2025-02-21 01:56:29Ethan woke to the sensation of a jackhammer pounding inside his skull. He groaned, squinting against the weak light filtering through the cracked blinds in his apartment. The smell of rain-soaked clothes and stale whiskey filled the air, making his stomach churn.
‘Never drinking again,’ he thought bitterly, though he’d made the same promise to himself countless times before. He pushed himself up from the couch, his muscles protesting. The events of the previous night were hazy, like fragments of a dream he couldn’t piece together. Something about an old woman . . . thugs . . . and a necklace. His fingers brushed against his chest, and he froze. There it was. The jade necklace. The smooth, cool pendant rested against his skin, its intricate design gleaming faintly in the dim light of the room. Ethan’s brow furrowed. He didn’t remember putting it on. He grabbed the chain and pulled, trying to lift it over his head. It didn’t budge. “What the hell?” he muttered. He tried again, tugging harder this time, but the necklace seemed fused to his skin. There was no clasp to undo, no way to slip it off. It just stayed there, unyielding. A flicker of panic crept into his chest. “Come on,” he grumbled, pulling at the chain with both hands. The metal didn’t even strain under the pressure. It was as if it wasn’t a chain at all but something far stronger. Suddenly, a flash of light filled his vision, blinding him. Ethan gasped, his hands falling away from the necklace as strange images burst into his mind. He saw shadows moving across ancient stone walls, their faces obscured but their voices clear—murmuring in a language he didn’t understand. He saw the jade necklace glowing brightly, held aloft by hands that didn’t belong to him. And then he saw fire, spreading across a battlefield, consuming everything in its path. Ethan stumbled back, his breath coming in sharp gasps. His heart raced as the images faded, leaving him dizzy and unsteady. “What . . . what was that?” he whispered. The necklace felt heavier now, as if it carried some invisible weight. Ethan stared down at it, his pulse pounding in his ears. He shook his head, trying to clear the lingering fog. ‘You’re just hungover,’ he told himself. ‘It’s all in your head.’ Ignoring the unsettling visions, Ethan staggered to his feet and stumbled into the tiny bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, gripping the edges of the sink as he stared at his reflection. His bloodshot eyes and pale skin stared back at him, but the jade necklace was impossible to ignore. It glinted mockingly against his chest, a reminder of the strange events that made his headache worse. He sighed and turned away. There was no time to dwell on whatever was happening. Rent was overdue, and if he skipped another shift, his manager would fire him without a second thought. Ethan grabbed the least wrinkled shirt from the pile on the floor and shoved his arms through it. He stuffed his feet into worn sneakers, pocketed his phone, and grabbed his keys. The rain from the night before had stopped, but the streets were still slick and gray as he trudged to work. The air smelled faintly of wet asphalt and exhaust, the usual perfume of the city’s poorer neighborhoods. The rundown supermarket was already buzzing with activity when Ethan arrived. The bright, flickering "Discount Groceries" sign hummed faintly as he pushed through the glass doors. “Wilder,” his manager barked from across the store. “You’re late.” Ethan gritted his teeth and muttered an apology. He grabbed the faded uniform apron from the backroom and tied it around his waist, ignoring the ache in his chest. As he stocked shelves and rang up customers, he tried not to think about the necklace or the visions—or the fact that, no matter how hard he pulled, it wouldn’t come off. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. Something had shifted. And though he couldn’t explain it, deep down, Ethan had a nagging feeling that his life was about to change forever.
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Ethan Wilder Rise to Power Chapter 4: Sire
Ethan dragged the overflowing trash bag out the back door of the supermarket, the stench of rotting produce hitting him like a slap. He gagged, holding his breath as he hauled it toward the dumpster in the alley. It was a thankless part of the job, but then again, so was everything else.The jade necklace was still heavy around his neck, a constant, nagging presence that he couldn’t ignore no matter how hard he tried. Every time it brushed against his skin, he was reminded of the strange visions from that morning—shadows, fire, and whispers in a language he couldn’t understand.He shook his head, tossing the bag into the dumpster with a grunt. ‘Don’t think about it,’ he told himself for the hundredth time.The sound of tires screeching to a stop made him pause. Turning toward the street, Ethan squinted as a sleek black car rolled to a halt in front of the alley. The windows were tinted so dark he couldn’t see inside, but the polished exterior gleamed under the flickering streetlights.
