Locked In

Ghosts

Staying out of sight and some distance behind the Muslims the hooded figure followed them. Except for Ronnie nobody had escaped the Devil's Thorn before. Like the Muslims this man too had something to hide. When he had seen the insignia of the Devil's Thorn on the girl's wrist he had been surprised and afraid. Were they after him still? Were these slaves sent to find him and bring him back to his masters?

Of course he had learned of free Muslims and when there was a group that had escaped one of the camps in America he had silently cheered. All the Muslims in Sweden were free. He had stayed on the run from the Devil's Thorn for five years and had managed to settle in this city two years ago. He had never thought of anyone else managing to escape the Devil's Thorn before. When he had learned of his half-brother's escape he had been thrilled but remained out of sight for fear of them both being caught. It hadn't surprised him one bit when his old masters had started the war with Islam. That was just like them.

He wondered if Ronnie was still alive somewhere in America. He knew his masters most likely had covered up his escape and no doubt they had covered up Ronnie's escape as well. If there were free Muslims here, and escaped slaves, the Devil's Thorn would be furious. It was only a matter of time before they put things together and tracked down their location to Winter City. Then where would they flee to?

If Ronnie was still alive he would head somewhere safe. It would be a shock for Ronnie to see him alive after all this time. Regrettably he had not taken Ronnie with him when he had fled but he was afraid that if he took Ronnie with him then when they were caught the Devil's Thorn would torture his brother in front of him. His other brother was a loyal slave of the Devil's Thorn. He and Ronnie had been ostracized from their parents for not following in their father's footsteps. Ronnie and his niece were the only family he had left in the world. Without his brother and niece there was no reason to go on living.

Shaking off ghosts of the past he quickened his pace in order to avoid losing sight of the Muslims. He had to warn them of the Devil's Thorn being in Sweden. He had spotted them a few days ago on the news. It would be difficult to spot them since they were not in the traditional robes of their masters. And there were hunter dogs with them. He shuddered in fear as he remembered how the hunter dogs had gone after him when he had escaped. He still had the deep scar on his leg from the bite mark which gave him a slight limp.

He followed them to the Mosque and then hesitated. How could he make them believe him? He decided he would have to show them his insignia. That was the only way slaves could recognize each other as they were each marked with their masters' mark. Taking a deep breath he headed into the Mosque and looked for his fellow slaves. Spotting them he hurried over.

The Muslims saw him and tensed again. He smiled inside for he had been like them for three whole years. Yet as he looked at them he felt scared again. What if he was wrong? What if they were all really here to capture him and take him back to their masters?

"Our hearts bleed for our masters. Our souls tremble in fear," he began. This was the beginning of the Pledge of Allegiance that all slaves were taught to say to each other.

Startled the Muslims looked at each other. They quickly took up their cue. "Our bodies are vessels and our eyes do not stray. The blood from our wounds scabs over in retribution for our crimes.

"Bonded by an ancient pact and branded with the mark of loss we serve those who remain hidden from the world. The ones who give us life and food. Our legs are weak with service and our minds shut down making us robots.

"For if we escape, we will be killed. Our female relatives exist only to breed more slaves. Our male relatives guard the castle. Emotions are lost as fear envelopes our entire being.

"In the night they walk and ride massive steeds. The dogs they hold at bay attack all that come near. Ruled for centuries and long forgotten they came back to establish a new world.

"The masked figures are our life source. Swift in punishment and hearts like stone. For we are slaves of the Devil's Thorn."

There was a hush in the Mosque as they finished their pledge. "Who are you," Blaze asked.

He took off his mask and they saw the long scar on his left cheek from his eye down to his jaw. Candy looked at the man in astonishment and then rushed up to him. "Uncle Thor! I thought you were dead!"

"Who is this man Candy," Heather asked.

"I'm her Uncle. I have to tell you all something. There are members of the Devil's Thorn here."

"How do you know? We haven't seen any."

"I saw them on TV. But they are in Sweden. I'm not sure where in Sweden they are though. They are not dressed like slaves and messengers but are instead wearing normal clothing."

"This is awful. We thought you might be one of the Devil's Thorn slaves come to take us back to them."

"And I admit I thought the same of you."

"Uncle Thor how did you escape the Devil's Thorn?"

"I escaped five years ago but I had to remain 'dead' in order to keep you and my half-brother safe."

"Who is your half-brother," one of the other Muslims asked.

"A man named Ronnie."

"Ronnie was killed. He never mentioned you to me. He actually killed another guard who raped me in the camp we were kept in."

"I'm sorry that happened to you." Thor turned to Candy. "I'm glad to see you're alright. It's a shame that your parents are loyal to the Devil's Thorn."

"Do you know what the Devil's Thorn is doing here," Blaze asked.

"Most likely looking for you guys. Or the American Muslims who escaped the camp."

"Uncle Ronnie was a Muslim wasn't he?"

"Yes. One of the first secret Muslims in the Devil's Thorn. And the only one to escape after me."

"What do we do now Black Hawk?"

"Stay low for one thing. We don't want to do anything drastic before we know for sure if the Devil's Thorn is after us. But we should get some type of weapons to protect us just in case."

The rest of the Muslims in the Mosque nodded. Thor wrapped his niece in his arms and stood looking at the beautiful calligraphy on the walls and pillars. He had never set foot in a Mosque before in his life. These religious houses were a work of art. He sighed with relief that his niece was safe but his troubled thoughts turned towards the future. Would they even have a future?

Several weeks passed and by now most of the escaped slaves had gotten married. Marigold was expecting as well as Heather and Candy. Even some of the American Muslims were expecting. They hoped that the world would give their children a future of peace and understanding. It seemed pointless to hold onto that dream yet still the small group of free Muslims prayed that something would change for the better. Little did this free group of Muslims know that something foreboding lay on the horizon...something that would turn their lives upside down.