“Is there anything wrong with your dinner?” I heard my mom say. I let Iniss 762 answer. I didn’t even listen to what came out of my mouth. I had to put all my strength into protecting my memory of how to morph, which was no easy task but I knew if the yeerks found that out we’d all be in serious trouble.

Have you ever been asleep and you realized that you were dreaming and wanted to wake up? And you knew that if you could just move an arm you might wake up? But no matter how you tried you could only move your dream-body and found yourself locked in sleep? That is what it is like to be yeerked, except it’s no dream-it’s a nightmare.

It’s odd; I can still think on my own and maybe because of my developed power I can even hide some of my memory from the yeerk in my brain. I can even use thought-speech without the yeerk detecting it. I suppose no one has suspected me as someone who can change her form, not even the yeerks.

I wanted so desperately to use thought-speech to warn the others of what happened, but the last time I tried to do that my memory slipped and Iniss 762 nearly discovered all of my secrets. Shivering, I-or rather Iniss 762-decided to go to bed.

The next day Jake rang my doorbell. Although my mind screamed to let Jake know everything, Iniss 762 made my face show no recognition.

“Hi.” My mouth said dryly.

“How have you been?” Jake asked, his eyes filled with worry. I could tell he had talked to Cassie.

“Ok. Do you need something?” Again my mouth spoke dry words and my eyes were devoid of any emotion. Ideas flashed in my mind and I saw Iniss 762 had a plan. The yeerk in my pocket squirmed in anticipation.

Thinking fast, I threw as much strength as I could spare into a single action of my own-I scratched my left ear. For a brief moment my eyes filled with anguish and sadness and every emotion ever known before Iniss 762 over took me again. Jake understood.

“No.” He answered, his voice shaking with worry and fear. Now my breathing became heavy as I fought for control and tried to keep my memory hidden at the same time. However, Iniss 762 was winning this battle. My hand slipped into my pocket as I continued to talk, “Well if you don’t need anything…” The box that contained the slug was in my grasp and the yeerk slid out of it and into my hand. A scream ripped from my throat.

“No!” I cried. Suddenly with some hidden reserve of strength, I threw myself to the ground and the yeerk flew from my grasp. Jake saw the yeerk and took the hint, he ran out of there. I slumped down on the floor and collapsed in exhaustion.