Well, here it is. The last chapter of The Leech. Sorry it took so long to publish, I got lazy and busy with other things. Tell me what you think!
The Gaiaphage kept destroying the town of Perdido Beach. It laughed as the kids screamed in fear and ran. They didn't know where they were running to, and the Gaiaphage didn't care, it just wanted to kill them all. It was tired of being stuck in a cave with no body, no feeling. Skye had given it exactly what it wanted: a body. Skye felt so guilty. She knew she was responsible for this happening. If she hadn't gotten so corrupt and tried to take over herself. Skye wasn't a bad person, but she had a bad habit of making terrible mistakes.
What do you plan on doing with the FAYZ, anyway? You can't rule over it if there aren't any people to rule over, Skye said.
Chaos is a beautiful thing. There are too many kids here anyway. We're doing them a favor, it responded.
We? No! I want no part in this! I'm not doing this! Skye yelled.
You gave me the key to all this, it said. You and I are in this together, whether you want it or not.
Skye sighed and just watched the carnage. She tried to find Astrid's blond head, but she was out of the Gaiaphage's sights. Hopefully she had a plan. Astrid had to have a plan; she always had a plan. Skye knew that Astrid was broken hearted over Sam's death. Skye could still feel Astrid's life force. It was strong for someone who had been in a coma for a few days, but was it strong enough to oppose the Gaiaphage for long?
"Hey you!" Astrid yelled. The Gaiaphage turned toward the sound and Skye saw Astrid standing in the street yelling. Astrid did have a plan, but it didn't look very safe. Didn't she know that the Gaiaphage could just shoot her dead like it did Sam?
"Astrid," the Gaiaphage cooed. "Sister of the original Nemesis. You didn't do a good job protecting him, did you?" Astrid looked phased for a second, but then regained her composure.
"I'm not letting you get a hold of all the power inside the hospital. I won't let you drain their powers too!" Astrid yelled and then ran to the hospital.
Damn it, Astrid! Skye fake cursed loud enough for the Gaiaphage to hear. Maybe it would actually buy Astrid's ruse and go to the hospital. If Skye could break free, even for a few seconds, it might just be enough. Why do you have to lead it to the other mutants?
More power for me, less resistance for them, the Gaiaphage said. Astrid knew the Gaiaphage loved power, and she used that against it. Astrid was even more intelligent than everyone thought. Sam was a lucky guy to have her. Why did Sam have to die? He didn't have to die, but the Gaiaphage killed him anyway. He shouldn't have died so soon. He was only fifteen! Why must the good die young? Because evil is a bastard and likes to see kids suffer.
The Gaiaphage followed Astrid to the hospital. Astrid ran, and she looked back at the Gaiaphage from time to time to make sure it wasn't about to attack her. But Skye knew that the Gaiaphage only wanted the power that it thought was in the hospital. It would let Astrid leave so she could lead it to the powers of the children. Skye hated the idea of the Gaiaphage using her like that again. When the Gaiaphage used her powers against her will it felt colder than when she stole the powers. It was like ice piercing her internal organs one by one. Her bones froze, and her heart was one degree warmer than what it would take for it to freeze solid. It was agony to have power drained to her body, but she was unable to use it or give it back to where it belonged.
Astrid reached the hospital and burst through the doors. The Gaiaphage glided in after her and looked around. It saw the unconscious children on the cots, but no Astrid. Even Skye had no idea where Astrid was. The Gaiaphage looked around at the children, searching for Astrid. Suddenly, Astrid kicked the Gaiaphage in the head from behind. Pain exploded in Skye's head and she felt dizzy. It took a few seconds for her to realize that the Gaiaphage had given Skye the body so she would deal with the pain instead of it. Astrid could see that Skye was back in control and ceased attacking.
"You have to hit me every now and then," Skye whispered. "The Gaiaphage thinks it's being attacked and it making me face the pain." Astrid nodded and tilted her head towards the unconscious kids. Skye nodded and walked over to the closest kid as quickly as she could. She put her hands on the girl's arm and felt warmth flood through her. The girl's eyes snapped open and she took in a breath. She looked at Skye with worry, but then her eyes softened when she realized that Skye had given back what she had taken. The girl opened her hands and a rose grew from the air. Skye smiled, but before she could thank the girl, Astrid punched Skye in the back. Skye sucked in air with effort, but moved on to the next patient.
