Oh, Will Henry. After all we have been through, how could I send you away now, at our most critical hour? You are indispensable to me.

It's hard to plan for what comes next when what comes next is not something you planned for.

Do you know how to tell who the enemy is, Cassie?

Please, do not leave me, Will Henry. I would not survive it. You were nearly right. What Mr. Kendall was, I am always on the brink of becoming. And you - I do not pretend to know how or even why - but you pull me back from the precipice. You are the one... You are the one thing that keeps me Human.

And no answer when we sent our message. Something like, "Hello, welcome to Earth. Hope you enjoy your stay. Please don't kill us.

After another half second, he's locked me in a bear hug, crushing me into his chest and lifting my feet a couple inches off the ground as I kick furiously with my heels, twisting my head back and forth, snapping at his forearm with my teeth. And the whole time his lips tickling the delicate skin of my ear. "Cassie. Don't. Cassie..." "Let...me...go." "That's been the whole problem. I can't.

There was, like, this black hole where the world used to be, and we were both falling toward it. What could we hold on to?