"Fuck… they're really trying to kill me," Ethan muttered under his breath, his voice low and panicked as he sprinted through the forest. Branches scratched at his arms and face, and the underbrush tore at his legs with every frantic step.
"Get back here, Ethannn!" a deep, guttural voice bellowed from behind him. It didn't sound fully human. There was a growl buried in the tone, something primal that sent a chill up Ethan's spine.
He pushed himself to run faster, lungs burning, heart pounding so hard it hurt. But just as he thought he had gained some distance, a tall man stepped out from behind a thick tree and blocked his path.
The man wore a sharp black suit that didn't match the setting at all. His shoulders were wide, his frame massive compared to Ethan. He stood there calmly, like he had been waiting the whole time.
"The young master said to stop running," the man said, voice low and deliberate. "So that's exactly what you should do."
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Like hell I'm gonna do that," he said, stepping to the side and trying to bolt again.
Before he could even take a full step, the man's body began to change. His already muscular arm bulged even larger, ripping the sleeve clean off. Orange fur with bold black stripes sprouted across his skin, and his fingernails lengthened into curved claws.
In one quick motion, the man reached forward and grabbed Ethan by the throat. His grip was ironclad. He lifted Ethan off the ground like he weighed nothing and slammed him against the nearest tree, pinning him in place. Bark cracked behind Ethan's back, and he gasped, kicking his legs as he tried to breathe through the pressure crushing his neck.
Now you might be wondering…
How did Ethan Joyner get himself into this situation? Well to really understand what led up to it, we need to go back a couple hours earlier. That's when everything started to unravel.
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Ethan let out a long yawn as he stretched, his muscles still stiff from sleep. He got out of bed and moved through his morning routine like it was second nature. He brushed his teeth, took a quick shower, then got dressed in his work clothes, a plain black polo with his store's logo on the chest and a pair of dark jeans.
(Picture Here)
Ethan was twenty years old. He worked a standard nine to five job at a local grocery store just a few blocks down from where he lived. It wasn't glamorous, and the pay wasn't anything to brag about, but it covered the essentials and gave him something to do during the day.
He lived in a modest city, not too big but not quite small either. What made the place stand out was that it was surrounded by a vast forest. But this wasn't just any regular forest you could chop down and build on. The entire area was protected, a nature preserve meant for people to hike, explore, and enjoy the untouched land. There were strict laws about keeping it intact, and most of the residents had grown up respecting those boundaries.
Ethan stepped out of his bedroom dressed and ready for the day. He walked to the front door, pressed his thumb against the fingerprint scanner, and waited a second for the small beep. The door slid open automatically. He stepped outside, and the door locked itself behind him with a soft click.
On this version of Earth, technology had advanced far beyond what we're used to. Even the average home had features that would seem futuristic to anyone from our world.
It didn't take long for Ethan to get to the store. The walk was short, and before he knew it, he was pushing open the front doors and stepping inside. As he entered, he spotted his coworker and longtime friend Jonathan standing behind the register.
"Yo, John. I got the shift. You can go home or do whatever weird stuff you usually do with your free time now," Ethan said as he made his way behind the counter.
Jonathan shook his head. "Nah, I'm good, man. I got kicked out again, so I'll just hang around here for a bit. I'll probably have to crash in the lounge tonight."
(Picture Here)
Ethan glanced at him while checking the drawer and straightening things on the counter. "Dude, I keep telling you. You don't have to keep doing that. I've got a couch in my apartment."
Jonathan rolled his eyes and gave a half smile. "Yeah, yeah. Fine. I'll come home with you this time."
Ethan turned to face him fully, raising an eyebrow. "By the way, why did you get kicked out again?"
Jonathan let out a deep sigh and slumped into the nearest stool. "My pops kicked me out because I still can't break through tier two," he said, voice laced with frustration. "Like seriously, man, there are barely even any tier three awakened in this city. What does he expect?"
Ethan rested his elbow on the counter and leaned into his hand, staring off for a second. "Yeah… too bad I didn't awaken at all, huh? I probably would have made it to at least tier six by now."
"Yeah, that would not happen," Jonathan said with a chuckle.
Ethan leaned against the counter. "Why does your dad want you to break through tier two so badly anyway?"
"He wants me to get into an awakened college in Velmont City," Jonathan replied, his voice flat with disinterest. "They only accept people who are tier two and above."
"Oh, I see why he kicked you out three times now," Ethan said with a laugh. "You have no talent."
"Says the one who didn't awaken," Jonathan shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"Says the one who has been stuck at tier one since he was ten," Ethan replied quickly, not missing a beat.
"Tch… whatever," Jonathan muttered, smacking his lips in annoyance.
A soft chime rang through the store as the bell above the door signaled someone walking in. Both of them turned their heads to look. A woman stepped inside, and for a moment, the room felt quieter.
She had long blonde hair, striking blue eyes, and a figure that turned heads without even trying. She glanced around the store casually as she walked in.
"Welcome," Ethan said, standing up a little straighter behind the counter.
