Teri entered Richard’s mind just in time to feel him die. She reeled away from the horror of it. Her powers free, her consciousness expanded out into the world where it belonged. Away from her own pain.

  Corey was engaged in a gun battle with three afflicted—two minor tekes and a shaper. Their powers weren’t strong enough to turn the tide, and he’d kept them away from the house so far. But he was pinned down, exhausted, and almost out of ammo.

  She put his attackers to sleep. It’s okay, Corey, she said, moving outwards. It’s over.

  She found the mind of another afflicted, George. He was in the tower atop The Lodge, talking to someone on a ham radio. “It’s like World War 3 up here, man!” he shouted. “What’s taking you so long?”

  “We’re pulling into town now,” the radio crackled. “Be there in two minutes.”

  Teri put George to sleep, then reached out for the person on the other end of the radio. She found him driving a van packed with afflicted men and women, all heavily armed.

  She made the driver pull off the road then put them all to sleep.

  Teri ranged farther out. Hundreds of people, none of them afflicted, were imprisoned in a mine a few miles outside of town. A middle-aged afflicted woman—a shaper—was locked in a well-outfitted cabin near the mine. Teri put her to sleep, too—just in case.

  There were no other afflicted within miles. There was only one anomaly—an empty spot with no insect or animal life around a campsite at the bottom of the mountain. Her mind shied away from it, and she returned her attention to her own body. Only a few seconds had passed.

  Richard’s head flopped to the side. Ruddy bared his teeth. “You won’t hurt Teri anymore,” he said. His snarl became a grin. “I kicked your ass!”

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  Then he realized the warm sticky fluid on his hands was blood and brains. Bile rose in his throat. He wiped his hands on Richard’s shirt, then pulled back when he realized he was touching a dead body.

  “I killed him,” he said. “I … I didn’t mean to kill him.”

  Teri turned away from him. Her arm was at an unnatural angle and still handcuffed to Richard’s body.

  “Teri!” Ruddy gasped. He broke the chain on the cuffs. Teri squeezed her arm to her chest and tears welled up in her eyes. She scooted away from him, toward Xeke.

  “Oh, God,” he said. “Did I hurt you?” Then he saw Xeke and his mouth fell open.

  Xeke was twitching from Adrian’s energy bolt. Smoke curled off his clothes, and Ruddy realized the burning smell was coming from him.

  Jesus! Xeke … are you … how bad is it? I mean ...

  Xeke made a strangled noise. Ruddy couldn’t tell if he was laughing or coughing. I’m alive, he said. But I’ve felt better.

  I’ll go get Corey, Ruddy said. But Corey was already there. He limped into the room and went straight to Xeke.

  Ruddy felt some of Xeke’s pain recede as Corey worked his magic.

  He looked down. Richard’s eyes were still open. One stared at the ceiling, the other was rolled up in the back of his head. A pool of blood seeped out from under him.

  I didn’t mean to hit him that hard, Ruddy said. He reached out to close Richard’s eyes, but drew his hand back.

  Teri lay down against Xeke, using his chest as a pillow. Ruddy walked over to them. “Are you okay?” Ruddy said.

  “I’m fine,” Teri said. Her eyes flicked to Richard’s motionless body again.

  Ruddy blinked, then turned to Corey. “Can you fix her arm? How’s Xeke?”

  “They’re both stable,” Corey said. His voice slurred. “I’ve mended her arm as best I can, but I don’t have the strength to fully heal them right now. Maybe once I’ve had some rest ...”

  “Yeah,” Ruddy said. “You guys should rest. You look awful.”

  “Thanks,” Corey said. He closed his eyes and lay down next to Teri and Xeke.

  You’re not even tired, are you? Xeke said. And you don’t have a scratch on you.

  That’s not my fault! Ruddy said. I’d trade places with any of you if I could!

  I know you would, Xeke said. I’m glad one of us is in good shape. I can barely move. If you weren’t around to protect us right now ...

  Ruddy swallowed. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll take care of everything.”