cautious and slow. “He changed you. He made you into what you are. It’s not fair, Owen. He should never have done what he did to you. You were just a kid. We’re still kids. But you can be better than him. You can rise above what he did to you. You can say no. You’re not some junkie. Whatever else you are, I can see the good in you.”
“Junkie,” Owen repeated slowly. “Junkie. That’s what you think I am?”
Seth shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. You—”
“I’m so sorry, Nick,” Owen said, and he sounded truly regretful, “that it came to this. I know it’s tough, finding out your best friend has been the bad guy all along. Imagine my surprise when I found out. Hell, I could barely stand it. Sitting across from him in the cafeteria every day, knowing who he was. All I ever wanted was to protect this city. Protect our friends. Protect you. And fortunately for all of us, I found myself in a position to do just that.”
He reached into his pocket. When he pulled his hand back out, he was clutching shiny black pills, at least half a dozen. He bounced them in his hand as he grinned. “My own private stash. Dad didn’t know I’d pocketed them. Let’s see how much of a junkie I am.”
“No,” Seth whispered as Owen brought his hand toward his own mouth. He shoved the pills inside, throat working as he swallowed them dry. “Nick, you need to run.”
Before Nick could even process what was happening, Owen raised his arms, loose sleeves sliding down. On his wrists were a set of thick metal bracelets. There was a bright flash of light that made Nick cry out and cover his face. He heard Seth scream his name as he stumbled backward, hitting the wall of glass behind him. By the time his vision began to clear as he lowered his hands, Seth was struggling in midair, his own shadow wrapped around him, holding him in place. Licks of fire burned from him, but they couldn’t dispel the shadows.
“There,” Owen breathed. “That’s better. Man, they work fast the more you take. I have to remember that. Holy shit, the rush.”
“Stop,” Seth gasped as his own shadow tightened around him. “You have to stop.”
“Always remember to keep to the shadows,” Owen Burke said. “Catchy, isn’t it? Rebecca Firestone came up with it. She has her uses, inept as she is. Good for public relations, but not much else. Nick. If you’re going to take a pill, now is the time.”
“Nick, don’t,” Seth managed to say, still trying to free himself from his own shadow. “It’s not—it’s not right. It’s him. He’s the villain. He always has been. You need to get out of here. Run. Please. Just run.”
Nick was frozen in place, his world crumbling down around him. “You’re Shadow Star?”
Owen laughed as Seth began to choke. “Yeah. Sorry about that. Secret identity, you know? Though, I’m touched at the crush you have on me. It was weird how I was almost jealous of myself when we dated. Broke up with you because dear ol’ Dad thought you were a liability and threatened to cut off my supply, but that’s in the past. I won’t be manipulated by him anymore. Do it, Nick. Do it before Seth finds a way to break free and burn us all. I need you, Nick. I need you to help me keep this city safe. Keep your father safe.”
“He did this,” Seth croaked. “He’s the bad guy, Nicky. Not me. I swear. It’s Shadow Star. It’s always been Shadow Star.”
“That’s not very nice,” Owen said, frowning. “I’ve worked hard to cultivate this image. Me, the brooding savior of the city. You, the villain every hero needs. You should be thanking me.” Owen curled his hands into fists, and the shadow hands around Seth’s throat squeezed tighter. Seth’s eyes were starting to bulge as his legs kicked uselessly. “Nick. This is your last chance. Take a pill. Become the Extraordinary you were always meant to be.”
Then Nicholas Bell said, “Put him down.”
Owen faltered, fists opening slightly. Seth took in a great, gasping breath.
Nick took a step toward Owen. “I said, put him down.”
Owen narrowed his eyes. “What? Nicky, it’s me. I’m Shadow Star. Your hero, remember? I’m everything you wanted.”
Nick swallowed thickly. His head was pounding. “I know. And he’s Pyro Storm. But he’s still my friend, same as you. Put him down.