The first thing he acknowledged was the wood cracking slightly underneath his footsteps as he ascended the stairs.
Eighteen years old, officially. Since he'd woken up, all he received was awkward congratulations. No gifts, no company. As if that would matter now anyways. The people said things like "You're an adult now, you can finally live your life to the fullest".
Oh how ironic this world can be.
He finally arrived at the rooftop and walked over towards the railing to peer down at the road. The cars driving there looked like small ants from this height.
He sighed.
He didn't hate humans. He always thought everyone had a good heart initially, yet it has the potential to get corrupted by the world. Everyone is trying their best, no? Some fall, but others stay strong. Both are realistic outcomes for one's life. And yet... How can a world of mostly well-meaning people turn out so terribly broken? Why participate in all of this when nothing ever gets better?
"Hey."
A sudden scratchy voice interrupted his thoughts.
"If you plan to fly, you're doing it wrong."
He startled. His heart felt like it stopped beating for a moment. Then he turned slowly to meet the sharp gaze of a young woman. Early twenties maybe?
She was leaning against a wall with a lit cigarette between her lips. Her piercing, icy blue eyes suggested she knew too much and yet cared about little. She wore a brown suit underneath a beige trenchcoat and a long, red scarf was wrapped around her neck. Her wavy, auburn hair was tied back in a high ponytail.
"I-", he started before being cut off by the woman again.
"Look. I'm not going to give you a speech. No 'life is beautiful', no 'things will get better', no 'your family will be sad'."
She said, before taking a drag from her cigarette.
The eighteen year old looked at the woman before chuckling at the irony of everything.
"That's refreshingly bleak."
The woman had a nonchalant expression on her face.
"I know, I'm trying. But I am going to ask you to step away from the edge. Not because the world deserves you, but because you don't deserve the pavement.
He blinked.
"I don't think I understand."
The woman sighed, taking another drag.
"People lie. Or they don't realize what they really mean. I do. Now step away or I'll make you."
He hesitated before finally moving away from the edge, feeling curious about this woman. Then she spoke up again.
"Tell me, do you have a job?"
The adolescent looked at the woman in a confused manner.
"No, I don't. I'm still going to school. But I'd prefer a job over school, if I'm being honest."
The woman cracked a small smile at that.
"Good. Also, I have another question to ask you. Have you ever heard of... special skills? Supernatural abilities?"
The young man had an incredulous expression on his face, before answering her question.
"Well, yes, but that is only fiction, so why does it matter?"
"You may think it's fiction, but it's not. You see, I've followed you up here. I can sense when someone has... a special ability."
The man spoke up after a while.
"I think I am going to jump, this is utter nonsense."
The woman grabbed his wrist before he could do anything. Then she nonchalantly flicked the ash from the cigarette onto the ground.
"Do not do such thing. I still need you. You may not know it yet, but you have value. Not in a cheesy kind of way, but you are still of use to me. To the organization I'm apart of."
He halted.
"Organization? What are you talking about?"
The woman smirked, knowing she's got his full attention. She stubbed out the cigarette on the wall next to her.
"I'll tell you after you tell me your name."
He sighed deeply before responding.
"My name is Akio Takahashi. What is yours?"
"Akio? I see. I am Katsuko Kemuri. About your question earlier, I am a part of an organization called 'The Hollow Hand', we reach where others can't see. To put it simply, we are a criminal organization."
Akio flinched at the realization of speaking with a criminal.
"A criminal organization!? W- why would you need me for something like that!?"
Katsuko kept calm and responded as nonchalantly as ever.
"Not so loud. As I said, you have a special ability. You just don't know what it is yet. But I can tell you. Because my gift is to be able to tell whether you have one or not *and* what it is, if you do."
Akio didn't believe her at all, so he scoffed at her words.
"Right. Then what is my ability?"
Katsuko smirked at his denial.
"Your ability allows you to steal another's. As long as you know what their ability is. It activates as soon as you harm the gifted. Though if you harm another gifted, the ability you stole before will return to the owner in exchange for the new one."
