I demorphed to hawk as soon as I could and took flight, ignoring Rachel's
calls. I circled the sky. I didn't know where to go, but I did avoid the
barn and the woods. I wasn't ready for their questions yet. I wasn't ready
for Cassie to berate me about taking a life. How was I supposed to explain
to them that Erin had asked me to kill her? Mercy killing? Euthanasia?
Yeah. Sure.
I looked down at the ground. I saw the familiar white-walled house. Without realising it, I'd flown towards Erin's home. I swooped through the open window and perched on her chair. Her room was the cleanest in the entire house. There weren't any dust bunnies or crumbs on the floor. Believe me, I would know if there were any.
I don't know what made me do it. Maybe I just wanted to feel connected to Erin. I hopped to the floor and morphed to Andalite. It was cool being an Andalite. I could look around the room without even turning my head, just by swivelling my stalk eyes around... I froze.
Mr. Bloyd was standing in the doorway.
"Andalite!" Years of hatred and anger collected into that voice and hit me hard. I sighed. One thought ocurred to me in that moment. Why can't we all just get along?
Yeerk. I replied. That was why. Yeerks were the most foul and evil creatures I'd ever come across. We could never get along. Mr. Bloyd started backing away slowly. He was scared of me. I lifted my tail and watched my tail blade glint as I placed it under his neck. Tell me, Yeerk, is your host cheering me on? Is he willing me to kill him just so I can kill you?
"Shut up!" Mr. Bloyd was turning purple with rage. Step by step, we were moving into Charlotte's room. It was achingly slow. I kept my blade at his neck. Dared him to make a false move.
Tell me, Yeerk, I used the most condescending tone possible. I wondered vaguely if Elfangor had ever been arrogant. It was a strong Andalite trait. But it was hard to imagine Elfangor as anything less than perfect. Why is the little girl so important that Visser Three himself prepared her for infestation?
Charlotte's room was a direct contrast to Erin's room. Books were piled in a messy heap on the table. Clothes were scattered on the floor. Toys spilled out of a toy box.
"I will tell you nothing!"
No? I pushed my blade forward a little, just enough to nick his skin.
"Her real mother is the first human host capable of overthrowing her Yeerk and forcing it out of her head. We suspect that she is forming an alliance against us. We had intended to use Charlotte as bait."
Who is Charlotte's mother? Where is she?
"I will never betray Visser Three!"
Never?
"Never!"
Then die! I faked a jab to his throat. He anticipated it and jumped back. Then something happened that I swear I didn't plan.
Mr. Bloyd's right foot came down on a teddy bear, one of those high quality, felt fur bears. He slipped and flailed his arms about, shouting. I tried to catch him but I was simply too far away. Charlotte's room had a balcony. The railing was too low for safety.
I watched, everything happening in slow motion, as Mr. Bloyd flipped over the railing. I heard an anguished scream and the sound of metal piercing through flesh. Then there was silence. Thick, uncomfortable silence.
Moving as if I was underwater, I walked up to the railing. Braced my hands against it. Looked down.
Mr. Bloyd stared up at me from below. He was suspended in the air by the single spike of the fence that had pierced right through his stomach.
He was dead.
Groaning inwardly, I turned away from the balcony. I stumbled into Erin's room and collapsed to the floor. If I had a mouth, I would have vomitted.
Yeah. Sure.
I looked down at the ground. I saw the familiar white-walled house. Without realising it, I'd flown towards Erin's home. I swooped through the open window and perched on her chair. Her room was the cleanest in the entire house. There weren't any dust bunnies or crumbs on the floor. Believe me, I would know if there were any.
I don't know what made me do it. Maybe I just wanted to feel connected to Erin. I hopped to the floor and morphed to Andalite. It was cool being an Andalite. I could look around the room without even turning my head, just by swivelling my stalk eyes around... I froze.
Mr. Bloyd was standing in the doorway.
"Andalite!" Years of hatred and anger collected into that voice and hit me hard. I sighed. One thought ocurred to me in that moment. Why can't we all just get along?
Yeerk. I replied. That was why. Yeerks were the most foul and evil creatures I'd ever come across. We could never get along. Mr. Bloyd started backing away slowly. He was scared of me. I lifted my tail and watched my tail blade glint as I placed it under his neck. Tell me, Yeerk, is your host cheering me on? Is he willing me to kill him just so I can kill you?
"Shut up!" Mr. Bloyd was turning purple with rage. Step by step, we were moving into Charlotte's room. It was achingly slow. I kept my blade at his neck. Dared him to make a false move.
Tell me, Yeerk, I used the most condescending tone possible. I wondered vaguely if Elfangor had ever been arrogant. It was a strong Andalite trait. But it was hard to imagine Elfangor as anything less than perfect. Why is the little girl so important that Visser Three himself prepared her for infestation?
Charlotte's room was a direct contrast to Erin's room. Books were piled in a messy heap on the table. Clothes were scattered on the floor. Toys spilled out of a toy box.
"I will tell you nothing!"
No? I pushed my blade forward a little, just enough to nick his skin.
"Her real mother is the first human host capable of overthrowing her Yeerk and forcing it out of her head. We suspect that she is forming an alliance against us. We had intended to use Charlotte as bait."
Who is Charlotte's mother? Where is she?
"I will never betray Visser Three!"
Never?
"Never!"
Then die! I faked a jab to his throat. He anticipated it and jumped back. Then something happened that I swear I didn't plan.
Mr. Bloyd's right foot came down on a teddy bear, one of those high quality, felt fur bears. He slipped and flailed his arms about, shouting. I tried to catch him but I was simply too far away. Charlotte's room had a balcony. The railing was too low for safety.
I watched, everything happening in slow motion, as Mr. Bloyd flipped over the railing. I heard an anguished scream and the sound of metal piercing through flesh. Then there was silence. Thick, uncomfortable silence.
Moving as if I was underwater, I walked up to the railing. Braced my hands against it. Looked down.
Mr. Bloyd stared up at me from below. He was suspended in the air by the single spike of the fence that had pierced right through his stomach.
He was dead.
Groaning inwardly, I turned away from the balcony. I stumbled into Erin's room and collapsed to the floor. If I had a mouth, I would have vomitted.