Ignorance

2

I kneeled by the door waiting for Master Glendale to arrive home. I had cleaned the debris of broken bottles of ale. Aired out the house of heavy perfume from his last conquest.

I hoped he was in a good enough mood, I hadn't had anything to eat or drink for days. Hearing his footsteps on the steps, they sounded light and happy. The door swung opened, inches from hitting me. Master Glendale hummed as he looked around before going outside to check on the pigs.

Hearing him come back in, I felt his big hand pat my head. I bowed my head as I smiled a little. "Open your mouth. I'm feeling generous today." He said as he grabbed my jaw. Opening my jaw, I felt his manhood on my tongue. "Suck." He demanded. Closing my lips around his shaft, I bob my head on him. Taking him deep in my throat, tongue licking the underside of his manhood. His grunts were the only thing that could be heard and my slight gag.

He reached his climax "Swallow it whore." He groaned. The substance went down my throat with ease. Master walked deeper into the house before walking towards me again. "Hold out your hands girl." He said firmly. Holding out my cupped hands, I feel two slices of bread being placed in them.

Slowly I eat the bread, not caring that it was moldy. I should be ashamed. I had done such a sinful act for two pieces of bread. But I had no shame, for I was but a slave.

I had no shame. My integrity had been trampled. My self respect all but forgotten. I never had any dignity. The only thing I had was my name.

***

The evening carried on in quiet. I was once again sitting on the floor, my leash tethered to the hook above me. My ears strained to hear anything in the quiet house. Hearing someone walking towards me I turn my head. "I will be away on business for a week girl. I will depart tomorrow morning at dawn. You will stay here. If I find out you misbehaved, the punishment will be severe. " Master says to me his breath rank with ale. He leaned grabbing my collar tugging me to him. "If I find out you ran away, I will catch you and you'll end up just like your brother."

"Yes Master." I said before bowing my head. Sensing him walking away before the sound of the door opening and closing. Probably going to frequent one of the pubs.

I could hear the croak of the floorboards shift under my weight.  Leaning my head back against the wall I go to sleep.

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"Wake up child. Wake up." I hear making me look up seeing my mother and brother standing in front of me. There clothes tattered, skin covered in dirt and hand calloused.

My dreams was the only place I could see. I couldn't quite remember their faces so all I saw were their bodies. "Yes mother." I say softly. "You must run away from that man. He will ultimately kill you and skin you for your hide." Mother warned. "But where would I go? I am blind." I said looking down.

"Use your instincts child. Look at you. Skin and bones, your back is raw with cuts from his whip. He forces you to do...acts just for meager food. You have to run and live. Experience freedom for your brother and I." Mother said speaking in hushed whispers.

"But..." I stuttered. "Do you remember the stories I use to tell you and your brother? About shapeshifters and magic." She said. "They were just stories." I muttered.

"It's the truth! I seen a mermaid before when I was but a child. It had beautiful scales that glistened in the sun. They sung songs, luring sailors to their death." Mother said. "There is a world out there that we have not discovered. Don't be like us and burned before you can see it." Brother said parts of his skin resembling  grilled meat. His skin was falling off his limbs, the putrid smell of flesh burning fresh in my mind. The sound of his terrified screams filled my ears.

Flinching away, I look at mother seeing the deep cut around her arms and legs. "Do you want to tied to a hook for the rest of your life like beast of burden?" Mother asked me with a disapproving look on her face. "No. But what choice do I have. I am blind, with nowhere to go. I long for a taste of freedom but I can't see what's in front of me!" I shouted at her translucent tears pouring down my face. "You may be blind my child. But let your heart see for itself. This is not a life I would wish upon anyone. Especially not my own. Have faith my child, let your mind be free of any stress, your heart free of any burden." Mother said. Her and my brother faded away leaving me with a choice.

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Startled awake, I realized a bucket of cold water was thrown on top of my person. "Wake up you wretch!" Master Glendale yelled as he stomped on my back tearing my skin once more. "Come on! Stand!" he yelled. His voice making me shiver with fear. He yanked my leash from the hook before dragging me outside. The smell of pigs and manure stinging at my nose. Once again I felt my leash being tethered to the fencing post, before his footsteps walked away. The sound of a door slamming shut. 

I sat in the mud with the pigs thinking of my dream. Here I was sitting among pigs. But didn't I deserve more than this? Was there really a whole world out there? Holding beings I only dreamt of. Before I knew it, I felt for the piece of glass that I kept in my pouch. Slicing the leash away from collar. I didn't stop to think of what I had done, as my legs carried me swiftly out of the pig sty. Away from the sounds of the village, away from where Master had killed my brother, away from the house of torture. 

I noticed as soon as my feet hit dirt. Fertile dirt. It was squishy beneath my toes, almost as if no one has ever walked here. I kept running as I marveled about my new surroundings. The smell of manure like a distant dream as the smell of a forest attacked me. I was free.