Fear.

As Kai continued on to lunch, he quickly weighed his thoughts. The sooner he could get started preparing a host, the safer he would be. Especially after that scare with the history teacher…

He would need to find a time to shut that man up before anyone else began to take his claims seriously. During his few days exploring the internet, he had learned much about how potent and powerful the fear behind conspiracy theories could be. Much more powerful than he would ever be.

After all, Kai was only one spirit. He could only be in one place. Conspiracy theories could spread like a plague.

If everyone one day decided to stop using money, to not show up to work, to line their hats with foil or lay siege on the governments of the world, the people would likely succeed. Humanity as a whole was more powerful than Kai could ever hope to be.

Fear was a funny emotion, capable of driving humans to do things they otherwise might never do. Terrible things, noble things, and all those in between and throughout.

Scariest of all, though, was the cool, calm rationality that seemed so clear to the afflicted, despite being perfectly insane.

The emotion that embodied both comfort and discomfort, the overpowering urge to prepare for the winter that may never come.

Kai was a stranger to fear.

The fear of losing his host, no,

The fear of being stuck outside in that terribly unforgiving cold, slowly evaporating until he found death.

The permanent unexistence.

Kai wondered what death was. Would he return to the terrible darkness? Would he simply cease to exist?

He did not know.

All he knew was that he could not, and would not let that happen.

Instead, he would have to find a human to use as backup, scrubbing their soul as clean as he could whilst still remaining undetectable, lowering the energy required to take residence in their mind.

All that was left to do was determine who the lucky victim would be.

As Kai walked up to the lunch table, his eyes fell on Logan.

Perfect.

Logan's social status would be perfect for finding drama hidden amongst the emotionally developing teenagers. Kai was fairly certain the kid was considered a safe confidant by at least half the football team, and most of their girlfriends as well.

He had avoided looking upon the pathetic crying wretches and repulsively soft-hearted sympathy displayed during such interactions in the past.

However, after gaining a taste for consuming their infinitely colourful emotions, Kai was much more "interested" in their plights.

Not to mention cornering Logan would be easy. Kai and Logan hanging out alone was nothing new to those around them.

Perhaps taking the body of a member of the cheer team, or another jock would serve him equally well, but Logan…

Well…

He just happened to be the easiest target with such connections.

With that settled, he was ready to sit back and wait for Kyle to finish eating his lunch.

~~~~

Twenty minutes later, Kyle and Logan headed off to the locker room, ostensibly to discuss "boring football plays y'all wouldn't be interested in."

Interestingly enough, Kai had only sent Logan a strong impression of desiring to be alone to speak with Kyle. It was good to know he could… ah… convince others to provide the proper informations required if need be.

Subtlety would be key when dealing with that troublesome teacher, after all.

Kai was ready by the time they had reached the empty locker rooms. The instant the door slammed shut, he took control of Kyle's body and slammed Logan against the wall, his forearm pressing against his windpipe.

Logan's eyes widened as he struggled to push Kyle off of him. When Kyle did not back off, he planted a solid fist in his stomach.

With a grunt, Kyle stumbled backwards before straightening up, ready to tank another hit.

Logan looked at him like he was crazy, not looking away despite his hands being unable to find the light switch on the wall.

"What the hell, man!?"

Kyle lunged in for a punch before his stance seemed to waver.

How funny. It seemed that Kyle didn't want to fight Logan after all. However, it took hardly a thought to shove down what little of him remained.

That stumble had cost him something though. Time.

In the half second it took Kai to suppress Kyle, Logan had reacted, pinning him against the wall.

"Seriously, bro! What's going on!?"

Logan's frustration only grew as Kyle looked him dead in the eye and began to laugh. "What do you mean what's going on?"

By this point in time, Logan's mental energy had slightly destabilized, becoming turbulent as his emotions rose to the forefront.

Kai watched the order of Logan's mind shiver slightly as he heard Kyle speak, the words not quite making sense.

Unfortunately, this was not the anger he wanted. Perhaps he'd have to go farther.

"You've overstepped, wide-receiver boy!" Kai twisted his face into a condescending mask of laughter. Kyle's facial muscles would certainly be sore later.

It seemed that he had finally achieved the intended effect.

"What do you mean 'I've overstepped!?'" Logan's brow furrowed slightly, deepening the shadows that played across his face. "You're gonna treat me lesser than like all those other assholes too!?

Just because you're the quarterback doesn't make you any better than I am! I have to work just as hard as the rest of you!"

Kai chuckled. It seemed he had hit a nerve.

He didn't try to fight back when Logan pulled him off the wall only to slam him into it once again.

It wasn't like it was his body.

Instead, he smiled. "You really thought I'd be friends with the man who can't even earn the respect of the junior varsity football team!? You're bringing me down, Logan!

Look at yourself!"

This seemed to be the final straw for Logan. Kai knew exactly when he snapped, because that was the instant Logan's mind became obscured by the writhing mists.

Logan lunged at Kyle once more, but fell to the ground before he could reach him.

Kyle brought his hand to his face as his body began to shake, the adrenaline rush finally beginning to take hold.

He blinked, unsure of why he had acted that way, before deciding it was unimportant and staring off into space once more.

His hand made a dull thud as it dropped to the ground.

During all this, Kai had begun the feeding process. He savored the anger like a starving man at an all-you-can-eat buffet. He felt as if he were on top of the world, soaring on an updraft like a bird of prey. The spiciness of the emotion cleansed his palette like capsaicin, rolling over him like a bucket of cold water had been poured on his head.

He could feel himself growing stronger, less formless as he drank the moment in. He felt as if he had scrubbed himself clean and then beyond, his very being now raw, yet cleansed by scorching flames. He felt powerful, like a raging inferno, capable of purifying all that was around him.

All these sensations brought him ecstasy. Kai felt as if he were on top of the world, as if he could do anything.

And with that, he flooded Logan's mind like a hammer dropped on an egg. Unstoppable.