A knock at the door snapped him from his thoughts. He tensed, grabbing his gun before approaching cautiously. "Who is it?"
"Relax, man. It's Caleb."
Alex sighed, unlocking the door. Caleb stepped in, shaking off the dampness from his jacket. "You look like hell."
"Thanks," Alex muttered, sitting back down.
Caleb eyed the scattered notes on the desk. "So, you actually survived that thing. Didn't think you'd pull it off."
"Yeah, well, neither did it."
Caleb huffed a laugh but then grew serious. "Word's spreading. Hunters are talking about something big moving in the dark. Whatever you fought? It's not the only one."
Alex frowned. "You think they're connected?"
Caleb shrugged. "Maybe. You're the one who saw inside that thing's head. Anything stand out?"
Alex hesitated. He didn't say anything about the absorption. Instead, he chose his words carefully. "It wasn't just hunting. It was… searching."
"For what?"
"I don't know. But I intend to find out."
Later that night, Alex drove deep into the woods, far from prying eyes. If he was going to test his abilities, he needed isolation. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine as he stepped out of his car, the moon barely illuminating the treetops.
He crouched, pressing his palm to the ground. The psychometry ability flared to life instantly.
'Images. Sounds. A rush of memories poured into his mind.'
A deer moving through the underbrush. A hunter waiting in the distance. The moment of death—a sharp pain, then nothingness.
Alex pulled back, breath unsteady. He was seeing not just moments, but entire lifetimes compressed into seconds. He clenched his fists, grounding himself.
'This could be dangerous.' Alex thought If he wasn't careful, he could lose himself in the memories of the past.
He moved to the next test. A whisper of energy still clung to his skin from the last hunt. Could he call upon the power he'd absorbed?
Closing his eyes, he focused. The air shifted. A hum of dark energy curled around him, responding to his will. Shadows deepened at the edges of his vision—his Dark Vision activating instinctively. The woods around him weren't just trees and brush anymore; they were layered, tangled with unseen forces.
Shapes moved in the distance. Wisps of spirits that he never would have noticed before.
'Holy hell !' Alex exclaimed.
He watched as a figure emerged from the trees—something ethereal, half-formed. It wasn't hostile, at least not yet. But it was watching him.
A ghost.
It tilted its head, studying him just as he studied it.
Alex felt a cold rush of understanding. 'I can see them now and they can see me.'
Not that they couldn't before but now he was aware of it.
That could be useful—or incredibly dangerous.
Testing further, he tapped into his enhanced senses, listening intently. The distant rustle of an owl taking flight, the faint sound of water trickling nearby—things he never would have noticed before. He sprinted forward suddenly, feeling the unnatural quickness in his movements, the reflexes that let him dodge low-hanging branches without even thinking. It was exhilarating, but also sobering.
' I'm becoming stronger with every hunt.'
Thinking about when he first arrived here much has changed.
---
By the time he returned to his motel, his body ached from the exertion of pushing his abilities. He sat at the desk again, pulling out his journal and scrawling new rules to follow:
1. Psychometry must be controlled. Too much exposure, and he risks drowning in another's memories.
2. Power absorption changes him. Every ability he takes alters something but i think with better control i can aborsb abilities with less side effects compared to now—use with caution.
3. Enhanced Senses require discipline.
Losing control could mean being overwhelmed by too much input.
5. Speed and Reflexes can't make up for carelessness. A mistake at high speed could be fatal.
6. Healing is not invincibility. He heals fast, but not instantly.
He stared at the notes, rubbing his temple. This was a new game, and he was still figuring out the rules.
A vibration from his phone startled him. A message from Caleb:
"Another hunter's gone missing in a small town in Colorado.Cattle mutilations and there symbols left behind not sure yet what it means but i could use your help. What do you say?"
Alex exhaled, leaning back in his chair. He glanced at the flickering panel once more, feeling the weight of his new abilities settle over him.
'One thing at a time.'
He grabbed his jacket, simply replying : "Send me the details."
Tomorrow, the hunt continued.
---
To be continued...