Re-Read: Chapter Forty Two- Forced

"No, Ian. Really kiss me. Like ... like you're trying to get slapped."

Ian is dumbfounded by Wanda's blatant request to kiss her. Wanda knows this is not fair to him, but she is terrified at the prospect of losing Melanie. Hesitantly, Ian pulls her body to his and gently presses his lips to her. Pulling back, he looks at her with worry and Melanie is no more clear now than she was a moment ago. Wanda tells him to really kiss her and when he refuses, she puts her arms around his neck and pulls his lips to hers again. Ian eventually falls into the kiss, reciprocating her movements and pressing her back against to wall, fusing her body to his. Wanda searches for Melanie, but there is no one else and Ian feels her giving up. They loosen from each others' grasps and Ian once again asks Wanda to explain.

"She's not here. I can't find her. Not even now."

"Melanie?"

"I can't hear her! Ian, how can I go back in to Jamie? He'll know that I'm lying! How can I tell him that I've lost his sister now? Ian, he's sick! I can't tell him that! I'll upset him, make it harder for him to get well. I -"

Re-Read: Chapter Forty One- Vanished

"I need you to kiss me, Ian. Now. Please."

Wanda and Ian sit in the darkness for three days. Ian leaves only to get food and water, but Wanda refused to eat anything and Ian soon followed. Wanda cannot not stop sleep from overcoming her and though Ian tries to comfort her, placing her head and shoulders in his lap, her quick recoil and violent shuddering ensures he does not try that again. On the third day, Ian finally speaks, begging her to eat. He also asks her not to hate him and that, if he had know what the other were doing, he would have stopped them. Though Ian is sincere, Wanda does not believe him. To her, he was just one among the other monsters and, as Jared said, Ian had no objections to the procedure before Wanda came to the caves. Ian sits quietly with her for another hour or so before leaving the room again. Wanda is conflicted when he leaves, thinking him a monster, but also wanting him to stay with her. 

Hearing the distinct sound of Jeb's contemplative whistle, Wanda waits for him as he strides over to her, bringing light to the room with the click of a flashlight. Settling himself against the wall beside Wanda, Jeb questions if her plan is to starve herself. Wanda knows her period for mourning the lost should has past and it is now her anger that drives her solitude. When Jeb tells her there are easier ways to die, she counters, telling him to give her to Doc for his experiments. 

"Did you expects us to just give up Wanderer? We have a stronger survival instinct that that. Of course we want to find a way to get our minds back. it could be any one of us someday. So many people we love are already lost. It isn't easy. It nearly kills Doc each time he fails - you've seen that. But this is our reality, Wanda. This is our world. We've lost a war. We are about to be extinct. We are trying to find ways to save ourselves."

Re-Read: Chapter Forty- Horrified

"Get away; you're monsters! Torturers!"

At the sound of voices, Wanda slows her pace and moves forward as quietly as she can. Though the words are clear, she has a hard time putting names to voices, but continues to listen intently.

"...why do we keep doing this?"

"Doc didn't want o. It was Jared's idea this time."

"I thought he was the biggest opponent to this business." 

"He's more...motivated now."

Wanda pushes herself as close to the wall as she can as the group passes by her, no one taking notice of her there. Waiting until their footsteps faded, Wanda continues creeping forward before breaking into a jog. Catching a hint of daylight, Wanda knows she is close to the hospital and carefully moves forward. As she gets closer and closer, she hears Doc's sobs and Jeb's words of comfort. There is also a strange smell, "not quite metallic, but not quite anything else, either" permeating the air that is familiar to Wanda, but not one she can easily place. Fear suddenly halts her movements, but Melanie points out that the worst they can do is make them leave and with that, Wanda rounds the corner to the hospital. No one notices her standing there, but she sees Doc sobbing on the floor with Jeb patting his back. Jared and Kyle are also there, placing a stretcher next to one of the cots. The cots are not empty, but hold something hidden beneath green blankets. Doc's table is set a the head of the cots, holding scalpels and antiquated medical tools, but it is not the tools that hold Wanda's attention.

Re-Read: Chapter Thirty Nine- Worried

"You're my very favorite person in the known universe."

It has been a month since Wanda moved back in with Jamie and Jared. Jared, though not always at ease with Wanda's presence is always polite and Wanda and Melanie are both "sort of happy" with their current arrangement. On the other hand, Jamie is in a constant state of euphoria, taking to and about Melanie. While the first three weeks were relatively enjoyable, the fourth is a little lonely since both Jamie and Jared left on a raid and Melanie is not as talkative in their absence. 

