Last Updated:
2024-11-28 16:29:168
Emily Walker trudged up the apartment stairs, her body weighed down by exhaustion. She fumbled with the keys, her mind drifting to Ethan and Adam.
I hope they ate dinner. Maybe I can pick up something nice for them on payday.
Before she could unlock the door, Ethan appeared behind her, grinning.
“Hey, Em. Don’t go in just yet.”
She turned, startled. “Ethan? What’s going on?”
“Trust me,” he said, holding up a blindfold.
“Seriously? I just got home!”
“Come on,” he coaxed. “It’s a surprise. You’ll like it.”
Emily sighed, too tired to argue. “Fine, but this better be good.”
Ethan carefully tied the blindfold over her eyes and guided her down the stairs.
“Where are we going?” she asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
“Patience,” Ethan replied, his tone light.
The blindfold came off to reveal a small but cozy house, its windows glowing warmly in the night.
Emily froze, her mouth slightly open. “Ethan… what is this?”
“Our new home,” Ethan said, his smile wide.
Her eyes darted between him and the house. “This can’t be real. We can’t afford this.”
“Relax,” Ethan assured her. “It’s all legit. Let’s go inside.”
Emily hesitated. “Are you in trouble? Did you borrow money from someone dangerous?”
“No trouble,” Ethan said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I used the reward money from Jimmy Carter. Trust me, Em. It’s ours.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, “We’re out of the basement?”
Ethan nodded. “Come on. There’s more.”
Inside, Emily gasped at the sight of streamers, balloons, and a banner that read “Happy Birthday, Emily!”
“Surprise!” Adam shouted, jumping out from behind the couch.
Detective Mike Hayes, holding a plate of cake, waved sheepishly. “Hope you don’t mind me crashing the party.”
Emily clutched her chest, overwhelmed. “You did all this?”
“Of course,” Ethan said. “You’ve done so much for us. It’s about time we gave something back.”
Adam tugged at her hand. “Check out the kitchen! It’s huge! And the fridge is full of snacks!”
Emily laughed, wiping her tears. “This is too much. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll sit down and enjoy your party,” Ethan replied, pulling out a chair for her.
As they ate, the room filled with laughter.
“Mike,” Emily said, raising her glass of soda. “Thanks for looking out for Ethan. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Mike chuckled. “He’s a sharp kid. Didn’t need much looking after, to be honest.”
Adam leaned forward. “Did you really catch Jimmy Carter?”
Ethan exchanged a glance with Mike. “Let’s just say it was a team effort.”
“Team effort or not,” Emily said, smiling, “you changed our lives, Ethan. I’m proud of you.”
Ethan felt a pang of guilt. If only you knew how much more I have to do.
Later, as the others cleaned up, Ethan slipped away to his room. He pulled out the demon mirror, its surface glowing faintly.
“Okay,” he muttered. “Let’s get to work.”
The mirror shimmered, displaying the word “Blacklist.”
Ethan tapped the screen, revealing a blank list. “Perfect. Step one: stop bad guys before they hurt anyone else.”
He typed the first name: “Alan Kersey.”
His heart clenched at the memory from his dream—Alan, a local gang leader, had ruined countless lives.
“Not this time,” Ethan vowed.
The mirror displayed a new message: “Skill unlocked: Foresight.”
Ethan blinked. “Foresight? What’s that supposed to mean?”
A series of images flashed across the mirror’s surface: streets, faces, places. Each flickered for only a second, but one stood out—a dark alleyway and a man handing out weapons.
“Looks like I’ve got my first lead,” Ethan murmured, his determination solidifying.
Downstairs, Emily found him sitting at the kitchen table, deep in thought.
“Hey,” she said softly, sitting beside him. “You okay?”
Ethan forced a smile. “Yeah, just thinking about what’s next.”
“You’ve done enough, Ethan,” she said, squeezing his hand. “We’re finally safe. That’s what matters.”
He nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. Safe for now. But I can’t stop here.
