“Just give me a bit, let me pretend you're still alive," Andrei said hoarsely. "Let me pretend that I don't have to give you up.""Andrei," Warm, calloused hands cupped Anrei's face. "Look at me. I'm real. I'm still with you. A part of me will always be with you. Even after I go through that doorway.”

“It had taken going to hell for Zed to find what he'd unknowingly been searching for his whole life.”

“He carried emotional and mental scars as long-lasting and vivid as the whip marks on his body.”

“Riff needed the pain in his body to mask the pain inside. Once he'd enjoyed the pain only because it brought pleasure with it, but that distinction had gotten lost.”

“Just give me a bit, let me pretend you're still alive," Andrei said hoarsely. "Let me pretend that I don't have to give you up.""Andrei," Warm, calloused hands cupped Anrei's face. "Look at me. I'm real. I'm still with you. A part of me will always be with you. Even after I go through that doorway.”