Tee Rexx's hand was wrapped tightly around Jessica's neck. Her feet dangled just above the red sand as he stared straight into her eyes — silent, cold, unreadable.
Rayen's heart pounded. "Let her go!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the barren wasteland.
For a few tense seconds, Tee Rexx didn't move. Then, suddenly, he released his grip, and Jessica dropped to the ground, coughing.
A wide grin crept across Tee Rexx's face. "Ahaha! I knew you both were Stables," he said, laughing like nothing had just happened. "Just wanted to check if this girl was Unstable or not. Guess she's not, huh?"
Jessica glared at him. "You call that a test?!"
Tee Rexx shrugged, wiping imaginary dust from his gloves. "Relax, it's how I say hello."
Rayen frowned, still tense, but curiosity pushed through his anger. "What the hell are you doing out here anyway?"
Tee Rexx turned, pointing proudly at something behind him. "Oh, that? My car."
Rayen blinked. The vehicle looked ancient — an old, rusted machine held together by scraps of metal and glowing Solar wires. Its wheels were scorched, the body dented, but faint golden energy pulsed through its core like a living heart.
Rayen raised an eyebrow. "You've got to be kidding me. How the hell do you guys even have cars in this wasteland?"
Tee Rexx smirked. "Heh, I make them. I was an engineer before the Blast. Still am, I guess. I build so people won't have to walk miles through this cursed sand." He paused, his grin fading slightly. "But… this experiment? Yeah, kinda failed."
Jessica dusted herself off. "So… what are you exactly? Stable or Unstable?"
The air shifted. Tee Rexx's smile faded. His golden-green eyes darkened, and for a second, he looked almost dangerous.
"I'm Unstable," he said quietly.
Both Rayen and Jessica froze.
Rayen took a step back instinctively. "Wait— what? Then why didn't you attack us?"
Tee Rexx laughed again, the same unpredictable energy in his voice. "Because I'm not like the others. I don't feed on chaos or destruction." He tapped his chest. "I feed on pain. Other people's pain is my energy source — that's my Solar ability."
Jessica's eyes widened. "You… feed on pain?"
Tee Rexx nodded. "Yeah. Pain gives me power, but it doesn't control me. It's like fuel — I take it in, so others don't have to suffer from it. You could say…" He smirked faintly. "I'm the good kind of Unstable."
Rayen's mind flashed back to Prince — the maniac who also called himself "god." Both Unstables… but polar opposites.
Prince devoured power for control.
Tee Rexx absorbed pain to protect.
Rayen's thoughts darkened. Maybe not all Unstables are monsters… but the wrong ones can become gods.
Tee Rexx snapped his fingers, breaking Rayen's silence. "So! Enough dark talk. You two look like you've been through hell. How about you stay in my capital for a while?"
Jessica looked at Rayen. "Capital? You mean that Aero Capital you mentioned?"
Tee Rexx grinned proudly. "Yup. Aero Capital — my kingdom. Big walls, clean water, some peace… well, most days."
Rayen thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. We'll come."
"Good choice," Tee Rexx said, clapping his hands once. "Hop in."
The two climbed into the strange car. Its seats were patched with leather, wires running across the dashboard like living veins.
Jessica stared at the glowing engine. "What even powers this thing?"
Tee Rexx grinned, tapping his forehead. "My mind… and Solar energy. As long as I'm focused, it runs."
The car roared to life, a strange hum echoing across the wasteland as golden energy shot through its frame. Dust and sand swirled around the tires.
But high above, on a jagged spiky mountain, a shadowy figure watched them — silent, unmoving, eyes gleaming through the golden smoke.
The next storm was already waiting.
To be continued