Despite Cyrus’ offer to go back to the Spearhead, Adam felt like he needed some time to himself. The idea of sleeping in his bed was tempting, and he felt like he needed some time to process everything that had happened.

“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m just going to head home and sleep,” he said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me today.”

Cyrus nodded understandingly. 

Adam watched Cyrus disappear into the night. He knew he was not ready to face his father just yet. The thought of going home filled him with dread. Instead, he stayed at the pod. It had a small cot in the corner, and he figured he could get some much-needed rest.

After laying down on the cot, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Before her disappearance, his mother and he shared happier times. He dreamed of the day he discovered his powers and how that had changed everything. He dreamed of Cyrus and the way she had stood by his side during the fight against the shadow creeps.

The first rays of sunlight filtered into the cramped pod. Adam rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up on the cot. He looked around, taking in his surroundings for the first time in the light of day. The walls of the pod were made of metal and were covered in dents and scratches, evidence of the wear and tear of years of use. The air inside was musty, and a single flickering bulb provided the only source of light.

As he gazed out the small window, Adam could see the bustling city below. People hurrying back and forth, food trucks and vendors selling their wares, and the sounds of honking horns and shouting voices filled the air. It was a stark contrast to the relative peace of the pod.

Adam shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He knew he should head home, but something held him back. Perhaps it was the fear of facing his father or the nagging feeling that he wasn’t ready to return to his old life. Regardless of the reason, he stayed in the pod a little while longer, watching the world go by.

Adam stepped out of the pod and into the bright morning light. The sunlight illuminated the rough state of the pod, with its stained walls and pungent smell. He made the pod his home, his hideaway from the world. He could work on it, fix it up, and make it his own. As he cleaned, his thoughts kept drifting back to his mother, who had disappeared years ago. He wondered where she was and what she was doing. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was still out there somewhere, and that he would find her one day.

The day passed quickly as he worked on the pod and he had made significant progress. The floors were clean, and the kitchen was functional. He took a step back and admired his handiwork. The pod may not have been much, but it was his, and he was proud of it.

Adam approached the dumpster. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The alleyway was quiet and still, and the shadows seemed to stretch longer than they should. He glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see the shadow creeps lurking in the darkness. But there was nothing there. Adam shrugged it off and tossed the old wood into the dumpster. 

The sound coming from the old factory intrigued Adam. He couldn’t help but wonder what could be inside. Was it a machine, or was it something else entirely? Despite his curiosity, he continued with his plan to clean up the pod. He walked over to the dumpster and dumped the old rotten wood into it.

As he was working, he noticed that the sound from the factory had gotten louder. He couldn’t help but glance toward the building, wondering what was going on inside. Suddenly, the door of the factory burst open, and a figure stepped out. The man had a tired expression on his face. He wore a white dress shirt and black slacks, with a neatly tied tie and a clipboard in one hand. He had thick round glasses that perched on the bridge of his nose, giving him a slightly studious appearance. Despite his professional attire, there was something off about him, as if he was struggling to maintain his composure. His eyes were half-closed, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. The man walked over to Adam and asked, “What are you doing here, son? You need a job?”

Adam nervously answered his question, “Uh, yes sir, I’m looking for a job.”The man smiled thinly, his eyes never leaving Adam’s face. “Good, good. I’m Mister Globb, and we can always use another pair of hands around here. Follow me and I’ll show you around.”

The walls were stained with oil and grime; the floors were littered with debris and the machines were rusted and creaked as they hummed to life. The air was thick with the scent of oil and metal, making it difficult to breathe. But despite the obvious dangers and unsanitary conditions, the workers toiled on without a care in the world.

Adam felt a shiver run down his spine as he took in the sight of the workers. They were like robots, moving in unison, their eyes staring straight ahead, devoid of life. It was like they were under a spell, and it made Adam feel uneasy.

Adam followed Mister Globb through the factory, past the endless rows of machines and workers. He could see that the machinery was old and in dire need of repair, but the workers were pushing themselves to the limit to keep it all running.

As they reached the far end of the factory, Mister Globb turned to face Adam. “What do you think, young man? Would you like to join us?” Adam hesitated, looking back at the workers who were working themselves to death. He didn’t know what to do, but he knew he needed the job. He nodded. “Yes, I’ll take the job.”

Mister Globb handed Adam a set of overalls and a hard hat. “Get dressed and start working. We will pay you at the end of the week.”

Adam looks at the overalls. “What is being made here?”

“It’s confidential, I’m afraid. What I can tell you is that the work we do here is important, and we are always in need of new recruits.”