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Ethan sat at the kitchen table, the mirror glowing in front of him. His eyes focused on the screen, his fingers swiping across the glass as he activated the Voice Modulation skill once again.“This is ridiculous,” he muttered, glancing at the clock. “It should be easier by now.”He took a deep breath and pressed the button. “Okay, let’s try this again.”“Hello, this is Emily Walker,” he said in a near-perfect imitation of his sister’s voice. He had practiced her tone, her pauses, and her mannerisms until it felt almost natural.After a few seconds of listening to his own voice echo back, he frowned. “It’s still not right.”It’ll have to do. I don’t have time to perfect it today.Just then, the phone rang. Ethan’s heart skipped. It’s them.With a swift motion, he grabbed the phone and, without missing a beat, activated the skill. He cleared his throat and put on a faltering but determined voice.“Hello?”“It’s your brother. Where’s the money?!” The voice on the other end was gruff, imp
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10Ethan hurried down the hallway, already cursing his luck. The morning had been nothing but a disaster. His alarm hadn’t gone off, he’d missed the bus, and now he was sprinting to class, barely managing to squeeze through the door as the final bell rang.“Mr. Walker,” Mr. Hendricks, his math teacher, said without even looking up. “How kind of you to grace us with your presence.”Ethan forced a smile. “Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.”“Sit down before I change my mind about marking you present.”Sliding into a desk at the back of the room, Ethan let out a quiet sigh. Great start to the day.By the time second period rolled around, Ethan found himself struggling to stay awake. Between practicing his Voice Modulation skill and worrying about the mirror, he’d barely slept. His head drooped, and his eyes fluttered shut.“Mr. Walker!”Ethan jolted awake. Mr. Hendricks stood over him, arms crossed and a scowl plastered on his face. “Would you care to explain why my riveting lecture on quad
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Ethan pushed open the classroom door cautiously, his tardiness drawing the immediate glare of his teacher, Mrs. Larkins.“Walker,” she said sharply, slamming the attendance book on her desk. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”“Uh, good morning, Mrs. Larkins,” Ethan said with a sheepish grin.“It’s almost afternoon. Sit down.”Ethan shuffled to his seat, the weight of the classroom's collective stares following him. He dropped into his chair, resolving to turn over a new leaf. Focus. Get through this. Prove you’re serious about changing.By the time the lecture on advanced calculus began, Ethan’s determination started to waver. The numbers on the board seemed to blur, his eyelids growing heavier with each passing second.“Walker!”Ethan jerked awake, nearly toppling his desk. Mrs. Larkins was standing over him, her arms crossed. “Sleeping already? Care to explain?”Thinking quickly, Ethan activated the Demon Revealing Mirror in his pocket. Its screen glowed faintly as he summoned
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I AM GOD OF CRIMINAL CHAPTER 1
The cold, gray walls of the prison echoed with every step of the guard’s boots. Ethan Walker sat on the edge of his bunk, his gaze locked on the single crack that ran through the ceiling above him. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he thought of beef stew, the scent of rosemary and thyme wafting through his memories.The sound of the cell bars rattling brought him back."Well, if it isn’t Your Majesty," the guard sneered, leaning lazily against the doorframe.Ethan didn’t flinch. "What’s the occasion? You here to rehearse my farewell speech?"The guard laughed, a deep, grating sound. "Got something better. Papers for your last meal and final visit." He shoved a clipboard through the bars.Ethan took it calmly, scanning the form. "Beef stew," he murmured, pen scratching against the paper."Beef stew? Fancy yourself a chef now?""Not for me. It was Adam’s favorite."The guard tilted his head. "Touching. And who gets the honor of visiting His Majesty before the big day?""My siblings,"
