You know what, Sam? We created the council to take pressure off of you. Because you were falling apart.” Sam just stared at her. Not quite believing she’d said it. And Astrid seemed shocked herself. Shocked at the venom behind her own words. “I didn’t mean…,” she started lamely, but then couldn’t find her way to explaining just what it was she didn’t mean. Sam shook his head. “You know, even now, as long as we’ve been together it still surprises me that you can be so ruthless.” “Ruthless? Me?” “You will use anyone to get what you want. Say anything to get your way. Why was I ever even in charge?” He stabbed an accusing finger at her. “Because of you! Because you manipulated me into it. Why? So I would protect you and Little Pete. That’s all you cared about.” “That’s a lie!” she said hotly. “You know it’s the truth. And now you don’t have to bother manipulating me, you can just give me orders. Embarrass me. Undercut me. But as soon as some problem hits, guess what? It’ll be, oh, please, Sam, save us.” “Anything I do, I do for everyone’s good,” Astrid said. “Yeah, so you’re not just a genius now, you’re a saint.
Michael Grant
Related I’m mean? That’s the worst you can throw at me?” “Mean and self-pitying. Does that make... MICHAEL GRANT Why are we sneaking out in the night?” Jack repeated. “I already explained,” Sam snapped.... MICHAEL GRANT Hey! One of Edilio’s soldiers just came staggering in from the gas station. He says someone attack... MICHAEL GRANT Why are you being so nice to me?' I asked her. 'You know,' she said, 'when you say stuff like t... SARAH DESSEN Sam, I know you’re upset over what happened with you and Drake,” Astrid began. “Upset?”... MICHAEL GRANT Hunter’s dead,” Taylor said without preamble. “It was these . . . these things. They came craw... MICHAEL GRANT Why, so we can look for some little kid who probably doesn’t even know he’s missing?” Aga... MICHAEL GRANT You let her get away?” Caine demanded, forgetting Sam for the moment. “I didn’t let her g... MICHAEL GRANT Diana can read power levels,” Astrid said. “Did she ever…” Sam nodded. “She said the ... MICHAEL GRANT Mom." I couldn't believe she was doing this again. She was taking this moment, this time when I was ... SARAH DESSEN Sam…” “What?” she whispered. “Tell me what to do to fix it.” She shook he... KAYLEA CROSS Why do we have to do this in the middle of the night?” Taylor asked. “Because we don’t wa... MICHAEL GRANT My little man,” she said. “No.” She stretched out her hand to him. “Come.” ... MICHAEL GRANT Nothing they say or do can ever change the man you are,” Trinity continued. “A man I love with a... C.A. HARMS Do you love him?” I jumped out of my skin. She was standing right beside me. “Who?” JULIE ANNE PETERS Hey, Sam,” Drake shouted. “I thought you’d like to know this isn’t my whole army.” Sa... MICHAEL GRANT Astrid found the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it up over his head. She unbuckled his belt and shove... MICHAEL GRANT I’m trying to make a profit. I’m using batteries, toilet paper, and paper towels as currency. Ea... MICHAEL GRANT You cold or something?' he said. She strained against him; she wanted to pass clear through him: 'It... TRUMAN CAPOTE Have you seen Sam?” Mary asked. “What do you want with Sam?” “I can’t take care ... MICHAEL GRANT I was trying to make you jealous!" Simon screamed, right back. His hands were fisted at his sides. "... CASSANDRA CLARE H--‐how did we get in the water?” “You were burning. I needed to do something to co... ELISABETH NAUGHTON You be as angry as you need to be," she said. