Over the next few days after Ali's rescue things seemed to go back to normal. To an outsider, it would probably be hard to notice a difference, but Devon especially detected a change in Ali. For one thing, she began hunting on her own. She was still harsh to the humans she captured and would verbally abuse them mildly before they were killed. Her attitude toward Devon seemed to improve most of all; she barely insulted him anymore, but mostly left him to himself. However, Devon noticed a subtle difference in her demeanor, something that wouldn't be detected by anyone other than someone who spent so much time with Ali.
She is still recovering, Emery said whenever Devon brought up his concerns.
"But I've never seen her like this. Sure she treats me better and she doesn't abuse the humans as much, but there's something off about her."
Emery tried to reassure him, but Devon couldn't be convinced. The other thing he noticed about Ali was the rings that had formed around her eyes. As the rings grew darker, Ali became paler and her eyes had become bloodshot.
"Are you okay?" Devon asked Ali one day when she returned from a hunt.
She didn't answer immediately as she dragged the babbling man to a corner to be cocooned. When she turned back to Devon she tried to smile, but her expression was strained and she looked like she was going to be sick.
"Sorry," she said, "I just haven't been getting a lot of sleep."
"But you've been by my side every night, I haven't felt you leave or even move at all," Devon said. It was true, ever since they had gotten back from the Hunter's ship Ali and Devon have been sharing the small nook behind Emery's head as a sleeping place.
Ali chuckled, but it sounded forced. "Just because I don't move doesn't mean I'm asleep. Nightmares keep me awake and I often settle for staring at the ceiling."
"Nightmares? What nightmares?" Devon asked. He could feel Emery's curiosity over the issue as well.
Ali nodded and explained, "It starts off in a large field with lush green grass. It's strange, I've never seen grass in person, only read about it, so how could my mind create something like that? And there were birds chirping, again, only read about it, never heard it before—"
"That doesn't sound like a nightmare," Devon commented, although, as he thought about it, Ali was completely opposite from all humans so a pleasant dream for most people might be a nightmare for Ali.
But Ali wasn't finished. "That's when it changes. I'm in a city, it's raining and there's lightening flashing all around. Every flash I see their faces, staring at me. And then they attack."
"Their faces? Whose?" Devon asked, although as the words left his mouth he suddenly knew. The terraformers.
Ali didn't clarify. "They come after me, attack me, tear at me. The yell that I betrayed them and that I deserve to die."
"You know it's just a dream, right?"
Ali laughed again, another strained sound. "Of course, but that's why I don't sleep anymore."
She was trying to play it off like it was no big deal, but the look on her face and the rings around her eyes begged to differ. She was suffering, but she would never admit it, admitting it would be a sign of weakness. She ordered Devon to forget about it.
But Devon couldn't. The days wore on and Ali was growing steadily worse. When she came back from a hunt one day without a human, Devon knew it had gone too far. She refused to answer his questions and only crawled up behind Emery.
Perhaps you are right, Emery said to Devon as Ali disappeared behind her crest.
"She's getting worse."
Yes, and not only that, she is retreating into herself. I cannot find the source of her grief.
"She blocked you?"
Not entirely, only the things she does not want me to see, mainly the reason for her attitude change. I am worried about her.
"Yeah, me too."
It only got worse from then on. Her lack of sleep had caused her to lose her edge in hunts and she would return more often than not without a catch. It was obviously frustrating her, but she never asked Devon to join her and Devon didn't even think he'd be able to. One day, Devon awoke to find Ali's spot next to him, vacant.
"Emery?" he asked.
She went hunting, Emery answered, A few hours ago.
Devon sat up immediately and climbed down Emery's side. A few hours ago and she still wasn't back?
Yes, I am worried as well, Emery said, reading Devon's thoughts. If she is not back in five minutes I want you to go and look for her, alright?
"Yes."
However, Devon didn't have a chance to leave. The door to the basement slammed open and Ali fumbled down the stairs, a small bundle in her arms. She glanced over at Devon and Emery, revealing her deathly pale face and red eyes. She looked terrible.
"What do you got there?" Devon asked.
"A host," she said.
"What kind of host is that?"
Without answering, Ali set the small bundle on the ground and began working on unfolding the cloth around it. Devon stepped closer, curious. When Ali pulled the last fold away Devon gasped and stumbled backward.
"What the hell?"
Wrapped in another cloth, a blanket perhaps, was a small baby. When the blanket was pulled away from its face the baby let out a shrill cry.
"What?" Ali asked.
"This is a baby!"
Emery had been unable to see what was in the bundle, but she let out a hiss when she heard Devon's revelation. Why would you bring something like this here? I will not tolerate something so young to be slaughtered.
"I haven't been able to catch a human recently, so I thought I'd try something a little easier."
"But a baby? You really expect to let a second stage latch onto its face?"
Ali shook her head. "No, I was planning on raising it until it was older, then doing it. That way we don't have to worry about hunting, we can just steal babies and raise them for slaughter."
"That's horrible!" Devon exclaimed.
Ali just shrugged.
Ali, I am worried about you.
"Well you shouldn't be!" Ali almost screamed, suddenly angry. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine, never been better. It's none of your business."
Her hands had curled into fists and a slight tremor shook through her. Devon realized what was happening almost too late and only just managed to catch Ali before she crashed into the ground.
"Ali? Ali!"
