**Chapter 5: The First Encounter**

Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The office buzzed around him, but his mind was elsewhere—trapped in the memory of the man on the platform and the unsettling texts he had received earlier. The ordinary world he had always known now felt alien, every face a potential threat, every glance loaded with hidden meaning.

As the hours passed, Alex tried to focus on his work, but his thoughts were too scattered, his nerves too frayed. He kept glancing at his phone, half-expecting another ominous message to appear, but the screen remained blank. The silence only added to his unease.

Lunchtime came and went, but Alex had no appetite. The knot in his stomach tightened with each passing minute, the tension building until it was almost unbearable. He needed to get out, to clear his head, to breathe.

He grabbed his coat and headed for the door, ignoring the curious looks from his coworkers. Outside, the rain had stopped, leaving the streets damp and glistening under the gray afternoon sky. He walked quickly, his mind a blur of thoughts he couldn't quite grasp.

The city moved around him, but it felt like a different world. People passed by in a rush, their faces a blur, their voices distant echoes. He turned down a side street, seeking solace in the quieter part of town. But even here, the feeling of being watched clung to him, like a shadow that wouldn't let go.

He reached a small park, its benches empty, the trees dripping with the remnants of the morning's rain. Alex sat down on a bench, his heart still racing, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm inside him, but the fear wouldn't let go.

*Why me?* he thought, the question burning in his mind. *What do they want with me?*

The answer seemed just out of reach, tantalizingly close but hidden in the fog of his thoughts. He felt that strange warmth again, the power simmering beneath the surface, but he was too afraid to reach for it. Too afraid of what it might do, of what it might mean.

He sat there for what felt like hours, lost in his own mind, until a sound snapped him back to reality. Footsteps, approaching from behind. Slow, deliberate.

Alex's heart leapt into his throat. He didn't move, didn't turn around. He didn't have to. He knew who it was.

The footsteps stopped just behind him, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, a voice—low, calm, almost soothing.

"I see you received my messages."

Alex's blood ran cold. The voice was familiar, the same one from the texts. He forced himself to breathe, to keep his voice steady. "Who are you?"

The man stepped into view, standing just in front of Alex. He was tall, with that same sharp, angular face and piercing eyes that had stared him down on the subway platform. There was an air of confidence about him, a sense of power that radiated from him like heat from a fire.

"My name is Elias," the man said, his voice smooth and controlled. "But who I am isn't nearly as important as who you are."

Alex frowned, his confusion mixing with the fear. "What do you mean?"

Elias smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You're special, Alex. More special than you can possibly understand. But I think you're beginning to realize that, aren't you?"

The words hit Alex like a punch to the gut. How could this man know what he was going through? How could he know about the changes, about the power that had awakened inside him?

"What do you want from me?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Elias's smile widened, but it was cold, almost predatory. "I want to help you, Alex. To show you what you're truly capable of. But first, you need to understand the truth about who you are."

Alex shook his head, his mind racing. "I don't understand any of this. What's happening to me?"

"You're awakening," Elias said simply. "Your true nature is revealing itself, piece by piece. It's only a matter of time before you fully realize what you are."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning that Alex couldn't quite grasp. He felt that warmth again, stronger now, pushing against the walls of his mind, begging to be released. But he was too scared, too uncertain.

Elias watched him closely, his eyes narrowing as if he could see the struggle inside Alex. "Don't be afraid," he said softly. "This power is a gift. It's who you were always meant to be. Embrace it, and you'll see the world as it truly is."

Alex shook his head again, backing away on the bench. "No. I don't want this. I never asked for it."

"None of us did," Elias replied, his tone almost sympathetic. "But we don't always get to choose our destiny, Alex. Sometimes, it's chosen for us."

Alex's breath hitched, his mind reeling. He felt trapped, cornered by a truth he didn't want to face. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because," Elias said, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "there are others out there who won't be as understanding as I am. Others who will see you as a threat, something to be controlled—or destroyed."

Alex's heart pounded in his chest, his fear mixing with a growing sense of dread. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Elias continued, his gaze locking onto Alex's, "that you're not alone. There are more like you, and more like me. And the world is not as simple as it seems. There are forces at work, Alex, forces that would tear you apart if they knew what you were becoming."

The words sent a chill down Alex's spine. He wanted to run, to get as far away from this man as possible, but he couldn't move. He was rooted to the spot, trapped by the weight of Elias's words and the truth they carried.

"What do I do?" Alex asked, his voice trembling.

Elias straightened up, his expression softening just a fraction. "You survive, Alex. You learn, you adapt, and you survive. And if you're smart, you'll come to me when you're ready. I can teach you, help you understand what you are, and how to control it. But that choice is yours."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, holding it out to Alex. "When you're ready, call me. But don't wait too long. The clock is ticking, and time is not on your side."

Alex hesitated, then slowly reached out and took the card. It was simple, with just a name and a phone number. Elias. Nothing else.

Elias nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now go, Alex. Go back to your life, if you can. But remember: the world is changing, and so are you. Be ready for what's coming."

With that, Elias turned and walked away, disappearing down the path without a backward glance.

Alex sat there, the card clutched in his hand, his mind spinning with everything he had just heard. The fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts, but now it was joined by something else—curiosity, and a flicker of hope.

He didn't know what to do next, didn't know if he could trust Elias or if he should run as far and as fast as he could. But one thing was clear: his life was no longer his own. The world was bigger, more dangerous than he had ever imagined, and he was caught in the middle of it.

As he sat there, the rain began to fall again, a soft drizzle that soaked into his clothes and mingled with the sweat on his skin. He looked down at the card in his hand, the name staring back at him like a challenge.

*When you're ready,* Elias had said. But Alex didn't know if he would ever be ready for what was coming. He only knew that he had no choice but to face him.