The Fall of Five (I Am Number Four)

Nine lies on his back, groaning. His chest is shredded from where Eight slashed him, he’s got a fresh black eye, and I think I notice a trickle of blood from where I struck him with his staff. Suddenly, his groans turn to laughter.
“That was awesome!” Nine hollers.

“I’m going to be the surprisingly good-looking Mogadorian that’s standing in your way.”

tingles in my fingertips, passing through me and into Eight. It’s only a bruise so it’s easy; I don’t even have to concentrate. Which is good, because it’s not that easy for me to concentrate while touching Eight’s chest. If this is what training is going to be like, I could get used to it.

“That ugly freak has spent so much time in my head, I should be charging him rent.”

“You can promise me more days like these,” I tell Eight.
He squeezes my hand tightly. “Consider it done.”

“I hope Five is a boy,” announces Ella. “There aren’t enough boys for all of us.”
My mouth hangs open for a moment, and then I start to laugh. “Are you matching us up already, Ella?”
She nods, looking at me mischievously. “There’s John and Sarah, of course. And you and Eight.”
“Wait a second,” I say. “Nothing’s happening with me and Eight.”
“Psshh,” interrupts Ella, continuing on, “and if I grow up to marry Nine, who does that leave for Six?”

“I wish there’d been more selfish dudes like your pops. We could have a whole army.”

“Son of a bitch,” growls Nine. “I think this idiot can fly.”

How long were you standing up there?”
Nine shrugs. “I do my best thinking upside down, dude.”
“I didn’t realize you did any thinking.”
“Okay, fair point, you usually do enough thinking for all of us.”