Jake

By the time we arrived at the Sharing's tribute to Tom, there was no doubt in my mind that nearly everyone there was a Yeerk. There were just a couple of people who denied Sharing membership and my parents were among them. If anything would happen, I would be ready.

Rachel's speech was nagging me at the back of my mind, as if it meant something to me. But it didn't. I wouldn't let it mean anything. I wasn't turning into Rachel. I couldn't be turning into Rachel. Rachel would kill.

Isn't that what you plan to do? A nagging voice said in my mind. You are prepared to sacrifice innocents so you can have what you want.

I shoved the snide voice out of my mind and looked out at the beach. People were playing along it with Frisbees and balls. Near the table areas, the older members were standing and talking to themselves under a large banner saying, 'In Memory of Tom.'

Mr. Chapman was talking with my parents and I was standing nearby, never letting my parents out of my sight.

((Have fun Jake,)) a voice said in my head. ((We've got you covered.))

I looked around. Tobias had just spoken in my head. He was somewhere nearby. The others had come after I told them I didn't need them. I was angry. And then I noticed a red tailed hawk gliding overhead.

((We're all around,)) Tobias said. ((In different morphs.))

And that's when I opened up my eyes and saw the things that should have pointed out my friends. A tabby cat was being chased by a dog. Rachel and Marco. A boy was riding a horse. Ax and Cassie. They were all around me.

I turned around, expecting my parents to be a few feet away, but they weren't there. They were gone. I started to panic. Calm down, Jake, I told myself. They probably took a walk.

I searched the beach, but couldn't find them. I started walking up the beach. Marco and Rachel raced by.

((What's going on, Jake?)) Marco asked, sounding giddy.

"Where are my parents?" I hissed as they raced past again.

((Tobias,)) Rachel said in thought speech. ((Where are Jake's parents?))

((They're…uh oh,)) Tobias sounded nervous.

"Uh oh?" I said, frantically. "What uh oh?"

((Tobias, what's up dude?)) Marco said quickly.

((Guys, bad news,)) Tobias said. ((Jake's parents are surrounded by human controllers around the corner from you guys.))

((I'm on my way,)) Cassie said and I saw her gallop off with Ax on her back, demorphing quickly.

I started to make my way down the beach, but Marco stopped me.

((We'll handle this,)) he said. ((Just stay calm, we'll save them.))

He raced off after Rachel, pretending yet again to be a playful dog after a cat. I started pacing the beach. I looked up. Tobias was gone from the sky. All I could do was pace. I couldn't stand anymore. I started making my way down the beach. Nobody stopped me turn the corner. Nobody even noticed me. But when I turned the corner, I swallowed my heart. My mum was watching, laughing as my dad was being held while a Yeerk slithered through his ear. My friends were doing everything they could, but it was too late. I felt sick. I wanted to throw up. I think I almost did when time stopped.

I looked around me. My friends were fully human and in Ax's case, Andalite, standing around me looking as depressed as I felt. Time had stopped. Time had frozen the image of a Yeerk halfway through to my dad's brain. I wanted to yank that Yeerk away from him, but I knew I couldn't.

"Have you made your decision?" the Ellimist appeared before us once again as an old man. "Have you decided what future you want your friends to go through?"

I stared at him, hatred coursing through my body. I wanted to punch him, to wipe that horrible look off his face. I knew I couldn't.

"Yes," I said, softly, wishing I had something that would numb the throbbing pain coursing through my whole body. I didn't look at my friends. "I've decided."

"What is your decision?"

"Why ask when you already know?" I sneered.

"Your friends need to know," the Ellimist said. "Look at them and tell them."

I swallowed. I couldn't face my friends. I couldn't tell them what I'd chosen. Partly because I blamed them for my parents infestation and partly because I couldn't bare to see their dismay.

I turned around and looked in their faces. Cassie had her eyes locked on mine. Rachel was staring defiantly at me. Tobias, human, had a piercing stare, just like his hawk self. Marco was giving me a silent message, 'I don't blame you'. Ax remained as expressionless as ever.

I took a breath and prepared to speak their fate. "I decline your offer Rachel."

Rachel had a painful expression on her face as though she didn't know if this was a good or bad thing. Cassie never removed her gaze from me. Marco nodded, realising he now had a different job at hand. Trying to keep me sane. Ax remained expressionless. Tobias still had that piercing stare.

"Are you sure?" the Ellimist asked me.

I turned to him. "Yes."

"Have you considered your other options?"

"What other options?" I shouted. I don't think anyone was surprised by my outburst. "Stop playing mind games and tell me."

"You know I can't do that," the Ellimist said calmly. "I understand your situation and therefore you will find yourselves well away from the beach when I return you to your time. You will not remember your decision, Jake, but you and everyone else will remember everything else that has happened. It will be as if you simply gave up after your parents were infested."

"Question," Marco said, almost instantly after he had finished. I could tell he was finding it hard to keep from yelling. "Is everything Cassie explained to us going to work out that way? Is Jake going to be depressed? Is my mum doomed? Is Cassie paranoid? Are Rachel and Tobias on a hateful journey to hell? Is Ax stuck here?"

I could have sworn I saw the Ellimist smile. "You will see," he said, looking right in my eyes. "You will see."

And then he disappeared.