It was dark as Danny Bensin slipped out of his shack carrying everything he owned wrapped in a torn bundle over his shoulder. He had to be quiet or he might wake up the master, then he would be beaten so bad he might never getaway. As the door closed, Danny stood there for a minute to listen. He had to be sure no one found him. All he heard was the chirping of the crickets as they called trying to attract a mate for the night. Since everything was quiet, Danny stepped away from the house and took his first step into freedom. Life will now be different. Suddenly a torch came out of the big house. Danny saw it lift up showing Jon Darkstan's face. Danny froze scared to death to move muscle..
"I know you are out here." He yelled. "Come out and there will be no punishment."
Danny's heartbeat was beating like a racehorse. He knew better than to believe what he said. There would be punishment if he was caught. The master had his whip clutched tightly in his hand. No matter what he said, Danny knew he liked using it.
"Come boy." The master's voice was getting louder, more serious. "Do as I say. I won't hurt you."
Danny moved quietly through the forest. He had to get away now before he got his hands on him. He moved slow and quiet one step at a time. He could hear his own screaming in his ears. There was no way he would be giving up now.
Suddenly Danny heard dogs barking. He was being hunted. Those dogs would tear him to pieces if they caught him. Danny untied to bundle he was carrying and pulled out a foul-smelling jumpsuit. The smell of his master assaulted his senses. Quickly he put on the jumpsuit. If he was lucky, this smell would throw off the nose of the dogs. Being careful, Danny got in his feet and started to move. He had to get out of the area before he got caught. His steps were very careful. The master and the dogs were coming after him now. He was alone, but soon others would join the master and there would be no way for him to escape.
Danny had been a slave since he was born. His father hated him for being born and screwing up his life. He was heading to a privileged life until Sarah, Danny's mother dropped the bomb on him and messed up his life. Jules Jameson had been secure in his fancy life until Sarah told the world she was pregnant. From that moment on, Jules hared her. Who was she to destroy his life? She wasn't anybody. She was from a poor family thought they had it made with her pregnancy. But that wasn't in Jules plans. He would one day get married but it wouldn't be to her. When he married, it would be to the proper girl with money and a station to back up his family's money. What Sarah got was a set of chains and a shabby hut on someone’s plantation. Her family couldn't help her. Her father barely had enough to get a sandwich. When she disappeared, there would be no search party out looking for her. She would be lost and forgotten.
The morning Sarah disappeared, she was supposed to meet Jules for dinner in Monte Ballen and she did. But that night hadn't gone the way she thought it would. She never got the fine dinner and proposal she expected. What she got was a hamburger and a set of chains to start off her new life. After her cheap dinner, Jules dropped her off at the slave market where her new life began. She was beaten, stripped, put in chains and sold to someone from far away that would make sure she never stepped foot in Monte Ballen again.
For the next nine months, Sarah spent her nights in chains until Danny was born. He grew up less than fifty miles away from his grandparent’s estate Yes, he knew who he was but there would never be anyway to prove it. He even saw his father from time to time. His mother made it a point to point him out. But Danny never spoke to him. Not even when his master forced him to work in his father's fields. But one day Danny knew he would get revenge for what he did to him and his mother. It will take years but, Danny would have his revenge.
Life at the Darkstan plantation was hard. It was worse for Danny because the master saw a way to torture his father every time he saw Danny. At least that's what he thought. The truth is that Jules rarely gave Danny a thought. He didn't care when he saw Danny limping or with a black eye and bruised. But Danny knew why it was all happening to him. Jon Darkstan had a morbid way to love someone. He thought the more he beat him, the more Jules would suffer. No one ever said Jon Darkstan was very smart.
