Disclaimer: I don't own Predator or Aliens or AVP of any type, but the plot of this story and any OC characters that show up I do own!

Ok, so no flames please but constructive criticism is welcome! If you want to help by giving a bit of advice on how something can work or flow better then by all means but if you're just going to be mean yeah please don't. If you don't like then just leave and write your own story m'kay?

Alrighty, now I'm just wasting time, so without further ado!

Sins of the Stars

Light So Dim

"Am I just a lost soul blowing in the wind? Or a coward scared to look within? Or do I have a brave heart with a light so dim? Is that who I am?" ~Is That Who I Am, Chris Carmack

Ch. 3

It's been a full year now since the Aliens had arrived and life was hard for a female on the run trying to raise a boy, but she can say she has successfully raised Andy to 7 years old, just last week. They have now been in a small town for about 3 months, and so far it was good; she has made friends with this older lady, a sweet thing she was and adored Andy. It made life easier for them hiding out at the older lady's house. She helped around when she could and got to stay, so it was a win for everyone.

"I want a chocolate cake with tons! I mean tones of frosting." Andy went on and on about his cake, as he looked into the crate full of things for his birthday.

Mercy was happy to listen to the boy ramble, it was good to see him so relaxed and happy, things have been quiet lately, sightings seem to have lessened, life almost seemed normal. Today as a late gift she promised to bake him a cake, something they both haven't had in some time.

"I'll see what I can do." She chuckles softly, her attention being pulled by the rushing of several people. Pulling her baseball cap further over her head to hide any features, she directed her brother to the other side of the small mini market.

2 eggs, flour, and was it yeast or baking soda? Mercy chewed her cheeks as she looked over her smudge list of ingredients, the old lady was nice but she had such horrible handwriting; Though Mercy was thinking it may be due to her bad eyesight.

"Watch out!" Andy tugged at the tail end of Mercy's shirt as a group of men rushed by leaving her tensed at what she heard.

"…it was a group of men traveling with some females …. retaliated with gunfire… only a few managed to flee."

Mercy felt her stomach dropping lower with each word, was the group that was attacked her old group or someone else? It's only been about 6 and half months since she left, they still shouldn't be in this area, granted she walked and moved way well past the designated checkpoints Ritz was following, was it possible that maybe she was ahead of them?

With just her and Andy she could move a lot faster, break less, and fewer runs for water and food; but the fact they only just now making it this far pushed her to believe that it couldn't be her group.

"You think Easton is ok?" Jumping she looked to see Andy peeking up from the wagon, they were traveling through town with. He already had all his things packed and ready to go.

Good, she thought, He was ready at a moment. "Yes, I'm sure Easton is just fine."

With a nod she decided today's shopping was done, tying down the thing they gathered on the cart, she hopped up to the driver seat and with a whistle to the horse they were on their way back to Ms. Miller.

The journey back to the mini-farm was a stressful one, at least on Mercy's part. The whole time she was in her head trying to make a decision.

Should she stay or go?

It wasn't much but she had something here, a place to stay, a job helping Ms. Miller, she even heard they plan on opening the schools again.

Then there was the talk of the attacked group. If any of the girls in the group had a chance to escape the Aliens would sure to follow, thus unintentionally bring them to her.

Chewing her lips, she nods it was decided she would...

"Andy!" She yelled loudly as the boy jumped off the cart and took off in a dead sprint across the street. She was in such shock that she just blinked before she finally kicked into gear, running after him leaving the cart, yelling at him to come back, and when he turned to run down an alleyway she may have screeched even louder.

"Anderson!"

What in the hell had gotten into him! She slides to a stop, crashing into the wall to help her turn into the alley.

She found him crouching down between two trash cans and a dumpster holding out his hand, seeming to try and coax something from its hiding place.

"Andy I swear if that is Mr... Lucy?" She gasps when she bent down to see that it wasn't the fat cat, Mr. Jinx but Lucy a child from their group. Her eyes were wide with fear and her head was bleeding. What was Lucy doing here…the group…!

Hearing another crash Mercy looked up to see another injured woman that looked similar to Lucy. "Stacy!"

"Mercedes!" She cried, rushing to her hugging her tightly. She wasn't very close to any of the girls there but she did talk to Stacy when Andy and Lucy played together.

"Shh hush now, Lucy is under the dumpster." She pulled the girl off to get her sister when another body crashed into the wall out of breath.

"Sta... Andy? Mercedes!"

"Easton!" Andy shouted getting up and throwing himself into the older male's arms.

