*Part One*
I stare out across the ocean. The sun sets over the water in several golden colors. They begin to fade as the dark clouds role in. I shiver in the cold breeze, but also from terror. My mind has always been a bit out of place, but lately it's only gotten worse. Every other child slave has already been struck with depression, but it hasn't truly hit me until now. When I was younger I wasn't so open minded and just went along with the rest of the slaves and thought life was supposed to be like this. I've finally begun to realize that something isn't right. Ever since Rovella told me why we were all truly here last month, I've been more down than most people around here, and everyone knows that's unusual. The government took all of us away. Even worse, they didn't even "buy" us. She overheard them using the word "kidnap." That's apparently a huge secret to us slaves. They had told us that our parents were given thousands of dollars for their child, and that we were to be treated very well by the Masters and Mothers that run the program. And now Rovella is gone. She turned eighteen last week, so she was set free.
My thoughts are disturbed by a shock that goes through my head. Its been bothering me all day, probably the thirtieth time its happened. I wrap my arms around my throbbing head and wince, probably louder than I should.
I go on crying for a few minutes when I am startled by someone walking behind me. My arm immediately meets my face in an effort to wipe away my tears. I turn back and look up at Darrel, a sixteen year old slave who also happens to be my cousin. He stares at me and seems to be disappointed about something, and that's probably me. I love him, but he acts like he's my dad sometimes. Even though he's only three years older than me.
He sighs and stops to lean against a tree. "You really shouldn't be here." the tall, strong man says. I frown and bury my face in my hands. My eyes begin to burn as I try to keep myself from crying, but I still sniffle. "I know." I say in a low, guilty voice. I let out a sigh too and wait for a response. Finally he speaks up.
"Look, if you get caught slacking off again, this time you better tell them its not my fault. I know you're upset and all, but the rest of us are too. You don't see us sneaking out like this." he says. My heart sinks. I know I'm being a baby, but I've been strong long enough... longer than anyone else around here has. Its about time I finally let go. I'm just done with the abuse around here, and so is everyone else. Even the Masters and Mothers of the whole child slavery unit. That's why I don't understand... If everyone is so tired of this nonsense, why hasn't anyone done anything about it?
I wipe my eyes again and clear my throat. "Fine. I don't even care if they wind up whipping me again. I probably deserve it anyways." I respond. The sky turns darker and the air fills with fog and mist. Without saying a word, Darrel makes his way through the woods and back to the Lot.
A flashback from two days ago goes through my mind. Master Shollio locked my wrists and ankles around chains and whipped me right across my back. I run my fingers over the burn on my spine and begin crying a bit harder. I'm sick of living like this. I try to remember what my parents were like back at home... a long time ago when I was only four years old. My mom had been pregnant with her second child when I was taken away by Master Fallon, and my dad was terribly sick in the hospital. I never got to meet my baby sister, and I never got to find out if my dad would survive the sickness he had been stricken with about two weeks prior. For all I know, he could have died years ago.
I nearly jump into the ocean after being so startled by the hand that grabs my shoulder. "Not this again!" Master Shollio exclaims. I begin to hyperventilate and sob as he forces me closer to him and pulls me through the forest. "No! No!" I yell. I try escaping many times, but realize its useless. Master Shollio is too strong for me. His bony hands grip my arms tight and yank me around. I begin to think about what Darrel had told me earlier. 'Look, if you get caught slacking off again, this time you better tell them its not my fault.' he had told me. So now he isn't here to save me and I'm all on my own.
My body turns numb and I stop crying. I've realized that I shouldn't be whining about something like this... I know several child slaves that get whipped almost every day. Its time to stop taking the abuse. I've got nothing to live for, anyway. Or at least not for another five years or so.
Master Shollio pulls me through the Lot full of other child slaves that are actually working. Some begin sorting out different stones to be bagged and sold for construction, others were told to manage chores like filling in potholes in the parking lot at the southern side of the lot. Many begin to stare at me as I'm pulled up the steps that lead to the whipping post. Unlike yesterday, I'm not embarrassed, or even crying like most child soldiers. I walk right up to the post myself. It begins to rain harder and sky turns darker. Master Shollio stands there starring at me in disbelief, along with almost all of the other child soldiers working below.
I look at him with fierce eyes. "Go on, lock the chains." I say. Moments pass, and the lot begins to turn silent. He still seems puzzled. I continue looking into his eyes. "Go on. Whip me, just like the way you did yesterday. Hit me harder than you hit the prisoners. I don't even care what you do to me anymore." he stands there, bloody whip in hand. "Everyone else goes through this pathetic abuse, so why shouldn't I have to?"
Everyone else stops working and doesn't say a word. Its because I've spoken for all of them, even the thousands of slaves that had been here before us and the others that serve in the other two failing countries: Priston and Danovak.
Master Shollio has given up with me and throws the whip down below over the other child soldiers. He reaches into the pocket of his cloak and pulls out a gun. A few people gasp, but I still don't dare to move an inch. Maybe I truly do deserve it. At this rate, I'll probably end up trying to kill myself in a few months anyway.
"Mel!" I hear someone yell out. I look down and watch as my friend Anntonette and Darrel run across the lot.
"If you pull that trigger, I'll have this place under flames before you can yell for the other Masters!" Darrel yells.
My eyes widen as I watch Master Shollio turn the gun to my raging cousin. A few child soldier begin running off or let out strange cries. A long pause goes on as Darrel stares at the weapon pointing at him. I decide its time to put an end to this mess.
"You'd never pull that trigger on him. You know that King Richard would have your head for shooting a so-called "worker" that definitely costed this kingdom a "fortune"- just like the rest of us did." I say.
Master Shollio had no way to respond to that. I've just given way the Zartan government's biggest secret to hundred of their slaves.
Master Shollio looks back at me, gun still up facing Darrel. My fellow slaves are stunned, and begin rioting.
While still staring into my eyes, Master Shollio pulls the trigger and shoots Darrel right in the head, leaving him falling backwards into the lot.
Dead.
