| Ephemeral |

six

Ethan

I staggered up to my feet and wiped the blood coming from my nose. I looked at the two slightly unconscious men laying in front of me. I didn't even know my own strength. They did put up one hell of a fight though, I'm hurting for sure.

I heard the sound of hands clapping coming from behind me making me turn around quickly. "Ethan, is it?" The guy asked and I furrowed my brows.

"Who the hell are you?" I fired back quickly, trying to sound intimidating. "The name is Crimson Avery," He responded as he walked over to me. He sounded like some comic book villain.

He bent down to the ground and picked up the picture I had just framed minutes before. "Avery as in-" I started. "Jordyn, yes. My brother." He responded, still studying the picture of Alex and Jordyn.

He dropped the picture swiftly and it shattered once it connected to the cracked concrete. I furrowed my brown at his actions, that was his brother?

I mean sure, me and Grayson have our fights but I don't know what I would do if I ever lost him. I would literally go mad. In contrast he seems like he doesn't care at all.

"Let's make this quick," He started, walking in front of me. He had dirty blonde hair and fierce eyes. He was dressed in a thin button-up with a jacket overlaying it.

"You put up one hell of a fight, surprised me if I'm being quite honest. I wasn't expected that much ferocity out of you." He laughed looking at the guys behind me.

"I'm here to ask you nicely to leave town with me. You're important to someone else, and my higher up sees potential in you which means I need you to come with me- it's just this whole thing that I'll have to explain later." he half-smiled making me scoff.

"If this higher up I'm thinking of has the name Larce, you're shit out of luck because there is no way in hell I'm ever doing anything for that bastard,"  I responded coldly, wiping blood from my face again.

"You're with Alex, right?" he asked, making me tense up a little. "Yeah, I remember this time back in the day when her brother refused my offer... he was left in this very same alley without a pulse." he smiled, making me furrow my brows.

"I don't want to have to hurt her if you don't comply," He tilted his head, threatening her. I walked closer to him and looked him directly in the eye.

"See, this wouldn't be the first time someone has threatened her. The difference now is I'm smarter. She and I will always find another way. So do your worst, but you will lose." I warned sternly. He got serious for a second before smirking and backing up.

"Okay. Threats no longer work with you, got it. While you're being beaten unconscious, remember these words," He started, making me furrow my brows at what he said.

I felt two hands grab my arms making me try to rip away. "I tried asking nicely Ethan Dolan. But you will come with me no matter who I have to go through or kill." He spoke as I saw more guys coming around the corner in my direction.

I felt fear flooding through me, I was outnumbered now. He smiled at me before turning to walk away. "Send Alex my best, if you live." He spoke in a humored tone before I felt a fist connect to my face and many boots pound against my stomach.

-

"Hey, Grayson. It's been hours and Ethan still isn't back it's getting late, maybe he got a flat or something." I acknowledged, but he just rolled his eyes in response.

"Can that leash get any tighter?" He asked sarcastically, before turning back around. "Fine, I'll go find him myself," I responded letting out a breath.

"Wait," He groaned standing up. "You don't need to be in that part of town while it's dark alone. I'm riding but you're driving." He ordered as he walked out of the door in front of me.

-

We got out of the car and I looked around. Grayson said he came to this little corner store to pick up a few things, but he wasn't in there. I asked the lady at the front desk if she had seen him, she said he left hours ago.

"Well, there's his jeep."  Grayson pointed as we jogged in its direction. "Why is the door open?" I asked looking at the backseat that held a few bags.

"Do you hear that?" Grayson asked furrowing his brows. It sounded like something being sprayed.

We walked around the corner of a small alley and saw someone spraypainting the bring wall. I looked down and saw a body laying on the ground, I ran over immediately, and the person spraypainting grew frightened and began to run away.

"That's a Mortel symbol," I spoke loudly. "Alex, It's Ethan, It's bad." He said in a panicked voice. I saw the guy running so I took a knife out of my waist and threw it as hard as I could in his direction. It pierced his leg and I saw him fall.

"Oh my God," I half gasped as I looked down at Ethan's bloody face and body. His clothes were torn, and he had blood seeping through them.

I pressed my fingers to his neck to feel for a pulse. "Alex," Grayson said loudly, I felt my eyes stinging along with my chest.

"He's alive but barely," I said taking my fingers away and standing up quickly. "We have to get him back to the house, now," I ordered, helping Grayson pick him up.

I turned and looked in the guy's direction and felt a burning rage run "Alex!" Grayson snapped, making me turn back towards him. "Who's more important right now?" He whisper yelled. I turned with him as he started walking Ethan back to the car.

I stopped to look at the graffiti on the brick. It wasn't just a Mortel symbol, it was someone's symbol. A certain Avery to be specific.

-

I sat beside the white bed, waiting for Ethan to wake up. It's been hours and he's still been knocked. I lost count of how many stitches he had to get, also how many medicines were being pumped into his veins.

I rubbed my face with my hands, then brought one down to his. I held it gently in mine staring down at it. I wish I could have been there with him. This feels like just yesterday when it happened to Ryan.

I heard Ethan breathe in hard and sit up quickly making me jump a little. He groaned loudly before I pushed his chest back down signaling for him to lay down.

"What-" He started but I shook my head. "Shh, it's okay, you need to rest." I responded rubbing his hand.

"I need to tell you what happened," He said quickly. "You've been awake all of five seconds, it can wait." I responded quietly, trying to calm him down.

"Just one thing," I looked down at his bruised face. "Who?" I asked and he swallowed hard. "Crimson Avery." He managed to say before his eyes began to flutter back closed.

-

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Are we surprised? NO.