Southern Helle (An Interracial Romance Story)

Chapter 4

Jennifer’s naked body hung upside down by her thin ankles. A slit in her throat provided what a coroner’s report would tell me. A patch of caked on blood centered on her neck and dripped down her face. Beneath her was a pool of blood that was darkening by the minute. 

I turned away and hurled my lunch onto the grass neighboring the barn. “I told you not to go in there, nigger.” The same guard said. I turned back and gave him a ghastly stare that could’ve stopped his heart if I had the powers.

I wiped the vomit from my mouth with the back of my hand. “You guys could’ve at least taken the body down first.”

“We didn’t know you were coming out so soon. The blood probably isn’t cold yet and Mr. Belle got you cleaning up the blood. It’s not right man.” He replied. I sighed. At least he could show some type of human decency. 

I tried to steady my breathing as I walked into the shed. I think he did this on purpose. He wants to send a message. I don’t know if it’s to me exclusively or if he knows that I will blabber about it to the rest of the house slaves, but this is sick.

I picked up the wet mop and passed it over the blood, making sure to stay a respectable distance away from Jennifer’s body. The white strands of the mop head quickly turned the color of the low-oxygen blood. 

I brought the blood sodden mop out to the grass. I had the honor of wringing out the blood with my bare hands. Oh, joy.

The watery fluid dribbled down from the mop to the grass. I gagged again, but I somehow regained my composure. 

I don’t know why, but I expected the mop’s color to return to the dirty white it was before, but no. It had to stay this hideous burgundy color. 

Anger, and disgust swelled inside me and I dropped the mop. I ran, ran all the way to the river that ended Master Belle’s property. 

I plunged my hands in the water and scrubbed until every trace of blood was off me. I probably took off some skin there too, but all that’s in the show I guess. I threw some water in my mouth to wash out the lingering taste of bile.

I lied down in the overgrown grass and let it engulf me in its world. Grass doesn’t hate because of skin color. Grass doesn’t enslave your whole race and make a war occur because of it. Grass doesn’t make you clean up the blood of one of your friends. No, grass is nice and soft and cuddly. It will never judge. 

I watched the sky. The wind blew the clouds around creating different shapes. Some shaped into horses, others into fish. I was out there so long I didn’t realize I fell asleep until a fat raindrop splatted on my forehead.

My eyes fluttered open as the dark clouds rolled around the sky and rain cascaded down into the soil. The grass stretched up to drink. I ran through the pasture to the back of the house. The sky was starting to rich purples. 

A few guards stood in the back of the house, talking to Master. I started up the steps, but Master stopped me. “Where have you been?” He asked. I turned around and thought of a quick lie.

“Laundry,” I lied. He raised an eyebrow at me.

“We thought you ran away. We were going to send a team to track you down.” He explained.

“Why would I run away from all of this?” I asked gesturing to the house.

“Are you being sarcastic with me?” He questioned. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and watched me intently.

“What does that mean?” I asked. Even though we all know, I know what sarcasm is and how to use it. I also was using it at that moment.

“It’s when—“ He started. “Ugh, never mind, go on inside the house.” He dismissed me.