“That was the best hamburger I’ve ever had,” Teri said. She stuffed a french fry into her mouth. “But maybe that’s because I thought I’d never have another one.”

  “We’ll get you used to good food,” Adrian said. “Our cooks here are all …”

  Richard tensed. “Boss. They’re back. And I think we underestimated them.”

  Adrian’s face went blank. He stood and faced the door.

  Teri’s smile died. “What’s going on?”

  Richard pulled her close. “Don’t move.”

  “What?” She squirmed, but he held her tight. “What is it? Is it the government? Did they find me?”

  “Yes,” Adrian said.

  She probed to see what was going on. Nothing. It had been days since she’d been able to use her powers, but she couldn’t help but reach for them every time she wanted to know something.

  Gunshots echoed in the street outside. She shrank against Richard. “They’re here for me?”

  “Stay close,” Richard said. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

  A crash came from downstairs. They’re breaking in, she thought.

  Adrian drew a pistol from under his coat.

  “Don’t let Julie take me,” she whispered. “She’ll kill me.”

  She heard people running up the stairs. Richard drew his own gun and pointed it over her shoulder at the door.

  The window shattered as a bullet screamed through and destroyed the globe of the ceiling fan. Glass rained down onto the floor. Teri screamed and huddled against Richard.

  “Hush now, Teri,” Richard said. “It’s all going to be okay, I promise.”

  The door splintered, and a silvery figure crashed into the room. Teri clutched Richard’s arm. “It’s Ruddy!"

  Xeke followed Ruddy into the room. Adrian leveled his gun at them.

  Xeke met his gaze.

  No one spoke for a moment, then Adrian smiled. “Ruddy. Xeke. What are you doing, breaking into my house like this? You could have just knocked.”

  “You know why we’re here,” Xeke said.

  “I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” Adrian said.

  "You have a gift for understatement.” Teri flinched at the ice in Xeke’s voice. “But I think we understand you now. You keep all the untalented as slaves, and you kidnapped Teri and led us to believe she was dead so you could manipulate her. Does that sum it up?”

  Teri’s mind spun. She wanted to speak, but her voice caught in her throat.

  “Now let’s not do anything rash,” Adrian said.

  Ruddy stepped between Xeke and Adrian. “Then put the gun down,” he snarled.

  No, Ruddy, don’t hurt him! He’s …

  Adrian snarled back. “Careful, big guy, your talent won’t work in …” He trailed off.

  “Really?” Ruddy held up his arm and tapped his finger against it with a metallic ‘clank.’”

  “Ruddy,” Teri whispered. She barely heard herself.

  “A little help here, Richard,” Adrian said.

  “They’re too strong,” Richard said. His voice was strained. “All three of them at once. I … can’t.”

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  “Put the guns down before things get ugly,” Xeke said.

  Teri found her voice. “What are you doing? Stop it! You’re all my friends! Adrian and Richard have been taking care of me! All of you please stop it!”

  She sounded like a child in her own ears. She pushed her thoughts out again, trying to reach Xeke and Ruddy through the link, to explain to them.

  Richard groaned. “Teri … please, don’t …” He was sweating and shaking, his skin clammy against hers.

  “Just let me talk to them!” she said. “Everything will be alright if you let me explain! You’ll see!” He groaned again as she pushed with her mind. “We’ll all sit down and everything will be fine!”

  “Your friends wanted us to kill you, Teri.” Adrian’s words drifted around her for a moment before she understood them. “That’s why I made them leave. They said you’d become a monster, a killer. They didn’t believe me when I said you were getting better.” His eyes narrowed. “But that’s not going to happen on my watch. I’ll protect you, Teri. I’m not going to let them or anyone else ever hurt you again.”

  For a moment, she almost believed it. Everything fit. And maybe it was true—maybe she was a monster. She remembered how angry they’d been, the look on Ruddy’s face ...

  Then Xeke laughed. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  It brought her back to herself. “I’m sorry, Richard,” she said. She pushed through his block.

  Xeke! Ruddy! What’s going on?

