Extraits

Zeke's Letter To Allie

Dear Allie,

I’m writing this maybe five minutes after you walked out of my room, mostly to keep myself from going after you. To keep from following you into your room and doing something that I know would be a mistake right now. You’ll never see this letter. No one will see this except maybe the cleaning ladies who come in the morning, and they can read it and laugh all they want. I don’t care what other people think. This is just me trying to get my thoughts together, so when I do see you again, I’ll finally know what to say.

Allison . . . I love you. Ugh, there. Why is it so easy to write on paper but so hard to tell you face to face? I love you. I am in completely love with you, vampire girl. Maybe if I write it enough times, I’ll finally have the courage to say it out loud. I’ve wanted to tell you for days now. I don’t know why I’ve been such a coward. Maybe I’m afraid that it’ll scare you off, that you’ll decide us being together is too dangerous, and then you’ll leave to save me from yourself. The monster, as you call it. But I’ll tell you right now, that’s not going to work, because I’m just going to follow you. And I’ll keep harping on how beautiful, courageous, and incredible you are until you believe me.

Tomorrow we’re going to Eden. Wow, it feels like I’ve been gone for years. I can’t wait for you to see it, Allie. I know you don’t trust the humans in Eden—you’re afraid they might turn you into a lab rat, but I swear they’re good people. Eden is a good place, you’ll see when we get there. I’m finally going home. I hope that, someday, you’ll be able to call it home, as well.

Someone is tapping at my door. Weird. It doesn’t sound like you, though of course, I’m hoping it is. If you have come back, I don’t think I’ll be able to say no this time. All right, Zeke. Three words. That’s all you have to say. No backing out this time. Just say it. I love you, Allison.

I love you.

-Zeke