Hey guys! I just wanted to say thank you for the response that I'm getting to my story. Hearing from you guys and knowing that your enjoying this is a great feeling for me and I'm sure that goes for every single writer out there as well.
A Special Thanks to WideAwake94 for adding this story to her favorites.
Comment Responses
ILoveYourWriting: First I want to say thank you for being the very first review. I'm really glad you like the story and just so you know I'm planning on adding a new chapter within a few days or at least a week of the recent update. If an extended period of time goes by then Its probably due to school or extra activities such as Band and Chorus.
LiveLoveLearn: Both Red Riding Hood 2011 and The Host are on the top of my movie list too! They're such good stories and I love the forbidden romance in them. The fact that you like my OC's makes me really happy because they can be hard to come up with. Maybe (if you wanted to) you could help me out?! Go ahead and make an OC for this story and I'll try to add them in.
8/26/13; Guest: I am a HUGE supporter of Melanie and Jared too, but I thought I would switch things up. It was time for a little Melanie/OC and Jared/OC. You normally don't see that and their love is so great that I understand why, but fresh ideas are always good. Thank you so much for your review and don't worry. I might throw in an unexpected twist here and there just for you.
8/28/13; Guest: Decided it was indeed time for an update :) I hope you like this chapter!
8/29/13; Guest: I am soooo happy that you like it. Lol I don't know if it's the Best Book Ever, but thank you so much for saying that. It makes me feel great and lets me know that I'm doing things right.
Thank You to all My Amazing reviewers and just to everyone who had clicked on my story! Here's the next chapter, see you in a few days!
Chapter three
What you're doing is wrong.
I stared at the drawing of Jared Howe once more before handing it over to my seeker.
And you know it.
"After meeting Jared Howe, Rebecca, Ethan, Melanie and Jamie all stayed with him. They settled in an abandoned place still untouched by our souls." Memories started playing again, but this time they had a pause button. I saw Melanie hanging up laundry in the background; Rebecca handed of a basket of clean laundry to Ethan as she watched Jared and Jamie messing around. She laughed, enjoying herself. Feeling truly happy.
"They could almost forget the invasion happening around them." I said, pressing play on the memories.
…
I stared into the red and orange embers of the flames as I leaned on Jared. For once in my life I felt safe and warm as if the invasion was all a dream.
"You haven't kissed me since that night at the house." I whispered, turning my head to gaze at him. He did the same, looking into my eyes as he used his hand to caress my cheek.
"Becca, you don't have to. We could be the last ones. Even if we were the very last man and woman on this earth you still wouldn't have to." He whispered. We were so close our noses touched. I could feel his breath on my face; I could only imagine his lips against mine.
"But I want to. Jared, when you touch me, it's…I feel…I don't want you to stop." I whispered, grabbing his face and pulling it into mine. Our kiss was passionate, it set my insides on fire and at that moment I realized that I loved him.
"We should get some sleep." He suggested, pulling away from my lips and I instantly missed his warmth. I smiled and looked into his eyes, those deep shining all blue eyes.
"Then sleep with me." I whispered and pulled him back down. Our tongues fought for dominance, Jared being the obvious winner, but I was ok with that. For once I was ok with someone else taking control.
"All I'm saying is that we have time to do this right." I couldn't help, but let out a small laugh as I shook my head. I moved over, straddling his lap as I played with his tousled dirty blonde hair.
"But you don't know that, do you? You don't know if we've got months or days. What if we only had minutes? In an hour seekers could come and take us away. We only have this moment, right now." I said. Jared slowly slid his hands up my legs to my waist where he gripped me for dear life.
"I love you." He whispered. When I heard those words I smiled. For the first time in years I truly, truly smiled out of pure happiness.
"I love you too." I whispered and leaned down to kiss him. That was the moment I knew that I did really love him. It was the kind of love you found in fairy tales, the kind of love mom and dad's described. I had found it in this one man. This man that was mine. That belonged to me.
…
Me and only me.
"Myriad? Myriad? Traveling with the Stars!" I gasped and looked up into the eyes of the seeker.
