"Damn I hate my job."
Shock was her first reaction to the cold metal on her forehead.
The abstract feeling of the gun.
Felt thoroughly out of place and brutal.
Then it consumed her...
Anxiety.
Crawling up her skin as she flinched.
Before stilling abruptly.
Afraid her movements would provoke him to pull the trigger faster.
Calm down. Numb your fear...you can do this. Calm down I won't die. I just need to think of an escape.
That easy.
Breathe.. Breathe in... Out.
Amanise closed her eyes failing miserably at calming down her nerves.
What is she going to do?
Kill him.
Her eyelids tore open in surprise.
Who said that? The voice sounds familiar.
Kill him and... Survive... Amanise.
The voice was sinster and cruel. She reckoned there was a devil on her shoulder.
Where have I heard that voice from before?
The gun was cocked.
Her heart dropped.
It was now or never!
Ding!!
Her vision turned hazy obscured by a set of strange floating runes before her.
[A threat against your life has been detected. Survive.]
A mechanical voice rasped in her ears.
Huh?
Am I dreaming things or did I see the strangest thing happen to me?
What is this Infront of me?!
Amanise slightly rose her hands before she froze.
She couldn't afford to be distracted.
Her face perked up flashing a toothy grin to him.
Which got one of his brows rose up.
His reaction turned her red. He was looking really handsome looking down at her. Staring at her as if he saw an unknown radioactive biomass.
Though she didn't remember what that meant.
"You are smiling? Hmm... Are you eager for death or just plain stupid?"
None of the above.
But I want to live and am tired of dying.
Achieving nothing with my life.
So I refuse to die.
"Well~Captain Alaric I believe that if you wanted me dead. You wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger minutes ago."
This was a dangerous gamble.
But she had to take risks. If not she had regret choosing to do nothing.
Silence reigned.
His mismatched eyes staring intensely at her.
Don't show fear.. Don't show fear.
Calm down.. Don't show fear.
Tension sparks in the air.
She then saw a cruel smile that distorted hers.
The gun lowered away from her forehead.
"Well you are quite right I don't intend to let you off the hook especially when the main culprit is moving about scot free."
Huh?
What?
Seeing the confusion in her face. His grin widened putting the gun in holster.
Something she didn't see by the side of his lean waist.
"Am saying, Soren that you will work with us to find the mastermind and what are his reasons for doing so.
So your death will mean nothing reasonable to us. We had be stupid to let our only lead slip our fingers."
He snapped his hands. Shadows pulling out from nowhere. Solidifying in to a piece of white paper.
Amanise wondered whether she was dreaming.
Her right unconsciously rose up to her eyes rubbing, making sure she wasn't seeing things.
On confirmation that it was all real. She let out a muffled squeal found herself excited to know how.
Attracting weird looks tossed by them.
Though he cut her off before she could even ask.
"This is a Soul Contract."
Amanise toke it from him. Looking at the paper blotted in red ink.
"Am assuming you are unaware of it. So I will explain." He flashed her a severe look,"Soul Contracts are simply a necessary precaution made in most societies. It is bounded by rules and agreements by both parties. Failing to obey one of them less to.... Instant death."
Her body moved forwards coughing. It started out slowly before increasing turning more violent.
What's my body doing?
It felt like it had a mind of its own. She rarely coughed like this.
Was it fear?
Was her body succumbing to fear outside her control?
When she could control herself. She found droplets of blood on her palm.
Looking up she observed that none of them were surprised.
She could read the....
Expectation.
They knew it would happen but how?
Feeling strangely betrayed by her own body. She looked up hiding the questions bubbling her thoughts.
"Miss Soren as expected your lung problem is quite severe. I was surprised you haven't thrown a coughing fit since you opened your eyes."
A pleasant voice noted from behind Alaric making her aware of his presence. She had forgotten he was still there.
Hamlin.
So it's seems like this body has something like an asthma or pneumonia. And here I thought my problems weren't any worse.
I have to live with a breathing problem. And I didn't notice until now. Soren's body is returning from shock to its normal living.
So it means that I won't die from incompatibility. Oh Thank God.
Her mind trailed back to what was more important. The thin paper in her hands.
A Soul Contract.
The existence of this has threaten her life to a dangerous degree.
She suddenly felt so weak.
She tried reading it. Only to remember that it wasn't English but...
Socratic language.
Within few minutes she already had a summary of what they wanted her to do.
"I... What no I can't..."
She muttered weakly unable to fully process things.
"You honestly don't have a choice Miss Soren, am afraid."
Her first reaction was to scream at them. Steal the gun from the Artist and blow both him and Hamlin's head. The run and find somewhere to hide.
To be safe.
But she chose to shut up instead.
To bottle it up.
The images of their mangled bloodied corpses on the floor caused by her hands.
She forced everything in and bottled it all up.
I should be logical.
Well it's obvious from the powers they have shown I can't harm them.
It's too dangerous... Too risky. One move would result in my death.
Achieving nothing.
I should force myself to look at the bright side.
She heaved a deep sigh.
Breathing deeply in and out.
Calming her nerves.
This contract has assured her safety.
A new life.
She could lay low and find out things about this world.
Find out...
Cassian.
Longing filled her up.
The goddess also had a mission for her too and promised her something.
I can do this.
Lay low find him and fulfill my mission.
With that in mind I open my mouth.
"I.. agree."