Made Just For Him

The night was over Cross City like a blanket with shiny threads. From up high the city looked alive with lights, traffic moving everywhere, and tall buildings that poked into the dark sky. Music came faintly from clubs sirens sounded through the streets and neon signs glowed on wet asphalt from a light rain earlier.

To people Cross City was beautiful.

A place where you could find opportunities.

A place where money flowed like a river.

Beneath that shiny surface was another city. One that moved in shadows, not light. In that hidden world power was about influence, loyalty, and blood.

At the top of that hidden world was one man.

Tonight Ethan Cole didn't know any of that.

He was driving.

His car moved slowly on one of the roads that cut across the city like a dark strip between blocks of glowing buildings. The streets here were quieter than the downtown areas. A few cars passed now. Then their headlights briefly lit up the road before disappearing into the distance.

Inside the car, the radio played softly.

A late-night talk show host was discussing politics. Ethan barely heard the words. His mind wandered, tangled in thoughts that wouldn't settle.

One hand rested on the steering wheel. The other tapped lightly against the door in rhythm with the faint music.

The cool night air slipped through the open window and brushed against his face.

It felt good and peaceful.

Driving had always helped him think.

Whenever life got too loud or complicated he found comfort in the rhythm of the road.

Lately, though even that felt crowded.

University assignments were piling up faster than he could finish them. His part-time job barely covered rent and the thought of another semester of tuition fees made his chest feel tight.

Ethan sighed softly. Ran a hand through his dark hair.

"Maybe I should just drop out and open a food truck " he muttered to himself with a chuckle.

The idea sounded ridiculous as soon as it left his mouth.

He had worked hard to reach this point in his life. His mother had worked harder to make sure he had the opportunity.

Dropping out was not an option.

The road ahead curved slightly to the left leading toward a part of the city where apartment buildings replaced busy shopping districts. Streetlights lined the pavement casting golden reflections across the windshield.

Ethan slowed slightly as he approached the curve.

That was when he noticed the headlights behind him.

At first, it meant nothing. Cars drove behind other cars all the time.

After a few seconds, something about it began to feel strange.

The headlights remained there.

Not passing.

Not turning away.

Just… following.

Ethan glanced briefly at the rearview mirror before returning his attention to the road.

"Cross City is a place,” he murmured under his breath.

Still, he changed lanes.

The car behind him changed lanes too.

His fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

That was probably a coincidence.

He reached for the radio knob. Turned the volume up slightly hoping the sound might distract his restless thoughts.

But it didn’t help.

Another glance at the mirror showed the headlights still trailing behind him at a steady distance.

A faint uneasiness began to settle in his chest. "Okay… that's weird." he thought.

Ethan tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully before making a right turn down a side street.

The road here was quieter lined with buildings and empty sidewalks.

In the mirror, the headlights looked good. This time Ethan’s stomach tightened. "That's definitely not a coincidence."

He leaned forward slightly in his seat focusing harder on the road ahead while his mind began running through possibilities.

Maybe it was someone lost.

Maybe it was someone who just happened to be heading in the direction.

Maybe—

His thoughts were interrupted when another set of headlights suddenly appeared ahead.

A black SUV rolled slowly into the road from a side street. Stopped directly in front of him.

Ethan’s foot slammed on the brake.

The tires screeched briefly against the pavement before the car came to a halt.

For a moment everything went silent.

His heart began pounding against his ribs.

"What the hell…?"

The vehicle behind him pulled closer.

Now he was trapped between the two cars.

The doors of the SUV ahead swung open and men stepped out.

They were dressed in clothing their movements calm and deliberate..

Ethan’s pulse spiked.

"No… no no no."

He reached quickly for the door lock just as one of the men approached his car.

Too late.

The door was yanked open with force.

Cold night air rushed inside.

"Out of the car, " one of the men ordered sharply.

Ethan’s shock turned instantly into anger.

"Who are you?" he demanded, gripping the steering wheel. "What are you doing?"

Another man appeared beside the first.

"Get him out."

Hands grabbed his arm.

Ethan reacted instinctively.

He twisted away shoving one of them back with strength.

"Get off me!"

For a moment chaos erupted.

Ethan kicked, struggled, and fought with the desperation of someone who refused to be taken without resistance.

But the men were prepared.

One of them caught his arm and twisted it behind his back.

Another grabbed his shoulders.

Pain shot through his body as they dragged him out of the driver’s seat.

"Let go of me!" Ethan shouted, struggling violently.

A fist struck his ribs.

The blow knocked the air from his lungs.

He doubled over gasping.

"Hold him still " someone said calmly.

Rough hands forced his arms behind his back.

Ethan’s vision blurred as panic surged through him.

"What do you want?" he rasped. "You've got the guy!"

No one answered.

Instead one of the men pulled a cloth from his pocket.

Ethan barely had time to see it before it was pressed firmly against his face. A strong chemical smell filled his nose.

His body reacted immediately.

"No—!"

His protest dissolved into a gasp.

The world began to tilt.

The men’s voices grew distant muffled like sounds underwater.

Streetlights stretched into streaks of gold across his fading vision.

His limbs felt heavy.

Weak.

The last thing Ethan saw before darkness swallowed him completely was the road stretching quietly beneath the city lights.

Moments later his unconscious body was placed inside one of the black vehicles.

The doors closed, the engines started and within seconds the convoy disappeared into the night.