Free The Stranger by K. A. Applegate Page A

Rachel. You are acting really weird. That’s everyone’s business, because if you do something stupid, we could all end up paying the price. You go and acquire a grizzly? Without backup? You could have been killed.”
    â€œSo what?” I shot back. “You heard the Ellimist. We’re doomed. It’s going to be Yeerks one, humans zero. We lose. So who cares about anything? Who cares if I skip school to go flying?”
    Suddenly Jake just sagged. “I don’t know, Rachel. I don’t have any answers. I’m sick of trying to have answers. You decide. I don’t want to argue with you. I don’t know what your problem is, but you know what? You deal with it.”
    I’ve never seen Jake look so tired. One minute he was being strong, sensible Jake, leader of the Animorphs. And the next minute he looked exhausted. His eyes were red. He was blinking constantly. He looked like he was worn out just from breathing.
    â€œMy dad wants me to move out of state with him,” I said.
    Everyone just kind of stared at me. They all had blank, tired eyes, not much different from Jake’s.
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” Cassie asked.
    I threw up my hands. “How can I even think about something that unimportant? I mean, like we don’t have bigger things to worry about? The fate of planet Earth and the human race?”
    â€œDifferent things bother different people,” Cassie said. “I know how you feel about your dad.”
    â€œHe’s a jerk for dumping this on me!” I said loudly. “I mean … you know … I mean …”
    It was weird. All of a sudden I felt like I was choking. Like I was ready to explode. Like my brain was spinning out of control.
    â€œIt’s like … what am I supposed to do?!” I yelled. “After what happened last night … after all that, I have to decide who I want to hurt — my mom or my dad? And you guys? And —”
    â€œCome on, Rachel,” Marco said kindly. “Take it easy. Come on, you’re Xena —”
    â€œNO! No, I’m not some stupid, old TV character. I’m not some comic book, Marco. I’m scared, okay?! Just like all the rest of you. I’m scared of what almost happened to me last night. I’m scared just knowing that place exists down there. I’m scared about what happens to me . I just wanted to run away but I didn’t think I could, so I was brave because that’s the way I’m supposed to be. But now everyone’s going, ‘Oh, just come live with me and we’ll go to ball games,’ and ‘Hey, forget moving to another state, we have a whole other planet for you.’ And the more exits I see, the more scared I get, all right?”
    For a long time no one said anything.
    Marco sighed heavily. “I’ve been thinking. I’m changing my vote. If the Ellimist asks again, I’m going to vote yes.”
    â€œ What? ” Jake demanded. “Why?”
    Marco shrugged. “Rachel’s losing it. If she loses it, how long are the rest of us going to last?”
    â€œShut up, Marco, I’m not in the mood for your jokes,” I said.
    â€œMe neither,” Marco said flatly. “You know how much sleep I got last night? About an hour. Nightmares. I was a zombie in school today. I feel like … like my skin has all been rubbed with sandpaper. I’m jumpy. I’m scared. I’m stressed.”
    â€œIt’s gonna happen,” Jake said.
    â€œThis was always insane, right from the start,” Marco said. “A handful of kids fighting an alien invasion? Look what’s happening. Tobias is trapped in a morph. Rachel is starting to use morphing to get away from her problems. The other night I woke up in bed, and I didn’t know what I was. I didn’t know if I had hands or fins or claws or talons. Maybe you and Cassie are immune, Jake. But I doubt it.”
    â€œWe can’t