The options were laid out before Alex, but from his perspective, he felt like there were only two real choices.
The first option, being killed, wasn't even something he could consider. What would be the point if he ended up dead? That wasn't a choice at all, at least not for him.
The second option was to have his memory of everything that happened erased. That would mean he'd never remember seeing someone like the man standing in front of him. It seemed like a safer choice, but there was a problem. The man had mentioned the risks—sometimes they couldn't control how much memory would be wiped. Alex could end up losing everything, not just this one event, but his entire memory.
As Alex thought about this, he realized he didn't have much of a life to forget. Most of his memories were dull or painful, but then he thought about his mother. The idea of returning home, looking at her face, and not remembering who she was terrified him. The thought of hurting her in that way felt unbearable.
Thinking it over, Alex began to reject the second option. He couldn't risk losing everything, especially his connection to his mother. This only left him with one remaining choice. But that didn't ease his mind. He was left with more questions than answers.
How could he make a decision like this? What did it mean to become a Paragon? Could he trust this man, who seemed both dangerous and powerful? The weight of it all pressed down on him, and though the choices were clear, the consequences were still uncertain.
Thinking about becoming like the man in front of him, Alex's mind raced through the movies and books he'd seen about supernatural creatures turning ordinary people into beings like themselves.
"Are you a vampire, a werewolf, or a demon?" Alex asked, his voice trembling with worry about the answer he might receive.
The man suddenly burst into laughter. "I guess since I used the phrase 'become like us,' it's natural for you to think I'm one of those creatures," he said with a smile, and for a moment, Alex felt a little relief. It seemed the man wasn't offended by the question.
"I'll answer your question, no matter what decision you make. After all, you can only leave here today in one of three ways—dead, with your memory wiped, or as one of us," the man said, his tone turning serious again.
"You see, I'm none of those creatures you mentioned. I'm human, just like you," the man explained. "The difference is that there are a few secrets I know that you don't. That's all."
"I am a Paragon," the man said, his tone calm but firm. "A special human capable of evolving beyond what normal humans can do. That's all I can tell you for now."
He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "I know you're wondering if it's even possible for an ordinary human to become a Paragon. Well, it wouldn't be an option if it wasn't possible," he added, his voice growing quieter as he left Alex to process everything.
Alex stood there, his mind swirling with thoughts. The man's words echoed in his head, and he couldn't help but think about the Wyndham family.
'Is this it? Were they trying to hide this from me all along? Is that why they always told me to stay inside on certain days? Were those special days connected to these Paragons?' Alex wondered, piecing things together in his mind.
As he continued thinking, another question surfaced. 'Are they Paragons too? That would explain their strange confidence. But if that's true, why would they hide something like this from me?' Alex's thoughts grew darker as he reflected on his family.
Deep down, he already knew the answer. The Wyndham family had never truly accepted him, despite sharing their last name. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense—he wasn't part of their world, and maybe, he never would be.
"Fine... I will join you. I'm interested in this Paragon thing and want to see if it's something I can do," Alex finally answered, his voice steady but laced with uncertainty.
Hearing Alex's response, the man smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, your journey from here might not be easy, but it'll definitely be an interesting one," the man replied, his grin widening.
"So, kid, what's your name?" the man asked, his tone casual but curious.
Alex hesitated, debating whether to reveal his real name. 'I doubt someone like him doesn't have connections. It's probably safer to tell the truth,' Alex thought to himself.
"My name is Alex... Alex Wyndham," he answered, his words deliberate.
"Wyndham... where have I heard that name before?" the man muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to place it.
A few moments passed, and Alex stood silently with the man in the alleyway. After a brief introduction, the man had told Alex his name—Stan—and now they waited. Stan had made a few phone calls, but he hadn't explained much since.
"What are we still doing here? You know, I'm starting to wonder when you're going to explain things properly to me," Alex said, his impatience starting to show as he glanced at Stan.
Stan glanced back at Alex with a calm expression. "Patience, kid. We're waiting for the right moment. Some things can't be rushed," he said, continuing to lean against the wall as if he had all the time in the world.
Alex shifted uncomfortably, glancing around the dimly lit alley. The tension of the situation was weighing on him, but he could tell Stan was in control.
The minutes dragged on, and Alex felt his nerves building. He didn't know what to expect next, but he could sense that whatever was coming would change everything for him.
After agreeing to become a Paragon, Alex thought Stan would finally explain more about what they are, but instead, Stan only mentioned that Alex would get his answers when they reached a place he didn't bother to name.
This left Alex wondering why they were still waiting in the alleyway. Glancing up, the evening sky had already darkened. Alex started to worry about his mother—she was probably home by now and would be sick with worry over him.
However, since he hadn't received any calls from her, Alex hoped she wasn't back at the apartment yet. He quickly remembered the car and wondered if his mother was still trying to figure out what had happened to it after he took off.
Suddenly, Stan's attention shifted toward the entrance of the alley. Alex noticed and quickly pushed himself off the wall, his heart rate rising as he braced himself for whatever was about to happen. His eyes fixed on the entrance as a van reversed into the narrow alley.
