Feb 13, 1874 Outskirts of Richmond, Virginia
Hot blood spat onto Alexandra's face. For a moment, she wasn't exactly sure what had happened. Pressing a hand to her face, the beads of blood smeared across her hand. In front of her, a lifeless body started falling to the ground, blood still spurting from the wound in its head. Alex watched as Aminata's body hit the ground; it made a kind of a muffled 'crunch' sound against the rock and broken branches. The shouts of her pursuers were dull in comparison, and it was all Alex could do but to stare in disbelief.
Just like that, a bullet flew past her ear. The ringing was unbearable, but it was enough to snap Alex back into the moment. Forest. Forest in every direction as far as the eye could see. Deep shades of greens and browns, a late evening sun gleaming off the leaves. In another time, Alexandra might have admired the scene, but her gaze shifted back to Aminata. She was dead, nothing Alex did would change that. She forced herself to turn away from the body and run.
By now, the men were almost upon her. Alex could see them moving between the trees around her, and they could see her. Her bare feet carried her as fast as they could, the feeling of dry dirt and leaves between her toes, felt somewhat liberating. Stray bullets flew around her; each of them missing their mark. It was a wonder that they had managed to hit Aminata. Alex continued to run. Aminata had bought her time, no doubt she would have been dead without her. Then again, without her, Aminata might have made it out.
The plan had been a solid one. No one knew of Alexandra's skill with a lock, so getting unbound and out of their shackles would be easy, what they hadn't accounted for was one of the wagon guards at the back of the group who had decided to lag behind to do his 'business'. They had successfully escaped their bindings and cage, but the moment that guard saw them about 300 feet behind the main group, it was all over.
They ran, and for a moment they had almost gotten away, but Alex tripped, slamming her leg into an unearthed tree root. Aminata, could have left her behind and escape with her life, but no. She immediately spun around to help Alex up, and that's when it happened.
Alexandra's leg was suddenly filled with pain remembering her fall. She could feel herself growing more and more exhausted by the minute. The men were further away now, how she had gotten ahead of them, she hadn't the faintest idea. Feeling absolutely spent, she stumbled to a stop and slumped herself into a small dip in the ground. Her chest heaved in exhaustion as she gulped in air. Face and hair still matted with Aminata's blood. Sweat dripped from her brow, and her ragged clothes clung to her damp skin.
Alex couldn't hear the men anymore. Surely they hadn't given up? She peered over the ridge of root and dirt surrounding her. Nothing. She slipped back down, still heaving. Maybe she'd rest here until dark.
