Erk! Only two reviews? Well that's not encouraging. *pouts* Plus even as I write this , I don't know when I'll be able to upload as fanfiction.net seems to keep going weird on me. Sabrina: When has that stopped you? Melissa: Yeah when has that stopped you? Author: Shhh! Don't tell them! (looks abashed.) What I have to put up with...





Chapter 4

My eyes were read and swollen when I finally looked up from the floor. Only God knows how long I was crying , and I was beginning to have my doubts that even he cared.

I stood up shakily. I turned the door handle. Still locked. I sighed.

The rational part of me told it to just let it go. But unfortunately I don't learn easy. I kept going over it in my head trying to figure out what had went so horribly wrong. We were the perfect family until that one day. I began to wonder if my parents weren't part of a cult. Maybe that's what the sharing really was.

Question: Had my life become nightmare?

Answer: Worse. With a nightmare at least you get to wake up.

Maybe I had been going about the wrong way. Always sitting back , waiting for someone to hand me the answers. It occurred to me then , that night , that I would have to stop being a cry baby and find the answers on my own. I'd have to get smart if I was going to survive.

I pulled a bobby pin off of my dresser and began to pick the lock of my door. Funny isn't it? My dad is the one who taught me how to pick a lock and my Dad is the one who locked me in.

I stepped out into the hallway and heard muffled voices downstairs. I walked only halfway down , cautiously , straining not to make a sound.

" Damn that human child." a cold voice said that I didn't recognize.

" It certainly would be easier with her out of the way." agreed a female voice , sullenly. " Now we have Mendelites infiltrating our home."

" Yet if we touch a hair on her head , these human-" he noticed his voice began to rise and lowered it again. " -these sores on our flesh , will make our lives a hell , if Visser Three doesn't do that first."

" It's the only way to keep them voluntary."

That's when I recognized the voices. It was my parents. Only their voices had been so transformed by malice I didn't take it for them at first. I took a step back and covered my mouth in shock.

" Well it's time to give the report." my Dad said.

" You may as well get it done." my mother said. " I have an appointment. Some meeting with the parents and the school bored." She heaved a sigh of disgust. " These humans are so tiresome. I look forward to the day we enslave them all."

I heard the door close as she left.

Numbly I continued own the stairs. But I felt as if someone else was moving me forward. Dazed , I had barely comprehended what I just heard. And I didn't know what to think except to follow my father and not let him see me.

He turned his head and I darted back around the corner. He was watching over his shoulder. Making sure no one was around. Then he headed towards the basement.

I waited until I couldn't see him , then cautiously followed. He pulled the door behind him , but it didn't close all the way. I waited for him to walk down the steps , then crept up to the door. I watched through the crack , but didn't dare open it any wider.

He walked over to a desk in the corner and pulled open a drawer. He extracted some keys. Then he walked over to a door on the other side of the room.

I realized I'd never noticed it before. It had been a long time since I'd been down to the basement. But this door was made of gleaming steel. He unlocked it and inside there was a glowing white panel. Light shown off of it and made the dark basement dim. He pressed his hand against it , and another wall slid open that had a blue panel. He ran his hand over that one and a spot light appeared on the ceiling.

My Dad stood stiff and nervous , waiting. Seconds went by - suddenly a the light shown so bright I had to close my eyes. After letting a few seconds go by , I opened one eye and the light began to form into a new shape. Slowly a body began to materialize , but it was like no body I'd ever seen.

It had metallic blue fur , with a light tan in some of it's features. The torso and arms were like that of a human. So was the neck. But the hands were delicate and the fingers were too many. The face had large eyes , a darker tan than its fur. Two vertical slits were there would have been a nose. But their was no visible signs of a mouth. Two stalk eyes were mounted on its head.

It was an intelligent face , but not a friendly one. There was a coldness in its features.

The bottom half reminded me of a dear. But the tail was long and curved like a scorpions. It ended in a sharp scythe.

In short I was looking at some centaur gone horribly , horribly wrong. Don't get me wrong. The creature in some way could have been strangely handsome , with a touch of mythical beauty.

But the feeling that reeked off of this creature galvanized me. It was terrible. It stopped my breath.