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Not your grandma... PATRICK NESS You think I don’t know pain?” Puck shook his head at me. “Or loss? I’ve been around a lot lo... JULIE KAGAWA Something about you caught me by surprise Though I always knew you’d be my demise. R.S. GREY I’m getting my stuff,” he said, and bolted for the steps. “You don’t have to move out,�... MICHAEL GRANT Brianna’s looking for Drake,” Edilio said, thinking out loud. “You sent her out against D... MICHAEL GRANT Why, Sam,” he said, “to hear you somehow makes me as merry as if the story was already writ... J.R.R. TOLKIEN He’s becoming useless. Worse than useless,” Sam said. Then, relenting, he said, “We’ll get p... MICHAEL GRANT He grasped her by the wrist , running a thumb along the sensitive skin underneath. "Then let me call... SARAH J. MAAS I love you, Eliza,” I said. She thought about it. “No,” she said at last, “I don’t li... KURT VONNEGUT She’s stronger than you are, Sam. It’s like fighting yourself and Caine and Jack and Dekka, all ... MICHAEL GRANT Clay, did you ever love me?" I'm studying a billboard and say that I didn't hear what she said.... BRET EASTON ELLIS Sam:"Okay, what words would you use then?" I leaned back in the seat, thinking, as Sam looked at me ... MAGGIE STIEFVATER Yeah, I get it; you're a vampire," she said. "Creepy. And okay, a little hot, I admit." "You d... RACHEL CAINE You know," Marion said, "I met a woman once when I was a teenager. I knew she had gone through a lot... ERICA BAUERMEISTER Questions, I've got some questions I want to know you But what if I could ask you only one... JACK JOHNSON For a long time,’ Nico said, ‘I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.’ Percy looked a... RICK RIORDAN What did she say to you?" "Nothing." "Oh, great. I have to try to get you out of this mess... MELINA MARCHETTA She took me to her room and stood me in front of her dresser, which was covered in a pillowcase with... STEPHEN CHBOSKY Tamani checkled. ‘If it makes you feel any better, it scares the daylights our of me on a regular ... APRILYNNE PIKE You don’t understand,” my dad said. “They stop you.” “Who? What are you talkin... CRISTINA HENRIQUEZ Esther, I don’t know what I’m going to do without you when you go. I don’t know how I can get ... ESTHER EARL No, I know,” Levi said. “But it’s not you. You don’t push through every moment. You pay atte... RAINBOW ROWELL So say I’m your mom.' 'What?' I said. 'I’m your mom,' he repeated. 'Now tell me you wa... SARAH DESSEN Find Sam Temple. Tell him you escaped.” Jack gulped and bobbed his head. “Better yet, ... MICHAEL GRANT I want to have the heart and mind of a queen,” she whispered. “I want it more than anything. But... KRISTIN CASHORE It’s midnight!” he says frantically, slapping at the door. “Call her. Call your roommate!” COLLEEN HOOVER It’s time,” Jack said. “Breeze? Count the kids,” Sam said. Brianna was back in twe... MICHAEL GRANT Did you throw a rock at my brother?” Astrid yelled, fearless in her outrage. She dropped to her kn... MICHAEL GRANT What do you want to show me?" "Nothing, really. I just want to be alone with you for a mi... RAINBOW ROWELL What do you do?' she asks, holding out the vest. 'What do you do?' 'What do you do?' she a... BRET EASTON ELLIS What are you doing?” “What?” Emrys didn’t raise his voice as he said, “To that g... SARAH J. MAAS I needed to say something. Something romantic! Something to sweep her off her feet. "You’re l... BRANDON SANDERSON He stared at me. "She liked you, boy." The intensity of his voice and eyes made me blink. "Yes,... JERRY SPINELLI You have no idea of what you are doing to me,” he warned. She smiled. “Are you trying to fr... AMANDA QUICK Look. I don’t want to push you into anything, but do you maybe want to —” “Call Magnus? Look... CASSANDRA CLARE How would you like it if I said to you, 'It kills me to say this, but you're actually a tiny bit bea... MELINA MARCHETTA She slid a sideways glance in his direction, trying to figure out just what it was that was making h... KIMBERLY DERTING I just came from Bunker Hill,’ I told Sam. ‘Hel offered me a reunion with my mother.’ RICK RIORDAN Albert, I don’t know how long we can keep Sam involved at all,” she said. “You’re upset... MICHAEL GRANT Do you think they have ice cream here?” Lanie asked. Kyle cocked his eyebrow, obviously... M.K. SCHILLER God! You'll do anything to avoid it.' Avoid what?' my mother said. The past,' Caroline sai... SARAH DESSEN What do you think that fish is?' Sam asked Astrid. She peered closely at the alleged fish. 