read fear-driven: give and take part 1 first!!! it's finished!!!!

keol's dead and ava's dying. nua and aber are trapped, with no idea where aber's parents are or what abigala is doing. and bayan is simply going through the motions, serving miss lilly without a word on his lips. who is sloan? where is penny? what are they going to do?

a reminder of the characters (plus a few updates):

ABER -- he never thought he'd love his wife, but now she's is slipping through his fingers and he can't hold on, no matter how hard he tries. NUA -- all he wants is to be safe. all he wants is to read his books in peace. all he wants is a life without fear. KEOL -- ashes. a memory. a knife to the heart, her heart, and a ring on her finger. AVA -- the only thing all these people have in common, they think. so now what, now that she's gone? BAYAN -- an empty shell, a body without a soul or a will. at least, that's what he wants you to think. SLOAN -- you've never met a stronger woman in your life, but why does she have to be so strong? LILLY -- they run. she follows. ABIGALA -- lost in the wind, but drifting closer. and yet even as she nears, aber fears she's drifting away. SHAN -- the head, the heart, and the shoulder to lean on. and PENNY -- the renegade.