"FightForFreedom" by LeahDiane

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I was eight years old. My family was travelling to a new city in search of a better life. My father promised that he would find a good job and that we'd have no more worries of war and violence. I looked up into the sky, thinking of my fathers promises

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when my mother looked at me with a curious stare, "What troubles you Jacob?" she asked kindly. I lied and explained that I was tired. She looked at me sweetly and told me that we were getting close.

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Soon night began to fall but we continued. My mother did not like the idea of travelling at night but my father assured her that we would be fine. After what seemed like only minutes though, I heard the sound of horses pounding against the ground, getting

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louder and louder. Suddenly men with swords ready in their hands came charging out of a forest. My father pulled out a small dagger but it seemed almost pathetic compared to these men. They circled around us before dismounting from their steeds.

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My mother's voice trembled as she spoke to them, "W-What do you want with us?" She asked. The men made way for who seemed to be their leader, who approached my mother with an evil grin on his face. "Me?" He asked. "Well there's quite a lot I want but I'll

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settle with whatever money you have along with you." Then he turned to me and his grin widened. "Perhaps I'll take this young boy as well. I know many rich men who are in need of a new slave." My father charged at the man, his face full of rage. At first

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the leader looked suprised but he quickly got over his confusion as he stepped out of the way of my father's charge and striked at him from behind. My father fell to the ground as the leader kicked his head. I stood there in shock. My mother stood in

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front of me, shielding me from the man. He then shook his head, "I didn't even get to introduce myself." He stated. "My name is Henry." He said with a slight bow. He then turned to his men and ordered them to seize me. My mother pleaded and screamed as

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they came near. She tried to fight them off but they simpily pushed her to the side. She tried to fight them again. This time they took out their swords and ended her. Tears were flowing down my face as the men dragged me off.

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(Ten years later)
-------------------"JACOB!" The loud yell almost makes me fall to the ground as I quickly run down the stairs to my owner. "I requested wine 5 MINUTES AGO!" He yelled. I flinched and quickly apologized. Then I walked into the kitchen

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and poured a large amount of wine into one of his finest glasses. I set it on his table and went back to my cleaning. I turned eighteen just a few days ago. I tried to think of my mother and how much she would have complained about how I was growing up

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too fast. But I didn't feel the same way. These past ten years have felt like one hundred. My arms and legs were tired from a full day of work yet if I didn't put full effort into what I was doing now, I would not get a night of sleep. My owner laughed

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downstairs as he entertained the guests he had over for dinner. He made sure that I only show my face if he needed something, as though I were a disgusting creature. After another two hours of work upstairs, the guests finally left and I returned to the

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first floor. My owner signaled me off to bed and I couldn't help but to smile as I walked off into the small and dirty hut outside. I met the other slaved outside tending to the farm. They looked at me with jealousy as I made my way to the hut. I opened

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the door and laid down on the few sheets I am given for a bed. I fell asleep almost instantly.

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I woke suddenly in the middle of the night to the smell of smoke. I rushed outside and saw the house completely engulfed in flames. Then I saw a man to the side of the fire, holding a torch and yelling for me to follow him. I hesitated but eventually

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followed the man to the road. I demanded that he explained what was happening here but my words were cut short when I saw people appear from all sides. The man turned to me and said, "If you wish to join us, we are taking the freedom we deserve." I

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thought this man had gone mad. The fact that he thought that we could become free has been something that I have denied for ten years. But I looked around me and saw everyone who had been denied freedome. I saw the determination on their faces and nodded.

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He smiled and motioned for me to follow him. Hundreds of slaves marched down the road attacking any guards in their path. After ten minutes I could see the gate in the distance. The leader yelled a brave cry and everyone continued to march. I looked to my

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Eventually we were stopped by a line of soldiers. Their spears and shields leveled. They came forward. A few slaves who mannaged to find weapons charged at them only to be slaughtered. I looked at our leader. He nodded at me and yelled loudly. Everyone

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else yelled and charged at the guards. They obviously didn't expect this because we quickly overwhelmed them. We started to run faster down the road until we were right at the gate. Slaves climbed up the ladder while the guards

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shot arrows as fast as they could at those who attempted this. Suddenly from further down the wall slaves came running at the guards allowing those on the ladder to climb up safely. Everything went great until rows of soldiers marched towards us. A few

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slaves picked up bows and tried to shoot arrows but they were quickly put down by the archers. I picked up a sword next to a fallen soldier and prepared for the worst. Suddenly the gates were opened by some of the slaves. The soldiers were close now. One

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arrow missed my head by and inch. The soldiers ran at us. I backed away but realized that this was my fate. I ran at a soldier and knocked him off of his feet, quickly stabbing him down. Another soldier came up behind me. I dodged his attacked and stabbed

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his side. I realized that for every soldier that was killed, three slaves were slaughtered. I was quickly surrounded. I looked to my left. The leader of the our rebellion was fighting two men at once. Other slaves were running out of the gates hoping that

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an arrow wouldn't hit them as they ran. A spear hit my leg and I fell to me knees. A soldier pointed a spear at my throat. "You will never be free. This is where you belong." He said in a disgusted tone. He then stabbed me. I fell over. What the soldier

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didn't know is that by killing me, I would finally be free.