After another grueling month. I had enough. I finally, after 7 of pain and suffering, had enough money to buy myself out of this damn place. I gathered up all 20,000 TR Coins, and marched all the way to Sireanes office — fully covered, for once.
I slammed the door open, grinning ear to ear. Walking to the desk where Sireanes sits. Never again will he torment me. I sat down in the chair that is always perched in front of his desk.
The chair is only meant for paying customers. I've never sat in this chair before. Unsurprisingly, it was as comfortable as it looked. I stared him down, straight in his eyes as he looked me up and down.
"What is all of this about? You know better than this," he smiled sweetly. He must be in a good mood today, I suppose. I stood my ground, and stayed seated.
I looked down again at the money that's in my lap, and back to him, "Per our contract, any buyer can buy me for a total of 20,000 TR Coins as long as I agree to it, correct?"
He started to put the pieces together, "So you've saved enough to buy your own freedom? Is that what this is about?"
I nodded.
Sireanes scoffed, "I believe there is a clause you're overlooking in our contract." He opened a drawer on his side, and flipped through different contracts until he found mine.
"It states, and I quote, "This contract between Sireanes Rebegues and Kihearnis Jueseka is only terminated if a third party pays at least 20,000 TR Coins and if Ms. Jueseka agrees. Mr. Rebegues has full rights to raise the price as he sees fit."" He put the paper down, and looked up at me, not moving his head from how he had it reading. He only smiled as he put the contract away. I couldn't believe it. All that work… for nothing?
He enclosed his hands in front of him on the desk, while I tried my best to not show any shock from it. I walked out, and he didn't say a word. I walked all the way "home". Even once I got there, I kept walking around my "property". Eventually, there was a knock on the door and a feminine voice called, "Kihearnis? You have an appointment in 20 minutes. Please be prepared and presentable by then."
To hell with that. There's no hope of escape now. I did all I could. I'm still not free. I kept thinking these things as I made way to the kitchen. Everything that had happened in the couple hours and the last couple of years flashing before me. If there's no hope, why should I try? My mind went blank as I reached for the drawer with knives, and-
Knock, knock, knock
"Again?" I managed to call out, "Just whatever you hell do you want with me?" I sobbed.
"I take it your escape attempt didn't work out?" It was the same voice as the cloaked figure.
I laughed softly to myself, hand still in the knob to the drawer, "Yeah, you could say that."
"Then I take it my offer for freedom is sounding pretty good right about now, isn't it?" They tried.
Walking up the door, I swung it open. No point in being cautious now. Whatever happens, happens. I don't care anymore. What's the point?
I stood directly in front of them. Hand still on the doorknob. They can kill me if they want, I just won't let them take me to another place like this. Never again.
"It's nice to talk to you face-to-face," I decided to bypass the fact I still couldn't see their face, "I'm not here to bring you to another… establishment such as this. I'm offering you a way out and a way for revenge. If you take my deal, I'll pay whatever is needed to get you out of here, and I'll teach you how to free others in the same situation as yourself."
To say I was taken aback would be an understatement. I have a way to get out of here, and free others like me? Can't lie, that sounds like a pretty damn good offer. Too good.
"And the catch is…?" I finally responded.
They looked away and looked back at me, "The catch, is that you help me free every last person in slavery until you physically can't anymore. That is my "catch"."
"So if I accept, you'll teach me how to free people like me?" I clarified.
Again, they looked away and looked back, "I can't get into details, but I can assure you, you'll be able to help many more people than those just like you. You get good enough, you could save whole territories from tyranny."
I pondered that for a second, I could do that much good if I just accepted? This still seems suspicious, "Under two conditions, one is that we are to have no contract. This is strictly honor bound. Two is that I'm allowed to leave at any point of time."
"You have yourself a deal, Ms. Jueseka," he grabbed my shoulder, and, surprisingly, I grabbed his.