KELLYS POV
My first day at my new school. I should be feeling terrified, and maybe a little excited. Instead, I felt nothing. Not while this yeerk scum stayed wrapped around my brain. I used to fight it. I used to scream and fight and threaten. Then I just cried. I cried in my mind, because of course no tears would fall from my eyes unless Talf willed it. I cried by night, and by day just screamed in despair. It's been a month…only a month, and I've already given up. Sure, sometimes I play out little dreams that Talf-three-seven-four would be ripped from my ear and be thrown on the ground. That I would then tower over him and watch him writhe and squirm, helpless to do anything. But the yeerk in my head would just sneer at that, and my hope would fade away. Sometimes I just wish my life would end. It can be heart-wrenching to see my own mum, in the same position as myself, standing right infront of me, and not be able to talk to her. I long to reach out and tell her I love her. It hurts me to know that she's suffering. You try living that for a month and see how much hope you can still muster up. Talf knows I am weak. If I try to defy him and regain control, Talf would see to that. He calls it bargaining. I call it blackmail. He promises to track down the few people I have left that aren't taken, and force them to live this nightmare that I am in. I have learnt a lot while he has been in my head. For instance, he is forever brooding over "the andalite bandits". He hates them because they are stopping him from completing his mission – to find my cousin, David, and the blue box. He will do anything to find it. Which brings us back to starting at my new school – David's old school. His job is to find any relevant information that will lead him to David.
Are you done wallowing in self-pity? Talf's voice sneered. We have work to do.
You have work to do. I corrected coldly. I have nothing to do with this. Talf said nothing to that, but instead moved my eyes around, looking at my new school. It was huge. We started walking down a path. Do you even know where you're going? I knew the answer of course, I just enjoyed frustrating him.
Of course! Talf snapped, but hesitated. The sound of someone walking towards us came to my ears. A tall blond girl was came around the corner with a piece of paper in her hand. She must be delivering a note. "Hi." The yeerk made my voice chirpy and carefree. "My name's Kelly. I'm new here."
The girl smiled. "I'm Rachel. Let me guess, you're lost right?"
"Yeah." Talf pulled a few strings and made my mouth grin sheepishly. "I've never been great at finding my way around."
"That's okay." Rachel said. "This school is a maze, but you'll get used to it. I'm on my way to the office, you can come with me if you'd like." Talf made my head nod gratefully. Soon Rachel had led us to a small building. A lady in about her mid 30's sat behind a chipped wooden desk, typing away with blank eyes. We walked in and stopped infront of the desk. The strange lady didn't seem to notice us. Rachel coughed. She looked up, startled. "Yes?" she asked, quickly recovering. "Oh, you must be the new student we were expecting." I nodded. The lady smiled and introduced herself as Mrs. Johnson. "There we go!" she exclaimed while tapping away at her keyboard. "Well Kelly, you can start your classes right away." Rachel twisted a face at me as if saying, Oh yeah, lucky you, time for learning! Talf made my own face smile in return. "You have the same last name as a past student." Mrs. Johnson said, never stopping the tapping at her keyboard. I started to wonder if she was actually using the computer. "Are you related to a boy named David?"
"Yes." I replied, watching her carefully. "He's my cousin." Mrs. Johnson just smiled pleasantly and nodded. "Do you want something dear?" Talf followed Mrs. Johnson's gaze to Rachel. I could feel his suspicion grow. Rachel was gaping at me, extremely pale. She blinked and looked at Mrs. Johnson. "Um, yes…" she replied distractedly. "I have a message." She handed the piece of paper over. "You ought to see the nurse dear." The concerned office lady said to Rachel. "Your face is very pale." Rachel didn't answer. Instead she darted another look at me before walking quickly out. Now I could feel Talf's excitement. We must keep an eye on her. He was saying to himself slowly. A very close eye…