I looked at Jack's eyes. They were sparkling, sort of like that bishie sparkle you'd see in anime.

"Aly," he whispered as he inched closer to me. "I love you." Finally, he kissed me.

Nothing in my entire life felt better than that kiss. Even if we were meant to die soon at age fourteen, it still felt like it was worth it. Even if we were thousands of miles from home, even if we had fought zombies, statues that came to life, griffins, ancient guards, traveled land and sea. I didn't even care about that no dating rule my parents had set up for me. Who wouldn't when he or she knows that they have only a month left to live?

Unless we found all the Loculi and returned them. And figured out a way to excavate the people away from the shores so we could have the least amount of deaths occurring possible.

As if that was actually possible. But that didn't matter. Not as long as me, Jack, Marco, Cass, and Eloise were together.

I know we will never be apart. Even if we die. And that's because when I'm with Jack or any of the other Select, there would be no place I'd rather be.