Ethan Wilder Rise to Power

Chapter 5: The Revelation

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 heart pounding in his chest. That word again. Sire. It felt alien, as if it didn’t belong anywhere near his name.

He leaned forward, pressing his palm against the cool glass. “Hey! I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on!”

Neither of the men responded.

Ethan gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over. He raised his fist, ready to pound on the glass, when a soft hissing sound stopped him cold.

He froze, his head whipping around as a thin, white vapor began to seep from the air vents in the backseat.

“What the hell is that?” he shouted, his voice rising in panic. He turned back to the partition, slamming his hand against it. “Hey! Stop the fucking car! Let me out!”

The passenger glanced at him again, his face impassive, before returning to his quiet conversation with the driver. They weren’t affected at all.

Ethan’s stomach dropped as realization hit him. The gas wasn’t filling the whole car—just his section.

“Stop!” he yelled, his fists hammering uselessly against the glass. “What are you doing? Let me out!”

The vapor grew thicker, curling around him like ghostly fingers. He coughed, his lungs burning as he stumbled back into the seat.

His vision swam, the edges of the world growing fuzzy. The jade necklace against his chest seemed to grow heavier, its cold surface pressing into his skin.

‘I knew it,’ he thought, panic rising as his limbs grew weak. ‘I shouldn’t have gotten in.’

But the thought didn’t last. The gas wrapped around his mind like a fog, pulling him under. His body slumped against the seat, his eyelids fluttering shut as the last remnants of consciousness slipped away.

~•~

When Ethan woke, everything was white.

The light was blinding, harsh against his eyes as he blinked slowly. His head throbbed, and the faint scent of antiseptic hung in the air, sharp and sterile.

He pushed himself upright, his fingers sinking into the soft mattress beneath him. The surface was smoother than anything he’d ever slept on, the kind of luxury reserved for hotels he couldn’t even afford to step inside.

As his vision cleared, he realized he was in a room unlike anything he’d ever seen. The walls were pristine and unmarked, their stark whiteness broken only by faint lines of glowing silver that pulsed softly, like veins in some living thing.

Ethan swung his legs over the side of the bed, his movements sluggish. His bare feet met the cold, polished floor, and he shivered. The jade necklace still rested heavily against his chest, a strange weight that he couldn’t ignore.

The sound of footsteps made him freeze.

She was there.

The old woman from the alley.

Only, she wasn’t the frail, hunched figure he remembered.

She moved with a confidence that felt almost regal, her back straight and her sharp eyes scanning the room with quiet authority. Her tattered coat had been replaced with a tailored green suit that shimmered faintly under the soft light, and the faint smile on her lips carried an edge that made Ethan’s stomach twist.

“You’re awake,” she said, her voice calm and even. “Good.”

Ethan stared at her, his mouth dry. “You . . . What is this? Where am I?”

She stepped forward, her heels clicking softly against the floor. “Do you know what that necklace around your neck represents, Ethan?”

He glanced down at the jade pendant, his fingers brushing against its smooth surface. “It’s just a necklace,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

“No,” she said firmly. “It’s 'the' necklace. The symbol of leadership for an organization older than most civilizations. The Jade Society.”

Ethan’s frown deepened. “The . . . what?”

“The Jade Society,” she repeated, her tone unwavering. “A network that has shaped the course of history for centuries. We influence governments, control economies, and ensure balance in a world driven by chaos. You’ve never heard of us, but you’ve felt our influence every day of your life.”

He shook his head, his laugh bitter and hollow. “You’ve got the wrong guy.” His eyes darted away, avoiding hers. “I’m not a party to such ridiculousness. And I'm anything but a leader. I’m just a guy working dead-end jobs to pay off debts.”

Her expression didn’t change. “That’s exactly why you were chosen. The jade necklace doesn’t seek power—it seeks potential. It saw something in you that no one else did.”

Ethan’s stomach twisted as her words settled over him. “This is insane,” he said, his voice shaking. “You’re insane.”

The woman’s eyes softened, though her tone remained steady. “I know it feels that way. But you must understand—this is your destiny. That necklace binds you to the Jade Society, and with it comes the power to change not just your life, but the world.”

He looked away, his fingers digging into the edge of the bed. “Why me?” he whispered.

The woman tilted her head slightly. “Because the world doesn’t need another tyrant or politician. It needs someone who understands pain, struggle, and loss. Someone who has nothing to lose and everything to gain. That someone is you.”

Ethan’s chest tightened as her words sank in. He wanted to argue, to call her a liar—but deep down, he felt the pull of something he couldn’t explain.

“This is your chance, Ethan,” she said softly. “A chance to be more than what the world tried to make you. A chance to lead, to protect, to thrive. The choice is yours.”

The jade pendant seemed to hum against his skin, its cold surface grounding him in the surreal reality of the moment.

Ethan swallowed hard, his throat tight. He didn’t know what scared him more—accepting this insane offer or turning it down.