With his head down, Danny slipped away into the forest. He had to be careful where he stepped. The snapping of a twig or the rattle of some branch might give away his position. The master wasn't that far away. He was still in hearing range. As Danny moved away from his shack, he kept a close eye out for the master. It was more than twenty miles to the harbor. He had to keep off the road so no one caught him. The forest was dark, but the lamp post alone the road gave off enough light so he could still see. Suddenly Danny heard the sound of dogs barking. That was the master and his hounds. They weren't that far away. Danny looked up on the road and saw the master being pulled by his hound. At his side he had a double holster with two handguns and a whip. Danny knew that whip very well. He got beat with it almost every day. He had never seen the master without it.
As the master got closer, he stopped and looked down into the forest. Danny was frozen in the dark forest. If the master came down into the forest, he would be caught. He held his breath as Master stepped down off the road. the dogs yanked almost pulling him from his feet. The master cursed and yanked the leash back. One dog growl as it stared into the dark forest.
"Get going." Master Darkstan said as he slapped the dogs back. "Get moving!"
Turning away from the forest, the dogs pulled him down the road. As Danny relaxed, he saw three men up on the road laughing as they staggered away. Danny got down. He didn't know these men, this could be a trick. As they staggered away, four more men dressed in wild tight pants, one had a gold vest. It was old and threadbare, came slowly walking up the road. When they saw the first three, they pulled their weapons and charged. The drunks pulled weapons they tripped over each other as the pirates attacked. While one drunk, fidget and fell. a pirate grabbed a tree branch and cracked the drunk over his head. As he fell, the drunk dropped his pistol and kicked it into the forest. Danny saw the pistol lying in the forest. He couldn't grab it. Not yet he couldn't.
As they fought, the master grabbed his gun and shot one of the pirates. He dropped the leash and grabbed his whip. With a quick flick, he struck a pirate and pulled him into a right hook. Danny wanted to help the pirates but he couldn’t expose himself, and there was still the master. He couldn’t take the chance and allow the master to see him. If the master manages to win, he would insist Danny be given to him. That can’t happen.
As the fight finished, the pirates were all tied up and walked into town. Danny stayed behind in the dark as they left the area. Danny didn’t know what to do. He could go to town, the master is there and he would be immediately put in chains and returned. But the pirates were in town too. If he could get to them, he might get the chance to join them.
As Danny looked to see if anyone was still out there, he stepped out into the light. The gun was there under a bush. He picked it up and checked its charge. It was full. That was his first bit of luck. Danny went up on the road to see if anything else had been left behind. There was one of those gold vests, a backpack and a sword laying on the side of the road. Dany stuffed his things in the backpack and clipped the sword to his belt. The gun, he stuck in his belt So far it had been an interesting night. But it wasn’t over and he was still an escaped slave. Sticking to the forest, Danny continued on his way to town.
Monte Ballen is a small town with a lot of important people living in the plantations that were built all around the city. The mayor and the city council had plantations off half the back roads. Important people from all over the state had placed in the mountains. The main restaurant, Monte Bella was owned by Jules Jameson. Yep, that Jules Jameson. It was one of his favorite places. Not only could he get drunk there for free, but some of Monte Ballen’s most beautiful women worked there as hosts or on the waitstaff. He was there back to hers always there trying to pick someone up either with his money or with a few of the connections he had in the city. Yeah, Monte Ballen was a wonderful place to work, if you didn’t mind being treated like shit.
Tonight Monte Bella had a real special mystery guest watching the entrances and exits. He had plans for someone here and tonight would be his only chance to pull it off.
At the bar, Jules had a tab open and he was buying for everyone.
“Rock.” Jules called with his arm around Magda’s waist. “Shots for everyone.”
Magda grabbed the shot and tossed it back, then she smiled at Jules. She really hated the pig, but she liked taking his money from him. She would be here all night if that was what it took to empty his wallet. She had three thousand in her bag so far, but she knew he had more. A lot more.
