The Beast's Other Half

felt more and more drawn to the lush greenery just on the other side of our protective barrier. I have ached f

t louder so I glance at the clock to see if

and my alarm is seco

button. When the blasted machine erupts my hand drops l

rolls over to wrap his ar

groggily and I grin de

philosophies. When I argued with the teacher about getting to leave city limits he backed me up. When everyone else said this is the best place in the world for us and we should be thankful to the beasts

Nathan asks before nibbling at my earl

ve to work," I reply as

ving from his spot but I hear the bed mov

akfast. We walk to work past all the other people doing the same thing and

of the city the blood drinkers will get you. The beasts have agreed to protect the city, but any human that volunteerly l

Nathan says before he k

reet that I turn on I let my eyes wonder toward the gate like I do every morning and I pause when I see one of t

and they never stay longer than a few minutes. They never have clothes on and their skin is typicall

st time we stopped regulating

nt of blood. The higher the concentration

and my parents died that day, along with seventy others, before the beasts could drive them from the city. I still remember the Bloodsucker's chalky white skin

only the higher class live there. Unfortunately for my family

again," Ruth practica

8:01. The stop I took to look at the beast cost me

pay," she says, and I nod

ower. She will never achieve more than she has right now. Docking

as I pass her station, and I smi

fected, and now I have lost another full hour. I really need to work fast today. I can't l

as I ge

*

" Nathan calls out

another day," I reply lou

ay as I walk into the kitchen, and

dn't you," he say

today might be zoo

rown eyes with each passing second. I feel terrible, but my brain won't pi

" I whisper,

places the spatula next to th

we might submit the application to have a child. We have been living together for two years...I am re

han, but once we become parents, this is our life. We won't have any adven

tart, but he stops me

ther agree, or we can move on. Which is it going to be,"

aving the walls," I whis

row and be with the ones we love here...Can you see the beauty out there and still come back? If we have our adventure and risk

to live happily. I won't have these burning questions anymore...And I wi

eady have the UV flashlights. We will stay out there for a few hours and

ms eagerly. He laughs before p

d-a life with Nathan and a