Xeke shifted and tried to find a comfortable position on the couch. The cushions against his skin sent fire down his damaged nerve endings. He could hear Teri's uneven breathing from the La-Z-Boy across the room.

  Dammit. Falling asleep shouldn’t be so hard when you’re this tired.

  “I can’t sleep either,” Teri said. “George is coming, anyway.”

  Xeke opened his eyes and sat up. “You’re kidding. What does he want?”

  “He’s scared,” Teri said. “He’s been thinking about leaving town but he doesn’t know where to go.”

  “He should leave,” Xeke said. “They should all leave.”

  Teri shook her head. “No, it’s not like that with George. He only did what Adrian said because he was afraid. Now he feels guilty.”

  There was a soft knock on the door.

  I’m not going to let him know I’m here, Teri said.

  Xeke nodded. “Come in,” he said.

  George’s bright red hair was a mess. His face was streaked with dirt, and he smelled like he hadn’t showered in days. One of his eyes was black and both were puffy and red.

  He stared at Xeke for a few seconds, then fell to his knees. “Xeke … I … I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not me you should apologize to,” Xeke said. “How many people did you abuse here? How many women did you rape?”

  George wiped his eyes. “You think I’ve forgotten all that? I used to be a good person, but … they made me hurt people. Torture them. We all did. We had to. Not all of us enjoyed it. I’ve hated myself since I got here.”

  “How am I supposed to believe anything you say?”

  George’s head drooped. “I tried. I refused the first woman Adrian gave me. So he burned her to death in front of me. What was I supposed to do the next time? After that it didn't matter. He owned me, and he knew it. I was as good to the normals as I could get away with. I tried to slip them food and medicine … but Adrian was always watching me.”

  Xeke looked at Teri. She nodded.

  George shuddered. “What else could I do? What else could I do?” He put his face in his hands. “You may as well kill me. I deserve it.”

  Xeke sighed. “Sometimes we do things and it’s hard to live with ourselves later. I know that better than you do.”

  George raised his head.

  “I killed 327 men, women, and children in less than a minute,” Xeke said. “Including my own brothers and father. And I was only seventeen.”

  George’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.

  “It wasn’t my fault,” Xeke said, “I had no control over my power—but I’m still responsible. There are hundreds of people dead because of me and I can never take it back.”

  George stared at him. “You’re … you’re him. You’re Ezekiel Daniels? That’s ...”

  Xeke rolled his eyes. “Stop it. I’m just Xeke.”

  “You’re supposed to be dead!” George said.

  Xeke shrugged.

  “Adrian. He told me … he said without Richard’s help I’d turn into you. He told me you went crazy, killed thousands of people before they got you.”

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  “Well, one thing is clear,” Xeke said. “Adrian was a liar.”

  “Ezekiel Daniels!” George took a step back.

  Xeke sighed again. “For God’s sake, George. I’m not the devil. I’m not here to punish you. And I sure as hell can’t offer you any kind of redemption, if that’s what you’re here for. All any of us can do is try to make up for what we’ve done.”

  Ruddy is coming, Teri said.

  “There are people who can help you,” Xeke said. “Good people. I can put you in touch with them, if you want. But it’s not going to be easy for you.”

  “You’d do that?” George said. “You would help me after all the things …”

  The door banged open and Ruddy stomped in. The glower on his face deepened when he saw George.

  “What the hell is he doing here?” Ruddy said. He planted himself inches from George and glared at him.

  “Ruddy,” Xeke said. “Don’t.”

  “He’s one of them!” Ruddy said. “They should all be locked up.” Teri pressed herself into the back of the couch. “And he’s scaring Teri!”

  George’s eyes darted around the room. “What?”

  “Calm down, Ruddy,” Xeke said.

  “No, it’s fine.” George circled around Ruddy toward the door. “I was just leaving anyway. Thanks, Eze … thanks, Xeke.” He limped out the door.

  Ruddy glared at Teri. She shrank away.

