Matthias scrambled on top of one of the many huts that sat behind his home. He stood staring on the flat wooden surface of the small home. Felix and Tyler then helped Mark up onto the roof as well. The blind man stumbled before falling into his Mat. Who caught him fluently.
" Are you okay?" Mat asked.
Mark nodded before standing up straight, brushing his hair out of his face.
"I will be soon".
The pair then faced the large field before then. In that small field, stood a small army. Around one hundred slaves, of all shapes and colours. Stood in white clothing. The emergency white tops and pants Matthias had on hand, just in case a slave came to him without any clothes. It was the best he could do, cheap whites.
" You're all here to help change the world" Matt shouted peacefully from the rooftop.
Matt looked down at the small assemble of friends that stood, looking out to the house. Tyler, Ethan, Felix, Mariza, Amy, Dan and Phil. His eyes then trailed over to Mark, who stood with a smile on his face.
" I know it was unnerving to be transported in such large numbers, the last time that happened, carnage en sued" Matt continued. " But we've brought you here to be treated as humans, as equals".
Not one slave said a thing. They all stood in silence, having been trained to keep quiet and follow orders. Mark noticed this, him having to pay attention more to sound. He could tell that no one was speaking, that was a bad sign.
" We want to change the law, through peaceful protest. We want to show the world that we're all human, not property" Mark spoke.
" We'll be shot!" A young boy cried out, not much older than ten.
It broke Marks heart to hear a feared cry of such a young boy in this position, he could only imagine his tears. A child shouldn't be scared to be shot by the very people who were meant to protect him. They only thing he should be worried about was if his room was clean.
" It's against the law to shoot anyone, slave or not if they have declared peaceful protest" Matt added.
" In the words of my dear friend" Mark started. " We fought protested for the rights of the natives. We protested for the rights of the gays. Now we must protest for the rights of slaves!" He continued.
" I was born a free man, then, like many of you that freedom was stolen from me. Then my master set me free, only for me to be chained again. I know both sides of our stories, and I know what worth you all have. We can do this, I know it's never been done before. But someone has to do it".
" Even if this March is shut down, it gives the world the idea. The idea that we all are human. We all breathe, we all cry and we all deserve to be free" Matt included.
A small murmur took over the crowd, a feeling of gathering waving through them. A feeling of hope, that maybe things will change.
" Those who are under fifteen and those who are over seventy will not be asked to protest. You're welcome to stay here" Matt called out.
The same young boy who had cried out of fear before stepped forward.
" No! I want to come!" He called.
Mark smiled down at him, he didn't know, but the boy returned the favour.
" ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR OF JOINING A PEACEFUL PROTEST, LOAD INTO THE TRUCKS MAKE SURE WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE SECURED INSIDE!!!" Matt yelled.
" This is a peaceful protest, anyone who isviolent might be arrested. If you are attacked, get one of our free leaders to step in, we hold right to protect you!" Tyler added as he waved group in the trucks.
Matt ran his shaking hand through his hair, the air blowing cold against his skin.
" Do you think this is possible?".
Mark bit his lower lip nervously.
" I think that we'll make a difference".
~
Jack sped down the highway, travelling back from Rose's home which was a town over. Not a long drive.
He was glad that the roads were clear, not another car in sight. He didn't want to make a mistake that would cost another life. He would never be able to forgive himself.
"I'm coming Mark, everything will be okay in a few days" he spoke, whispering it to himself.
Jack reached over, toggling with the buttons that controlled the radio. The man had planned on listening to the disc Tyler had in the car. Instead the radio turned on. Jack was about to change it, but the news report spiked his attention.
It seems a small herd of people have gathered over the Hollywood stars, blocking the road they can be seen slowly marching down the road
Jack's hands tightened over the steering wheel, he hoped that what he was thinking wasn't coming to pass. He hoped that Mark hasn't taken such a bold move.
Our camera have looked closer and we can see that each person is wearing white. With a few wearing other clothes at the front. Quite a number of these people are wearing collars. The slaves are marching-
" Jesus Mark, you're going to get yourself killed, they'll shoo on sight!".
But not alone. There are a few people at the front, they don't have collars and seem to be leading the pack. They may be the organisers of this event-
Suddenly the car started to slow, choking like a person sick. Jack panicked and swerved off the toad as he approached the town he wanted to be in.
" What? What's wrong?" He questioned the vehicle.
The car leapt once before becoming stationary. Jack swore as he pulled the handbrake, his eyes drifting to the fuel gauge.
It rested on empty.
" Fucking fuel!" Jack swore.
Sean took the keys from the ignition and slammed the black door as he leapt from the car. His thumb pressed the lock button before he shoved the keys into his pocket.
He turned his head to the direction of town, nervous sweat running down his forehead.
I have to get to Mark
Jack calculated the circuit he would take to get the to the Hollywood stars. It would take an hour to walk there. He needed to be there right now.
" Let's see how fast you can run Jack".
The man then took off,running as fast as his legs could pump him. And no matter how much they ached or how laboured his breathing became. He kept going.
He'd go forever.
~
Marks hands shook with nerves as it clutched his white cane. The same cane Molly had given him. She herself welded one, much more expertly then Mark.
They linked free arms, having different preferred hands to hold their canes.
Next to them stood Dan and Phil, wearing their collars, green and red bands with more pride then they thought they could ever. Their eyes kept on the horizon as they walked in peace.
Felix and Mariza walked next to them in a pair. Almost mirroring their actions. Although they held up a sight with their outer hands.
" A peace protest" it read in blue spray paint.
Tyler and Ethan walked next to each other. Also holding signs that were made on the way there.
" Slave rights" it read, continuing from the other sign.
Next to them walked Amy. A yellow sun dress waving in the wind. A whole smile held on her face as she walked. She was giving a piggy back to the young boy who held onto her tightly. A smile on his age as well.
Around one hundred slaves walked behind them. Some held hands while others held makeshift signs.
" We are people too".
" Rights for all".
" Set us free".
Everyone walked in silence. No changing and no spoken words. They didn't need to say anything for their message to come across.
Cameras from news stations and a chopper flew over head. It seems everyone was invaded in the first ever slave rights march.
People looked on from the side lines. Tyler frowned as he saw Mothers shielding the scene from their child's eyes. But smiled when he saw many people smile at them.
Dan was happily walking next to Mark, describing what was going on around them. He was happy to say that a few slaves and their masters had jointed the protest, even though they walked with leashes they walked with smiles.
" You're just my house keeper, that doesn't mean ya ain't my friend" The old man holding the slaves collar said.
" Ya deserve a pay check".
Mark smiled, happy tears streaming down his face as he heard that. Dan described many more people joking them. Soon their group had grown quite a lot. But no more then two hundred people marched.
Many slurs were herd from people at the sidelines. Calling them slaves and other terms. Some even tired to order the police to take actions. But as cops cars turned up, they merely blocked off the streets so no one could run them over.
Society had grown quite a bit, even as it lacked in rights. It gave all freedom to have a voice to the public, the media and the government. Whether that be songs, charity events of peaceful protest. No one had any ground to stop them, only make the event safe for all.
" It's working" Mark whispered to Molly.
The brown haired girl smiled.
" Of course".