The Plantation: A Short Story

The strong and bitterly cold autumn air slapped my cheeks as I stared at the babbling brook that blocked our path.The sky looked peaceful with the soft orange pink sunset that painted the sky with joy and the soft rustle of the leaves ”Abram!” the sound of my name brought me back to the harsh reality of why I was here.A slave had just run away and Miller the plantation owner sent a three man team to retrieve him. the men that accompany me are smith a middle age man with a mysterious background and a face that only a mother could love.John on the other hand was just a fifteen year old boy that was sent to the plantation by his father to toughen him up. Miller sent him as a trainee sent with Smith and I to learn what happens to the scum that
Smith's idea was to split up and we all agreed it was the right choice. We headed our separate ways and started our search.While walking in the woods the only thing to accompany me were my thoughts, my wife and kids kept me going the only reason I do this is to make sure they are safe.I silently pray as my family would eat dinner.The Plantation owner has many people out hunting for this slave, he said he was the best compliant hardworking and most importantly kept his mouth shut. Just the other day they caught a runaway by sending the dogs after them rumors caught like wildfire that the slave can only stand on one leg because his other leg was ripped clean off.the thoughty sent a chill down my spine wondering what would happen to the slave that we
The hours go by after following dead ends and failed attempts followed each other I find a tree. This tree was snapped in several places with a cloth hanging from it ,and not far ahead a footprint in the mud I quickly turn off my flashlight and crouch down I hear heavy breathing I turn and I see John. “What the heck were you thinking John, Why were you following me?” John replied in a small voice “ I don't want to go alone.” John was shaking wildly his torch was out. I handed him my torch and told him to go left and that I was on to something. He hesitantly said ok and left breaking every branch on the way. I sighed heavily and continued on the trek to find the runaway. The dawn came near and I sat down to wash up at the lake near the town and sat. I soon walked to the river and hear a breath come from a tree. My curiosity got the best of me and I slowly walked up and looked behind the tree. There he was a black figure with a smooth back sharp jawbone and short black hair matted with mud.His face looked so innocent while he was sleeping and the thought of dogs ripping his smooth black skin to shreds. ‘’Would he cry?” I thought. His face and strong arms Said no but his dirty clothes and skin said he was not doing