'I t... MICHAEL GRANT I told you everything I know", said the messenger. Arin had gone to his childhood suite, feeling anx... MARIE RUTKOSKI Simon whispered to me, “But is everything okay?” “No,” Tori said. “I kidnapped her an... KELLEY ARMSTRONG Look, this is all very, very weird. Why are you focusing on rumours and urban legends? You haven’t... DEREK LANDY You can't go." "Give me a reason why I shouldn't." "Because I'll miss you, dam... SARAH J. MAAS He stood and looked at me for a moment, taking in my outfit. "You look hot." "What? Me?" I stam... MORGAN MATSON L: You want me just to be your... friend? E: You want the truth? I think you're my guardi... SOPHIE KINSELLA Stay." The strangled word, spoken in anguish, tore at her heart, ripped through her resol... LORRAINE HEATH And I find myself saying, “It wasn’t really about her.” And finding it’s true. Wh... DAVID LEVITHAN I tried!” She screamed, her eyes filled with raw emotion. All Sarah could do is stand there, speec... ZOE SANTANA We shouldn’t,” protested Isabelle. “The Clave has a plan.” “The Clave has the c... CASSANDRA CLARE Thorne shuffled his feet. “You know, if it was a bad kiss, you can just say so.” She stiffe... MARISSA MEYER Have you ever loved anyone?" "You mean besides my mum?" Luke was dumbfounded as he stared ... LORRAINE HEATH Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name... LEWIS CARROLL The point is,” Caine continued, “you and I share something in common, Sam. We were born just thr... MICHAEL GRANT No problem," Gale replies. "I wake up ten times a night anyway." "To make sure Katniss is still... SUZANNE COLLINS Do you know how long I’ve waited for you to look at me this way?” She assumed he was teasi... JULIE JAMES She's one you *really* care about, isn't she?" Eliot shook his head. "How can you read ot... KEITH R.A. DECANDIDO I made up my mind I was going to find someone who would love me unconditionally three hundred and si... HARUKI MURAKAMI Can you tell me what happened?" Her lips thinned as she shook her head. "'Tis not a happy... JENNY B. JONES Inej turned to go. Kaz seized her hand, keeping it on the railing. He didn't look at her. "Stay", he... LEIGH BARDUGO To be fair, you can tell me what you think of me,” Max offered. “I didn’t mean to offend you. ... SHAWN KIRSTEN MARAVEL A mistake? The most passionate night of his life was a mistake? Her first time and that’s what she... R.L. MATHEWSON She was in love with you,” he says. “And I don’t think she got to tell you, did she?” <... TESS SHARPE What did I do to make Mommy leave?” “You didn’t do anything. This isn’t your fault.”<... LIBBA BRAY There was a few seconds' pause. Then Amit said: I meant, what were you thinking just now. VIKRAM SETH I… What are you saying, Zsadist?" she stammered, even though she'd heard every word. He... J.R. WARD I know I’m just a human woman, but so help me, if anything happens to her while she’s with you�... WENDY HIGGINS But what does he do to qualify as a sonovabitch?” Jenny asked. “Make me”, I replied. ERICH SEGAL She turned to go back inside the livery stable. The excitement with which she’d entered it le... BONNIE DEE I have nothing to offer you," he finally said in a guttural voice. "Nothing." Win's lips h... LISA KLEYPAS There's a girl, Dad." He smiled a bit. "A girl." "She kinda hates me, and I ki... JAMIE MCGUIRE I’m well aware that this—that I—am the first man to ever do this to her. And yes, as a guy, th... EMMA CHASE You just were so cold with me. And the nurse’s outfit didn’t seem to make any kind of impression... SARAH ALDERSON I looked at him and the other two people whose names I’d just learned. “So . . . so this is home... KIERA CASS I want you,” she said. “Naked.” His nostrils flared as if he was soaking in the sc... NALINI SINGH Where was Sam? It hit her full force then, the shocking realization. Was this how Sam felt? Was... MICHAEL GRANT
More Michael Grant
