Chapter 13: Illusions and Deception

Ethan couldn't believe what he had just heard about Mark's attack on the policemen. He felt conflicted, knowing that Mark was a dangerous person but also feeling uneasy about his methods. As he mulled over the news, Alice appeared at his side.

"I heard about what happened," she said, her expression serious. "We need to make sure you can defend yourself if something like that ever happens to you."

Ethan nodded, feeling grateful for Alice's concern. He knew he needed to get better at using his ESP, and fast.

Alice took Ethan to a secluded spot in the park where they could practice without being disturbed. She began to teach him the art of suggestive thought, showing him how to influence the thoughts and actions of others without them realizing it.

"Be careful with this power," she warned. "It can be tempting to use it for personal gain, but it's important to remember that it's unethical to manipulate people against their will."

Ethan took her words to heart and began to practice, honing his skills with each passing moment. Soon, he was able to make people do things without them even realizing it.

As they continued their training, Alice introduced Ethan to the art of illusion. She showed him how to create convincing illusions that could fool even the most skeptical minds. Ethan was amazed at the power of his own mind and vowed to use it for good.

After several weeks of training, Ethan had mastered the art of suggestive thought and illusion. He felt more confident in his abilities and knew that he could handle himself in dangerous situations.

But with this newfound power came responsibility, and Ethan knew he had to use it wisely. He couldn't wait to see where his ESP would take him next.

Meanwhile, the news of Mark's attack continued to spread, and Ethan wondered what it meant for the future of ESP users like himself. He knew he had to be careful, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon.

***

Ethan was walking home from the library when he suddenly felt a presence behind him. He turned around and saw Mark standing there, his eyes filled with anger.

"You should have joined me, Ethan," Mark said, his voice cold and menacing.

Ethan took a step back, feeling intimidated. "I can't join you, Mark," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "What you're doing is wrong."

Mark sneered. "You don't understand anything, Ethan. You're just a weak little Esper. I could have made you so much more."

Ethan felt his blood boil at Mark's words. "I don't need you to make me anything, Mark. I have my own abilities and I know how to use them."

Mark chuckled darkly. "You really think you can take me on, Ethan? You're nothing compared to me."

Ethan knew he had to be careful. Mark was a powerful telekinetic, and he could easily overpower him if he wasn't careful. He closed his eyes and focused, feeling the energy flow through him. He could feel Mark's thoughts, his intentions, his movements.

He opened his eyes and saw Mark's hand move, a sign that he was about to attack. Ethan quickly raised his hand and created an illusion of himself standing a few feet away. Mark lunged forward, grabbing the illusion and throwing it to the ground.

Ethan took the opportunity to run, but Mark quickly caught up to him. He lifted Ethan up with his telekinesis and threw him against a wall. Ethan felt a sharp pain in his back, and he knew he had to act fast.

He closed his eyes and focused on Mark's mind, reading his next move. He saw Mark's hand move again, and he quickly created an illusion of himself disappearing. Mark was momentarily confused, giving Ethan the chance to run.

Ethan ran as fast as he could, but he knew he couldn't outrun Mark forever. He needed help. He looked around frantically, trying to find someone who could help him.

That's when he saw her. A young Esper, no more than 16 years old, with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She was standing a few feet away, watching him.

"Ethan," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Come with me."

Ethan didn't hesitate. He ran towards her, and she grabbed his hand, leading him towards an alleyway.

As they ran, Ethan could hear Mark's angry shouts behind them. He knew he was in trouble, but he also knew he had found an ally in this young Esper.

They stopped at the end of the alley, and the young Esper turned to Ethan. "I'm Lucy," she said. "I can create forcefields and turn invisible using my ESP."

Ethan looked at her in amazement. "That's incredible," he said. "Thank you for helping me."

Lucy smiled. "No problem. We Espers have to stick together."

They heard footsteps approaching, and they knew Mark had found them. Ethan and Lucy joined hands and closed their eyes, focusing their energy on creating a forcefield around them.

They could hear Mark's furious screams as he tried to break through the forcefield, but they held strong. Ethan could feel his energy draining, but he knew he couldn't let go.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mark's screams faded away. Ethan and Lucy opened their eyes, and they saw that they were alone.

Ethan let out a sigh of relief. He had narrowly escaped Mark's grasp, thanks to Lucy's help. But he knew that this wasn't over yet. He had to keep moving, keep looking over his shoulder. Mark wasn't going to give up that easily.

As Ethan made his way through the city, he couldn't help but replay the confrontation with Mark in his head. He had never felt so vulnerable before. Mark's telekinetic abilities were far beyond anything Ethan had ever encountered. But Ethan had one advantage – his telepathy.

He knew he couldn't take on Mark head-on, so he used his telepathy to read Mark's thoughts and predict his next move. He also used suggestive thoughts and illusions to distract him, but it wasn't enough. Mark was too powerful.

That's when Lucy appeared out of nowhere, creating a forcefield around Ethan and turning invisible to confuse Mark. It was only thanks to her that Ethan was able to escape with his life.

As Ethan walked, he couldn't help but think about Lucy. She was just a kid, yet she had such incredible abilities. He wondered what kind of life she must have had, growing up with such a unique gift. He made a mental note to try and find her and make sure she was okay.

But for now, Ethan had to focus on staying alive. Mark was still out there, and he knew that he was going to keep coming after him until he joined his side. Ethan had to find a way to protect himself and stay one step ahead of Mark.