Ryan
We have traveled through an entire desert when we spot Giovani and the minivan standing on a hill. A field of grass blows behind him, and fat tufts of clouds are moving over the skies. Giovani is smoking while wearing that same beige trenchcoat that I swear I will burn down to the ground when he isn't looking.
Amelia lifts her hand from Cuddles's back, waving and shouting at the bear-like man. "Giovani! You found us!"
The man laughs, waves at us, and then the car doors open, letting out Zoya and Billy, and some stranger. Zoya is holding a baby, smiling over at us with a tender gaze. Billy hugs her shoulders, and the stranger, a young girl, is glaring at us with her arms crossed.
I ride closer to Amelia, letting Lizzie take the reins as I lean closer to my girlfriend. "Who is the young girl?"
Amelia shrugs. "I don't know—she must be new, someone they picked up on the road."
Discomfort churns in the pit of my stomach. I don't like n
I am extremely interested in the two children in the future. Maybe the two of them would date each other? Haha.
AmeliaI'm featherbrained. We have been traveling for two weeks, and I think something is wrong with my body. I'm nauseous every morning, with kicks of anguish in my abdomen. Part of me is wondering if maybe a pregnancy between a hybrid and a human is different—perhaps even dangerous.A normal pregnancy wouldn't be taking this toll on my body at such an early stage, but you never know when you're carrying a mini zombie."Ryan…" I mumble. "I'm not… I'm not feeling so good."Giovani and the others are driving the minivan. Ryan is with Lizzie, and Blue is sitting in the minivan with his head out the window. Meanwhile, Cuddles is carrying me on his back.Another wave of dizziness rushes over me, making me let go of the reins and tumble backward. For a moment, I worry I will hit the ground and break my head. I'm about to fall off the saddle, but Cuddles bends forward to send me flying the other way, thus saving me."Amelia!" R
RyanI've suffered another sleepless night. I was afraid something would happen to Amelia while I was snoring next to her, and therefore, I stayed awake. The concern within me wouldn't let me close my eyes.Whatever—rest is for the weak.I'm sitting down on my knees in front of a couch. Amelia is sleeping, tossing and turning in her sweat. We have been living on the coast for three months now, and she isn't getting better. She is barely awake during the day, and my concern only grows with each day.Her fever is so high, and I'm eternally grateful that we don't have to be running while she is in this terrible state.The fishing village we found is ruled by a hybrid captain, who prefers to eat other hybrids rather than humans. His name is Charles—he has said nothing about a surname—and he is enemies with Marcus.Marcus wants to take over Charles' fishing and trade business with other countries, such as Denmark, but Charles is
RyanThere is no goddamn air-condition in this entire building. Electricity runs just fine in the village, but Charles doesn't want to waste it cooling down the rooms inside the hospital."As if we didn't have enough things on our plates already," I mutter to myself and hug the little hybrid, human, whatever closer to my chest. "Not only do we have to deal with matters of the heart, but now we have to survive in this extreme heat too."I peer down at the silent baby as if I foresee him to answer me, and a smile thugs at the corner of my lips.My heart has never been this unsettled, joyous, and broken at the same time. I'm holding little Wyatt in my arms, wondering if he will be content only having his father in the picture.I should head to the library later, see if there are any books about fatherhood.How do I raise a child on my own?Tears are forming in my eyes, but I fight them and struggle to keep my lips under control. It's my
Sequel Maeve, 20 years old My best friend Wyatt is finally returning from his journey. He has been gone for four years, traveling together with his father Ryan and bodyguard Giovani to find laser surgery for his eyes. Wyatt had poor eyesight growing up. He was the bullied child, a skinny kid who followed me around like a lost puppy. Few words came out of his lips, and so I stepped in to defend him every time the other guys our age would pick on him. They used to take his glasses and hold them out of reach from Wyatt, who wasn't exactly tall. Late puberty, I think Ryan described it as, and then he had winked and messed around his son's hair, saying he would catch up with the others in no time. I don't think he did. From the letters we have exchanged for the last couple of years, Wyatt is still a goofy guy who loves food and reading his father's old comic books underneath trees. He is a nerd. "Are you excited?" Zoya, my mother as
My footsteps are unwilling, heart refusing to step inside the building where Ryan, Giovani, and Wyatt live. When the three of them were traveling, my mother was the one dusting their shelves and taking care of their plants. She even filled the fridge with food yesterday. "Thank you so much for taking care of our house." Ryan smiles at my mother with a cup of coffee in his hand. He is leaning against the counter with his back. He looks over at me. "Why don't you join Wyatt and... Uh, your friend in the living room?" Because Angelica is hitting on your son, Ryan—that's why. I forcefully glue a smile to my lips. "Sure, why not?" Ryan looks amused, but I can't for the life of me figure out why. Perhaps he can feel the attraction I feel towards his son? It wouldn't surprise me—Ryan is a wise older man, and he is sharp. "Have fun," Ryan smirks. "Oh, and Maeve?" I spin around, catching his growing smirk. I can see where Wyatt gets his handsom
Dust circles around my nose, forcing me to hold back a sneeze. My boss and owner of the grocery store told me to clean above the shelves, and I agree with him—it's nasty up here. Grimacing, I dip my rag back into the water, then continue scrubbing like the dutiful worker I am. I need the money more than my pride. Therefore, I don't even look up when the popular girls in town walk past my aisle, whispering when they see me. "Why is she working here, of all places?" "Maybe she can't get a proper job, or maybe her parents are poor?" "Probably." I roll my eyes at the gossiping girls and keep on cleaning. It's hard finding work these days, so I'm just grateful not to have to step outside the wall. My mother has trained me in material arts, and I know how to use a crossbow, but the infected scares the crap out of me. So do the mutated animals living outside. Ryan has pet lizards, giant ones, and I'm terrified of them—I let my mother care for
Victor I'm down on my knees, breathing like a steady drum as my father is giving me instructions. My hands are kneading the red carpet beneath me; head slightly bent to show obedience. "I want you to kidnap the human girl." Marcus, my father, is breathing hard while pacing the room. "Maeve is the daughter of Zoya, one name on my death list. If we bring her here, then the rest will come out of their hiding place." I respectfully nod. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted my father's acceptance. He barely talks with me, but today, he has given me a mission—infiltrate the human fishing village, and kidnap this girl. It will be an effortless task. We have men inside already. "I will make you proud, father," I tell him without meeting his eyes. Looking at your elder without permission is disrespectful, and my father is the most outstanding leader I know. "Give me a week, and this girl will be locked up in your cellar as your prisoner." My fath
MaeveBitterness curls around my senses and makes me see red as I glare into the kitchen, not surprised at finding Wyatt together with three women who look ready to attack him."So, how old are you?" A woman asks, definitely above thirty."Eighteen," Wyatt replies."Oh-my-god!" She is using a piece of paper to fan herself. "You don't look your age at all." Her eyes are glued to Wyatt's brawny arms. "Tell me, do you date older women?"Of course, he does—Wyatt would date anyone to piss me off.I drink more alcohol, soothing my thoughts as I try to enjoy the blasting rap music. This party was Angelica's attempt at making Wyatt feel more welcome and make friends. I guess it's working. Women are swarming around him and offering to show him around town."Maeve!"My eyes roll before I turn around, spotting Henrik walking through a herd of people to get to me. He is holding a red plastic cup, and his eyes are puffy and red, proba