Akio was speechless, but quickly regained his composure. "So... How can you prove it?"
"Simple. You come with me."
"But- Don't you think this is a bit odd? I was just about to commit suicide and you invite me to become apart of a criminal organization!?"
"Exactly my point. You have nothing to live for, so why not just do what you really want?"
That made him shut up.
"Alright. I'll come with you."
Katsuko smiled again, but it wasn't exactly friendly.
"Good boy."
Katsuko turned on her heel and began walking toward the stairwell, not once checking to see if he followed.
After a second of hesitation, Akio did.
The door to the rooftop closed behind them. Katsuko's footsteps were unhurried, as if this was just another errand on her list.
"So," Akio finally said, his voice echoing slightly, "do you recruit people like this often?"
She glanced back at him over her shoulder.
"Only the ones useful for the organization."
That didn't make him feel better.
They descended several floors, walked out of the building, and crossed some streets, before Katsuko finally stopped in front of a rusted metal door marked 'Maintenance'. Katsuko pressed her palm against the surface, making the door slid open just enough for them to slip through.
Behind it wasn't a maintenance room.
It was an elevator.
Akio froze.
"This building doesn't have an elevator here."
"It does." Katsuko replied, stepping inside. "Just not for normal people."
Reluctantly, he followed. The doors shut silently, and the elevator began to descend.
Minutes passed.
Akio swallowed.
"So... The Hollow Hand. What do you actually do?"
Katsuko crossed her arms.
"We steal. Information. Objects. People, sometimes. Mostly things that aren't supposed to exist."
"That's comforting", he muttered sarcastically.
The elevator slowed, then stopped. The doors slid open to reveal a wide underground corridor. Men and women walked past them, some in suits, some in casual clothing, all moving with purpose. Akio felt it immediately. Something was *off* about them.
"These people..." he said quietly. "They feel strange."
Katsuko nodded.
"Gifted. You're sensing them."
Akio stiffened.
"So you weren't lying."
"No", she said flatly. "I don't bother lying when the truth is more useful."
They walked deeper into the facility until they reached a room with glass walls. Inside, a man sat calmly at a metal table, his hands resting in restraints. He looked bored more than afraid.
Akio stopped walking.
"Why is he chained?"
Katsuko looked at him.
"Because his ability can liquefy hard surfaces on skin contact. He's usually wearing gloves."
Akio felt his stomach drop.
"Relax", she added. "He agreed to this."
The man inside noticed them and raised an eyebrow.
"Is this the kid?"
"Yes," Katsuko replied. "Akio Takahashi."
The man grinned.
"Happy birthday, kid. My name is Meki Katai. Nice to meet you."
Akio didn't respond. His eyes were locked on the restraints.
"What are you going to do with him?"
"Testing you", Katsuko said. "You wanted proof."
She opened the door and gestured for Akio to step inside.
The door shut behind them. Meki leaned forward slightly, still smiling.
"Don't worry, I'll heal up after", he said
Akio's voice shook.
"I don't even know how to use this so-called ability."
Katsuko met his gaze, her eyes sharp and unwavering.
"You don't need to. It'll know."
She handed him a small knife.
She continued.
"Just a cut. Enough to harm. Enough to activate it."
Akio stared at the blade.
Moments ago, he'd been ready to die.
Now his hands trembled at the thought of hurting someone.
Akio inhaled sharply and made a shallow cut across the man's forearm.
The reaction was immediate.
A burning sensation flowed through Akio's chest, spreading through his veins like wildfire. His vision blurred for just a second. He gasped, dropping the knife.
Meki hissed, but then laughed.
"There it is."
Akio looked down at his own hand.
"Try it," Katsuko said quietly.
Akio hesitated, then reached towards the metal table.
The metal sagged and dripped like molten wax.
Akio recoiled, breathing hard.
Katsuko smiled, satisfied.
"Welcome to The Hollow Hand", she said. "You're going to be very useful."
Akio stared at his trembling hands.
For the first time in years, he wasn't thinking about the pavement below.
He was thinking about what he'd just become.