Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.

-Franklin P. James.

Emma

Every eye in the room has settled on me now and I feel the heat rush to my face. I don't like being the center of attention. It's suffocating.

Under the table, Burns' hand locks around mine and he presses it gently.

"Well?" someone says snarky. I think it's Will. His anger only makes me more nervous. I don't want to be here.

"Hey," Blake says quietly, "look at me, squirky." It's the kindness in his voice that makes me obey and I see the worry in his eyes. "It's alright," he says, "just talk to me, alright? Like last night."

I swallow and nod, keeping my eyes trained on his. Strangely enough it makes me feel calmer. Blake nods and the corner of his mouth lifts slightly. I take a deep breath. "I was taken," I start, "by Seekers."

Everyone starts to talk at the same time.

"Shut up!" Blake calls, "let her finish."

It takes a moment before everything has settled down again and I swallow nervously. "Burns brought me back," I says softly. Burns' thumb strokes the back of my hand. A small token of reassurance. "He brought me back and now I'm here."

"That isn't possible," Evan says.

"She's telling the truth," Blake says to him, "she told me last night."

"Nate told me," Logan nods.

"She's human alright," Philip says calmly.

"Humans can't be brought back," Will growls, "we've tried before and every time the person died. It's not possible."

"It is possible," Burns says softly.

The attention is on him now. "You only say that to save your neck," Will growls.

"If he wanted that, he could have just kept quiet," I snap back, "and I could have lied. I could have said the scar in my neck was just a disguise."

"She's right," Kelsey says, earning a look of utter betrayal from Will, "come on Will," she continues, "just hear them out. If we can get people back..."

"Not everyone comes back," Burns tells her.

"He's already changing his story," Rob comments.

"No," Burns says softly, "I'm just saying... not everyone stays. My host didn't stay. Those of my friends didn't stay either, but there are some that linger. I don't know how and it's not openly spoken of, but it happens."

I grip his hand tighter. People are still giving us suspicious looks, but at least no one has attacked us yet.

"We think..." I say hesitantly and I glance at Burns. He nods at me and smiles. "We think," I continue, "that the people that knew about the Souls, that they have a better chance of coming back. Maybe the stubborn ones too. We're not sure."

It's quiet for a while.

"Do you know what this means?" James says suddenly, "our family and friends. We can get them back now. We can take back our planet!"

"What are we waiting for then?" Tom says.

"Hold on!" Evan says, "this is all nice and all, but if it's true, there are still Seekers roaming around."

"Then they'll be the first to go," Will growls viciously.

"Wait a minute!" Logan calls, "we can't just go around abducting people!"

"What are you talking about?!" Tom says, "this is our family!"

"He's right," Philip says calmly, "think about it. If people start disappearing, it will get noticed."

"This is our chance," Rob hisses.

"Listen to yourselves," Anna-May speaks up, "a minute ago, none of you believed the story and now you're already making plans to kidnap people. Have you lost your minds?!"

I bite my lip as I watch them argue and my eyes shift towards Nate. He's sitting at the far side of the room, watching the scene calmly. I wonder what's going through his mind.

"Stop arguing!" Rachel suddenly shouts.

The scream is so unexpected that everyone shuts up and looks at her. She's trembling and there are tears in her eyes. Slowly but determined, she walks up to me until her face is only inches apart from mine. "Is it true?" she asks quietly.

Everybody is watching us.

I'm still not sure what happened to make her like this, but I can tell it has traumatized her. The mean girl is gone. All that's left is a frightened girl, holding on to a few strands of hope.

"Yes," I whisper, "it's true."

"People can really come back?"

I nod quietly. "Some. Yes."

She starts to cry and Sophie stands up and locks her arms around Rachel.

"Right," Nate finally says, "here's what we'll do." He pauses until he has everyone's attention, "Logan and Philip were right. We can't just pick people off the streets. Things like that get noticed and we don't need the Seekers or any other alien to direct their attention on us. The next time we go on a raid, we will see if we can take one of those creatures with us. One. And then we'll see."

I look at Burns. He looks like he's about to be sick and I press his hand again. This must be so hard on him. I wish we had never come here.

Nate looks around the room with a stern expression on his face. "I know you all want your loved ones back, but we have to think this through. We don't even know where most of them are. Some have already died. Some may not come back. There are only a few of us left. We can't endanger ourselves." He looks at Burns. "Will you help us Burns?"

Burns looks at me and I feel like crying. He lifts his hand to caress my cheek. "I will help you," he says to me, but his words are meant for everyone.

"On one condition," I cut in. I turn to face the others who all look at me in various degrees of disbelieve and anger. I ignore them and look at Nate.

He studies me carefully for a moment. "What condition?" he asks.

I take a deep breath. "You won't kill the Souls."

That brings about another round of protest, but Nate calms them down. "I'm listening," he says seriously.

I look at Burns again and draw strength from his face. "They can be shipped to another planet," I say.

"And do to them what they did to us?" someone says, I'm not sure who, "condemn another planet to our fate?"

I steel myself. "Take it or leave it," I say icily.

"You're in no position to make demands, girl," Will says.

"I think she is." Blake comes to my side and narrows his eyes at Will.

"What if these creatures decide to come back and take revenge?" Arashi asks.

I shake my head. "The planets we'll send them to are too far away. By the time they have arrived there, centuries will have passed."

"And how do you know that?" He eyes me suspiciously.

"I have Sky's memories," I say calmly, "she was the Soul that had my body. I know as much about the Souls as they know about us."

"So you can help too," Sophie says quietly.

"I think we could all use some time to let this all sink in," Nate interrupts before any other arguments break out. "Why don't we all go do our chores and we'll speak again tonight."

There are some mutters from a few people, but eventually everyone files out of the room until it's just Nate, Blake Burns and me.

"That wasn't so bad," Nate sighs.

"Smart thinking," Blake comments, "telling a few steady people in advance."

Nate nods. "I knew they would be able to reign people in. Now everyone will have some time to process it, it will be better tonight," He looks at Burns. "You alright? I had to say something to keep them from doing anything rash."

Burns nods weakly. "I know." He sighs. "Nate, I have friends too. Friends I care about."

Nate nods seriously and pats Burns' shoulder before leaving the room.

I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding and feel Blake's arm snake around my shoulder. I'm still shaking from the earlier event so I don't protest.

"It's gonna be alright, squirky. Just trust me." His embrace tightens for a moment and then he lets go. "Come on," he says to both Burns and me, "let's go to work."