A/N: I actually think this has been one of my favourite chapters to write (: Hope you enjoy it too!

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

::Cassie::

I was staring at Melissa, heartbeat racing way too fast for its own good. I was still holding onto the porcelain vase on the side-table for dear life, as if the mere action of letting go might make me drown in terror.

"It's a secret!" said Melissa, laughing as she swivelled around with the phone, still speaking to David. "You've got to come over to find out."

Pause.

"You gotta go home and change first?" Melissa frowned slightly.

I quickly mouthed 'no!' and waved my hands for effect.

"Nah, there's no need for that!" said Melissa, winking as she spoke. "It's not like some big, fancy place that– I mean, come on, I'm at Cassie's."

Oh. Wait a minute.

Oh. My. God.

What had I been thinking when I asked Melissa to do this? What was I thinking?

Naive, Cassie. Naive of you to think that you could come up with some big plan to get him out without your presence being mentioned. Great to know you had planned this ALL in advance.

"Yeah! Well, I'm guessing you figured it out?" asked Melissa, excitedly.

I turned away, cold sweat breaking out all over. No.

"Hold on."

No.

"Cassie, he wants to speak to you. I didn't give the game away, I swear, you've got to give him credit for being a good guesser," said Melissa, grinning.

I took the phone with shaking hands.

I didn't even have to open my mouth; my heavy breath prompted him to speak first.

"Oh hi, Cassie." That slimy jerk. "Long time no see."

I had trouble trying to keep it together with Melissa around. "Mm."

Melissa gave me an odd look.

"I've missed you," said the sly voice.

"I haven't," I replied, coldly.

"I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to get me to show myself because I wouldn't have my guard up against Melissa. But you forget that I was the one who gave the package to Melissa. I knew she would find you."

"You addressed it to Rachel."

"Of course I did. But then I found a better way to deal with her."

"What have you done?" I hissed into the phone, turning away from Melissa.

"Ooh, touchy, touchy," said David, sniggering. "Well, I'm just paying back in kind. You know what Rachel did to me, don't you, my dear, kind, sweet, caring Cassie? The Cassie who made me feel like I was no longer alone, that I had a listening ear, that I could live a better life?"

My blood ran cold. "I swear to God I'll–"

"The Cassie who thought she could second-guess everything I did, including getting my parents to The Sharing so that they might get infested with the ruckus they're making. But guess what? I've found them, and your plan is never coming to fruition."

I balled up my hands. It was a good thing that the porcelain vase was now not in reach.

"The Yeerks listen to me, you know," said David, with a soft chuckle. "It's so liberating – this feeling of them actually acknowledging me as one of them, even when I'm going to tear them down bit by bit. And in order to do that, I need to tear all of you down as well. You know I have Rachel and Tobias in hand, and sooner or later, the rest of you will try to save them and you'll be in my hands too."

"What's going on?" demanded Melissa, now extremely irritated by the way things didn't seem to be going to plan. They sure weren't.

"I will get you," I hissed, "and you'll be in our hands!"

"Ooh, I forgot," said David. "You're an out-of-control freak now, Cassie."

I froze.

"But don't worry, I'm just bringing out the feral side of you. You know, the one your conscience tries to keep hidden, but occasionally bursts out when you're dealing with poor little innocent boys like me."

David was far more dangerous than we had expected. Somehow he had been able to manipulate what was within us and could use it to play mind games. I wasn't going to fall into his trap. Never.

"Thanks for doing that," I practically snarled. "I'm coming after you then."

I slammed down the phone, whipped around and saw Melissa standing before me, arms akimbo.

"Care to explain?" She was highly annoyed. "This isn't about Rachel liking David, is it?"

"You know, now is really not the time to–"

"Did you use me to get David over?" Melissa stared at me incredulously.

"Maybe I did," I suddenly snapped. "But right now, you need to get back home and stay there."

Melissa was alarmed. "Whatever for?"

"Trust me, Melissa! Just this once."

"I don't like–"

"David's not who you think he is," I said, angrily. "He's the one making use of you. Do you know what was inside the package he sent Rachel? It's a stuffed rat, and it symbolises something dangerous and cruel and tormenting to Rachel, far worse than any kind of simple phobia in this world!"

Melissa's eyes were wide. "But..."

"Melissa, please. Just go home. Let me deal with David. I'll talk to you – tomorrow or something."

Angry and frightened all at once, Melissa left. I ran to the barn and found Loren in a deep sleep while Ax mumbled something foreign.

Ax carefully got up and headed towards me. "Well?" he whispered.

I was trembling; I had to hold onto his arms for support. "It's worse than we expected. David's a step ahead of us in everything we try to do. The plan to get him emotional about his parents failed because he's actually masquerading as one of them! He seems to be able to wrap them around his finger – God knows how! He knows, Ax, and he's got the upper hand with Rachel and Tobias... oh my God, I don't even know if they're still alive. We have to go and help Jake and Marco... he's going to kill them!"

"Be steady, Cassie," said Ax, calmly. "First of all, can we get Loren to someplace where she will not be easily discovered in the morning?"

I tried to think despite my growing hysteria. "The... the last stable. It's empty and usually locked. It kind of stinks but..."

"It will do. Come on, help me."

We carried Loren into the stable and left her sleeping there, covered with a thick blanket. Once that was done, Ax held onto my shoulders. "Cassie, you must go after Prince Jake and Marco. They definitely need help."

"What about you?"

Ax looked grimly at me. "I believe I may have a lead as to how to put an end to this."

"You do?" I gasped.

"But I cannot do it alone. We must make David agree to end this as well, because he instigated this, otherwise there will be no use."

"But..."

"Cassie, do not let David's words get inside of you."

Tears came to my eyes. "This sucks, Ax. I feel like I can do it now only because I'm so angry and I want to kill him, but it's also because he has done this to me. He's made me feel my anger and –"

"Cassie?" Ax said, gently. "You are not doing this for yourself, or for David. You are doing this because of the rest of us, for the people you love. The people of Earth, your fellow human beings. Deep down inside, you still care. That is something David cannot change. He can make you more aggressive and make you less thoughtful about consequences, but he cannot change the core that is your heart."

A lump came into my throat. "Ax..."

"Go, Cassie. We must hurry."

And as my arms stretched out into the wingspan of an owl, my eyes sharpening to rule the night, I kept repeating in my head,

He cannot change the core that is your heart.

He cannot change the core that is your heart.