"Well, I'll be damn..." Ritz huffed. He was bleeding from a gash to the head and cuts on his arms and well everywhere... they look like they been through hell, Mercy said just that before Easton finally swept her into a bone crushing hug.

Chuckling, Easton nods as he squeezed her one last time before putting her at arm's length to look her over. "You look…feed…" He murmurs as she rolled her eyes.

"Never missed a meal." She told them as she looked him over as well. "At least I seemed to have an easier time, then you…" She mutters but waved off her own comment. "Come on I have a place just a few miles down."

Rushing back to the mouth of the Alleyway, Mercy peeked left and right for any wondering eyes but everyone seemed to have been rushing to the other end of the town, to see what the commotion was about. "Come quick." She waved them out the alley as they all rushed back to the cart then to Ms. Miller's farm.

Once she and the others were safely inside, she went about to boil some water. Getting the first aid kit while Andy, being the big boy he was, went about closing the shades and curtains. "Ms. Miller we have company!" She yelled up the stairs before going back to the group. "It's not much but hopefully it will do." Mercy smiles as she drops a needle into the boiling water to sterilize it.

"Power, water, food and a place to stay," Ritz commented. "Looks like a lot to me."

"This farm is running on a solar generator, much of the town is," She shrugs. "Ever since that EMP blast nothing but solar energy works." She threaded the needle carefully before laying it on a clean gauze, as she continues. "There's hot water but only last for about 30 minutes, so if you want a shower, be quick to share."

Cleaning Lucy's wound first, Mercy was relieved to see it was nothing more but a small scratch, head wound just loved to bleed and scare everyone shitless. Patching her up and sending her off to play with Andy, who was excited to show off Mr. Jinx, Mercy went to clean up Stacy.

"So, you all going to tell me, why you all are hurt?" She glanced at the men to her left then back to Stacy's wound. "Or will I have to guess?"

Hearing more than actually seeing Ritz getting up walking away, Mercedes felt her stomach tense, as he sighed and rubbed his face that had grown a ratty beard. "You were right."

Licking her lips, she took a calming breath as she carefully pulled the stitching thread to close up Stacy's flesh as the young girl hissed. "What was I right about exactly?" She gently cut the thread rubbing the girl's shoulders as she waved Easton to sit down next as she cleaned the needle again.

"Everything." Ritz sneered. It didn't take a genius to know his pride had taken a serious hit, and without time to finish licking his wound, he was still very pissed.

"Everything like what?" She pushed, she wanted him to say it, for one she wanted to rub it in, hey just because she was female didn't mean she didn't like to gloat like the men, and she needed to know the details.

"What do you want me to say hmm?" He finally snapped. "That you were right, that we should have been split off into groups, that they were waiting the whole time for us to gather as many girls as we could?" He growled as he came around the table standing before her seething.

Easton went to stand up but Mercy just pushed him down as she stood. She wasn't tall enough to make full eye contact without lifting her head, Ritz was a very tall man but she wasn't short. "I suggest you take it down a notch, so what your pride is wounded, oh boohoo." She mocked with a sneer of her own.

"More girls were taken!" He snapped.

"And who's pride is at fault?" His jaw closed with a snap as he glared down at her.

"Now buck up and tell me what happened!" Even if she only came up to his chin, and he had to look down at her, she wasn't going to back down.

Finally, he back off, with a 'tsh', and Easton relaxed in his seat as Mercy sat back down to clean his injuries.

"Whatever, how come you all were behind me?" She asked to restart the conversation, or more like integration. "If I remember right, with all the checkpoint and the steady pace you set. The group should have been way ahead of me by now."

"Every route we took, it was like they were already there, searching the area," Easton answered when it was obvious Ritz wasn't. "Every scout we sent, came back with the same story in every direction we took, at first it started off small only a few Aliens here or there in a small town, enough for us to get food and supplies maybe pick up more girls or men. Yet after a while, it was no place we could go, the towns were full of them! It was like they were—

"Herding…" Stacy mutters. "They were pushing us into the spot they wanted, only letting us stop in the places they wanted! We were nothing but cattle!" She hissed as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Then one night they came at us from behind, full force. Light beams making a barrier behind us pushing us forward, Aliens running alongside us, some even in the trees, men being shot down and girls were taken." She sniffed.

"No matter what we did they just kept coming, caging us in and herding us into a large clearing, there was no way around it. By that time most of the men were either shot down or trapped… nearly everyone that was left in the clearing was female."

Mercedes looked at Stacy horrified, as the young girl shook. "Geez, Stacy, how in the hell did you and Lucy esca-

Mercy eyes widen as she shot out of her seat, scaring the three other occupants. "Stacy! Did any more of the other girls get out?!" She asked grabbing the young girl by her shoulders.

