Sarah... 
September 1995... Location unknown...

It's been weeks since they took my friend away. I haven't heard from him, I haven't seen him, I don't even know if he's alive or dead. I just assume he's dead. Sometimes I just stay awake trying to imagine how he died. If he suffered, if he was in pain, if he went on to a better place. I really hope he is. Our sexual violations seem to have been reduced after that whole ordeal with the hero boy (yes, I call him that now). It seems like some of them are scared, or maybe tired of violating us, but nothing has happened since the incident. But I think something about it is making my mum uneasy, she gets startled by any sudden noises, or she gets panic attacks anytime she hears footsteps coming closer, even when it's the people who bring our food (who are usually women). It has been getting me concerned. I get scared sometimes when she goes like that, there's a sudden panic when she panics which always takes me back to when we were in the car about to be kidnapped. When the whole ordeal started. But I've been trying to get over it, but it's difficult when my mum is getting scared. Seems like I have no other choice than to join her.
After three weeks of no one coming to bother us, I finally found out why; it was one of those nights when they have their usual parties . When we're usually expectant of their intrusions, but after three weeks, we seem to have forgotten it's a thing till we heard laughter coming from the hallway. Voices of men heading our way and our panic level rose. Our level of panic froze when we suddenly heard gagging and then a large thud coming from the hallway, close to our cell door. Then we heard a voice yell out
"You",  then a much younger voice says "you will not touch them".
Then we heard a sound like a muffled gunshot, then another one. But this time, the body fell right in front of our cell door and I could see the light go out of his eyes and I could remember him as one of our violators and a small sense of joy came to me. But I was still scared because I didn't know what happened to him or who killed him. The killer is obviously close by, so what if he or she decides we're next? We have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. My panic level was about to blow up till I saw him. The familiar face of my hero boy standing in front of our cell, holding the gun. I was compelled to run to him and hug him but my mum held me back. Her sudden tugging of my shirt drew me back to reality and I asked why... 
"He's one of them sweetie, he wants to hurt us". Was the reply she gave.
"But mum, he just saved us. He killed the bad men that were coming to hurt us". I replied,
"If he really wanted to help us, he'd find the keys and get us out of here". I was about to respond when he cut me off...
"Assuming I let you out, then what? Outside this building, there are guards, who I think went out for a drink but could be back before we go anywhere. Apart from this building, we're in a well fenced estate with guns and dogs guarding all the entrances. And even if you manage to get past them, we're no longer in Nigeria, we're in another country -Niger. Now, do you know your way around the city of Niger, or do you have any money to get you and your daughter out of the country? I think your best option for now is to stay put. I'll try to keep protecting you from outside till I figure out a better plan. So, for now, can one of you come help me with these bodies? They're quite heavy and I'm not sure I'm strong enough".
My mum folds her hands, pouts and turns away, indicating that she doesn't want to be a part of it, even when hero boy opens the cell door. I pulled myself away from my mum to go help him, ignoring her calling my name.
We took the first body to the top floor. The whole time, I felt scared that someone was going to notice us. But the whole place was empty. Maybe because they were all out drinking and everyone was too distracted to care about guarding the prisoners. We got to the top floor, then tossed his body out of a window, down into the trash, then we went back to the second one. After doing the same, I saw a balcony from which the moonlight shined through and, at that moment, I contemplated trying to escape. Jumping over the balcony and then running away from this dreadful place. It seemed like he understood the expression on my face because he cut in.
"You won't make the jump. It's too high up. That's why nobody guards here. Because they know it is impossible to get out through this way. The boss 01 told me about it. The trash empties into a river and the river flows too fast for anyone to swim through. Even if you want to ride the current, it's impossible. There are too many rocks on the riverbed, you wouldn't survive".
"I don't care. I would rather die than continue to live here like this". I replied.
"What about your mother?" He asked. Don't you worry, I'll figure it out. Try to ask her if she has anyone she could contact. I will try to find a way to get a message out. I'm being taught how this place works." There was something about his voice that gave me some reassurance that it would work out, so I just sat tight and shelved my thoughts of running away.
"Do you want to go sit under the stars for a while?" He asks.
I nodded yes and we walked down the balcony towards the light. I felt a sort of relief when the moonlight hit my face, like all my problems were fading away. The stars looked so beautiful, shining so far away, the sky was so clear and I could see the moonlight reflections on leaves and trees far away. Besides the occasional joyous chants from our violent hosts, everything felt really peaceful and I felt happiness. The kind I haven't felt in months, or have a reason to feel. We sat down on the floor and then, from out of nowhere, he brought out food and it felt like my day got brighter. Because I got to sit under the moon and the stars, having dinner and it was one of the best feelings I could ever have. We sat there eating in silence till I heard the sound of my mum calling for me to come back to the cell, for the guards would soon come back for a shift change. I stood up, gave hero boy a kiss on the cheek and then thanked him for a beautiful night before I proceeded to walk away.
"My name is Efe, by the way". He suddenly yells.
"Nice to meet you Efe. You're a very lovely person to be around. I'm Sarah".
I turned around and walked back to my cell with my mum.
....... Why do good times not last forever?.....