Brianna was clinging to life by her fingernails. Skye put her hands on her stomach and felt the warmth flood from her into Brianna. Brianna was harder to revive than the other girl, but she was coming to slowly. Brianna's heart got stronger, as did her breathing. Skye could see Brianna's chest rising and falling with each breath, but her eyes still didn't open. Skye was mumbling to herself, begging to anyone who could hear her that Brianna would be okay. Brianna let out a choked gasp and her eyes flew open. She looked at Skye and her face filled with hate.
"You!" she snarled and punched Skye in the face. Skye stepped back and touched her nose. It was bleeding and Skye felt that it was broken. She tried to set it so it wouldn't heal crooked, but there really was no point to it. Astrid jumped between Brianna and Skye and tried to fend Brianna off.
"Guess I deserved that," Skye said.
"You did this to me!" Brianna yelled. "You took my powers and left me for dead!"
"Yet I still saved your sorry ass from death," Skye muttered.
"Okay guys, we need to focus. Skye, fix everyone else before the Gaiaphage comes back please," Astrid said. Skye nodded and went to work on an unconscious Diana. Brianna was still fuming. She saw Diana, Caine and a few other kids on cots. They looked half dead, just like she was.
Skye touched Diana's face and gave her powers back. Diana came to quickly and stared at Skye. She realized that Skye was helping her and stayed quiet. Diana's face regained its color and her cheeks were as rosy as ever. She was still beautiful even after being in a coma for a few days. Caine was a lucky guy too.
Skye moved on to Caine. He took a little longer to cure than the others since he had so much power. Skye could feel the Gaiaphage stirring inside her head. It could sense that her power was draining drastically. Skye gasped as she felt it try to break through and gain control again. She let go of Caine and said, "Astrid!" Astrid understood immediately and kicked Skye in the back. The Gaiaphage retreated again, but it was more noticeable than before. Skye returned her attention to Caine. Caine's eyes fluttered open and he sat up.
"Where am I?" he asked. "I was in my house and then this girl came in and…" Caine looked up at Skye and his eyes narrowed. "It was you!" Caine flicked his wrist and Skye was lifted into the air. Skye instinctively turned her arm into Drake's whip hand and grabbed Caine around the waist. He looked at her quizzically.
"Let me go, and I'll let you go," Skye said. Caine set her down and Skye took the ten foot long tentacle off of Caine. He looked at her warily. Skye turned to Astrid who was staring at her with fear.
"What?" Skye asked. "I told you I took Drake's power. But that's everyone here. We need to get to Drake. I'll lead you there, follow me." Skye took off into the sky. She could still fly thanks to Little Pete's powers. Little Pete! Where was he?
"Astrid! Get Little Pete and bring him to the cave in the desert!" Skye yelled to Astrid below her. Astrid nodded and ran back to her house to get Little Pete. Skye focused on Drake's beacon of power coming from a cave near the center of the desert. She flew as fast as Caine and them could run. Brianna stayed with the rest of them, still groggy from her coma. She still resented Skye for taking her power, which Skye understood.
Suddenly, the Gaiaphage dug into her mind and took hold. Skye grasped her head and fell to the ground just inches away from Brianna and the others. She left a crater in the ground and she writhed in pain as she and the Gaiaphage fought for control of Skye's body. Skye's mind felt like it was being torn apart by blunt knives and being dipped in acid at the same time. The Gaiaphage was strong, but Skye's body was weakened because she had given the majority of its powers back. But as long as she still had Little Pete's powers, her body could still play host to the Gaiaphage.
Skye's body went still and when she opened her eyes, one was normal, but the other was green with a black pupil. The Gaiaphage had taken over. The Gaiaphage flew up off the ground and looked at the group of kids. Caine took charge and pointed to the cave that Drake was camped inside. They all ran to it, Brianna finally finding her powers again, and the Gaiaphage just watched them. It could sense Drake inside. The Gaiaphage was rather fond of Drake and his sadistic behavior.
That was the last time you will ever control my new body, it snarled at her.
It's my body! Skye shouted. You stole it from me! I was born into it, but you forced me out and forced yourself into it. You can have this body when it's dead!
The Gaiaphage followed the kids into the cave and saw Drake huddled in the corner and the kids on the opposite wall. Drake's eyes lit up when he saw the Gaiaphage.
"Master, fix my arm," he begged.
You took his whip? The Gaiaphage asked.
Yeah, I did, Skye replied.
The Gaiaphage glided over to Drake and held his arm in its hands. The Gaiaphage tapped into Skye's powers, but this time, she let it. The cold wasn't as bad when she let the Gaiaphage use her. Drake's whip hand grew back quickly and Skye knew that she would never be able to use the whip again. She kind of liked the power Drake's limb had.
