Fade To White - Sequel to Fade To Black

Breaking Free

This chapter is dedicated to Wattpad writer tiguxl. Check out her book Taste of Regret!

Trigger warning: This chapter is a bit dark, just a heads up. Murder, rape and racism are implied.

"C'mon! We've gotta find them before dark. We won't be of much use if we freeze to death." George whispered, the words cutting sharply through the air. Clementine had ripped the bottom of her dress off so she could move quicker through the thick brush to keep up with George. The horizon was beginning to fade into a deep blue and they began to panic.They didn't plan on getting lost in the woods over night. Clemy only thought of the slaves they had left behind with the Marquis. Her stomach twisted with horror thinking of Delphine. She knew how exhausting and frightening and confusing it was when the Master raped you and then embraced you, his sour breath on your neck, his body leaving no space between yours, completely trapped. Hopeless. She knew the fear. She wanted to save Delphine, and Pierre and every single man, woman and child that worked in the fields. But her arms weren't big enough to carry them all. So she ran beside George with her throat caught with tears, trying not cry because crying didn't help. It never did. George decided they had gone far enough from hearing distance and his hoarse voice cried out to the trees.

"Hello!? Hello!? We won't hurt you!"Silence.

"Let me try." Clementine said, patting George on the back. "Hello? My name's Clementine. I was a slave! We're to help you!" The plea echoed and fell again. George began to grow impatient, the darkness enveloping them and the woods becoming a wall of black.

"We don't have all night Clementine!HELL-" George began to bellow but Clementine wrapped her hand tightly around his mouth. She had heard the slightest snap of a twig. She held George quietly, they could hear their hearts racing. They prayed someone would show themselves.

From a small clearing came a shadowy figure. It's hesitant manner only invited Clementine and she let go of George and slowly approached the figure as more shadows followed. George stumbled around for the damp match in his pocket so he could light the lamp. With a sudden burst of light George fell back at the sight of people surrounding him. "You...you are free?" A woman asked. She was a young woman with a new born baby wrapped around her,suckling her chest. Her beautiful dark skin glowed like embers against the fire light, her eyes filled with suspicion and question.

"Well, not legally, no. But I'm married to the man who freed me." They looked at George and then Clementine, and then at George again. "Oh! No , no, this is not my husband! He's a friend. He's come to help me ... To help you."

"Help you?" She asked, her eyes narrowed as she turned her body towards the trees, clutching her child's head. " You's helping him right? You's just as bad as the dogs he sent on us! Let's go everyone!"

"No, wait! Trust me! This isn't a trap. We have a plan to get you out for good! If you go back in the swamp who knows what'll happen! Half of you won't make It past the winter, and the other half who lives will be fearful of being caught for the rest of their lives. We've got a choice much better than that." The woman didn't soften but she came towards Clementine. She observed her from head to toe, clearly not impressed.

"And please tell me what you know about all of this? Huh? I'm sure you've never picked cotton a day in your life! You's look like you've been working in the house since you's born! We grew up in the swamp and we'll die in the swamp. We'd rather die than go back." Her voice trembled and her eyes showed pain but not fear. She was telling the truth. She was prepared to die.