Tears flowed down Sheila’s plump cheeks as she gave me the bundle.  It was made up of necessities and mementos that all the girls gifted to remind me of them, my family.  She was dressed for service in revealing clothing but then again, all her clothing was revealing.  Being the same size as me and with her short, brown, spikey hair, she appeared as a fairy.  Many customers liked her child like appearance.  There have been incidences where the customers found me standing next to her and wanted both of us for the evening.  To my family’s gratitude, the owner never allowed it, but these events were an indication that I had to leave.

            I knew I needed to leave.  If I waited one more year the owner would have put watchers on me and would start my education, maybe even do it personally.  Dear lords, not let it be so.  A year after that, a collar would find its way onto my neck and I would start working the family business.

            Luckily, my mother trained me to stay hidden, to blend in, and not stick out in a crowd.  Being special, memorable, or striking would be my doom and her heartache.  She taught me want plants I could use to dye my hair brown without seeming to be dyed.  She showed me how to use clothes to not attract attention in certain groups of people.  Being a boy was not a plus for me.  I was still small for my age and thin. I needed to pretend to be younger than I was on the streets and make myself ugly and dirty.  Mother before she died, told me she wished I never gained her beauty.  But, I did and more.  My hair was completely white and my eyes were almost unique as well.  In a certain light or angle, they appeared to be emeralds.  The rest of the time, brown or tannish.  I have hazel eyes.  Because of her and the rest of my family, the owner and guards never paid attention to me.  But, I was getting too close of age, too close for it to be legal to enslave me.  Anyone under fifteen of age was free, but once fifteen appears, a person could be caught and collared.  My family didn’t want that to happen to me.

            So, on my thirteenth birthday, I found myself standing in a back alley of the only home I known while Sheila pushed the bundle and three silvers into my hand.  She used the excuse to fetch something for a customer, to create the opportunity for my escape.

            Truthfully, I was sceptic.  There was no hope for me to cross to a free country.  I was thirteen and never left the city before for goodness sake.  I held in my skepticism though.  For them, I will try.  For them, I will fight.  They were the only ones to show me love in this wretched city.  What else could I do but try for them?

            “You know what to do?” asked Sheila.  I nodded unable to speak because I knew I would beg her to come with me or allow me to stay.  Neither was an option.

            “Good.  But to be safe, let me repeat.  Avoid guards.  Avoid masters.  In fact, avoid people in general.  Use the river to leave because they watch the exits for little tykes like you.  Once outside the city, walk southwest.  It might take you four months to reach neutral lands but don’t let your guard down. Two more to reach a free country.  Don’t give up.  Avoid towns and cities as much as possible.  Understand?”

            I nodded again.  They all drilled this information into me what seemed like all my life.  They even secretly bought two books on wild plants in untamed areas.  Two books because the first was found and destroyed by one of the guards.

            “She...Sh…Sheila...I...” I barely pushed out of my mouth before she grabbed and hugged me fiercely for the last time.  I wished the others were there but they had to work.  Never rest, always working.  She kissed my forehead one more time, “Go, my Little Wist.  Go,” she cried softly and pushed me deeper into the alley.  Before I knew it, the door to my only home closed leaving me alone.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

            Gathering myself together, I wiped my tears away and settled my bundle on my back.  I decided it was best to be in a crowd for now and not in a creepy alleyway, and took my first step of many.

            The river was disgusting.  All residents dumped their waste into it.  Unfortunately for me, guards were placed upriver so the city could have clean water and I couldn’t find a boat to acquire without being caught.  I undressed and shoved my clothes and boots into my bundle.  Keeping it above my head, I waded in that ghastly water for an hour and more until I couldn’t see the city anymore.  Even though it was a summer night, the river lost any warmth it obtained.  I was chilled to my core when I exited. 

            Not wanting to dirty my clothes, I rubbed down as much as I could with the tall grass nearby.  Throwing on my tunic, trousers, and boots I immediately started walking fast to warm up.  When I found a decent area that was out of sight and away from any roads, I gathered as many dry leaves and grass for bedding.  I used the bundle itself as a blanket.  It was going to be my universal companion on this journey of mine.

            For two weeks, my travel went according to plan.  I scavenge for food constantly.  Roots, herbs, wild fruits and vegetables were abundant since it was summer, but I made sure to gather more than what I needed.  I knew I would need it later either to sell for money or to eat. Water was easily obtained as well.  I avoided the main river because I would never drink from it even if I haven’t drank for two days.  I rather drink what I voided than that river.  It was that disgusting.  The map I had of the region was useful by showing me where other bodies of water could be and the small metal pot I had allowed me to make soup and boil water. 

In truth, it was tranquil.  I didn’t think it would be.  I missed my family.  I wish they were with me and fighting to become free, but that could never happen.  All slave collars have a spell inscribed in them to allow the owner and trackers to find them.  And, you couldn’t pick them because there was no keyhole.  They were welded onto the slave.  Other than missing them, it was peaceful.  No one was trying to force me.  There were no customers paying attention to me or local free boys and city guards forcing me to do something I really don’t want to do such as fetching, carrying or cleaning muck.  I would have been willing to do such tasks, if I got paid. But, they never paid or even given me a treat for the service.  The only thing I got was a slap on the back of the head and a push to get out of their way once I was done.  Outside, I didn’t need to do anything for anyone else.  All I needed to do was scavenge and walk.  Which, now that I think about it, was also what I did in the city too.  I could be myself out here.  That peace was shattered when I encountered her.

            I first heard the cursing and muttering.  Wary, I approached cautiously.  She never noticed me.  I found her leaning against a tree frowning at her ankle.  The dress she wore was ragged and dirty but even as far away as I was, I could tell her stylish dress was made with best cotton and not hemp.  I don’t think her delicate mocha skin could handle such scratchy material.  She wasn’t wearing boots but slippers and they looked torn up already.  Unusable and not helping her feet one bit.  Her long curly black tresses blocked my view of her face, but at that moment, that wasn’t important.  What was important were two things.  One, she wore silver bracers on both of her forearms, and two, her belly was extended.

            She was a slave that was pregnant.  Bracers meant she was owned by a compound and not by a single master.  Silver meant she probably came from a compound that breed pet slave for the nobles and rich merchants.  This was not good.  They would be searching for her.  Even if I left her, I would still most likely be caught by them.  I am thirteen though which begs the question, would they allow me to leave or break the law and obtain me.  Breeding compounds had a different set of rules when it came to children.  They were considered merchandise from birth.  They just wouldn’t start their service until fifteen.

            Thinking, I decided it wouldn’t matter what I did, and so, I followed what my heart wanted.  I would never want my mother or family stuck in this wooded area alone.