Alison has become like an assistant. Over the past few days everyone has been asking what happened to me. I assured them I was fine and that I would tell them when the time for a vote came. I barely got any alone time. Everyone has been coming to me for problems. Amar has not eaten in days. I am worried about him. He is still one of my best friends here. One of the first people I met. I almost know all the names of everyone at camp now. I am flopped down on my cot while Alison reads off what has been done and what needs to be done. No one has gone on search since Athan's condition. He seems like he will pull through but after three days he still has not woken up yet. Byron spends every free second with him. I am still shaken up from the alien. It was strange as if we were the same person. It was like I was the same but with a little bit of someone else's DNA in me. I shut my eyes and rub the back of my neck. I did not get a wink of sleep last night. I have been apart from Bion and no matter what he says I still believe he is innocent. And I am not I am a killer. I will not share the blood on my hands with him. I will not give him that burden. "Look Alison, tonight is the big vote and the party for the new leader," I say. She nods with a confused look. "So I love to party and dance. I didn't get a wink of sleep last night. Can we just relax and give me time to sleep please?" My tone is a little sharp, which happens when I am tired. Alison seems like a nice girl and she flinches at my tone. "I am sorry Alison. Why don't you go take care of things while I get some sleep," I say. She nods and scurries off. I sigh and Lola crawls up beneath my cot. She licks my hand and I smile. I close my eyes.
~~~
The long walk in the woods was very overdue. I was happy to get away from everyone. All the questions were driving me nuts. Lola walked off. She probably heard a squirrel or something. I just walked long and far. My neck hair stood up. I did not hear anything but my instinct told me there was someone. My instinct is actually a good battle strategy. I pull my dagger from my belt loop. I grip it tight and sweep my eyes across the trees. Suddenly I hear the click of a gun. Nothing comes my way, the gun must be faulting. I quickly leap towards the sound. A very large man jumps out. He moves towards me but I am quicker. I leap out of the way. He slams his feet in the ground before he hits a tree. Then I slash at his face. I cut him deep in the forehead. He grips my arm and pulls me towards him. I scream out hoping Lola will hear me. Then I see Lola and Bion burst out through the forest. The silencer plunges the knife in my stomach. Pain crosses over me. My stomach feels like it is being ripped to shreds.
~~~
I jolt upright. Sweat coats my forehead and sticks my hair to my skin. I breath hard and grip my stomach. I run my finger along the scar. "This cannot be happening," I say and put my head in my hands. Then I start to laugh. I become hysterical. The fact that we are doomed and outnumbered but still think there is hope is hilarious. I laugh until my voice is hoarse and then I start to cough. I cough up some blood and stop laughing. I look at the blood and think. If I went off and let a silencer kill me would it be so bad. I would get to leave this whole freaking mess. And from what I have done I might not be going anywhere much better than this. But at least down in the pit I would know it was over and I just have to suffer. Where as here we have false hopes and happiness with the pain. If you think about it, it is almost worse. I mean we have a win and then it is just destroyed by death. Down there only pain comes. No false hope. No oh it is ok not anymore crap. It looks to be dark outside. I breathe out a long breath and get up. Lola seems to have wondered off. She is not as close and protective now. I guess she finally accepted that these humans are safe. I walk out and run into Liam. His cheeks redden as our chests collide. I step back and run my hand through my hair. "Sorry about that Liam," I say. He smiles shyly. He is a strange guy. "It is fine. I was actually about to come get you. Everyone is ready for the vote and a long overdue relaxation night," Liam says. I nod and follow him to the mess hall. Everyone has already eaten, which I am fine with because after that memory I don't feel like eating. I barely dream anymore, I just relive memories. Everyone turns their heads as I walk in. They all cheer and a few raise their glasses or say my name. I smile and give a slight wave. I take my seat next to Bion. He smiles lazily and kisses my neck. I giggle and Amar approaches the stage. He clears his throat. "As you all know we have not officially chosen a leader. And I know you all also want to hear Shilo's story. And best of all after this we will celebrate the new leader and the fallen one," says