The Host: Leverage Style

[zee_zeemagee]

 

There was a trailer. It was in the middle of some field in Montana. Winter had fallen on the land. There was snow for miles. Their closest neighbors weren’t for hundreds of miles. Bonnie was free to play in the snow as often as she liked, with no worries for the impending danger. She was free and Hardison and Parker enjoyed every minute of it.

They were currently making a snowman together. Hardison was building its head, fending off Parker’s many snowballs. Bonnie was making snow angels in the difference, making small detours to question the hacker if the snowman was ready to decorate.

“This would be a whole lot quicker if you guys actually helped me,” Hardison joked.

Parker hit him with a snowball in the back of his head.

“That’s what you’re here for,” she said, “Bonnie’s making angels to protect us and you make the snowman. That way we can decorate it when you’re finished.”

“And what praytell,” the hacker asked, “Are you supposed to be doing?”

“Hitting you with snowballs and being unbearably attractive,” Parker winked. She then punctuated her tale with a snowball to his chest.

Needless to say the hacker immediately dropped everything and declared war. He tackled the thief to the ground, gently so as not to harm her. She giggled and screamed and begged for Bonnie’s help. The child merely assisted the hacker in his goal. Together the two covered the blonde in so much snow her jacket was filled with it.

“Traitor,” Parker called when the giggles had subsided.

“Uncle Hardison’s my favorite,” Bonnie replied.

“Uncle Hardison is in quite a bit of trouble,” Parker said, “He should beg for mercy at my feet.”

“How about I warm you up with a nice cup of hot cocoa?” He proposed, “I’m sure that will warm that frosty heart you’ve got under there.”

“Hmm,” Parker grinned, “I am in the mood for some chocolate.”

Bonnie was oblivious to the way the two were gazing at each other. Even I am not quite sure what their smiling faces were about. I can taste the hot chocolate on the thief’s tongue. I can even see the marshmallows that decorated every ounce of her cup. Bonnie preferred whipped cream. For some reason, I know that too now.

“Come on,” Hardison called, “Let’s go inside. It’s warmer there.”

“You can warm me up anytime,” Parker agreed.

She then shook off the snow and presented her hand. The hacker picked up on her cue immediately. Together they took Bonnie inside. They were gazing at each other as the child talked. There wasn’t a moment where her babbling chatter didn’t bring a smile to their faces. She even whooped in joy when she got to assist in making the cocoa.

“More whipped cream, please,” Bonnie said.

“Baby girl you’ve already had two whole servings.” Hardison said this even as he poured more on her mug. He never could deny her anything when she asked. “Where do you put it all?”

“Daddy says mommy loved whipped cream,” Bonnie chimed, “I love it too.”

An image appeared on the hacker’s face. I do not know how to properly describe it. I only know that it was beyond sadness, beyond grief. I feel Parker’s hands still at the child’s comments. She was unaware of the effect she had on the adults. Bonnie just kept babbling on about her mother with the greatest of affection. She had no idea how much she looked like her mother.

Wait! I don’t even know her mother. Why can’t I find her in my mind?

The memory fades away.

%%%%%

The escape is relatively easy. Parker is even disappointed by it. The most exciting part was getting out of the building. She stored up all of her energy just to jump out the glass window. We fell six feet into a pool. I didn’t even see the body of water, but she did. We swam out of it without any complications. No guards came our way. We out on the street in moments flat.

Ooh, there’s a car, Parker screams, I’ll teach you how to steal it.

“No,” I reply, “If we’re going to do this, at least let me have a say.”

I step up in front of the first moving car I see. It is long and black. The windows are big and perfect for visibility. Parker tries to take over when it gets to close, but she’s not strong enough. Her early stunts are still too much for her. I smile when the car stops right before it hits us.

The old man who owns the car steps out in wonder.

“Can I help you?” He asks.

“Yes,” I say walking towards him deliberately, “I need to commandeer your vehicle.”

“Of course,” the old man says, “Be careful of the transmission. It likes to stick. But I just filled up on gas and the air conditioning works beautifully.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“Don’t forget to buckle up!” The old man shouts as I put my foot on the gas.

I do as he says if only because it’s a wise thing to do. Parker complains the entire way. She doesn’t understand. Our kind, we don’t lie to each other. We have no reason to. We do not enjoy actively interfering with the worlds we inhabit. We only wish to witness and be a part of it.

And take over innocent people who would rather die than have you steal them, Parker says.

I ignore her only because I do not recognize these emotions. She doesn’t seem to either. I can feel her curiosity peeling away at my brain. She wants to learn more about me, about my world. She doesn’t understand how I can belong to so many. But she does know how feels not to have a home.

Where we’re going, Parker says. They’re my home.

I hit the break harder than I should have. I am only just now aware of where we are going. There is desert all around us. Plants are far and few between. Wildlife is scarce. I can’t even see any signs of water. But there are mountains to the west on our right. That is where she wants to go too. That’s where the others are.

