The days following my confrontation with the Troubles were strange. On the one hand, I felt a kind of quiet pride, the satisfaction of having done something, of having helped those people. But on the other hand, the fear lingered, the feeling of having opened a door to a world I didn't understand and that seemed far more dangerous than I'd ever imagined.
I returned to school, trying to act normal, but everything felt different. I looked at the people around me with new eyes, wondering who else could be like me, who could be hiding extraordinary abilities beneath an ordinary facade. Every time I saw something metallic—a streetlight, the zipper on a backpack—I felt a slight pricking in my fingers, a constant reminder of my connection to that invisible world.
I spent many hours browsing online forums, searching for any trace of "ShadowsInTheNight." I checked the discussion thread where we had crossed paths, hoping for a new message, but there was nothing. Who was this person? An ally? An enemy? Uncertainty gnawed at me.
One day, while I was walking home, I noticed a man leaning against a wall near a park. He seemed ordinary, but there was something about his gaze, the way his eyes moved, that made me stop. He was watching a group of children playing with a ball. Suddenly, the ball rolled out into the street, just as a car approached at high speed. Before anyone could react, the ball stopped dead in the middle of the street, as if an invisible force had slowed it down. The car sped by, and the ball fell harmlessly to the ground. The man on the wall smiled slightly, almost imperceptibly, and then walked away, disappearing into the crowd. I couldn't help but wonder if it had been him. Had he used some kind of power to stop the ball?
Secretly, I began practicing my skills more. In the solitude of my room, I tried moving larger metal objects, concentrating on the feeling of connection, trying to refine my control. With paper clips, I no longer had problems. I could make them levitate, spin in the air, even bend them into simple shapes. I tried heavier objects, like an empty soda can. It was harder, requiring much more concentration, but sometimes I managed to lift it a few inches off the floor. Each small success gave me a burst of confidence, the feeling that maybe, just maybe, I could learn to control this.
News about the Troubles continued to arrive, albeit sporadically. It seemed that the authorities were trying to keep the situation under control, downplaying the incidents and urging the population to remain calm. But the rumors persisted, fueled by blurry videos appearing online and by the testimonies of people who claimed to have seen them. Fear remained latent in the city, like an invisible shadow hanging over everyone.
One day, while I was at the library, looking for information on anything related to special abilities or strange creatures (though I didn't find anything useful), I felt a slight vibration in my pants pocket. I took out my phone. I had a new message from an unknown number.
"Ryu Hyuk," the message read. "This is ShadowsInTheNight. If you're really looking for answers, find me in Central Park tomorrow at three in the afternoon. I'll be near the fountain."
My heart leaped. Really? Was I going to meet the person who had contacted me online? A mixture of excitement and dread washed over me. Who could it be? Could I trust him or her? I hesitated for a moment, biting my lower lip. But my curiosity and the need for answers were too strong. I had to go. I had to find out what was going on.
.
Hello everyone. Please comment on what you thought of the episode to help me improve the writing I offer my readers. Information about the novel "Marked by Power Season 1: Footprints in the Darkness" is available in PDF format in the store. It consists of five seasons of 20 to 24 episodes each. If you'd like to purchase it, visit my KoFi now.
🤩ko-fi.com/winterstar01/shop🤩