Ethan Colberg: Rise Of The Hidden War God

Sophia called Ethan to bring him to the hospital because he needed to donate blood to his mother. Leaving home, a woman approached him. "You are a war god," she said. "You safeguarded the nation, but fate has caused you to lose your powers and memory. You have much wealth and influence."

Ethan never believed her. He rushed into ignoring her. The lady handed him her card. "If you don't believe me, I will be back tomorrow."

Ethan took the card without checking and rushed out. He got a taxi and moved to the hospital. Sophia already waited for him at the entrance of the hospital. Her cold stare made Ethan feel uncomfortable.

"You are late," Sophia spoke in an affected tone. Ethan replied with an apology, but Sophia turned her face away, leading him to the donation room.

Just as the doctor was about to draw blood, Ethan felt a slight flutter in his stomach at the thought of it. He married Sophia at the time when he was under the shock of losing his memory and wasn't able to eliminate the nagging feeling in his subconscious that this beautiful woman really cared about him. The doctor took 600ml blood out of Ethan, leaving him looking pale and weak.

A well-dressed man, who was suave in contrast to the others, approached them. "Ah, Sophia; I see that you have the work for your mother's treatment." He said this with a sugar-coated tone to his voice. Immediately, it came to Sophia; she smiled and thanked him for helping get the best doctors for her mother.

Alexander Grey had an extended discourse with Sophia, while Ethan cringed alongside them. A doctor emerged and mentioned that Sophia's mother had an illness that was treatable but that the so-called "Miracle Doctor" would have to carry out the operation. Alexander said he would bring the doctor immediately, and Sophia's hope came to life.

Ethan grew increasingly uneasy during their conversation. Sophia nodded in his direction and then told Alexander, "This useless thing is no longer needed." Alexander signaled to the doctor, who said that one more blood draw could be needed. Sophia told the nurse to continue drawing blood from Ethan.

Ethan did not like this and felt fear pouring through him. "That would kill me," he rasped, trying to pull the needle out.

On the other hand, Sophia mocked him, "Draw until he's on the brink of death, but leave him with a last breath."

For an instant, the nurse waited, but Sophia's glare forced her to continue. Ethan felt himself growing weaker and losing sight. All of him tried to resist, but he was too weak.

Ethan's eyelids were heavy as the nurse drew blood. Sophia rose from her seat without any expression on her face. "Take care of my mother," she commanded as she prepared to exit. "I don't want him to die yet."

With her departure, there was a vacuum in the room. Ethan's gaze remained on the ceiling above, and he could feel his breath slowly dying. His countdown had begun.

The last strength of his being brought Ethan to reach out for his phone lying on the floor. He clasped it when the lady's card slipped from his pocket. Miracle Doctor, Linda Sarman. Ethan's eyes glowed in shock. Is not this the doctor Sophia and Alexander were looking for?

Ethan's sight began to blur, and he felt it was fading away. He knew he had to hang on, but his body seemed to disagree with him. Just then, as darkness engulfed him, Ethan heard footsteps approaching; footsteps that filled him with hope.

The world was covered with darkness for Ethan, but he was still not out. He felt as though a force of some kind was dragging him back into himself. He lay on a hospital bed with beeping machines screaming out for attention all around him.

As he opened his eyes slowly, a figure appeared to be standing in the corner watching him. This was the woman who had said he was a war god. Linda Sarman, the Miracle Doctor stepped forward, and their eyes met.

"Remember what you went through," she said, her voice low and calm. "But don't fear. You're more than safe now."

Ethan tried to sit up, but he was soon met with a feeling of dizziness. Linda rushed to his side, helping him get steady.

"What...what happened?" Ethan asked in a voice harsh from blood loss.

"Your wife was draining your blood," Linda said, her eyes flashing with anger. "But not anymore because now I will protect you."

"Wife?" "Protection?" "What on earth was happening?" Ethan thought.

The door burst open, and in rushed Sophia, her furious face twisted. "How can you do this?" she cried at Linda, her gaze deeply focused. "He's my husband, and I'll do anything to rescue my mother."