Sitting alone at lunch, Wanda is a bit bothered when Ian joins her, going as far as not returning his greeting. Knowing her mind is on her AWAY roommates, Ian assures her that the pair will be back today. Wanda retorts that he said the same thing three days ago, two days ago, and the day before. Ian tries to reassure Wanda, telling her that it is not Jamie's first raid and he has Jared, Geoffrey, and Trudy looking after him. Ian acquiesces to her request when it is evident she no longer wants to discuss the the pair absence. Ian notices Wanda looking a little tired and she tells him sleep has been difficult to come by in her quiet cave. He offers to sleep in her room until Jared and Jamie return (and telling Melanie to calm down at the suggestion), but Wanda tells him there is no need since, as he just told her, they would be back later in the day. When they finish their lunch, Ian asks for help on a project and Wanda gladly offers her services. Taking her hand (something so commonplace Melanie barely reacts), Ian leads her to the eastern field, a grin planted on his face the entire time. Before turning the final corner, the sound of echoing voices and a sporadic thud, thud clues Wanda in on what exactly Ian has in mind for the afternoon. 

'The Host' Audiobook Movie Tie-In Edition Available for Pre-Order

In addition to the movie tie-in edition of the novel, there will also be a tie-in edition of the audiobook. It is currently available for pre-order and set for release on January 15th.

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Re-Read: Chapter Thirty Eight- Touched

"It's not the face, but the expressions on it. It's not the voice, but what you say. It's not how you look in that body, but the things you do with it. You are beautiful."

Wanda is not sure what to make of the conversation she heard between Ian and Jared just outside her room. She still has trouble comprehending that Ian would have a crush on her, know that she is, as Kyle put it, a worm. Ian freely admits that he like her; he likes her very much and wonders if this is one of the things she is not sure about.

"No. I mean yes, I ... don't know. I ... I -"

"That's okay. You haven't had long to think about it. And it must seem...strange."

"Yes. More than strange. Impossible."

Ian asks for an answer, but before even asking the question, he reaches over and picks up Wanda's hand. He holds it in his for a moment before tailing his fingers slowly up her arm. He watches her arm, rather than her face, and notices the goose bumps left in the wake of his touch.

"Does that feel good or bad to you?"

Re-Read: Chapter Thirty Seven- Wanted

"Jealous, Howe?"

It seems to Wanda that whatever team Jared plays on dominates the game, but that is only until she sees the O'Shea brothers together. Jeb finally brings an end to the games and while some protest, everyone seems to be worn out. As the others leave the field, Wanda spots Ian and Kyle roughhousing with each other. At first, Wanda is unsure if their punches are being thrown in jest, but Melanie quickly confirms that they are playing, stating "the bonds of brotherhood go deep."

Jared comes to stand above Wanda, offering his hand to help her up. Melanie warns her to get ahold of herself and Wanda tries to keep her hand from shaking as she reaches out to meet his. Jared pulls her up, but there is an awkward distance between the two. As they discuss where she is staying, Ian swoops in, wrapping his arm under hers and telling Jared he would escort her. Jared and Ian both continue to hold onto her as they mince words. Though Ian offers Wanda to Jared to carry, Jared declines, but insists on tagging along, claiming he has something to discuss with Ian. 

Jared breaks the silence of their walk by asking Ian about Kyle. Ian tells him that Kyle usually keeps his word, but in this instance, he is keeping a close eye on him. This answer seems to appease Jared and Wanda tells him once again that she is not afraid. 

"You don't have to be. I promise - no one is ever going to do something like this to you again. You will be safe here."

New Photo with Saoirse Ronan, Frances Fisher & Jake Abel

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Re-Read: Chapter Thirty Six- Believed

"Why do you love him?"

The chatter among the group becomes more enthusiastic as Jared leaves the cave to retrieve the new ball her acquired during the recent raid. Andy and Lily are nominated as captains and they quickly go about dividing the teams with Kyle and Jared with Andy and Ian and Jamie on Lily's team. Lily asks Wanda if she would like to be on her team, but Wanda declines because of her leg. Ian tries to sit the game out with Wanda, but she and Jamie insist he plays with the others. 

Wanda tries to get to her feet, but is unable to balance with her bad leg. Strong arms catch her and she is about to turn and thank Ian, but it turns out Jared is the one holding her up. They fall into conversation, Jared observing how much Wanda cares about Jamie and even Ian. Wanda tells Jared it is because Ian believes her and watches out for her. She also takes the time to thank Jared for coming to her defense during the tribunal and apologizes for hurting him and Jamie by coming to the caves. To Wanda's relief, Jared tells her that Jamie has actually been better since her arrival. Wondering why Wanda cares so much for Jamie, he asks her directly, "Why do you love him?"

"In part because Melanie does. Remembering him the way she does...that's a powerful thing. And then, when I met him in person...I can't not love him. It's part of my...the very makeup of these cells to love him. I hadn't realized before how much influence a host had on me. Maybe it's just human bodies. Maybe it's just Melanie."