"Yes Seeker?" I asked regaining my calm.
"You haven't spoken for several minutes." I sighed and went to apologize, but Burning Skies continued.
"They were lovers, I assume. Myriad, these humans are not like the other bodies you have inhabited. They have unusually strong physical drives. You must stay in control of the memories. You will promise me to stay in control." He said looking at me with a stern face, almost alien in characteristic.
"Yes of course seeker." I said with an assuring smile. He nodded and took a seat across from me before sighing.
"Please continue." I nodded and closed my eyes again.
I feel violated. Maybe you could ask this guy to stop wanting to look into my memories.
Please be quite! You're distracting me. I'm only doing my duty, I'm sorry for your inconvenience.
Sure, whatever you say.
"One night while out on a small raid for supplies Jared and Melanie saw seekers nearby. They told the others and they waited for a few days keeping a vigilant eye out for any sign of them. They were not found, but knew it was time to move on. They were headed… I can't see where. A safe place with others.'
I saw a small cabin…in the desert…and there was a man. An elder man, but he was human. I could sense something through the dream. A feeling, a strong emotion.
'Hope. There was hope where they were going. Before the long journey, they spent the night in an old hotel they thought was safe. Jared was out searching for supplies for the trip.'
….
"Melanie, we have to go this way!" I pleaded with her. The seekers were to close the only way out was to just make a run for the door.
"We can't they'll catch us and then what?" She says. They were getting closer, their flashlights searching for humans, searching for us.
"Melanie, please! I can't be separated from you." I tried again. I couldn't let her go, I couldn't. After everything we've been through it just didn't feel right.
"You won't be. We'll make it out and meet at the split in the river. If we're not there then just keep going for the cabin. Don't wait!" I wiped at my eyes and nodded pulling her into my arms.
"See you soon, Mel. Take care." I said and kissed Jamie on the forehead before I headed off. I waited in the hallway impatiently for Ethan who was talking to Mel. I would give them space, they needed it.
"Ready." I looked at Ethan with a small smile.
"Let's drive theses seekers wild." I said with a smile as we ran off through the hallway. The beat of our feet against the hardwood floor would have carried to the seekers by now. It was too late to turn back. Somewhere else the sound of shouting and glass shattering could be heard. I could only pray that Mel was alright and pushed Ethan faster.
"Down there!" I glanced up to the balcony as we burst out of the hotel doors. The seekers had finally laid eyes on us. On their targets and now the real chase had begun. The woods were so close, I could smell the pine.
"Head for the woods!" I shouted. Ethan turned into the field with me right behind him. The tall grass scraped and cut my arms as I pushed it out of my way.
"Becca!" I gasped and looked to my side. He was close. I heard him. He was so, so close!
"Jared?!" I exclaimed, I had made a mistake. My feet got tangled and within seconds I was sprawled across the ground. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the small voice in my head telling me to stay still. To give up the long fight and just rest.
"Becca, Becca get up." The edge on his voice was what made me open my eyes to the night sky. It was as if he was in my head, pushing me on.
"Ethan?!" I frantically shouted for my brother my vision still a bit hazy.
"Becca, come on!" His shadow rushed past me tugging me behind as we ran through the tall grass. My heart beat was almost louder than the thump of my feet landing below me and propelling me forward. I could hear them behind us, getting closer and closer.
"Stop, we don't want to hurt you!" Their shouts carried through the air. Like Hell. All they want to do is cut us open and put an alien inside of us. To get rid of us because we're unhealthy and dangerous.
"This way!" We took a hard right into a cluster of trees. My legs started to burn from the lack of oxygen flowing into my muscles. I could feel the blood start to rush through my veins at an unbearable rate as the first gun shot rang out. I could see my brother ahead of me by the color of his blue long sleeved shirt. His long legs pushing him forward always a couple yards ahead of me, always looking over his shoulder to see if I was still there and the haunting look on his face as the second gunshot rang out. As he watched his sister fall to the ground. The bullet had hit my ankle, I could feel it push through my muscle and hit my bone shattering it. The world seemed to stop as the ground came up to meet me as I pushed my arms forward for protection.
