Eight

"No, I'm not leaving."

"I told you I have it covered."

"But, how am I supposed to trust you not to harm him?"

"Wha-What are you even talking about?"

Lucia could hear two voices arguing as her and Jackson made their way down the dimly lit tunnel. She quickened her pace as their voices began to raise.

Turning the corner, she saw Haven, one of the teenage boys in their group, and Jasey both becoming aggravated and angry. Haven had his back to the storage room door, eyes narrowed at Jasey who stood across from him with her arms crossed over her chest and mouth down in a frown.

"Jasey, you seriously just need to go." Haven repeated, and Lucia could tell the younger boy was about to lose his temper.

"What's going on?" She finally spoke up, approaching them with confidence, head high and shoulders broadened. Jackson stood behind her, glancing at the two younger ones with confusion.

Haven turned to Lucia with a look of exasperation. "She won't leave. Tom and Kevin both told me that I was fine guarding the door alone, especially because Clyde is on outside watch. But, she-" He accusingly pointed his finger at Jasey. "won't leave because she has some weird obsession with this guy." He finished, slightly glaring at Jasey who was rolling her eyes.

"I don't have an obsession." She argued, turning to Lucia.

"Then why are you still here?" Jackson questioned behind Lucia and Lucia could hear the thick exasperation in his tone.

"Because, you know, in case something happens." Jasey pathetically tried to say, looking down at the ground as all three of them raised their eyebrows at her.

Lucia sighed, "Jasey, Maggie probably needs help in the kitchen, why don't you go there?" She suggested, ignoring the way the girl turned from hopeful to annoyed.

"You guys always team up on me and treat me like a child." She pouted, but began moving away from the door.

Lucia quickly stepped forward and grabbed her arm before she could leave. "Jasey," She began quietly. "This is not some glorified romance for you to live out. This is serious and we don't even know if he's safe. I know this place is hell and the earth is under attack, but this is not some fictional story that you can make into a love story. Okay?" She got out, never break eye contact with the doe-eyed girl.

Jasey pulled her arm away, frowning, "Whatever," She muttered, before quickly turning and walking away with purpose.

They all watched her retreating figure for a moment, before Lucia sighed and turned to Haven. "How long has he been in there?" She asked, noticing the way Haven looked worn out and tired that it must have a been awhile.

"Probably six hours, I've been on watch the whole time." He explained, obviously trying not to look frustrated.

"Well, I'm going to go talk to him. I need some answers." She told Haven, trying to be as vague as possible.

Haven's eyebrows furrowed a little bit in curiosity, but he didn't ask any questions.

Lucia then turned to Jackson. "Could you watch the door for me while Haven goes to relax for a bit?" She asked, and, of course, Jackson nodded his head, agreeing easily.

"So, you can go for a bit. I'll come get you when we're done. But, try to eat and maybe lay down for a little bit, okay?" She suggested, patting his shoulder in a caring way.

Haven gave her a little smile, "Thanks, Luc. Just lemme know when you're done." He thanked and began walking away, his shoulders slumping a bit.

She turned back to Jackson, his eyes softened as soon as Haven left and he was looking concerned. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked, resting his rough hand on her shoulder.

Lucia nodded, "I need to." She replied and he accepted that, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face before stepping back and opening the door to the storage room.

Lucia entered, glad to find the battery-operated light already on so she didn't have to stumble around and find it.

She glanced back and nodded at Jackson once before he shut the door behind her. She didn't miss the sad look in his eyes before he closed it.

She felt cold in the storage room. It was the biggest room they had and it was filled with make-shift shelves that held many items, from food to old boxes. If you ever needed something, you'd more than likely find it in there.

"Darko?" She called out carefully, trying to pinpoint where the boy would be.

"Back here," She heard a voice say from where they usually kept the extra pots and pans. She started to walk over, carefully peeking between the shelves to see him sitting on the dirt ground.

The boy looked completely exhausted. Now taking a closer look, Lucia could tell he had huge, dark rings under his eyes, his skin was color-less, face gaunt, and overall looking just tired.

"Are you okay?" She asked, eyebrows furrowing and wondering why they didn't get him a pillow and blanket, or at least something to eat.

"Somewhat," He answered, glancing up at her and she felt a shiver go down her spine as she made eye contact, unable to get over the unnerving look of that silver ring.

He must of noticed her discomfort because he quickly glanced back down, "Sorry, I always forget I sort of look alien to everyone. Although, it's been kind of hard to not make eye contact with people, but expect them to believe you're telling the truth." He then looked back up at her. "What do you think is better? Do I look them in the eyes when I talk to them or not? Because, I'm completely lost on what to do."

Darko's little rant threw her off a bit, and she had to sort her thoughts for a moment, biting her lip as she did so.

