there is something in him that is different . and he 'd started doing that at only sixteen years old . he asked me in a terrible voice . `` your pencil erasers are showing , '' i hiss . `` think not of these things , '' she eventually said , making her tone light . something pierced the skin at the back of my neck , sending what felt like liquid fire pumping into my veins . she was weak , but not too weak to tell me she was ready to go . '' 