Amar. He smiles for the first time since Mia's death. The crowd cheers. "Alright ok so my vote is on Shilo," Amar says and points towards me. He winks at me as I get red. "Raise your hand for Shilo," he says. A dozen hands shoot up into the air. "Ok any other votes?" The crowd is silent. "Alright then, Shilo we are happy to have you," he says and everyone cheers. "Come on up here." I get up and walk towards the stage. I mount it and look at the crowd. "Wow um thanks I guess," I say and everyone chuckles. "I will never measure up to Mia. I am not her but I hope I can lead you into battle the way she would have wanted it. This is not my night this is Mia's night," I say. A few people murmur to themselves. "Ok so do you all want to know the great story." The crowd yells and whoops. "Ok ok so I was in the forest and a silencer attacked me. I tried to fight it off but it got me first. It stabbed me in the gut," I say pointing to my belly. A few people gasp, other state in awe. "I fell down and passed out, I thought I was dead but obviously not. Bion killed the silencer while I was out," I say. People stare at Bion with astonished looks. That is the third silencer he has killed and they are tough. I continue the story. "So when I thought I was dead one of those mother freaking alien came in my body," I say and a bunch of people gasp and some start to question me. "But it was strange it heard my thoughts and talked to me. It was mad that I was shouting at it to get out of my body. All it did was heal me and leave," I say. "No it would not do that. They take over or destroy," Someone from the audience says. "I know it was weird but I did ask why it did not kill me. It said we were like hosts and that if the host died they would die with it." Many people blabber off questions and after an hour of going over my experience the party starts. Outside before the music plays I make sure everyone has a drink. Tonight we have beer cans. "Attention everyone," Bion calls out next to me. Several heads turn towards us. "Tonight we celebrate Shilo. And most of all Mia. Shilo lead us well," he says to me. "To Mia," Bion says and raises his can everyone does the same and yells To Mia. The music starts and the dancing begins. Bion turns towards me. "I hope you can make time for me boss," he says. His blue eyes light up with a playful look. "Oh yes I need to make sure you are properly trained," I say. I move forward and kiss him. He fingers through my hair. I cup my hands around his neck and pull him closer to me. "I don't think I will ever learn. Maybe some private tutoring can help," he says and kisses me more. His hand moves down my back. The music switches to a low song. I continue to kiss him when Liam taps Bion's shoulder. Bion turns around and looks down at Liam. Liam is about my height so Bion has like three inches on him. "Hey can I have this dance with Shilo," Liam asks. I smile. "Bion we can get in some more training later," I whisper into his ear. Then I walk off with Liam. He puts his hands on my waist and I set mine on his shoulders. I can see Bion over Liam's neck. He looks down at Liam's hands. Bion's jaw tightens and fists form on his hands. I shake my head and chuckle. Boys and their jealousy. I look back at Liam. He looks me up and down. His eyes linger on my mostly bare legs longer than I want. I am wearing my jean shorts again. "So Shilo you and Bion seem pretty serious. How is that going?" Liam asks. Then I realize what is going on. Liam likes me and he wants Bion out of the picture. I let go of him. "Look Liam, you may think you want me but you really do not. And I am with Bion. It is best if you drop whatever you have for me," I give Liam the facts. He looks disappointedly at the ground. "Hey there are lots of girls here for you and trust me they are all much better than me," I say to him. He nods and trudges off. He should trust me. There are plenty of girls here and most of them haven't even come close to my sins. I walk back to Bion. He is tense when I lay my hand on his arm. "I let him down easy," I say with a wink. "Of course you did. You are my sweet girl," Bion says and kisses my neck. I smile at him. The slow song ends finally. The song good girls by five seconds of summer blasts through the night air. I love that song and for me it is true. In the song it says good girls are bad girls that haven't been caught. That is who I am. I dance with Bion. I dance with my hips a lot and Bion seems to really like it. We are in the middle of a song when Bion cocks his head to the side. He realizes I am looking at him. "I will be right back," he says to me. "Where are you going?" I ask. "I got to use it," he says and walks towards the woods. I watch him go. Every fiber of my being says to go after him. My body aches to be with him at night. I might have to give him my burden if I want to sleep.
