The Slave Game

Chapter Seven: Peasants and Kings

Chapter Seven: Peasants and Kings

My dad had helped me to my feet and shooed everyone away. They went back to their usual business, but still eyed me. I was at a loss for words. I couldn't believe my eyes. My father was standing here before me, in torn and tattered cloth that barely qualified for clothing, but he was here and alive. He smiled at me with his face, but his eyes held sorrow.
"Kyle...I can't believe you're here..."He said gently.
I rushed forward and embraced my father in a hug. I wanted to cry like a child. For a brief moment I just forgot all about what was going on and where we were. This was all I had wanted for so long, to be with my father again.
"How did you get here?" He asked as we separated.
Anger flushed through me as I remembered what had happened. "Some asshole tricked me into coming here. Said you were leading some rebellion to fight for freedom. Can't believe I bought it."
He shook his head in sorrow. "I never wanted you here. Where were you? What happened after that day?" He paused. "I'm sorry. We should go talk somewhere else. Follow me."
I followed close behind my dad like I did as a child as he led us through the street of slaves. They were all welding metal pieces together, fastening rope harnesses, or tending to hurt slaves on makeshift gurneys. They all wore clothing similar to my dad's. They eyed me as the new blood walked among their numbers and past all their makeshift tents. Most of the buildings we walked by were destroyed, but some slaves seemed able to go in and out of a few.
We entered what appeared to be an old auto shop. The large garage door had been pried off and replaced by a pallet of wood. My dad slid the wood aside, revealing the interior. Any tools that would have been in a gear head's shop like this appeared to have already been taken out by looters many years ago, or the slaves to help work on the wall; I would never know. A makeshift table put together by scrap wood sat in the middle. There was a counter and empty tool rack to the right of the shop. A door in the back led somewhere behind the building. There didn't seem to be any stools or things to sit on, so we both stood around the table.
My foot kicked something under the table. I peered under to see a rug. It was tattered and disgusting, but it was nice to see some sort of homey decor. I shrugged and payed it no further thought.
My father got right to business. "So... what happened? After that day?"
I paused as flashbacks of that terrible time came back to me. The waiting. The hunger. The fear. All of it. It just rushed me as I recalled the most traumatic time of my life.
I gulped down the feelings and spoke. "I waited at the spot... for almost a week. I'd lay by the water throughout the day, and sit in a tree at night. I waited, not wanting to leave in case you made it."
He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "Kyle, I'm so sorry. If I had known something like that would happen, I'd have done something different. What happened after that?"
"I walked. I walked until nightfall and the Bogs almost got me." I had a feeling of relief flood through me as I thought of something good. "Then Jed came to my rescue. He brought me to a town. It was small, very under protected, something kept the Bogs away."
"Did you stay there or keep moving around?" Dad questioned further.
I paused, thinking of how to say the next part. I know my dad would have never wanted me to search for him, but if I told him I'd just given up on him... well... no one wants to hear that. "I stayed, knowing it's what you would have wanted for me." I instinctively reached into my pocket and my heart skipped a beat as I realized the slavers hadn't searched them. My ring was still there. "And I met a girl." I said.
My father had a sad happiness in his eyes. He didn't say anything for a minute. He just thought of what I told him.
"What's her name?" He finally asked.
"Mira." I replied. "You'd like her. She's strong, kind, beautiful..." I trailed off as I thought of Mira. Would I ever see her again?
"I would like to meet her." My dad commented.
"Well, you can once I get you out of here and to safety." I said, moving on to more pressing matters.
My dad's face went very sad and serious. "I can't leave, Kyle. Not now. Not after all we've been preparing for."
"So there is a resistance effort?" I questioned.
I guess Asher wasn't too far off.

Asher sat on his own mattress in his room. The old thing always felt amazing when he got back from a trip. It was one thing he'd miss if this place fell. He stared at his ceiling, thinking, now that he had the time.
He'd gotten Kyle here. The first part of the plan was done. Kyle would be very important later on. He just had to stay alive. After the stunt Asher pulled to get Kyle in, there would be very little trust from his end.
That didn't matter. Asher wasn't looking for a new best friend.
A knock sounded on his door and a girl walked in. Rose. She smiled at Asher in her confident way. He got up and sat on the side of his bed.
"Rose." Asher greeted.
"Asher. You didn't say good bye last time you left." She said with mock hurt in her voice.
"I was in a hurry." He replied.
She sat next to him, setting her machete on floor. "When aren't you in a hurry?"
Asher and Rose had a thing over the years. She took a strong liking to him, but Asher knew what she was. A killer. A monster. She thought they had that in common, and felt some sort of "bond." A bond that was not shared. Asher stayed close to her to gain trust.
She wrapped her arms around him. "You need to slow down sometimes."
Once this was finished... then he could slow down.