The Poisoned Apple
Alex walks along the streets of Manhattan, aimlessly. No purpose or determination to his step, just something to do to keep him from his thoughts. He could feel it, though. Something was off, its tugging at the back of his mind. He sees something, a glow. That glow pulls him in, into that damp, dark alley. He isn't one to go looking for trouble, that's what he feels this is. Trouble.
That light is hypnotizing him, in a way, and something inhuman pulls him to it. When he finds the source of the light, he happens upon an orb, a golden, etched, ball. It doesn't look like much, a child's toy even… But that glow… it draws him in further.
As Alex gets closer, he starts to hear whispering, bits and pieces of words. One phrase stands out to him, "The Apple of Eden", he hears. That must be this objects name, he thinks. Another fragment of a sentence catches his attention, "poisons the mind", it says in a hurried whisper. That worries him a bit, but not enough to walk away from the apple.
Words, or what looked to him like code, flashed across his sight from the aurora, ancient languages he doesn't recognize, and symbols he has no understanding of. He gives in to his temptation and reaches for the apple but just as soon as he touches it, everything stops. The light, the code, and even the whispering. Silence. Alex turns the orb in his hands, looking for a button, an on-off switch, anything to turn It back on, but he finds nothing.
The growl of a nearby infected is what gets him going on his way to his apartment. The streets of Manhattan aren't exactly safe this time of night, infected or not. Alex tucks the apple into his hoodie's pocket and starts on his way home.
When he arrives at his apartment, he goes straight for his room, to the bed and sits down. Alex takes the orb out of his pocket and studies it for a while.
"ON!" he shouts. Nothing happens, He claps twice. Still, nothing. After about thirty minutes of playing with it, he gets frustrated and throws it at the wall.
As it connects to the wall, a blinding light engulfs the entire room. Alex attempts to cover his eyes, but the light is too immense.
When the apple finally dims and stops glowing, he uncovers his eyes. He is shocked to see what, or rather who is picking themselves off the ground. When they make I contact, they both looked equally surprised at each other's presence.
"Who are you?" Alex finally asks. The man in question just tilts his head in confusion. He is dressed in very bulky, yet intricate robes, a beaked hood hiding his features.
"I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze, and you are?"
"Alex… Alex Mercer…"