Sleepless Night

Alex woke up to a soft rapping on a nearby bench. The noise was sharp but with little force. He stumbled awake with speed as he looked around looking for any face to run from. But to His surprise there wasn't one. In it's place was a small wooden box laying on the bench he was sleeping behind. Normally if this had happened to him on any other night he would have just relocated and gone back to bed but something made him stop. It was a piece of paper on the box with two words written on it in neat handwriting. 'To Alex'. It was simple yet effective at freaking him out.

The simple fact that someone knew his name and knew where to drop this package off was scary enough. It meant that someone was watching him. Someone was watching a young homeless kids movements. Someone was watching him and closely at that. Alex looked around slowly trying to get his mind focused from the recent shallow dreams he was stuck in. The dark park was empty and he couldn't see a single soul in sight. Alex began to slowly move, after double checking his surroundings, towards the metal bench. He slowly sat down by the wooden box as calmly as possible taking one more look around his surroundings before picking up the box and gently laying it on his lap.

The note was slowly ripped from the box and placed to the side with care. A single phrase filling his head as he opened the box, "Don't make a mistake". Who ever it was who gave him this box was most likely watching him. If this person had ill intentions then he could have already killed him. But the thing is, is instead of leaving behind a corpse he left behind a box. Meaning the person wanted something out of him. There really was no other way this situation could go but down. The small box was pried open by Alex's careful hands. The box opened to reveal a small gold ring, a piece of bright white paper, and a small necklace.

Alex slowly placed the two items of jewelry to the side with care as he grabbed the piece of paper and began to read it. The letter went as follows.

Dear Alex,

I hope this package has found you well. We would like to ask you to join our little race. If you would entertain us please place the golden ring on your finger. The item inside is yours to keep and do with as you please. I hope you have a wonderful night.

From, The Council.

Alex took his time reading it and after the first time he did so again, and again, until he had digested the contents. He slowly folded the piece of paper and put it in his ripped jeans. After that Alex slowly took the golden ring and examined it with intensity. 'A Race? What exactly does this mean?' Alex found the ring to be simple except for two stars on opposite sides of each other. After that he slowly looked at the necklace inspecting it further. He had never really seen jewelry before but this was truly beautiful. It was a light colored metal in the shape of a crescent moon. The necklace was delicate but surprisingly heavy. He looked around once more before slowly placing the ring on his index finger.

'If I don't accept then who knows what will happen to me' Were the last thoughts that rushed through his head before a searing pain overtook his finger. The golden ring burned red as it seared his hand. He reached for the ring trying to yank it off his finger but all he got in return was an increase in pain. He screeched lightly in pain as the ring turned white for a second before quickly melting black. His finger had a small tattoo on it instead of the ring. "What the Hell!?" he said before the tattoo seemed to slowly drip down his wrist down the outer portion of his hand stopping on the wrist. The black ink slowly dripped around the sides of his wrist connecting at the bottom before slowly turning into a black band.

The band was simple looking but not a tattoo, it was something he had seen but never touched. It was a smart watch. Thoughts reeled through his minds as he tried to comprehend what had happened before the small necklace started to sparkle. It came alive in the light of the full moon. It floated off the bench into the air. It seemed almost enchanting as it moved forward too me, the moon outstretched reaching out towards me. A small gust seemed to fill the forest as the moon brightened. A pale light filled the forest like a sense of life returning to a graveyard. The necklace slowly lifted and the chain came down my neck. The moon seemed to sparkle as flakes came down from the sky. At first he thought it was stardust or something different but he quickly realized it was snow as it slowly fell down upon his skin.

The weight of the necklace began to hold him down in a different was as he found his body tilting backwards. He found himself looking at the sky with a feeling of wonder filling him. The moon seemed larger than usual, it was on a whole different level. The moon seemed to be calling to him as the specks of snow built up on him. After a few minutes he heard a voice that scared the shit out of him. "Body found incompatible with Artifact #1..... body will be made compatible and in return points will be deducted from Artifact #1." Said a feminine voice that sounded as though it was right next to Alex's ear.

"Current Stats are as follows: Strength: 4, Speed:9, Endurance:6, Intelligence:10, Cunning:14, and Charm:4. Processing change needed..... Moon Ritual Activated."

The words poured over Alex with an enchanting power as his body started to glow. He lay there looking at the sky in confusion and joy. He felt drowsy yet full of energy. He wanted to sleep yet his eyes wouldn't close. They were stuck on the moon. The enchanting moon. His thoughts ran empty and instead of ideas there was only emotions. Alex could see the moon move across the sky, and with it came snow. The snow poured down from the sky rather quickly as it collected all around him and on top of him. The cold didn't bother him this night though.

Alex felt his thoughts slowly start to begin when the moon was setting and the sun was rising. It was a strange feeling being surrounded by snow but it was surprisingly comforting. Alex raised his body slowly, the snow brushing off of him. He looked around at the still and silent forest. His mind was clear like the park was. It was comforting seeing the park like this, covered in snow without a single footprint in it. He looked down at himself for the first time all night and gasped in surprise. He was pale white. His skin seemed to have lightened considerably, not only was the grime of the city gone from his skin but he was as white as a sheet of paper. He felt surprisingly calm at the situation as he looked at the black band on his wrist.

Alex slowly tapped the screen in anticipation as it lit up with two small icons. One of them was a picture of his face, he took it in with a gasp. His face had become more defined but that wasn't the thing that surprised him. His hair was snow white and his eyes where a grey blue. It looked strange yet mesmerizing. It was still noticeably him but also.... wasn't? It was hard for him to explain.

There was also a small crescent moon icon as well, he slowly tapped the picture of him and a block of information appeared.

-Stats-

Strength:11 (Average adult Male)

Speed:16 (Well above average Male)

Endurance:11 (Average adult Male)

Intelligence:13 (Above average Male)

Cunning:20 (Nearing the Peak of Humanity)

Charm:13 (Above average Male)

Moon Aspect:1

It was strange looking at your entire being summed up in a short list. Alex looked at the necklace on his chest. 'What have I gotten myself put up to....'. Alex looked up at the watch again and exited out, not really content with the stats. 'I mean how can you sum up my thought process in a single stat anyway? and whats even the difference between Intelligence and Cunning? It's just stupid, and how could I even improve that much in one night?' Alex thought strangely.

He quickly tapped at the moon before a list appeared in front of him.

-Powers-

Light Manipulation: Level 0

Darkness Manipulation: Level 0

Gravity Manipulation: Level 0

Temperature Manipulation: Level 0

<More can be unlocked through higher leveling of your Powers and the combination of skills>

Current Power Points: 1

'What the hell is this? These abilities sound so OP.' Alex looked through the list of powers intently before understanding what the 0 by them means. All of them are at level zero which means he has no ability with them what so ever. And he only has one point. Alex thought over everything for a long time before slowly putting the point into darkness manipulation. The other powers seem rather interesting but darkness intrigued Alex far more than the others. It was an ability that could allow the manipulation of shadows and darkness it's self or at least that is what Alex thought. This ability would help him live a better life.... sort of.