A/N: Sorry it took a while to update, I've been kinda low on ideas because of all the school work I'm getting. I hope you like this chapter! To all my End Of Panem readers, I'll be taking down the Author's Note chapter and replacing it with Chapter Seven by Sunday at midnight!
Chapter 2: Emma Ray
Ian and I had collect six bodies, which I hoped all regained consciousness without having to put a soul back in. Most were able to, but there were those few who weren't able to.
"How many this time," Doc asked as Ian, Jared, Kyle, and Brandt carried the bodies in.
"We collected six," I smiled. "Burns and Embers are going to try and get more cots, or the closest thing they can find."
"Good," Doc said. "We could us them."
Doc and Candy releases the souls of two little girls we picked up first. I was scared they wouldn't wake up, but that changed when I realized the little girls had to have been born after the invasion because they were so young. There parents must be worried about them because even souls love their children!
"I made sure they would be sleeping for a while so you can go get something to eat," Doc said smiling at me. "I promise I'll send Candy to get you if they start to wake you while you're gone."
I nodded and walked out of the hospital wing behind Ian. Along the way, I started thinking back to when I got this body and everyone acted so different towards me. It had been almost a month since this body had Pet extracted and she still hadn't returned and claimed her body. I didn't WANT to take this body because she was so young, sixteen turning seventeen, but I couldn't NOT take it and be with Ian. It made me feel bad that I lied to Jamie about my age, saying this body was going to be a year older than it was, but it made it so Ian and I could stay together.
"Want to take a seat and I'll bring you food," Ian smiled when we got to the kitchen. "I can see Jamie's been waiting for you."
"Wanda," I heard Jamie call over.
I smiled and walked over to him. Jamie had been really sweet the last few weeks, probably because he knew that I was feeling more and more exhausted every night. I liked this body, but it was so much weaker than Melanie's.
"After lunch, we need to talk," Ian whispered in my ear when he sat down with out food.
"Secret's don't make friends," Jamie laughed. "Tell me what's up!"
"I'll tell you later," I smiled at him. "You know I can't keep anything from you."
"Eat quick," Candy said walking in. "Doc thinks the girls will be waking up soon."
Ian and I ate as fast as we could without choking. Every time a new person woke up, I felt like I had to be there because sometimes they think humans are bad and souls are good. I talk to them and Ian brings them to Jeb, explaining on the way how life in the cave works.
When we got back to Doc, he was sitting at his desk. I looked at him and he pointed to the girls. I walked over and saw the first one waking up was a little blonde, noticing her stunningly beautiful blue eyes when she opened them.
"Hello," I said gently. "I'm Wanda. What's your name?"
"Emma Ray," She said not looking at me. "Where am I?"
"In the caves," I said trying to explain without scaring her. "Humans and a few souls live here in harmony."
"Souls," She asked.
"Yes," I said. "They go inside you and take over your body."
"My mommy always told me to stay away from those parasites," she said shaking.
"The ones here don't want to hurt you," I said smiling. "They just want to work together with the humans and get rid of the other souls. We bring hosts here and take the souls out, sending them to another far away planet."
"Wait," She said looking at me scared. "That voice in my head, the one who made me not able to move my own body was one of them?!"
"Yes, but you're safe here. No soul will enter your body and control you again. I promise," I said meeting her eyes. "I was in a body with a fighter. When I gave her up to be free, I was supposed to be killed so I could stay here with friends who had passed. My host, Melanie, was terrified when I left her because we had become friends, so she went in search for a new host for me. The soul in this body way taken out, but the human never regained consciousness so they put me in her to keep her body alive. If she becomes conscious again, I'll give her back her body."
"You're one of them," She asked, looking at me with a look of confusion. "That's impossible! You're not like the others I've met!"
"That's because she's gone native," Ian said walking up behind me. "She'd rather help humans than souls. She goes to stores and gets clothing, food and other supplies for us."
"Emma, this is Ian," I said smiling at Ian. "He is going to lead you to Jeb. Jeb owns this cave and will help you find a place to sleep."
"I want to stay with you," She said scared.
"We'll have to talk to Jeb about that," I said helping her off the cot. "He's really nice and will keep you as close to me as he can. The three of us will go talk to him now."
I smiled at her and she smiled back. There was something about this little girl that made me want to be by her side. It had to be maternal instinct because I had never felt like this about anyone else, except Jamie.
I felt bad when we got to Jeb's cave office and I had to leave her. When bodies woke up, they had to go to Jeb so he could talk to them for a while. Once talking, he would know more about them so he could know what room to place them in.
"What's wrong," Ian said stopping me. "And don't try to lie to me. I can see there's something wrong."
"That little girl," I said trying to understand why I was scared for her. "Emma Ray. I don't know. I just feel bad leaving her alone with Jeb."
"You know he's not going to hurt her," Ian said looking at me confused. "I mean you're always the one to calm everyone down and tell them that Jeb wouldn't lay a finger on them."
"I know," I said confused. "I don't know why, I just do."
Ian hugged and picked me up. I wasn't happy about leaving Emma Ray. What was it about that little girl that had me so worried? There was no chance she would get hurt, especially by Jeb! Jeb was the nicest person in the caves!