

We all stared at the mad, old man in confusion.

"Not up to you?" Kyle echoed. "Who then? If you're thinking of putting it to a vote, that's already been done. Ian, Brant and I are the duly designated appointees of the result."

Jeb shook his head, "It is not up for a vote. This is still my house."

"Who then?" Kyle shouted, his voice was a roar that echoed around the cave and down the twisting tunnel.

"It's Jared's decision."

Everyone in the room shifted their eyes to stare at Jared. He stared at Jeb in surprise, ground his teeth together and threw a glare of pure hatred at the parasite crumpled at my feet.

"Jared?" Kyle spluttered with rage. "That makes no sense! He's more biased than anyone else! Why? How can he be rational about this?"

"Jeb, I don't…" Jared muttered.

"She's your responsibility, Jared," Jeb said firmly. "I'll help you out, of course, if there's any more trouble like this, and with keeping track of her and all that. But when it comes to making decisions, that's all yours." He raised a hand when Kyle tried to protest again. "Look at it this way, Kyle. If somebody found your Jodi on a raid and brought her back here, would you want me or Doc or a vote deciding what we did with her?"

"Jodi is dead," Kyle hissed, blood spraying off his lips.

Kyle never spoke of Jodi anymore, whenever anyone mentioned her name Kyle would shake and storm out of the room.

"Well if her body wandered in here, would still be up to you. Would you want it any other way?" Jeb said.

"The majority –"

"My house, my rules," Jeb interrupted harshly. "No more discussion on this. No more votes. No more execution attempts. You three spread the word – this is how it works from now on. New rule."

"Another one?" I muttered under my breath.

Ignoring me Jeb carried on with his lecture. "If, unlikely as it may be, somehow this ever happens again, who ever the body belongs to makes the call," Jeb poked the barrel of the gun toward Kyle, then jerked it back to the dark corridor behind him. "Get out of here. I don't want to see you anywhere near this place again. You let everyone know that this corridor is off limits. No one's got any reason for being here except Jared, and if I catch someone skulking around, I'm asking questions second. You got that? Move. Now." He jabbed the gun at Kyle again.

Jeb rarely got moody or angry - but when he did no one ever wanted to witness it. He always had a very laidback, jolly personality. Sometimes he seemed to have forgotten what had happened outside the cave's walls. He sometimes made myself forget. But although he always seemed like the more casually dressed version of Willy Wonka, under his happy exterior he knew what had happened. He was scared too.

As we sulked away from the two men and unwelcome alien behind us all was silent. We just walked through the winding tunnel staring into the inky blackness. Beside me I could here Kyle mutter under his breathe, "This. Isn't. Over."