Emilia sat in her chair in the living room, looking over all the bustling activity in her home. It was five months since she moved into what used to be the home that belonged to Leah and she marveled at how things couldn't be any better. Her devoted and ever obedient slave-mate was finishing up the dishes after serving a delicious meal for the five of them; her son was seated at the kitchen table working on his homework with his loving assistant by his side; even the newest addition, the overly talkative and energized girl, was finding ways to be useful. Work was stressful but home… home was perfect.

"Mrs. Richardson?" Molly asked, nervously approaching the tyrant of the household.

"What is it?" Emilia asked, inserting a bit of annoyance into her voice to ensure Molly didn't become too comfortable speaking to her.

"We received a big shipment of new books today near the end of business hours. I was just wondering if perhaps I could borrow Libby for a little while. People were asking for the book today before it arrived so I'm sure it will be a quick seller tomorrow so I thought it might be a good idea if we could get some put out before we open tomorrow."

"An eager little beaver aren't we? Keep it up. I wasn't really sure at first that we really needed a second slave girl in the house but you have been proving to be quite useful the last two months. You and Libby may go downstairs and work on setting up the displays but only for 30 minutes. I'm going out to meet so coworkers for drinks tonight and I want to make sure you girls are all secured before I leave."

"Thank you Mrs. Richardson." Molly replied politely before dashing over to Libby to get her assistance. Though neither Libby nor James seemed too pleased, Libby stood up and followed her friend downstairs into the bookstore. As Libby started to head towards the storage area in the back of the store, she stopped as she noticed Molly headed in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going? Aren't the new books in the backroom?"

"We need to get going now. The warehouse is only ten minutes away but trying to get there discreetly will take at least twenty minutes and they said they are going to leave at 7pm whether we were there or not." Molly told Libby.

"Get going? Warehouse? What are you talking about Molly? I thought you said that you wanted to get a jump start on shelving the newest shipment of books that arrived this morning?" Libby asked quizzically, tired from her long day.

"What? No, that was just a lie so that Emilia…"

"Mrs. Richardson. You know she doesn't like it if we call her by her first name, even when she isn't around."

"I don't care what she likes! We are leaving so what she likes won't matter anymore!"

"Leaving? What are you talking about? You know we aren't allowed to leave the house without permission or an escort. If there is somewhere you really need to go we can go and talk to James and maybe he will take you there."

"We don't need permission Libby! We are escaping!"

"Escaping? As in, trying to run away? Don't say things like that! If Mrs. Richardson hears you say that she isn't going to think it's a funny joke; she will punish you."

"It's not a joke. We are really escaping." Molly said softly, "I have it planned out. That couple who dropped off the shipment of books today, they are going to help us. They are heading back up to Eagle River tonight and are willing to let us hide in the back of their delivery van. Once up there we can camp out in the Nicolet National Forest for a few days, they said we can get some supplies from them like sleep bags and food. When they make a shipment to the Upper Peninsula they'll take us with them and drop us off with some people up there who can help us with the next step from there."

"Molly, why would we go to Michigan? It's still chilly at night here so it's got to be even colder up there. And where would we go from there? We can't just live in the forest forever. Don't you remember Wilderscouts? I'm not a long term outdoorsy type."

"Psssh, we won't live in the forest forever. We'll go to a town in the Upper Peninsula and then from there make our way to Canada."

"Molly, Canada is going to be even colder!" Libby pointed out, "Plus, why would we go to Canada? If we really were going to escape, which we are NOT going to do, wouldn't we want to go somewhere where slavery is illegal? Canada has similar laws to the U.S. and recognizes U.S. ownership documents."

"We aren't going to stay in Canada forever, we are just passing through."

"Passing through? Molly, Canada is a country, not a room. Canada stretches for thousands of miles in any direction and doesn't border anywhere except for the U.S.!"

"True, but if we can get to Newfoundland we can go by boat to Greenland and they still outlaw slavery there!"

"Your plan is to go to Greenland? That's probably 3,000 miles at least!"

"More like 2,500 miles. Now I know that sounds like a lot…"

"Because it is a lot!"

"But it's not like we'll be walking most of the way. We'll get rides in vehicles most of the way. But we have to get going now! If we don't show up on time they'll leave without us."

