Pain. It was all I could feel.

It raged through my body, coursed through my veins, electrified my heart.

It was horrific and amazing that a slave owner could do this to his possessions. Then again, that's all I was; a possession.

"Tell me where he went"

I slightly opened my eyes, nerves still tingling from the last shock. I didn't want to speak, didn't want to open my mouth. I feared the only thing that would come out was pain.

I opened my eyes more, looking at my owner. His grey hair was neat, his face set in a permanent frown. My head pounded, why was this happening to me? I couldn't remember.

He must have taken my silence as defiance. Before I could do anything electricity was racing through me again, making every cell of mine burn and cry out.

Then all my memories flooded me all at once...

"Aaron please don't leave"

"I have to.... Please don't tell them where I went..."

My only friend had run away, telling the only person he trusted where he was going. Now they were trying to get the information out of me.

"Where did he go?" I could hear the impatience growing in my owners voice.

I was still silent. He narrowed his eyes, "You're making this more painful for yourself. Now I'm going to give you only a couple more chances."

I closed my eyes, but my confidence was cracking. I knew what was coming when I heard him sigh, and I opened my eyes again in time to see him turn up the power level.

I tried to think quickly, if I stopped him now, I would be betraying Aaron, but if I stayed silent, I would certainly would break anyways...

"Wait..."

I couldn't believe what I was doing.

"Do you want to tell me now?"

I would hate myself forever....

"Yes.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple days later I had a dream.

I was drowning in a still, vast ocean. When I came to the surface, a winged figure was walking away on the water.

I cried out to him and when he turned... It was Aaron...

I woke quickly as cold water hit me, but I was to tired to really do anything about it.

They didn't want me getting a chance to run the day before, so they chained me.... And hung me from the ceiling. And now I still hung there, dripping wet.

I opened my eyes slightly, glaring at my owner's son. He was about 17.

"Wake up, you stupid animal." he said, obviously in a hurry.

Oh I'll show you animal, when I'm beating your skull in. I thought, glaring more. He nodded at someone with a large knife. The man swung at the chain, breaking it.

I fell and hit the floor with a muffled thud. All the air came out of me at once, making me gasp for air.

"Get up." He said, lightly kicking me with his boot. One day I'll make him regret that.

Then someone grabbed the chains and yanked me, finally making me wake enough to stand. Shaky as I was, I managed to stagger out.

Today was the day, explained the stupid brat, that we hunt down Aaron. I solemnly walked with my head down to the buggy where my owner wait. The son got in as I walked along side, trying to hide my tears. They were laden with with guns of all sorts, as if they were hunting a wild animal. It made me angry but I couldn't change how they thought of us.

I sighed and walked on. Minutes turned into hours as we made it closer to our destination. Is hoped Aaron had gotten further by now...

.....but my heart broke as I was proven wrong......

"There he is!" One of the others that had come yelled.

Quickly I looked to see Aaron, running through a field of cotton.....

Everyone got out of the cart and started walking, one person dragging me behind them.

This one moment would be the one I never forget..... And the one I always regret...