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Ethan woke up gasping, his chest heaving as sunlight poured through the thin curtains of his small bedroom. He sat up, the familiar scent of old wood and laundry detergent filling his nose. His eyes darted around, confusion gripping him.“This… can’t be,” he muttered, his voice trembling.“Ethan! Breakfast is getting cold!” Emily’s voice called from downstairs.He froze, the sound pulling him back years in an instant. Emily? Panic swelled in his chest as he stumbled out of bed, yanking open the door.The hallway was just as he remembered it—scuffed wallpaper, creaky floorboards. His feet moved instinctively, carrying him to the kitchen.There she was. Emily stood by the stove, her hair tied in a messy bun, flipping pancakes. Adam sat at the table, pouring syrup onto his plate, grinning ear to ear.“You’re finally up, lazybones,” Adam teased.Ethan stared at them, his heart pounding. “Emily? Adam?”Emily turned, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah? Who else would we be?”“You’re—” He stopped, hi
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Ethan sat stiffly in the corner seat of the bus, keeping his hood low and his head down. He needed to blend in, not attract attention. The last thing he wanted was to deal with suspicious glances or chatty strangers.As the bus rumbled along, he couldn’t shake the unease in his chest. His mission to track Jimmy Carter loomed large, but the unsettling feeling from the morning lingered. Emily, Adam… everything feels too real to be fake. And that escape—how did I know it would happen?The screech of brakes jolted him from his thoughts.“Excuse me, young man,” an elderly woman said as she shuffled past him, clutching her worn purse tightly. Ethan muttered an apology, shrinking further into his seat.That’s when he saw it. A wiry man in a baseball cap slid closer to the old woman. With practiced ease, he reached into her purse, pulling out a leather wallet before slipping it into his coat.Ethan’s eyes widened. Is this really happening?Before he could shout, something cold pressed against
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Ethan pushed open the classroom door cautiously, his tardiness drawing the immediate glare of his teacher, Mrs. Larkins.“Walker,” she said sharply, slamming the attendance book on her desk. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”“Uh, good morning, Mrs. Larkins,” Ethan said with a sheepish grin.“It’s almost afternoon. Sit down.”Ethan shuffled to his seat, the weight of the classroom's collective stares following him. He dropped into his chair, resolving to turn over a new leaf. Focus. Get through this. Prove you’re serious about changing.By the time the lecture on advanced calculus began, Ethan’s determination started to waver. The numbers on the board seemed to blur, his eyelids growing heavier with each passing second.“Walker!”Ethan jerked awake, nearly toppling his desk. Mrs. Larkins was standing over him, her arms crossed. “Sleeping already? Care to explain?”Thinking quickly, Ethan activated the Demon Revealing Mirror in his pocket. Its screen glowed faintly as he summoned
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10Ethan hurried down the hallway, already cursing his luck. The morning had been nothing but a disaster. His alarm hadn’t gone off, he’d missed the bus, and now he was sprinting to class, barely managing to squeeze through the door as the final bell rang.“Mr. Walker,” Mr. Hendricks, his math teacher, said without even looking up. “How kind of you to grace us with your presence.”Ethan forced a smile. “Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.”“Sit down before I change my mind about marking you present.”Sliding into a desk at the back of the room, Ethan let out a quiet sigh. Great start to the day.By the time second period rolled around, Ethan found himself struggling to stay awake. Between practicing his Voice Modulation skill and worrying about the mirror, he’d barely slept. His head drooped, and his eyes fluttered shut.“Mr. Walker!”Ethan jolted awake. Mr. Hendricks stood over him, arms crossed and a scowl plastered on his face. “Would you care to explain why my riveting lecture on quad
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9
Ethan sat at the kitchen table, the mirror glowing in front of him. His eyes focused on the screen, his fingers swiping across the glass as he activated the Voice Modulation skill once again.“This is ridiculous,” he muttered, glancing at the clock. “It should be easier by now.”He took a deep breath and pressed the button. “Okay, let’s try this again.”“Hello, this is Emily Walker,” he said in a near-perfect imitation of his sister’s voice. He had practiced her tone, her pauses, and her mannerisms until it felt almost natural.After a few seconds of listening to his own voice echo back, he frowned. “It’s still not right.”It’ll have to do. I don’t have time to perfect it today.Just then, the phone rang. Ethan’s heart skipped. It’s them.With a swift motion, he grabbed the phone and, without missing a beat, activated the skill. He cleared his throat and put on a faltering but determined voice.“Hello?”“It’s your brother. Where’s the money?!” The voice on the other end was gruff, imp
