In nature,

A repulsive caterpillar turns into a lovely butterfly.

But with humans,

It’s the other way around.

A lovely butterfly

Turns into a repulsive caterpillar.

-Anton Chekov

Emma

“Do you need anything else?”I ask while handing Nate a watterbottle.

He shakes his head and takes a sip. “No, I’m fine.” He eyes me carefully. “You seem to be in a better mood today.”

I glare at him annoyed. “Just leave Burns alone.”

‘You’re very protective of him,” Nate comments.

“He didn’t do anything wrong.”

“His kind is responsible for wiping out the entire human race.”

“Not entire,” I mutter.

Burns has left to get some more equipment from the car. He wants to stay until Nate’s leg has healed, which could be weeks.
I wish I had his kindness. I can’t wait to leave. It should be just me and Burns.
Still, Nate is human. Why can’t I be happy about that?

Nate’s eyes are on me. I have felt them all morning and they make me nervous. It’s like he’s studying me, though I don’t feel threatened by it.

Before Nate can reply, Burns returns with the rest of our food. I recognize the bag of chocolate chip cookies. No way I’m going to share those.

“Are you still okay?” Burns asks Nate, “just tell me when you’re in pain.”

“I’ll be fine,” Nate says. He hesitates. “thank you though.”

“You’re welcome,” Burns smiles.

I roll my eyes. “Now that’s out of the way, can we eat? I’m hungry.” I stand up.

A click makes me freeze.

“Don’t move,” a voice behind me threatens.

I can’t see who’s holding the gun, my back is at the cave’s entrance, but I know it’s over one way or the other.

“Easy Rob, “Nate says in a low voice, “they’re no enemies.”

I dare a glance at Nate. He seems to know our attacker.

A flashlight moves over Nate’s face. “I’m still human,” Nate says, “see? Noting to worry about.”

The flashlight moved towards Burns and I feel my heart speed up. “No!” I shout and hurry to move in front of him before any gun can go off.

“Emma!” Burns gasps in shock, but I’m already shielding his body.

The light finds my eyes and I’m blinded by it.

“She’s human,” the flashlight says.

“Move away from it, girl, another voice cautions.

So it’s at least three people we’re dealing with.

I shake my head.

“Don’t be foolish, girl. Come to us before it can hurt you.”

“I’m not going to let you shoot him,” I say.

“Emma…” Burns says concerned, but I shake my head.

“No,” I say, “I won’t let them hurt you.”

“No one’s hurting anyone,” Nate interfered, “put the gun down , Rob.”

“We’re not taking any risks, Nate,” Rob says, “We got here in time to prevent it from taking you. We will have to kill it before its friends come back.”

“No!” I shout again.

Have you ever seen those documentaries about jungle kids? Young children that were lost in the wild and raised by animals? And then, when years later, they are brought back to civilization they go hysterical? I think I know how that feels now.

“There will be no shooting,” Nate says.

I feel myself trembling. I still can’t see the faces of our attackers, the light outside is blinding me, but I can imagine the hate on their faces.
Is this what we’ve become?

“Nate.”

“No Evan. Listen to me. Put the gun away.”

“But it is one of them.”

“I now what he is, but he saved my life.”

“Of course it did. They want you alive so they can put one of their own in your head and betray us all.”

‘I’m still human.”

“Cause we were here in time. We’ve been watching this place. We saw it go to the car and followed it back. Rob said he’d left you around here. What happened Nate? Did it work its lies on you? I never thought you would fall for its tricks.”

“I’m sorry Nate. We are not that easily fooled. We have to kill it.” He cocks his rifle.

“No!” I scream and I launch forward to grab the weapon.

“Emma no!” Burns shouts, but it’s already too late. I feel something burn my shoulder and I fall to my knees.

“Stupid girl!” one of the men says in shock.

“Emma!” I hear Burns shout.

“Put your guns away you fools.” That is Nate.

Around me it’s all chaos. I feel strong hands push me against the hard rock floor. I barely notice.

“Burns? “I whisper.

Hands press against my shoulder. “Easy now.” The voice is vaguely familiar, but I can’t make sense of it. The world around me is blurry. “I need some help here!” the voice says again and then in a quieter tone. “Stay with me squirky.”

“We need to leave here. What if someone heard the shot?”

“Then you shouldn’t have fired.”

Someone says something else and then someone answers to that, but I don’t hear it anymore.

There’s just black.