The city buzzed beneath Marcus as he stood on the rooftop, his eyes scanning the flickering lights like a predator surveying its territory. He felt the hum of countless thoughts pressing against the walls of his mind—raw, chaotic, and unfiltered. The ability to silence the noise at will was a gift he had mastered, but tonight, he chose to let it in. He wanted to feel their pulse, to remind himself of his dominion.

The rebellion had begun to fester. Marcus had noticed subtle changes in the behavior of his most trusted followers. It started with hesitation, a flicker of doubt in their thoughts. Then came whispers—not words, but the uneasy tension of resistance bubbling beneath the surface. He couldn’t afford a fracture in his control. Not now.

He turned his attention to Zara, his second-in-command. She had been with him since the beginning, a fierce and loyal ally. Or so he thought. Recently, her mind had grown harder to penetrate. When he did push past her defenses, he found only fragments, carefully curated thoughts she wanted him to see. It was a dangerous game she was playing, and Marcus knew it was only a matter of time before she made her move.

Descending the fire escape, Marcus entered the old warehouse that served as their base of operations. The air inside was thick with the scent of oil and metal, the remnants of their last mission still scattered across the tables. Zara stood in the center, surrounded by a small group of followers. She was speaking, her voice low but firm. When she saw Marcus enter, the room fell silent.

“Marcus,” Zara said, her tone neutral. “We were just discussing the next steps.”

He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. “Were you?” His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it. He reached out with his mind, brushing against hers. She flinched but held her ground.

“We need to rethink our strategy,” Zara continued, avoiding his mental probing. “The last mission cost us three people. We can’t afford more losses.”

Marcus’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Losses are inevitable in war. Or have you forgotten that we’re fighting for survival?”

The others shifted uncomfortably. Marcus could feel their unease. Zara was gaining their sympathy, their trust. He had to act.

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“You’re right about one thing, Zara,” he said, stepping closer. “We do need to rethink our strategy. But not because of fear. Because there’s a traitor among us.”

The tension in the room spiked. Zara’s face remained calm, but her thoughts betrayed her. She was calculating, weighing her options.

“A traitor?” she asked, her voice steady. “That’s a serious accusation.”

“It is,” Marcus agreed. “And it’s one I don’t make lightly. Someone has been feeding information to the government. They’ve been tracking our movements, anticipating our plans.” He let the accusation hang in the air, his eyes boring into Zara. “Do you have anything to say?”

She hesitated, just for a moment. But it was enough. Marcus pushed into her mind, breaking through her defenses with brutal force. Images and thoughts flooded into his consciousness: a clandestine meeting in a shadowed alley, an exchange of whispered words and a data chip.

Rage boiled within him. “You,” he spat. “You’ve betrayed me.”

The room erupted in chaos. Zara’s supporters moved to shield her, while others sided with Marcus. The divide was clear, and the fracture he had feared was now a gaping chasm.

Zara drew a knife, her eyes blazing with defiance. “You’ve gone too far, Marcus. This power has corrupted you. You’re not saving us. You’re enslaving us.”

Her words stung, not because they were true, but because they echoed the doubts he buried deep within himself. Marcus raised his hand, and the air seemed to vibrate with energy.

“I gave you purpose,” he said, his voice resonating with fury. “I made you more than you ever were. And this is how you repay me?”

Zara lunged, but Marcus was faster. He seized control of her mind, freezing her in place. The knife clattered to the ground as she struggled against his hold.

“You think you can defy me?” he snarled, tightening his grip on her thoughts. “You think you can take what I’ve built?”

Her resistance was strong, stronger than he expected. For a moment, it felt as though their wills were evenly matched. But then she faltered, a flicker of doubt giving him the opening he needed. He forced her to her knees, her body trembling under the weight of his power.

“This is your last chance,” Marcus said. “Swear your loyalty to me, and I might let you live.”

Zara’s eyes burned with hatred. “I’d rather die.”

Without hesitation, Marcus released her mind and struck her down. The room fell silent, the echoes of her collapse reverberating through the warehouse. He turned to the others, his gaze cold and unyielding.

“Let this be a lesson,” he said. “There is no room for betrayal in our ranks. Follow me, or face the consequences.”

The rebellion was quelled, but Marcus knew it was only temporary. The seeds of dissent had been planted, and it was only a matter of time before they sprouted again. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his power and the isolation it brought. For all his abilities, he couldn’t force loyalty. Not truly. And that terrified him more than anything.