Freedom
Running through the streets, jumping over piles of scraps and excrement, the night surrounding me has suddenly become pitch black in the moonless night. The air is dense.
Glancing over my shoulder, I can’t make out my oppressors, but I know they are coming; fast with determination. They seek me out like a troupe on a fox hunt.
Scaling over an old wooden rickety fence, I nearly lose my footing, but manage to land in a soft role.
I don’t dare pause to catch my breath. I can hear them slowly gaining on me. They say I’m fairly fast for a girl, but right now, I’m not sure I believe it, as I hear my enemies getting closer.
I approach the end of the fence and I must fly over it more gracefully than the last. I can’t risk a nose-dive to the wet, muddy grass.
Preparing myself for the flight, I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes as I calculate the distance between me and my opponent: the fence.
Grabbing the wooden, splintering slat, I pull myself over and for a moment, I enjoy the cool night air as I glide over the fence, only to snap back to reality as I hit the ground……on my feet.
I grin, proud of my accomplishment and continue to run down the dark street.
It is unusually dark and quiet tonight for such a large village. It’s as if all the townspeople know I’m free and are hiding, hoping that I won’t knock on their door for assistance. Well that’s the last thing on my mind. There’s no way I’m asking any of these people for help after what they’ve done to me.
In the distance, I see a dark shadow looming ahead. The tall, cold stone wall is all that lies between me and freedom. As far as I know, I am the only one who has ever tried to escape this place, but if there was someone before me, I doubt they got away without being killed first.
I glance along the base of the wall as I approach to make sure the guards aren’t there. It’s all clear.
I’ve been practicing to scale this wall since I was young, knowing that one day I would probably need to get over it. I would practice in the dead of night when I knew the guards would be gone. A few times I had almost made it. My hand had touched the ledge of the wall, catching a glimpse of the sweet air of freedom.
Tonight though, I had to make it. I think though that I have the energy and adrenaline to make it over. I’ve waiting for this night for years and tonight all of my dreams are going to come true.
Skidding to a halt at the base of the wall, I glance behind me to see a glow of torches outlining all of the weapons that follow; clubs, hoes, hatchets and even some swords.
Immediately I get to work. I grab my ropes, attached to my belt and wrap the ends around my hands. With a hook on each end, I throw one of the hooks up and over, waiting to hear a ‘clink.’ I had practiced throwing this and it had always landed where it needed to, that I had memorized the exact sound of its appropriate landing. ‘Clink.’ Right on.
After throwing both hooks and with the ends wrapped tightly around my hands, I turn to face my enemies. Suddenly, I am flooded with memories of how I got here and why my oppressors hate me so much.
I was an orphan, known widely around town as the “Rebel.” I had to survive, so I would sometimes have to steal. But there were a few families who were compassionate and would share some of the meals. One family in particular, my family, was the only family I could call my own. My family consisted of Augustus, Mary and their only son, Luke. They had let me live them and basically, adopted me as their daughter.
Because it was my nature of habit, I stole even when I was being feed, to help my family. I was a really bad person to the townspeople. I was a bully, a thief, a rebel and a murderer: my biggest crime that I didn’t actually commit.
The authorities wanted to catch me, but catch me in a crime, because they never could. I was too fast and sly for them. But my family was very prominent and if something had happened to me, Augustus would’ve done anything to free me. So the government decided to kill my family, and make it look like I had done it in anger.
So five months ago during the middle of night, I had come home after a night of small crimes to find Augustus, Mary and Luke dead…..chopped to pieces with my knife. As it all began to sink in, the authorities and neighbors arrived. I was shackled and taken away for trial.
The trial went by quickly with no flaws because the government and townspeople all wanted me in jail, so no one was testifying against my innocence. I sat through the trial in silence and in jail, in silence. For four months, I haven’t said a word, but I wasn’t much of a talker anyways. But I was slowly formulating my escape. I had known that one day I would be captured so I needed a plan to get out of jail and the rest of the plan would just fall into place. I had observed the guards, other prisoners, and when guards changed positions and prisoners were moved. I know the jail’s schedule like the back of my hand.
One day, actually today, it came time for my plan to take place. I was taken outside for a few minutes of fresh air, but I slowly made my way to the fence trying to look inconspicuous among the other prisoners. The next thing, I know, I’m scaling the fence, cutting my hands as I climb over. I land firmly on the ground, just as I hear the alarm being sounded.
Knowing that I don’t have much time, I return to my home and retrieve my emergency bag or what I like to call my ‘freedom’ bag. Sliding my leather gloves over my bloody hands, I pause in the doorway savoring this last moment. I remember a small picture that I want, that was painted a few years ago of Augustus, Mary and Luke. It’s upstairs on a small table. I fly up the stairs, snatch it and slide it into my bag as I hear the guards and neighbors come through the gate. I climb out the window and nimbly walk across the roof. I jump to the ground. I can hear my enemies realize I’ve escaped…..again and they begin to follow.
All of this flashes back to my memory in about a ten second period. I open my eyes and see my enemies. I can now see the whites of their eyes, glowing like fire in the light.
I nod my farewell, turn and begin to scale the wall. Grimacing at each pull as the rope tightens against my already injured hands. I have to make it. I hear my oppressors gasp I shock, not sure how to react. I can see the top of the wall. Almost there. I grab the top of the wall with my right hand and pull myself up with my left. I wince as pain sears through my hands and goes to my arms. Finally. I perch on the top of the wall, taking deep breaths of the air. Freedom. I have made it, after of years of waiting. Freedom. I glance back down to the imprisoned side, grin as the moon slowly appears from behind a cloud. I’m sure I look magnificent, perched on the wall with the moon glowing behind me. I look down to the freedom side and sigh. Freedom. I grab the ropes and slowly descend the wall. Freedom.
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