“You want to go there,” I say. The shock of it still surprises me.

Yes, Parker says. I promised Bonnie I would come back for her. I have to keep my promise. She needs me. They all do.

“That’s why you attacked her,” I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner, “They’re your home. They mean everything to you. Even your own life.”

Yes, Parker says, and they’ll mean as much to you too. If you let them.

“Parker I’m not like you.” I feel I have to remind her, “I’m one of them! I’m the enemy. Parker, don’t you see? They’re going to shoot us as soon as they see my eyes.”

No, they won’t. Parker argued, You’ve got something the others didn’t.

“What?” I ask, doubt thick in my voice.

Me, she replies.

%%%%%

Hardison ran ahead of her. Bonnie was tight to her side. The child learned to be quiet years ago. A pang of guilt ran up and down the thief’s spine. Bonnie had very little occasions to be as noisy as she wished. She was born after the invasion began. She never knew Earth before it. She never knew her own mother.

Stop thinking, Parker chided herself.

They were running through a hotel. It was the one they were in before. This is the memory right before I came into the picture. The shortness of breath and the clothes on all of their backs confirms it. The orange backpack is now infused in my head just as it had been in hers.

They turned right as one unit. There was no diverging of paths. They were even running in perfect harmony. Their arms pumped as a steam train’s would. Their feet barely even touched the floor. It was almost as though they were flying. Parker loved flying. It used to make her feel free.

They stopped at a desk, the same one Bonnie hid under. Hardison pulled out a map while Parker looked all around for danger. The Seekers were still close by. They were certain of it. Bonnie even clung tighter to Parker’s pant legs because of it.

“We need food,” Hardison said, “It’s faster if one of us goes alone.”

“I’ll go,” Parker volunteered automatically as if on autopilot, “I’m the fastest of us.”

“You’re also the strongest,” the hacker replied. “What if the Seekers get here? You have to factor Bonnie in.”

“I’m strong,” Bonnie cried, “I can take care of myself. They won’t snatch me.”

Parker smiled despite herself. They had recently let the child watch the original version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Bonnie had caught on quickly to why they did that. Her blue eyes absorbed everything so quickly. She knew immediately that the Seekers were invaders from another world. She even knew how to tell the difference and that was an advantage she would use when she was older. They all taught her how to do that.

“She’s got a better chance with you,” Hardison said.

Parker wanted to argue with him. I can feel the bitter words on the tip of her tongue. They still taste sour after all this time. But she nodded her head and let him go. She even gave him a kiss to confirm he would return. Then she waited. Her fate was sealed from that moment on.

%%%%%

We abandon the car by an old, abandoned warehouse. We would have left it by the house down the road but warehouse have a special meaning to the thief. She told me to call her that. Her team would sometimes refer to her as that. She says it was a nickname, a sign of affection. I call her that because it works better than simply calling her She.

The first two hours are a blur of motion. The sun’s heat is bearable. I hold the one bottle of water we have close to my chest. Parker tells me not to drink it yet, that we will need it later on. I try my best to obey her. The thief traveled around the world, experienced this desert before. She knows this body better than I do. If she says it can make it, it can make it.

I give in way too soon. She tells me this multiple times throughout the four hours we’ve been walking. I ignore her and take another sip. The water is just as hot as everything else. We won’t make it. There isn’t a town for miles. We haven’t found water yet. We’ll be dead soon. Still, there is just one more sip of water left. I lift it to my mouth to drink it up.

No, Parker says, We need that for later. Don’t waste it.

“We need it now,” I reply.

She tries to stop our hand from lifting up but I’m still in control. So instead she moans and complains as we make it hour five through the desert.  I think she hates me now. My throat burns, the heat bearing down on us even hotter than before. I at least understand why it was such a bad idea. But my body begs for water and I can no longer deny it.

“It’s getting hotter,” I complain.

That’s why we needed to save the water, Parker growls. Congratulations. You just killed us.

I ignore her and keep on walking.

%%%%%

I do not remember what happened next. I only remember hearing a quiet sound in the distance. It sounded as though somebody shouted from afar. I could almost feel somebody’s hands on top of me. It makes me shudder. My hands lift to push the person away. It is far too hot. I just want to sleep and be at peace.

“Drink,” a voice whispers.

I can’t place the voice but something cool begins to pour into my mouth. Parker immediately takes advantage. She grabs the water and starts drinking. The coolness soothes my aching throat. I am thankful to whomever this person could be. They have saved us.

“Slowly,” the voice says. Male. It is definitely a man’s voice I hear. “You don’t want to make yourself sick.”

I like this man. His voice is soothing and kind. He’s not nearly as angry as humans were rumored to be. I feel his rough hands on my shoulder. He’s massaging it slowly, taking out the stressful kinks my mistake gave. I can feel myself becoming more aware with every gulp I have.

