~The Host~

Different

~???~

I run my new hand over the ragged scar on the back of my neck. The incision that brought me here.

I have been holding off on joining this colony until they could get an adult body for me. Or, at least, one in its late teen years.

They tried to convince me to take a child, because they had a lot of those, but I wanted a challenge... And I didn't want to wait a decade before starting my job.

This body was good... Not very strong, but very fast. That's all that's really needed for hunting after all.

Still... I don't know how resilient this one will be. The doctors worked tirelessly to salvage the remains. Said it tried to kill itself... poor thing. Rather die than be captured? I must admit, I respect it.

Alas, it didn't get him as far as he had hoped.

I must admit though, the new body felt weird.

Weirdly flexible... but much more fragile. I guess spending the last few years of my life as a golem on a different plant has had an influence on my norm...

The first few days after the switch are always the hardest.

Adopting new languages and norms is also tricky though... For now, I walk over to a mirror to study myself, running my hands over my new, fully-functional body, just trying to get a feel for my muscle tonicity.

... W-Where am I..?  A voice sharply rang through my head. 

Our head.

A head that I had stolen from this poor, pathetic creature.

I keep staring at my reflective, blue-ish eyes in the glass that humans called a mirror.

...Did I die..?

"No." I respond verbally, which seemed to freak the consciousness out. After all, I have it's voice now. It belongs to me. Everything about him belongs to me.

It seemed to realize what was happening, because he went quiet for a minute. Maybe just staring at those glassy eyes, like I was.

Let me go..!

"I can't do that, even if I wanted to. And for the record, I really don't. You have a nice body human. I would be an idiot to pass up this opportunity."

I'll admit, I smirked at myself in the mirror, knowing that the little voice was forced to look at it, knowing that it had no control over what used to be his. I wasn't lying either, this is probably one of my favorite forms so far.

Its dark hair complemented his darker skin quite will, despite being a little shorter. That's okay though, it would just make me better at sneaking around. The only thing I really cared about was that I was fast. Fast and sneaky.

The little voice went silent for a moment, before cutting back into my mind with the same sharpness.

You-You're a disgusting parasite!

"And you're an idiot human who got caught by us 'disgusting parasites'. Now, will you stop being a sore loser and let me get on with my day? I have work to do."

Somewhere, I heard the faintest mumble in my mind, presumably to themself. But I was sure I heard the though through a jab of heartbreak. And I'm sure as hell those emotions weren't me.

Damian... Callie... I'm sorry...

...

"Who are they?"