The five of them made their way back to the train, everyone but Squirrel carrying a sleeping spirit. Jix gently lifted the spirit of the sleeping girl onto his shoulder. I want to be the first thing she sees when she opens her eyes. He looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms, and made a decision. What he ultimately did with that information would be entirely up to him. Little was known about Mary the Eastern Witch-but here was an opportunity to learn more. Whenever Jix returned with news, no matter how important, His Excellency would never even remember his name.Īs Jix looked at these villainous, barbaric skinjackers, he found himself more and more curious about them, and oddly attracted to their way of life. But scouting kept him at a distance, and when it came to the king, out of sight was truly out of mind. He even dreamed that he would be taken into the king’s inner circle, for Jix was a well-respected scout. Working under His Excellency, Jix had always dreamed he’d be part of something larger than himself. “Join us, and I promise you will be a part of something grand and glorious.” He deserves better than that.” Then he held out his hand to Jix. “Push him down! Push him down!” said the squirrelly one. “So what do we do with him?” asked the wild-haired girl. He did not want to witness further results of their actions. Jix was glad that the living world could be so easily tuned out by Afterlights. Crowds were gathering, loved ones were grieving, distant sirens drew closer. “None whatsoever.”Īround them, in the living world, the chaos born from this awful evening was taking root. “Do you not feel guilt for what you did?” Jix turned to Milos, studying his face, and his eyes: bright blue with speckles of white, like a sky dotted with clouds. The point is, if she was chosen to be here, then there is no reason for you to feel guilt.” “Deemed,” corrected the wild-haired girl. She says we are all chosen to be here because we have been doomed worthy.”

She says that life in Everlost is a gift.

“I have a friend who is very wise,” Milos told him. She was Hispanic, with very strong Indian features, like himself. He held on to the sleeping girl, brushing her hair out of her face. “Thank me? She’ll never forgive me!” Jix shouted.

Neal shusterman skinjacker