Nick

After waking up, I took my time going back to the vein I'd started mining yesterday. There was no rush knowing that it was high quality, so I'd surely meet my quota today as well. I went to get breakfast and enjoyed the morning, talking with some of the older boys. We would have a new group of youngsters coming down with the next shipment, they were telling me. There was a good amount of people down here but with the tough work schedule, many people would die from lack of food or rest. If you were lucky you would buy your freedom, but few ever made that much.

With the death of those guys who weren’t strong enough, we always needed to find replacements so it wasn’t uncommon to get new slaves down here.

It was good to talk with the more experienced guys over breakfast but with my foolish excitement from the success yesterday, I didn’t notice.

I should have noticed. A wave of anger and malice directed my way. So strong you could have tasted the blood lust.

Like a newbie, I was too distracted by the news of others coming down and the amazing profits I could make that day. Reckless and childish I started walking towards the mining spot I had enjoyed so much. Not once looking behind my back or listening to the cave, not even hearing the small breeze whispering in my ear.

I reach the spot, my spot, the vein that brought me profits. I started chipping away not caring about a thing, not observing or paying attention to my surroundings, a mistake I’d hope to never make again.

I was punched and knocked down to the ground. Looking up I saw the face of another boy, one of the older ones well known for being a bully and stealing the younger kid's coins and mining spots.

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Looking up at him I start to beg for mercy.

“Please Coyote don’t hurt me, you can have the spot I don’t mind!! Just stop attacking me!!”

With no care in his eyes, he kept punching my face in.

“I don’t want your spot fucking filth, I’ve been working for 2 years straight and never got any extra bread or compliments from the guards. You are unworthy of these rewards, I should be the one!!”

Realizing now he didn’t care about what the spot I had found, he cared how I was treated, I knew he wouldn’t stop till he felt I got my punishment. So I lay there crying for help. Trying to protect my face with each jab he made.

I hope he stopped breathing right now, just so I could be happy one more time, that’s all I wanted. Looking at the boy beating me within an inch of my life the light started to fade blood dripping into my face. I prayed to God.

“Please save me.”

Like the wind before out of nowhere, the boy stopped punching me. For a moment I couldn’t tell what happened, I hoped he’d finally lost energy and given up, then I looked at his face. He was gripping his throat, choking on something as if the air had been sucked out of his body…

He started getting desperate like a fish out of water flopping around, doing anything to get back into the sea. I could see that he was turning blue, his eyes bulging out of his skull. After a few moments of his struggle, it stopped just as suddenly as it began. Coyote was gasping for breath, and after a few moments, he got up and stumbled away as if he didn’t even remember I was there or that he was just about to kill me.

Laying there bleeding I couldn’t do anything but close my eyes and thank God for what just happened. I tried to catch my breath but there was too much pain I struggled to move at all. The darkness took over and I passed out.

After I catch my breath and wake up I stand up. I had to get back up, I knew there wouldn’t be any dinner for me tonight. I still had to make it back to the crew or I’d get everyone in trouble and this beating would only be the first of many.

With heavy knees I start stumbling back to the crew, beaten and bruised I attempt to go past everyone unnoticed.

The guard from yesterday spots me though and with concern, which is quite rare down here, He asks.

“Damn boy look what’s happened to you, don’t let them bully you, stay strong. That’s why we call you Peanut!”

With a nod of my head I keep walking, hoping he didn’t just make things worse for me like it did last time.

As I head to my rest area I noticed Coyote look at me an quickly look away. This was the last anyone talked about it. He never said anything or did a thing to me after that day. If anything he would run away with what could have been fear.