"What! What's wrong?" Easton jumped up quickly grabbing Mercy away from the other girl.

"It's a trap!" She gasps as she called for Andy. "Get your bags, pack only what you need, nothing more!" The small boy looked as if he wanted to ask why but with a sharp look from her sent him on his way.

"A trap? Mercedes slow down, how can this be a trap?" Easton tried to get a hold of her as she went around the small kitchen gathering things like a whirlwind.

"Argh, Easton, don't be so dimwitted!" she hissed with little worry about his feeling at the moment. "Just think about it, Stacy and her sister didn't just escape, they let them leave! "

It was Stacy that hit the conclusion first. "It gives them reasons to come to places like this and search!"

Nodding Mercy swung a pack onto her back after she shoved in as much food as possible. "And I can bet you anything that they are either on their way here or here already." She mutters as she went about making sure she looked as male as she could before passing clothes to Stacy and Lucy.

"You think they'll come so soon? The ambush only happened just a night ago."

"I will rather be gone before they decide." Grabbing her maps, she looked to Andy in hopes that he was ready, to see that he had Mr. Jinx on a leash. Shit.

"Before you say anything I want to give him to Ms. Linda on the way." He sighs sadly. "She old and I know she loves him...plus she has like six cats."

Taking a breath, she kneels down and hugged him tightly, even if the world has been invaded, he was still only 7 years old. "I know you're sad but Andy that was a big boy decision and I'm so proud." She smiles as she kisses his head before grabbing his hand and was out the door before the group behind her could do much more than a blink.

Mercy was already out of the house, having said her goodbyes and given her thanks to Ms. Miller by the time the group caught up to her and Andy, who was sniffling. She was in the barn packing up a saddle before pointing to a map as the others walked in.

"There's another town just a few days ride from here, passing that and out more onto open land, Ms. Miller has a small cottage. It mainly for hunting and doesn't have much and isn't surrounded by trees. It will give us a hideout to wait before moving on." Mercy grunts as she picks up Andy placing him on the saddle.

"Why are you traveling all the way around the town? It'll cut the trip in half if we just go straight through" Stacy asked lowly, looking at the map.

"It keeps nosy people away." She mutters. "The fewer people see the more of a chance we have to get out." She looked behind her to the girl. "Can you imagine what would have happened if the men here saw you and Lucy? All beat up and wounded? They'll ask all kinds of question, and who to say you would have met some nice gentlemen that would have taken you to the clinic or worst, wait for the Aliens to show up and just hand you over, hoping for a reward or something." Mercy shrugs as she continues on her way.

"I never thought of it that way." The blonde girl spoke as she held Lucy closer.

"I didn't either, not until I had already found this town." Mercy nods as she swings her legs up and over the saddle, sitting behind Andy.

"Isn't rude to takes this woman horses?" Easton asked as he and the rest saddled up.

"They're trained." She said. "Once we get to the cottage, we can let them go and they'll race right back here."

The small group then trotted out the barn, Mercy sighed as she looked back at what she was hoping to make a home for Andy. Turning away she gave a soft nudge to the horse, there's no time for pouting and regrets.

Thirty minutes into the ride Mercedes saw three men just chatting just a few ways up. They seemed to be watching the herd of cattle around them. "Shit, come on let's turn around, we'll take to take the scenic route."

"What why?" Ritz frowned looking out to see the men. "There's only three, just don't look suspicious."

"I rather not take that chance." Mercy spoke in a distracted tone as she looked at her map. "I have a large backpack and all my gear, on a horse that belongs to Ms. Miller, they'll ask why am I leaving. Seeing as I'm supposed to be a man, I shouldn't feel the need to leave thus will making them question me more and waste my time." She sighs closing her map. "You can go that way I'm not stopping you, but Andy and I are going this way." She pulled the reins making the horse huffed as they turned.

Stacy with her sister, and Easton all followed Mercy without question as she quickly trotted back the way they came, making a right at the large bolder instead of the left she took moments before.

"Mercedes…" Easton began after some time. He looked off to the side scratching at his neck with a face full of guilt.

"There's no need for apologies." She waved him off. "I'm not going to say I understand because honestly, I don't." She admitted. "But, hey, we're together now, so let's enjoy it."

"Right." He nods slumping in his saddle as they all made their way further from the town.

It was late evening when the small group made it to the edge of the next town, thankfully no one spotted them and it was a smooth trip. Just two more days ride and they would be at the cottage.