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Ethan sat stiffly in the backseat, his fingers tapping anxiously against his knee as the sleek black car sped through the quiet streets. The polished setting of the interior felt oppressive, amplifying every small sound—the faint vibration of the engine, the soft rustle of his clothes, and the rhythmic tap of rain against the windows.A clear, reinforced glass wall separated the backseat from the front, cutting him off from the two men who had brought him here. Their voices were muffled as they spoke quietly, the driver keeping his focus on the road while the passenger occasionally glanced at Ethan in the rearview mirror.Ethan’s chest tightened. The partition wasn’t just a barrier—it was a reminder that he had no control in this situation.“Where are we going?” he finally called out, his voice slightly hoarse.The passenger turned his head slightly but didn’t meet Ethan’s eyes. “You’ll find out soon, Sire,” he said, his tone still polite and yet firm.Ethan shifted uncomfortably, his
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Ethan stood in the grand hall of one of the Jade Society’s private estates, a sprawling mansion perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The evening sun poured through the tall windows, casting the room in a warm golden glow.This wasn’t just a meeting—it was a test.Dozens of influential figures from the Jade Society had gathered, their tailored suits and sparkling jewelry reflecting the wealth and power they commanded. These were the movers and shakers of industries, the hidden players behind governments and corporations.And they were all here for him.“Mr. Wilder,” Marcus said quietly, stepping up beside him. “Remember, this isn’t just about shaking hands. You need to show them you belong here. They may be loyal to the society, but they’re not loyal to you—yet.”Ethan nodded, his jaw tightening. He adjusted the cuffs of his suit, the jade necklace resting heavily beneath his shirt. “Got it.”“Good,” Marcus said, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. “Your team is here to support
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Ethan stood in the center of what could only be described as the most high-tech training facility he’d ever seen—or imagined. The space stretched endlessly in every direction, a stark contrast to the sterile white room he’d woken up in. The walls shifted between glass and holographic displays, while sleek machinery hummed faintly in the background.He turned slowly, taking in the rows of equipment, glowing control panels, and an enormous dome overhead that projected a perfect replica of the sky. If he hadn’t known better, he’d have thought he was outside.“This . . . this is absolutely insane,” Ethan muttered, more to himself than anyone else.A sharp voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “Focus, Wilder. You’re not here to gawk.”Ethan spun around, his eyes landing on a tall man with a lean frame. He was dressed in a tailored black uniform, his face sharp and stern, framed by neatly combed dark hair. A cane rested in his right hand, though he didn’t seem to need it as he strode forwa
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Ethan’s throat tightened as he stared at the woman. Her words hung in the air, heavy and surreal. The Jade Society? The necklace? Him—a leader? It felt impossible, like some twisted dream he couldn’t wake from.“This has to be a joke,” he said finally, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. “You can’t seriously expect me to believe any of this.”The woman’s expression didn’t waver. “I don’t expect you to believe. I expect you to see.”She gestured toward the smooth wall to her left, and as if responding to her command, the surface shifted. Ethan flinched as the white walls dissolved into glowing panels, displaying an intricate web of information.His eyes widened.Dozens of financial statements appeared, their numbers so staggering they didn’t seem real. Untraceable accounts with balances that had more zeroes than he could keep up with flowed through companies he’d vaguely heard of—energy conglomerates, tech empires, pharmaceutical giants. Beneath those were lists of i
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Chapter 4: Sire
Ethan dragged the overflowing trash bag out the back door of the supermarket, the stench of rotting produce hitting him like a slap. He gagged, holding his breath as he hauled it toward the dumpster in the alley. It was a thankless part of the job, but then again, so was everything else.The jade necklace was still heavy around his neck, a constant, nagging presence that he couldn’t ignore no matter how hard he tried. Every time it brushed against his skin, he was reminded of the strange visions from that morning—shadows, fire, and whispers in a language he couldn’t understand.He shook his head, tossing the bag into the dumpster with a grunt. ‘Don’t think about it,’ he told himself for the hundredth time.The sound of tires screeching to a stop made him pause. Turning toward the street, Ethan squinted as a sleek black car rolled to a halt in front of the alley. The windows were tinted so dark he couldn’t see inside, but the polished exterior gleamed under the flickering streetlights.
Chapter 3: A Strange Awakening
Ethan woke to the sensation of a jackhammer pounding inside his skull. He groaned, squinting against the weak light filtering through the cracked blinds in his apartment. The smell of rain-soaked clothes and stale whiskey filled the air, making his stomach churn.‘Never drinking again,’ he thought bitterly, though he’d made the same promise to himself countless times before.He pushed himself up from the couch, his muscles protesting. The events of the previous night were hazy, like fragments of a dream he couldn’t piece together. Something about an old woman . . . thugs . . . and a necklace.His fingers brushed against his chest, and he froze.There it was.The jade necklace.The smooth, cool pendant rested against his skin, its intricate design gleaming faintly in the dim light of the room. Ethan’s brow furrowed. He didn’t remember putting it on.He grabbed the chain and pulled, trying to lift it over his head. It didn’t budge.“What the hell?” he muttered.He tried again, tugging h
