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“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’sthe villain. He always has been. You need to get out of here. Run. Please. Justrun.”

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 yourfathersafe.”

“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 bethankingme.” 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 himdown.”

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. Please. We can talk about this, okay? I don’t care which one of you is the bad guy here. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

Owen’s expression softened. “That’s… solikeyou.” He tilted his head back and laughed. “God. You’re pathetic. What the hell is wrong with you?”

Nick was taken aback. “Hey! You don’t have to be so frigging rude—”

“I’m offering you everything you’ve ever wanted. I am giving you the chance to be an Extraordinary. And the only thing you’re focused on is that we’re allfriends? No wonder you’ve never been able to do anything. You’ve got no spine. And to think I was going to let you be my sidekick. I had such big plans for you, Nick.” He scoffed as he shook his head. “Well, that’s months of work down the drain. Oh well. You win some, you lose some. Time for plan B.” He turned back to Seth. “Pyro Storm, it’s been fun, but I’m bored with you now. I think I’m ready to move on to bigger and better things.” He snapped his hands closed again, and Seth began to choke.

Nick’s head felt like it was splitting apart as he took a step forward. The ground tilted beneath his feet as a gray wave of pain rolled over him.

Seth’s face was white as his eyes started rolling back in his head.

Owen grinned wickedly.

Nick brought his hands up to the sides of his head as another lance of exquisite pain pierced through him.

He did the only thing he could.

He screamed.

The air rippled around him, and the glass walls shattered as if struck by an unseen force. Owen was knocked off his feet, landingroughly on the ground. Seth flew back against the wall near the elevator, slumping down, chin resting against his chest, unmoving.

Glass fell, shards breaking apart as they hit the floor. The lights showered sparks. The centrifuge whirred erratically before it flew against the wall.

Somewhere deep inside Burke Tower, an alarm began to shriek.

Nick didn’t know what had happened. He’d never seen Pyro Storm or Shadow Star do anything like that before. But his vision was clearer, the ache in his head receding marginally. He looked over his shoulder.

The colored pills hadn’t been affected. They still hung suspended.

He could do it. Right now. If he wanted to. He could take one of them. Or all of them.

He could be an Extraordinary.

Instead, Nick turned back around. He moved past Owen, who groaned but made no move to get up. He’d worry about him later.

Seth lifted his head as he approached. Blood trickled down his cheek. It looked as if he’d been cut. He smiled weakly as Nick knelt beside him. “Hey, Nicky.”

“Shut up,” Nick snapped at him, hands trembling. “I’m so angry with you.”

Seth flinched. “Yeah. I figured you might be.”