We’re not going to give in. We’re going to fight.”
“Got that right,” a voice cried out.
“First thing we need to have clear: there’s no line between freak and normal here. If you have the power, we’ll need you. If you don’t, we’ll need you.”
Heads were nodding. Looks were being exchanged.
“Coates kids, Perdido Beach kids, we’re together now. We’re together. Maybe you did things to survive. Maybe you weren’t always brave. Maybe you gave up hope.”
A girl sobbed suddenly.
“Well, that’s all over now,” Sam said gently. “It all starts fresh. Right here, right now. We’re brothers and sisters now. Doesn’t matter we don’t know each other’s names, we are brothers and sisters and we’re going to survive, and we’re going to win, and we’re going to find our way to some kind of happiness again.”
There was a long, deep silence.
“So,” Sam said, “my name is Sam. I’m in this with you. All the way.” He turned to Astrid.
“I’m Astrid, I’m in this with you, too.”
“My name is Edilio. What they said. Brothers and sisters. Hermanos.”
“Thuan Vong,” said a thin boy with yet-unhealed hands like dead fish. “I’m in.”
“Dekka,” said a strong, solidly built girl with cornrows and a nose ring. “I’m in. And I have game.”
“Me too,” called a skinny girl with reddish pigtails. “My name’s Brianna. I…well, I can go real fast.”
One by one they declared their determination. The voices started out soft and gained strength. Each voice louder, firmer, more determined than the one before.
Only Quinn remained silent. He hung his head, and tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Quinn,” Sam called to him.
Quinn didn’t respond, just looked down at the ground.
“Quinn,” Sam said again. “It starts fresh right now. Nothing before counts. Nothing. Brothers, man?”
Quinn struggled with the lump in his throat. But then, in a low voice, he said, “Yeah. Brothers.

Michael Grant