Faith Unbroken, an Outlander Fanfiction

Saving Grace

The morning came slowly. From the looks of it, Henry didn't sleep either. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy. Annabelle and I fed the home quickly before each person left for their work. Henry was the last to leave. We both gave each other looks. The ones that you can talk with your eyes. It was an understanding between us. We'd protect each other at all costs.

George found me before I had time to begin in the fields. Henry, Annabelle and I were to present ourselves in the house. My stomach turned at the thought. Surely we had been caught the night before. To my surprise, and the others, we were to begin working in the house. George had just lost three of his house workers. All of us received new clothes, clean clothes, and began working on chores to keep the home tidy.

"No, Lord Iverson. I have come for one, I will not be buying more." A familiar voiced echoed from Hugh's office and into the hall.

"Fine, I will bring a few to the early dinner. You may inspect which one you'd like." Hugh grunted.

"Women. I don't need anymore men." The voice stated firmly. It was John Gray's voice. Annabelle nudged me. I resumed my task, cleaning the floors. Was he there to save me? Was he there to buy me.

"What is going on?" Annabelle whispered, getting closer to me as she dusted the pictures.

"That's John Gray. He's a friend." I whispered back, dipping the hard bristled brush back into the basin. Footsteps crossed the floor of the office, drawing closer to the door. Hugh exited first then John. John's gaze drifted down to me. When I opened my mouth to speak, he shook his head no and continued to follow Hugh.

The day passed without another interaction between John and I. George ordered Anna and I to the dinning room to assist with dinner. Henry also stood in the corner serving. John sat on one end with Hugh on the other.

"George, bring them in." He motioned, waving at the door. Five women wobbled in, standing next to the table in a row. John's eyes gazed over each one before he turned to look at me. My eyes darted to Annabelle and Henry.

"I want these two." John pointed to Annabelle and Henry. "And that one." He pointed to me.

"They aren't for say, Lord Gray." Hugh scoffed, slurping his whiskey.

"I have a reputation to uphold. I can't have worn out slaves. These women have scars littering their body. Like I said, I want these three." John's face didn't waiver. It was firm, solid, determined.

"Fifty."

"Thirty."

"Fifty. That ones pregnant." Hugh motioned to me.

"Thirty-five. If she's pregnant, it means she will be in labor for who knows how long. If she survives labor, I will be without a slave for days. The babe won't even be of working age for years." Iverson was mentally debating John's words.

"Thirty-five then." Iverson motioned to George who took the money from Gray. "You may take them in the morning." He grunted, dismissing the others around. John's eyes shifted to me for a moment. I looked towards Annabelle who carefully covered a smile.

Once dinner was over and cleaned up, Annabelle and Henry disappeared back to our home. I waited for George to also leave before sneaking up the back stairs. I carried clean sheets in case anyone stopped me. Once I found John's room, I lightly tapped on the door. He opened it, taken aback by my presence before gripping my arm and yanking me inside.

"You cannot be here, Faith. You are going to ruin this." He spat in hushed tones. My arms wrapped around his neck tightly.

"Thank you." I whispered. His arms surrounded me tightly.

"You need to leave before we are caught. This will all be for nothing." He whispered, brushing my hair with one hand before releasing me. I nodded, scooping the clean sheets from the floor. "We will depart very early. Be sure you are ready." He whispered, checking the hall before ushering me out.

Something came over me. A false sense of safety now that Gray had come to collect me or a general uncaring feeling of my life. But in that moment, I knew what I had to do. It was time for me to kill the demon that haunted my dreams. The one who took me away from the family I'd longed for and the new one I was given in this estate. He was the reason I lost my first child. He was the reason I wept at night. Why my skin crawled and I hated everything about myself.

I hurried down to the kitchen, finding a knife. I navigated the dark hallways towards the master bedroom. Hugh was sure to be passed out from all the drinking at dinner. I cracked the door slowly, watching to see if he was in fact asleep. His fat belly rose and fell slowly. I crept in as quietly as my shoes would allow. I placed a pillow firmly over his face. He began to thrash around under my grasp. The intense anger in my chest gave me the strength I needed.

"Fuck you, pig." I whispered, plunging the knife deep into his chest. His body stopped moving within seconds. I climbed off of him and slipped the knife under his body. From there, I replaced the pillows how they were and covered his body with the copious amounts of blankets. I needed him to look asleep as long as possible so we wouldn't be stopped in the morning. I brushed my fingers over his open eyes to shut them. Inspecting my work, I slipped back out of the room and out of the big house. No one stopped me on my way to my own home.

Once inside the safety of the hut, I slid down against the wall, pulling my knees to a bend.

"Faith, where were you?" Annabelle whispered. Her and Henry were standing in the tiny kitchen waiting for me.

"Iverson is dead." I mumbled.

"What?" Henry scowled.

"I killed him. This is his blood." I held up my hands to the dimly lit candle. Annabelle quickly began wiping my hands with a wet cloth, trying to erase the sin I had just committed.

"God save us. Faith, you're going to get us killed." She snapped.

"They won't notice until we're gone." I mumbled. "I made it look like he was sleeping."

"Damnit, girl." Henry spat.

"I had to. He needed to die by my hand." I groaned, pushing off the ground.

"Come. Let me redress your wounds. We need to pack and leave as soon as Lord Gray is ready." Annabelle ordered. While she dressed my back, I told her and Henry who John was to me. They were thankful for the small kindness he offered them.

Annabelle and I slept in the same bed that night. She was scared someone would check in on Hugh and we'd be caught. To her surprise, morning came and George fetched us. Henry grabbed our bags and led us to the wagon where he tossed the bags in and helped Anna and I in.

"Thank you. Now I owe you twice." Henry grunted, resting against the side of the wagon.

"Twice?" I asked, perking an eyebrow.

"That girl that was beaten last time you came here. The one you saved from master Charles." He explained, "That's my sister." He smiled.

"Oh, where is she now?"

"A new estate down the road. That house is much nicer than Greenbriar. She's happy there." Henry was a handsome man. His skin was darker than Annabelle's. His eyes were bright, golden brown. His smile was almost perfect. Even his face was unblemished after years under the Iverson's.

"We are even, Henry. We owe each other nothing but friendship." I patted his hand lightly.

John didn't say anything to me before he climbed onto the front of the wagon and pushed the horse to go. For miles, we rode in silence. At some point in the ride, Annabelle let me sleep on her. My back stung against the hay that lined the wagon. Slowly the sun above me slipped away into darkness. I was safe. My body could finally relax as we left the horror.