Maurice is running through the woods. "Shit, shit, shit! I didn't plan as well as last time. You all go ahead, they think I ran by myself," he says to the slaves. A slave then says "Are you sure?" "Yes I am sure, keep running. You will meet with Joshua, he will take you to freedom, just get to the shore," says Maurice as he gets ready to run the opposite way the slaves are. When Maurice hears the slavers getting closer he takes off. A slaver then says "Maurice is headed that way," the slaver points to the right, and the rest of the slavers follow. They are chasing Maurice who is leading them away from the escaping slaves. "You can't run forever boy!" A slaver says as he is running as fast as he can. They are chasing Maurice for 2 minutes before one of the slavers corners him with a horse. "Oh no, you caught me," Maurice says as he gets on his knees. One of the slavers puts a rope around Maurice's hands and attaches him to the horse. "Now come on boy time for yo' punishment," a slaver says while pulling on Maurice's rope. They all make it back to the plantation and are stopped by Jakari. "So he tried to escape again, huh? How many times does that make," Jakari says as he walks down the stairs of the Big House. "35," a slaver says to Jakari. "Whip him a couple of times and bring him to my room so I can deal with the boy," Jakari says to the slaver. The slavers take Maurice to the shed and start tying him up. As they are a slaver says "He always gets off easy. Does he even know how long it took us to chase him," in response one of the other slavers says "Yes of course I do but we can't go against what Mr. Acklen says and Jakari is an extension of Mr. Acklen and even though he is a nigger we have to listen to what he says." They finish tying Maurice up and start whipping him. They hit him with the whip 10 times and Maurice just yawns when it's over they then untie him and pull him to the ground. "You cocky bastard," a slaver says as he is helping to take Maurice to Jakari's room. They get into the Big House and walk up the stairs to Jakari's Room. They open the door and throw Maurice to the ground. "Good, you all may leave now," Jakari says to the slavers who leave and close the door. Maurice gets off the floor and dusts himself off. "What were you thinking," says Jakari. "Hi, Dad," Maurice says as he looks through the drawers. Angrily Jakari says "Look at me when I'm talking to you, boy!" Shocked Maurice says "What's your problem," "My "problem" is that you keep running away from this plantation helping these slaves escape and I can't keep protecting you. Sooner or later you will get hanged or whipped to death," says Jakari in a serious tone. Maurice scoffs and then says "Well it's not your job to protect me." "It is my job, boy, I'm your father and a father is supposed to protect their children," Jakari says worryingly. "If you really wanted to protect me you would help me free these poor slaves," Maurice says as he puts his shirt on. Switching back to a serious tone Jakari says "These slaves are the property of Joseph and I might have a lot of power here but even I would get found out if I was to help free these slaves and sooner or later you will be caught," "You keep saying "sooner or later" but I don't care about "sooner or later" these slaves need me now and I won't stop until I free them all," says Maurice. "You can't free every slave in the plantation Maurice," Jakari says in a conclusive tone. "Well, who am I if I don't try?" Maurice says and then walks out of the room. "I'm not ready for that moment my son, one day you have to see the truth or you will suffer the consequences," Jakari says as he picks up Maurice's dirty clothes and puts them in the corner. Jakari lays down in his bed and falls asleep. When the morning comes Jakari puts on his clothes and walks outside to the field slaves. "Wake up slaves," Jakari says while shouting. The slaves get up and get in a line. Jakari then says "Good, I hope y'all slept some good because today y'all will be working your asses off!"
To Be Continued…