I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THIS!!

Chapter Five

"JESSICA, STOP HIM!" Melissa bellowed.

Jessica, now knowing something was wrong, grabbed hold of Jonathan's ankle, and was yanked into the air. "Jonathan, what are you doing?" She cried.

Jonathan kicked at her. Jessica managed to dodge the blow, and hurried with her flashlight. As a flame- bringer, she was the only one who could use it in the secret hour. It's beam killed darklings instantly... but it also had an effect on midnighters.

Jessica turned the flashlight on and shined it in Jonathan's face. He screamed, suddenly blinded. Jessica took the only chance she had and brought him back down. With Melissa's help, they managed to tie Jonathan to a tree.

"Well, that was interesting," Melissa muttered. "Nice going, Jess. But, then again, it's your fault he got loose anyway."

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?" Jessica demanded.

Melissa sighed. "I'm sorry, Jessica. Its bad enough Jonathan and I knew so much. Too much would be at risk the more people knew."

Jessica sighed, but relented.

As usual at the end of midnight, Jessica disappeared. Tobias and Rachel were no longer "stiffs." The change of Melissa's and Jonathan's positions kinda threw them off. 'And I thought our secret was weird,' Tobias commented.

Three days passed. Melissa felt the yeerk in Jonathan's head grow weaker and weaker, finally dying altogether. The rest of the Animorphs were present at that moment.

"Uggg," Marco retched at the sight of the yeerk dribbling out of Jonathan's ear. "That is way too gross! Barf- a- rama!"

Cassie untied Jonathan and helped him to his feet. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"A little creeped out," Jonathan admitted. "But none the worse for wear!"

"Good," said Melissa. "We need to get going anyway."

'You won't stay longer?' Tobias asked from his tree branch. Melissa could taste his sadness and regret. She too felt it.

"Don't sweat it," Melissa said. "We'll be back."

"We will?" said Jonathan. The memory of the yeerk was haunting him. It probably always would.

"Yes!" Melissa said. "Oh, and Jake. Don't worry. Your precious secret is safe."

Jake smiled. "Somehow, I don't doubt that."

"Yeah," Jonathan laughed. "Melissa's good at keeping secrets!"

Melissa smiled in spite of herself. "Come on Flyboy."

The Animorphs walked them back to their car, Melissa getting in the driver's seat, Jonathan in shotgun.

"We've got midnighters to find!" Melissa said before starting up the car, and driving away.