The woman gave him a polite nod but didn't say anything, continuing to browse the aisles.
"Dude, she has to be a model or something," Jonathan whispered, leaning in toward Ethan.
"Yeah, probably," Ethan whispered back, his eyes following her for a second.
Jonathan smirked and leaned closer. "How about a bet?" he said, voice low but full of intent. Ethan didn't even need to ask what kind, he already knew Jonathan was up to something.
"What's the bet?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jonathan leaned in a bit, lowering his voice. "Alright, the bet is that you get her number."
Ethan gave him a flat look. "That's not a bet."
"How is it not?" Jonathan asked, confused.
"There's nothing in it for me," Ethan said. "And you're not losing anything if I do get her number."
Jonathan thought for a second, then grinned. "Alright, how about this. If you get her number, I'll go into a tier one gate. But if you don't, I get to live in your house, in your room, for a whole month. You sleep on the couch."
Ethan stared at him for a moment, then slowly reached out and shook his hand. "Fine. Deal."
He wasn't nervous. Ethan knew he wasn't bad looking. In fact, most people would say he was on the handsome side. The key now was figuring out what kind of person she was. Was she cocky? Shy? Down to earth? Once he knew, the rest would be easy.
A few minutes later, the girl approached the counter with a bottle of juice and a bag of chips.
"You've got good taste," Ethan said, picking up the items to scan them. "That combo's underrated."
"Thanks, I try my best," she said with a smile.
Ethan returned the smile. "That'll be 4.29… plus the number tax."
She tilted her head slightly, chuckling. "Number tax? What's that?"
"You know," Ethan said with a slight grin, "your number. Only applies to pretty girls though."
She laughed, clearly amused, and handed him the cash along with her phone. "Don't waste it."
"I won't," he said confidently. "I'll call you."
Ethan rang up the purchase, handed her the chips and drink, and quickly typed his number into her phone. He called himself to make sure it went through,
"What's your name?" Ethan asked her.
"You can call me Nora, you?" Nora said
"You can call me Ethan" he said then saved her contact as well, then gave her the phone back.
She nodded, still smiling, then turned and walked out of the store.
Ethan looked back at Jonathan, who was still sitting on the stool. His face had gone pale.
"You'd better start preparing for that gate, buddy," Ethan said with a grin. "Who knows, you might even break through tier two."
Jonathan groaned and turned his head away. "Like hell I will… fucking bastard," he muttered under his breath.
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"Alright, John, you can head to the house first," Ethan said as he glanced at his phone. "I already registered your fingerprint, so the door should open for you."
"Alright, I'll see you there," Jonathan replied, giving a small wave as he walked out of the store.
Ethan let out a slow breath and sat back down behind the counter. The store had gone quiet again, and after a while of just sitting there, boredom started to creep in. No one was coming in, and time was crawling. He pulled out his phone and decided to call Nora.
The phone rang a few times before someone picked up. But instead of the voice he was expecting, a man answered.
"Nora?" Ethan said, hesitating for a moment.
"Who is this?" the voice on the other end replied. It was male, calm, but something about it felt off.
Ethan froze for a second. That wasn't right. 'Did she give me the wrong number?' he thought. 'No, I had her phone in my hand. I typed it in myself. It can't be wrong.'
"This is Ethan," he said, still confused. "Is Nora there?"
"Why?" the man asked sharply. "Who are you to Nora? Why do you need to know?"
Ethan furrowed his brows. The tone had changed, and now there was clear hostility in the voice. "I just met her at the store earlier. She gave me her number and told me to call. Who are you to her?"
There was silence on the other end, just for a few seconds. Then the voice returned, colder now.
"That bitch… I'll kill her. And you."
Ethan's heart skipped. "What? Who is this?"
"This is Marco. Marco Levine," the voice said. "I'm also Nora's boyfriend… or I was. She's dead now. You're next. Better get away while you can… Ethan."
The line went dead.
Ethan just sat there, frozen. His phone was still in his hand, but he couldn't move. The last word echoed in his head.
Dead?
For some reason, Ethan knew Marco wasn't bluffing. The threat hadn't sounded like some random prank or empty words. It felt real. And then there was that last name, Levine. That name wasn't unfamiliar. In fact, nearly everyone in the city had heard it before. It was the last name of the mayor.
This man was related to the mayor?
A chill crept up Ethan's spine. He grabbed his phone, stood up, and walked straight out of the store without a second thought. He didn't care about the job anymore. His life mattered more.
As soon as he stepped outside, he turned to his left and started walking. That was when he noticed a sleek, expensive looking black car parked across the street. The windows were tinted so dark that he couldn't see anything inside. Something about it felt wrong. Without hesitation, he turned and started walking in the opposite direction.
After a few steps, he glanced over his shoulder.
The car was moving. Slowly. Following him.
Ethan picked up his pace and headed toward the crowded parts of the sidewalk. He weaved through people, bumping into a few along the way. Some gave him annoyed looks, but he barely noticed. He just kept moving.
Even through the crowd, he could still catch glimpses of the black car keeping up in the distance. His chest tightened. There was only one real place in the city where he could disappear. Somewhere someone might actually lose track of him. The forest.
