Wings of Freedom

Truly Safe?

It took me a good twenty minutes to build up the courage to walk up the stairs and follow Mr. Jag into the mansion. Once again I was frozen in my place at the huge contrast from the outside. The only color I saw at first was light brown. I could not seem to wrap my mind around how the outside was filled with such a variety of color to go to a light brown.

I was not sure if I was safe now a part me figured that if I was in a greater danger it may lead to death. That was a much better option then living.

"Well Wynter, how do you like your new home? You are free to go anywhere you like. My only request is if you decide to go into town allow my driver to get you there," said Mr. Jag

"Sir, I am not sure I understand what you're saying. My name is lot 268793 unless you want it be Winter. What should I do first?" I asked softly

I watched as his smile seemed to disappear right in front of me. I had a feeling that I had crossed over a forbidden line between slave and owner. Without truly realizing it I braced myself to get a beating, instead I heard a strange sounding laugh. I allowed my eyes to open a bit to see what he could possibly be laughing at.

I watched as he simply shook his head at my comment. I wasn't' sure what to say or do so instead I choice to stand there with my eyes casted downward waiting to be told what to do next.

"If you would not mind following me I will show you to the room you will be staying in," Mr. Jag said

I was not sure if it was truly safe to follow Mr. Jag, however I was not sure I had any choice in the matter. I followed down a long hallway to the room that was my while I stayed here. He opened the door and stepped aside.

"This is your room that you will be staying in for now. A young lady will come find you when dinner is ready. I have some work that I have to do before dinner. You are free to do as you please," said Mr. Jag

I watched as he disappeared down the hallway. When I could no longer see him I took a peek into the room and saw it was a very plain looking room which I didn't shock me. Since I was told what to do I figured that would walk the grounds.

Twenty minutes later I somehow managed to find my way into the beautiful garden area. I sat down on a nearby bench and just allowed myself to take in everything around me. I felt a powerful inner peace that I could handle anything Mr. Jag could dish out.

"Hello Wynter, my name is Rox. I was sent to find you. Its dinner time and Mr. Jagger is waiting for you in the dining room. Please follow me," said Rox said softly

I slowly got off the bench and followed Rox back into the house on very unsteady feet. It seemed to take forever before we finally made it into the dining room and sure enough when we finally reach the dining room Mr. Jag was waiting for me. Even though Mr. Jag had let me know that I was didn't have anything to worry about, but deep down I wondered if I was truly safe.

I took a seat a bit worried and unsure what I was supposed to do. I watched as Rox disappeared. I felt a huge knot form in my stomach on the off chance I was in trouble for wondering off. A good twenty minutes all we sat in was pure silence. Just as I thought I might need to break the silence Rox came back into the room pushing a cart full of food.

"Thank you Rox, could you please ask the other workers if they would join us. If it would not be too much trouble I would like you to join us. I believe it would make Wynter feel more comfortable," said Mr. Jag

I watched as Rox disappeared once again. I had this gut feeling that this was all a simple game to him and it was just a matter of time before everything else fall into line.

Ten minutes later Rox came back in with a young boy that looked to be no older than fifteen years of age. The knot I felt in the pit of my stomach seemed to keep growing. I couldn't and refused to understand how this man could live with himself while having a young boy attend to his every need, want and desire. I watched as everyone put food on their plates and simply as if they were one big happy family. All I could really do was sit there completely still and wonder what was truly going on.

"Well Luke, I say you are on the right path to start healing mentally. You have reached out to your wife. Now the big question is are you ready to die as Luke and continue your way as Mitch and return to you wife?" asked Mr. Jag

When I heard that he was going to kill Luke I jump up and ran away from the dining room. I had known something was off in the pit of my stomach and now I knew why. I found my way back to the garden and just allowed the peace to wash over me. I am not sure how long I sat there just simply listening to all the noises around me. Hoping to find some form of inner strength that I might be able to call upon.

I jumped a bit when I heard someone walking into the garden. At first I figured that it had to be Mr. Jag, but instead it was Rox. She came and sat down next to me without saying a word. We sat there just listening to nature for a while.

"I know that you don't know me, Luke or Mr. Jagger. Yet I can say that Mr. Jag has saved many before Luke and I from a terrible fate. I was given to Mr. Jag as payment for his help to keep my last master's business a float. I was not in great shape when Mr. Jag got me, but I owe my life to him. I am not asking you to believe me cause you might not. What I am asking is give Mr. Jag a chance," said Rox "Luke's real name is Mitch and he will be safe. If you have question don't be afraid to ask."

Rox got up after that and left me to my own thoughts once again. I was not sure what I should believe. Could Mr. Jagger be as great as Rox was making him out to be? Was it a lie to throw me off what was really going on? The biggest question is was I willing to find out.

I had to have sat in the garden for two hours before I finally dragged myself back into the mansion and straight to the room I would be staying in for now. When I got to the door Luke hand me a letter and left. I opened the door with Mith's letter in my hand. I wasn't sure why he had given me a letter. I felt as there was nothing else I could do, but read it.

Wynter, I understand that you have no reason to trust or even believe which I don't blame you. What I am about to tell you is my own personal horror I went through before Mr. Jag saved me. I was taken from my wife six years after we got married. I was beaten to inch of my life many times. After four months of being degraded, beat, sexual assaulted, and many unpleasant treatment I thought I was better off dead. I wasn't even sure I would see my wife again, I started to pray that she believed that I was dead and move on with her life. It took Mr. Jag six months to gain even an ounce of my trust. It was at that point that I slowly started to give him information of my past life that I though was gone forever. I have been with Mr. Jag for three almost four years. He helped me reconnect with my humanity again. I knew that at some point that I would be sent back to my wife. At first that thought scared me greatly simple because I was afraid that I would have nothing to return to. I was wrong, Mr. Jag talked me into calling my wife. Sure enough when I called my wife I found out that she hadn't moved on. That she held out hope that I was alive and that I would come home. That until they found my body there would always be hope for me. I talked to Mr. Jag for a few weeks on if it would be wise for me to return home and if I was to return home would it be safe for my wife. It was then that he told me on how my wife and I would be safe. Now in less than a week I will be going back to my wife and start my life with her once again. Please know that Mr. Jag is someone who can be trusted and knows what he is doing. This is not his first time and will not be his last. Give him time and you will see what he is doing is good. Just trust him. Mitch

Now I wasn't sure what to believe at this point. I want to go with my own thoughts, which were telling me to avoid anything positive said about Mr. Jag. Yet my gut was agreeing with what Mitch's letter was telling me. Now I was not only confused and unsure I felt that I needed to do some digging on my own to find out what truth was and what was fiction.

All I needed to do was find a way to start digging. I had no outside resources; however I wasn't sure if outside resources could be trusted even if I had them. That only left really only one option and that was Mr. Jag himself.

All I could do was hope I would be able to separate the truth from lies. What would I have to trade in order to get the information? Would it be worth the cost? I didn't know, was not sure I wanted to know. Nevertheless I want, no needed answers. That meant I would need to pay the price.