Chapter two

"I don't know how much you know about this new world. I'm sure you've heard stories, but the experience is much different. Much more…intense and realistic." I listened to the words of my seeker, Burning Skies as we walked along. My feet were hurting a bit from the shoes I had chosen. The heels clicked along the tile floor in pattern with my steps.

"Seeker, may I ask what I am needed for?" He looked over and smiled at me.

"Almost every human has been successfully occupied. However, there are still pockets of human resistance that threaten our peace. Your host was part of that resistance." He explained, opening a large white for me. I smiled, an action that was becoming very simple for me, and stepped inside walking over to the small table.

Well duh, did they think we would just give up?

That was wouldn't fight for our freedom?

"You want me to locate her memories I assume?" I asked, taking a seat.

"You assume correctly. From those memories, we hope to locate other rebels. Please understand there is no pressure, anything you can tell us about your host will be extremely helpful." He said with a large smile as he sat down across from me with his hands folded. As silence began to settle in the room I looked down and started to dig through memories. It was rather easy to locate the first few, almost like looking through old files.

"Her name is Rebecca Miller. She was born in Georgia. Her family barely escaped the initial waves of colonization. When her mother was taken by seekers the family packed up and moved to Louisiana. With her mother in the hands of the souls it was only a matter of time. They were spotted, but luckily Rebecca and her brother were not there when the seekers arrived. Her father was found alone. He had taken his life rather than be taken and risk the lives of his children." I stopped, unable to reach any other memory. It was like there was a wall built up to keep me out.

Made sure to build as much as I could last night. It's easy.

I just think hard and then the memories are mine. Still Mine!

You underestimate me. They may be your memories, but it is my brain. I quickly went to work moving through the wall. As if I was moving through fluid, it was slow and time consuming, but ever so slowly I inched my way through. Finally the memories started to come back, they played like a movie through my brain. Pictures of Rebecca dancing and singing with a young man. Short blonde hair, tall, blue eyes. A name? I need a name.

…

"Becca, let's go swimming! Dad said it was fine!" He begged her, already in his swim attire.

"We should stay here with dad. What if something happened?" She said, looking between her brother and their small hut. The memory of her mother still haunting her.

"The pond is covered well enough. Please!" She sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Okay, Ethan."

…

"Ever since that day, Rebecca has been on the run with…'

No! Don't say it! Please, I beg you!

I would get on my hands and knees if I could! Just don't tell him!

"Is she resisting?!" My seeker asked, leaning forward slightly.

Yeah, am I resisting? Tell him all about me!

Tell him what happened last night. Go to your healer!

No, you are trying to distract me. It won't work.

'Ethan. His name is Ethan Miller. They are brother and sister." I finished.

I hate you. I wish I could hurt you.

The seeker nodded and stood, most likely to enter the information into a file. A file that would be used to help locate and try to identify these rebels.

I understand why you are being resistant. You believe that the loss of your free will is too great a sacrifice, but I am only thinking of the common good.

Call it whatever you want to, but this is murder and you know it.

Suddenly the room seemed to get hot as my hands became slick. I wiped them on my tan dress pants, pushing my hair behind my ear.

"Seeker, may I be excused. I'm not feeling very well." He looked to me with a worried glance.

"Perhaps you should see your healer?" I quickly shook my head.

"I am just a bit tired, I have been exploring all day. Perhaps a rest would suit me." I explained which erased the worry from his face and replaced it with an understanding expression.

"Of course. We will continue tomorrow. Do you need me to escort you back?" He asked, following me into the slim hallway. Once again I shook my head.

"I believe I can find my way. Thank you." I bid him goodbye and walked back towards my room. I said hello to everyone that I passed and in return they greeted me as well. As I turned the corner to the long hallway of rooms D-H I noticed someone. Another girl, her shoulder length auburn hair swaying as she walked towards me from the other end of the long corridor. She noticed my presence and suddenly looked up, her blue eyes meeting mine, the silver ring around her pupils reflecting from the lights.

No. It can't be. Oh, Melanie.

I blinked and suddenly the connection was lost. I smiled at her and turned twisting the silver knob on my door and stepping into my room. I leaned up against the door and held my head as the movie of memories started to play. It was as if there was no pause button.

…..

The cool water seemed to catch my ankles as I lowered them into the water. It swirled around my toes in a dance. I could hear my father inside the house listening to whatever radio the world had left. I had stopped listening to the radio when we moved here. I can remember mom…I can remember her listening to the radio always waiting for good news, but there never was any.

"Excuse me?" I jumped and pulled my legs out of the water, standing up. The girl next to me backed up, as unsure of me as I was of her.

"Don't be afraid. I'm human. I live with my brother and my dad just a few houses down. I haven't had neighbors in a while. I saw you move in and I spent a week trying to figure out if you were human." I looked her up and down. Her auburn hair was tied back; her clothes seemed clean, but old enough to know that she hadn't been shopping in a while like me. It was her eyes that made my body relax. Her blue eyes, just her blue eyes stared back at me.

"I'm sorry. It's been a while since I've talked to someone other than my family. I'm Rebecca." I said offering my hand, although it was a bit dirty. We both chuckled as I wiped my hand on my jeans and then offered my hand again.

"I'm Melanie." She said with a smile and we shook our hands. It was as if we were shaking on our friendship, as if we were already agreeing to keep each other safe, to risk our lives for each other, to share our secrets. That one shake ended up meaning everything.

