I don't know why I still feel this pit in my stomach whenever I get a moment to think. I know what the pit is, too; I feel lonely. But I'm not alone, I keep telling myself.

No one, and nothing, will ever hurt you as long as I'm alive.

We break our huddle and Eight immediately transforms into one of his massive avatars. His handsome features melt away, replaced by the snarling face and golden mane of a lion. He grows to about twelve feet, ten arms sprouting out of his sides, each of them tipped with razor-sharp claws. Nine whistles through his teeth. 'Now we're talking,' Nine says. 'One of your parents must've been a chimæra. Probably your mom.

I am not who you thik I am,' I say. 'Who are you?' 'I am number Four.

Those things that are the most obvious are the very things we've most likely to overlook.

Nine, now eight. Are the rest of you out there?

The only limits for tomorrow are the doubts we have today.