A scream from nearby stopped Ruddy in his tracks. He saw something moving inside the gazebo across the park.

  “George?” he said. “Is that you? Hey, what’s going on over there?”

  “Just promise me this is the last time!” It was a woman’s voice. She sounded like she was crying.

  Clara?

  “Promise you won’t hurt me again if I do this one last time!”

  Ruddy clenched his fists and ran toward the gazebo.

  Ruddy, wait! Teri said. It’s not what you think!

  He saw Clara on top of George. Tears streamed down her face as she moved. George’s eyes were closed as he grunted in ecstasy.

  Ruddy shoved Clara aside and grabbed George by the throat, lifting him into the air. Clara scrambled away from them and huddled against the gazebo railing.

  “I’m gonna … fucking ... kill you!” Ruddy said.

  George choked. “I … she … ack ...”

  Ruddy rocked backwards as George’s telekinetic blast hit him. He tightened his grip.

  Clara sobbed and covered her body with her arms.

  Ruddy, stop! Teri said.

  Ruddy imagined George’s windpipe snapping … all he had to do was squeeze a little harder. George focused his power on Ruddy’s fingers, trying to free himself.

  “Oh, you want to play that game?” Ruddy snarled. He reached through the bond and took ahold of Xeke’s powers.

  Energy poured through him. George’s power was insignificant—a cobweb-thin line of force pressing against him. He pushed back and George flew into the wall of the gazebo. Wood cracked. George’s power sputtered and died.

  Ruddy, stop … you’re killing me. Xeke’s mind was fading.

  Ruddy let Xeke’s power go. George moaned and tried to get up, but Ruddy loomed over him.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “You had Xeke and Teri fooled,” Ruddy said. “You’re a good liar. But you can’t fool me.”

  George tried to answer, but all he could do was cough.

  “They were going to send you back to Fred. To Cymber. And I was going to let them.” Ruddy pictured Cymber in place of Clara on top of George. He snarled and raised his fist.

  Ruddy! Teri said. Stop this right now! He froze.

  George rubbed his throat. “No ... you don’t … understand,” he rasped. “She … she said she … I said no … she practically ripped my clothes off!”

  Let go of me, Teri! Ruddy said.

  “She came onto me—I swear she did. Oh God, I swear.”

  “That’s what all you rapists say, isn’t it?” Ruddy said. “You, Adrian, Richard.”

  Xeke stumbled out the door of the cottage, leaning on Teri. They staggered into the park. “Ruddy … don’t kill him,” Xeke said.

  Ruddy took a step away from George. “Relax, I’m not going to waste any more time on this piece of shit. Jesus, you’d think I was the bad guy.” He glared at George. “Get out of my sight, you fucking rapist. If I see you again, I’ll break your neck.”

  George pushed himself to his feet and sprinted off, still naked.

  Xeke sank to the ground. “What did you do to me?” he said. “You almost killed me.”

  “What?” Ruddy’s head cleared enough for him to notice Xeke’s mental presence was barely a shadow. “Woah. What happened to you?”

  “You happened,” Xeke said.

  “What are you talking about?”

  You tapped into his powers, Teri said. He was already exhausted. You came as close to killing him as Adrian did.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Ruddy said. “People can’t take each other’s powers.”

  Really? Teri said. Then how did you use telekinesis on George?

  “I … uh … is that what I did? I was just so pissed off I ...”

  Xeke leaned against the gazebo and closed his eyes. Ruddy shook his head and went to Clara. “Are you alright?”

  Teri pushed between them and faced Clara. “I think it’s best if you go home and stay there for the time being,” she said.

  Clara turned pale. She wrapped George’s jacket around her and ran out of the gazebo.

  “What the hell was that?” Ruddy said. “She’s hurt …”

  Teri watched Clara go. “No, she isn’t. She found out George was leaving with us. She was trying to make you jealous so you’d take her instead.”

  “You can’t be sure of that!”

  Teri stared at him. “Yes, I can. And you know it.”

  Ruddy looked at the ground.

  “You’re out of control,” Xeke said. “You lost your temper again and if Teri hadn’t stopped you, I’d be dead. George would be dead.”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you! I was just mad.”

  “You can’t do things without thinking about the consequences! We’ve talked about this.”

  “Talked about it?” Ruddy said. “More like you’ve lectured me. What good is having power if you can’t help people?”

  “I’m not saying don’t use your powers to help people, I’m saying don’t lose your temper.”

  “You saw what he did to her! How could I not lose my temper?”

  Teri touched Ruddy’s shoulder. “You’re not listening to me. Clara planned this. She wanted you to feel this way. She’s manipulating you.”

  “Teri, don't take this the wrong way, but you’ve been having trouble remembering things,” Ruddy said. “I think you might be a little confused.”

  Teri’s eyes narrowed. She turned to Xeke. “Let’s go inside. You need to lie down.”

  She didn’t even glance back at Ruddy as she helped Xeke through the door.