As they continue their tour, Adam can see the workers operating dangerous machinery and handling hazardous chemicals with little regard for their safety. The conditions in the factory were bleak, with no natural light and a pervasive sense of danger hanging in the air.

Despite all of this, Mister Globb seemed oblivious to the danger and pressed on with his pitch. “We offer competitive wages, benefits, and the opportunity for advancement. And best of all, you can work your way up the ladder and become a valuable member of our team.”

Adam couldn’t help but feel that something was off about the whole situation. The workers seemed exhausted and, in a trance, and the factory was in disrepair.

After being left to work with the sea of people, he asks the workers where the break room was. He gets no answers and wanders off to find one.

Adam made his way through the factory. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The workers all around him were silent and looked as though they were in a trance. They seemed to work tirelessly, and yet, there was no energy or life in their eyes. He finally found the break room, a cramped room with a few chairs and a table in the middle. There was a vending machine in the corner and a small window that looked out into the factory. The room was empty, but Adam could hear the machinery and the workers in the background.

Finally, he finds the break room, a small, windowless room with a table and a few chairs. He walks in, hoping to find some answers about this strange place, but he is confronted with a chilling sight. Written on the walls in bold letters are the words, “It watches from the shadows, don’t stare back.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Adam quickly scans the break room, trying to find the source of the strange message. The room was small, with a table in the center and a few chairs pushed up against the walls. The message was written in dark red ink and was smeared as if they had written it in a hurry.

He looked around the room, checking the corners for any signs of movement. But all he could see were the workers continuing to toil away, seemingly oblivious to what was happening around them.

He didn’t know what “It” was or what it was watching from the shadows, but he would not stick around to find out. He quickly made his way out of the break room. He was thinking about his next move. He wanted to solve this mystery by himself, but he thought about Cyrus from last night. Maybe he should bring the others.

Adam made his way through the maze-like factory. He felt a sense of unease growing in the pit of his stomach. He had been searching for the exit for what felt like hours, but all the passages looked the same and he couldn’t seem to find his way out.

Just as he was about to give up hope, he spotted a room with a strange purple glow coming from within. Curiosity getting the better of him, he made his way over to the door and peered inside.

What he saw inside made him gasp in shock. A line of factory workers stood in front of a dark, twisting portal, which pulsed with a strange, otherworldly energy. As he watched, a blast of energy would shoot out of the portal and hit a worker, who would then change into a shadow creep.

“What in the world is going on here?” Adam muttered to himself. He was torn between his desire to solve the mystery and his fear of what he might find. He glanced down at his red suit, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He couldn’t leave these workers to their fate.

With a deep breath, he stepped into the room and approached the portal. As he got closer, he could feel the energy from the portal pulsing against his skin. He reached out a hand to touch it, but before he could, a figure emerged from the shadows. 

“You! What are you doing here?” the figure growled. It was Mister Globb.

Adam stood there in shock as Mister Globb spoke. He had suspected that something was off about the factory and its workers, but he never imagined it was this sinister. The thought of innocent people being transformed into shadow creeps made him feel sick to his stomach.

“What can I do to help put an end to this?” Adam asked, determination in his voice.

Mister Globb shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s too late for me. The shadows have a tight grip on me, and I can no longer resist their will.”

Adam stood in front of Mister Globb, the purple glow illuminating the room and casting eerie shadows on their faces. He felt a sense of unease as he gazed into Mister Globb’s tired eyes. “I don’t understand,” Adam said. “What do you mean by the shadows control you?”

Mister Globb sighed heavily. “It’s a long story. I started working here a long time ago, when this factory was still a thriving business. But over time, things changed. The shadows took over, controlling the workers and forcing us to do their bidding. And now, I find myself in the same position as the others. Trapped, unable to escape their grasp.”

“But how do we stop them?”Adam asked.

“What do you mean ‘he watches through them all’?” Adam asked, his tone serious.

Mister Globb sighed, “The shadow, it’s everywhere. It watches and controls everything. I can’t tell you more than what it allows me to say. I’m sorry.”

Adam furrowed his brows, feeling a sense of unease wash over him. “How do I stop it?”

Mister Globb shook his head. “I don’t know. I just know it’s more powerful than any of us can imagine.”

Adam took a step back, considering Mister Globb’s warning. But he couldn’t leave, not now that he knew about the shadow. He would need to stop it to protect the workers.

“I’ll stop it,” he said firmly. “But I need your help. I need to know more about what’s happening here.”

Mister Globb looked at Adam, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. “I don’t know if I can help you. The shadow is too powerful. It’s always watching.”

Adam looked at the portal, his mind racing with thoughts. He knew this was dangerous, but he couldn’t turn his back on the workers. He stood there, his mind was filled with thoughts of the workers and their families that would plead with him. He knew he couldn’t do this alone. He needed the others. There was a window on the opposite wall that he spotted quickly.

