Tangled With Swords And Roses

My heart beat like a drum against my chest. The cold wind brushed against my skin, making goosebumps form on it. Only the soft, dim light reached the place where I stood with my back against the wall. I stared into the darkness. My legs felt like water, and my breath came out in short puffs. I pulled my shawl closer to my chest. The air was filled with the smell of blood. I felt a pit in my stomach as the smell of urine and feces sifted through the wind. It was the bleakest situation, but my mind longed for freedom. I heard the sound of heavy footsteps moving from behind me. My heart raced, my mind wanted to run, but my body remained stationed. A tall figure with broad shoulders moved closer. I let out a sigh of relief as Jackson moved into the dim light. I closed the distance that remained between us as I hugged Jackson. His body felt warm, despite the cold. I buried my face in his cotton shirt and heard his heart beating like a galloping horse. His rough fingers lifted my chin until I could see his honey-brown eyes clouded by fear that his face didn't reflect. His hands traveled down the small of my back, rubbing circles of soothing around my back. My skin felt warm, and I felt my thighs tighten. One of my arms rested on his chest while the other pulled his lips to meet mine. His lips felt soft and warm against mine. His muscles twitched under his shirt when I touched him. We pulled apart, both of us breathless. Tonight we would run away and leave the eighteen years of slavery behind us. We would marry and live together as husband and wife. I would bear all six of our children, and we would live happily on a small farm. He bent a little, and I felt his hot breath as he whispered, "I love you." "With all, I am Sarah." "Everything is going to be okay." I gave him a small, sure smile and murmured, "As long as you're at my side, everything else doesn't matter." "I love you more." We looked at each other before we decided to move. Who knows what could happen today or tomorrow? As long as Jackson was by my side, I could conquer the world. We descended down the hill, toward the white wooden fence, then into the grassland. Green and gold grass as far as the eye could see. It danced with the wind, swaying from side to side. Jackson's fingers were laced firmly in mine as we walked through the grass. It was the perfect cover for an escape. We planned to travel at night and rest during the day. I looked back at the farm one more time—the place that had once been my prison. Jackson stopped, and I followed his gaze to see an enormous dog staring at us with bloodshot eyes. I had seen these dogs rip out the arms of my father when I was younger, and this one looked just ready to do the same. A shiver went down my spine as I recalled the memory. The dog let out a bark that alarmed the men on horses who were out here. Jackson pulled my hand, and we ran quickly in the opposite direction, with the huge dog chasing us and five men who had guns. I tightened the grip around my shawl and Jackson's hand. My head was pounding as we ran; my lungs burned, and I started to wish I had my missing shoes as stones cut at my feet. An ear-splitting sound cut through the braking and screams of the men. I felt a sudden pain in my left leg, but it did not matter because freedom was sweeter than pain. The dog kept chasing after us as the men screamed in unison, "Catch those slaves." Please let us make it out of here. I silently pleaded. The large dog jumped between me and Jackson, his hand dropped, and he went running in a different direction. I saw Jackson run with three men chasing him, that overgrown dog, and two men behind me. I kept running, with the two men far behind me. In the distance, I saw an enormous tree. I ran up to it and climbed its branches. The men were closer to the tree. I hid in the thick leaves and held my breath. I looked down and saw the two men, one slim and the other with green eyes. They torched their lamp into the leaves of the tree. I hoped that they would think I had run into the grass and move on. "Where did she go?" asked the small man. My body stilled. Please, please go away. "I don't think she could have climbed this tree with that wound." "Are you sure?" The small man said. No go. I don't want to die. I am only eighteen. My heart thundered in my chest. The green-eyed man torched into the tree one more time and replied, "I bet all my coins she kept running past the tree." I felt myself relax a bit. "The sooner we find her, the sooner we can have some fun with her before we end her," the slim man laughed. "We will make her beg on her knees and make her scream." The green-eyed man agreed. I watched as they raced into the darkness before I came out of my hiding spot and walked in the other direction, towards the trees. As I entered the forest, the trees towered around me. A little light hit the forest floor, so it wasn't completely dark. The forest was noiseless, which was a welcome change from the chaos I had gone through in one night. My left leg hurt so badly that it made my head spin. I bit the side of my cheek. I tasted blood, but I didn't care. I reached out to steady myself on a tree and collapsed down onto the dirt. In the moonlight, I couldn't see the wound, but I felt dry blood on my skin. I felt around, then ripped a piece of my dress and tied the cloth on the wound so it wouldn't bleed out. I hoped there was somewhere I could get it looked at. I leaned my head against the back of the tree, and the pain in my leg increased. I let out a wince. I tried to think of Jackson. Did he miss me? Is he alive? Did he know I was here alone thinking of him? He hadn't even looked back at me. There was a lump in my throat as new tears formed. I looked at the moon. It was just as bright as the day Jackson and I met behind an abandoned storehouse by the plantation. I looked down, and my eyes fell on a shadow towering over me. I slowly turned, and before me, a tall man held a blood-colored sword. His face was hidden by a cloak that seemed to be a deep shade of red embroidered with a roaring lion and roses in golden thread. Moonlight hit his sword, and his hold on it tightened. His gaze pierced through my body.