CRUEL OPPRESSORS

I ran. I ran  and I did not stop until I reach out camp. I paused when at the entrance where Lyla was waiting for me with a mocking smile on her face. I paused to look at her and I realised that she must have known that Angus was not far away. I stared at her until she began to quiver under my scrutinizing gaze. But their was nothing I could do to her. Not when I did not want my life harder than it it now. I was about to walk past her when she spoke.

  "So, how was it?", she asked and my eyes widened lightly. Could it be that she knew what happened? My heart began to race as I think of several ways I could be punished for this.

  She twirled around until she was standing before me. She smiled into my face.

   "Don't you think you owe me for this?", she asked, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"One word from me and your life is ruined. You know how cold Angus can be.". Leaning in, she whispered, "He would have you whipped until you lose consciousness", I imagined how a whip would feel on my skin and I swallowed thickly while I struggled to keep my expression light. However, i wondered why she would refer to Master Angus with his name. I remained silent till she walked away.

  That night, I could not sleep. I kept thinking of what Master Angus would do to me now. I could not take my heart away from all what we did and how my body reacted in sync with his. How he  made me lose all my senses and reason. I could still still feel his touch on my body and I wondered if he's s affected as I was. Within some times, I drifted away into the Dreamland where I was not a slave. Where I had a life with Angus.

    My body is all wet and I shiver with cold. I tried to roll to the other side when I felt it. A splash of cold water. I winced. It is morning already. It was the habit of the slave warders to splash the slaves with water every morning. We would rise at the early morning, shackled and matched to the farm or plantation, and sometimes to the market for sale.

  "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?", Yun roared and we were splashed with water again. Hot water this time. We all rose up, knowing the next coming would be worse. I managed to stand on my feet with a wince as some of the women murmured while some cursed but non was ready to face the slave lord's wrath.

   Yun, wearing his usual clothes, a tunic embroidered with the family's crest, he wore his usual frown and his nose scrunched in his disgust for us. He began to walk around to see if we were all on our feets. When he realises his juniors were finding it hard and taking so long to get us on a queue, he became frustrated.

   "Will you form a queue? You these unlucky slaves!", he boomer and some of us winced.

  

"Says the unlucky bastard", somebody suddenly replied and we all held our breath. Oh Lord! Not this morning again.

  "Who the hell is that bitch?", Yun cursed but we remained silent even though everyone knew who it was. He turned around and he matched towards Sharon as everyone turned to watch the drama unfold.

   He stopped before her and before she could speak, he has taken her long hair in his hold.

  "It's you, isn't it?", he asked, tightening his grip on her hair. When she wouldn't talk, he began to shake her vigorously and then he threw her to the hard floor. We all turned away before he could catch us watching but Sharon spoke again.

   "Arrogant bastard!", this time, when Yun turn again, it was to beat the hell out of her. A lady snickered but Yun ignored that one.

  He stomped to where Sharon laying on the floor and he kicked her stomach. I was there, it was not once, he kicked her continuously but the obstinate woman was only laughing. I watched. I watched as he pulled her up with her hair and said to her face.

  "Do you dare say that again?", he asked and Sharon replied by splitting on his face.

The smack was immediate. Followed by a blow that landed her on the ground again. Yun turned away and Sharon muttered with her bloody mouth but we all heard her.

"Unlucky bastard"

Yun ordered the guards to shackle us after he announced that we would be farming today.

  "Hey bastards, we are here already.", Yun announced and when we looked up, it was all forest. Almost ten acres. He continued.

  "My mistress has just bought this 20 acres. Uproot the weeds until you lose your breath", he said with enthusiasm and I couldn't help my curiosity.

  "Eermn, Are we finishing all this work today?".

Everyone turned to look at me and I saw that they all wanted to ask the same question. Yun smirked as he walked towards me.

  "What is it, Freye? You want to spend a week here?", he was now standing closer to me than appropriate. He leaned into me and said into my ear. "Or you want me to do it for you?" He whispered seductively and I looked away. He let out a chuckle before he walked away.

  Yun had once hitted on me. He promised to lift my slavery once I agree to marry him. It wasn't like I wanted this, although I felt nothing towards him, however, there will only be a little difference in a life with Yun. While I no longer would be a slave, I will continue to be under the influence of the same family. It is either I work as a maid, a cook or an hair dresser in the compound.

   Gallop of horses disrupted my thoughts. Riding on the road alongside the farm were the three brothers. Yun straightened himself with a smile and he bowed down from his slaves. Others also kept their gazes on the floor. We were not to look directly at them, not even when they talk to us. But that day, I stared right into them. I did not want to miss his reaction when he look at me, even if it is disgust.

  Very unfortunate, they were yet to get to me when Lola threw a stone at Angus. I gasped, the shock evident on everyone's face, including the young masters and Yun.

   "Immediately, the young masters came down from the horse and we all watched as Angus stepped up to the young girl. Lola started to rant.

   "Just because you're wealthy, you oppress and enslave us. Endangering our life every day. I want to even end my life!"

  But Angus only laughed.

   "Are you that fed up with your life? Why don't you die then"

  I don't know, a knife was suddenly in Angus' hand on, he thrusted on it into her heart.