"Molly, no! We aren't leaving. Now let's shelve some books and then in like 30 minutes we can go back upstairs and see what James is doing. Maybe we can watch some TV or play a board game or…"

"Libby, you aren't listening! We are leaving!" Molly said, grabbing her friends' arm and pulling her towards the door.

"Molly, you aren't listening! I'm not leaving and neither are you!" Libby groaned as she pried Molly's hand from her wrist.

"Why are you so against this? Do you think it's a trick? Because I am confident that these people aren't trying to trick us. I know it's a little risky but…"

"I don't think they are trying to trick us. I mean, they might be or they might be sincere but that's not the problem."

"Don't you want to be free? Is it your mom? I mean, I understand that you don't want to leave her behind but there is no way we are going to get her away from Emilia. If it was during the day we could probably do it but once Emilia is home there is no way your mom could get past her."

"Molly, stop! This is pointless. We AREN'T going and that's final! Now please, let's do some work and then go relax."

"Is it James? I know you love him but I can't think of any way to get him down here without making Emilia suspicious. Once we are safe in Greenland you can write him a letter or something."

"Molly, shut up! We aren't going and that's final!"

"Fine, if you really don't want to go I can't force you to go but I am leaving. I'm only going to ask one more time, please PLEASE come with me."

"Do you know what will happen to you if you try and escape and get caught? Mrs. Richardson is the lead scientist at a medical research facility. Do you want to end up there? Do you want to test painful and dangerous new drugs and surgeries for the rest of your life? And it will be a short life, I'm certain Mrs. Richardson would make sure of that! Things aren't so bad here. We aren't starving, our clothes get mended, we get to bathe frequently, we have a warm place to sleep, most of the punishments aren't too bad, James is protective over both of us, and even Mrs. Richardson seem to be starting to like us some. If you try to escape, all of that is gone." Libby tried to explain to her friend.

"Do you want to spend the rest of your life like this? Trapped in a tween's body, living a life of servitude to a cruel woman, knowing that someday it's all going to come crashing down on you? Do you think James is going to protect you forever? He is getting older and someday he is going to meet someone else, someone his own physical age, and then he's going to look at you and I and wonder why he's still tied himself to a pair of middle schoolers. And once he's bored with us the first little mistake we make we'll end up at Emilia's work. Our only real chance at freedom and survival is to leave now!"

"James and I are in love! Even if he starts to find other girls more attractive than me he isn't going to throw me to the wolves like that. Molly, you are supposed to be my best friend, please don't ruin our lives! You owe us for getting you away from Andrea!"

"I am your best friend and I'm trying to help you, not hurt you! If you really don't want to go, then stay but I am leaving."

"If you leave there is no way that Mrs. Richardson won't assume that I helped you escape. Please, if you leave you'll be ruining my life here whether I stay or go."

"Then come with me!" Molly pleaded.

"No!" Libby shouted, "And… And…"

"And what? You basically just said you don't have a choice."

"And if you walk out that door I'm going to go tell Mrs. Richardson you are escaping."

"You wouldn't dare! You wouldn't betray your best friend like that."

"I wouldn't betray my best friend? You're betraying your best friend!"

"It's time to go… now!" Molly ordered, grabbing Libby's wrist again and pulling her towards the door, making some progress despite Libby dragging her heels.

"No Molly, stop! I won't go!"

"Yes you will, stop fighting me!"

"No I won't!" Libby cried out, grabbing at a hardcover book as Molly pulled her closer to the front door.

"Please stop resisting! You know this is for your own…" Molly explained, straining to overpower Libby's resistance before a sharp blow to the back of the head made everything go black.

Libby, looking down at the body of her best friend sprawled out on the floor, felt panic begin to wash over her. "Oh please god don't be dead! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry…" Libby whimpered, dropping down to the ground and searching Molly's neck for a pulse, "Oh thank god, you're still alive."

Dragging Molly's unconscious body back towards one of the book display tables, Libby gently placed her friend down on the floor. Making sure not to hit Molly with any of them, Libby shoved a few books off the table and onto the floor around Molly.

"Help! Someone help! Molly is injured! She hit her head on a table!" Libby screamed, hoping to summon Emilia and Leah before whispering to Molly, "I'm sorry but you'll eventually know this was for your own good. Now at least Mrs. Richardson won't know you wanted to escape."