I didn't really have any plan when I stepped out of the apartment that night. I just needed to clear my head. The streets were quiet, almost empty, and the cool air helped me forget about the stress piling up at home. I walked without thinking, letting my feet carry me wherever they want.
After wandering for a bit, I found a small diner still open. The neon sign buzzed above the door, and the smell of fried food hit me as soon as I walked in. I ordered a burger and fries—nothing fancy, but it felt good to sit down and eat something warm. A few people were scattered around, scrolling through their phones or eating in silence. I took my time, chewing slowly, staring at nothing.
When I left the diner, I wasn't ready to go back yet. I kept walking, letting the night stretch out. That's when I spotted the basketball court.
It wasn't far from the park, and even from a distance I could see the players moving around under the cracked court lights. It looked strange—half the lights were out, and the fence on one side was broken. But it wasn't that which caught my attention. It was the fact that they were playing so late.
I slowed my steps and stood near the trees, watching. There were five or six guys, sweating and pushing themselves like it mattered. But their movements were… off. Every time someone shot the ball, it would hit the rim and bounce back like something invisible blocked it.
I furrowed my brow. "Why would they play this late?" I questioned to myself.
Just then, one of the guys—wearing a gray hoodie—looked toward the sidelines and noticed me. He jogged over.
"You watching?" he asked, panting.
I nodded. "Yeah… just wondering. It's really late."
He gave a short laugh. "We got a tournament coming up. Gotta practice whenever we can."
I bit my lip. "That makes sense."
He grinned tiredly before jogging back. The other guys barely glanced my way.
I couldn't stop staring at them. Something about how serious they looked… how much effort they were giving… even when the ball wouldn't cooperate… made me want to help somehow.
Just then, one of them made a quick shot toward the hoop. The ball hit the rim hard, bounced off, and flew past the court's edge.
I gasped.
"Hey!" one of the players shouted. "There goes the ball!"
The tall guy from before groaned. "I'll get it."
Without thinking, I stepped out of the shadows and jogged toward the bushes along with him. "Let me help," I said.
He hesitated for a second but nodded. "Alright. Grab it if you see it."
The bushes were thick and dark. We both pushed through the branches, the sharp leaves scratching at our sleeves. I crouched down and felt around, searching for the ball. My fingers brushed twigs, dry leaves… and something soft.
"Found it!" the tall guy muttered, pulling out the basketball.
But as he reached deeper, his hand hit something else.
He paused, eyes narrowing.
I leaned in. "What is it?"
"Nothing," he said quickly, shaking his head. He yanked the ball free and jogged back toward the court without checking again.
But I couldn't leave it alone.
I crouched lower, slowly parting the branches. A small bundle wrapped in faded cloth sat half-hidden deep in the bushes. It didn't look like trash. It looked… placed.
I stared at it for a long second before brushing the leaves aside.
I reached for it, unsure if I should touch it. My fingers trembled.
The cloth was old and tied with thin cords, but carefully wrapped. Whoever hid it didn't want it to fall apart.
"Hey… you good?" the tall guy called out from a few feet away.
"Yeah," I whispered, barely able to breathe.
I gently pulled the bundle out and sat back on my heels. My heart raced.
"Should I… open it?" I whispered to myself.
But curiosity got the better of me. I slowly untied the strings, trying not to break them. I peeled the cloth open and froze.
Inside was a small case.
I opened it.
A blue pendant lay inside, shining even in the dark like it held its own light. Strange patterns swirled around its surface. I stared at it, my mouth dry.
I reached out with my fingertips and touched the edge.
It felt cold at first… then suddenly warm.
A sharp jolt shot through my arm like electricity. My muscles tensed, and my breath hitched. My fingers tingled like sparks were dancing across my skin.
I jerked my hand back, heart pounding.
"What the…?"
For a second, I couldn't tell if I imagined it, but the warmth stayed. It felt alive—like it was breathing against my skin.
I wanted to stare at it forever. But fear crept in.
I quickly wrapped it back in the cloth, tying the cords again. My fingers still tingled, but I shoved the bundle into my jacket pocket.
The tall guy glanced at me, puzzled. "Got it?"
"Yeah," I lied, holding up the basketball.
He grinned and jogged back toward the court. "Thanks, man!"
I nodded, but my eyes stayed locked on the bushes.
After brushing off the leaves, I stood and walked back toward the court, trying to act normal. But deep inside, I knew this wasn't just about a lost basketball.
I didn't know what the pendant was. I didn't know why it felt like it was alive.
But something about it pulled at me… and I wasn't ready to let it go.