The ferry cut through the water, and I watched the mainland grow larger on the horizon. Ventura sprawled along the coast, a mix of white buildings, palm trees, and mountains in the background. It looked like freedom. Like normalcy.
"Tell me something," Addison said. "This power of yours. The touch thing. How exactly does it work?"
Aurora went still beside me. "Addy..."
"Just curious." Addison watched me over the rim of her sunglasses. "Scientific inquiry."
I weighed my options. Telling the truth seemed dangerous. But lying, especially with Aurora right there listening, seemed worse. She already knew most of it.
"It's called Euphoric Feedback," I said. "Skin contact lets me manipulate nerve endings. I can make things feel... better."
"Things?" Addison pulled the lollipop from her mouth. "What kind of things?"
"Everything."
"Interesting." She twirled the candy stick between her fingers. "So what else can you do? Or is that all you've got?"