Adam made his way towards the window, his eyes locked on the small sliver of daylight that shone through the grimy glass. He took a deep breath and ran towards the window. Adam leaped through the air towards the window, and his red suit formed around him. The plates of the suit clanked together as it took shape, and within seconds, it fully encased Adam in vibrant red armor. He felt a surge of power as he soared towards the window. 

But as he reached the window, the shadow creeps suddenly tackled him. They seemed to be attracted to his red suit, and they swarmed him like moths to a flame. Despite his increased strength and agility, he struggled to fend them off. The creeps were relentless, and they seemed to multiply by the second. Adam quickly realized that trying to escape would not be an option, not with the shadow creeps hot on his heels. He had to stand his ground and fight. 

With a fierce determination in his eyes, Adam stepped forward to meet the shadow creeps head-on. He swung his fists and feet with lightning speed, dodging and weaving around the attackers. The creeps fought back with equal ferocity. He flailed his arms, striking one creep with a powerful punch. The shadow creeps staggered back, stunned. But the other two creeps regained their footing and closed in. Adam realized this as he struggled to fend off the three shadow creeps that were now closing in on him. He had to think fast and come up with a plan to defeat them. 

Just as the shadow creeps closed in on him, four daggers flew, striking them down. Cyrus flips in, alongside Ian and Garnet landing in front of Adam. Then Ian and Garnet take their positions, forming a triangle with Adam and Cyrus. The shadow creeps pause for a moment, as if sizing up their opponents.

“Let’s take these creeps out!” Garnet said as she charged forward with a fierce yell.

The four of them stood back-to-back, surveying the scene before them. They had never encountered shadow creeps before, and we did not prepare for the onslaught. Cyrus was the only one in the group who had a weapon, a long, silver lance. With her weapon in hand, she leaped forward, striking the first shadow creep with a swift blow. The other three followed her lead, each of them able to hold their own.

As they fought, the shadow creeps kept coming, their relentless attacks showing no sign of stopping. But the team was determined to protect themselves and put an end to the shadow’s reign. Cyrus was the most skilled fighter of the group, and she took out the most shadow creeps. Her lance sliced through the air, striking the creatures with deadly precision. Every time one of the shadow creeps took a hit, it would dissipate into nothingness, leaving behind a trail of darkness.

The team was covered in sweat by the time it was over. But they had fended off the shadow creeps, and the room was clear. They looked at each other, exhaustion clear on each of their faces, but also a sense of pride for what they had accomplished.

With the shadow creeps defeated, the team turns to face Mister Globb, who is cowering in fear in the room’s corner.

Mister Globb stammers. “The shadows. They came through the portal and took control. I had no choice but to do their bidding.”

Cyrus steps forward, her daggers at the ready. “And what have you been doing for them?”

“Recruiting workers, feeding them into the portal,” Mister Globb said. “I couldn’t resist the shadows’ control. They’re too powerful.”

Ian nods. “We need to shut down that portal and put an end to this once and for all.”

The team stood before the machine that was generating the shadow portal. Cyrus stepped forward, her eyes narrowed in determination. With a swift movement, she plunged her lance into the machine, and a bright surge of energy crackled through it. The machine gave a last spasm before it fried and the dark, twisting portal dissipated. Adam watched as the portal faded away, his suit still crackling with energy. 

“We did it,” Garnet said.

“Yeah, but what the hell was that?” Adam’s eyes trained on the dissipating portal.

“That was the shadow creeps,” Cyrus replied, her voice steady. “They’re attracted to anything connected to the cosmic source, and they want to devour it.”

“But how did you guys know I was here?” Adam asked, turning to face the rest of the team.

“The spearhead can see when anyone activates their suit,” Ian explained. “As soon as you transformed, we knew we had to come help.” Cyrus nodded. “And we’re glad we did. That portal was generating more and more of those shadow creeps, and if we hadn’t stopped it, there could have been an army of them by now.”

“Well, I’m glad you guys showed up when you did,” Adam said. “I don’t think I could have taken them all on by myself.”

“Thank you, thank you so much,” Mister Globb leaned against the wall, exhausted but still alive, along with the other workers who had now been freed from the shadow’s control. They looked dazed as they awakened from the trance that had taken hold of them. Adam and the team approached Mister Globb, who was sitting on the ground, his clipboard falling from his hand. “I did not know what was happening here. The shadows controlled everything, and I couldn’t escape their grasp. But now, it’s all over.” He looked up at the team with tears forming in his eyes, “My name is Davis.”