The Taboo of Change

Chapter 3: Contract

One thing I knew for sure was that Aisha and whatever group she was with knew a lot about me I could guess they also knew my biggest weakness. I could bend the world with my words, but unless I say something like "I can be stabbed" beforehand I can be killed by a knife like anyone else, and likewise I haven't done that since I want to remain myself as much as possible. Aisha either gambled on this fact, or knew it, but that also meant she had me right where she wanted me when she pulled out a knife. One of the other weaknesses to my power is I have to actually be able to speak what I want changed, and if I die instantly obviously that wouldn't happen. I admit it is embarrassing that I was so easily overpowered by a little girl, but what can I say I am more of a thinker than a fighter. 

I was loaded into a vehicle at some point I felt movement, and realized I was in the back of some car, but they put headphones on my ears, so I was unable to make out anything more than that. I felt helpless like a child in the dark I could be killed at any moment if they decided to unable to talk with the gag in my mouth. The music they put in my ears I couldn't exactly recognize, but it was something classical, and a bit generic. I tried to focus on the road, and it would seem that we turned pretty frequently, but maybe that was just to confuse me. I noted that we took a pretty rocky road for the last half of the trip, but the trip hadn't exactly lasted a long time. The car seemed to come to a stop after what I gauged was about 15 or so minutes of driving time I waited for what was to come in the back of the car. The car door seemingly opened at some point because I was grabbed from both sides by two people, and carried for several minutes.

Once I was let down from the tight grip they had on me I was placed on a chair, and the first thing they did was tie me down. They removed the blindfold, and headphones at the same time, but the gag was left in my mouth, so I obviously wouldn't be able to speak. The blindfold being off seemingly did nothing to change how dark it was the room I was in was devoid of light minus the small light coming from the desk in front of me. The desk in front of me was seemingly occupied by a girl seemingly in her late 20's, and she was staring at me with an amused grin. The woman looked like she has just captured a rat, and was ready to dissect it down to the last bone. Fear is the first thought that comes to mind upon seeing this woman, and fear is the only emotion I haven't truly felt almost ever. The woman had red hair tied into a pony tail with a black hair tie, and she wore a suite like she was ready for a business meeting. The woman was tall, pale, and had blue eyes that were stern, but playful. 

The woman in front of me was most likely the person who had ordered my capture, and at most I could only struggle pointlessly against my binds. The woman laughed, "Heh come on kid you got to put more muscle into it than that you cant break out of that rope with such little strength." I grunted in response I could not believe how powerless I was without being able to speak was I really going to let it end her not even being able to move. The woman perhaps sensing my unease began to speak again, "Hey kid relax I am not going to kill you, but I will start with an introduction I am Themis Novachek leader of the GHA nice to meet you." I was gonna question what GHA meant, but it seemed like Themis had already predicted my question. Themis followed with, "GHA means Gift Hunters Association, and that means we hunt people like you with gifts I am sure you are aware of what gift I am talking about." I nodded a bit, and she continued, "To be exact we hunt gifters like yourself, so that there dangerous powers can never be used without the proper guidance, and I will inform you now that in the worst cases it also means we sometimes have to permanently remove them altogether." I gulped knowing exactly what she meant either killing them or confining them forever either of those options would be awful.

She flashed me another smile once I began to tremble a bit, and explained, "Rei I told you relax you will get grey hairs if you are always so stressed. I don't think in your case it will come to that because I think you will want to do exactly what I say." Something tells me that she probably isn't wrong considering I am as powerful as a newborn right now, and have no real way to defy her. Her smile faded she took a more serious expression, and posed a question, "Rei what if I told you I can help you lead a more stable life one where you can even talk freely would you like that?" I pondered this for mere moments before sternly shaking my head yes even if she was an enemy I took the bait since I really hated not being able to speak my mind. The smile reappeared on Themis, and she exclaimed, "That is exactly the answer I wanted if you had said no I would have been forced to kill you right away." Sweat dripped down my back jeez I thought she told me to relax how can I relax in this intense environment. Themis stated, "Alright kid I know we just met, but I am going to make you an offer you literally cant refuse alright?" I nodded once again hoping her demands wouldn't be too extreme since my life was seemingly in the balance.

She pulled out a piece of paper, and an old fashioned quill pen she pushed both of these towards me. Themis sat upright she explained, "Alright Rei I am going to explain my gift to you so you understand what signing my contract here will mean for you. The gift I posses is the entire reason my organization even exists I can create contracts with other gifters, and these contracts bind these gifters into whatever rules I set for them. Secondly these contracts are absolute if you were to break this contract you will die as payment for breaking the rules. Lastly my gift has the power to change reality as I see fit, so I can in turn other powers on/off, or I can literally change the conditions of there power." I was shocked I had no idea others like me existed first of all, but even more shocking was perhaps the realization that my power seemed almost weak compared to Themis. Themis rose from her seat she approached my chair in front of the desk, and continued, "Rei I made a contract for you I ask that you sign the bottom of it without looking I will explain the details of it once you have signed." 

Themis untied just my right hand, and gave my arm a ironclad grip making sure I had no way to escape. Themis put the quill pen in my hand she said, "Sign your full name here, and remember don't try anything if you value your life." Themis eyes now looked very cold, and it seemed any joy she had shown me previously was gone since she was now deadly serious. I took one shaky had forward, and signed my name clumsily with the quill with seemingly no choice in the matter. After I was done signing Themis quickly took the paper from the desk, and place it in her pocket she breathed a sigh of relief. The smile returned to her face as if it was never gone to begin with excitedly said, "Ah that's a relief the hard part is over with I hate that part the most whenever we get a new gifter." Themis walked up to my chair she untied my binds, and ungagged me. I had my mouth open in shock why would she do that? I assumed I was going to  be a prisoner of her little organization for the foreseeable future. 

Themis mocked, "You looked surprised heh well don't worry I untied you knowing full well you are powerless now go ahead speak your mind all you want." I quickly spoke up, "Themis you are not banded in chains." I thought I would tie her up quickly, and run out of her little base of operations, but to my amazement nothing happened. Themis snorted, "Nice try, but since you signed my contract I messed around with your power it won't work the way you want now." I blurted out, "Wh-what did you do to me!" Themis explained, "I will explain the details of our little contract in good time, but first I want you to meet the rest of our team." Confused I responded, "What? Why?" Themis shrugged, "Should be obvious you will be joining our team as a new member today. Welcome to the Gift Hunters Association."