Biting at the inside of her cheek, Mercy looked around her; she had a sick feeling in her stomach. The air was too still, too quiet, every move they made seem to echo in her ears, sound way too loud. This town laid abandon.

"Calm down," She whispered to herself, as she grabbed her coat, pulling it tighter to her body. "It's going to be fine." Even as she spoke this she didn't believe it, that sick feeling only seemed to grow and morph into the feeling of being watched.

Grabbing Andy and pulling him closer looking up at the building around her, with narrowed eyes. If she remembers right, the aliens could hide in plain sight…so who's to say that they aren't watching them now.

Squeezing the reins, she shook her head. Stop it calm down, Don't overthink it! Just breathe…In…out…

"Hey, Mercy" Easton galloped next to her. "What wrong?"

"It's nothing." She mutters. "I…I'm just feeling a bit paranoid…like we're being watched."

Everyone looked upward for any sign for them to run.

"Well…the last time you had a funny feeling it came true." Ritz murmurs pulling his horse next to Stacy and Lucy. "So I suggest we get out of here now."

"Right." She nods as she picks up her speed as they began on their way. Keeping her eyes on the rooftop as they moved along, helped her noticed the blowing of the wind. There on the ledge was an old line of clothes hanging to dry, simple enough, but it was the red and white polka dotted dress, that held her attention.

"Mercedes, let go." Easton urged.

"That dress." She nods up to.

"Really, a dress has you stopping!" Ritz grumbled. "You were panicking just a moment ago!"

"That dress…it's not moving…" She whispered as the group finally took in what she was saying.

All the line of clothes was wafting in the gentle breeze…except that one red and white polka dotted dress...It stood still as if something was blocking the breeze.

Pulling the child in her arms closer, Mercy slapped the reins down, pushing all her weight forward, the horse whinnied before slamming its hooves against the wet cement away from the dark like chuckle behind her.

The echoes of Easton's voice telling her to ride faster, not to look back as he galloped behind her, pushing their horses faster.

Her heart felt like it was in her throat as she pushed onward, Stacy and Lucy were just a pace behind them as Ritz yelled for them to go faster.

The Alien on the rooftop was right on their tails, the sheer size and weight should have made each step rumble.

How could something so big have been following us so quietly?

"Split up! There's only one!" She made a quick turn to the right the horse nearly losing its balance as she raced off, not waiting for an answer.

The Alien was pushing them with fear, making loud random noises to distract them from thinking anything else, to make it feel like he was right on their ass!

"Mercedes!" Easton hissed as he raced after her, catching up he leaned over yanking her reins to the left and into a building.

"Get off, off the horses, quick!" Not questioning him, she leaped off the horse, grabbing Andy and their bags her breathing was in huffs against Andy's tight hold while Easton continues to yank her by her elbow up the steps and down a random hall.

Dodging into an abandoned room, Mercy quickly put Andy down as she helps Easton move an old bookshelf in front of the door.

Panting she slid down the wall holding her side. "Fu..fuck!" She puffs.

"How did the hell you know that?" Easton looked at her with his hands on his knees, looking at her through the curtain of his golden hair.

She shrugs. "Truthfully? Blind panic."

Nodding he sat down, watching as Andy explored the room but staying close. "Yeah, well it paused for a second before going after the others."

"Shit…poor Stacy and Lucy." Mercedes groans as she held her face feeling bad, yet deep down she was glad, better her than me. Rubbing at her chest she closed her eyes.

"It's ok to feel like that." He mutters softly as he watched her. "It's normal."

"That doesn't make it right." She narrowed her eyes as she looked around the old room. "We can't stay here too long I'm sure they'll do a sweep."

Standing up she dusts off her pants when low rumble shook the walls. Stumbling she snatched Andy to her, Easton did the same to her, bracing himself on the bookshelf.

After a minute or two, the quake stopped leaving the three human shaken as they looked around. "What the hell was that!" She hissed. Earthquakes weren't known in the south, hurricanes and floods were their forte.

"I…I don't know," Easton shook his head. "But it can't be good." He stares out the window almost distracted.

"We need to leave now." She murmurs looking back to Easton to see he looked pale.

"... it won't matter."

"What? Easton!" She hissed.

"Mercedes I don't like this..." Andy clung to her tighter pulling her attention.

Easton shook his head, as he rubbed the exhaustion from his face, looking around the room before spotting something, quickly snatching it up he moved to Mercy, moving Andy down as he zipped down her jacket.

"E-Easton!" She blushed as he took a step closer to her.

