My imprint is there for the world to see. I don't try to hide it with my hair or a high collar. When I got ready for school this morning, I kept thinking of Sean. How proud he appears. Unapologetic. And I want to be like that. I don't want to look cowed or ashamed. I may not want to be this, but I don't want to be that girl, either. I don't want to be afraid.

After running for my life from hunters, a girl with too much lip gloss doesn't register on my fear radar.

It's unclear who moves first. We're in each other's arms, lips locked, melded, hotly fused. Our hands drag over each other, reacquainting, remembering, almost as if we're both verifying the other one is real flesh and blood.

A hunter in love with his prey.

I respond, thoughts dropping away, like pebbles plopping one by one in water, sinking down, down into dark oblivion.

All my life people have called me gifted. Extraordinary. Blessed. I had all these dreams to become something. Someone. No one ever said I couldn't. No one ever said Killer.

You have my word. If you return with me, you won't be harmed. I'd die first.