Linda towered over Sophia in spite of the words, her eyes set straight on Sophia as she declared, "You won't be doing anything." In a firm tone of voice, she added, "Ethan is under my care now and not a single person will lay a finger on him again."

He watched his two mothers battle it out for victory. And the tension? Oh the tension? A thousand times worse than ma and dad grounding him when he got in the car and took off without letting them know where he was. Ethan looked at Linda and saw something in her eyes that gave him a glimmer of hope.

Pushing himself up with vigor, Ethan set his eyes on Sophia. "I will not let you use me." He affirmed. "I took charge of my own life."

Sophia's face was flushed with anger, and she walked forward; however, Linda shut her down. "You won't harm him again," Linda said, her voice cool, "and he's under my protection, and I will make sure you become responsible for your actions."

Ethan twisted his legs over the side of the bed, testing his strength. He was weak, but he would have fought for himself. He looked at Linda, who gave him an encouraging nod.

Alexander Grey came to the doorstep, concerned on his face. "What's wrong?" he asked, while looking through the room with his eyes. Instantly, Sophia's face was lit up with a clear smile. "Darling, this woman is molesting me," she said innocently.

Ethan looked deeply with his eyes. He knew that Sophia was playing with him in a live game. He just didn't know about the rules. He turned to Linda, but she seemed to know what was going on.

The environment filled up now froze, holding up to the outcome. Would Ethan free himself completely of Sophia?

Or was he going to fall prey to her again?

Time was the only thing that would tell.

There was the look at Linda by Ethan, as if she knew more than she was going to tell. Sophia's smile was all fake and her eyes betrayed there was desperation.

"What do you want?" Ethan barked at Linda right away.

"I want to assist you," Linda said, frowning. "You are not safe, Ethan. You have no idea what is happening."

Sophia moved in and began to speak with a rise in pitch. "Don't listen to her, Ethan. She's upset."

Ethan hovered between the two women, not knowing whom to believe. But Linda's words made sense. Something was wrong.

"I need some answers," Ethan said firmly. "What do you know about me?"

Linda's face was serious. "Let's go elsewhere. Too dangerous here."

As she turned away, a kind of fear struck Sophia's face. Ethan followed Linda. He did not know what to do with her, maybe she was trustworthy or not.

While walking, Ethan sensed an eye that was hidden behind an unclear side. His intuition whispered to him something. "I think we're being watched," he softly told Linda.

Linda's expression became even tighter. "We have to leave here now.

Ethan stayed pace with Linda as she moved down the hospital corridors. They hit a corner, and Linda opened the door to a small office. "In here." She entered and closed the door behind her, standing in front of Ethan. "Sophia is not what she seems," she warned. "She's manipulating you for her own purpose."

Ethan's eyes tightened. "What do you know about her?"

She hesitated and then leaned against her bag, pulling out the folder. "This has information about the family of Sophia and how she is related to them." But please, Ethan, be careful. You are not safe here."

Ethan took the folder, flipping through the pages. The files reported that Sophia's family had ties to a vast business empire. He experienced a hundred things quickly-shock, anger and suspicion.

Suddenly Barbara made a dash for the door as she came up and Linda's eyes rested on the doorknob, furrowing her face. "Someone's coming."

Ethan's heart beat went into a very rapid rhythm. "Who?"

Linda panted nearly under a sigh, "I don't know, but we have to be quiet."

The steps led directly outside. Ethan held his breath, his muscles tight, waiting. There should be a corner any moment now. Quiet would be his death, though.

They vanished. Linda sighed, relieved. "Let's get out of here. We don't want to stay in one place for too long anymore."

Ethan nodded and his mind was fully loaded with questions.

The doorknob turned with a loud, hard sound. Ethan and Linda glanced at each other. He could see his own fear reflected in her eyes. The figure outside tried the knob again, harder. The lock kept the door closed.

A deep voice said something from the hallway. The words couldn't be heard. Then heavy steps walked away. The sound became softer and softer.

Linda breathed out, her body relaxing a little. "That was close," she breathed.

"Who was that?" Ethan breathed, his voice low. "Was it Sophia?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe it is someone who works for her." She pressed her ear against the door to hear. "We need to go. They will be back."

