"I see that you are a troublemaker. I love teaching troublemakers how to follow the rules."
I get ready for more trauma. My hands clench and I close my eyes.
"Dear Brother, may you please come here. There is quite a fierce bidding war for one of your slaves. You don't want to miss it."
"Seriously, what slave is worth it."
"Come and see."
I look at my queen and she smirks. The guards follow the prince and leave me and Numa me on the floor. Numa still has tears on her face. I cover my skin and get up, lending a hand to Numa.
"Get up Numa, we need to clean ourselves and get new clothes. We do not want to upset them even more."
She wipes her tears and smiles at me. I help her up and we go to the refresher.
It feels good to have water run over my wounds. Our showers are far away from the event center and near the captivity area. We are lucky, this time of day is barren of any people. I can still hear the yelling from the stadium. I still wonder how he dropped that whip. Did I do that? It felt like it.
"Hey, Ahsoka, did you see why his whip flew out of his hand? It was like magic. I wish I had powers. I would use them to free everybody here."
"Well, sadly we don't have any powers. But that doesn't stop us from becoming free. Have you noticed that lately, we have had a little more freedom? Maybe we can use it to our advantage."
"Are you saying what I think you are saying?"
"Yes, we are old enough to do it. We are smart. We know all of the hideouts and secret passages."
"But, what if we get caught, and sold. We have it better than most. No, it is not perfect but it is what it is."
"I am afraid of that too, but I want to travel, outside of being sold."
"We just don't get that luxury. And it would have to be one great plan."
"I will start planning."
All-day I do my duties and keep my head down. But excitement bubbles under my skin at the thought of freedom. I am appreciative of what Queen Scintel has done but I am tired. This week I will work on the plan and next week we will figure it out. In three weeks from now, we will be free.
"So do you have a proposal?"
"I think I figured it out. Next week we get a new shipment of slaves. During those times guard shifts around the west side are less because the encampment is on the east. The mines are to the north too and they have ships going in and out all of the time. If we pick the right time of day and exit through the west then head north and take a ship, we can escape."
"That sounds great but, what time of day? And that is very far to not get caught, someone will notice we are missing. We also do not know how to pilot a ship."
"Yeah well I was thinking about that, I was gonna ask you about any suggestions for times, we get alibis like say I am going to get something, and have you ever talked to the other slaves, they know stuff."
"Ok, so we have a week and a half to smooth out the details."
"Yep."
"Ok, we are really doing this."
"Yes, we are."