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Shatter Me Complete Collection

Page 97

by Mafi, Tahereh


  The compounds are such bleak, barren places, I think, as I pass through them. These should be the first to go. Our homes should be rebuilt. Restored.

  We need to start again.

  I climb up the side of one of the little compound homes. Climb its second story, too. I reach up, clinging to the roof, and pull myself over. I kick the solar panels off, onto the ground, and plant myself on top, right in the middle, as I look out over the crowd.

  Searching for familiar faces.

  Hoping they’ll see me and come forward.

  Hoping.

  I stand on the roof of this home for what feels like days, months, years, and I see nothing but faces of soldiers and their families. None of my friends.

  I feel myself sway, dizziness threatening to overtake me, my pulse racing fast and hard. I’m ready to give up. I’ve stood here long enough for people to point, for my face to be recognized, for word to spread that I’m standing here, waiting for something. Someone. Anyone.

  I’m just about to dive back into the crowd to search for their fallen bodies when hope seizes my heart.

  One by one, they emerge, from all corners of the field, from deep inside the barracks, from across the compounds. Bloodied and bruised. Adam, Alia, Castle, Ian, Lily, Brendan, and Winston each make their way toward me only to turn and wait for the others to arrive. Winston is sobbing.

  Sonya and Sara are dragging Kenji out of the barracks, small steps hauling him forward. I see that his eyes have opened now, just a little. Stubborn, stubborn Kenji. Of course he’s awake when he should be asleep.

  James comes running toward them.

  He crashes into Adam, clinging to his legs, and Adam hauls his little brother up, into his arms, smiling like I’ve never seen him smile before. Castle nods at me, beaming. Lily blows me a kiss. Ian makes some strange finger-gun motion and Brendan waves. Alia has never looked more jubilant.

  And I’m looking out over them, my smile steady, held there by nothing but sheer force of will. I’m still staring, waiting for my last friend to show up. Waiting for him to find us.

  But he isn’t here.

  I’m scanning the thousands of people scattered around this icy, icy ground and I don’t see him, not anywhere, and the terror of this moment kicks me in the gut until I’m out of breath and out of hope, blinking fast and trying to hold myself together.

  The metal roof under my feet is shaking.

  I turn toward the sound, heart pounding, and see a hand reach over the top.

  SEVENTY-EIGHT

  He pulls himself up onto the roof and walks over to me, so steadily. Calm, like there’s nothing in the world we’d planned to do today but to stand here, together, looking out over a field of dead bodies and happy children.

  “Aaron,” I whisper.

  He pulls me into his arms.

  And I fall.

  Every bone, every muscle, every nerve in my body comes undone at his touch and I cling to him, holding on for dear life.

  “You know,” he whispers, his lips at my ear, “the whole world will be coming for us now.”

  I lean back. Look into his eyes.

  “I can’t wait to watch them try.”

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’ve reached the end.

  And here, at the finish line, I am suddenly speechless, unable to articulate in any number of words just how many helpers I’ve had, how many hands have touched this book, or how many minds have shaped this story. But you were there all along, reading with me and writing to me and cheering me on, helping me through hard moments and always holding my hand. My many dear friends at HarperCollins and Writers House. My family, steadfast, always. Ransom Riggs, an angel on earth. Tara Weikum, a magician. Jodi Reamer, a saint.

  And you, dear reader, you, most of all.

  I am indebted to you for your support, your love, your friendship on the pages and on the internet. Thank you for following Juliette’s journey with me; thank you for caring so deeply. It is my very great hope that you will find this a worthy final installment.

  Lots of love,

  CREDITS

  COVER ART © 2014 BY COLIN ANDERSON

  COVER ART INSPIRED BY A PHOTOGRAPH BY SHAREE DAVENPORT

  COVER DESIGN BY CARA E. PETRUS

  COPYRIGHT

  IGNITE ME

  Copyright © 2014 by Tahereh Mafi

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  www.epicreads.com

  * * *

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2013951749

  ISBN 978-0-06-208557-3

  * * *

  EPub Edition © DECEMBER 2013 ISBN: 9780062085597

  13 14 15 16 17 LP/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  FIRST EDITION

  About the Author

  TAHEREH MAFI is a girl. She was born in a small city somewhere in Connecticut and currently resides in Orange County, California, where the weather is just a little too perfect for her taste. When unable to find a book, she can be found reading candy wrappers, coupons, and old receipts. You can visit Tahereh online at www.taherehbooks.com.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

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