Shadows Closing In

The next morning, Erik couldn't shake the memory of the figure in the park. His sleep had been restless, full of twisted dreams where shadowy figures circled him, always just out of reach, their eyes glowing in the darkness. He woke up in a cold sweat, the feeling of being watched still clinging to him.

As he arrived at school, his friends were already gathered by the front steps, waiting for him. Lili was the first to notice the dark circles under his eyes.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, half-joking but with a hint of concern in her voice.

"Not a ghost," Erik muttered, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "But... something else."

Carter raised an eyebrow. "You gonna tell us, or are we playing twenty questions?"

Erik sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Last night, I went to the park to clear my head. There was someone there. I don't know who—or what—they were, but they knew about me. They said... they said I didn't even know what I am."

Silence fell over the group. Sasha's face hardened, her analytical mind already working through the implications. "So, it wasn't one of those creatures? It was... a person?"

"A person who can vanish into thin air," Erik clarified. "They didn't feel like one of those things, though. This was different. It was like they were... observing me."

"Observing?" Hugo asked, his voice uneasy. "For what?"

"I don't know," Erik admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. "But they knew about my powers. They seemed to know me, somehow. And they weren't scared of what I could do."

Carter whistled, shaking his head. "Man, that's some next-level creepy."

Lili crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in thought. "This has to be connected to the book we found, right? 'The ones who watch'—they're coming for the power of the gods."

"Yeah," Erik said, feeling the weight of those words all over again. "And if they're watching me, it means they're planning something. We just don't know what."

Zara kicked at a loose rock, her eyes scanning the schoolyard as if expecting the figure to appear out of nowhere. "So, what do we do? Wait around until they make their move?"

"No way," Erik said, shaking his head. "We can't just sit here and wait for something bad to happen. We need to be proactive."

"Like how?" Carter asked. "We don't even know who these people are."

"We need more information," Sasha said, her voice steady. "Erik, you said the figure mentioned you didn't know what you are. Maybe that's our next step—finding out what exactly you are. If you're a god, or something more."

Lili nodded in agreement. "We need to dig deeper. The book was a start, but there has to be more. Something that explains your powers and these 'watchers.'"

"Easier said than done," Erik muttered. "But you're right. We have to find answers."

That afternoon, the group gathered at Erik's house, the living room cluttered with books, old maps, and Sasha's laptop. They had gathered every piece of information they could find about gods, legends, and myths, hoping something would point them in the right direction.

Sasha was deep into her research, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "There's a lot of conflicting information out there," she said, her tone frustrated. "Some sources say the gods were born of the earth, others say they came from the stars. None of it makes sense."

"Maybe that's the point," Hugo offered, flipping through an old book. "The truth's been buried so deep under myths and stories that we can't tell what's real anymore."

Lili glanced at Erik, her expression serious. "But we know you're real. And so are your powers. We just have to figure out how you fit into all of this."

Erik rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the mystery bearing down on him. "I just wish I knew what I'm supposed to do. Every time I try to use my powers, I feel like I'm barely holding on. Like I'm missing some key piece of the puzzle."

Zara, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. "Maybe that's what they want. These 'watchers'—maybe they want you to feel lost, like you don't have control. It makes you vulnerable."

Erik nodded slowly, realizing she might be right. If these watchers were trying to manipulate him, they were doing a damn good job. He felt like a pawn in a game he didn't even understand.

Sasha suddenly sat up straighter, her eyes fixed on the screen. "I think I've found something."

Everyone crowded around the laptop as she pulled up an article from an old, obscure website. The title read: The Children of the Old Gods: Hidden Among Us.

"What is this?" Lili asked, scanning the page.

"It's a theory," Sasha explained. "A really old one. It says that the old gods—before they disappeared—left behind descendants. Children with powers like theirs, scattered across the world. But they were hidden, their true nature buried until something—someone—wakes them up."

"Like Erik," Hugo said, his eyes widening.

"Exactly," Sasha said. "The article says that these 'children' don't know what they are until their powers manifest. And when they do, they attract attention. From beings who want that power for themselves."

Erik's stomach twisted as the pieces clicked into place. "The watchers. They're after me because they think I'm one of these children."

"But why?" Carter asked, frowning. "What do they get out of it?"

"Power," Sasha said simply. "If they control Erik, they control his power. And if they control his power, they might be able to wake more of those ancient forces."

Erik felt a cold dread settle over him. "So, they're using me as a key. To unlock something bigger."

Lili reached out and took his hand, her grip firm. "We're not going to let that happen."

Erik looked at her, grateful for her support. But he couldn't ignore the fear gnawing at him. The watchers were already here. They were watching his every move, waiting for the right moment to strike.

He had powers beyond anything he understood, but with each new revelation, he felt more like a pawn in someone else's game. A game with stakes higher than he could have ever imagined.

And now, he knew one thing for certain: the watchers weren't going to stop until they got what they wanted.