….

We both laughed as my brother lifted Jamie up over his shoulder. We loved to watch them play and I know they loved it when we watched. My brother would always look over as if to check on us, but I knew he was really just making sure Melanie was watching. I could see the way they looked at each other.

"You like my brother." I said, looking over at Melanie. She blushed and shook her head.

"No, I just like the way he plays with Jamie. My brother hasn't had a real friend for a while." She said, but I just laughed and nudged her shoulder.

"Don't lie to me. I see the way you look at him. He likes you too." Melanie smiled and moved a piece of her hair back behind her ear.

"You don't know that." She said stubbornly causing me to roll my eyes.

"He's my brother. I know everything." I said and we both laughed before turning our attention back on the small wrestling match which Jamie was winning by a landslide.

….

I stared at Ethans back as we walked along the swamp. Only minutes ago everything was fine and now our father was dead and we were totally and completely alone. We were headed for a dead tress just down the river. If anything bad were to have happened we were to meet Melanie and Jamie there. The seekers were so close. They were right at our doorstep, which means they were only houses away from Melanie. I only hoped they had made it out alive.

"What if they didn't make it?" I looked up at my brother as he stared up at the sky. I sighed and shook my head.

"They did. I can feel it." I said and put my hand on his shoulder.

"Rebecca!?" Our heads snapped up as Melanie and Jamie came rushing out of the brush. I laughed in relief and ran forward pulling Melanie into my arms. Jamie ran to Ethan almost immediately and found comfort in his arms. I grabbed onto Melanie for dear life as she used me for support.

"What do we do now?" She asked, stray tears running down her face. I swallowed the lump in my throat feeling tears rush down my own face.

"Well, let's get dry you off and get you some real clothes." I said with a laugh as I pulled back, looking at her purple swimsuit. Jamie let go of Ethan and ran over to me and I enveloped him in my arms. That's where he stayed as we began to walk. All of us in a row, all of us now connected through life, all of us now alone. Although we weren't really alone, were we.

…

I could hear Melanie walking around upstairs as she searched for anything we may need. I had already gone through the living room with her and now I was focused on getting as much food as possible into my sack. I had finally closed the refrigerator door when I felt a blade press tightly against my throat. They wrapped their other arm around my waist, pulling me into their chest.

"One sound and you die." The voice was deep and husky. It was a he.

"Do it. I'd rather die." I breathed out waiting for my death. One slice and he would be done, it would be over. I had to warn Melanie! I opened my mouth to call for her. To yell for her to run, but the man flipped me around and pushed me against to refrigerator door. He held me there by my throat and shined a flashlight in my eyes. I cringed at the sudden light, but kept my eyes open.

"That's impossible. You're human." He said and suddenly his lips were on mine. I was taken by surprise at first, not moving, until I pushed away from him and did the only thing that came to mind. I head-butted him, hard.

"Melanie, run!" I shouted before I took off running myself.

"Wait! Stop!" The man yelled behind me. I didn't look back as I pushed myself to run faster, but his legs were longer than mine. I felt him wrap his arms around me before we fell to the ground. I struggled underneath him as he moved.

"Look! Look! Look at me! I'm human. Just like you." He said, shining the light in his own eyes. I looked up at his blue eyes, almost exactly like Melanie's, and noticed how blue they were especially how they were only blue.

"Um, can you please get off?" I asked suddenly becoming very uncomfortable. He nodded and climbed off of me. I pushed myself into a sitting position as we both tried to catch our breath.

"I'm sorry. My name is Jared Howe. I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that I haven't spoken to another human being in two years." He explained.

"I'm guessing you haven't been kisses in while either." I added sarcastically. He chuckled, causing me to give off my own small smile.

"Rebecca. My names Rebecca Miller. I would love to stay and chat, but I've got someone waiting for me." I said pointing back towards the woods. Jared looked at me, shock and…hope written all over his face.

"You're not alone?" He asked.

"It's my older brother and my friends kid brother. They were hungry…'

"And we ran two hours to get here only to receive the scare of a lifetime." We both turned to see Melanie make her way over.

"Well, let me repay you. I can give you a ride." Jared said and pointed to his car. I suddenly had an urge to kiss him again.

"It's faster than running, it's even faster than your running." I smiled and laughed with him ignoring the sideways glance Melanie was giving us.

"Well let's go!" Melanie exclaimed, snapping us out of our trance.

"Right, yeah right." We mumbled and we all grabbed a bag heading for the car.

…..

I bolted awake, reached for my lips. This isn't right, I should not be thinking about his kiss. This is evidence, more memories.

So you're just going to pretend it didn't happen.

That you didn't feel something just now?

I know you did. It's called love and for a long time it was the thing that kept me going.

And now here I am, letting you experience my love.

"You are only making my job harder. I do not need you to be distracting me." I whispered, reaching for my drawing pad. I grabbed a pencil and began sketching anything I could remember.

What are you doing?

Stop, please, stop!

I Said STOP!

My pencil flew across the room with a flick of my wrist. I stared at it in wonder, disbelief, fear.

You should be scared.

You really, really should be.

*Myriad: Many; Numerous

*Whenever someone is talking and I end it with a single quotation; ' ; that usually means the sentence has just been stopped in the middle and will continue shortly. The other half of the sentence will begin with a single quotation; ' ;

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