Ethan glared at the folder in his hand. It felt heavy with secrets. "I need to know. Now. What's in this folder? Why is Sophia's family so important?"

Linda pointed to the documents. "Look at the names. Her father, her uncles. They're a very powerful company. A business empire."

"I see the names," Ethan frowned. "But what is this all about me? Why am I at risk?"

"Because you know things, Ethan. Things you don't even recall knowing."

"What does that mean? What don't I remember?"

Linda spoke with a low, insistent tone. "Before you were in the accident, you were researching their company. You were asking questions. You discovered something they do not wish to be known."

"What accident?" Ethan interjected, his head starting to pound. "I do not remember any accident."

"That's the thing!" Linda said, her eyes wide with fear. "They did something to you, Ethan. They made you forget. Sophia is here to watch over you. To see that you never remember."

Ethan's head reeled. It was more than he could process. "That's crazy. How do you know all this?"

"Because you were my partner," Linda spoke softly. "We constructed this case together. When you 'accidented' yourself, I knew it was staged. I've been in seclusion, waiting for the right moment to speak with you."

Ethan's mind reeled. He tried to remember a recollection, any recollection, of working alongside Linda. There was nothing. A void. "I don't recall you," he snarled, his tone gruff.

"I know you don't. But you have to believe me. That guy who just stood at the door. if he is what I think he is, then he is very dangerous. His name is Marcus. He works for Sophia's dad. He handles their problems."

"And I'm a problem?" Ethan asked.

"Yes," Linda said bluntly.

Then another noise. A muffled beep, and the rough-sounding voice on a walkie-talkie down the hallway. ".check south offices. He's got to be around here somewhere."

Linda's body went cold. "That's security. Marcus must have summoned them. We are out of time."

"What do we do?" Ethan asked, his senses reeling.

"We go," said Linda. "There is a service elevator down the next hall. It will take us down to the loading dock. I have a car picked up and waiting nearby."

"And then?"

"Then I take you where it is safe. Where we can talk and I can show you that what I'm saying is true. But we have to leave now."

Ethan looked from Linda's entreating face to the folder in his hand. He did not know whether he could trust her. But he knew that he could no longer trust Sophia. The footsteps outside had decided for him.

"Okay," he announced, making a decision. "Let's go."

What else did Linda know?

Who was behind the footsteps?

After Linda led Ethan out of that office one way or another, Ethan was prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

"We can't stay here," Linda whispered. She looked down the empty hospital hallway.

Ethan leaned against the wall. His legs shook. "Who were those guys?"

"Syndicate enforcers. They know you're awake. They know I've got you."

"Why is my blood so important?"

"Not here." Linda tugged at his arm. She was holding on to him tight. "We have to get out. Now."

They hastened. Sterile overhead lights flashed. A door closed behind them. Ethan cringed. His heart thudded against his chest. He caught sight of a memory. A field of combat. Smoke. Same feeling of peril.

"This way," Linda urged her. She pushed open a door that read 'STAIRS.'

They descended. Their footsteps echoed in the concrete stairwell. "My clinic is safe," Linda huffed. "We can rendezvous there."

"Regroup for what? A war I don't recall?"

"Yes."

They went down to the lowest landing. Linda opened the door to the exit a small crack. She looked out into the parking garage. "Clear. Come on."

They proceeded quickly toward an ordinary black van. Lights blazed on. Two enormous SUVs blocked the exit ramp. Doors slammed open. Men in black tactical gear spilled out. They were armed.

Down!" Linda shoved Ethan behind a concrete pillar.

Gunfire rang out. Bullets ricocheted against the pillar.

"They caught up to us," Ethan said, his words strained.

"They were lying in wait," Linda replied. She pulled a tiny pistol from her coat. "You able to fight?"

Ethan looked at his hands. They were trembling. Then he looked at the men who were armed. A chill calm fell over him. "I think so.".

"Good." Linda handed him the pistol. "Cover me. I'll get the van."

"How?"

"Just do it!"

Ethan leaned out and fired two shots. The men ducked for cover. It was all the time Linda needed. She sprinted towards the van.

One of the guards saw her. He raised his rifle. Ethan did not think. He took a steady shot. The man shrieked and fell. Ethan's bullet was straight. A flash of memory. Gun drill. Drill after drill.

