1794 (A Frazel AU)

Hazel

"Mama!", Hazel yelled as she dragged the heavy basket of tobacco behind her. She heaved softly, not wanting the slave drivers to hear, incase she got a whipping. She stumbled on the hem of her old, battered dress that was several sizes to large. "Mama! Da toba'co!'

She was in the fields of the Pluto plantation, and the heat was killer. The sun beat on the slaves as they worked tirelessly without pay and the white slave drivers walked around, keeping an eye on the working blacks who were harvesting tobacco.

Marie looked up at her. " 'Azel come quick."

Her daughter hurried over. "Yes Mama?"

"Look,", Marie pointed in the bush. A small white rabbit was rustling through it, trying to find food in all the tobacco. It was very cute and it's pink nose twitched as it sniffed the air. Suddenly startled, it ran away as a slave driver yelled, "MOVE N*****S!"

Marie's back was hit with a raw hide whip three times, followed by Hazel who got four. Her back stung and was probably bleeding as she quickly stood back up and continued her chores with little complaining, lest she get more beatings. "Back to work!" 

All the slaves in the field who was watching went back to work in half a second. They picked the tobacco and carried it to the barn, past the main house. Hazel hurried behind them.

The main house was two stories tall, completely white and made of wood. The barn was beyond that, was one and a half stories high and also made of wood. As the slaves walked closer to the barn, they tensed, with reason. The master, Pluto, was there at the barn, and while all the other workers were scared, Hazel was downright mad.

Pluto was one of the masters that used slaves for pleasure, Marie being one of them. And Hazel was his child, making her a maltose. But the society she lived in didn't care about her family, just her skin. And her skin said 'I'm not human' apparently.

She passed him head forward as he watched her carefully. "Hazel, come here."

As much as she wanted to ignore him, she didn't want another whipping so she went up to him. "Yes master?"

"You seem old enough to carry children, how old are you?", asked Pluto.

Hazel swallowed hard. "Fourteen sir."

Pluto smirked. "You're good for childbearing. I'll set you up with Johnny tonight."

Hazel drew in a breath. "Yes sir."

"Good, now off you go." As Hazel turned to leave Pluto spanked her and smirked. "Very good."

She shuddered but continued walking with her basket. She knew the cost of having children and didn't want any now. But what could she do? Fight the master? And commit suicide in the process.

Hazel dumped the tobacco in the big pile in the barn and was heading back to the field when she caught someone in the corner of her eye. Figuring out who it was, she snuck off to the side and peeped behind the barn.

There she saw her half brother Nico who was getting a little too close to the master of the neighboring plantation's son William Solace. She watched as they flirted a bit and leaned in to kiss. Hazel decided to be a little devious.

"Raa!", she screamed to the top of her lungs, causing Nico to jump back ten feet and William to freeze on the spot. Hazel clutched her stomach in laughter as Nico walked up to her and shove her shoulder playfully. 

"Good heavens Hazel", Nico complained, "You scared the daylights out of me!"

In between breathes she said, "I know, I know, I'm sorry.", she straightened up and looked Nico in the eye. "You must be more careful", she switched her gaze to William. "You can be hanged or burned for this."

"Thank you for your concern, madam", William bowed politely, kissing her hand softly. "Now I have to go." He kissed Nico's hand. "Good bye, Juliet."

"Don't call me Juliet."

"Okay then Sunshine."

"Not that either!"

William walked towards the direction of his plantation and when he was a good ways off Nico turned to Hazel. "What happened today?"

"What do you mean?" She faked innocence.

"I can tell something's bothering you", Nico stepped closer. "Is it Father?"

Hazel was about to tell him, but then she remembered Pluto's words to her, Tell my son anything bad, and I will make you my personal concubine.

"Nothing's wrong", Hazel stepped back, "I have to go."

"Hazel...", but the girl was already gone.

As she walked away she thought hard. What can I do to escape from childbearing?  Then it hit her, I can escape. Escape to Canada and become a runaway. It'll be dangerous but...I refuse to be someone's fool any longer. By tonight I'll be gone.