FREEDOM GRANTED
Sheriff Mack stepped onto the platform and placed his hands on the podium. The sea of protesters shouted and booed at the top of their voices. Sheriff Mack scanned the crowd with a worn, defeated look and sighed. If this was what the people wanted, he would grant it to them. In his heart he knew that he would regret this decision, but he had no choice.
I stood in the crowd with Eli staring down the man who held us in bondage. He had no right to dictate our lives with - no right to force rules and laws upon us.
I stood on tiptoe and watched as Mack shifted his stance. Spite burned inside me. This man is weak. I hate him.
“Afternoon, everyone,” Sheriff began. “I cannot stand alone against the people that I govern. You have petitioned, demanded, and ultimately forced me to do this.” His countenance fell and he seemed to be pleading with us. “Just remember a few years from now that this is what you wanted. You asked for this. If it is freedom that you want, it is freedom you shall have.”
Eli and I cheered as loudly as we could. Excitement welled inside me until I thought that my heart would burst. I had been waiting my whole life for this.
Sheriff lifted a stack of papers up to the microphone and set his face. With a chiseled look of sorrow he began to rip the laws, procedures, and governing documents. The sound of tearing paper resounded through the speakers, and all else quieted. I grinned. My heart was eager for the thrill of being free. It was a moment of elation, but I hesitated before giving in to the feeling.
When all the papers were ripped into tiny pieces, Mack let them flutter to the ground. No one made a sound.
Mack looked up, and as he leaned towards the microphone his eyes locked with mine. “Freedom granted.” He said.
A cheer rose from the crowd. I grinned at Eli. We were free. I looked at my fellow citizens who were jumping, hollering, and crying. Everyone was smiling. So this is what it looks like, I thought. My heart swelled with pride.
Eli tapped my shoulder, signaling it was time to leave. I hooked my thumbs in my pockets and headed after him, grinning at every person I passed.
That’s when we heard it. The first real scream. I twisted back towards the stage. Sheriff Mack slumped onto the floor. Dead. It was then that I saw the man behind him. He held a knife - red to the hilt. My heart leaped to my throat.
“Freedom!” The man screamed. He leaped from the stage and into the mass of people. I heard another scream, then another. I was frozen to my spot as terror. Freedom? My heart beat fast and I couldn’t think. Something grabbed the back of my shirt. I jumped and turned to face Eli.
“We have to go, Mason.” I didn’t hear any fear in his voice, but his eyes were scanning the crowd of people. “Now.”
I turned around to see what he was looking at. Eli yanked my arm around so that I faced him. He met my gaze this time. I could see the fear. “Now, Mason. We have to go.”
I ran after Eli, the screams growing louder with our retreat.
Eli and I ran the whole way to our house. It was really only an apartment above a restaurant, but it was the best home that I had ever had. We barged through the door. Leah jumped off the couch.
“What’s going on?” She demanded.
“It happened.” Eli said. “We’ve been freed.”
Leah crosses her arms, hugging herself. A tear slid down her cheek. I had never seen her cry before and that tear scared me worse than the Sheriff’s body had. Awful. All of it. Leah never cried. I stepped towards the kitchen to get some food. “Come on, guys. We have to go.” They both turned and stared at me.
“We’re not going anywhere.” Eli said. “Especially you.”
“What?” I began, but Eli cut me off.
“There’s no danger here, and even if there was we wouldn’t run from it.”
I stared at him, confused. “I saw the same thing you did.” I said. “It’s not safe here anymore.” I looked back and forth between the two of them.
“If you don’t want to stay here you could always go back to the orphanage.” Leah spit the words at me.
My eyes widened. I turned to Eli. “No. You wouldn’t.”
He didn’t say anything. Neither did Leah.
“You’re serious?” I said. Eli looked at the floor. “It’s fine.” I said. My words were soft. “I’ll stay.” But I didn’t feel entirely safe with my two best friends anymore.
