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Chapters (79)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Sixteen
  20. Seventeen
  21. Eighteen
  22. Nineteen
  23. Twenty
  24. Twenty-One
  25. Twenty-Two
  26. Twenty-Three
  27. Twenty-Four
  28. Twenty-Five
  29. Twenty-Six
  30. Twenty-Seven
  31. Twenty-Eight
  32. Twenty-Nine
  33. Thirty
  34. Thirty-One
  35. Thirty-Two
  36. Thirty-Three
  37. Thirty-Four
  38. Thirty-Five
  39. Thirty-Six
  40. Thirty-Seven
  41. Thirty-Eight
  42. Thirty-Nine
  43. Forty
  44. Forty-One
  45. Forty-Two
  46. Forty-Three
  47. Forty-Four
  48. Forty-Five
  49. Forty-Six
  50. Forty-Seven
  51. Forty-Eight
  52. Forty-Nine
  53. Fifty
  54. Fifty-One
  55. Fifty-Two
  56. Fifty-Three
  57. Fifty-Four
  58. Fifty-Five
  59. Fifty-Six
  60. Fifty-Seven
  61. Fifty-Eight
  62. Fifty-Nine
  63. Sixty
  64. Sixty-One
  65. Sixty-Two
  66. Sixty-Three
  67. Sixty-Four
  68. Sixty-Five
  69. Sixty-Six
  70. Sixty-Seven
  71. Sixty-Eight
  72. Sixty-Nine
  73. Seventy
  74. Acknowledgments
  75. About the Author
  76. Praise for Destroy All Monsters
  77. Books by Sam J. Miller
  78. Back Ad
  79. About the Publisher

We went back to dockside. Because we had nowhere else to go, and no idea what to do when we got there. I felt sick and scared and helpless. We knew something terrible was going to happen, and our power to do a damn thing about it felt so limited.

Ms. Jackson was droning pleasantly from the little radio, talking about the Darkside Police Department’s plans for an increased presence at the Unmasking Day celebration, and then she cut out.

Citizens of Darkside came a familiar voice—boyish, almost cheerful-sounding. But it stopped the blood in my veins, made me tug hard at Maraud’s reins, stopping her so short she snarled.

“Sorry, girl,” I said, and kissed the top of her head.

The Shield said, Please forgive this interruption. My followers have temporarily jammed the signal for several radio stations, to permit me this opportunity to speak to you directly.

All up and down the block, people were hearing him. Some looked angry. Some looked excited. Happy. Proud.

At this moment, I am addressing the Refugee Princess.

Ash flinched. She was well-disguised, but suddenly I felt like we were both exposed. Visible to anyone.

Are you listening, Princess? I think you are. I know you found me. I felt you watching. Come to me, now, alone, and I shall trade your freedom for that of your two friends. No harm has befallen them. By morning, I cannot promise this will still hold true.

“Monster,” I hissed.

People of Darkside. Tonight—finally—the truth will be revealed. The thing Queen Carmen has tried to keep hidden for so long. The proof that her time is over. I call on her to abdicate now, and set a date for free and fair elections.

Some people on our block cheered. Others looked like they were about to cry.

Do so now, or I cannot guarantee your safety and that of your beloved othersiders. Once they know the truth, there is no telling what the people of this city may do to you. And to all the monsters that live among us.

“We have to go,” Ash said, her mouth inches from my ear.

“Please,” I said. “Wait. Don’t do this. Not without—”

She told me where to find the movie theater. She did not listen to my additional attempts to talk her out of this mission, or respond to any of them.

Sixty-One

Ash

I wish I could say that I snapped my fingers and used my magic and made everything okay. Punished the guilty; brought peace and justice to the people who’d been hurt. Brought the whole sick Induction Ceremony scheme tumbling down. But that’s not what happened. There was no grand gesture. There were only a lot of little gestures.

After Justin, I called Tom, got his address, asked when would be a good time for me to come by and show him the photos.