“Can’t you drive faster?” Ruddy said. “I think she’s getting worse.”

  Xeke was wrestling with the steering wheel. “This thing won’t handle at high speeds.”

  Ruddy took a deep breath and rubbed more water onto Teri’s forehead and into her hair.

  “She’s burning up.”

  “We’re doing everything we can,” Xeke said. “We’re almost there. Listen—the place where my friends are is sort of ... different. There are some things you should know before we get there. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be able to bring in outsiders like this. Most of us are …”

  “Afflicted?” Ruddy said.

  “We don’t like to use that word. Most of us are either talented or family of someone who is. If anyone finds out about the place ... well, you can imagine what would happen.”

  “I won’t tell anyone,” Ruddy said. “Why would I? I’m in the same boat as you.”

  “I know that,” Xeke said. “But not everyone there is going to know it. I’m just saying you shouldn’t take it the wrong way if people have questions.”

  “I don’t care about any of that. I just want Teri to be okay, then they can say whatever they want.”

  “Have you considered what to do next?” Xeke asked. “I mean, once Teri is better. You can’t keep running forever. It’s a matter of time before someone catches you. You’d both be safe in Penatuka.”

  “Penatuka? What kind of name is that?”

  “Native American. Used to be a summer camp. I’m sure it’s nothing like the life you used to have, but it’s not a bad place to live.”

  “What’s it like?”

  “It’s more of a village than a town. We’re self-sufficient. We grow our own food, get our water from wells, our power from windmills, and we share almost everything. Everyone does their part. We do some trading, but Fred doesn’t allow much outside contact. No TV, and no one is allowed to have old smart phones—no cameras at all, actually.”

  Ruddy blinked. “Who is Fred, and why does he get to tell anyone they can’t watch TV?”

  “She. Winnifred. She’s talented, but on a grand scale. She is to us what we are to normals. It’s hard to explain. You have to see it to believe it.”

  “She sounds like some kind of dictator.”

  Xeke nodded. “Yeah, she is, but she’s a benevolent dictator.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Ruddy’s eyes widened and Xeke laughed.

  “Don’t worry. She’s kind of eccentric, but she’s a good leader. She keeps the government from finding us. Sort of like what Teri does to hide us, except she’s doing it with the whole village and everyone in it. She started Penatuka. It’s her place—she lets us live there and protects us, and we live by her rules. It’s a pretty good deal if you ask me.”

  “But no cameras? No TV? That’s so arbitrary.”

  “It’s not arbitrary at all. We have to stay hidden, and if somebody takes a picture of a talent at work and it gets back to the government, we’re done. As for television ... she says it ruined society. I don’t know if that’s true, but … it’s not like there’s anything on TV these days but reruns and government propaganda.”

  Ruddy wet the cloth again and put it on Teri’s forehead. “I dunno. This place sounds like some sort of hippy commune to me.”

  Xeke sighed. “Maybe. Sort of. To me it’s more like a family. We’re a bunch of people who found ourselves with no place to go, so we made one. We take care of each other.”

  “But isn’t it boring?”

  “Believe it or not, when there are no grocery stores, feeding yourself takes up a good bit of the day. In the spring, we till and plant. In the summer, we weed and water. In the fall, we harvest and preserve and can our food for the coming year. We hunt year-round. You won’t get bored, I promise.”

  Ruddy suppressed a groan. He didn’t want to insult Xeke, but that sounded awful. He wished he could have his old life back.

  “Hmph. What do you do for fun?”

  “Well, when you have dozens of people running around with superpowers, it’s not hard to stay entertained. There are other things to do, too. There’s a basketball court, and we play cards, stuff like that. But that’s not the best part. My girlfriend, Tamara, worked at a belly dancing studio before the Event. A lot of the girls have really gotten into it.”

  “Belly dancing?”

  “Yeah, and that’s not all. Cymber teaches yoga. You’ll want to see that.”

  “Why? Is she pretty?”

  “Oh yeah, she’s hot.”

  “I’ve never tried yoga.”

  “You don’t have to try it. Just watch.”

  “Ohh, yeah. I can see how …”

  Ruddy’s stomach lurched. It felt like he was falling. Xeke jumped and nearly lost control of the truck.

  “What the hell was that?” Xeke said.

  “It’s Teri.” Ruddy looked down at her. “Oh, fuck. Her lips are blue.”

  “Is she breathing?”

  “I don’t know?” Ruddy put his hand by her face. “No, she’s ... is she ... what do I do?”

  “Do you know CPR?” Xeke asked.

  Ruddy looked up and met Xeke’s eyes in the rear-view mirror. Already he was choking back tears. Xeke wrestled the Jeep onto the shoulder of the road and got into the back seat. He checked her vitals and started CPR.

  Ruddy stood in the open door, unsure what to do with his hands. “Oh god, please. Please, Xeke, don’t let her die. I’m so sorry, Teri.”

  He reached out with his mind. Please, Teri. Hang on. Don’t go. I’ll do anything. Anything!

  At first, there was no answer, but then he heard a whisper.

  Ruddy?

  “I can hear her. She’s still alive! Keep going! It’s working!” Ruddy poked his head in through the open door. “Come on, Teri. Stay with us.”

  “I heard her too,” Xeke said. “I think ...”

  They both went rigid.

  Ruddy’s vision turned black and roaring filled his ears. He couldn’t breathe. It was like being dragged underwater by a drowning man.

  “She’s taking us … with her,” Xeke said. His voice shook.

  “No!” Ruddy shouted. “We’re keeping her here.” Hold on, Teri! Don’t let go! The pull intensified, until Ruddy thought his head would explode.

  Teri’s chest began to rise and fall on its own. The drowning sensation faded.

  “We did it!” Ruddy jumped up and went to clap Xeke on the back, but the look of terror on his friend’s face stopped him.

  A thought crossed his mind. We almost died. He could have sworn it sounded like Xeke’s voice.

  “Yeah,” Xeke said, teeth clenched. “We did it. Now let’s get out of here before it happens again.”