Lucia's grip on her arrow tightened as she aimed directly for the boy's chest, straight to the heart. Her eyes narrowed as she stared down the host body, prepared to kill the parasite any second. But, she couldn't help but wait till someone told her to shoot. She felt restricted and somewhat guilty.
It could be the way the man was looking at the group with such wild fear and...it seemed relief. Though, there was no way he could be relieved at seeing a group of human fugitives with weapons. Any of those parasites would be scared out of their wits and cringing by now.
But, he just stood there, stone still and looking like a deer in headlights. Lucia could hardly move herself, she was trying her best not to start shaking in shock and anger, mostly at having let that buck get away while she had a perfect shot, meaning another hunting trip and another hungry day.
"What are you waiting for?" Clyde practically screamed from behind her, annoyance clear in his tone. "It's a parasite, go on and shoot." He was insistent and impatient as Lucia considered this for a moment, knowing she should have let the arrow fly moments ago.
But, that same weird resistance held her back and strengthened as the boy turned his strong and intelligent gaze to hers, brilliant blue meeting emerald green. He looked scared and apprehensive, but definitely smart and knowing, a dangerous combination. But, there was just something so human about his gaze that continued to leave her fingers tight around the end of the arrow.
"Move," A deep and angry voice sounded and suddenly she was being nudged roughly out of the way, hardly having the time to righten herself against a tree and narrowly avoiding having the head of the arrow slash her leg open.
Despite Lucia's obvious knowings of how dangerous this man was, she felt protective and wanted to hear him speak before considering killing him. Though, she knew if she were to voice those thoughts the whole group would turn to her like she was some sort of crazed traitor.
Luckily, she didn't have to do anything.
Jasey jumped in front of Clyde who was seconds away from shooting his crossbow straight at the man who looked like he wanted to back away and run, but knew he wouldn't get very far.
"Wait," She cried, hands defensively pushed out in front of her body, protecting herself from the arrow that was now aimed at her.
Clyde rolled his eyes in exasperation, "It's not a human, Jasey, now move." He tried nudging the girl with the bow, but she pushed back hard, her dark eyes blazing in defiance.
"Don't be so quick to jump the gun, Clyde." She started, hands on her hips. Despite the fact that she was much smaller and less intimidating than Clyde, the girl could definitely put on a fierce front when she wanted to, even Lucia was quite surprised to see her act in such a manner.
Jackson had slowly made his way to Lucia's side, placing a warm hand on her upper arm. "Are you alright?" He seemed more confused than concerned, his troubled brown gaze dodging to look at their find who was still glancing back and forth from all four of them.
"Yes, I'm fine." She whispered back, the lie coming very naturally.
Jasey and Clyde were still arguing, Clyde now pointing the bow towards the ground as he swung his free arm up in exasperation. "Like it would give us any sort of information, you've completely lost it." He hissed at Jasey, teeth slightly bared.
"Maybe we should ask him instead of standing here debating like imbeciles." Lucia finally suggested, angry and annoyed from the failed trip and the trouble they now faced if they decided to keep the boy alive.
Everyone of them turned to face him, eyes expectant. He seemed to lay his eyes over all of them, before deciding to speak directly to Lucia, never breaking eye contact. "I'd prefer if you didn't kill me." His voice and tone surprised Lucia, it was deeper than she thought and very calm and even.
Clyde snorted, "Well, obviously, you dumb parasite, but unfortunately for you, this is our planet and not your body, therefore, we don't really have much of a choice." He was already starting to re-aim the crossbow.
"Wait," Jackson hissed at the older man, eyes holding a threat as they glared each other down.
Once Clyde had finally put the bow back down with an annoyed sigh, Lucia looked back to the other boy, curious and confused. "What are you, a Seeker?" She questioned, unable to keep the venom out of her tone as she thought of those horrible Seekers that had stolen her entire family away from her, creating monsters out of them.
He immediately started to shake his head, "No, it's a long story." He seemed to be getting desperate now. "But, if you'd all just take a second and try to believe me." And Lucia could see why he was starting to become this way, he knew that whatever story he was planning to tell they would just analysis it to an extent where it would be almost impossible to believe anything to be truth.
"It's going to sound completely and utterly crazy, but please trust me." He was now looking towards everyone, but his eyes turned especially pleading with Lucia and she realized he was relying on her to really see this whole 'story' out.
"Go on then," Jackson encouraged with a wave of his hand.
The boy sighed before beginning, pulling himself up tall and straight. "My name is Darko, and despite the obvious ring around my eyes, I'm as human as anyone of you. That," He paused, and Lucia quickly realized he was trying to sustain his anger. "That parasite that was in me has died. I don't know how and I don't know why, but I am human."