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8
8Emily Walker trudged up the apartment stairs, her body weighed down by exhaustion. She fumbled with the keys, her mind drifting to Ethan and Adam.I hope they ate dinner. Maybe I can pick up something nice for them on payday.Before she could unlock the door, Ethan appeared behind her, grinning.“Hey, Em. Don’t go in just yet.”She turned, startled. “Ethan? What’s going on?”“Trust me,” he said, holding up a blindfold.“Seriously? I just got home!”“Come on,” he coaxed. “It’s a surprise. You’ll like it.”Emily sighed, too tired to argue. “Fine, but this better be good.”Ethan carefully tied the blindfold over her eyes and guided her down the stairs.“Where are we going?” she asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.“Patience,” Ethan replied, his tone light.The blindfold came off to reveal a small but cozy house, its windows glowing warmly in the night.Emily froze, her mouth slightly open. “Ethan… what is this?”“Our new home,” Ethan said, his smile wide.Her eyes darted between hi
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7
Ethan stepped into the Hightower Corporation’s grand lobby with Mike, his nerves steady but his mind racing. Polished marble floors stretched endlessly, and employees in tailored suits moved like clockwork.“Fancy place,” Mike muttered, adjusting his jacket.Ethan smirked. “Yeah, they like to show off.”The receptionist at the desk barely glanced up. “Can I help you?” she asked, her tone flat.“We’re here about the bounty on Jimmy Carter,” Mike said, his voice firm but polite.Her eyes flicked to the detective. “That’s handled through our legal department. You can leave your information, and someone will get back to you.”Ethan leaned forward. “We’d prefer to speak directly with Madison Clark.”The receptionist frowned. “Ms. Clark doesn’t take walk-ins.”Ethan grinned confidently. “Tell her Ethan Walker is here. Mention the two-story warehouse near Harbor Lane. That should get her attention.”The receptionist hesitated, narrowing her eyes. “Wait here.” She picked up the phone, whisper
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6
Ethan sat cross-legged on his bed, the demonic mirror balanced on his lap.“So, you’re basically a smartphone now?” he muttered, swiping the shimmering surface. The mirror responded smoothly, displaying glowing icons.“Abilities,” “Affinity Points,” “History,” read the options. He tapped on Abilities and saw a list of locked skills with tiny locks over them.“Robbery,” Ethan murmured, selecting the skill. The description expanded: “Steal physical objects through physical contact. Upgrade to refine usage.”He groaned. “Yeah, no kidding about refining. I don’t want to accidentally rob someone again.”The upgrade button gleamed faintly, taunting him. A notification popped up: “10 affinity points required. Balance: 0.”“How do I get more points?” he asked aloud, but the mirror remained silent.His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Ethan slipped the mirror under his pillow.“Come in,” he called, sitting up.Detective Mike Hayes stepped inside, dressed in a casual polo shirt
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5
Ethan paced in his room, the strange mirror lying on his desk.“So, just touching people doesn’t always work?” he muttered, replaying the encounter with Jimmy Carter in his head. “If I can’t steal skills that way, what’s the point?”The mirror shimmered faintly, as if mocking him.“Stop being cryptic for once,” Ethan snapped. “What am I supposed to do? Wait for opportunities to fall into my lap?”Emily’s voice called from the kitchen. “Ethan, dinner’s ready!”“Coming!” he yelled back, shoving the mirror into his pocket. First, I stop Jimmy. Then, I figure this thing out.Later, Ethan sat at the dining table, pushing food around his plate. Adam glanced up from his homework.“You okay? You’ve been weird all day.”“Yeah, just tired,” Ethan said, forcing a smile. “School’s been… a lot.”“Maybe don’t skip next time,” Emily chimed in, giving him a knowing look.Ethan coughed, hiding his embarrassment. “Noted.”The next morning, Ethan stood outside a convenience store, holding his dead phone
