A Slave's Freedom

Today is the day when I deliver my Master's letter. He lives down a ways from where our farm is at. Thankfully, my Master told me the route where it is the safest and most unused.

"Son," my Master says. "Don't forget your satchel!"

I turn to see him waving the satchel in his hand. Without much thought, I run to him, grab it, and hoist it over my shoulder. He eyes me up and down to make sure I am ready for my journey.

"Boy, if you weren't some lowly nigger," he says as he helps secure my satchel around my arm. "I would have you as my son."

I smile brightly at him and nod.

He pats me on the shoulder. "Now get goin', you're burnin' daylight."

I nod and begin to turn away before I feel a hand grab my shoulder.

"And remember, don't talk to nobody..." I hear him say, before releasing his grip on me and shutting the door.

I sigh and step off the white porch. There was much to be done, and if I was to time this right, I must be careful and aware. My Master wants it to be there by sunset, and he will make sure of it.

I shake my head and sprint down the road.

I will not let him down; my entire life is at stake.

The sun is high and hot, burning the road in front of me. The dirt on my feet burns, as if I was walking on the hottest of coals. Thankfully I won't be walking on it for much longer, the intersection supposedly to my right should be near...

"Hey Mr. R——*"

I quickly shuffle my way into a nearby cornfield, bend down, and peer a bit of my head out to see two white men talking by a large oak tree.

"Good Morning, Mr. Stockton!" the other man replies, his brown stetson resting on his head, covering most of his jet black hair. "How has the yield been?"

Mr. Stockton tilts his black stetson to the right, and wipes the sweat off his forehead. He leans on the nearby tree and kicks up some dust with his black boot. His hand returns to his side and rests it gently on his brown belt, while the other reaches for his lighter and brown cigar. Carefully, the man places the cigar in his mouth and lights it.

"It's been good," Mr. Stockton began, taking a small puff. "Cotton production has been up."

"Really?" the other man says. "What about corn?"

Mr. Stockton sighs. "Corn's been a bit... grim."

"Grim?"

I watch as the two men gaze at the cornfields, including the one I was in. "Unless I get them in line," Mr. Stockton begins with a frown. "I don't think it'll get any better."

I see the other man frown too. "If you need 'em to get in line, I can bring ova him."

Mr. Stockton smiles. "Will ya?"

The man nods. "Meet ya on the front?"

Mr. Stockton puts his hand out. "You got yourself a deal."

The two men shake hands, before they say their goodbyes and separate. Mr. Stockton is walking towards me, I have to hide!

I quickly hide in the cornfields, and wait for him to pass. I see his boots and sharp spurs, clinging against one another as he walked. Once he passed, I sigh and move out of my hiding place and onto the path. The adrenalin that coursed through my veins when he was walking towards me; he must've seen me. There is no way he couldn't have...

I wipe the sweat off my brows and continue walking towards the intersection. Finally! I am only half way from getting to meet my Master's dear friend! I smile and sprint down the path.

"So...? What happened next?" Rainbow Dash says, her muzzle right next to my ear.

I sigh. "I met 'em."

"And...?"

I frown. "Mr. Stockton probably wasn't wantin' me to see him beatin' 'em down..."

I walk up to the blue house, its large, white porch almost identical to my Master's. The light outside flickered on and off, and the windows were shut. I smile as I knock on the door. I can't wait to meet him.

Inside, I hear someone. He is angry, *very** angry.*

"Do you fucking understand me!" the masculine voice shouts.

A sudden cracking noise echoes loudly in my ears. A painful whimpering follows suit.

"So, you want to cry?" he growls. "Then cry in the fields!"

Another loud crack.

I knock again.

"Who is at my fucking door at this hour?"

I hear his boots colliding with the floor.

"Somebody coming on by while I deal with—"

He opens it.

"Her...?"

I stand frozen as he eyes me up and down. The same black stetson rests gently on his head, his black boots and spurs still clink together even while he stands still; and his blue eyes peer at me, reminding me of my Master.

"You're that nigger I saw in the fields."

My eyes widen. "I-uh..."

He grabs me by my shirt. "You a stray?"

"No!" I gasp and shakily reach for my satchel.

He shoves me to the ground and pulls out his revolver. "What're reachin' for?"

"A l-letter!" I gasp. My heart is beating fast, my mind is running laps around the fields, and my legs are locked in place; I don't know if he will shoot me. He has it aimed at me.

He lowers his aim. "A letter, ya say?" He puts the gun in his holster. "From who?"

I promptly stand up and pull out the letter from my worn, torn satchel. "My Master, Mr. E——."

"So he sent ye?" the man says as he snatches it from my grasp. With a wicked grin, he opens it and reads it. As he reads, the grin disappears from his face and so does his color, fizzling into grey. "I..." he mutters, before putting his hand out towards mine. "He did sent ye..."

The sudden emotional switch is something I did not expect. I grab his hand and firmly shake it. "Yes, sir."

The man shakes mine firmly. "This is the only time ya get it."

I nod.

"Would ya like to come on in for a moment?" He gazes at the letter. "Ya Master says to give ya some water and food for your walk back..."

The man grumbles and turns away from me. "Take a seat on that chair," he says while pointing at a small rocking chair by the window. "And don't you move none."

I nod and take a seat on his chair. While I sit, I think about my Master. How proud would he be if he knew of what I have done? My family is saved and so will I! Maybe he will give them a break? Momma don't got much time left, and Papa is worried about her. She...

"I thought I told you to work in the fields!" the familiar voice bellows.

I hear another whimper.

"Do you want to meet him again?"

"N-n-noo!" a feminine tone shrieks.

I hear the sounds of struggle come from the room beside me. She cries for help, but the boots and sounds of agony overshadow her. I hear her though, her sweet sound of melody; yet I sit here, obeying my Master's friend. Should I move?

He told me not to.

Yet, I am curious, maybe...

I get up, the chair creaking as I move. I tiptoe over to the room, and peak around the corner. There lies a girl, black as me. She sits there naked, lacerations on her back. Long, thin wounds, puss out of every one. Dried up blood on the brown chair, and a friend whose leather duster wore red. I quickly tiptoe back, hoping he did not see me, but I hear him, shouting at her more for my curiosity. She shouts and lets out a sob.

I cry with her, finally realizing who he is too.

Rainbow Dash nuzzles me, tears streaming down her cheeks. I cry with her; knowing that there is blood on my hands too. Maybe, maybe I'll find that woman again? Who knows, my Master isn't here.

"Did... did she die?" Rainbow asks in a deathly whisper.

I shrug. "I don't know."

The mare quietly gets up on her hooves. "Come on, Dyson. We gotta get out of here."

I nod. "Better late than never."

She didn't laugh.