Masque of the Red Death

I’ve perfected the art of the fake smile. It’s not so difficult when you are completely numb.

And I'm falling in love with you," he whispers. "But I would throw you in the water and watch crocodiles tear you to bits, if I thought that doing so would accomplish my goals. Do. Not. Trust. Anyone. Especially me.

Bursts of hope make despair harder to live with.

Just because you don't want to see something doesn't mean that it will go away. Do you think inhumanity doesn't exist if you pretend not to see it? Or maybe get too drunk to understand? We've forgotten the things that make life worthwhile.

I won't cry. When the guilt is this heavy, you can't. It just settles and stays with you, and it's cold.

She has to live, Eliott. I owe her a lifetime of apologies.” “Sometimes I think that’s all we owe our parents.

Hours trickle by, and I wilt. The magic isn't here for me tonight. I can't get away from the heavy feeling of being me. I want to blend in, to be someone besides myself, someone who is part of something secret and subversive and exciting.

Or maybe the ugliness is in us. That's just the way we are. Underneath the pretense of civilization.

She's made herself so artificial; it's okay to wear next to nothing because we aren't real people any longer.

Thank you for keeping her safe," Elliott tells Will. "I will always keep her safe.

I need some fresh air," I say. "Then by all means go outside. If it doesn't clear your head, it will probably kill you." Will might be teasing. I can't tell.

where do you want to go? Back to violinist. I want to hear songs about suicide.

No matter what creatures people fear in the dead of the night, in this city, violence is more likely to be carried out by men

You have to remember that there are reasons to live, and that at least a few people are decent, and that the world is worthwhile some of the time, okay?” I raise my face to his, wanting another kiss, but he stops me. “You will remember?” The balloon bumps downward again. His eyes are still closed. “Why don’t you open your eyes?” He opens one and squints at me for a second. “I’m terrified of heights,” he says.

Araby is good at getting men to sleep beside her without anything... happening

I stand alone for several minutes, watching the shadows move across the stones. The mortar that holds them in place is coarse and thick, as if the stones didn't exactly fit together and had to be glued into place. The prince had the entire castle moved from across the sea. A prop for his megalomania. I shiver.

You're April's closest friend. I wasn't expecting you to fall into bed with me, but the two of you haven't exactly been living a chaste lifestyle. "I was". My voice is small. "What?" "Chaste. I made a promise."... "So there you are, drinking and taking drugs to the point of incapacitation, and you've been missing out on the best part of debauchery?" "I wouldn't know" "If you want to know, tell me

Will leans forward, pulls off his mask, and kisses my forehead. "I'm glad I was the one to save you this time " he whispers.

So there you are, drinking and taking drugs to the point of incapacitation, and you've been missing out on the best part of debauchery?" "I wouldn't know." "If you want to know, tell me.