The Dark Journey
Chapter 24 - Slavery: Third Run
Part 2



If I told you of all my yesterdays
The burning haze, unhappiness and sorrow
The darkness that surrounds my soul
Two halves, not whole, broken, beaten, bloodied
If I told you of the nightmare road
The weighty load of anguish and torment
The crimes I've done, the crimes I've seen
While in between the car and the fence
All innocence scraped away for good and ever
Lost forever in the twilight realm of Nod
Where is God who answers the prayers of the meek
Still I seek to know why He has turned His eye
from me, a lie the believers repeat over and again
But I just can't win, I'm sucking wind
So tell me friend, the answer to my plea
If I told you of all my yesterdays
Would you be my friend tomorrow
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I made my slow way down the street, turned a corner, and walked on a little ways. My head was swimming and my sight blurred. I knew I wasn't going to make it very far, but I needed a place to hide. I saw a light on in a window a little further down the block. I slowly made my way to the house and stood outside debating with myself on what to do.

I could go and ring the bell and hope someone was awake, or I could move on. So, if I ring the bell and the person turns me away, then Jaker has a witness who saw me. Or maybe they would turn me in to the police, which in turn meant turning me in to Jaker. Either way it spelled my doom. Another possibility was that maybe, just maybe the person would help me get away.

I had to do something. Standing out here in the dark wasn't getting me anywhere. I slowly walked to the door and pressed the doorbell.

There was a long wait, what seemed like an hour, before there was a woman's voice from the other side of the door asking who was there. All I could muster up was a sort of croaking .. 'Help .. please .. help me..'

I heard the lock turning and the door opened a crack and an older woman's face filled up the crack peering out at me. The fear in her eyes turned to shock as she looked at me, then the door closed again and I heard the chain being removed. The door opened, and I had to step back so she could open the screen door.

She asked if I had been in a car accident and I shook my head. I couldn't seem to talk, my mouth was dry and I was putting all my will into staying upright and conscious. As I made my way into the house, I stumbled and she held me up. I gasped as she held me about the waist, and my ribs screamed in protest. She helped me over to the sofa and I sat gingerly, favoring my right side. My back hurt badly as well, but no position I assumed would alleviate that pain.

She brought me a glass of water and some aspirin, and after I had taken the pills and drank most of the water she began asking her questions. What had happened? I told her I was mugged and beaten up. Who did it? I told her I didn't know. Where did I live? I told her I was from out of town and just passing through.

She must have heard the lie in my voice and seen it in my eyes. I could see it in her face when I could bring myself to look at her. When she offered to take me to the E.R. I almost panicked and I told her I couldn't go to a hospital. She nodded and took me into the bathroom and began washing the blood off of my face. I sat on the toilet while she ministered to my wounds.

After making me strip down, she asked if I was sure I didn't know who had done this. She was cleaning up my foot, and it hurt badly. I could press charges and have them arrested and put in jail if I wanted, she said. I shook my head and remained silent. She examined my sides and back, poking and prodding.

With bandages on my foot and a large Ace bandage wrapped around my torso we went back out to the living room. She asked me again who the man was? Was it my father? Husband? Boyfriend? I weakend and told her that it was a man I had been living with for a few months, but I couldn't think of pressing charges because I knew he would kill me one way or another.

I was shown into a spare bedroom and she helped me get into the bed. I slept fitfully and was up and dressing early the next morning when she knocked at the door and asked if I wanted cream and sugar. I said yes, both, please. I turned to the door and saw myself in the mirror hung there. My face was really bruised up and the cut on my lower lip had bled a little during the night.

I went into the bathroom and washed up, running my fingers through my hair. When I was done, I went out to the kitchen where she was sitting with the coffee poured. I sat slowly and took my cup and sipped.

'I suppose you're thinking about moving on, getting away from here, aren't you? At least, I truly hope you are.'

I looked up at her and nodded. 'I have to go ... somewhere. If I stay here I'm gonna die, I know that for a fact.'

'Well, I can take you to the bus station and you can go wherever you like. Would that be ok?'

'I ... don't have any money. I guess I'm really screwed, huh? I mean, they don't just give away bus tickets, do they?'

'No, I don't guess they do. Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself and we'll think of what to do later? I don't think you should be going anywhere just yet anyhow.'

'But ... I need to ... I mean ... he'll be looking ...'

'Now now, he won't find you here. I don't get many visitors and I don't have to go nowhere, not since they retired me anyhow.' she smiled. 'Now, tell me about you and we'll decide what to do after.'


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