Ethan was making his way through a narrow alley when a man stepped out in front of him.
The man was average height, rough looking, with the kind of face that had learned to smile when it benefited him. He wore dirty clothes and had the hollow cheeks of someone who didn't eat regularly.
"Hey there, kid." The man crouched down, putting himself at eye level. "You lost? Where are your parents?"
Ethan looked at him but said nothing.
The man's smile widened. "You hungry? I got food. Warm place to sleep. If you follow me, I'll take care of you."
Ethan studied him for a long moment. The man's eyes flickered.
But Ethan didn't need honesty. He needed access. He needed a way into the power structure of this underworld. Every empire needed a foundation. This man was as good a starting point as any.
Ethan nodded.
The man stood up, satisfaction flashing across his face before he hid it behind that fake smile. "Good. Good decision, kid. Come on, follow me."
