Matt...
August 1995... Location unknown...
It has been five days since I was put in this cell. I don't know if to call the next day better. The people in the cell with me; a woman and her daughter, seemed to be more scared of me than the people who put them in there. I don't fault them, I've heard what they go through. If I was in their shoes, I'd probably murder me in my sleep. Although I could see the hate in the woman's eyes every time she looked at me. Like I was the cause of all she's going through, like I was part of the people who brought her to this God-forsaken place. But if only she knew that I was kidnapped and brought here just like she was, if only she knew the heartbreak I went through when we were brought here. She didn't, she just spat anytime she saw my face. I was too weak and injured to care anyway. But her daughter, that little girl, seemed to be somewhat different. She cared for me when her mum was asleep. Always asking how I was doing every day, if I was feeling better, she gave me some of her food and water when she could spare, no matter how many times her mother discouraged her from it. Seemed like she was being thankful for standing up to her, but deep down, I knew I didn't do it for her. I really don't know why I did it, I just felt it was wrong... Although feeling the way I do now, with all the pains and aches, I really regret it... 
After the fifth day, without being given food or water, I was brought out to face 01. As I was being dragged away, I imagined this being the end of me, being taken to be killed, in revenge for the boy I killed and some part of me felt relieved. I get to see my parents again, I get to leave all this suffering behind, I don't have to wake up every day to this hell. It was all a welcome thought. Till I was brought before the man in charge -01. The look on his face was quite curious, a bit surprised, I might add. He looked at me a while before he spoke. His deep voice invoked a new level of fear in me. Because until today, I have never heard him speak.
"So I heard you don't want to be a part of our festivities, that you're resisting the beautiful process we set up here to teach you boys how to become men, how to see these white people as the tools they are, selfish people who only come to this country to loot and exploit us, they sold our brothers and sisters, killed our kinsmen, took our wives away from us, all in service to their own selfish agendas. And I heard you even protected one of them. As the leader of this beautiful camp, I see that as a betrayal to your own people. I should have you killed, but I think death wouldn't teach you anything, you would just be another of our brothers whom we had to silence because they were brainwashed by the white man. And that is not your fault. Your parents failed to raise you right, they failed to teach you that these white people are poison. And so, I will personally be in charge of your re-education. The boy you killed to protect that white filth was my steward. So you shall take his place. You will work directly under my supervision and I promise you, by the time I'm done with you, you shall be properly educated."
His face seemed genuine, his eyes looked like he really believed in what he was preaching, but there was a way he said those words, the sinister tone of his voice, everything in it, everything he said that brought more fear and chills to my spine,l. Instead I asked: 
"Can't you just kill me instead? I don't want to be re-educated".
"You want death? Do you know what death is? Or do you think you'll get to see your loved ones after you die? I'm sorry to inform you my boy, but all that is still part of the propaganda invented by the white man and their religion. There is no such thing as a heaven or a hell or a misguided devotion to God. They have their God, but we have the gods of our forefathers who guide and protect us. They chose my path for me, and they control my mission. You want death now, but that is only because you don't know the true way, you don't know your heritage, you haven't been properly educated in your culture. But don't you worry, I am here for you. I am here to teach you, here to guide you, here to bless you. From now on, I will be your father, I will be your pastor, I will be your mentor, your guide and the one to take you and all of the little boys and girls here out from under the thumbs of our white oppressors and free you all from the shackles of slavery. And anyone who doesn't follow our ways or does not believe in our education will be made an example of, and I tell you, death would be a mercy for such a person. Don't worry, you're still young. You'll thank me after you've had a proper education and I hear you've taken a liking to that little white girl. We do not harm our own, so I'll be happy to hurt her till you commit to your education". 
What I didn't think was possible happened, I got more afraid. Not for me but for the little girl who has cared for me and fed me. But something didn't sit right with what he said....
"You say you didn't harm your own, what about my parents, what about all the others who you and your people killed back in my home? Were they not our own too?"  I asked.
"You speak wisely for a little boy. A misguided little boy. Those people in your little town stopped being part of us when they placed the white people above their own kin. They served them like they were their masters, put them in the best house in town, answered to their every whim. They failed their very heritage. They failed all of us and, for that, they deserved what they got. The rest of them were just collateral damage.... This has been a surprisingly fun conversation. I would love to continue but we have to begin your education. I heard you're a good fighter, but can you kill for your cause? Are you ready to die for your beliefs? That is where your education begins. Get ready".
At this point, I could feel the tears forming in my eyes, but I knew deep down, that there was no way out of this.
.... Why'd I have to be a hero?........