Morning," I say. "Shh," she says. "If you don't acknowledge it, maybe it will go away.

Resisting is worth doing.

I want to be brave, and selfless, and smart, and kind, and honest.

My name is Four,” I say. “Call me ‘Stiff’ again and you and I will have a problem.

Why did you do it?" I say. "You want me dead. You were willing to do it yourself! What changed?" He presses his lips together and doesn't look away, not for a long time. Then he opens his mouth, hesitates, and finally says, " I can't be in anyone's debt. Okay? The idea that I owed you something made me sick. I would wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I was going to vomit. Indebted to a stiff? It's ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. And I couldn't have it.

You may have succeeded in shutting down the attack simulation, girl, but it was by luck alone, not skill. I would die of shock if you managed to do anything useful again for a long time" This is the Marcus that Tobias knows. The one who knows right where to hit to cause the most damage.

And I'm the kind of person who does not let inconsequential things like boys and near death experiences stop her.