Chapter 4: The Gift of Authority.

"Spare some change?"

Clark, surprised, raised his head. A man sat on the bench across from him, wearing an old trench coat and a broad-brimmed cap that hid half of his face. Clark hadn't even noticed his approach.

Clark turned aside and said, "Sorry, but I don't have anything."

The man said, his voice low and reassuring, "You have plenty."

Clark frowned. "What are you trying to say?"

The man approached, his sharp gaze fixed on Clark's. "You are not broke, Clark. You lack self-confidence, not money.

Clark stiffened. "How could you find my name?"

The man chuckled. "Let's just say I'm aware of much more than it appears." And I understand how exhausted you are from being ignored and feeling invisible. Clark squeezed his hands. "What do you want?"

"Not what I want," the man clarified. "Whatever you want." And I believe I can help.

Clark scoffed, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Unless you have a job offer or a solution to transform my life immediately, I don't require your assistance."

The man smiled with a knowing twinkle in his eyes. "Oh, I have something far better than a job offer."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a necklace. Clark had never seen anything like it: a thin black chain with a light pendant that pulsed softly like a heartbeat.

"What is that?" Clark inquired, his voice apprehensive.

"A gift," the man remarked, handing it out. "For you."

Clark shakes his head. "I do not desire it."

"You assert that now," the man responded, "but this necklace has the ability to change everything. Clark, this is not just a trinket. "It is a tool." "The key to reaching your full potential."

Clark gazed at the necklace, its glitter enticing him despite his reservations. "Why are you giving me this?" "What's the catch?"

"No catch," the man said casually. "Just a chance to change your story—to become the man you were meant to be."

Clark hesitated, his thoughts whirling. He wanted to go, dismissing it as a hoax or a cruel joke. However, something about the man's comments and the necklace piqued his interest.

"What does it do?" he said gently.

The man's smile widened. "It'll gives you power." Most people can only contemplate holding such authority. Consider knowing what others are thinking before they say anything. Imagine never forgetting anything—every detail, every meeting, imprinted in your memory like a snapshot."

Clark's heart pounded. "You're saying that this thing can make me superhuman?" Clark asked.

"In a sense," the man said, shrugging his shoulders. "It enhances what is already within you." But this isn't a free ride, Clark. "Power brings responsibility—and consequences."

"Consequences?" Clark repeated with narrowed eyes. "What kind of consequences?"

The man's expression hardened. "That is for you to discover. But tell me, what do you have to lose?

Clark opened his lips to argue, but the words remained in his throat. What was he risking? His reputation is already tattered, and his marriage was hanging by a thread. Everyone in the Miller family considered him a failure and a burden. Perhaps now was the time to prove them wrong.

"I don't trust you," Clark finally admits.

"You don't have to," the man said softly, clutching the necklace tighter. "But trust yourself. Take the necklace, Clark. Or walk away and continue being humiliated and embarrassed."

Clark looked at the sparkling diamonds, his dread conflicting with his desire. He carefully extended his hand to clasp it.

When his fingers wrapped around the chain, he felt a burst of electricity and gasped. The light became brighter, overwhelming his vision with radiance.

"What is going on?" he almost exhaled.

"Your awakening," the stranger said, speaking distantly and forcefully. "Welcome to your new life, Clark."

---

Clark slid backward, clutching the diamonds as the illumination faded. When he awoke, the stranger had disappeared.

"What on Earth was that?" he asked, his heart racing.

He gazed at the jewelry he was holding tightly. The pendant's light had diminished, but it still pulsed softly, as if it were alive. Regardless of his fears, he wrapped it around his neck.

A torrent of emotions seized him. He could hear the rustling of leaves, the distant hum of traffic, and a subtle buzz from a streetlight above. In addition to the sound, he could feel vibrations, as if the world had sharpened and grown stronger.

"Clark."

He twirled rapidly, his heart pounding in his throat.

Even though the room was vacant, a deep and strong voice resonated in his mind.

"Who is it?" he inquired, his voice trembling.

"Take it easy," the voice instructed. "I am Erythus, part of the necklace. Think of me as your guide.

Clark's knees threatened to give up. "This cannot be happening. "I am losing my mind."

"You're not losing anything," the voice stated firmly. "You have acquired something extraordinary. "Now concentrate."

"Focus on what?" Clark snapped, panic filling his voice.

"On me," the voice replied. "About the world around you.""Close your eyes."

Despite his anxiety, Clark obeyed. As soon as he closed his eyes, a flurry of pictures sprang to mind: Mary arguing with Harold, Fred mocking him at dinner, and Jane the housekeeper peeking at his laptop.

"Wait," Clark said, his eyes wide. "What was that?" "How did I see that?"

"Your mind is adapting," the voice stated. "You're becoming more aware of your ideas, memories, and intentions."The necklace enhances your perception and enables you to see beyond the surface."

Clark exhaled in quick gasps. "You mean I can… read minds?"

"Among other things," the speaker explained. "But be careful, Clark—this power is a double-edged sword."Use it judiciously, or you'll be consumed.

Clark couldn't decide whether to laugh or shout. He felt a rush of excitement, and his body pumped with new energy. Despite the thrill, a sense of uneasiness persisted.

"What should I do with this?" he asked, scarcely audible.

"That is your decision to make," the voice continued. "However, keep in mind—power means nothing without a goal."

Clark swallowed anxiously, his mind racing. He remembered Mary, Harold, and Fred, as well as the numerous humiliations he'd endured.

Perhaps now is my chance to change everything, he reasoned.

However, while he gazed at the shimmering pendant, he couldn't dispel the idea that this present had a cost—something he wasn't certain he wanted to accept.

After several months, Clark felt a sense of authority. But the question remained: what price?