Chapter 1

My name is Mercy. It's hard enough being "different" but now that I don't even have my 4 best friends in this new town. I only have a little cube in my pocket as a memory.

It's hard to believe how even thousands of miles away from my house the yeerks are still around and growing in number. The world is in trouble and it's all on my shoulders.

"At least watching Sara should be easier than watching the yeerks," I thought to myself as I rang the doorbell. "Well here it goes" I mumbled as a blond, smiling girl swung open the door and said, "Hi, I'm Rachel, you must be Mercy."

I returned her grin and stepped inside. I followed her down a long corridor lit by a chandelier. Just before I stepped inside the room at the end a Sara, her little sister, came running out.

"Hey Sara" I said kneeling down to her level. As she smiled a reply I cocked my head to the side and quickly glanced in her ear. No one seemed to notice as I did so and I realized, much to my relief, she was yeerk free. I got up and Rachel said, "Here, let me introduce you to some of my friends" and then she disappeared into a doorway. I went through the door and was greeted by a curly blond boy who introduced himself as Jake, Rachel's cousin. I told him I was Mercy and smiled almost shyly back into his blue eyes.

Then out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw Jake look quickly into my ear. I told myself to stop being paranoid as Rachel introduced me to the rest of the people in the room.

First she introduced me to Marco who said, "Hola," and then added, perhaps because of my Philippine dark brown hair and eyes "ĄTu hablas espanol?" I replied. "Si." and we held a short conversation in Spanish. He and I were both clearly enjoying the puzzled looks on everyone's faces. When we finished he said, "Tu hablas espanol muy bueno" (which means you speak Spanish very well for those of you who don't know the language) I replied, "I'm not as fluent as I let you think but Gracias"

Rachel raised an eyebrow and then introduced me to Cassie. When I saw Cassie the word "Healer" popped into my mind. Shut up I told myself.

"And this is Tobias" Rachel said directing my attention to a dark haired boy who was sitting apart form the group.

"Hey." I said suddenly very glad that I had just gotten my hair done. "Have I seen you before?"

"I don't think so..." he replied.

"Oh well," I said dismissing the thought "I thought I heard you're name before."

"Anyway, we better be going" said Rachel and they left.

The night passed rather uneventfully and at 10:00 I finally got Sara to bed. I sat down to read a book while I waited for her Rachel to get home. Suddenly I heard a crash in the dining room. I ran to see what had happened.

There, lying next to a broken window was Jake and Tobias.