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.

Ethan’s chest tightened. The car looked out of place in a neighborhood like this, where rusted pickup trucks and beat-up sedans were the norm. He took a cautious step back, wiping his hands on his apron as the driver’s door opened.

Two men stepped out, their movements precise and deliberate. They were tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in tailored dark blue suits that fit them like a second skin. Their shoes shone like they’d never touched dirt, and their sharp features carried an air of authority that made Ethan’s stomach twist.

The first man’s gaze locked onto him immediately, his eyes cold, his composure like that of a professional guard. The second man adjusted his tie before speaking.

“Ethan Wilder?”

Ethan froze, his mind racing. ‘How do they know my name?’

He glanced toward the back door of the supermarket, debating whether he could slip inside and lock it before they reached him.

The first man took a step forward. “There’s no need to run, Sire.”

Ethan blinked, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. “Sire?” he repeated, his voice cracking slightly.

“Yes,” the second man said, his tone polite but firm. “We’ve been sent to escort you. Please, come with us.”

Ethan took another step back, bumping into the dumpster. “Look, I don’t know who you think I am, but you’ve got the wrong guy.”

The first man tilted his head slightly, his expression official. “We don’t make mistakes.”

The second man opened the back door of the car, gesturing toward it with a gloved hand. “If you would, Sire. It’s important.”

Ethan’s pulse pounded in his ears. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but the way these men moved—their calm, measured confidence—told him it wouldn’t matter. They didn’t look like the kind of people you could escape from.

“Important?” Ethan said, stalling for time. “What are you talking about? Who sent you?”

“All your questions will be answered,” the first man said. “But not here.”

Ethan’s eyes darted between them and the open car door. His mouth was dry, his palms slick with sweat. ‘This can’t be real,’ he thought. ‘Stuff like this doesn’t happen to people like me.’

And yet, it was happening.

The second man’s gaze hardened slightly. “Please, Sire. We don’t have much time.”

Ethan clenched his fists, glancing down the empty street. There was no one around. No witnesses. No help.

He swallowed hard, the jade necklace feeling heavier than ever against his chest. “Fine,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Both men stepped aside, watching him closely as he approached the car. Ethan hesitated at the open door, his reflection staring back at him in the dark, glossy paint.

‘What the hell am I getting into?’

Taking a deep breath, he slid into the backseat. The leather interior was smooth and cold against his damp clothes, and the faint scent of expensive cologne filled the air.

The door shut behind him with a soft click.

The two men climbed into the front seats, the driver adjusting his mirrors before pulling away from the curb.

Ethan stared out the window, his mind racing as the city lights blurred past. Every fiber of his being told him he’d just made a mistake.

But it was too late to turn back now.