He’s a murdering chud,” Zil was yelling. “What do you want to do? Lynch him?” Astrid de... MICHAEL GRANT Scared people did scary things sometimes, MICHAEL GRANT He didn't mind if she hated him. They were never going to be a cute romantic couple like Sam and Ast... MICHAEL GRANT Sam was slow getting up. To Quinn he looked like an old man standing up after slipping on the ice. B... MICHAEL GRANT Did you throw a rock at my brother?” Astrid yelled, fearless in her outrage. She dropped to her kn... MICHAEL GRANT [Caine] "Interesting. Me, I've always wanted to know who my real parents were." [Sam] MICHAEL GRANT Brianna dropped the skateboard in front of Sam. "Don't worry: I won't let you fall off." "Yeah... MICHAEL GRANT Sam,” Astrid yelled. “Quick.” Sam thought he was too far gone to respond, but he somehow ... MICHAEL GRANT Where was Sam? It hit her full force then, the shocking realization. Was this how Sam felt? Was... MICHAEL GRANT Okay, look. I get it. You're one of those people who thinks they have to help screwed-up people. Or ... MICHAEL GRANT Sometimes I think He looks down and says, "Wow, look what those idiots are up to now. I guess I bett... MICHAEL GRANT So asking you to take a moonlit walk with me, that would totally not work?" "What?" Again that ... MICHAEL GRANT No," Lana said, "I'm not going to heal your scratch." "Good," Sanjit said. "Good? Why good... MICHAEL GRANT You're staring," Lana said. "Yes. I am. I'm a teenage boy. Beautiful girls in wet underwear hav... MICHAEL GRANT I like your boyfriend," Dahra said. "Not many guys volunteer to carry ten gallons of diarrhea and vo... MICHAEL GRANT No one vinces me, baby MICHAEL GRANT Caine met Diana's disbelieving gaze and laughed aloud. "Why so gloomy? Doesn't every little gir... MICHAEL GRANT If God gives you a Quiznos, can I have a bite? No way. You have to pray for your own food. MICHAEL GRANT It's Sanjit. It's a Hindu name. It means 'invincible.'" "That's great," Lana said. "Invinc... MICHAEL GRANT Sam, that's a great concept. And maybe you believe it. But I'm black and I'm a lesbian, so let me te... MICHAEL GRANT They said a lot of things to each other that night, but nothing that involved words. MICHAEL GRANT Astrid had gone to look at the burn zone. Doing the right thing. Kids had yelled at her. Demand... MICHAEL GRANT Too bad we don't have marshmallows. This is an amazing fire." Howard emerged through the smoke behin... MICHAEL GRANT He didn’t mind Drake so much. Drake was a creep. It was the girl who made Orc want to cry. MICHAEL GRANT Fear was about possibilities. Not things that happened. Things that might. MICHAEL GRANT Guilt was a fascinating thing: it seemed not to weaken over time. If anything it grew stronger as th... MICHAEL GRANT Sam’s probably out there somewhere being his usual heroic self,” Caine said. “I can’t let th... MICHAEL GRANT No, no, no, so not getting the point of fear. Because fear wasn't about what made sense. Fear was ab... MICHAEL GRANT Hey, thanks for stopping by," Howard said. "I'd offer you some tea and cookies, but all we have is b... MICHAEL GRANT Superpowers, don't always make you a superhero. - Duck MICHAEL GRANT Yeah. A feeling. Like the whole point of my life from the alleys in Bangkok to the yachts and privat... MICHAEL GRANT There’ll be guys who were in wars hearing what we did and thinking, ‘Whoa.’ You and me, we can... MICHAEL GRANT Why are we sneaking out in the night?” Jack repeated. “I already explained,” Sam snapped.... MICHAEL GRANT You let her get away?” Caine demanded, forgetting Sam for the moment. “I didn’t let her g... MICHAEL GRANT About time,” Brianna said. “Hey, sorry, we were kind of busy,” Quinn snapped. “And I di... MICHAEL GRANT Why do we have to do this in the middle of the night?” Taylor asked. “Because we don’t wa... MICHAEL GRANT Yeah, let’s get John here. That way we can stall for a while longer. We can keep on doing nothing ... MICHAEL GRANT He was still furious at Quinn, but they were—literally—all in the same boat now. MICHAEL GRANT People are idiots, Choo. Always remember that: people are faithless, backstabbing, weak, creepy, stu... MICHAEL GRANT Cabeza de turco. MICHAEL GRANT He's one kind of person, you're another. When life is going along normally, you're sort of the same.... MICHAEL GRANT The pain was her whole world now. Pain and fear. MICHAEL GRANT She placed her palm over his wound, pressing as hard as she dared. She would stop the blood. MICHAEL GRANT What’s happened so far? Coyotes evolved limited powers of speech. Worms developed teeth and became... MICHAEL GRANT I came