After a moment, she responded. "I'd look them in the eyes. If you're looking down they'll assume you're scared and lying. It's better if you show them you're not afraid of that ring in your eye." She responded and he nodded thoughtfully.

After a second of silence, Lucia sat down on the dirt ground, crossing her legs and facing him. "I came here to talk to you about some things."

Darko smirked at that, confusing her. "Well, damn, I was hoping you were coming for my wonderful company and great jokes."

She almost smiled at that, almost. "You sure you're okay?" She asked again, more concerned because he was acting so differently.

He just shrugged, "I haven't' eaten in days and I've hardly slept. I guess it's just getting to me. Especially after I was just questioned for two hours." He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face in a tired way.

"Hang on," She began, hopping up and walking a couple feet away to find the shelf she was looking for.

It only took her a second to find the non-perishable foods, she reached out and randomly selected a jar of preserved peaches. She quickly headed back over to Darko, yanking an extra, worn-down pillow and bottle of water on her way.

"Here," She said, giving him the items. He glanced a bit oddly at the pillow. "Thought your back might hurt, the walls, nor floor, are really that comfortable." She explained, sitting back down and facing him again.

Darko looked surprised at her kindness. "And to think you were debating killing me a few hours ago." He commented. "But, seriously, thank you." Darko added on, his eyes so sincere.

She rolled her eyes. "You know, I wouldn't have done it either way." She spoke, keeping her voice soft and gazing down at her hands.

"What do you mean?" He asked, and she glanced back up to see him staring at her with confusion again.

"I've only had to shoot a human twice and I don't think I could ever do it again. Ever." Lucia explained, shaking her head as the memories tried to flood in.

"Anyways," She spoke again, looking back up and finding him already opening the water and beginning to down it. "I have questions."

Darko took a break from drinking, "So do I." He said, looking hopeful, probably hoping that she'll offer to answer them.

Lucia sighed, "Okay, I'll make you a deal, we each get to ask each other questions and we'll go back and forth. Okay?"

He nodded eagerly as this, gesturing for her to go first as he opened the jar of peaches.

"Well, what exactly happened to you?" She begun, thinking it'd be best to get the big story out of the way.

Darko was quickly chewing, holding up a finger to tell her to wait a moment. Once he finally swallowed, he started talking, voice deep and eyes distant.

"Well, when the invasion began, I was seventeen and just finishing high school. My parents were rich, both doctors, and I was an only child. But, one day when I got home from school, they were both gone and they never came home. I finally went to the hospital that night and I found both of them to be different. They were part of the first wave to be changed." He paused as if this was painful and Lucia could see that it was.

"I ran, I ran as far as I could. I stole the car and just drove for miles. But," He sighed, "they caught up with me, knowing that I'd spread the word and warn everyone. So, they changed me. I was stuck with that thing in my head for years. The alien was never happy, though, he didn't like this world, didn't like being human and all the emotions. So, when I got home to my apartment one day, he finally snapped. Lucia," Darko spoke, now looking at her with such intense emotion. "It was like he committed suicide. This thing just didn't want to live anymore. He had seen and experienced too much and this was it for him. So, I felt this splattering in my neck, passed completely out, and woke back up to find that I had complete control over my body and thoughts again. I ran away then, knowing they'd realize something happened, sooner or later. And, well, you know the rest."

Lucia and Dark both sat in silence for a little while as all that sunk in. Lucia was in shock for a bit, finding herself completely believing his story, because, honestly, who could make that up?

"Wait, Darko, you said you felt a splattering in your neck?" She asked, suddenly anxious as she remembered something.

He nodded, raising his eyebrows in confusion.

"Can you turn around real quick?" She asked quickly, moving closer and gesturing for him to expose his neck.

He did as she asked, looking down so his neck was fully exposed. She leaned over, careful not to be in the way of the light, and begun looking closely at the skin. She tried to ignore the scars that were peeking over the collar of his shirt, instead trying to look for something underneath the skin.

And, after a minute, she found something. But, the lightning wasn't enough, and she let out a frustrated noise, reaching behind her in search of a spare flashlight.

Her hands finally found one and she quickly flicked it on, making it shine directly onto Darko's skin.

She let out a small gasp as she found what she had been looking for.

Underneath the skin on the back of his neck was something glittering, something splattered from one side to the other. She recognized it immediately and had to sit back for a moment, hand going to her open mouth in shock.

"You're telling the truth." She let out, letting everything sink in.

Darko slowly turned back around, looking at her anxiously. "Have been, how did you just find out?"He asked.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "You know how I said I only shot two people before?" She asked him and got a quick nod in response. "Well, both those people had parasites in them and when I went to inspect the bodies, the neck was always splattered with this weird, silvery, white color. I guess I now know what is was." Lucia explained, still in shock.

"So, that thing really did commit suicide?" Darko confirmed and Lucia nodded.

"Yes, Darko. That thing is long dead and you're 100 percent human."