I sit in the silence of my apartment, staring at my phone, Marcus’s words ringing in my ears. They’re coming for you. I don’t like the sound of that. I don’t like how he said it either, like it was inevitable, like it was just a matter of time.

It doesn’t make sense. I’ve spent years refining this power, using it like a scalpel to cut through the noise of life, molding people to fit the roles I needed them to play. I was careful. I made sure no one ever suspected a thing. So how could there be others like me? More importantly, how could I not have known?

But the proof is staring me right in the face. The barista. The man on the street. They weren’t resisting me by chance. They weren’t anomalies. Marcus’s voice still lingers, seeping into the cracks in my mind. You’re not the only one who can do it. The realization lands with a dull thud in my chest. Someone else—maybe multiple someones—has the same ability. And that means they can do what I’ve been doing to everyone else.

The weight of it settles over me like a heavy blanket, smothering any sense of safety I once had. I get up from the bed and pace, the tension building with each step. This apartment, once my sanctuary, now feels like a trap. Four walls closing in, and nowhere to go.

I need answers. I need to understand who they are and what the hell Marcus is talking about. He always had his fingers in strange places, always sniffing around for more power, more leverage. If anyone has a clue, it’s him.

I grab my jacket and phone, my mind already made up. Sitting here, waiting for the other shoe to drop? Not an option. I need to confront Marcus, and I need to do it now. I head for the door, my steps quick, purposeful.

The city outside is alive in that fake, hollow way it always is—lights flashing, people moving, oblivious. It’s strange, knowing that beneath all the noise, there’s something darker lurking. Something hidden. I can feel it now, that static crackling under the surface, and it’s unnerving. I used to think I was the only one who could sense the undercurrent, but now I know better. There are others out there, and they’re moving pieces I can’t see.

I shove my hands into my jacket pockets and keep my head down as I navigate the streets. Marcus lives in one of those high-rise towers, the kind that screams money. It doesn’t surprise me. He always had a way of finding his way into places that shouldn’t have been open to him. If I didn’t have a special ability, I’d almost be impressed. Almost.

The lobby is all glass and steel, a monument to the kind of luxury that pretends to be understated. I ignore the receptionist—she doesn’t even look up from her desk—and make a beeline for the elevators. Marcus’s penthouse is on the top floor, of course.

As the elevator rises, I feel the pressure building in my chest. I don’t know what I’m walking into. Marcus never plays straight, and he loves his little games. But right now, I don’t care. I need answers, and I’ll pry them out of him if I have to.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

The elevator dings, and I step out into a wide hallway with thick carpeting that muffles my steps. His door is at the far end, and as I approach, it swings open before I can knock.

“Jonah,” Marcus greets me with a sly smile. He’s dressed in his usual, annoyingly perfect way—dark tailored suit, not a hair out of place. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

I step inside without waiting for an invitation, the tension coiling tighter. “You want to explain that little phone call?” I don’t bother with pleasantries. Marcus doesn’t deserve them.

He closes the door behind me, his smile widening like a cat that just caught a mouse. “You’re upset. Understandable. But you should’ve known this day would come.”

“Don’t act like I should’ve known anything. You’ve been hiding things. What the hell is going on, Marcus?”

He moves past me, heading for the bar in the corner of the room, his movements smooth and controlled. “You always thought you were special, Jonah. But the truth is, you’ve been playing a small game.” He pours himself a drink and glances at me. “You really thought you were the only one with these abilities? That no one else could do what you do?”

I clench my fists. “Get to the point.”

He takes a sip of his drink, savoring the moment. “There’s a bigger game happening, one you’ve been blind to. But the players? Oh, they’ve noticed you. You’ve been making waves, Jonah. The kind that gets attention.”

“And who are these ‘players’?”

His eyes gleam as he sets down the glass. “Let’s just say they’re not the kind of people you want to cross. They’ve been watching you, waiting to see if you’re a threat.”

I feel a chill crawl down my spine. “Why now? Why not stop me sooner?”

He smirks. “Because they like to see how far people go before they break. And you? You’ve been walking right into their trap without even realizing it.”

I take a step closer, anger flaring. “You could’ve warned me. You could’ve told me about them.”

Marcus raises an eyebrow. “Warn you? Why would I do that? Watching you flounder has been far too entertaining. Besides, I needed to see how you’d handle the pressure. Now that they’ve taken notice, you’re on their radar.”

“And what happens now?” My voice is tight, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

He leans back against the bar, his expression unreadable. “That depends on you. Keep trying to control things, keep pushing your influence, and you’ll be crushed. But… if you’re smart, you’ll find a way to join them. Maybe then, you’ll survive.”

The words hang in the air, heavy with implication. Join them? That’s not an option. I’ve spent my life pulling strings, not being someone else’s puppet.

“I don’t take orders,” I say, my voice cold. “And I don’t plan on bowing to anyone.”

Marcus’s smile fades, and his eyes harden. “Then you’ll die, Jonah. And no one will even remember you existed.”

For a moment, the room is silent, the weight of his words settling over me. This is bigger than I thought. Bigger than Marcus. And if what he says is true, I’m already in too deep.

But I’ve never been one to back down from a fight.

I turn on my heel and head for the door, my mind spinning. As I reach the exit, Marcus’s voice calls after me, low and mocking.

“Good luck, Jonah. You’re going to need it.”

The door slams shut behind me, and I step into the hallway, my heart pounding. If they’re really coming for me, then I have one option: find them first.

And when I do, I’ll make sure they never see me coming.