up with myself. FAYZ. Spelled F-A-Y-Z. It stands for Fallout Alley Youth Zone. Fallout Alley,... MICHAEL GRANT He found a set of encyclopedias—like Wikipedia, but paper and very bulky. MICHAEL GRANT Man, don't ever be sorry you don't want to kill someone. MICHAEL GRANT The point is,” Caine continued, “you and I share something in common, Sam. We were born just thr... MICHAEL GRANT but I know you're the brightest shooting star in the sky - Astrid MICHAEL GRANT So many things I'm not, and so few things I am. MICHAEL GRANT You'll never have complete control, Caine. This world is changing all the time. Animals. People. Who... MICHAEL GRANT Ninth graders with machine guns: its hard to make that a happy story. MICHAEL GRANT Let me guess: you're secretly a wizard who was raised by muggles. MICHAEL GRANT welcome to the FAYZ. Wherever, whenever or whyever that is MICHAEL GRANT One minute the teacher was talking about the Civil War. And the next minute he was gone. There. Gone... MICHAEL GRANT It's not about who's got powers, morons. It's about who's not afraid. And who's going to do what has... MICHAEL GRANT I had a polynomial once. My doctor removed it. MICHAEL GRANT It's vital to keep a sense of humour when the world seems to have suddenly become a very strange pla... MICHAEL GRANT It couldn’t last. Everyone was just killing time. But if all they did was kill time, time would en... MICHAEL GRANT That's your solution? Have a cookie?' Astrid asked. 'No, my solution is to run down to the beach and... MICHAEL GRANT We didn't Make this World we're just the Poor Fools who are living in it. MICHAEL GRANT Welcome to Perdido beach, where our motto is: Radiation, what radiation? MICHAEL GRANT Astrid found the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it up over his head. She unbuckled his belt and shove... MICHAEL GRANT The food is ready,” Zil announced to loud cheers. “But we have something more important to ... MICHAEL GRANT We’ve searched all of the homes and carried the food to Ralph’s,” Sam continued. “The proble... MICHAEL GRANT Diana can read power levels,” Astrid said. “Did she ever…” Sam nodded. “She said the ... MICHAEL GRANT I’m mean? That’s the worst you can throw at me?” “Mean and self-pitying. Does that make... MICHAEL GRANT It’s time,” Jack said. “Breeze? Count the kids,” Sam said. Brianna was back in twe... MICHAEL GRANT I don’t guess you can outrun an explosion, right?” Sam asked doubtfully. Jack rolled his ey... MICHAEL GRANT The door exploded inward and a tangle of bug legs appeared. “I can hold them, but I can’t k... MICHAEL GRANT The only crime, if any, that may have been committed in these circumstances is the perpetration of a... MICHAEL GRANT Tino really battled inside. He battled against [Joe] Reitz, which was a really good battle all night... MICHAEL GRANT We can't afford to give away games by not executing and not knocking down our free throws. MICHAEL GRANT With five minutes left in the game and it's a seven point game, we had our chances to get back into ... MICHAEL GRANT We didn't take care of the basketball and we didn't concentrate on knocking down our free throws. I ... MICHAEL GRANT The question I have is what alternative does either the county or the state have? ... Does anybody h... MICHAEL GRANT I think it's going to be fairly difficult. MICHAEL GRANT The Tao of Natural Breathing by Dennis Lewis is filled with drawings, insights and guidance from an ... MICHAEL GRANT An enormous failure of the system has clearly been exposed, but this system failure is associated wi... MICHAEL GRANT You look okay,” Sam said with a certain desperate edge in his voice. “I mean good. You look good... MICHAEL GRANT Where’s Sam?” Brianna asked. “He’s out. So is Edilio,” Dekka said. “You going to te... MICHAEL GRANT He never should have left the island. He’d been there with Diana and Penny. He could have tossed P... MICHAEL GRANT Lunch had been at a McDonald’s in Santa Barbara. It had been so clean. It had smelled like food. I... MICHAEL GRANT Sam, I know you’re upset over what happened with you and Drake,” Astrid began. “Upset?”