It was massive, unpredictable, and wild. People didn't usually go in too deep, and even fewer came out if they did. But right now, it was his only option.
Ethan clenched his jaw, turned down a side street, and started sprinting. One of the many entrances to the forest wasn't far from here.
After running for a few minutes, Ethan finally reached one of the forest entrances. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, and sweat dripped down his back. He looked behind him and didn't see the black car anymore. But even with it gone, the feeling in his gut only got worse.
Something felt off. Not just wrong, but dangerous.
Then his phone rang.
The sudden sound made every hair on his body stand up. His fingers trembled slightly as he pulled it out of his pocket and answered.
"Hello?" he said, eyes scanning the trees around him.
"Ethan…" Marco's voice came through the speaker, calm and cold. "If you go into that forest, it's going to be worse. So please, don't make me work for this. Because if I have to, I'll be really angry."
Ethan's face twisted in frustration. "The fuck, man? Over a girl? You're going to kill me over a girl I just met?"
"Nora wasn't just any girl," Marco replied, his tone turning icy. "She was my girl. And you stole her from me. So you die."
"You're a lunatic," Ethan snapped. "I only got her number. You're insane if you think you're gonna catch me."
He ended the call without waiting for a reply and turned to the trees in front of him. Without a second thought, he rushed into the forest.
Not long after Ethan entered the forest, two figures rushed in behind him. One of them was Marco. The other was a tall man with broad shoulders who moved like a trained hunter. Most people knew him as Marco's bodyguard, though there was something about him that felt more dangerous than that.
"Go get him!" Marco shouted, his voice sharp with anger.
Without a word, the large man bolted deeper into the woods, moving fast and silent like a predator.
"Get back here, Ethannn!" Marco roared, his voice echoing through the trees. As he shouted, his canine teeth extended, and his pupils narrowed. His eyes shifted into a piercing brown color that looked animalistic, they turned into the eyes of a lion.
He took off running again, disappearing into the forest.
Within moments, he caught up to his bodyguard, who had already grabbed Ethan.
Ethan was struggling in the man's grip, legs kicking wildly as he tried to break free. The bodyguard held him up with one hand, pressing him against a tree.
"Guh… let… me… go!" Ethan gasped, thrashing in desperation. Then he saw Marco step into view.
His breath caught.
Everything about Marco looked more feral now. More dangerous.
"Ethan, you could have just stayed still and died," Marco said, his voice filled with mock disappointment. "But no, you wanted to run. Now you suffer before you die."
Ethan ignored Marco's twisted little speech and turned his head toward the massive bodyguard holding him.
"I have a question for you, big guy," Ethan said, trying to keep his tone casual.
"What," the man replied. The word rumbled out of his chest like distant thunder.
"You're at least tier three, right?" Ethan asked. "And if I'm not mistaken, Marco is tier two. So why are you working for him?"
He wasn't expecting a real answer. He just needed to create tension, anything that might give him a chance. If they turned on each other, even for a second, he might be able to slip away.
The man gave a deep laugh. "I see what you're trying to do. You think you're clever. Sounds to me like you just insulted my intelligence."
He stepped a little closer, his eyes narrowing. "I work for him because his father asked me to. That is all you need to know. You should not be worrying about my business. You need to be worrying about dying."
Marco stepped forward then, and the bodyguard finally let Ethan go.
As soon as Ethan's feet touched the ground, Marco drove a hard punch into his stomach. The impact knocked the air out of him, and he doubled over with a sharp grunt.
"No screams or anything? So boring. I'll just end it now," Marco said calmly as he drove his hand straight into Ethan's chest with disturbing ease.
"Ahhh!" Ethan screamed, his voice filled with terror as he looked down and saw Marco's hand buried deep in his chest, crushing his heart.
"Oh, so that's what finally made you scream?" Marco said with a mocking smile.
"Fuck… you…" Ethan gasped, struggling for breath. His vision was already starting to blur.
"Ouch. That hurt my feelings, Ethan," Marco said in a mocking tone. "Well, it was nice meeting you and all, but you're leaving soon, so I'll get going."
He turned and waved his bodyguard to follow him.
Together, they walked off, their footsteps fading into the distance, leaving Ethan behind.
Ethan collapsed onto the forest floor, gasping weakly. His body twitched, blood pooling beneath him, and his chest gaping open.
"Fuck… if… if only I had awakened…" he whispered, voice barely audible as his eyes slowly closed.
His body went still.
He had died.
But only a few seconds later, something strange began to happen. The air in the forest shifted. It grew heavier, sharper, more violent.
A sudden gust of wind tore through the trees and swirled around Ethan's lifeless body.
The wind surged directly into the hole in his chest. As if being pulled back to life, the blood that had spilled out slowly returned, flowing against gravity. Muscle and skin began to reknit themselves. His heart, crushed just moments ago, began to form again. His lungs expanded.
But Ethan did not move.
He was still unconscious, lying motionless on the forest floor, though his body had somehow been restored.