Drake smiled a sadistic smile and faced Brianna. He raised his whip and brought it down, but she darted out of the way just in time. The whip cracked against the rock and Drake scowled. He raised his whip and brought it down, but instead of hitting Brianna, he hit Skye. Skye's body fell to the ground and the Gaiaphage left Skye in charge of the body. Skye stood up and curled and uncurled her fingers.
"I'm so glad I didn't feel that," Skye said smiling, but her face grew serious. "Come on guys, we need to find Astrid and Little Pete."
"No, I am not letting you get away with taking my precious whip hand," Drake snarled. He lifted his whip hand and brought it down, intending to slice open Skye's chest, but Skye caught the whip in her hand. Even without Brianna's speed, Little Pete's powers were enough to stop Drake.
"Let us go by or I will kill you, Drake," Skye growled. "You are a plague on the FAYZ and killing you would be beneficial to everyone." Drake saw the threat in her eyes and let them go through. Skye ran out of the cave and located Astrid with Little Pete. She led the others to them with just enough time before the Gaiaphage began to stir again.
"We don't have much time," Skye said. "Astrid, I should have given this back to you a long time ago." Skye grabbed Astrid's hand and warmth flooded into Astrid. Astrid's skin regained its life and her cheeks grew rosy again. Her hair became shinier and looked even better than before Skye had taken it. Skye let go of her hand and Astrid looked into her eyes. They were duller than they were before, like she had lost everything she cared about. There was a small amount of fire in them, but barely enough to keep her going much longer.
"Here's Little Pete," Astrid said, handing him over. "Do what you have to do." Skye held Little Pete in her arms and kissed his forehead. Skye felt the rest of her stolen powers leave her and return to their rightful owner. Skye felt the Gaiaphage making a final push to regain control. She struggled against it, but she could feel herself succumbing to it. She handed Little Pete back to Astrid before all his powers had returned. She couldn't risk the Gaiaphage using her powers to take Little Pete's again.
"I still have some of his powers, but the Gaiaphage is coming back. I can't risk-" Skye grabbed her head and felt the Gaiaphage push its way through. She opened her eyes, but they weren't her eyes. They belonged to the Gaiaphage.
"A valiant effort," the Gaiaphage mused. "But not good enough. Hand me Nemesis and your deaths will be swift." Little Pete chose that moment to stir in Astrid's arms. He looked at Skye's body and he knew that it was the darkness. Little Pete blinked and the Gaiaphage began to scream.
Control of the body switched between Skye and the Gaiaphage. The Gaiaphage wanted to retain control, but Little Pete was forcing it out. Skye collapsed on the sand and a dark green cloud floated out of her body and flew into the ground, returning to its cave. Skye looked up and smiled at Little Pete. Astrid gave him to her and Skye gave him the rest of his powers back. Skye looked at all the kids surrounding her and smiled, but suddenly her face grew serious.
Without warning, Skye raced towards town. They all followed her, wondering what on earth she was doing. Skye ran past children picking up rubble and lost toys, she ran past the dead bodies of children she had watched get slaughtered. Skye ran until she came upon the one dead body she cared about. The body of Sam Temple.
She knelt beside him and held his head in her arms. She wept for him. He didn't deserve to die. If anyone should die, it should be her. Skye removed Sam's shirt and placed her hand over his heart. Warmth spread through Sam's body. His heart grew stronger as hers weakened. Color returned to his cheeks and skin while Skye grew paler and her skin became ashen.
"What are you doing?" Astrid yelled.
"Giving him a second chance." Sam's eyes opened as Skye's began to get heavy.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked her.
"You deserve to live, not me," Skye replied. "Now shush, you'll be perfectly normal in a few moments."
"Don't do this, Skye," Sam pleaded. "Don't give your life for me."
"I love you, Sam," Skye smiled and then her eyelids fell and she collapsed on the ground. Sam held her in his arms and clutched her lifeless body to his chest. Tears escaped his eyes, but he didn't care. She used her powers to cheat death for him, but she hadn't cheated death. She had given death her life for his. A trade. One life for another.
Skye had saved the FAYZ from the Gaiaphage, and now she was dead. Sam looked at Skye's peaceful face. She really could be sleeping. She had died happily. Sam kissed her lightly on the lips and cradled her to his chest. Skye was dead. The Leech was gone forever.
What do you think? I'm sad I'm done with The Leech, but I enjoyed writing it a lot! Write me reviews that I can use towards my next story. Anything you guys want me to write about for Gone? I plan on writing a new story soon, but I need you guys to write me reviews! Well, that's it from Skylar Johnson on The Leech. Love you guys!