Forgotten

In the shadow of the moonlit sky, Long Island sleeps, its sprawling suburbs nestled under the stars. But tonight, a force awakens, stirring a young boy from a dreamless slumber. This boy, who remembers nothing beyond his sixteenth birthday, is about to embark on a journey that will unravel the threads of destiny and memory, weaving a tale of mythology, danger, and self-discovery.

Long Island, New York

"Danny! Get your butt outta bed, ya hear?"

Danny's eyes fluttered open to the sound of his Aunt Mary's raspy voice cutting through the morning stillness. He groaned, stretching his lanky frame before dragging himself out of bed. The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over his cluttered room. Posters of superheroes and mythical creatures adorned the walls, a collection that hinted at an interest he couldn't quite remember fostering.

He shuffled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. Staring at his reflection, he tried to recall anything beyond his sixteenth birthday. Nothing. Just a blank slate. His aunt said he was in an accident, that he was lucky to be alive. But why couldn't he remember?

"Danny, come on!" Aunt Mary shouted again.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm comin'," he mumbled, pulling on a hoodie and jeans.

Breakfast was the usual chaos of Aunt Mary's small diner. Regulars filled the booths, each one offering a different piece of advice or a joke as Danny served coffee and eggs. It was his routine, one that he'd fallen into seamlessly since the accident. But today, a sense of unease gnawed at him. Something was different.

The bell over the door jingled, and Danny glanced up to see a group of men in dark suits enter. They looked out of place, like sharks in a pond. One of them caught Danny's eye and smirked.

"You Danny?" the man asked, his voice smooth and menacing.

"Uh, yeah. Who's askin'?" Danny replied, trying to mask his unease with a cocky tone.

The man's smirk widened. "Axel says hello."

Before Danny could react, the man lunged, and chaos erupted. Chairs overturned, dishes shattered, and the diner patrons screamed as the men in suits attacked. Danny's body moved on instinct, dodging blows and striking back with a strength and precision he didn't know he possessed. He grabbed a skillet, swinging it at one of the attackers, sending him crashing into a booth.

"Get outta here, kid!" Aunt Mary screamed, holding a rolling pin like a weapon.

Danny bolted for the back door, his heart pounding. He didn't know who Axel was or why these men were after him, but he knew he had to run.

He sprinted down the alley, the cool morning air stinging his lungs. As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided with a girl about his age, her dark hair whipping around her face.

"Watch it!" she snapped, but her eyes widened in recognition. "Danny?"

"Do I know you?" he asked, bewildered.

"We don't have time for this," she said, grabbing his hand. "Come on, I know a place we can hide."

They ran through the narrow streets and back alleys, finally ducking into an abandoned warehouse. The girl pushed a heavy metal door shut behind them and locked it.

"Okay, we should be safe here for a bit," she said, panting.

"Who are you?" Danny demanded. "And how do you know me?"

"I'm Lia. We grew up together before... well, before everything happened. I thought you were dead."

"Well, I'm not," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I can't remember anything before my sixteenth birthday. What the hell is going on?"

Lia looked at him with a mix of pity and fear. "There's a lot you don't know, Danny. Axel is an organization that hunts people like you. People with abilities."

"Abilities? What kind of abilities?"

"You can mimic the powers of mythological beings," she said. "You used to be the best among us. But something happened, and you lost your memories."

Danny stared at her, struggling to process the information. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"We couldn't find you. Axel has been looking for you too. They're dangerous, Danny. They'll stop at nothing to control you."

"Why me?" he asked, frustration boiling over. "Why am I so special?"

"Because you have the potential to change everything," Lia said softly. "But first, we need to get you to safety. There are people who can help."