Chapter 38

“Gotta be quick,” the unknown carnie said, turning toward the magazine stand near the door. “Bertie’s still on the warpath. I’m not gonna be the one he tramples over next.”

“Sure, sure,” Otto’s buddy replied. But then he swiveled his gaze around the store, spotting Levi behind the counter, and their eyes locked.

Levi didn’t think. He could barely breathe. He only knew he had to get them out—of the store, of his life. Out. Out. Out.

The power lashed forward, a push of his will at the unsuspecting psyche of the other man. The carnie lurched, like he’d touched an exposed wire, eyes blinking once, twice, darkening for a long second before settling back to normal. His companion didn’t notice, too absorbed in a month-old copy of Life

Levi did. But the sudden sickening in his gut at what he’d done lodged in his throat when the carnie turned on his heel.

“Hey!” the other one called out. “Where are you going?”

Otto’s buddy paused on the threshold. “Changed my mind.”