Chapter One

I sat on the tree trunk and smiled. Jay was my best friend, but still, he hadn't figured out my secret. And I was glad for that, because, if he did, then he would hate me. He wouldn't just hate me for not telling though, he would hate everything about me. Every little thing. So he could never find out; it was too late to tell him and run.

Jay walked up to me, smiling broadly. Muddy and cold, although we were, Jay seemed as happy as if he was sitting in a mansion.

"What's up?" I asked, yawning.

He grinned and picked up his backpack. "The Resistance, I've found them"

My breath froze, and I bit my lip. No! I had hoped that this would never happen, that Jay would never find the Resistance, because then I would be alone. Again.

Trying to look remotely pleased, "What did they say?".

Grinning ear to ear, Jay started kicking the pile of leaves, by the side of our makeshift camp.

"They told me about a hideout"

This was even worse,then I had expected. He was going to leave, but I couldn't go there, and I couldn't even say why.

"Where is it?" I asked. He frowned.

"That is the problem. It's five hundred miles away. But we can always walk there, right?"

"I don't know Jay, that's a long way...." I trailed off, hoping he'd agree and we could just keep running.

"We've walked all the way across Europe before, what's different about this?"

"Well..."

"Look, the Resistance have a proper hideout; a real house. Maria it's three years since the Invasion, since we've even been in a house. Come on! It's in a forest, and it's safe. Properly safe"

Jay seemed suspicious by now and I turned away. Trembling, I shook my head. "No"

"You too scared?" he taunted, smiling slightly.

"It's not that"

I tried a different tactic. "What would happen if an alien went to the Resistance?" In a way I hoped that he would guess what I was saying, and in another, I was hoping Jay would never find out my secret.

"They'd be killed of course" he said emotionlessly.

Which was exactly what would happen to me if I went to the Resistance.

I heard lightening crackling, and pulled my hood over my head, as the rain started to fall.

"Maria, what is it, what's wrong?" Jay asked, concerned, as I sat down.

"I... I can't tell you" I whisphered.
"Is it something to do with the Resistance?"
I nodded.

"What? Do you enjoy being in danger?" he snapped.

" 'Course I don't. That's not why I don't want to go to them"
"Just tell me Maria. You're acting like it's this big secret"
"You'll hate me if I tell you"

"I couldn't hate you" Jay said, now worried.

I had to tell him. I had to. I couldn't just keep it a secret anymore.

"Jay, listen if I tell you this, promise that you won't just run, promise?"

He nodded and I pulled up my sleeve to my shoulder, to show a tiny tattoo of an alien planet.

"That isn't what I think it is is it Maria?" Jay asked sternly and I stayed silent.

"It can't be" he breathed and shook his head, then laughed.

"You had me going there for a minute"

"Jay. Listen"

"But- "
" I should have told you three years ago. I'm not like you. I'm not even human"

Jay stayed silent, not comprehending what I was saying.

"You might be an alien, but you're not the same species as the Invaders, right? You're not one of them?" he said nervously.

I muttered something inaudible and then turned to Jay. "Look -"
"You are, aren't you?"
"I'm an Invader" I whispered crying.

"I didn't have a choice though. I was a kid. I didn't help invade, I swear it!" I screamed, but Jay didn't reply.

"The invaders..." he muttered.
The boy spat on the ground and looked up at me wide-eyed.

"I am actually hiding from them though. That wasn't pretend."

Jay stepped backwards into a tree and held up his hands in defeat. "P..please don't hurt me"
I had been his friend for three years, but the second I told him my secret he automatically branded me a heartless murderer. Great.

I looked horrified, and shook my head. "I'd never hurt you Jay"

"You just said that you were one of them, Maria!" he exclaimed, shaking all over.
I sobbed "I would never hurt you Jay"

And that was the truth.