Mara Purnhagen

“I didn't avoid my problems. I just didn't feel as though I had to focus on them every minute of every day. And telling people about certain aspects of my life would only create trouble. If I was guilty of anything, it was of trying not to bring new problems into my life. That wasn't avoidance. That was logical thinking.”

“I wanted someone to gaze at me that way, someone to share a truly incredible moment with. I wondered how long I would have to wait.”

“I see her,” a man’s voice whispered. A chill spread through me. Shane played it again. Never had three little words terrified me so much. I see her.”

“My legs felt shaky and I gripped the back of Dad’s chair. The still images on the screen stared back at me. “Do you know what caused it?” I asked. No one said anything. I looked at Mom. “What triggered it?” “You did,” she said gently. “We think you’re the trigger.”

“Do you see those white shapes?” he asked. I sucked in my breath. “What is it?” Mom shook her head. “We’re not sure yet. But, Charlotte, whatever they are, it appears that they followed us here.”

“As we headed toward the living room, I couldn’t help feeling dread. It was as if I was being led to my own beheading.”

“I froze, my hand on the wall, and listened. Someone was definitely upstairs. I reached into my pocket for my cell phone and took a step back toward the front door. I kept my eyes on the stairs and my hand on the cell phone. A light flashed across the hallway”

“Too cold,” I mumbled. A second later, I felt a warm sensation, almost as if someone was lowering a blanket onto me. “Charlotte.” It was just a whisper, faint and far away.”

“I was never normal, but I liked to pretend that I was. It usually took a few months before everyone else caught on.”

“[Zelden] turned to me. “Wait here. Inform Marcus that we will be setting up in the first-floor kitchen. I believe it may function as a portal to the other realm.”“The demons crawl out of the oven,” Annalise whispered to me as she passed.”

“Noah was busy trying to look like the only thing we'd been doing was discussing politics. He crossed one leg over the other and actually folded his hands in his lap.”

“Sounds creepy." [Avery]"Welcome to my life. Creepy comes with the territory." [Charlotte]”

“And while people claimed to be creeped out, their smiles suggested that none of this was truly scary. It was like going to see a horror movie with a big group of friends: it was fun to be frightened, but when you were part of a large, noisy group, you knew nothing sinister was going to happen.”

“It was like trying to solve a math equation with a poem.”

“Before we had left for Charleston, I had been shoved—hard—by and unseen spirit wreaking havoc in our house. I had been hurt, but it wasn’t nearly as serious as what had happened in Ohio.I tried to smile. “I guess I’m just a paranormal punching-bag.”

“Avery turned and smiled. “There’s a huge party tonight, and you’re invited. We’re celebrating New Year’s in style.”I looked down at my sling. “I don’t know. Navy-blue nylon isn’t exactly a trend.”

“The Watcher. The Watcher of what? Of teenage girls forced to spend their holiday break filming cable TV specials?”

“Dad stepped forward. "Mr. Zelden, I'm Patrick Silver."Zelden Frowned. “It’s Doctor Zelden, if you don’t mind. I do hold a doctorate in theology, you know.”Dad gave him a stiff smile. “Of course.”Both my parents held doctorates in psychology, but they never referred to themselves as doctors. They said that title should be reserved for people who could actually save lives, not just write a thesis.”

“You could have all the crazy thoughts you wanted, as long as you smiled and kept them to yourself.”

“Who cares what other people think? Don't let the opinions of others define you.”

“I had learned how to leave a place behind without leaving a piece of myself along with it, but more important, I had taught myself how to be detached. I never joined teams or clubs, and I doubted my picture appeared in a single yearbook. I was, in a way, a ghost: no one could prove I had ever existed once I physically left a location.”