A shriek from the restaurant reached our ears. I looked at Eli and raised my eyebrows in a questioning look. I could hear the smashing of plates and the overturning of tables.
“Bar the door, Mason.” Eli said. Again, there was no fear in his voice. How could he not be afraid? I was afraid; my heart beat so quickly that I was sure anyone could hear it. I bounded over to the door and secured the dead bolt. I was about to set our oak beam in place, but there was a smash. Glass showered around me, and that was the last thing I remembered.
I opened my eyes and saw shards of glass gleaming in the sun. I felt stiff and didn’t want to move. I exhaled and was about to call for Leah, but the sound of voices stopped me.
“I’ll give you five hundred.” It was a man’s voice, cold, and stern. I had never heard it before.
“No.” This was Eli. “I need more. Eight hundred.”
I frowned. What in the world are they talking about? I pushed myself up into a sitting position, avoiding glass. Even with my best efforts I pieces still get imbedded in my hands and little trickles of blood ran down my palms. I winced, then looked towards where the voices had come from. A young man, probably the same age as Eli handed Eli a wad of bills. As the two grasped hands to seal the deal Eli saw me and met my gaze. He seemed hard. I knew he was strong and could take anything that was dealt him, but this was a cold hardness that I had never seen before.
The deal was sealed - whatever it was. Eli looked my way again. “Stand up, Mason.”
I obeyed, but grabbed the windowsill to steady myself. I shrugged my jean jacket tighter onto my shoulders and shifted my gaze between Eli and Leah. The stranger approached me. He was just a little taller than Eli and strong too. His blonde hair reminded me of one of the boys at the orphanage, and his brown eyes pierced into me. When he was right in front of me he stopped and grabbed my forearm.
“Hey.” I said and shook him off, but he grabbed my arm again. I tensed. Man, what was this guy up to? “Eli, tell this creep to cut it out.”
“Mason, stop. Trust me.” Eli said. I froze. The stranger’s grip tightened and pushed me towards the door.
My eyes widened as I stared at Eli and Leah. “What’s going on?” I whispered. Leah brought a hand up over her mouth and turned away. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but there were no words to say.
“Be strong, Mason.” Eli said.
The stranger gave me a big shove. Then I was out the apartment door and Eli was gone from my sight. I was numb. I understood what had happened now. Sold. I was property. My friends had just sold me. As I climbed into the stranger’s car I played through what had just happened. As I remembered, one word rang through my mind. Freedom.
My back pressed into the wall of the small room I was in. I stared at my hands. They were covered in blood and looked a lot worse than they actually were. I kept staring at them and feeling the pain from where I had dug out embedded pieces of glass because this pain was so nothing compared to the ache in my heart.
Even though I watched my hands I was seeing Eli cheering for freedom and telling me we were safe. Eli threatening to send me back to the orphanage. Eli selling me. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. Eli was like the older brother I never had, and Leah was like a sister. Eli and Leah were the same age, and when they got old enough they left the orphanage. I ran away after them. It was against the law, but I didn’t care. I knew no one wanted me. If someone had I would have been adopted long ago. So I ran away after Eli and Leah because they cared about me. We all stuck up for each other and helped each other out. We were all strong and tough, but we needed each other and liked each other just the same.
All these thoughts hit me like a slap to the face. It wasn’t true anymore. They betrayed me. They lied to me. They sold me. They, they… the list went on and on, and my heart went through a cycle of numbness, fear, anger, sorrow, and hate. And I stared at my hands.
The door creaked open. It was the stranger, but this time he was dressed in black from head to toe, even a mask on his face. I stood up, crossed my arms, and frowned; partially because I was scared, partially because I was frustrated. He tossed me a ski mask.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
“Your help.”
“But you bought me.”
“Don’t be so offended. I needed your help, and Eli would have it no other way.”
I pondered that for a moment. “Why do you need me, and what for?”
“I can’t answer either of those, but the answers will come.”
“Why should I help you?”
He looked me straight in the eye. “Because your life may depend on it.”
