The Rebel (The Host by Stephanie Meyer, Jared's POV)

Prologue

I. Am. Hungry. SO. Hungry. Camping out in the heat, waiting for this old parasite couple to leave hasn't helped anything either. They drove off from here around twenty minutes ago. They looked like they could pass for humans, going out for a Friday night on the town. Where am I again? Nevada? No. I'm sure I crossed the border a while ago. Arizona? That sounds about right. Fits with the heat. I need to get going if I want to make a clean get away.

I slowly approach the house from my hiding spot near the side, behind some desert shrub. My jeep is just down the road a ways, waiting for me. The parasites are so happy all the time they're almost oblivious to every thing else. I slowly make my way towards the patio, keeping near the shadows, just in case. I stop when I see a dark humanoid shadow move in the kitchen. Heading towards the door, it turns back and notices me, makes a squeak of fright, and lunges for the door. How did I miss one? I know I have to act quickly before it sounds an alarm and a horde of Seekers comes rushing from whatever hole they dwell in. I rush after the figure, and yank it's shoulders back against my body. The shoulders are small, but not fragile. This, combined with the earlier squeak of fright, leads me to believe I'm holding a parasite in a former female human body.

"One sound and you die," I threaten as I bring my knife to it's throat, under it's jaw.

"Do it," an angry female voice spits out, confirming my suspicion. "Just do it. I don't want to be a filthy parasite!"

That's a new one. "Clever," I mutter, more to myself. "Must be a Seeker. And that means a trap. How did they know?" I draw my knife away from it's throat and replace it with my hand, squeezing just so it can breathe.

"Where are the rest of them?" I demand, squeezing for effect. I hear it strain to breathe.

"It's just me!" it rasps, barely pushing the air out of it's lungs. Then I feel an elbow jabbed into my gut, although it has no effect. Then a heel jabs the inside of my foot, and I stagger. The parasite frees itself from my grasp, but I grab it's bag tightly and wrench it back towards me, clamping down with a steel vice onto it's throat with my hands.

"Feisty for a peace-loving body snatcher, aren't you?" I remark angrily. Originally I thought all of the worms were tree huggers and peace corp types. I guess not ALL of them. The alien in the human girls' body begins to scratch and claw, trying to break free from my grip. I tighten my grip on it's throat.

"I WILL kill you, you worthless body thief. I'm not bluffing," I hiss out.

"Do it then!" It replies forcefully, and I feel it's muscles and airways contract with the force of it's statement. It's ferocity and anger...seems almost...human? This isn't...it can't...I gasp, and release my grip on it's throat and fumble my fingers to the back of it's neck, gripping its' hair so it can't escape. No scar. Just smooth skin.

"Impossible," I breathe wonderingly, hopefully, joyfully. In my bewilderment I drop my knife. I spin it--her--around and reach for my flashlight, quickly flicking the switch and shining the light into her left eye, then her right. No reflective silver hidden beneath the hazel.

"I can't believe it," I whisper reverently. "You're still human." I can't help myself. I pull her face towards mine, press my lips to hers, hard. She freezes. I can feel both of our panic in the kiss, mixed with adrenaline. Suddenly, a knee jerks into my groin. I wheeze and bend over, breaking the kiss. She ducks under my arm and breaks for the door. Still grunting, I race after her.

"Wait!" I yell desperately, terrified that I'll lose her after being alone for so long. "I'm not one of them!" I call to reassure her, but she keeps running, fast. "Listen to me!" I shout, no longer worried about who hears me, as long as I don't lose the girl. "Look! I'll prove it. just stop and look at me!"