Small slits, I assume they are its eyes, on either side of its large square snout bore into me, making my skin crawl. Its drooling lips curl back as it throws its head back even further to let out an awful screech. It is deafening this close. My ears are ringing.

It lunges straight up at me, pushing off the ground with its massive hind legs. Out of instinct, one I didn't know I possessed, I feel energy begin to collect around me. The air surrounding my body picks up velocity like a windstorm has just blown in, and just before the creature's huge claws on his front paws swipe at my legs, I push my hands down together towards it.

A huge jolt of energy vibrates through my body, rushing towards my hands. I see a stream of lightning explode from my palms, sending me rocking backwards a few feet.

Gold and white sparks crackle around the beast's head where the lightning struck him, right between the eyes.

As the energy dissipates and I come to rest gently on my ass on the rooftop just behind me, I smell burnt flesh and hair. It makes my stomach want to revolt. It's not the pleasant smell of cooking meat but instead a smell of sudden death and fear. I suck in a deep breath and look over the edge of the rooftop carefully.

The beast lays there motionless, in a distorted heap on the ground. I watch for a few moments, but its ribcage remains still. No breaths are being taken. It's dead.

I almost leaned back on my arms, wanting to tilt my head back and look at the bright sky and breath deep to calm my racing heart, when something catches the corner of my eye. I hear clapping.

"Bravo! I have never seen anything quite like that before. And you killed the Zudrakk in one hit. Wow! Just wow. I think I might love you."

Some weird guy is clapping his approval. He is tall and looks similar to a Zukrog, but he is tanned and too muscular for that to be the case. I can't tell from here, but my second guess is a Feyronian.

Something about this guy is off. I have barely laid eyes on him, and his very existence is already annoying me.

Not knowing what to say or how to react to his praise, I remain silent. I do, however, stand. Whoever he is, I don't see any reason to provide him with an advantage over me.

He is several rooftops away from me, closer to the city. Still, even from this distance, I would rather greet a stranger looking them in the eye than from the ground.

My hair tickles my ears as it swirles around my head. It takes some effort, but I am able to contain the energy I have collected and stop myself from collecting more.

It is like my K'ai is in standby mode. Waiting for anything that will give it a reason to let loose.

The weird guy cocks his head to the side as he examines me. He seems to be thinking about something, making some sort of decision. His eyes are extremely intelligent and clinical as he surveys me from head to toe.

"Well, this does make things interesting. I mean, I had my suspicions, and when Platus sent me to find you, I had my doubts too, but this..." He gestured to all of me with his one hand, "This leaves little room for doubt. You may not know what you are, but your K'ai certainly knows, Zea."

"Who. The. Fuck. Are. You?" He now has my undivided attention.

"Why Zea, I am hurt. Don't you recognize me?" He graces me with a cocky grin. The look on his face pulls on memory just out of my reach. It makes my head hurt.

"Come on, Zea! I know it's in there. That sharp mind of yours. They say we aren't supposed to remember anything, but you haven't forgotten who you are. I know you can remember the rest. It's time to remember Zea!" His face goes from a cocky grin to serious concentration.

His golden eyes tell me I will remember. He isn't going to give me a choice.

Energy slams into me from his direction. Not the kind like I had just used on the creature he'd called a Zudrakk, but telepathic. Possibly just as strong as my lightning bolt, mind you.

The weird guy's energy explodes in my mind in a shimmering gold fire. It is like watching a curtain being torched or a paper wall going up in flames.

Some kind of invisible wall in my mind that I hadn't realized was even there goes up in smoke instantly.

In less than half a second, all my memories come hurtling back. The force in which my memories crash into me sends me to my knees so hard that my teeth smash together. My hands instinctively go to my temples, trying to relieve pressure. Then just like that, it's over.

And I remember him now. And I just figured out what had been off with the Feyronian at the home base earlier. My first reaction is to let my energy flow, just let the sparks fly and see what happens.

But my second thought is, why this charade? Why go through all of this? It makes no sense.

If he wanted me dead, I would have been by now. He has skills and power that I am guessing not many even have a clue he possesses.

If it had just been about selling me out for credits, he already has done that. Can't do it twice. Well, maybe, but not likely now, considering my situation. So why?

I raise my head, letting my own fiery gold eyes clash with his.

"What do you want?"

"Always right to the point. So boring, Zea. So boring." He lets out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head.

"Well, first, I want to get away from here. He isn't the only Zudrakk around these parts, and he had been calling for his brothers right before he attacked you." He pointed to the beast below, his lip curling in disgust. "The smell of blood and death will bring others even if his siblings don't come. Not sure why I bring them into this place. In reality, you'd never see a Zudrakk outside of the forest. But the subconscious is a funny thing, I guess."

"This is your mind we are in?"

"Why yes. I have no idea why you entered out here, in this part of the world, though." He scratches his chin thoughtfully.

"Usually, everyone enters the game at the same place. Near the centre of whatever world is created. But we both know how different you are, don't we? Guess I shouldn't be too surprised." He smiles again, but this time it is a knowing smile.