" May the kandronna shine and strengthen you , Visser." my Dad said in a very careful , very respectful tone.

The creature favored my Dad with a contemptuous look and didn't return the greeting. Then in a sneering voice , " I see you are not late today Iniss two two six. How pleasant that you've finally learned to report to me on time. I trust you've learned to deal with...certain difficulties."

The voice dripped with sarcasm. But it was like it was not the creature's real voice. Just a simulation of a voice that this weird machine was using to communicate.

" Y-yes , Visser. I- we-locked the human girl in her room. She will not cause any disturbances."

" Glad to hear it , Iniss two two six , glad to hear it." now the voice was scornful. " However I have been informed of some rather disturbing news."

I couldn't see my Dad's expression , but I saw his body twitch. " News? Disturbing?"

" Yes Iniss , disturbing." The voice was deadly calm , just holding back anger. " News about bandits and filth of that like going undetected at your home."

Now it was not a question of whether my father was frightened. He began to shake.

" I believe we both know the source of the problem." the blue hologram continued in a fake reasonable tone. His main eyes narrowed at my father.

" B-but Visser! I-" my dad stuttered

" SILENCE!" the voice roared.

The force of the power behind that command almost sent me running. It's the kind of power that makes you want to blindly obey and beg not to be killed. I was mesmerized by it.

" I want this problem taken care of Iniss two two six. I want it taken care of by tomorrow evening when my Blade ship lands to get resources. Understood?"

" The- the girl?"

" Brilliant insight." it snapped impatiently.

" But my host - " my father protested

" We'll just have to risk it won't we?" the voice said unconcernedly. " And if you find you cannot control him , we'll just have to have you removed and replaced with more able Yeerk. The hard way."

Suddenly the form began to change. The beautiful , blue body melted away. In it's place was a hideous purple , translucent creature with a tube mouth.

I let out a cry of terror , turned and fled from the basement door faster than perhaps I've ever run in my entire life, I think I caught a last glimpse of my father and I don't know if he saw me or not. But I didn't stop until I had relocked myself in my room , snapped out the lights , and dove under my covers.

My heart was hammering in my chest. I didn't understand much of what I'd seen , I didn't know what a 'Yeerk' was or a 'kandrona' but I understood enough to know if I was seen , I was dead , and that man downstairs was not my real father. Who were these people , and what had they done with parents?! What the hell was going on?!

And who was that blue freak?! And what did he mean , 'take care of me'?! Was I gonna die?! Since when did a bunch of aliens live at my house?!!!

I heard a door slam downstairs. I had the distinct suspicion that my so- called father had exited much in the same fashion I had. And now his steps were coming up the stairs. I forced my tense body to relax. I forced my tightly closed eyes to relax and my fists to unclench and look normal.

I heard the door unlock and open and my heart jumped in my throat , when he neared my bed.

" Oh little human." he said in a low voice.

I almost had a panic attack. He knew! No. No , maybe he was talking more to himself than to me.

" If only you could hear my host's tormented screams to spare your pathetic existence." the voice was cruel , condescending.

My stomach turned. What did he mean by that?

" But it's out of my hands this time. Visser's orders you know." He laughed a cold laugh. " Nothing personal of course , but I'm almost glad. You've been a thorn in my side for too long - ahh!"

He let out a cry like one in pain. " No!" a choked voice cried. " Don't-"

Then it was gone like a thread snapped in half by sharp scissors.

" Pardon me , but he does ramble on." the voice was casual and evil again. " But he's only a prisoner in this body . And it doesn't matter whether I only imagined you in that doorway or not , you will soon share his fate."

The footsteps walked away , and the door closed. I breathed again , and sat up. What did this all mean? I was numb. I didn't know how to feel at that moment. Maybe I was the one who was going mad. I realized I only had a tiny glimpse of the big picture. Most of it was way beyond me , and I didn't know the half of it. Now what was I gonna do? Run away? And to where?

I folded my hands to say a prayer , but I couldn't collect my thoughts or energy to do even that.

So ends chapter 4. I think I liked it okay. I hope I did Melissa's emotions accurately. But she wasn't in the series enough to really be sure. By the way , has anyone ever recalled the color of the Visser's eyes being mentioned? I sure don't. If you know please tell me.