Outside, Danny sat quiet waiting for Magda to bring his father out. They had been working on this plan for a year. Ever since Danny’s mother died working in Jules cotton fields. She died of dehydration and exhaustion. One of Sarah’s friends found out where she was and sent a message to Danny. When he got there, she was laying off behind a row of cotton. The Master wouldn’t allow anyone a minute to take her somewhere she could die with dignity. That night Danny got the worst beating he ever had. When he found his mother, he picked her up and took her home so she could lay with friends. With every lash of the master’s whip, Danny swore he would show the master and the man that put them there, the same fate she got.
As Danny watched the back door, two men dressed like the pirate only with more style road up to the back of the restaurant. Danny wasn’t sure, but it looked like they were arguing. Something told him he needed to hear this argument.
“That was the last time that man put his nose in my business.” The man in the skull covered bandana said. “I will kill him before I let him step on me again.”
“Come on Style.” The shorter man said. “You know Jon Darkstan owns this place and it’s with his grace that we are allowed here.”
“Is that supposed to mean I owe him something?” Style said in a deeper voice. “I’ll rip his throat out before I give him another scrap of gold.”
They were talking about the Master. They were talking about that fight on the road.
“That pig killed two of my crew.” Style spit out the word like they were poison. “I will have my revenge. I swear I will.”
As Danny listened, an idea popped into his head. This might work. Standing straight up, Danny stepped out of the forest and looked around to make sure the Master wasn’t there. Straightening out his clothes, Danny walked over to Style and his first mate with his hands up.
“Excuse me, gentlemen.” Danny bowed. “Maybe I can be of some assistance.”
Surprised, Style pulled his lazar and aimed it at Danny.
“Who are you?” Style said.
“I may be the answer to your prayers,” Danny said smiling.
It was early in the morning, the roosters were crowing and the sun had just come up over the eastern mountains. Magda carried a drunk Jules out of the restaurant and started on they’re way through town towards the back harbor where the Sleeping Dragon was anchored. Jules mumbled something about some girl he once loved. Magda felt sorry for the girl. The way Jules was talking, she could tell he was just using her for sex. He told her he would marry her, but that was a lie. He planned to get rid of her once he was tired of her.
Once they passed the harbor master's cabin, Danny and two pirates came and took Jules and escorted him to the Dragon. Jules was to drunk to fight even if he had an idea of what was going to happen to him. Once on deck, he laughed and dug in his pocket and pulled out a wad of money. He passed it out to the pirates then turned and fell into a cargo hold where he fell asleep as chains were put on his hands and feet.
“That’s one,” Danny said to Capt Styles.
“Now you earn your keep.” Capt Styles said. “Find me the Master.”
With a dark smile on his face, Mr. Bensin lead four pirates off the Dragon and into town. He knew the master was still out there looking for him. All he had to do was let the people in the shipyard know where he was and the Master would come to him.
There was a small tavern where pirates and sailors spent hours getting drunk. This place was also good for shanghing men to crew a ship if one was desperate for a crew. Mr. Pax, the first mate took Danny in and set him up with enough money for drinks until the Master came in. Danny sat at a table in the back while Pax and his men waited at the bar. Danny drank beer while Pax and his men had Rum. In the corner, there was a small stage where two men with guitars sang as entertainment. It was loud in the tavern, men played poker and darts to help the morning slide by. After waiting two hours, the Master came in with two other men. Danny saw him the second he stepped into the bar, but he played drunk. Danny picked up a flagon and slammed it down on his table calling for more rum. When the master saw him he smiled thinking this would be an easy capture.
The Master whispered something to his two allies than pointed to the right and left of Danny. As the waitress brought Danny another glass of rum, the master followed behind her staying down out of Danny’s sight.
The Master whispered something to his two allies than pointed to the right and left of Danny. As the waitress brought Danny another glass of rum, the master followed behind her staying down out of Danny’s sight.
“For you kind sir.” she slid the glass over to Danny as he fumbled in his pocket for a coin. When the master saw Danny had money, he stopped and looked around. Danny shouldn't have money. He was a slave. Where would he get money from?
