Escape pt4

I heard Jakie and Sam arguing but didn't know what they were saying. I just stared blankly at the pickaxe in my hands, then at the people around me. There were young, old, sick and dying, all around me. Some of them were just children, not even old enough to tell what was happening. They were crying and pulling at there-fathers' and mothers' sleeves. Some fell over, fainting from the overwork and malnourishment. Nearby a little child was crying. His mother fell and wasn't moving. The child started to cry louder. "Mama, Mama? Sniff. Mama!"

Suddenly the little boy gave out an ear-piercing scream and fell onto his Mom. The room went quiet. Blood started to trickle down his back as he stared into nothing. His eyes unseeing. I looked up in horror. There was a man in yellow standing above the boy looking annoyed. "That'll teach ya to shut up!" The man scoffed.

The boy didn't answer, he just stared ahead of him. His mouth slightly open and his eyes wide in shock. If I hadn't seen his chest rising and falling slowly I'd have thought he was dead. Jakie let out a little whimper. "h-how could they? H-he's just a-a child." The man in yellow started to walk away when a man nearby hollered something unintelligible and tackled him to the ground. They started to rustle while the nearby men in yellow gathered around and started chanting "Fight fight! Get em, Ron! Show em who's boss!" A few were whistling. They thought this was funny.

Seeing that they were distracted, I ran to the little boy. Jakie and Sam followed close behind.

The little boy didn't move as I squatted next to him. He looked deathly pale. I looked at the wound that had not stopped bleeding. I tore off a piece of my shirt and started to wrap it tightly around his back.

He didn't move.

I tied the ripped cloth into a knot, looking at the boy again. Jakie was staring at him. She looked terrified and worried. I looked at his mother bellow him. Sam was putting a finger onto her throat. He looked at me and shook his head, His eyes unreadable. I got the message. Not wanting him to just lay on top of his dead mother I picked him up gently, trying to avoid his cut. He started to move and looked at his mom. "Mama...?" Tears threatened to fall and I quickly pushed them back. "Mama is going to be fine." I lied through my teeth. I didn't want to tell him the truth. Not while he was in this state anyway. Not ever. I heard a loud howl behind me. Someone had gotten their spirit animal out. I didn't look behind me to see who.

I got up

and started to walk away from the fight that was going on behind me. Jakie followed me but Sam stayed behind. I didn't question him why. I just kept moving. The little boy wrapped his tiny hands around my neck and started babbling to Jakie in his baby language.

I started walking out of the cave. A guard nearby stopped me. "And where do you think you're going, missy?" I looked up at him thinking fast. Putting on a fake look of disgust I said. "This baby here just pooped and the guards told me to take him outside so he doesn't stink up the whole cave." The man looked at the baby and pinched his nose with his hand. "Fine." He backed off and watched me leave. When he saw Jakie he stopped her. "You, stay." She looked at him then at me. I nodded and kept walking.

I took a deep breath of fresh air as a cool breeze made the loose strands of hair that had fallen out of my braid, swirl around and tickle my cheeks. It felt nice. I brushed the hair out of my face and walked over to a river nearby, placing the little boy down. "What's your name?" He looked at me then said "Wuwan Kogi. Mama says it's waging wivu." I looked at him then translated his words in my head. 'Raging river.' It fit him well, with his large light blue eyes. Filled with the innocent curiosity most children his age had. "Well, Ruwan Kogi. Is it okay if I call you Kogi for short?" I asked. He nodded. "Okay, Kogi. I'm going to untie the cloth around your back. We have to clean up that cut or you'll get it infected." He looked at me then held up his arms so I could unwrap the cloth. He had a button nose and brown hair.

After washing and drying his wound I wrapped it back up and started back to the cave. We had to get out of this place as soon as possible. We had to get help. These poor people were suffering

and I had to find a way to end this. I stopped at the mouth of the cave. I didn't want to keep going. Kogi tightened his grip on my neck and started to cry. "No, no." He said pointing at the cave. His eyes wide open looking frightened.

The sun had already started to set and I could see some people in yellow already walking out of the cave to retire. I sighed and turned around to walk to the slaves' camp. A small crowded smelly area. Some slaves were already there.

I walked over to where Jakie, Sam and I slept. It was in a corner near the forest, far away from the rest of the camp. I sat down. Soon it was dark and the men in yellow were leading slaves into the camp.

I didn't see Jakie or Sam. Kogi had fallen asleep in my arms and was kicking his feet in his sleep. I set him down gently and lay down on my side, watching the little boy as he curled up into a ball, his, cute, round face looking agitated.

I grabbed the raggedy cloth they'd given us and covered his small body, only letting his little nose and eyes poke out. He stopped kicking and settled down. Breathing calmly and making small noises occasionally.

I smiled and turned to watch the slaves slowly pile in. I started scanning the crowd, I saw Jakie walking over to me but didn't see Sam. She plopped down and smiled at the baby hiding in the blanket. Then she looked around. When she didn't find what she was looking for she turned to me. "Wheres Sam?" She asked sounding worried. "I thought he was with you?" I said.

"Nope, I thought he'd been with you?"

She looked more worried now. "I haven't seen him since you walked off with the baby."

I twisted my nose. "Same."

"Do you think he's okay?" She asked sounding stressed.

"He'll be fine. Perhaps he's just lost. He'll be back soon." I reassured her. Although it felt more like I was reassuring myself.

She didn't look convinced. Neither was I. "Sigh, if he doesn't turn up in thirty minutes we'll go looking for him." I said patting her shoulder to calm her down. She looked at me and gave a small nod.

"So. Hows the baby?" She asked. "He's fine. His name is Kogi."

She nodded again while looking at him. She still looked worried but I didn't blame her. Sam was good with directions so I doubted he'd gotten lost. But I kept denying the idea he'd gotten hurt.