Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me and they never will! It is all the property of K.A Applegate

Jake

Hi my name is Jake. You know the deal. I'm the so called leader of a group of kids resisting an alien invasion. We're all in it together, Marco, my best friend, Rachael, my cousin, Cassie, Rachel's best friend, Tobias, a boy turned hawk because he stayed in a morph too long and Ax, an andalite stuck on Earth. The Yeerks are a parasitic race that has already captured nearly half of the human race, including my brother Tom. We fight them like America fights Iraq. And we have only one weapon: morph. We can morph into any animal we choose, but there's a time limit of two hours. Tobias abused the time limit and so now he is stuck as a red tailed hawk. We are called Animorphs. We try to keep our lives as normal as possible. This is why I was seen in the mall with my friends, just hanging out.

"Anyway, so I say 'get back you, I am master now' and he's like 'sorry man didn't mean to'" Marco, trying to impress us on one of his many attempts of making a video game into reality.

"Uh-huh," I said, so not impressed. We headed towards the food court when my mobile phone rang. I got it from the back of my pocket and flipped it open.

"Hello," I said. It was my mum and she sounded really upset.

"Jake, you need to come home," she said.

"Alright I'll be there in ten minutes," I said, anxious to get home to see what she was so upset about.

"What's up?" Rachel asked as we reached the food court.

"I have to get home," I said. "I'll see you later at Cassie's barn."

I turned around and walked out of the mall. When I entered my house I knew something was wrong. My mum and dad were on the couch. Tom was no where to be seen. My mum was crying silently, but the most terrifying thing was so was my dad.

"What's wrong?" I asked, hurrying toward them. My parents normally don't cry, actually they never cry.

"Jake, maybe you should sit down," my mother sobbed.

"No just tell me," I said.

"Jake, Tom was murdered today," my dad said.

I should have sat down. I could feel my face grow pale. I could feel my eyes grow hot. No, how could this happen?

"What?" I asked, starting to shiver, even though it was a hot day.

"Tom was found in an alleyway," my father sniffed. "He had a gun shot wound on his back."

My mother burst out crying at this.

"They think it was some robbers asking for money but Tom refused and…and," my father broke off.

I couldn't stand it anymore. I turned around and stormed out of the door. I could literally feel my heart tear in two. After all I have done to try and save Tom from the Yeerk in his head, he had to be shot down by a pair of robbers. Of course I knew robbers hadn't killed my brother. The Yeerk in his head must have disobeyed Visser Three or something and he got killed for it.

I walked down the street and several blocks trying to kill off time before the meeting at Cassie's barn, but I was trying very hard not to break down. I had to show up and pretend like everything was alright. I couldn't let them know what happened.

By the time I had reached Cassie's barn, everyone was there. Ax had morphed into human form and Tobias was perched in the rafters. Cassie and Rachel were sharing a bale of hay and Marco was leaning against a pole.

"It's about time you graced us with your presence," Marco laughed as I walked in, but stopped when he saw the look on my face.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Nothing," I muttered and sat down on a bale of hay away from everyone else. I put my face in my hands and tried very hard not to break down. I had to be strong. Don't think about Tom. Then it struck me: had Rachel learnt of Tom's fate? I looked up, but she looked oblivious like the rest as to why I was in a sudden state of depression.

"Jake if there's anything wrong…" Cassie started, but I interrupted her.

"Just get on with it," I snapped harshly.

They all looked at me, surprised. I don't usually snap at anyone without a good reason. Of course I had a good reason, but they didn't know about it.

((Alright, Ax has something to talk about.)) Tobias said in thought speech.

"I have found another infiltration centre the Yeerks are holding," Ax said.

"Let's knock it down," Rachel said straight away.

"Wait a minute don't you think we should find out where the place is being held and who's guarding it," Cassie said.

"Fine, Ax where is it?" Rachel asked.

"It is at your local town hall," Ax said.

"Town hall!" Marco exclaimed. "I agree with Rachel on this. This is the town hall!"

"I still think we should find out more about this," Cassie protested.

((What do you think Jake?)) Tobias asked.

"I don't care," I spat. "Do what you want."

They all stared at me. All wondering why I was acting like this.

"Prince Jake, are you alright?" Ax asked calmly.

I was saved from answering by my mobile ringing.

I stood up and took it from my pocket. I flipped it open and looked at the number flashing on the screen. It was home. My parents were probably wondering were I was.

I couldn't take this anymore. I needed to get out. And I didn't mean out of the barn. With all my might I threw the mobile as far as I could. It hit the wall and shattered. Now they all knew something was wrong because above everything, I was definitely not destructive.

I was breathing deeply and I could fell my face and eyes grow hot again. No, I can't cry in front of them. I have to be strong.

"Jake, you're obviously upset about something," Cassie said. She stood up from a wide eyed Rachel and strode over to me.

I jumped back like she carried some disease. She looked surprised and I thought I owed them an explanation for my behaviour, but then I reminded myself that Rachel would probably learn of it tonight and tell everyone else. And suddenly I felt a panic attack coming on. I was panicking. I didn't know why, all I knew was I wanted out. I wanted out of everything. I wanted out of my life.

"Just stay away," I said to her. "Please, just keep away from me."

I could hardly breathe, but I turned around and walked hurriedly out.