  They lied to you, Teri. Xeke’s thoughts were barely audible, but she could feel his relief through the bond. They told us you were dead.

  Ruddy’s grief poured over her. We thought you were gone forever. We buried your body. It was… I’m so sorry, Teri. I’m so sorry for what I said. Tears trickled down his face as he stood there staring at her.

  We love you, Xeke said. We were never mad at you. It was all just ...

  Richard’s arm tightened around her, and the connection faded. The wall was there again, blocking her mind. She pushed at it.

  “I’m not sure what’s happening,” she said. “I think we all need to calm down and talk about it.”

  Richard stared at her. Sweat poured down his forehead. He turned to Adrian. “Boss? I can’t hold her anymore.”

  “Then kill the bitch,” Adrian said. He shot Ruddy in the face.

  Richard pressed the barrel of his gun into Teri’s temple. His hand shook as he fought to dominate her will.

  Tears streamed down her face. W-why, Richard? I thought you were ...

  Ruddy flinched as bullets ricocheted off his face. He shook his head like a bull and took a step towards Adrian. Then he noticed Richard’s gun against Teri’s head.

  He charged.

  Xeke had his hands full controlling the ricochets from the bullets that were bouncing off Ruddy. That plus forcing his way past Richard’s interference took all his concentration—so when the violet arc of electricity shot out from Adrian’s outstretched fingers and surged through his body, he caught the full force of it.

  Xeke had felt pain before, but nothing like this. He dropped to the ground. Energy coursed through his body; every nerve fired at once, every pain receptor screamed, every muscle contracted.

  His heart clenched until it felt like it would tear open. Then it stopped beating.

  Silence filled his brain. The sound of his own heartbeat was not something he’d ever noticed, but its absence was deafening. The pain became an afterthought as his consciousness faded.

  No. Not like this.

  As his vision dimmed, Xeke grabbed his own heart with his powers and squeezed. Once, twice. On the third time, it began to beat again. He gasped, sucking in air. The pain returned.

  Thank God, Richard thought as Xeke collapsed. These three were too powerful for him to handle all at once, but maybe he could deal with two of them. And maybe he could still salvage something with Teri—if he saved her from Adrian.

  First he had to deal with the pissed-off three-hundred-pound metal changeling lumbering toward him. Richard saw Adrian aim at the back of Ruddy’s head and he focused all his power on neutralizing the changeling’s abilities.

  Got him … The silver sheen of Ruddy’s skin faded. Adrian pulled the trigger.

  The teke’s power surged. Richard couldn’t react in time. The bullet that Adrian fired whizzed back the way it came. Adrian’s face exploded. He fell back against the wall and slid to the floor.

  “Fuck!” Richard yelled. “Adrian!”

  It had all happened so fast. Now he was alone with all three of them.

  There was nothing to do but finish what he’d started. He aimed his pistol at Ruddy and re-focused his powers, this time keeping an eye on Xeke.

  Teri threw herself off the bed. Richard heard the “crack” of her bone snapping as his gun hand was pulled off target by the handcuffs that connected them. She screamed.

  The bullet missed Ruddy by a hair and sank into the wall.

  Ruddy crashed into Richard and punched him in the face. Richard smashed his gun against the side of Ruddy’s head. Ruddy bellowed in pain as his forehead opened up. Blood splashed everywhere.

  The pain of Teri’s broken arm overwhelmed Richard’s powers as their fight jerked it around. Her agony enveloped his senses.

  “Leave her alone!” Ruddy screamed and punched Richard again. Even without his powers, the changeling was strong.

  When the bed collapsed, Richard almost blacked out from Teri’s pain. He fell against the wall with Ruddy on top of him.

  “Stop!” Richard rasped. “You’re killing her!”

  Ruddy growled like a wild animal and bared his teeth. He grabbed Richard’s head with both hands and smashed it into the wall.

  Once. Twice. On the third hit, Richard lost his grip on his power, and Ruddy’s changeling strength returned.

  The last hit smashed Richard’s head through the drywall and into the brick behind it.

  I’m sorry, Teri, Richard thought as he died.