Chapter 1
One small mistake can change your life in a matter of seconds. That's what happened when Edwin decided to lie only to keep a promise. His fiance Anais was only 3 months pregnant when women were taken from their homes and enslaved. That was almost 20 years ago.
All he wanted to do at that time was protect his family and that’s just what he did. Without hesitation, he and a few other men and women headed to the edge of town. It was the perfect hiding spot, besides the cold winters and having to always stay silent during the day. But it was better than seeing his wife and unborn baby snatched away.
They made the tunnel home quite suitable for living. It was fairly big and with a bunch of blankets turned into beds, it could be warm. They had to terminate their use of technology and live almost like the Stone Ages. They had everything a normal house would have except a proper bathroom. But it was enough for him as long as he had his family.
The men would go to work early morning and come back late at night. Edwin always had a gift for his daughter whenever he’d returned. Her smile reminded him that it was all worth it. He’d read to her every night and even taught her about the outside world even though she’d never see it. She loved to read about the night sky and she loved to read about the foods she wanted to taste. Mangoes were her favorite treat.
It hurt him to know that she would never get to watch the sunset or he’d never get to show her how beautiful she looked in the mirror. She’d never see her own face.
The men became ruthless when the law was passed that women were mere objects. Men of higher class owned most of the slaves. On some occasions, lower-class men were enslaved. However, they were paid and treated better. There were daily searches to ensure that there were no runaways. If a runaway were found with men, the men would be killed in front of their families and the women taken.
Women who were deemed beautiful or respectable were able to be freed. But they were still heavily controlled and demeaned. They were also used to trick runways and get them taken. These women were usually of a higher class and married to the slave owners. Blood relatives of slave owners or higher-class men were also able to be free from enslavement.
Anais was neither of the two.
Which made Edwin work even harder to keep a low profile.
Until the day he decided to stop at a store after work. His now teenage daughter begged him to buy a lipstick just like she read in her books. He was hesitant at first but her pleading eyes that made him give in. Anais was totally against it and to put his wife at ease, he agreed not to get it. He lied.
He wanted to make his sweet girl happy. So after work, he stopped in a store not too far from his “home” and asked the cashier for a lipstick. The cashier looked at him strangely and went to the back. Every nerve was telling Edwin to leave but he stayed still. He was familiar with the cashier they sometimes exchanged hello’s from time. He usually stopped there on his lunch breaks.
Edwin had a long tiring day of cleaning the streets of his town. The cashier hadn’t returned so he decided he should head out. Suddenly, the cashier returned with the lipstick in hand. Edwin was relieved, he paid for his item and exited. If he wasn't so exhausted maybe he would’ve noticed the car following him to his destination.
When he did notice the car following him into the woods he ran as fast as he could to his family. His adrenaline spiked as the fear grew intense. As he approached the tunnel that he called home he saw men with guns and flashing lights entering. It was too late.
He turned around to face the fast-approaching footsteps. Slave traders with guns and lights were now face to face with him. He fell to his knees dropping the lipstick he somehow kept a hold of. He watched as it fell to the ground. Every decision he made led him to this point.
He knew no regret greater than this moment.
-END OF CHAPTER-
‘What you won't do, to do for love
You tried everything but you don't give up
In my world only you
Make me do for love what I would not do’
