Silver Lining - The Host fanfiction

Chapter 54 The Enforcer

Lingering is so very lonely

When one lingers alone.

-Mervyn Peak

 

Emma

 

Another human being.

A few months ago I would have been thrilled, but now I’m only scared. Now I know Burns. And if there are more humans, he’ll be in danger.
Suddenly his plan to save me had turned into an attempt to keep him safe.

I won’t have much time. Burns will be back soon and he won’t approve of what I am about to do. I’ve seen the Soul medicine at work. I know how fast it is.
By then it will be too late.

I kneel down with the man and draw his attention. He may have a fever, but he’ll understand me just fine.

I lean closer and whisper in his ear. “Listen carefully. Burns will be back here soon with medicine. It will help you. But once you’re better, you’ll leave him alone. He is a good person and if you harm him, I will make you regret it.”

I try to sound threatening, but to be honest, I have no idea how to defend Burns when it comes to a fight. This man could easily take me out. And Burns would never raise a hand against another living being. Not even to save me. He’d sooner give his own life.

The man focuses his feverish eyes on me. “It’s… a parasite.”

“He is a person,”  I hiss, “and I won’t let you hurt him.”

I don’t get the chance to say anything else, because Burns has returned. He kneels down beside me and unrolls the blanket he’s holding. Aside from the first aid kit there’s food and water too.

Our supplies.

Which we’ll now have to share with someone that will attack us the moment he gets the chance, I’m sure of it.

Burns opens a small jar that reads ‘Cool’ and takes out a small rectangular patch. He looks at the man. “Swallow this,” he says, “it will dissolve and the fever will be gone.”

“I don’t want… your alien poison,” the man growls.

“It won’t hurt you,” Burns says, “I want to help you.”

“And then you can give me to your Seekers and they’ll plant one of you in my head. I‘d rather die.”

“He doesn’t want our help,” I say.

Burns shakes his head at me. “We can’t leave him here, Emma. It’s not right.” He offers me the patch. “He’s one of you.”

I sigh and take the Cool from him and swallow it. I look at the man. ”There. Harmless. Happy now?”

He grits his teeth, but nods and Burns offers him a new patch.

I know these strange medications work, but it’s something else to actually witness it. The man’s eyes clear within seconds and he looks at us confused.

“How are you feeling?” Burns asks.

The man looks at him warily. I can see the aversion in his eyes. What do you want with me, parasite?”

I commend Burns for staying so friendly. I would have snarled at him, but Burns stays his ever-patient self.
Was I this hostile when I first met him?

Yeah, I probably was.

I sigh.
I’ve always convinced myself I was still human, so why am I so reluctant to help this one?

“I just want to help you,” Burns says, “I understand if you don’t trust me, but you can trust Emma. She’s human like you.”

The man focuses his eyes on me and I’m secretly glad his hurt leg prevents him from getting up.
“Why are you with one of them? Why didn’t you kill it?”

“I trust him,” I say before Burns can say anything else. If he finds out what Burns did, the man will find a way to knock him out and pull Burns out if his body. He’ll never believe David is gone.

“Why?” the man asks.

I swallow. That’s a question I don’t want to answer. So I settle for a half truth and hope Burns won’t say anything about it.
“Because I’ve been with him for a while and he hasn’t harmed me.”

His eyes study me and them move to Burns. There’s a thoughtful expression on his face, but he doesn’t say anything.

“I’m Burns Living Flowers,” Burns says, and this is Emma Dupree. What can we call you?”

The man seems to debate on it for a moment. He’s probably wondering if it’s a  good idea to tell us.
“Nate,” he finally says.

“No last name?” I ask annoyed.

He gives a crooked smile. “None that matters anymore.”

“I’m sorry I can’t heal your leg,” Burns says, “but we have food to share. Are you hungry?”

Nate is still trying to figure out what to make of the situation.

Truth to be told, even I can’t justify leaving him here. Burns is right. There aren’t a  lot of humans left. We should stick together.

I take a can of soup and pour it in a pan. We can risk a fire. We’ve done so last night.

It doesn’t take long to heat up the soup and Burns hands one cup to Nate and the other to me.

“Don’t you want any?” I ask.

Burns smiles at me. “I’ll wait until you have had enough.”

I shake my head. Typical Burns. “We’ll share,” I decide. I take a sip ands hand him the cup.

“Emma,” Burns starts, but I cut him off.

“I can be more stubborn than you.”

Burns takes my cup and takes a sip. “You finish the rest,” he says. He unrolls the blanket and holds it out to Nate. “Here. It’s going to be cold tonight.”

Nate still doesn’t seem over the shock of Burns’ behavior. “Why are you doing this?”

Burns looks at him sadly. “We were wrong by coming here.” He sighs. “I just want to do something right.”

I bite my lip. Please don’t let him say anything more.

I push the soup in his hands. “You can have the rest.”

At least when he’s eating he can’t talk.

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