The First Step

Ethan sat at the kitchen table, staring at his hands. They looked the same—rough, calloused, strong. But he could feel it beneath the surface. A hum. A pulse. Like something slumbering inside him, waiting to be unleashed.

Daniel's words from the night before still echoed in his head.

You're different.

He had barely slept, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't push away. He had felt something last night, something responding to him. The shadows had moved because of him. The voices had whispered to him. He hadn't imagined it. And now, his own son had noticed the change.

How long until Anna did too?

A soft sound broke his thoughts. He looked up to see Anna standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, a sleepy concern in her eyes. "You're up early."

Ethan forced a smile. "Couldn't sleep."

She walked over to the coffee maker, filling a mug before sitting across from him. "You've been... off, lately. Distant."

His stomach tightened. "Work's been stressful."

She studied him carefully. "Is that all?"

For a moment, Ethan considered telling her the truth. That something inside him was waking up, something that made him see the world differently. That he could feel things no one else could. That when he reached into the dark, the dark reached back.

But the words never came.

Instead, he forced another smile. "Yeah. Just work."

Anna exhaled, unconvinced but unwilling to push. "You should take it easy today."

Ethan nodded, though he knew rest wasn't possible. He had to understand what was happening to him. He had to test it.

Later that morning, he found himself in the garage, away from Anna and Daniel. The dim space smelled of oil and dust, but Ethan barely noticed. His attention was on the shadows stretching along the concrete floor.

He focused.

The shift was immediate. The darkness stirred, like a living thing responding to his presence. His breath quickened. Last night, he had hesitated. Now, he pushed further.

The shadows moved.

Not just shifting with the light, but bending, curling unnaturally toward him. His heart pounded, but not with fear. With exhilaration.

He reached out with his mind, his will. The darkness obeyed. It slithered closer, coiling at his feet like a loyal pet awaiting its master's command.

Ethan inhaled sharply. He wasn't just sensing it anymore. He was controlling it.

A sudden knock on the garage door made him jolt. The shadows scattered instantly, returning to their natural state as if nothing had happened.

"Ethan?" Noah's voice. "You in there?"

Ethan exhaled, pushing down the frustration at being interrupted. He opened the door to find Noah standing outside, looking at him with a wary expression.

"You good, man?"

Ethan forced himself to relax. "Yeah, why?"

Noah shrugged. "You've been acting... weird. Anna's worried. And honestly? So am I."

Ethan felt a flicker of irritation. Why couldn't they just leave it alone? He wasn't doing anything wrong. He was learning.

"I'm fine, Noah."

Noah didn't look convinced. "Come on, man. Ever since that night at the house, you've been... different. You space out. You don't talk much. And I swear, sometimes it feels like you're not even here."

Ethan clenched his jaw. "I said I'm fine."

Noah studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright. But if you need to talk—"

"I don't."

Silence stretched between them. Finally, Noah nodded, but there was something in his eyes—something Ethan didn't like.

Distrust.

Ethan forced a grin. "I'll catch you later."

Noah hesitated, then turned to leave. As he walked away, Ethan watched him go, his hands clenched into fists.

Noah was getting too close. Asking too many questions. It was only a matter of time before he started digging deeper.

And that was a problem.

As Ethan stepped back into the garage, he let out a slow breath. The shadows curled around him again, drawn to his growing frustration.

He didn't push them away this time.

Instead, he welcomed them.

Because Noah was right.

He was different.

And soon, everyone would see just how much.