The Sky Never Ends

Friend or Foe

"My name is Ikal, I am trapped under a contract in this aberrant place like you. Purchased to be the prosperous white man's lackey farm hand. He claims I stole from him, and this is how I repay my debt to him and to society. Had me attacked then captured." he spoke with a thick accent that was unfamiliar to her, a look of disgust on his face. He looked like he was of indigenous descent, though she knew very little about the native peoples. She was shocked to hear him tell her that Warren sent for him, he didn't seem like the type.

"That's preposterous... and why do think you know my circumstances?" she asked obtusely, quickly realizing that she was currently kneeling on the ground washing dishes, like a servant. 

"We're the only two people around this place with melanin in our skin, you are the only one who has constantly been working. You did not eat with or talk with the family much. It is not difficult to figure out... Selah is your name, right?"

Selah eye-balled him skeptically, questioning his intentions. 

"What are your motives, if I might ask?" she queried, beginning to be annoyed by his interrogation after such a long day. "Why do you care to know so much about me?" 

"I don't have a motive. I believe I have a solution." Ikal retorted back. He crouched down until he was eye level with Selah. "I believe we can help each other." 

"You've been here half a day... I've been here half of the year, and you're already trying to break out? And drag me down with you? No, thank you." she shook her head and returned to washing dishes, doing her best to ignore his presence.

"Maybe, you won't be interested now, maybe after I--"

"No. Listen, I'm sorry about the fact that you are stuck here with me, I can sympathize, but frankly, I don't know you. I don't know what kind of person you are, I don't know if you are actually a thief, I don't even know if you're sane. For a first impression you are doing a terrible job of convincing me to want talk to you again. I can tell you're trouble."

Ikal casually shrugged his shoulders and sat down a couple of yards away from where she was kneeling. 

"I'll be successful, you will see." 

Selah rolled her eyes, she resumed washing the dishes with a bit more vigor,  visibly irritated. 

What kind of person begins a conversation that way? she thought. She realized she was somewhat of a hypocrite, because she'd tried to escape herself, but if was after extensive planning and preparation, and it was still a total failure. 

"Have you become too submissive to these white people? Have you become too close to your massa?"

Selah's jaw dropped open, astonished. She furiously whipped her head around to him, a look of pure rage on her face.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You know absolutely nothing. Who are you to assume anything about me? Pathetic, you've just arrived and you're already complaining... and you accuse me of being weak? I'm sure I could assume a lot of great things about you too. 

Based off the few things you've told me, and have you've behaved so far, I don't seem I like you very much at all. Now, if you would please leave me to finish my inferior chores so I don't get punished by the white man." Selah wouldn't normally speak to anyone like that, not even her annoying little brothers, but this man was a crude piece of work. She felt he deserved every bit.

"I have ruffled your feathers, huh, little bird?" he laughed quietly to himself.

"You have thoroughly irritated me, and do not call me that. Please, excuse yourself."