Cilla’s POV
The kind of work that I did in that pack was not one I could get used to. It was hectic as it had always been. Day in, day out, I got up early in the morning to work. My time was mainly spent working and eating, sometimes I had chats with James who was the only person who brought me some kind of happiness. He made me laugh when I thought I wouldn’t be able to due to the pain in my heart.
It had began to rain a lot during that time, and that made the washing more difficult. The workmen’s clothes were full of mud which was so hard to get rid of. I had to soak the uniforms for hours before hand washing them. My hands had become really dry and rough due to the heavy work and chemicals in the detergents.
Sometimes, Marlon got one of the girls to help me. During those days, I got some time to rest and relax but it was never enough. I felt tired and exhausted all the time. Sometimes, I wondered when the nightmare would end. During these times, I would weep for myself.
And then it happened.
I was hanging the pink uniforms belonging to the seamstresses on the hanging wire when I saw Marlon leading four people towards our residential area. There was a man and a woman with two children, a boy and a girl. I paused what I was doing and stared at them.
“What are you staring at?” Marlon asked, waving a black cane. “Get back to work.”
I turned to grab another wet cloth while casting glances at the small group. They looked fairly healthy and that made me wonder if it was their first time getting enslaved. They did not, however, seem shocked by anything they were seeing and that made me think they were not new to slavery.
Marlon spoke to them and went towards the direction of the kitchen, leaving the group stranded. I finished hanging the uniforms and returned to where the other basins were. I poured the water in them and rinsed all of them. Rising my hands with running water from the tap, I dried them using my dress and went to sit on the only beach under the shed.
I saw Marlon returning, followed by Grace. They went towards the family. Grace led the woman and the little girl towards the women’s building while Marlon went away with the males.
After a while, I decided to go to the kitchen. Mirta, the lady who worked with Grace was humming a song while chopping vegetables.
“Hey, Mirta.” I said. “About the family that Grace went to meet. Are they new slaves?”
Mirta nodded. “Why else would they be in this part of the pack?”
I sighed. “I’m glad there’s a new person that can help us with work. I was about to break down.”
“Don’t count your eggs before they are hatched,” Mirta advised. “You never know where they will put her.”
“I guess,” I said. “I was just hoping to get some help. Wishful thinking, I suppose.”
After a short conversation with Mirta, I went out and walked around the compound before going into our residential building. I found the girl walking around the hallway while staring at everything in sight.
I found myself pausing and staring at her. When she saw me, she ran to one of the doors, opened it, and ran inside. I remained rooted to the ground, my mind blank. It was only when I felt tears on my cheeks that I regained my senses and remembered what was going on.
That girl. She reminded me so much of my sister. I had escaped the Frey’s pack in order to save my siblings but weeks had passed and I had done nothing. It brought so much pain that I could almost physically feel it.
I turned away from there and walked out of the building. Tears were now rolling down my cheek nonstop. It was like someone had opened the tap and then spoilt it so it wouldn’t close. The tears kept coming and I didn’t even bother to wipe them. I went to the back of the building and sat on the cemented floor, leaning against the wall.
For how long was I going to live like that, under unending torment and pain? It had not even been a year since I became a slave but it was already becoming unbearable. How did other slaves manage to live for multiple years? I wanted to know where they got the strength so I could go and get it as well because life was becoming way too hard for me. I didn’t know if I wanted to continue living under those circumstances.
“Ahhh…” I wailed when it became too much for me. I continued to cry and let the tears stain my face and uniform. Eventually, I calmed down. Using the lower part of my dress, I wiped my face dry. Standing up, I slowly walked back to the front of the building. I leaned against the wall and stared at the uniforms that were slightly swaying in the wind.
I looked past the clothes and over the roof of the building. I could see the trees outside, swaying slightly under the wind. Although the sun was shining bright, the wind was quite cold. I looked at the other side and saw the fence.
I can run, I thought. A small smile crept to my face. I could run. I had done so before. I started walking towards the fence with a certain determination. Hope clouded my mind.
I realized that I could actually leave. Maybe I would get caught before I got far, or not. All I knew was I had to try. I had to do something in order to save my siblings. I had to get them or die trying.
When I touched the perimeter wall fence, I smiled. It was time for me to leave.