“Nate!” Parker calls. I am so joyful I don’t even mind her taking over. “Nate, you’ve found us!”

“Us?” Nate asks.

I ignore him and drink on happily. I feel like a savage beast the way I keep sipping away. I can see the comparisons to cows in Parker’s mind. I shoot her a dirty thought. It is not my fault I am not prepared for this world. She was raised on it. She has the advantage.

“Nate, I…” Parker begins.

“What’s this?”

I recognize that voice. I cannot place it but I know that voice. I can feel Parker’s thoughts go blank. Her heart is pacing. She is scared. Why is she so scared? What does she know that I do not? Why does this voice scare her more than the other’s?

“Eliot,” Nate says.

I turn my head. I do not know what I am expecting but this is not it. The man before me is a tower beanpole. His hair is dark. He wears clothing better suited for non-desert terrain. He carries several canteens on his shoulders. Only one weapon is in his arms. A shotgun used for hunting, Parker’s thoughts supply.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Eliot says.

He isn’t the slender tall man before. Eliot is short and burly. He has so many muscles and actually looks natural in this world. He wears no shirt. His body glistens in the sun. His hair is long, held back in a ponytail. His face is contorted into anger. He’s staring at me as if I am the enemy. I do not see why. I brought Parker to them after all.

You almost killed us too, Parker snorts.

“Eliot,” Nate repeats himself. His voice sounds more alarmed now. That worries me.

“You see her eyes,” Eliot growls, “Shoot it.”

“I’m not doing that,” Nate hisses.

“Fine,” Eliot replies, “I will.”

I don’t even have time to react. A gun is facing me straight on. All of my thoughts are nothing but scrambled messages. I can hear Parker whispering for me to move, but I cannot. I have never faced such a violent death before. I cannot convince my heart to make everything move. Or perhaps it is my brain that refuses to listen to reason. Either way I am glued, afraid to die. Then a giant shadow appears before me and I am safe.

“Out of the way, Nate,” Eliot says.

“No,” Nate replies, “You’re not killing Parker.”

“That’s not Parker anymore.”

This voice I recognize too. Again I have no idea where from. But this voice is different from the others. It is higher. She is a female. I can barely make out her blonde hair flying in the wind. So little wind but it does make a difference. I can feel my sweat cooling at its tender touch. Then it is gone and so is my protection.

“Maggie,” Nate says.

“No, Nate,” Maggie replies, “You can’t take that thing back with us. You’ll kill us all.”

“They don’t usually send one out on a scouting mission,” Nate growls, “We’ll be fine.”

Maggie comes out of nowhere. I hear a sound, something that seems to be a twig snapping against skin. Then I am met with blue eyes like mine. Only they aren’t like mine. They are darker, more human. I can see tears thick in them. The woman behind those eyes is staring at me as though I am the most vicious monster she’s ever seen. I feel guilty despite the fact that I have done nothing wrong.

“You deserve to die for what you’ve done,” she says.

“Maggie please,” I hear myself say. I don’t why Parker has such power here. But I allow her to speak. She’s the only one who can save our lives.

I feel a great pain develop on my face. Tears spring to my eyes as the pain only intensifies from the heat. It made that same sound, the twig sound. That is what a slap sounds like. A giant hot mess is the feeling you get in its wake. My tongue hurts. My teeth feel rattled. I want to whimper and crawl away. They only want me dead. They don’t care if Parker’s here. They only want me gone.

“Maggie,” Nate growls.

He is my protector. He stands like a shield between me and the ones who wish me harm. Other voices start to protest as he picks me up. He silences them with a cool glare. Then he turns towards Maggie and Eliot. I can feel the heat of his embrace and it pains me to be so near. But he is the only safety I have. I will gladly swallow the whimper if it means my salvation.

“She is my guest,” Nate says loud enough for everyone to hear, “and since I own the mountains we follow my rules.”

“Your emotions are currently skewing your view,” Eliot begins.

“If you don’t like it, Eliot you can leave,” Nate hisses.

If wince at the sting of his words. The strong, muscle man even looks as though he is considering them. I can only assume by the nod on his head that he accepts Nate’s plea. Because he takes Maggie’s hand and they start walking at the front of the line. I begin to follow them unsure if I have been initiated as one of them or not. A slight tug makes me doubt everything.

“Sorry,” Nate says. He stands in front of me with a black cloth in his hands. “But I can’t take the chance that they’ve finally gotten smart. I’m going to have to bind you and blind you.”

I nod my head and close my eyes. The darkness isn’t as painful as I thought it would be. Then I realize he didn’t take out my eyes. I feel a tight cloth on my arms. I have to fight the smile tugging on my lips. Parker is jabbering away in my ear.

He used a slip knot, she says, I can get us out of here in a jiffy.

I beg her not to. I want their trust. Cooperating is the only thing I have at the moment.