As he slammed a pair of shackles on the table, Danny looked up at him with clear blue eyes.
“Good evening Master Darkstan.”
As Danny stood up, Pax and his men jumped the Master and slammed a fist into his jaw. When he fell, the two men that were with the master darted out of the door and ran out of the shipyards and into town. Heaving the master up, the two men carried him out of the bar as Pax paid off the Barkeep to keep his mouth shut.
“Let’s go.” Pax said as the bar went back to its usual business.
When Jon Darkstan woke up, he was chained to the center rack with a blond-haired man inexpensive clothing. His whip and his guns were gone and the floor moved up and down like he was on a ship. Of course, he was on a ship, there wasn’t any other way to take him captive. He owned enough of Monte Ballen to make kidnapping impossible. This had to be the pirates. Then he remembered Danny Bensin. He had something to do with this too. Jon couldn’t wait to get to someone that was in charge here. He would make them all sorry.
As he tested his chains, the blond moaned. Good, he was waking up. As he turned over, Jon got a good look at his face. He knew him. It was that bastard, Jules Jameson. Danny’s father.
Jules sat up, put his hand to his head and groaned.
“Oh, my head.” He opened his eyes then shut them again cut off the light. As he swayed back and forth with the rocking ship, he suddenly felt sick to his stomach. He turned and threw up. Jon Darkstan stood there looking down at him. He smelled terrible. He was sitting in piss, throw up and shit. He had made a mess all over himself in his sleep.
“Are you finished?” The master kicked him.”You smell like a pig!”
Jules opened his eyes and looked up at him and recognized him.
“Jon Darkstan?” He looked around him. “Where the hell are we?”
Just as he was about to answer, a door opened and Capt Style and Pax walked in carrying a bundle of rags.
“Good morning gentlemen.” He said throwing the rags at Jules. “You stink.”
“Where am I?” The master demanded. He had woken up up some ship out at sea. This is not where he was supposed to be. “You will take me back to Monte Ballen right now How dare you bring me here. I will have your head for this!”
Calmly Capt Styles stepped up to the master and smacked the hell out of him.
“This is my ship.” Capt Styles said. “It doesn’t matter how you got here. You are here, and that means you belong to me. That’s right, you are now MY slave. How do you like them apples?”
Jon started to say something, but Capt Style waved him off.
“Doesn’t matter.” He said. “You are here and you will do whatever I say, for as long as I want you.”
Just then the door opened and Danny Bensin came in.
“YOU!!” Jon tried to leap out and grab him, but the chains stopped him. “When I get my hands on you…”
“You won’t do anything.” Danny said.”I’m not your slave anymore and I have a lot to pay you back for. And you!!!”
Danny pushed the master out of his way and grabbed Jules and pulled him up to face him.
“Do you know who I am?”
“No.” Jules said as he removed his shirt and put the other one on. “And I have no idea what I’m doing here.”
“Do you remember Sarah Bensin?”
Jules stopped when he heard the name. He turned back to Danny.
“She was a slave.” He said as he tied the rope around his waist. “Big deal. I’ve had a lot of slaves.”
“Yeah.’ Danny nodded his head. “And you made a few too. Sarah Bensin was my mother. You sold her to him when she was pregnant.”
“Yes, you did,” Jon said. “I’m not ashamed of what I did. I bought her from you and made her a slave. I have no reason to lie and nothing to prove. What I did was wrong, and I don’t care, but I’m not a liar.”
“No,” Danny said. “You’re a sadistic bastard and you will pay for my mother’s death. Both of you.”
“I had nothing to do with your mother’s death.” Jon sneered.
“No, you didn’t. Danny said as he stepped up to face his ex- master. “What you did was worst. You knew how weak she was and you couldn’t show even a minute’s compassion. She would face died right there in the mud if I didn’t come and take her to someplace where she could find a bit of peace. And you beat me for that. You will pay for that.”
