The sun dipped low over the town of Little Rock, casting an orange glow over the tree-lined streets. For most, it was just another summer evening—a time for porch lights to flicker on, for crickets to begin their evening chorus, and for life to go on, unremarkable and familiar. But for Athena, tonight felt different.
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She stood on the edge of the old forest, staring at the thing that had changed everything.
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The rock wasn't like anything Athena had ever seen before. Its surface shimmered, a dark obsidian that seemed to hum with a strange energy. No one knew where it had come from or how it had landed in the heart of the woods a week ago. Some said it fell from the sky; others whispered about government experiments gone wrong. But what was undeniable was the effect it had on the people of Little Rock.
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It started small—whispers of strange occurrences at school, a door slamming shut without anyone near it, a cup sliding across the counter of the diner on its own. Then came the reports of people experiencing unusual abilities. Athena had seen it for herself the day prior. Mrs. McAllister, the sweet old woman who lived next door, had moved her entire garden shed with the flick of her hand, her eyes wide with shock.
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"Are you just going to stare at it all day?" a voice called from behind her.
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Athena turned to see Max, her younger brother, standing with his arms crossed, looking equally curious and uneasy. He had been skeptical from the start, dismissing the stories as just rumors. But even he couldn't deny the truth anymore. Too much had happened.
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"I don't know," she replied quietly. "It's just... what is it?"
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Max shrugged. "Who knows. But it's making everyone freak out. People are scared. The government's going to come soon, I bet."
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Athena nodded. The town's atmosphere had shifted—buzzing with an undercurrent of both fascination and fear. The kind of fear that gnaws at people, making them suspicious, jittery. There were already murmurs of those who had "abilities" being dangerous, rumors spreading like wildfire. It wasn't long before the first signs of distrust showed. Neighbors stopped talking to each other. Friends eyed one another with suspicion.
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"Come on, let's go back home before it gets dark," Max said, pulling her away from the scene.
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Athena gave one last glance at the strange rock, feeling a pull in her gut. Something told her this was just the beginning.
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