prologue
Delilah
My Bare Feet found every rock and branch on the forest floor. With every step a new pain radiates up my body, but I refuse to let it stop me. If I stop, even just for amount I know they will catch me.
I can’t go back.
They will drag me back to that room. Where it’s dark and filled with despair. They will use me, rape me, beat me, kill me, or worse.
My life was never worth much. No one out there would care if I lived or died. No one is searching for me. I don’t even have anywhere to go now that I’m out. I just know I wont go back there and let them have me.
Every cold breath of the night air burns my lungs. My vision becomes spotted as I continue to push past my limits. I don’t know where I found this well of strength, but it is starting to run dry the lack of food and water is something I’m used to buy the harsh beating I got a few days ago has taken its toll. I don’t regret what I did to get the beating only that my body aches from it when I need it most.
Dogs are barking behind me, and the faint shout of men is growing. I take the risk to look behind me and see the glow of torches. When I turn back, I’m struck by a low hanging branch. I let out a pained groin as I try to steady myself. Tap my hand to my forehead as I lean on the tree that attacked me. There is blood on my fingertips. The blood can just be added to the rest all over me.
The barking dogs are louder. The realization sends a cold chill through my tired body. I stopped running.
The glow that was in the distance is coming closer. I cant hear the voices only the pound of a drum in my ear. Squeezing my eyes tight, I take in a breath before pushing myself to move once more.
My feet are unsteady, causing me to stumble but I’m moving. My only focus is the glow between the trees dawn glows between the trees, and it calls me. I’m not sure if it’s a call of salvation or damnation but anything is better than before.
I’m not moving as quickly as before I curse myself for being so weak. The trees are beginning to thin out and I see more bright colors seeing through. The morning fog distributes the hazy colors beautifully if I wasn’t being pursued, I would have loved to stop and appreciate the sight.
“Got you, little bird.” Meatie hands grab my upper arm. I let out a weak scream and began to struggle. The sleeve of my blouse rips and I’m able to escape his grasp. He stumbles to the forest floor giving me the opening to run once again.
He screams behind me calling to the others. It won’t be long before more finding me. If more focus on me that gives a better chance to the others. They took so many of us. Young, old, rich, and poor didn’t seem to matter.
I break through the tree line, but I don’t make it far before I skid to a stop. I pear over the cliff edge to see rushing water below. The gaps in the fog are slowly filling, creating a haze but I was able to take in what was below me.
“End of the line girl.” I turn around but cant tell witch surly gruff man spoke. It doesn’t matter half dozen men have made their way the rough the trees and two are holding back large dogs.
I Don’t know if its sweat tears or the blood from my forehead that is burning my eyes and causing my vision to blur. I’m trembling but not from the cold night air. I’m sure I look as helpless as I feel. That’s what they want is for us to be helpless to be afraid, but they never expected we would get out. That we would fight back for our freedom.
I got out and I’m not going back.
“No’ my voice is horse, but I know one of them heard me. I resolve myself for what I must do. I don’t look back I know what’s there. The men are shouting but I don’t care what they say. I smile cruelly at my former captors as I jump back. I do my best to twist to face the water as I fall. I cut through the crashing waves and let the rushing water pull me under.
The water is fridged and my body swills with the powerful current. I’m slammed into a large hard surface. I spin and wrap myself around before pushing to the surface. I gasp and sputter my hands are slipping as I desperately find purchase on the boulder. It hurts as I cough up the water from my lungs. My lungs are burning, my body hurts like I’ve never felt before, but I would rather be here in the water with this bolder.
Looking up at the fog casts a blanket over the sky. I cant see them and I doubt they can see me. I hope that after I jumped they had moved on from me. A hysterical laugh from relief escapes me and I slap a hand over my mouth quickly. I bob in the water listen for any sign they might still be up there but all I hear is the rush of water.
I look around desperately for the waterfall. I only got a glance, but I know what I saw there before the fog covered everything.
When I spot the water fall a smile spreads. I cant help it as tears fall. I swim toward the waterfall using every rock and bolder I can to push off to gain momentum through the rough water.
I ty to cough the water from my lungs as quietly as I can. I don’t need those men doubling back from the sounds I make. My lungs but from the effort I’m making.
Finally, under the waterfall I stretch my hands out blindly for something solid. The water pouring in my face makes it hard to stay above the water. The rough surface of the rock is slimy from the years of water exposure. I force myself against the rock wall with my face clear of rushing water I take a moment to breath. I cough up more water and black spots dance before me.
Panic takes over me. My hands desperately try to cling to the wall causing my nails to break painfully when I keep slipping. I kick below trying to keep my head above water as the dizzy spell and panic grow.
In my struggle my toes find purchase in the stone. I use the solid leverage to push myself up. I take a deep breath and reach further up to find the lip of the cavern hidden behind the waterfall. With my limbs shaking in fatigue, I pull myself out.
I collapsed on the rough rock floor. My body burns when I’m cold and even blinking hurts. The mist from the water fall hits y feet. I need to get these wet rags off my body or despite all my efforts to live the chill will claim me.
The soggy cloth sticks to my body and take the last of my energy to toss it off. I collapse in the first dry spot I can reach. Losing consciousness my thoughts flicker in despair as I dwell on how I ended up here.