... MICHAEL GRANT If you do bad stuff and don't repent, you go to hell," Orc said, like he was begging for a refutatio... MICHAEL GRANT What do you think that fish is?' Sam asked Astrid. She peered closely at the alleged fish. 'I t... MICHAEL GRANT I want my mom,” a little boy cried out suddenly. Every voice fell silent. The boy had said wh... MICHAEL GRANT Hi, Albert,” Quinn called back. He seemed distracted. And Albert was sure that he’d seen Quinn m... MICHAEL GRANT We’re here to execute a murderer,” Zil said, pointing at Hunter. “We are bringing justice in t... MICHAEL GRANT I’ll tell you all about it, but let’s eat first. I’ve had nothing to eat. Although I was offer... MICHAEL GRANT God knew our lives would be really bad sometimes. Like maybe we'd be turned into a monster and then ... MICHAEL GRANT More than two dozen kids lined a low railing around the gazebo. They were all tied to it by a rope l... MICHAEL GRANT We were disturbed the president moved too slowly, that FEMA looked too disorganized. MICHAEL GRANT How has he moved so quickly from childlike naïvité to existential panic? MICHAEL GRANT Drake's whip hand spun Diana like a top. She cried out. That sound, her cry, pierced Caine like... MICHAEL GRANT Don’t want no more rock,” Orc repeated. The bleeding stopped almost immediately. “Do... MICHAEL GRANT Mr. Albert? Mr. Albert?” Harley said. “Just Albert’s fine,” Albert said tersely. �... MICHAEL GRANT The intruders spoke no words as they rushed in. Five boys carrying baseball bats and tire irons. The... MICHAEL GRANT Caine’s a guy who needs to win. He needs to win before he poofs. Or he needs to win before I poof.... MICHAEL GRANT Lana leveled the gun at Penny. “Stop,” Lana said. Penny’s reddened face grew pale. Whatev... MICHAEL GRANT You can't let him get away with this!" Penny shrieked. Caine wasn’t having it. “You stupid... MICHAEL GRANT Penny rolled over, got to her feet, trying to get control of her scattered mind, but Quinn was behin... MICHAEL GRANT Hello, freak,” Drake said. Lana backed away, but too late. Drake leveled his gun at her. MICHAEL GRANT Astrid and Taylor didn’t like each other much. But Taylor was an extremely valuable person to have... MICHAEL GRANT Sam, there comes a time when the world no longer needs heroes. And then the true hero knows to walk ... MICHAEL GRANT But when reality was hopeless, fantasy became more and more necessary. MICHAEL GRANT And yes, we do have some food. Maybe you'd like to join us? Unless you want to stick with your sheep... MICHAEL GRANT Hey, Sam,” Drake shouted. “I thought you’d like to know this isn’t my whole army.” Sa... MICHAEL GRANT Why, so we can look for some little kid who probably doesn’t even know he’s missing?” Aga... MICHAEL GRANT Sam, Edilio’s a good guy,” Albert said, breaking in on Sam’s gloomy thoughts. “But like I sa... MICHAEL GRANT Which was how Britteny ended up nestled next to Mickey, under the shelter of a painter's drop cloth.... MICHAEL GRANT Sam sent me to give you a message, Edilio. He said, ‘Tell Edilio I couldn’t kill the bugs.’”... MICHAEL GRANT ot everyone liked Albert. Not everyone was happy that he had become the most important person around... MICHAEL GRANT Leslie-Ann set down her own bucket and watched, marveling, as a quarter of an inch of water covered ... MICHAEL GRANT Stay in your boats,” Dahra said. “We’re still going to need food. Throw your fish onto the doc... MICHAEL GRANT Brianna’s looking for Drake,” Edilio said, thinking out loud. “You sent her out against D... MICHAEL GRANT Have either of you seen Sam? Brianna can’t find him.” Albert sighed. “He’s out of town.... MICHAEL GRANT Hey! One of Edilio’s soldiers just came staggering in from the gas station. He says someone attack... MICHAEL GRANT Albert, I don’t know how long we can keep Sam involved at all,” she said. “You’re upset... MICHAEL GRANT Sam always felt like a fool in this room. He sat in a too-big chair at one end of the table. Astrid ... MICHAEL GRANT Albert had created a currency based on gold bullets and McDonald’s game pieces. He’d wanted to c... MICHAEL GRANT I’m trying to make a profit. I’m using batteries, toilet paper, and paper towels as currency. Ea... MICHAEL GRANT Hey, brah,” Quinn