  This is not good, Xeke thought.

  “Asshole,” Ruddy said as soon as George left.

  “He’s not like the rest of them,” Xeke said. “He knows he did unforgivable things. He wants to make amends.”

  “How can you defend him?” Ruddy said. “He was in here scaring Teri!”

  “He didn’t even know I was here,” Teri said. “Not until you said something.”

  “Oh, so it’s my fault?”

  “What are you talking about?” Xeke said. “What’s your fault?”

  “I didn’t say it was my fault! You did.”

  Xeke rolled his eyes. “Oh my God, Ruddy. Like we don’t have enough problems. Now you’re going to act like a two-year-old?”

  “Is that what I am to you? A two-year-old?”

  “Sometimes.” Xeke pushed himself up from the couch. For a second Ruddy thought he was going to pass out.

  “Like when?” Ruddy said.

  “Like when you say you’re going to take care of everything and you don’t, then you come in here throwing a tantrum about nothing. Did you even find any food?”

  “I’m not throwing a tantrum!” Ruddy almost choked on the words.

  “Well you’re not taking care of things, either. I haven’t slept, I’m still hurt, and I can’t protect Teri right now. I’m not sure I could even throw a marble across the room. I need your help and instead you’re making things worse.”

  Ruddy blinked. “How can you say that? I’ve been walking all around town trying to keep an eye on all these people.

  “Like Clara?” Xeke said.

  “Fuck you! That’s none of your business.”

  “Stop,” Teri said. “You’re both making it worse! Why can’t you stop fighting for five seconds?”

  Silence filled the room.

  “You’re right,” Xeke said. “I’m sorry, Ruddy. I shouldn’t have brought this up right now. I’m just so tired.”

  Ruddy stared at the wall. “No. I’m glad it’s all coming out. It’s good to know what you guys think of me.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Teri said. Ruddy glared at her and she flinched.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Ruddy said. “I didn’t mean …”

  “It’s fine,” she said.

  Ruddy’s eyes were wide. “Why are you so afraid of me? I can’t stand it.”

  You have to give me some time, Ruddy, Teri said. I can’t get the image of you killing Richard out of my head, I keep seeing it over and over again. He was sorry. He was clawing at the edge of a cliff, trying to hold on, and you keep pounding his head into the wall over and over.

  I didn’t mean to kill him! Ruddy said.

  Tears welled up in Teri’s eyes. I know. It wasn’t your fault. I just don’t see why there has to be so much death.

  It was an accident, Ruddy said. I can’t read minds, you know.

  I’m not mad at you, Teri said. It was hard though ... not just watching him die, but finding out I got brainwashed. It’s embarrassing.

  I saw what they did to you, Ruddy said. Clara showed me the videos. They were manipulating you, and they were good at it. They’ve done it to everyone here.

  “Including George,” Xeke said.

  “That’s different.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s a grown man with powers. He could fight back.”

  “I could have fought back, too,” Teri said. “But it was easier not to. I wanted everything to be okay for once. It was no different for George.”

  Ruddy shook his head. “Fine. If you two trust him, I suppose I’ll have to give him a chance.”

  “I want to do more than give him a chance,” Xeke said. “I think he would do well in Penatuka.”

  “What? No!”

  “Fred can handle him.”

  “I don’t want him anywhere near Cymber,” Ruddy said.

  Xeke laughed. “Oh, Cymber can take care of herself. Besides, what’s he going to do in a town full of mentalists?”

  Ruddy glanced at Teri.

  “I think it’s a good idea,” she said.

  “Hmph. Maybe.”

  “You should talk to him,” Teri said. “Just give him a chance. You might like him.”

  Ruddy shrugged. “Sure, I guess. Whatever.”

  Xeke nodded. “Just listen to what he has to say.”

  “Fine,” Ruddy said. “Jeez. I said I'd do it.”

  Xeke slapped him on the back. “Thanks, Ruddy. And hey … be patient with him, okay?”