"Becca!" He started for me, he back tracked, but he would die.
"NO, keep going! To the cabin! Just keep going, don't stop!" I shouted at him, I shouted as loud as I could because I wanted him to listen. He stopped, he turned and then his legs began to move, faster and faster until he was running again, but this time he didn't look back. Good. I didn't want him to. Soon his blue shirt was only a blur against the red shade of pain.
"Should we go after the boy?" It felt like ages before there was a reply. I wanted to know, I would die after I knew.
"No, he's just a small boy. We can quickly find him." I wish I could have smiled, I wish I could have been able to pause the pain and open my mouth because for the first time in years I would have said thank you.
…..
I made him go ahead. I didn't even try to go on.
I will do anything to protect the people I love.
Anything.
"There's nothing more now." I said. The further I tried to dig the darker it was. There was truly nothing more.
"I understand. That is all for today, thank you." I nodded and stood, walking out of the room.
Where are we going?
"I'm going to talk to the host of your friend." I said, trying to remember which door she had opened.
No, please don't! I'm not sure I can see her. I can't!
Don't!
"I'm sorry, but it is my wish to speak with her. Perhaps together we can uncover more information for the seekers." I explained feeling the small spike of betrayal.
After everything you've seen. You still want to help them?
I ignored her as I knocked on the room door. At first there was no answer, so I tried once more.
Good. Maybe she's not home.
Suddenly the door opened to reveal her. To reveal Melanie.
"Hello. Can I help you?" She asked with a polite smile.
"Yes, I was wondering if I could speak with you. Perhaps visit the outsides for some fresh air." I suggested. The soul smiled and stepped out of her room, walking with me. I really didn't know where we were going. I just walked with her in silence until we were the only ones outside. I found us in a swampy marsh.
It reminds me of Louisiana. I miss it.
"Excuse me if I'm being rash, but I believe our hosts were once friends." I said.
"Yes I believe they were." She said and looked over at me with her blue eyes and suddenly I was happy because hosts or not I felt like we had kept our promises.
We have. We're together and if Mel's in there she knows it too.
MELANIES POV
She was here. She was actually standing beside me.
Tell her! Please, I don't care if she tells the seekers, please! Tell her I'm in here!
I turned to Rebecca and looked into her eyes. I opened my mouth to speak, but I just couldn't. The words wouldn't form, they wouldn't come out.
Please.
"She's in here. Melanie's in here and she wants you to know that." It all came slipping out of my mouth. The other host….Rebecca looked over at me in awe, in joy.
"Rebecca says she's missed you."
Oh God! She's in there too. I love her, I've missed her! Tell her I've missed her!
Hug her; please just let me hug my sister!
The tears were uncontrollable as I turned and wrapped her in my arms. I expected to be pushed away, but I wasn't. Instead she embraced me and I knew we were truly together again.
Oh great, look who's here.
We let go of each other quickly as the seeker approached.
"What a pleasant surprise Seeker. Did you follow me?" I asked kindly, still looking over at Becca.
"Only in case you needed me." She said and then turned to Becca.
"Your seeker asked me to look for you. Of course he is worried, but he is busy at the moment." Becca smiled and nodded.
"Of course. I will check in on him." She said. It was almost as if I could sense the smile on Melanie's voice as she spoke to me.
She's lying. I can tell.
"What bring you two here?" She asked as we walked along the road.
"We thought a change of scenery might help." I said quickly as I shared a smile with Becca.
"Wanderer, it's been a week since you've had new information." The seeker said looking between Becca and I.
"Actually we were getting together for exactly that. You see our hosts were once friends." She told the Seeker. She seemed pleased and left the subject at that.
"I do have some good news. Your identification of Jared Howe has helped. There was a sighting. I am confident we will find him." There was no time pause to Becca's reaction.
"NO!" She screamed turning on the seeker. I gasped and tried to pull her off, but it did not work. In seconds she was on the ground unconscious.
"I am sorry seeker. I do not know what came over her." I lied, feeling my own guilt build up.
I know! We both know. Poor Becca.