said. “What is going on, do you know?” Sam asked. “It’s a club... MICHAEL GRANT Sorry, folks, but the maximum occupancy is seventy-five,” Albert said. Then he spotted Jack. “Ja... MICHAEL GRANT I’m trying to help,” Albert said. “By paying him with beer?” “I paid him what he... MICHAEL GRANT What’s up, Albert?” “Well, I’ve done inventory at Ralph’s, and I think if I had a lot... MICHAEL GRANT Um, people.” It wasn’t hard to get their attention. They gathered around. Even the littlest... MICHAEL GRANT What happened?” Albert asked. Taylor looked at Sam. Sam said nothing. He stared. First at his... MICHAEL GRANT Female say Pack Leader stop,” Pack Leader said angrily. “What?” Caine could make no sense... MICHAEL GRANT The light of day showed you the limits of possibility. But walk through the dark, the absolute, tota... MICHAEL GRANT What’s Albert going to do?” a boy named Jim demanded. “Where’s Albert?” Albert steppe... MICHAEL GRANT He pictured himself at the lake, on a houseboat. Dekka would be there, and Brianna and Jack. He woul... MICHAEL GRANT Hand me my pants, MICHAEL GRANT Hunter’s dead,” Taylor said without preamble. “It was these . . . these things. They came craw... MICHAEL GRANT She’s stronger than you are, Sam. It’s like fighting yourself and Caine and Jack and Dekka, all ... MICHAEL GRANT promise me, Sam: whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes to survive.” “Astrid—” MICHAEL GRANT He overheard the director talking to one of the cameramen. The cameraman was explaining that he coul... MICHAEL GRANT There were dozens of theories about what it was, that dome. Every scientist in the world, it seemed,... MICHAEL GRANT He’s becoming useless. Worse than useless,” Sam said. Then, relenting, he said, “We’ll get p... MICHAEL GRANT Man, sometimes you are clueless. You don’t even see what’s happening.” He perched himself on t... MICHAEL GRANT Human Crew had been a group formed to defend the rights of normals against freaks. At least that was... MICHAEL GRANT You’re supposed to be the big boss.” Sam said nothing. The crowd hushed, ready to watch thi... MICHAEL GRANT First there was Caine’s patently false “confession.” Then there was the fact that the FAYZ Leg... MICHAEL GRANT A man without pleasure is a man without any idea what life is about MICHAEL GRANT I’ve helped you when I could, Caine. I’ve done all of it. I kept you alive and changed your filt... MICHAEL GRANT Sam woke to a feeling of utter, profound, incredible relief. He closed his eyes as soon as he o... MICHAEL GRANT We’re not going to give in. We’re going to fight.” “Got that right,” a voice cried ou... MICHAEL GRANT Tell me something, Noah. Which is more important: freedom or happiness?' What was this, a... MICHAEL GRANT And death is better because death is the end of fear, isnt it? -Dekka MICHAEL GRANT (...) But Gaia had absorbed the new information. "I won't need to kill billions, Diana. When Nemesis... MICHAEL GRANT Still Caine hesitated. A big, warm bed. A beautiful girl to share it with. Food. Water. Everything h... MICHAEL GRANT No, I'm not a jerk, Astrid. You know what I am? I'm the guy getting people killed," Sam said quietly... MICHAEL GRANT Brittney, it was wrong to murder even before Moses brought down the commandments. Right and wrong do... MICHAEL GRANT Beautiful songs could sometimes take a person out of themselves and carry them away to a place of ma... MICHAEL GRANT It's over, Sam. Finally." "Yeah," he said. "I guess it is." "Turn out the light, Sam." MICHAEL GRANT Hello, Darkness," Caine said. Gaia's face fell. Her bloody, feral grin faded to be replaced by ... MICHAEL GRANT It takes me a while to figure things out, doesn't it?" Edilio grinned. "Do me a favor. When you find... MICHAEL GRANT Caine tried to roll to his feet, but something was jabbing him in the crouch. He shook off the stars... MICHAEL GRANT You're a big, lovable teddy bear. MICHAEL GRANT Come live with us, Diana. Don't argue. Just say yes." Diana looked at the ground to hide her em... MICHAEL GRANT Say it. But..." "But what?" he asked. She whispered it, sounding too vulnerable. "But only... MICHAEL GRANT It took Caine a few beats to