My instructions were: “follow close, but not too close; groups will call attention. Don’t draw attention to yourself.” I was armed with a knife and handgun, but was under strict instructions to use them only if it was absolutely necessary. The stranger had made it very obvious to me that he was armed as well.
I followed my comrade mimicking his steps. We stayed within the shadows, running down alleys, and pausing at corners. People milled around in a frantic state. Some with a crazed dangerous look, and others that who’s eyes shifted with with a fearful trust. I couldn’t help myself from feeling that I may be killed at any time. The only thing that comforted me was the gun strapped to my leg.
After about a half an hour of running things started to be too familiar. There was the baker’s shop with the chipped red bricks and the fence that was overgrown with ivy. My stomach began to churn. He was leading me to the orphanage.
We skirted the orphanage, staying in the shadows and continuing towards the forest. When I reached the dark shadows of the woods I stopped and soaked in the relief that this stranger was not going to force me through the orphanage gates. Instead, I was beckoned farther into the woods. I trudged after the stranger, ever suspicious of what he may try to do.
The lights were all out, leaving the orphanage looking deserted. Haunted even. My heart was thumping loudly. I tried to take long even breaths so that the stranger guy wouldn’t hear it. When that didn’t work I stayed back far enough that he surely couldn’t hear - also so that he couldn’t force me through the gates. No one could ever make me go back to that place.
Just when I reached the peak of my anxiousness, we reached the gates. More like what used to be the gates. Instead of being closed, locked, and secured as I remembered them they were bent and flung wide open. I stared.
“They were freed.” The stranger stood beside me.
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. He didn’t do anything; I suppose he couldn’t see my face through the mask I was wearing. I had mixed feelings. I hated the orphanage, but it did have a purpose. I tried to find a voice for my thoughts, but before I did it was time to move on. We walked on past the main gate and around the first corner. The stranger headed into the woods. I stood in the shadows until he beckoned me further. All that was back there was an old abandoned well. What was he doing? It didn’t matter really - evidently my life was dependent on obedience.
After struggling through numerous tangles of ferns, I found myself standing next to my strange friend. Before us a stone well came out of the ground. I peered down into the blackness thinking how I would hate to fall down there. As I straightened up there was a blur of darkness. I inhaled sharply as my friend plummeted into the well.
I nearly screamed, but a voice stopped me. “Mason, come on down!”
I was dumbfounded, my mind seemed frozen. “How?”
“Just jump. You’ll land on a platform.”
I was wary. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
“I have never known you to be the safety 1st type, Mason.”
“Maybe I would be more daring if I knew who you were. It might help me trust you.” A hint of sarcasm graced my words.
“Seems like you’ve got some of your sass back.”
I didn’t want to be teased. “Just tell me who you are.”
“You really don’t know?” A laugh echoed up from the stone walls. “I thought you’d never forget. And here I am about to show you my biggest secret.”
The orphanage. The secrets. Not forgetting. There was only one person that this could be - Braellen West. My eyes widened and I leaped down into the well.
The impact of landing sent me to my knees, but I jumped to my feet and faced the silhouette before me. “Braille?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” His voice seemed deflated.
My mind was spinning. “Why am I here?” All I could think of was all the times that Braille had gotten me into trouble. We were the troublemakers of the orphanage - “partners in crime” that helped each other and turned on each other - whichever was convenient at the time. He had me here because he needed me here, and that made me nervous.
“I’ll show you.” Braille grabbed my upper arm and pulled me along through a tunnel. I couldn’t see a thing and had no idea where we were going. My stomach churned with butterflies of excitement. Braellen never involved himself in small matters.
The tunnel continued underground for what I figured was 25 yards. It was darker that what I had thought was possible. Damp earth squished under my boots as I plodded after Braellen. My mind still raced, trying to think of what might be ahead.
We stopped, and hinges creaked as Braellen pushed open a door. He flicked a flashlight on. As he swung the light around I glimpsed a small room, a dresser, and a low table. Braellen bent over the table, shining the light on a piece of paper. It was silent for a moment, then there was a burst from Braellen. “No! It wasn’t supposed to come to this!”
