Silver Lining - The Host fanfiction

Chapter 48 The Storm Chasers

“It is a valuable thing, being able to look through the eyes of your enemy.”

- The mask of Zorro

 

Emma

 

I wait in the hotel room while Burns is downstairs to get us something to eat. No one paid me any attention when we returned. To the outside world I’m still Sky.
They have no reason to be suspicious of me.

My hand digs up the prism from my pocket. I thought I had lost it when Patt caught me. Burns must have found it on the riverbank
And he gave it back to me.
A smile tugs at my lips and my fingers trace the smooth surface. He kept it for me. He betrayed his own kind for me. It shouldn’t make me happy like this.

I sigh and lock my hand around the small object. What’s going to happen now?
I can’t stay with him.
And it’s not because he is an alien.
It’s because I am not.

It wouldn’t matter where we went. The whole planet belongs to the Souls now. It wouldn’t be long before someone would realize what I really am.
And then there’s Sky’s friends. I won’t be able to fool them.
I sigh and put the prism back in my pocket. My mind wanders off to Rain and Storm. I have mixed feelings about the two. They were kind enough and Rain reminded me a little of Ashley, but they were still the ones that put Sky in my body.
I know they didn’t see anything wrong with it, and I don’t even blame them for that, but I still can’t forget.
I bite my lip as I think of Reads the Stars. He worked with my father when they were both still human, but I don’t remember ever seeing him.
When I was younger, I used to visit my father often at the Observatory, but maybe they only worked together on certain projects.
I close my eyes. He told Sky my father had left in search of me. My lip trembles. He loved me. Of course I knew my parents loved me, but to hear someone confirm it makes it stronger.
Are they still looking for me?
I take a deep breath. Do I want them to find me? There is always the possibility that their presence remained. 
Like mine.
My father believed in aliens.
Would that be an advantage or is it the opposite?

The door opens and Burns pushes a small cart inside with our breakfast. My stomach growls loudly at the smell of food.
“Sorry it took so long,” Burns apologizes, “there was a line and I couldn’t find a cart.” He closes the door. “One of the girls downstairs offered to help, but I told her it wasn’t necessary.” He smiles. “I brought a bit of everything. They said we can take what’s left for lunch.” 
He points at the plastic containers on the tray.
A smile fights its way to my face. He is so typical Burns. “It smells good,” I say.
He answers my smile. “Go on,” he says, “take what you like.” 
I move over and look at the selection of food. There’s scrambled egg and bacon, a selection of bread rolls, jam, toast and cereal. He really did take a bit of everything.
I dig up a spoon with eggs and bacon and place it on a slice of toast. I give a satisfied groan when the food hits my stomach.
It’s good to have feelings of my own again. 

Burns watches me amused. “Hungry?” he asks and I snort in response while munching away another mouthful.
My mother would get a heart attack if she saw me eat so unlady like.
Burns chuckles and pours me a tea and himself a coffee. Sky liked coffee, but I’m not a big fan of it. Maybe that’s why she started drinking it.

Burns sits across from me and fills his plate calmly. I almost feel guilty for wolfing away my food. I must look like a wild animal, but he smiles at me warmly.
I feel my cheeks heat up all of a sudden. I remember his hand against my cheek, his arm around my waist. 
I kissed him. What must he think of me? 
He looks at his plate. “I’ve been thinking,” he says, “we could take a tent and drive the car out in the desert. I’d still like to see the Canyon. It will be desolate there. We won’t have to worry about someone finding you.” He looks up at me concerned. “We can camp there until we find a solution.”
I blink. It takes me a moment to understand what he’s saying. “Y-you’re not going home?”
“Not right now,” Burns says, “Thru has been inviting us over for dinner for weeks. I can’t keep refusing without explanation.”
“No,” I say, “I mean...are you not going home?”
Burns blinks as he lets my words sink in. “You want me to go? You want to go somewhere alone?” 
He misunderstands me again. 
“But your friends are there,” I say, “they moved to be able to  se you more often.”
He stares at me for a moment. “Just how much were you aware of things around you?” he whispers.
I blink at him. I thought he knew. I thought that was why he pulled out Sky. “Everything,” I say.
His face turns pale and he swallows. “I’m sorry,” he says and he looks down.
“It’s not your fault,” I say softy. I swallow back the next words I was about to say. You brought me back. I know he feels guilty for what he did to Sky.
He gives me a wry smile. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll stay with you until you find a safe place. And then we’ll see.” 
I bite my lip. “Are you sure that’s what you want?” 
His smile is genuine this time. He nods. “Yeah. Until you grow tired of me.”
I carefully answer his smile. “It gets cold at night in the desert.” 
“We can sleep in the car if we have to,” he says, “and we’ll take enough blankets with us.”
He really means it. He wants to stay with me. There is a fluttering feeling in my stomach.

I know what he’s done for me. I know what it means. And now he’s leaving everything behind to make sure I’m safe.
Even if it’s only for a short time, no one’s ever done anything like that for me before.
“Have you finished your breakfast?” Burns asks and he looks at my plate.
I’m still hungry, but I don’t want to look like a wild animal. With the way I handled my food before, I’m already embarrassed. “I’m fine,” I say, but he sees right through me.
“There’s enough. You should eat if you’re still hungry.”
I give a weak smile and plate up again while Burns watches me amused.

My friend, the alien.

I stare at him for a moment until he catches my look. “What is it?” he asks concerned and I quickly shake my head.
“Nothing. I’m just glad you’re here.”