Linda reached the van. The motor roared to life. She jammed it into gear and sped towards him. "Get in!

Ethan dove into the passenger seat as she pulled up. Additional bullets clipped off the van's armored paneling. Linda accelerated. The van bulldozed ahead, knocking one of the SUVs out of the way. They took off into the night like a bullet going up the ramp.

Ethan was breathless. He looked at the gun in his hand. "I remembered something. How to use this."

Linda kept her eyes on the road. "It's starting. Your brain's waking up."

"Who were those men?"

"The Syndicate's clean-up crew. Their job is to wipe out issues. Like you."

"And what about you?"

"I'm an issue for them, too."

They rode in silence for a while. City lights whizzed by.

"Where are we going?" Ethan asked.

"To a safe house. Then to my main clinic. We must accelerate your training."

"Training for what?"

Ethan glared at her. The name 'Gad' sounded strange in his ears. It was not his name, yet something in him stirred when she used the name.

"To know how to fight?".

"It's your real name," Linda said, never looking away from the road. "Ethan is what they called you. To keep you hidden."

"Who am I?" he growled, his voice rising in desperation. The gun felt awkward in his lap.

"You are a leader. Or, at least, once you were. You were the leader of a group that rebelled against the Syndicate."

"The Syndicate... is that Sophia's family?"

"Yeah. And others. They're powerful. They control a lot of things in the background."

Ethan couldn't remember. He closed his eyes. He saw visions of faces, people looking at him, waiting for orders. But the memories were like mist. They disappeared every time he tried to hold on to them.

"I don't remember ordering anyone," he said, frustrated.

"You will. The process has begun. Your mind and your body are coming awake."

"What process? What happened to me?"

Linda was quiet for a moment. "They kidnapped you six months ago. They operated on you. It was like a deep brainwashing. They implanted your abilities and your memories. They tried to turn you into a blank slate. They wanted to use you for their purposes."

"Use me for what?"

"Your blood is special, Gad. It holds the secret to the virus."

"Virus? What virus?

"The Syndicate created a disease. They call it the 'Silent Sleep.' It debilitates individuals and makes them easy to manipulate. They plan to release it into the large cities. You possess a natural resistance to it. You can't contract it. They want to study you. In order to find a way of modifying the disease so that even you can't stop it."

Ethan looked out the window at the dark city. All of it, it felt like a crazy dream. But the gunfire in the garage wasn't a dream. The men trying to kill them weren't a dream.

"So now what's the plan?" he asked.

"First, we go to the safe house. It is a flat that is old. It is clean and there is no connection with me. We can stay there for a few hours. Then we go to my main clinic. There, I have equipment. I can assist you in remembering faster.

"How?"

"I can show you things. Pictures, papers. I can use certain sounds and lights to help your brain break through the doors that they construct. It will hurt. It might even hurt bad."

"I don't care about pain," Ethan said. "I do care about being lied to."

Linda smiled. "Well, that's an improvement. You're starting to sound like the man I once knew."

They drove for another twenty minutes. Linda rode black, narrow alleys. She was careful, glancing in the mirrors to see if they were following them.

She stopped the van in front of a worn brick building. The windows were black.

"This is it," she said. "Get the bag from the back. In it is water and food."

Ethan obliged. He followed Linda into the building and up a narrow set of stairs. The apartment was on the third floor. It was modest and plain, with nothing in it but a couch, a table, and one bedroom.

Linda locked the door behind them and put a chain across it.

We are safe for the moment," she replied. "But we can't stay for long. They will be searching everywhere in the city for us."

Ethan put down the bag. "What's next?"

"We eat. We rest. Then, we begin." Linda opened the bag and took out a bottle of water. She gave it to him. "Drink. Your body has gone through a lot."

Ethan took the water. He looked at Linda. For the first time, he saw how tired she was. There was dirt on her face and a tiny cut on her cheek.

"Thank you," he said. "For saving me out of there."

Linda smiled faintly. "You would have done the same to me. You did, once. Now, remember that."

Linda stared at him. Her expression was serious. "For the war you started, Gad. And the one you're going to finish."