get it. “No. Go kill yourself. Eat your own gun. No. No no no.” MICHAEL GRANT Find Sam Temple. Tell him you escaped.” Jack gulped and bobbed his head. “Better yet, ... MICHAEL GRANT Has Orc shown up here?” But neither Caine nor Diana answered. Both were staring at Drake, who saun... MICHAEL GRANT My little man,” she said. “No.” She stretched out her hand to him. “Come.” ... MICHAEL GRANT You saw the way everyone looked at him? And when I asked for nominations, his was the first name men... MICHAEL GRANT Now, who else speaks for Perdido Beach?” Bouncing Bette said, “Sam Temple here went into a ... MICHAEL GRANT A white van drove slowly—as slowly as only an inexperienced and frightened driver could go— MICHAEL GRANT Delay of pain: that was the meaning of life, wasn’t it? “I’ve made some bad decisions,”... MICHAEL GRANT But then had come the voice that said, "Come on, you little freak, wherever the hell you are, w... MICHAEL GRANT It’s not about the powers, man; it’s that we aren’t kids anymore. Look what we’ve been throu... MICHAEL GRANT Endgame,” Sam muttered, not really expecting Caine to hear. “Yep,” Caine said. “That’... MICHAEL GRANT But hey this was the FAYZ, where all you could really hope was to delay the pain. MICHAEL GRANT And now, at last, gaiaphage and Nemesis stood facing each other. “Why didn’t you just . . .... MICHAEL GRANT I’m sorry for hurting you. I know I did. I’m most likely dead now, and I guess if there’s any ... MICHAEL GRANT You need to think about all that, Sam,” Dekka said. “You’re the leader, after all.” “... MICHAEL GRANT Do you love me?” Diana asked. Caine’s eyes widened. She could actually see him twitch. Like... MICHAEL GRANT Hunter woke suddenly. A noise. It was a noise unlike anything he’d ever heard before. Close! ... MICHAEL GRANT He reached over and took Taylor’s hand. She did not pull her hand away. He moved his hand up ... MICHAEL GRANT Little Pete. He’s not exactly just Astrid’s autistic brother.” He explained briefly while Toto... MICHAEL GRANT Quinn came forward and Sam pulled him aside. His old friend looked tortured and sad. “What’... MICHAEL GRANT Have a seat with me,” Caine said, hopping down from the wall. “How have you been, Taylor?” MICHAEL GRANT And he thought of the two people who had held his job before him: Sam and Astrid. Both beaten into d... MICHAEL GRANT Today, each of you will make a decision,” Caine said. “To go with Sam, or to stay here. I won’... MICHAEL GRANT He’s not the first to say that. MICHAEL GRANT Like a bullet out of a gun. His big paws had caught the dog before the dog could even flinch. MICHAEL GRANT Sam was starting to feel anxious. Nutella and noodles were fine. Great in fact. Miraculous. But he'd... MICHAEL GRANT The gaiaphage. That's the other word they use. 'Gaia,' as in world. 'Phage,' as in a worm or somethi... MICHAEL GRANT Mother Mary wants to draft two more kids,” Astrid told Sam. “Okay. Approved.” “Dah... MICHAEL GRANT First off,” he said, “I want to say I’m sorry about E.Z. He was a good kid. He didn’t deserv... MICHAEL GRANT Its the fate of all creators: They fall in love with their creations. MICHAEL GRANT Have you seen Sam?” Mary asked. “What do you want with Sam?” “I can’t take care ... MICHAEL GRANT Sam Temple kept a lower profile. He stuck to jeans and understated T-shirts, nothing that drew atten... MICHAEL GRANT Sam walked cautiously around Pack Leader to see the other side. There were the insect jaws protrudin... MICHAEL GRANT Astrid felt a towering wave of disgust. She was furious with Sam. Furious with Little Pete. Mad at t... MICHAEL GRANT At night we cry sometimes, and if you think that just applies to the females then you have never bee... MICHAEL GRANT The Tao of Natural Breathing by Dennis Lewis is filled with drawings, insights and guidance from an ... MICHAEL GRANT Why are we doing this?" Caine asked him. "You know damned well why we're doing this. Because it's a ... MICHAEL GRANT I’m getting my stuff,” he said, and bolted for the steps. “You don’t have to move out,�... MICHAEL GRANT The warrior who had gone out from the lake to save his people by slaying the evil one was now just a... MICHAEL GRANT