Wrapping an old rubber wire under her jacket and around her waist tying it tightly to her, before picking Andy back up, placing her arms around him and tying the reminding wire around Andy, tying him to Mercy.

"What in the world?"

"Hold him tightly…" He mutters as he looked up at her as he zipped up her jacket hiding Andy underneath.

"Easton." Mercedes frowned as she wrapped her arm around Andy as the small boy clung to her. "Come on…" She pulled on Easton's hand, she felt sick. I don't like this...

"We always think we have more time…" He chuckles as he hugged her tightly. "I hate that, this is all I could do…"

"You're not making sense, Easton!" She snapped pulling him, not expecting to see such a sad and lost look. Her eyes became wide "Whatever your thinking, stop it ok! come on... let's go" She tried tugging his sleeve, her throat growing tight.

Another low rumble followed by the sounds of cracking concrete, Mercy refused to look away from his face. Even when the cool breezes of the night, kisses the back of her neck, she didn't want to see the new large hole in the wall.

He chuckles sadly as he rests his forehead against hers. "I should have just told you... all those years, I should have just said it."

Her breathing picked up as her eyes water with large tears. "Tell me now! Tell me!" She whispered as the room lite up a bright blue.

Cupping his cheeks, she looked into those watery green eyes, those eyes she loved since they were children, and now after all this time, it had to be now that she finds out, his eyes said it all.

The blue light engulfs her as she grabbed hold of his hands. "You're such an asswad!" She hissed. "Why did you wait?!"

He squeezed her hands as she was lifted higher. "It all happened so fast and now." He chocked as their fingertip strained to hold on as the metal tentacles wrapped around his ankle yanking on him.

She wasn't sure who let go first…

Her tears floated upward as she screamed, this wasn't how it was supposed to go! She had everything planned! So why? Why?

Mercedes watched his form grow smaller and smaller, her eyes never straying from that spot not until the clouds blocked her view, her only option to look up to what was to come. She curled tighter around Andy, feeling his heart hammering in his chest.

The light above her was blinding as the sounds of hydraulic hiss filled her ears. When her feet gently hit something solid to stand, she peeked opened her eyes to see dark orange glass! In a panic, she bangs on the glass seeing other tubes, just like the one she was trapped in.

They all were lined up, one after the other, she could tell there was something in a few of them but the glass was fogged so much she couldn't make anything out no matter how hard she squinted.

A light caught the corner of her eye, just three tubes down a girl appear coming up from the bottom of the tube. She was crying as she panicked beating on the glass, just like Mercy had done.

The girl looked up catching eyes, that when it clicked for the both of them, this is what happened to the girls that were taken, they were put in these tubes but then what!

"Mercy..." Andy sobs hugging her close pushing his head into her breasts.

"Shh..." She tried to sooth when a sound of gears turning and a small vent opens up. Frowning Mercy looked back to the hostage. A thick fog of blue poured into the girl's tube.

The girl coughed and gagged until she had fallen unconscious. "No, no!" Mercy panics kicking the glass when the thick blue smoke pushes down into her tube. It smelt horrible leaving such a rancid taste in the back of her mouth. Andy began to couch and gag, falling unconscious fast.

"No!' She coughs shaking the boy. "Andy!" yelling made her in hail more than she needed but she was in a panic. "Andy please!" She wheezed her body growing weak with her vision starting to go black.

She didn't want to die! She wasn't ready to go, she wanted to see Andy grow up! He had the right to grow up and be happy. Coughing harder she fought the urge to close her eyes.

The blue smoke continuously pumped into her tube, it was getting harder to stay awake, she could feel herself sinking further and further into the darkness.

Hearing a hash click, Mercy's eyes slowly shifted to the left, a tall wide figure stood before her… watching her…

Ok, Well, that's ch3. it's getting closer to our sexy beast to show up, Once again I want to let everyone know, that this is going to be very different, I have yet to have read a story for Predator like this, so I really hope its good, it's something I been wanting to see and read so I finally got the courage to do it so Ahh haha ok also I wanted to give out THANKS to all of YOU who have favorited and Alerted my story it makes me so happy and just bubbling with joy!

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Special thanks to those who have left me a review! Each one of you had me squealing just because I got one so thanks so very much!

lilykitty99, EvonySiren, Maridia, EverWandering14, equipagan, guess reviewer Mariah, guess reviewer Hailey!

And finally a very BIG THANKS to EvonySiren for giving me advice and pointing me to Grammarly!

I serious do thank all of you so please drop a review let me know how I can improve or just your thoughts on the story in general!

Until Next Chapter!