The sun was setting over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple as Aiden Blackwood sprinted through the halls of Crestwood High. He didn’t have time to think about the upcoming algebra test; he had more pressing concerns. His mom had been acting strange lately, whispering to herself and glancing nervously out the window as if expecting someone—or something—to come for them.
He skidded to a stop in front of the gym, catching his breath. Aiden was a little taller than average, with tousled dark hair and an athletic build from years of playing soccer. He’d never been the kind of kid to believe in myths or legends, but strange things had been happening. Just this morning, he’d seen a flicker of lightning strike the ground in the school yard, even though the sky had been clear.
“Hey, Aiden!” called out Mia Reynolds, her blond hair bouncing as she jogged up to him. Mia was one of his closest friends, a fierce soccer player with a passion for adventure. “Are you ready for practice? Coach is going to be on our backs today.”
“Yeah, just—” Aiden hesitated, trying to shake off the unease. “Did you see that lightning earlier?”
Mia frowned, her green eyes narrowing. “Lightning? It’s been sunny all day. Are you sure you’re not just stressed about that test?”
“Maybe,” Aiden admitted, forcing a laugh. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
The two headed to the field, where the rest of the team was gathering. As they practiced drills, Aiden’s mind drifted. He remembered the stories his grandmother used to tell him about the old gods and heroes—tales he had dismissed as bedtime stories. But lately, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was a grain of truth hidden in those myths.
As practice wrapped up, Aiden felt a shiver run down his spine. The wind had picked up, rustling the leaves and sending a chill through the air. He glanced around, noticing the other players were just as uneasy. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure standing by the tree line.
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“Hey, do you see that?” he called out, pointing. But when Mia looked, the figure had vanished.
“Stop messing around,” she said, nudging him playfully. “You’re just being paranoid.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he muttered, but the feeling of being watched lingered.
That night, Aiden couldn’t shake the strange sense of foreboding. He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. Just as he was about to drift off, he heard a loud crash outside. He shot up, heart pounding. He peeked through the curtains.
Outside, shadows danced under the streetlights, and the trees swayed as if whispering secrets. Suddenly, a blinding flash illuminated the backyard. Aiden jumped back, nearly tripping over his own feet. When he looked again, a figure stood in the yard, cloaked in darkness but unmistakably human. Aiden felt a pull, like gravity was shifting.
“Get inside!” his mother yelled from the kitchen. Her voice snapped him back to reality, and he bolted downstairs, his heart racing.
“What’s happening?” he shouted, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she grabbed his arm, urgency in her eyes.
“We need to go. Now!”
“Go where?” Aiden demanded, panic flooding his voice.
“Just trust me!” she insisted, dragging him toward the back door. Outside, the air crackled with energy, and the shadows seemed to pulse with life.
Before they could step out, a bolt of lightning struck the ground, sending sparks flying. Aiden’s breath caught in his throat as a woman emerged from the smoke, her silver hair glowing like moonlight, eyes fierce and unyielding.
“Aiden Blackwood,” she said, her voice echoing with authority. “Your fate is about to change.”
Aiden’s mind raced. Who was she? And why did she know his name? As fear and curiosity battled within him, he realized that his life was no longer normal. The stories weren’t just tales. They were about to become his reality.
With the storm brewing around him, Aiden knew he had to uncover the truth. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of an adventure that would lead him deep into a world of gods, monsters, and heroes—where he was destined to play a part.