Ethan stared at his hands, still tingling with the strange, dark energy that had just saved his life. The shadows that had swirled around his fingers were gone, leaving only a cold emptiness in their place, but his heart still thundered with adrenaline. Sarah Lin, the woman who'd just fought off the monsters, studied him with an appraising look, her sword still glimmering faintly in the dim alleyway light.
"You've got questions," she said, finally breaking the silence. "And I've got some answers. But not here."
Ethan hesitated. The chaos of the encounter still buzzed in his mind, filling him with disbelief and a sliver of fear. But something in him craved an explanation. If his life had changed so suddenly, he had to know why.
"Where are we going?" he asked, forcing his voice to sound steady.
Sarah tilted her head toward the end of the alley, where a nondescript black sedan was parked under a flickering streetlight. "We'll head to HQ. It's safer there, and they'll want to meet you."
"HQ?" Ethan frowned, following her out of the alley. "Who's 'they'?"
"The Awakened," she replied, throwing open the car door. "Other people like us. You're not alone, Ethan, even if it feels that way. You're part of a bigger world now."
She slid into the driver's seat and nodded for him to join. With a deep breath, he climbed into the passenger seat, closing the door and buckling up. The car roared to life, and they sped down the empty streets, leaving the alley—and the remnants of the nightmarish creatures—far behind.
---
The car ride was tense and silent, the city lights blurring past them in a series of faint, distant glows. They drove out of the heart of the city, leaving the abandoned streets behind as Sarah took them up winding roads to a secluded industrial area. When she finally slowed the car, they pulled into an old, sprawling warehouse with its windows covered and security cameras trained on every entrance.
As they stepped out of the car, a heavy door in the warehouse creaked open, and a man in a long coat stepped out to greet them. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, with piercing eyes and a posture that radiated authority.
"Sarah," he greeted her with a nod. His gaze flicked to Ethan, who suddenly felt exposed under the man's scrutiny.
"This is Ethan Lee," Sarah said. "He Awakened tonight. *Eclipse Reaper* class."
The man raised his eyebrows. "A Reaper, huh? That's no small deal."
"Ethan," Sarah said, gesturing to the man, "this is Commander Alex Kane. He leads the Awakened unit here in Seattle."
"Awakened… unit?" Ethan repeated, glancing between them.
Commander Kane gave a short nod. "Think of us as an alliance of people who've been 'gifted'—or cursed, depending on how you look at it—with abilities after a global phenomenon began changing our world. These gates have been appearing in every major city, bringing monsters and chaos. The world's been kept in the dark about it, but the Awakened… we're the ones trying to keep things under control."
"Okay…" Ethan rubbed his forehead, feeling the weight of the situation sink in. "So… these gates and monsters—where are they coming from? And why did I get this… *class*? I don't understand any of this."
Kane crossed his arms, leaning against a metal pillar. "No one really understands why. What we do know is that these gates are connected to other realms—places filled with creatures and dangers we can hardly comprehend. Most people can't see the gates, let alone interact with them. But people like you, Ethan—people who Awakened—have been given a chance to fight back. We believe the classes you receive have something to do with your soul, your personality, your strengths."
Ethan thought about the name *Eclipse Reaper*. It felt like it resonated with something inside him—some dark, untapped part of his past, his hardships, his anger. But that didn't make it any less overwhelming.
"And the monsters?" he asked quietly. "They're all from these other realms?"
Sarah nodded. "They cross over whenever a gate opens. Some gates are weak, letting only a few low-level monsters through, but others…" Her expression darkened. "Others are strong enough to let through armies, or worse. That's why the Awakened exist."
"You're part of the Awakened now," Kane said, his voice steady. "With an Eclipse Reaper class, you've got the potential to take on some serious threats. We'll help train you, if you're up for it. But you need to understand something. This life… it's dangerous. Not everyone makes it."
Ethan swallowed, feeling the weight of the choice in front of him. He could walk away, leave the Awakened to fight their battles, try to live a normal life. But he knew, deep down, that he wouldn't be able to. Not after what he'd seen tonight. Not with this strange power coursing through his veins.
"I'm in," he said, his voice firm. "I don't want to keep hiding."
Kane's gaze softened slightly, and he nodded. "Good. Then let's get you started. Sarah, take him to the training room."
---
The training room was a cavernous, high-ceilinged space filled with all kinds of weapons, sparring mats, and strange, glowing targets set up along the walls. Ethan followed Sarah inside, feeling both nervous and exhilarated.
"All right," Sarah said, grabbing a pair of gloves and tossing them to him. "First rule of being Awakened: you need to learn control. That power you unleashed tonight? It was instinct, but instinct alone won't help you in a real fight. Let's see if you can summon those shadows again—this time, intentionally."
Ethan slipped on the gloves, glancing down at his hands. *Focus,* he told himself, trying to summon the memory of the dark energy he'd felt in the alley. He closed his eyes, reaching for that part of him that had responded to the danger.
But nothing happened. His hands stayed as they were, empty and still.
Sarah crossed her arms, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "It's hard to summon at first. The power comes from within, but you've got to focus on a specific feeling. What were you thinking about when you Awakened?"
Ethan hesitated, remembering the surge of anger and desperation he'd felt in the alley. That dark instinct to protect himself, to fight back against something stronger than him. He took a deep breath, allowing himself to feel that familiar frustration, the feeling of being pushed too far.
This time, he felt a faint pulse within him. A whisper of cold darkness curled around his fingers, shifting into shape. Slowly, shadows began to form, coiling like smoke around his hands. It was faint and wavering, but it was real.
Sarah's eyes gleamed. "Good. Now, see if you can shape it. Make it into a weapon, something you can use in a fight."
Ethan focused, trying to imagine the shadows condensing, taking form. As he did, the darkness shifted, lengthening into a slender, dagger-like shape in his hand. He grinned, feeling the weight of it settle into his grip.
"That's it," Sarah said, nodding approvingly. "You're a natural. But you're going to need to do better than that. The creatures that come through those gates are powerful, and they won't wait for you to find your footing."
Ethan nodded, determination settling into his chest. The weight of his new reality was still sinking in, but he felt a strange thrill at the thought of learning to control his abilities. If he could master his powers, maybe he could finally leave his past behind, become someone different—someone stronger.
He turned to Sarah. "What's next?"
She smiled, crossing her arms. "Next, we push your limits. You're going to need everything you've got to survive what's coming."