Fade To White - Sequel to Fade To Black

Runaway

Wesley hadn't eaten in three days. He hadn't made it very far and stayed hidden in the swamp, sleeping in hollow tree trunks and slapping cicadas off his body all through the night. Needless to say he was miserable. He knew that Sara said the world was a dangerous place but so far it was just painfully boring. He didn't have Jackson to talk to or Anna to annoy. He had tried to find his way back to Mr. Johnson's cottage almost everyday but today he finally gave up. He had ventured to the road and it was empty and dead quiet. He had no idea which part of town he was in. He didn't even know what town he was living in before he left. He felt hopeless and hoped someone, anyone, would come by. He waited for hours on the dirt road until he heard what sounded like a stampede of hooves. He peered down the road and saw men wearing blue coats riding horseback coming. He quietly hid behind the brush, deciding he would check them out and see if they would be friendly. 

There were almost a thousand men it seemed. The man in front had shiny pins and tassels hanging off every inch of him, even his glossy black stallion. Wes crept out ever so slowly as hundreds of men passed by, whistling songs he'd never heard, drinking and eating heartily. They looked kind and they had food. They had food, he thought again, and that was good enough for him. When it seemed the last of them were going to pass by he rushed out in front of a horse. It's hind legs went up in fear at the site of the boy.

"Whoa girl, settle! Settle!" The man cooed, stroking the large horse. The only horse Wes had ever seen was Wolf and Wolf had never been this frightened. Wes was taken aback when the man jumped off his horse and approached him. He was a white man, like his father, but was he like the ones Sara told him about? The one's that enslaved boys like him- that even killed boys like him? The man put out a hand and Wesley just stared at him, too scared to move. The man only smiled. "What's your name?"

"Wesley Sawyer." He whimpered.

"Hello Wesley. What are you doing on the side of the road? You wouldn't be running away from someone, would you?"

". . . No?" Wes wasn't sure how to responded but he was sure only honesty would be wise.

"Now, i won't hurt you. You can tell me the truth."

"No, honest. I live on a plantation way back. My father owns it but he went to fight. I ran away but i meant to find my way back." The man was confused by what the boy was telling him. Some of them had held back with him and were gathering around the two.

" What's holding you up? Who's the boy?"

"He says his name is Wesley. That his father owns a plantation not too far back from here."

"Well take him with us. He's gonna starve or somebody else will pick him up and he won't like who." The man said gruffly before riding off ahead.

"Well you don't have to scare the kid." The man mumbled. "Okay well it looks I'm falling behind. I'm not going to tell you to come with me, it's up too you but we can give you a bed and some food and water. You'll be welcome." He let out a hand again and Wes took it with a smile. "Ever been on a horse before?" He asked.

"My father's horse, Wolf. But i haven't ridden him since i was small."

"No problem boy. I'll help you." He grabbed him under the arms and propped him on the horse. Wes took hold of the reigns as the man joined him. He kicked the horse in motion and they slowly joined the group.

"What's your name?" Wes asked.

"Jonah." He replied. He reached into his rucksack and offered the boy a piece of bread and he hungrily took it. Wesley was beginning to think the world Sara had told him about wasn't so bad after all.