Silver Lining - The Host fanfiction

Chapter 106 The Orphan

On the second day, a sail drew near,
nearer, and picked me up at last.
It was the devious cruising Rachel,
that in her retracting search after her missing children,
only found another orphan.

-Moby Dick

Emma

It's an extremely hot day and Burns has rolled down the windows of the van. I have put my seat back and lean my feet on the dashboard. My eyes behind my sunglasses are closed.

In the back, Blake is sprawled on his back, fanning himself some air with slow and lazy movements.

We've been on another raid, only this time not for our own group. Russel was in need of a few items and we dropped off Carlos with our spoils. It was strange to leave him there and say goodbye, but he will stay with his girlfriend Cindy now.

It was the first time Russell's group met with Burns. Of course they were informed about our 'tamed' Soul by Max and also by Nate, but I was still nervous about how this would all go down.

But after the initial shock of facing one of the aliens, things calmed rather quickly, especially after seeing all the supplies we brought.

Now we are on our way home again. I can't wait to be back. This heat is unbearable. At least underground it will be cool.

"We should stop for ice-cream," Blake comments.

Burns chuckles. "Sure, why not?" He looks at me. "You too, Emma?"

My eyes still closed, I smile. "Chocolate," I say, "and lemon. Maybe some vanilla too. With sprinkles and whip cream." And maybe afterwards we can find a desolate river bend or creek and take a quick swim.

Burns chuckles again. "Three large ice-creams coming up." And he steers onto the next exit.

It doesn't take us long to find an ice-cream parlor and Burns heads inside to get our orders. He comes back with the ice and a map. "There's supposedly a small creek a few miles ahead," he informs us when unfolding the map.

"Wouldn't it be really crowded with this weather?" Blake questions while digging into is ice-cream.

"According to the boy behind the counter it's not a recreational site. We could give it a try. We have a long way ahead of us before we are home. We've been in the car all day."

I look over my shoulder at Blake. "It would be nice if we could go for a swim."

He smirks. "Unless you got a bathing suit under there, it's gonna be skinny dipping, squirky."

I roll my eyes. "In your dreams." His smirk widens and I narrow my eyes. "Shut up Blake."

He chuckles. "You're making it too easy."

Burns is wearing an amused smile and he steers us onto a sandy road that winds through a forest. It doesn't take long to find the creek, though it's more of a pond. The water seems clear enough to swim in and the trees provide shadow.

Blake is out of the van before we have even parked. He lets himself fall onto the grass and sighs. "This is heaven."

"Maybe we should leave you here then," I say.

He pouts. "Don't be mean, squirky."

I roll my yes and drop my sunglasses on the dashboard. Slowly I make my way over to the water edge. "Do you think it's deep enough to swim?"

"Only one way to find out," Blake says and before I can react, I'm being pushed into the water.

"Blake!" I shriek, but he's laughing too hard.