Through the Dark

"Okay, so tell me, how does Kari take control of your friends with his 'telepathic powers?'" I asked Tuukka as I put down my mug of beer.
Tuukka and I were at my house; I made us both something to eat, so we were now in my tiny dining area, which was between my kitchen and my main room. It was night time and a fire was going on in the fireplace which was located in the main room, so the house was warm in the cold night. Tuukka had his back facing the main room and was facing the kitchen, so I had my back facing the kitchen and I was facing the main room, since we were sitting on opposite ends of the table. Next to the table to my left was a window which was showing the view that was in front of my little wooden house.
"It's complicated," Tuukka told, taking a bite of meat from his fork.
"Well, let's see if I can do complicated." I leaned back, ready to take in what I was hoping Tuukka would explain to me.
"Okay." He dropped his eating utensils and looked at me. "One use of telepathy is mind control; Kari has the ability to persuade minds of people's--"
I interrupted Tuukka by clapping my hands once and pointing at him. "He controls people then!"
"Let me finish." He had a miffed expression, which made me slump in my chair a bit. "He doesn't just control people, he-he--let's say he displaces people, puts them in another place." He made a motion has if he was pushing an object in the air to aside. "He uses his telepathy to go into the person's mind. There, he shows them a...another place, a perfect place fit for that person--an alternative universe, an alternative reality. So the person's conscious, or self or soul, whatever you wanna call it, goes to that 'paradise,' making their physical body unoccupied. Therefore, Kari takes hold of the person's body and becomes that person on the outside."
I felt myself gawking at Tuukka as I went numb for a moment. "That is so screwed up," I muttered. "So that's why...you were talking to your friends...as if they were Kari..."
"Yea. Because it's not them--it's Kari." He shrugged.
"Why can't Kari just take over their mind without putting them in an alternative universe?"
"Because then they might be able to fight for their body back and of course that's something Kari doesn't want."
"So your friends..." I stared at the wooden table. "..they're gone."
"Gone from this universe, you can say that."
"But, is there a way for them to get out?" My eyes darted back to Tuukka.
"There is...but it's risky. Very risky." He nodded his head.
"How risky?"
"Risky enough that you'd have to overcome temptation and kill yourself. You can't save another person unless you have telepathy. You can only save yourself if you know how to get out."
"So there is no way to save them then since we don't have telepathy," I stated, looking at him with knitted eyebrows.
"Nope, we can only save ourselves if we're in that situation."
"Ugh..." I sat up straight then pressed my back against the chair in disbelief. "...how terrible."
Tuukka letted out a heavy sigh. "Yup, that's how things go in Kari's world."
"I hope I never get into that situation," I mumbled under my breath while looking down. I revered my gazed back at my visitor. "Did you ever get into that situation before?"
"Yup, I actually had." Tuukka made a line with his lips.
"And since you're here and alive and sane, it turned out well." I extended a hand out to him.
"Yea, because I was fortunately given information about how to get out of there." He looked up. "Henrik told me all about it...and now--" His eyes went down. "--he's stuck there himself."
I nodded my head. "I'm sorry."
"Heh, thanks." I gazed at me. "At least I got you and Pekka and Mitty."
"Yea, at least you're not alone." I smiled gratefully.
"But Corey, you gotta tell me, what powers do you have?" Tuukka looked desperate to know about my powers.
My smile immediately faded. "It's not that great..." I shook my head. "You don't need to know--"
"But why? I mean, I need to know what's gonna come outta ya."
"I'll just use my gun, that's all." I shrugged while extending my hand towards the direction my gun was at, which was beyond Tuukka's direction.
"No, your gun would not be enough-- You almost got killed by Mitty, remember? With your powers, I believe you could've gotten out--at least her intentions weren't to kill you."
I leaned my head back on the top of my chair. "I'll tell you when I want to," I grumbled.
"You don't trust me?" I heard Tuukka say along with the sounds of him cutting food.
"No, it's not that, it's just that--" I letted out a groan. "It's complicated.
"I can do complicated.'
My eyes reverted to the window, which was showing the view of the deep blue waterfall and glistening lake that was beyond the porch. It also showed the shady trees that were below the white, full...moon.
Oh shoot.
"Um--" I quickly sat up correctly, looking at Tuukka, who had resumed eating. "--I hate to say this, but I think you're gonna have to leave." I gritted my teeth with anxiety as Tuukka was taking a long sip from his mug while shooting me an odd look. "I need to do something really important. In private."
He placed his mug down then looked around like as if he was sad to leave. "Well, okay." He pushed his chair out and stood up. "Thanks for the food, it was very good."
I got up as well. "I'm glad you liked it."
"Yea." Tuukka nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." He began making his way out of my house, which was just going around his chair and exiting since the door was right behind his chair.
I gave him a quick wave. "Bye."
I then I saw Tuukka opening the door and walking out of the room; the door then closed.
I then stood in silence after the sounds of Tuukka's footsteps echoing from the porch disappeared. No, I can't tell him. There's no way I can do it. I can't show him my powers.

Notes