The World Without A Future Part 19

Frustration boils in me, but I shake my head. Lean my head back. "You have to decide that, Ren. You can decide I did it because that's what it took to get you out of 18. Or you can decide I'm a monster. Eventually, you have to quit hiding behind your anger and make a decision." I throw the empty needle aside and slide into the driver's seat. "Now. Are you coming with me?"

Chapter 3.

Discoveries.

It's pitch black when we reach the Hole. I park the truck and lean over to shake Nurrin's shoulder a little. She blinks sleepily, and it's a struggle to force myself back to my side of the vehicle.

"We're here," I say. She nods and yawns.

There aren't any infects around-strangely, I haven't seen any in hours. But I'm not into taking unnecessary chances. "Got your stuff?" She nods, shrugging her bag onto her back.

"Can we go down in the dark?"

I hand her a flare stick. "Crack that when we get out. And move quick-we're alone for now, but you know how that goes."

She nods, and eagerness slips across her face. "Ready?" I ask, grabbing my knife.

We scramble out of the truck in perfect synchronization. She's at the side of the canyon, the pink flare sparkling at her side, and I nod at her. "Go." She doesn't wait or argue-apparently we have made progress since leaving. She edges down the cliff face as I glance around.

My blood runs cold as I take in the empty cliff. Something is wrong.

I push aside the sensation, the stomach-curdling fear, and follow Nurrin down the canyon.

Nurrin's pack is in the entry, and I step over it and her burning flare. Toss it and mine out over the cliff. They flare brilliant and bleeding as they plummet to the canyon floor. Behind me, Nurrin is moving around the little cave, lighting candles and calling Dustin's name.

I can taste the stale air. No one is here. No one has been here. Blood is on the ground, pooling on the low couch. It smells old and coppery. I close my eyes and face the open canyon, into the midnight sky, and listen as she gets more and more panicked. Until, finally, she's at my side, and I know how upset she is.

Nurrin doesn't cry. Not in front of me. She never has, not in the years I have known her brother. But tears are standing in her big eyes now, and her expression is furious and disbelieving. I draw her into my arms without thinking, and stare into the night as she buries her face in my chest and says, her voice m.u.f.fled, "They aren't here. Collin is gone."

The End.

Acknowledgements.

As always, there are a host of people to thank.

First-my readers, who followed me from University of Branton to this crazy world I've imagined. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

The Indie Ignites-gosh, you ladies are so awesome. Thanks for the cookies and talking me down from the ledges. I couldn't ask for a better group of friends and colleagues.

My family-Mom, for listening to me ramble, Lester and Kathy for not minding too much when I say at dinner 'I have a new book idea!' and my amazingly awesome sister in law and brother in law, for being amazingly awesome.

Thanks to my wonderful beta readers-Melissa, JC, Cameron, Heather and Felicia. Y'all have helped so much bringing this all together. Big hugs and lots of cookies for you all!

Pandora and I Heart Radio, which makes writing so much easier.

The Infects, who spread their excitement like good little zombies should.

My crazy awesome cover artist, who has made this book one of my prettiest. And also, something I could hang on my walls. (Don't judge me!) And my wonderful editor, Rachel Bateman, who amuses me with her notes, and keeps my em dash usage in check. You ladies make me so much better at this. And any mistakes in editing-those are all on me.

Chantee. Dear gracious, you and Nathan deserve a whole paragraph. Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. The videos and formatting and just general crazy amounts of support, not to mention handling the crazy texts, all of it makes you the best EVAH.

Bri-you have been Finn's longest standing, biggest fan. You rock, lady! *gentle tackle hugs*

My amazing publicist, Jessica. You don't even like zombies, but Finn converted you and the ideas you've had for this book have blown me away. I-and this book-would be lost without you.

Finally, always, my kids and Michael. For picking up the slack when I drop it when on deadline, to the patience when I'm 'one more minute, honey, Mommy's writing' to the sweet encouragement and excitement when you see my book and show your friends at school-you four are my world. I love you. <3>

About the Author.

Nazarea loves zombies and creating romantic tension on the page and off comes naturally to her. So it was only a matter of time until her two pa.s.sions combined.

Nazarea Andrews, is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog N~'s other work includes the super-s.e.xy University of Branton series, a series of haunting dystopian romances based off of fairy tales, and she has recently co-auth.o.r.ed a dangerously s.e.xy Mafia romance. For more information on her work, please visit her website at www.NazareaAndrews.com.

Follow N~ on Facebook & Twitter today!

Prince of Blood and Steel.

From Nazarea Andrews and AJ Elmore.

The exiled heir has returned home....

Seth Morgan has returned to New York to find his family's crime syndicate in shambles and his brother plotting a coup. When a vicious retaliation puts Caleb in the ground, the younger prince is left to find his own answers in a family that feels like strangers.

A sheltered princess no one needs....

Emma Morgan has lived her life in the syndicate, protected and sheltered from their way of life. When her favorite cousin returns and asks for her loyalty, she doesn't hesitate-she's been loyal to Seth most of her life. But the further they dig into the mysteries surrounding Caleb's death, the more both are forced to realize that the most dangerous thing isn't the crime they broker-it's the family they've trusted.

Coming January 2014.

Add Prince of Blood and Steel to your GoodReads List now!

Books by Nazarea Andrews.

After the Fall Series:.

Edge of the Falls.

Chasing the Wind (March 2014).

University of Branton:.

This Love.

Beautiful Broken.

Sweet Ruin (April 2014).

World Without End:.

The World Without A Future.

with AJ Elmore.

Prince of Blood and Steel (January 2014).