The Five Unnecessaries Quotes

“I told myself to look up; the moonlight was filling the room. The moon must have looked beautiful. But I couldn’t look at it. I felt the guilt of Collin’s words crush me, Eldridge’s words confuse me, and my own thoughts criticize me. I didn’t want to give myself the pleasure in seeing even the simplest beauty.
The weight of my shame pulled my head down. I lost track of time for minutes, maybe an hour, feeling as cold as the stone I stood on. I thought for a moment I might never move or see beauty again.
And I fell asleep, with the moon left unseen; possibly as lonely as me.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“And the rhythm began.
I would never see him again.
I would never see the flowers in the garden bloom.
I would never plant seeds again.
I would never braid Olivia’s hair again.
I would never play hide and seek again.
I fought off every fear, pushing each one away with sheer will, closing my eyes in concentration.
Until I got to the last one. My breath steadied. My eyes shot open
“I would not play hide and seek again.”
But I would play hide and seek again.
And what a game it would be.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“I closed my eyes and laughed, feeling that at least that made them a little more human than I imagined. But only a little. I kept my eyes focused on the door, not moving as he spoke again.
“People find what they are looking for, Aislyn. See if you find it. See if it makes your heart beat faster and makes your soul fight for something. Be curious enough to find a reason to be brave, and bravery will find you.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“The applause rose again. It was coming from outside the curtain. I stood up, almost ready to run.
“So, you react to simple escape reflexes? That’s a good sign.”
Eldridge was behind me. My emotions surged, not sure if I should attempt to lunge at him in anger or break down and cry. But I respected him. And his sentence had piqued my interest enough to keep all my emotions concealed.
“Escape reflexes? They’re just applauding,” I replied.
“Yes,” Eldridge said as if pondering that. “But applause is frightening because, in its absence, silence would take its place. With no applause, there is a void of disapproval. It’s easy to be threatened by applause. It’s addicting. Let’s go, shall we?”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“Look, I don’t want you to do this because of what I said. I need you to know that I care.”
I would have laughed at the irony of my next words if they didn’t sting as I spoke them.
“But not enough, Collin. Not enough.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“That’s because you don’t believe in this, and you don’t -”
I cut him off as I screamed. “Don’t say it again! I care!”
“But not enough,” he said screaming back… and in a voice that was much quieter, more concluding, more condemning, and more disgusted, “Not enough.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“Hey, 27. Way to skip HistCulture and almost die. Classy.”
“Yeah,” I said, matching her nonchalant tone. “It was so much fun. You should try it sometime. Did the drone…?”
“Leave yet? Yes. Did it mean to fly in our airspace? My opinion is no, which I’m writing up in this report that will most likely be ignored," Eva sighed.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“My mother’s lips stopped trembling right before she spoke. “Because that means they lose something they aren’t willing to: their power. Everyone protects what they aren’t willing to lose.”
As I looked out at the horizon and the Circles and realized how true it was. We weren’t willing to lose the lives the Republic stole.
The Protectors risked their lives for the chance to steal them back.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series

“Collin sighed, looking at the door frame instead of me now. As if to himself, he said, “It’s a good story. I like Jack.”
“Why?”
“Get the eggs out. Save the goose. Sneak them away from the Giant. It’s like what we do.”
“Well… I guess so. It is what we do,” and I paused, sinking into his words. The last thing I heard was my own voice, a thought that escaped my mind, spoken right before sleep overtook me.
“But this is such a strange way to fight a war.”
― Laura Campbell, The Five Unnecessaries: Book 1 of the 27th Protector Series