Love on the Run [Wattys 2017]

7. Escape

Tonight was the night of Coleman and Delia's escape.

She's been anticipated this night for those two nights and now it's finally here.

She told Emilee in private of what she was planning to do, and she supported her one hundred percent.

Delia offered Emilee to come join them on their escape, but she felt she wasn't ready and would only slow them down

But Delia promised that when she becomes a free woman, she'll come back and get Emilee's freedom.

It was around 10:45 as Delia snuck out of the house and went to the shack where she and Coleman promised to meet

She whispered his name as he was already sitting up and waiting for her, as he came out of the shack.

"You ready?" He asked

"More than ever."

"Let's do this." He said as he tightly grabbed ahold of her hand and quickly sprinted to the other side of the fields, avoiding any holes or bushes.

They got to the edge of the field as the fence was wired up.

Coleman used his strength to bend the wire so they could get through, but Coleman's pant leg had got caught up in the wire and he just tugged at it and it ripped.

They both took out in a heavy sprint as they stayed close to each other and used the stars in the sky as light for them to see

One of the other slaves had overheard Coleman and Delia talking and then them running.

He got up to see where they had went and all he could see was darkness and the stars in the sky.

He left out of the shack and went over to the overseer's housing and repeatedly knocked on the door.
"Why are you out here banging on the door, boy!"

"I'm sorry sir, but I jus seen two slaves escape."

"Escape?! You sure, boy?"

"Yes, I'm sure." He said as the overseer ran out of the door and over into the big house

"Elliot!" He called out as he went upstairs while some of the woman got up from the noise

"Elliot!" He said knocking on his bedroom door

He sleepily opened the door as he yawned and rubbed his face. "What?"

"Two of the slaves escaped." The overseer said as Elliot's eyes shot wide open

"Who?!"

"I don't know, the boy that woke me up said he saw em leave." Elliot quickly put on pair of pants and shoes and made it down stairs as one woman named Lola, was already up and outside

"Did you see who it was that left?" Elliot asked

"No, but it was a girl that came out of the house and the other one was in the shack next to me."

"Delia." He angrily grumbled
"Sick the hounds on em and if you catch em, don't kill em. I want you to bring them back to me, alive."

"You got it."

"You've just earned yourself a hot meal and a day off." Elliot said to the slave as he took the lamp from Lola, walked back into the house and burst into Emilee's room causing her to jump up in fear

"Masta Bradford, what seems to be the trouble?" Emilee said getting out of bed

"Where is she?" He asked with clenched teeth