The Contract

The air was cold, the fog rolled in early as the thud of boots sounded down the streets. A man stood breathing out watching his breath before he stepped inside to a nearby tavern. He walked to the bar checking his pockets finding some money left and placed it on the rotting wood before he received a drink with no words exchanged. He took his glass looking around the dim room. There was the town drunk passed out at his usual table, the bar tender who was trying to impress some woman of the night who wandered in. Then his eyes spotted the man that would change his life. His green hair and strange looks stood out. He walked over to the corner where the other was sitting and took a seat.
"And who might you be?" he asked not acting shy.
"Someone who can offer you a lot of help" The other grinned sitting forward "What's your name?"
"The name is Arlo" He grumbled taking a swig from the warm beverage. "And yours? Clearly you're not from here."
"Just call me Grisha. And no I am not…I am a man who loves to travel. I like meeting new people and you are very interesting." He chuckled tapping his fingers on the wooden table in front of him. "You carry a lot of burden it seems."
"hm…well you're not around from here so you would have no clue of my burden." Arlo scoffed.
"Then tell me so I know" Grisha sat forward "I love stories" His golden and red eyes tracked Arlo closely it was hard to tell if it was something of curiosity or animosity.
The blond man let out a sigh. "There is a reason this town is a piece of shit…where selling your body is the best job most people can get. There is a man who ruined this town…he controls all the wealth and he lives up on the hill. He is a sick twisted man…should of known when he actually built a house there…a house surrounded by lava." He let out a laugh and took another swig of his drink. "So whatever this man did…was dark it brought evil to this town. Rumor was if you went to his house you were cursed. Well I was stupid I went…and stole from this man…and those rumors are no joke. I am plagued no matter where I go evil follows…so now I vow to get rid of that man and his house."
"Ohh how noble of you" Grisha clapped his hands together and grabbed his bag pulling out some paper writing on it as he whispered quietly to his self. "I am a man who can get things done and this can be done. Take me to the house. I will help you with your vow."
"What's the catch?" he questioned
"No catch…none at all…I just want you to sign this." He pointed to the paper he had written on. Arlo tried to read it but Grisha pulled it away. "It just says you agree not to tell any authorities or higher powers about my actions and if you do well that will cause some trouble. Don't worry just sign." He almost purred out handing Arlo the pen.
"Do you believe this will stop the curse?" he asked "I know at least it will stop him…it can look natural…" he whispered holding the pen.
"Oh yes I do believe so. No house, no man, no curses" Grisha licked his lips "Now sign" he said putting the paper down. Arlo hesitated but he was so desperate he took his pen slowly signing his name. Grisha snatched up the paper "After you" he grinned showing off his sharp jagged teeth.

In that moment, that moment of hope was when Arlo changed his life. The two went to the house and Grisha lived up to his promise burning down the house.
As the two walked away from the burning home Grisha turned back looking to Arlo showing another grin "Did you get what you wanted?"
"Yeah" he nodded
"Good…good…" he whispered quietly reaching into his robe pulling out the paper Arlo had signed and wrote on it "Because now you're mine" he laughed. Arlo should have read that paper Grisha really took a liking to the man and the contract stated if he did what Arlo ordered that Arlo in turn would become Girsha's slave. The contract was bound in magic and now Arlo was his.