~The Host~

Does No Really Mean No?

~Jef's pov~

"Jef! We just talked about this! I can't risk loosing you!"

Damian's frustrated tone hardly fazed me. I held his stare, as if we were middle schoolers having a staring contest.

His icy blue eye lay behind his glasses... He had lovely eyes.

I could tell he was trying not to get angry with me, or the suggestion I just made. But it seemed like such a great idea!

If he would just listen, we may be able to get medical supplies! We both know that it is desperately needed...

"But-" I started, and it didn't surprise me when he cut me off, as the others watched awkwardly.

"Jef. No. We are not going to raid that warehouse. Raiding this gas station is already risky, and that place is abandoned. We don't know how many of those things are crawling around out there!"

He's talking about the parasites... Ever since they arrived, life has been miserable. One small raid after another to avoid getting captured. All to support the small group of remaining humans that live with us. The parasites multiply by catching normal human, cutting into the side of their neck, and placing one of their own inside the wound before stitching it back up. Once that happens, the once-human turned parasite's eye turn a pure, reflective blue, like ice. Not like Damian's! But more like, they don't have eye whites...

He doesn't think I can handle myself, and doesn't want that to happen to me. And that is why our whole group has stalled out in the tree line, just before a former highway.

"Damian! I'm sure we can do this! Winter is approaching fast, and we need medicine!"

He sighed, and turn away from me, looking out across the road at the abandoned gas station.

"Jef. I'm doing this because I care about you. I order the group to stay as far away from that god forsaken warehouse as possible."

Everyone nodded at him. Toby and Tommy were both grinning, as it was their first mission together. They normally had to do chores at the base because they weren't considered old enough for this kind of stuff. Needless to say, both of them were pretty excited. Damian is going to have to keep an eye on them... We can't afford to draw attention to ourselves. 

With that, Damian signaled and all of us took off, running out of the trees and to the station. 

Out of all of us, Tommy was the slowest, but he didn't fall too far behind, as Damian brought up the rear of our group.

Toby reached the building first, and kicked through the glass door after realizing that it was locked. Damian glared at him in a disapproving manner as we all let ourselves inside.

 Clay and Sap immediately rushed over to the area of the station with first aid kits, checking their expiration dates, and putting some of them into their bags, along with canned food, and other resources that would be useful.

On the other hand, Tommy and Toby wandered over to the fridge section. The power had long-since been deactivated, but the two of them stilled drifted towards the sodas. Damian reluctantly followed them

I was left outside, on watch duty. Phil was better at this than me, but he was busy today, watching over some of the young kids. Today was not a good watching day for me, because my eyes constantly drifted back into the woods.

Now, I may not be the fastest, as Clay managed to clock in at sixteen miles per hour in our speed testing last week. Needless to say, he won the sprint race. 

I'm still slightly faster than Toby, and I can consistently run at seven miles an hour, for about ten minutes before I just collapse. Still, not as fast as Clay... But the warehouse is just a mile away...

So... eight and a half minutes..?

I look back at everyone. They were still in the heat of collecting relevant items...

After a moment, I turn back to the road.

I know my place, and my mind is made up.

~Author's note~

I have started another story! :D

For the record, this story has no alinement to any other stories I have written. It's just a fun, sci-fi, story about aliens and an apocalypse. I have so many of these in my writing tab.

I hope you all enjoy.

Make sure to stay hydrated!