Chapter 10

~Alannah's POV~

I observe my children in silent curiosity as they move about, each doing their own duties. The Drones are caring for the eggs, as the Warriors stand guard at the hive entrance.

I can't help but smile at the high activity of my hive. I've never felt this accomplished before.

Still, I miss my friend; we've been through so much in such a short time. I wish I could see her, but the situation is too complicated now.

The arrival of my only son brings me out of my thoughts.

I focus my attention on him, and eye his minor wounds in slight concern. "What happened?" I ask.

My son bows low in respect, and lifts his scarred face to meet my gaze. "We have enemies at our borders; three Drones were sent to observe the area. I also ran into the human group I have sworn to protect, hence my wounds."

My eyes narrow at the news of a possibly invasion. It's also mixed with a sense of relief; my son protected my friend and her companions.

The rest of my children tense at the idea of having a rival hive venturing at our borders.

I close my eyes to try to calm the hive mind that is currently bristling with frantic thoughts from my children.

I open my eyes, and look around the room.

My children freeze in their actions as they wait for my command.

I slowly stand up, and inconspicuously take a deep breath. "I want double patrols around our borders. From now on, at least two Warriors are to accompany Drones on their patrols. We cannot allow the enemy to steal our territory."

My children hiss at the implication.

I send them off, and they all return to their duties. I step down, and touch the wound on my son's shoulder.

He tenses slightly.

"You should rest; that wound may be minor but it's bleeding quite a bit." I say.

My son cocks his head back. "Shall I continue to follow the humans when I am well?" He asks.

I nod my head. "Yes, keep them safe."

~Sharon's POV~

I'm startled awake yet again.

This is the third dream I've had with Xenomorphs. Gosh, just what the hell was happening to me?

A quiet moan draws my attention downwards.

I see Esme clinging to my shirt, her face muzzles against it.

I carefully lift her head up, and place it gently against my bag that's leaning against the wall. She stirs a bit, but remains asleep.

I then stand up, and stretch my incredibly stiff back. I also kick my legs to bring back the blood flow.

I look around the vast room, and see Parsi and Pete sleeping in their respective corners.

I quietly tiptoe towards the stairs, and climb up slowly. I cringe as the rusted steps creak loudly; the echoes do nothing to help me.

Still, I make it to the top, and head for my destination. I stop in front of the one window that wasn't barred, and stare outside.

It was still raining, though not as hard as when we got here. I open the window a bit, and breathe in deeply at the fresh scent of rain.

Despite our circumstance, I felt calm, and strangely numb. I stare out at the dreary landscape, yet my eyes don't focus on it.

Suddenly, a sharp pain erupts in my chest, and it has me clutching it. I gasp out in surprise, and fall to my feet.

Violent coughs soon plague me, and each one has me heaving for air. I cover my mouth with my hands, and feel something wet splatter on them as I cough.

I hold my hands out, and my eyes widen at the sight. Blood covers each of them. What the hell is going on?

Another violent cough has me crashing to the ground in a fetal position. I groan as I feel something wiggle in my rib cage.

My heart beats faster as a terrifying thought comes to mind. I'm infected.

An audible crack pierces through the silence, and brings even more pain.

I can't hold back a scream as the embryo struggles to get out. I keep on screaming and thrashing on the ground. I cry out for my partners, hoping that one of them would show me mercy and kill me.

The pain becomes too excruciating, and I welcome the dark abyss with open arms.

~The Raven's POV~

I have fully healed, and am now catching up to my human subjects. I swore to my Queen that I would protect them, and I intend on fulfilling that wish.

I snort in dislike as the rain dilutes the scents of the air, rendering my senses weaker.

For once I curse my large frame as it prevents me from seeking shelter in the strange flower-like structures that the humans have stationed along some of their buildings' entrances.

Despite the weather, I press on.

I stop in the middle of a large opening on the road, and raise my snort upwards. I inhale deeply, and hiss in pleasure as I manage to catch the scent of the humans.

I stretch my legs back, and shoot forwards. For a large creature, my speed can rival that of even a Drone. No wonder humans always attacked my kind in large groups, and only with their heavy weapons.

I continue for a few blocks until the humans' scent becomes increasingly stronger.

I stand before a warehouse. On its upper level, I can vaguely make out the figure of the human female as she glances out of the window. Luckily, it seems she hasn't spotted me yet.

I sniff the air once more, and instantly freeze at the new scent mixed in. I growl, and hurriedly make my way towards the building.

I jump to the wall, and climb in through the open window.

I sniff the air, and notice the human female thrashing about on the ground.

I hiss as I sense the presence of an embryo within her. I must bring this human to the hive before it escapes from her chest cavity.

I squeeze my large frame inside, and drop down heavily beside the female. I hiss at her chest, and the embryo within her stops struggling.

I then carefully pick up the female, and am about to climb out of the window when the female's two male companions run over to us.

The larger male brings his weapon up. "Get away from her!" He yells.

He fires a shot, though I ignore it.

Instead, I merely sweep my tail under their feet which causes them to fall over.

With one last warning hiss, I jump out of the window, and hurriedly carry the human female to the hive. My Queen will know what to do.