As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the landscape, Aryan felt an unexplainable urge to put the mysterious necklace around his neck. His hands moved almost involuntarily, guided by an invisible force. He hesitated for only a second, then, with a soft click, the cool metal of the chain settled against his skin. The blue crystal rested gently on his chest, and immediately, a strange warmth spread through his body, comforting and soothing, as if the necklace was alive, offering some kind of protection.
Aryan looked around, realizing that dusk had arrived, and the light was fading quickly. He had no intention of staying out in the open any longer. With a deep breath, he began wheeling himself back toward his small apartment. The streets were quiet, with only the occasional passerby, and the air was crisp with the promise of nightfall.
His thoughts were consumed by the events of the day the strange pull toward the field, the discovery of the glowing necklace, and the inexplicable energy he felt when he put it on. He didn't fully understand it, but he knew there was something otherworldly about the necklace, something powerful. It wasn't just a piece of jewelry; it felt... alive. Still, Aryan didn't want to dwell too much on it. He was tired, both physically and mentally, and the only thing he wanted now was to rest.
After what felt like a long journey, Aryan finally arrived at his apartment. The small space was as he had left it modest and quiet, with minimal furnishings and little in the way of decoration. The dim light from the outside streetlamp barely lit the room as Aryan closed the door behind him, his mind still swirling with questions. He rolled over to his bed, the mattress looking particularly inviting after the long day.
With a sigh, he reached up and touched the necklace, feeling its smooth surface beneath his fingers. "What are you?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the room. The necklace didn't answer, of course, but Aryan couldn't shake the feeling that it held some kind of secret, some hidden power waiting to be uncovered.
Not wanting to overthink it, Aryan decided to get some rest. The exhaustion was settling into his bones, and his mind needed a break from all the confusion. With a bit of effort, Aryan maneuvered himself into position, preparing to move from his wheelchair to the bed. This had become a nightly routine since the accident each movement calculated, deliberate.
He first positioned the wheelchair beside the bed, locking the wheels in place to keep it from moving. Then, with a deep breath, Aryan grabbed the edge of the bed with one hand, while his other hand pressed down firmly on the armrest of the wheelchair for support. His upper body strained as he shifted his weight, lifting himself just enough to pivot onto the mattress. His legs, still useless, dragged behind him, but with a practiced motion, he swung them over onto the bed.
Once he was lying down, Aryan adjusted the blankets, making sure they were pulled up to his chest. The necklace was still around his neck, the blue crystal resting gently against his skin. It continued to give off a faint warmth, but Aryan was too tired to question it any further.
His eyes closed almost immediately as his head hit the pillow. It didn't take long for sleep to overtake him, pulling him into the comforting darkness of unconsciousness. His body, exhausted from the events of the day, welcomed the rest.
Morning came with a gentle light streaming through the window, filling the room with a soft glow. Aryan's sleep had been deep and dreamless, but now, something stirred him from that peaceful slumber. At first, it was faint a subtle sensation in his hands. It felt odd, like a tingling warmth, as though his skin was being gently brushed by an unseen force. The feeling was so delicate that, for a moment, Aryan wasn't sure if he was imagining it or if it was part of some lingering dream.
But the sensation grew stronger.
Still half asleep, Aryan tried to ignore it, unwilling to leave the comfortable cocoon of his bed. He kept his eyes closed, hoping to drift back into the peaceful oblivion of sleep. Yet, the sensation persisted, refusing to be dismissed. His hands... they felt strange, as if something was awakening within them.
Slowly, Aryan cracked his eyes open, blinking against the light of the morning sun. At first, everything was blurry his vision still adjusting to the transition from sleep to wakefulness. But as his eyes focused, what he saw made his heart race, sending a shock of adrenaline through his body.
"Who... who is this?" Aryan whispered, his voice shaky with a mix of fear and awe.