The streets of Ashwood were always quiet at night, the only sound being the distant hum of the city's energy grid. But for Rico, the stillness was a comfort. He loved walking alone under the stars, lost in his own thoughts. As a brilliant and curious twelve-year-old, Rico's mind was always buzzing with ideas and questions.
On this particular night, Rico's stomach was growling, and he had slipped out of his house to grab a snack from the nearby convenience store. The cool night air carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the savory smell of fried food from the store. Rico's mouth watered in anticipation.
As he turned the corner onto Elm Street, he noticed a group of ten elderly men standing in a semicircle, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights. They seemed to be in the midst of a heated discussion, their voices hushed but urgent. Rico slowed his pace, curiosity getting the better of him.
That's when he saw it: a dark, mist-like entity looming behind the elderly men. The air around it seemed to ripple and distort, like the surface of a pond on a windy day. Rico felt a shiver run down his spine as the entity began to take shape, its presence filling the air with an unspeakable malevolence.
The elderly men, sensing Rico's presence, turned to face him. One of them, with piercing blue eyes, locked gazes with Rico. In a flash, the old man sent a tiny, glowing creature hurtling toward Rico. The creature, no larger than a hummingbird, darted into Rico's body, leaving behind a tingling sensation.
Before Rico could react, the other elderly men followed suit, sending their own creatures into Rico's body. The sensations were overwhelming – a kaleidoscope of colors, a cacophony of whispers, and a surge of energy that left Rico breathless.
The dark entity, enraged by the elderly men's actions, lunged forward, its presence threatening to engulf Rico. But the old man with the piercing blue eyes raised his hand, and a blast of energy sent Rico flying backward, landing him safely on the sidewalk in front of his house.
As Rico struggled to make sense of what had just happened, the elderly men and the dark entity vanished into the night, leaving behind only the faintest whisper of their presence.