“He was as much a victim of hope as I had been.”

“Apparently, I had graduated from psychologist and was now in need of a full-blown psychiatrist.”

“If I could have, I would have erased the entire night from my memory. I felt changed, soiled by the brutality of all I witnessed. Something had finally replaced teenage girls on my list of things most heinous, and I didn't even know what to call it.”

“Taren and I followed her gaze to the body lying on the floor. The most romantic kiss of my life had just taken place next to a corpse.”

“We have much to beg forgiveness for,” Annys said. For once her expression was soft, her hawk-like eyes downcast.“We all do,” I said, “if not for this, than something else.”“That's very… Zen of you,” Master Dogan said. I laughed. “Don't get used to it. I'm pretty sure it's a near-death thing and will pass, but let's enjoy it while we can.”

“I'd had enough of being awake.”

“Is he crazy? Of course he is, he's in a mental institution. I'm probably crazy too. The people in the hallway are definitely crazy, which is why only a crazy person would go out there.”