Anifan1: Sorry, didn't mean to have the same idea! Great minds must think alike. Hopefully mine will be somewhat different to yours. Glad you like it.

Three years ago, I made a fatal mistake.

I had been at a Sharing meeting, as just one of the 'hangers- on'. My friend, the one who had invited me in the first place, was a full member.

I remember wondering about what the full members did. I had tried asking Rebecca, my friend, who had been very vague about it. So I opted to find out for myself. I thought that if I was ever going to join, I might as well learn what was going on. I thought that it couldn't hurt.

It was a beach party. When the full members were called away, I waited for two minutes, then followed them. They went to a concealed area down the beach, between two large, sandy dues. I lay down and peered out between some strands of grass on top of the dune. I could hear and see what was happening.

I saw a man walking down the beach towards the meeting. When he stepped into the midst of the people, everyone stopped talking. And I mean everyone. There was no shrill whispering, no muttering, no shuffling around. It was as though someone had pressed a button and every single person had fallen absolutely silent and still.

I suddenly shivered, although it was the middle of summer and the evening air was warm. I felt evil emanating from the man who had caused all the others to fall silent. If only I had noticed the signs and took that opportunity to run….

The man's face began to shift and change, while the people watched, nervous but not surprised. I couldn't help myself; I let out a scream. Every person turned towards me.

(Get her,) ordered the man, who was now something which looked like a blue centaur with a wicked looking scorpion tail and two extra eyes. It was odd; I heard his voice, but not with my ears.

Two people came bounding up the dune towards me. I turned to run, but slipped as a small pebble gave way beneath my feet. They grabbed me, and one threw his hand over my mouth to stop me from screaming. I was dragged back towards the weird blue creature.

(Get a bug fighter to take her to the Pool,) the creature ordered.

"Yes, Visser," answered another man.

A strange ship came out of the sky. It looked like a big metal cockroach. It landed, and I was thrown inside. Inside, there was a huge worm- like creature at the controls, and a tall monster covered in blades which came and placed its foot on me.

"Don't grrrash move," it said in a harsh, guttural voice.

I lay trembling for the rest of the ride, terrified. We landed, but I was unaware of it until I was yanked to my feet and dragged towards a pool filled with brown, slushy liquid. Despite my crying, struggling and threats, my head was forced beneath the surface. A few seconds later, something touched my ear.

I felt the start of a terrible pain in my ear canal, but it was soon numbed. I continued to struggle, but then realised gradually that I could do so no longer. First, I could no longer scream as my mouth stopped being mine. Then my legs froze and I could no longer kick.

"I have control," my mouth said. Only I hadn't said it. What was happening to me?

(What's happening? Help, someone!)

"Any resistance, Braunan 232?" Asked another human.

"The human is confused, but we will see whether she resists once she understands what is happening."

"Be careful. She put up quite a struggle coming down here."

"I can handle it."

(What are you?) I asked.

(I am a Yeerk. I have full control over every function of your brain, human, so don't try to resist me.)

(Are you kidding? There's no way I'm going to just give in without a fight.)

(A foolish decision, human. I have access to your every memory.)

The creature began to look through my memories; good and bad. He laughed when he saw the memory of how I had been bullied at school, and how shy it had made me. Eventually my parents had had to move me to a new school. I still wasn't the most popular, but I had a few friends and no- one bullied me further than simply ignoring me.

(You are easily cowed, are you not, human? This should be easier than I had thought.)

(You…) I said a few words that aren't to be repeated. He just laughed at me. It was not a nice laugh.

He began to play back a memory I had had locked in the back of my mind for ages now.

I hurried through the school corridors, desperately hoping I wouldn't run into Kayleigh and her sidekicks. Kayleigh had always bullied me because I was unfortunately one of the more intelligent students at my school, and I worked hard. I also happened to be overweight and not the most attractive, which meant there were lots of things about me to pick on.

These were only the 'excuses' for terrorizing me, of course. The real reason was, in my first year at the school, Kayleigh had sat next to me (the teacher had sat us in alphabetical order). Kayleigh couldn't be bothered to work on her own, so she tried to copy me. When I realised what was happening, I told her (politely) to do her own work and ask the teacher if she didn't understand it.

Since that day, she had never let me forget it. I don't think she was used to being stood up to, so she made sure I couldn't do it again.

Anyway, I went to my locker and got my books out. Then I saw what I had been dreading. Kayleigh and three friends were heading down the corridor towards me. I bent my head down and hrried past them, hoping they wouldn't notice me. No such luck.

"Why, if it isn't little Jennifer," Kayleigh sneered at me. "Have you studied for that Math test? Yeah, I bet you have, little teachers' pet you are. Can I have a peek at your notes then, hmmm?"

"And you know what?" Kayleigh continued. "I forgot my money today. I'm sure kind little Jenny'll lend me some, aren't you?"

"I brought sandwiches," I said.

Kayleigh grabbed me and slammed me against the lockers. "Yeah, like you did. Give me the money."

"I'm serious, I brought sandwiches," I told her.

"What's going on here?" Came the authoritative voice of my history teacher.

"Jennifer just slipped, sir. I was helping her up."

He ignored her and looked at me. "What happened?"

"Um.. like she said, sir. She was helping me up."

He looked like he didn't really believe me, but said no more about it. "Get to class, all of you," he ordered.

Kayleigh glared at me, and I knew it was far from over. She'd get me later. I hurried down the hallway, biting my lip and trying not to cry.

(I could carry on,) sneered Braunan.

(No…) I whispered.

He sniggered. (I didn't think so. I'm sure there are worse memories I can play. Mess with me and that's what happens. Got it?)

(Yes.)

(Good.)

No offence to anyone called Kayleigh. It's just a name and has no personal connections.

PLEASE REVIEW IF YOU WANT THE NEXT CHAPTER