My Way to Freedom

Chapter 9: The Day of Life or Death

Today was the day. Life or death. Set 250 slaves free or send 250 slaves to their intimate deaths. Ashley was still not going. So either she stayed or somebody takes her with us without my permission-which, by the way, I am TOTALLY fine with as long as I have nothing to do with it. I was nervous. I mean, hands twitching, breaking out in sweats nervous. I had to get it under control.

…………………………………………………..

10 minutes later I was on my way to the manor, when I saw Ashley. She was walking with her friend on her way to work like me. 

“Ash!” I screamed before I could help it. I missed her so much. She started walking faster. WHY! “Ash…” I started, but my words were carried off by the wind.

Work was restless, like always. I went to sleep for a couple hours when Onica told me to. Then it was time. I stopped by the house to grab everything I owned-which wasn't much-and walked to the abandoned field. The only thing in the field was a light house that was timbered every month. There was a lighthouse keeper up there, but we took care of him yesterday. I sat down next to Fox and Katharina and watched as a beautiful thing happened.

The first lighthouse goes out. Screaming. Then 25 slaves running toward the next lighthouse to help the others. The second goes out. More screaming. More people running. 

This goes on until my turn. I got up ran up the stairs and started pouring the water that had been prepared. Once the flames went out I started toward the stairs then stopped short. I saw the face. The evil, grimy face of the slave driver who hates me so much that he nearly killed me. I heard Fox calling me from below telling me everything was ok, but I still couldn't move. I hear the slave driver over and over again in my head “I would have killed you.” I curled up in a ball trying to block it out, but nothing would work. Finally Fox came up and wrapped me in his arms like a child and rocked me back and forth. It was only until I stopped that I realized I had been crying. Fox smoothed the tears off my face and made me get up.

“Hey, it's okay. I've got you. Let's go. Down the stairs and we'll go away ok?”

“No. No. The slave driver's down there. He's gonna get me.” I said, sounding very much like a small child.

“The slave driver is not down there. And if he is I'll beat him up for you.”

I nodded and started walking with him. Once I was down the stairs, my normal self returned to me and we made it about 3 minutes before I stopped Fox again.

He looks at me with those knowing, thoughtful eyes and right then, in front of Katharina, I get on my tippy-toes and kiss him.

An unexplainable warmth entered my body and I was finally at peace with myself. 

Katharina finally had to stop us by saying “Come on you two. We've got an army to conduct.”"

We ended up prying ourselves apart and walking toward our freedom together hand in hand.