The van came to a stop in front of them. Four people, all masked, exited the vehicle. One of them nodded at Stan, who returned the gesture with a nod of his own, saying nothing. Without exchanging a word, the masked individuals began their work.
The four moved swiftly, heading straight for the bodies of the robbers that were still scattered across the ground. Alex watched as they picked up the unconscious men and tossed them into the van with practiced ease. It was a cold, efficient process, almost like they'd done this countless times before. Alex's stomach churned slightly at the sight, but he forced himself to remain composed.
Every now and then, one of the robbers would stir slightly, regaining consciousness for a brief moment. But each time, Stan would step forward and, with a simple wave of his hand, render them unconscious again, keeping them under control with ease. Alex was both in awe and terrified by how effortlessly Stan could manipulate the situation.
As he watched the men work, Alex couldn't help but wonder what kind of world he was stepping into. There were so many unanswered questions racing through his mind—about the Paragons, about Stan, and about the strange powers he had witnessed. Despite his confusion and fear, he knew there was no turning back now.
After the men finished loading the last body into the van, they looked like they were ready to leave. But before they could drive off, Alex called out.
"Wait... What are you planning to do to them?" Alex asked, his voice uneasy.
The masked men paused, glancing at Alex, then turned to look at Stan, as if waiting for his approval. Stan gave a brief nod.
"Well, Alex, these people—especially their leader—they saw things they shouldn't have. These masked people are going to make sure they don't remember what happened here today," Stan explained calmly, gesturing toward the van as the masked men began to leave.
The van drove off, its taillights fading into the distance. Alex let out a sigh of relief. For a brief moment, he had feared that the masked men were going to kill the unconscious robbers.
"So, what's next? Are we just going to stand here forever?" Alex asked, feeling uneasy in the empty alley.
Without answering, Stan started walking. "Follow me."
Alex shrugged and trailed behind him. The two of them walked through the streets in silence for what felt like a long while. The night air was cool, and the occasional streetlight flickered as they passed by. Eventually, they stopped in front of an unexpected place—a small café, dimly lit and mostly empty.
'A café? Seriously? After all that?' Alex thought, slightly confused. He figured that after the chaos of the night, Stan would take him somewhere more fitting for their mysterious dealings. Still, Alex followed him inside.
The café was quiet, with only a couple of customers scattered at tables. The hum of soft jazz music played in the background, adding to the calm atmosphere. Stan didn't head for any of the available seats, though. Instead, he walked straight to the counter where a man was cleaning some cups.
Stan leaned in and whispered something to the man behind the counter, too low for Alex to hear.
Alex stood there, looking around the café, unsure of what was going on. He had expected more action, not a detour to a quiet coffee shop. He could feel the adrenaline from earlier starting to wear off, leaving him with more questions than ever. As he glanced around the room, he couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.
Was this just a quick stop, or was there something more going on here?
"Oh... Sir, follow me," the man behind the counter said, stepping out and motioning for them to follow.
Stan glanced at Alex, a serious look in his eyes. "Now kid, this is it. You're about to start a journey that won't be easy. Once you begin, there's no turning back until you finish."
Alex felt a knot form in his stomach. Something about this felt off, but his curiosity was stronger than his fear. He needed to know what this whole "Paragon" thing was about. So, despite his growing doubts, he followed Stan and the man.
They were led down a hallway and into what seemed like a restroom with sterile white walls. It was unsettling, not because it was just a restroom, but because it seemed far too quiet and out of place for what was happening.
The man who had brought them there left without saying a word, leaving Alex and Stan alone. Alex looked around, not sure what to expect next. Stan walked over to one of the restroom stalls, opened the door, and motioned for Alex to enter.
"Go on," Stan said.
Alex hesitated. His nerves were on edge. Why a restroom? Why now? Despite his misgivings, he stepped into the stall. The door slammed shut behind him before he could fully process what was happening.
"Wait... what... What's the meaning of this?" Alex shouted, banging on the door. Panic surged through him as he pounded against the door, hoping Stan would let him out.
Suddenly, he felt something cold wrap around his wrist. His heart raced as he looked down, realizing something had grabbed him from behind.
Looking down, Alex realized it was water—thick, snake-like tendrils of water coiling around his body. His eyes widened in shock as he followed the trail of the water back to the open toilet seat. The tendrils seemed alive, emerging like liquid tentacles, slithering up his legs and tightening their grip.
Alex's mind raced in panic. He wanted to scream, to call out, but the water was already wrapping around his chest, squeezing him. Before he could let out another sound, the tendrils yanked him downward with force. His feet slipped, and in the next moment, he was pulled straight into the toilet.
The sound of water flushing filled the room, loud and final, as if swallowing him whole.
A few seconds later, the door to the restroom creaked open again. Stan stepped inside, his face calm, almost expectant. He glanced at the toilet, now still and silent, with a faint smirk on his face.
"Well, kid... it looks like there's no turning back for you now," Stan muttered under his breath.
Without hesitation, the same watery tentacles emerged from the toilet once more, winding their way around Stan's legs. But unlike Alex, Stan didn't resist. He stood still, allowing the water to engulf him, wrapping around him like an old friend. With one last glance around the room, Stan was pulled down into the toilet, the water swallowing him without a sound. The restroom was left silent, as if nothing had ever happened.