His eyes dance with excitement and cunning. The asshole is up to something. I have no intention of finding out. But first.

"So if this is your mind, and you are fully aware of what's going on, is everyone else aware too?"

"No. Just us. Normally, it's just me. But you're special. Platus was right... Unfortunately." He looks genuinely sad. That is weird.

"So why are we special?"

"Seriously, Zea?! I know you're not that stupid. You're testing me, aren't you?"

His voice is sharp. And at first, I think he is pissed off, yet his mouth quirks slightly. I feel my face contort into a look of disgust and confusion. Is he on drugs? Is he like me, and he thinks I should somehow know this?

"So you have an abnormally strong K'ai as well? Powerful energy bending skills?" I raise a challenging eyebrow.

He laughs.

Bloody stars.

"Oh, Zea. I am sorry. I shouldn't laugh at you. You were never properly trained. It's not your fault. Granted, I think you got the better deal. Even if you're so naive, it makes my head hurt."

A cocky grin returns to his face now. Unfortunately, he has a handsome face, and it looks a little too good on him.

"I guess I will have to teach you. Honestly, I can not think of a more pleasurable way to spend my time."

Under different circumstances, and if he was a different male, his playful tone could have been fun. Today though, he is rubbing me the wrong way. His recent actions are not in his favour.

I feel air under my knees, my accumulated energy making me lift off the roof. So much for my tight control.

My skin tingles hot with energy. My eyes feel like they are burning, and I can feel my hair moving madly around my head as I slowly rise into the air.

It's a struggle to remember why I don't just kill him. After what he did, it's what he deserves.

I stare intently at him as I feel my K'ai offer to take control. His gold eyes waver with uncertainty for a moment. His hands come up, shielding his eyes from the hot white light pouring from me. I feel the power as much as I see it emanating outwards from my body.

Without panicked emotions caused by potential death consuming me, the feeling of ecstasy from energy bending takes hold. As always, the feeling is hard to fight. It feels so good to soak in the energy around me.

I notice that Ufrik glows with intense power. I wonder how it would feel to absorb his energy? Is it even possible? There is only one way to find out. But what if he is just as strong as me? Or stronger?

His aura betrays his power, and energy glows bright gold and white around him. I feel my K'ai get giddy. It wants to taste him. A part of me, some small voice I can barely make out, is telling me this is wrong. There is a line here, and if I cross it, there is no going back.

I hover above him, just a few feet away now, wondering if I should give in to my desire. It is strong. Then I hear something. It's loud, like someone yelling in my ear. I quickly look around. I see no one but him.

I narrow my eyes, lips pinching. What's he doing?

His energy glows a little brighter. I usually have more willpower over temptation, but with my K'ai begging for a taste and his energy glowing so hot, I don't think I can stop myself.

Then I hear it again. But this time, it is so loud it makes my ears ring, my hands come up to cover them.

"STOP! Zea! You are losing control. Do you hear me? ZEA!"

"Aaagh. Stop yelling! I hear you."

I shake my head, eyes closed tight, hands on my ears. How is he so loud? It's like he's in my head.

Shit. Telepathy.

He is in my head. Well, his voice is. But how did he get in? No one has ever had the strength to enter my mind before. Not without my letting them.

My eyes fly open, locking with his.

Suddenly a terrifying thought grips me as the reality of my situation sinks in. Stars I am an idiot. Ufrik is the least of my worries right now.

If I am still in the "game," did the masses just witness everything?

Ufrik seems to knows what I am by looking at my subconscious representation of myself, how many others will too?

He also says he has answers. Maybe all of this will be worth it. Maybe killing him can wait. For now. Can I even kill him in the game? Isn't this all virtual?

I take a deep breath. I tell my heart to slow down, and I calm my breathing centring myself. Feeling in control once again, my feet gently touch the roof once more.

Not wanting to expose myself further to spectators, I decide to communicate with Captain Asshole the same way he just had with me. Telepathically.

"Again. What do you want?"

"I know you won't believe me. I wouldn't if I was you either. But I swear, I want to help you."

"After you sold me out, you now want to help? Fucking right, I don't believe you!"

"This was the only way I could be sure. I had to be 100% sure, Zea. I will explain everything, I swear. We just have to get through the game. Too many are watching us."

"Fucking convenient." I need to think. Buy some time. "Fine, but if I don't like your explanation... You're dead. I don't normally do second chances."

"That's fair."

His annoying cocky grin returns. Like he doesn't believe I can or will kill him. He is in for a surprise later. I will kill him if his explanation makes no sense or if I think he is lying again. Or simply because he has earned it. Even if I have to wait for the game to end. Not like I am going anywhere.

"How do we get through this stupid game then?"

"The fastest way is to win!" His eyes dance dangerously with excitement.

"And how do we do that, smartass?"

"By giving up."

Huh?

I know my face must show my utter confusion. I go back to my earlier question. Is he on drugs?

Looking at my face, he throws his head back and roars with laughter. Great. At least he gets the joke.