I glanced around the room, searching for anything that could be out of place. “What’s going on?” I asked. I could feel some of my anxiousness returning.
Braellen heaved over the table, his palms bearing weight on the table top. “I came here for my orders. He told me to become sheriff! Mason,” He stood and faced me. “I can’t become sheriff! He can’t be dead!”
I was clueless to what he was talking about, but I could still hear the panic in his voice. Braellen was about to go over the edge. I went with my instinct, landing a solid punch to his gut. “Braille, keep it together!”
He stopped rambling and stared down at me. “You’ve gotten stronger since the last time you did that.” He rubbed his stomach. “Man, Mace, you didn’t have to hit me that hard.”
“I’ll remember that for next time. Now start at the beginning and tell me what you are pulling me into.” I raised my eyebrows and gave him my most bossy look.
“You’re not a very convincing boss, Mace. Don’t even try. I’ll tell you anyway though; you deserve to know.”
“It all started when I was small and first came to this place - the orphanage. I was starving, so I stole food from the pantry, but I was no good at it at the time, so I got caught 50% of the time. Those times that I was caught, they put me in the basement just like they did for everyone else who broke the rules. One day I was down there by myself, huddled in a corner when I heard a noise. It came from behind the wall. I began nosing around pushing and pulling at the bricks, sure that I would find a secret room or passage. I was right. A group of bricks gave way and I stepped into this room. It was these same things in it - a dresser and table. I, being curious and excited about my find, opened one of the dresser drawers. I never thought in a million years that I’d find what I did. Money. The whole dresser was full of money. I took a few dollars, then discovered the tinnel. I had found my freedom! So I makde my way to town and used the money to buy food. I was the happiest kid alive until I ran into the sheriff. He got awfully suspicious of an orphan that had money and demanded that I show him exactly where I found it. I refused until he made a deal with me. I would show him, and he would guarantee me no trouble from anyone. We shook on it, then I brought him to the well. when we got there, he told me. “Braille, this is my hiding spot. You found my secret stash back there .” He swore me to secrecy that day - and I’ve kept that secret until now. But we also made a bargain cuz we liked each other’s company, saying that I could use some money and the tunnel and go visit the sheriff. I would have run away 100 times if it weren’t for that bargain. After that day I would get in trouble on purpose, always when no one else was in the basement so that I could go see the sheriff. We got to be great friends and trusted each other like what I figure a father and son would. Sheriff trusted me with a plan. A plan that he put into action this morning. You and I are part of that plan, but his...death was not. Not part of my plan, but obviously he knew that it was a valid possibility. But now he says to carry on - carry on without him!”
I couldn’t help but question, “carry on with what?”
Braille’s eyes met mine with a passionate fury. “The recapture of Liberty.”
It was getting stuffy in that little room, so I pulled my hoodie off. I took a deep breath. I was so much more comfortable now, but confused when I found Braille staring at me. He had a bewildered expression on his face.
I glanced around trying to escape the awkwardness. “What’s wrong?” In answer he shone the flashlight on my arm.
Just below my shoulder I have a birthmark. It’s a strange marking. I have never liked it, so I usually keep it covered, but in the tank top I was wearing it was completely visible.
Braille was staring at it. He was so intense, so focused, that it scared me. Braille jerked the flashlight beam to the floor. “Put your sweatshirt back on. You can’t help me with this mission.”
What? I couldn’t move. I stared.
He jabbed a finger at me. “Why didn’t you tell me this before.”
Tell him what? I opened my mouth to defend myself, but stopped. Braille was dead serious and urgent. He grabbed my hoodie and thrust it at my chest. His eyes were wide, and he looked at me like he didn’t know me.
“How could I not have known?”
I didn’t even have time to put my hoodie on before Braille turned me around and marched me back out of the tunnel.
I was too dumbfounded to say anything. So I let Braellen march me right out of that hiding place and back towards the city.
