Obianuju

"You're Chief Nwoko's daughter, right?"

His voice was low. Curious. Dangerous.

I didn't answer.

He gave a soft laugh. It felt cold. Like he already knew everything.

"No problem," he said. "You'll stay alive... because I want you to."

Then he stood up slowly, calmly, and walked out like nothing had happened.

I couldn't sleep.

After he left-whoever he was-my whole body froze.
I sat with my back against the wall, legs pulled close, arms tight around my knees.

The only part of me that moved was my fingers-and my thoughts. They kept spinning.

His voice stayed in my head:
You'll stay alive... because I want you to.

I heard it again and again, until I felt cold inside.

I kept looking at the door. What if he came back? What if someone else did?
My heart wouldn't slow down. My hands were stiff. I couldn't cry. I didn't even have any tears left.

---

In the morning, a soldier came in. He dropped a plate of food near the bars.

I didn't move.

The smell of soft bread and bean porridge filled the room, but I hardly noticed.

My stomach felt tight. I was too afraid to eat.

The soldier didn't speak. He just left the food and walked out.

I stayed there-still and quiet-my eyes on the door.

---

For the next hour, maybe two, I just listened.

I listened closely to every sound-every voice outside, every step, every metal noise.

I hoped I would hear something. Anything. A name. A clue.

Then I heard two soldiers talking.

They stood near the cell, speaking in Hausa. Maybe they thought no one inside would understand.

But I understood.

I had lived in Zaria for two years. I had loved the people there-at least when they still welcomed us. I loved their language too, and I had learned it.

I moved quietly closer to the bars. I stayed low and alert. They didn't speak loudly, but the walls were thin, and they weren't whispering.

"Wallahi, this Salisu get luck. If na me, I no go risk my head for that Igbo girl."

"Hmm," the second one replied with a short laugh. "General nearly tear him apart. Say he hide suicide attempt."

My chest tightened.

They were talking about yesterday. About me.

The first one grunted. "He dey play with fire. And now Sergeant don claim her."

I blinked.

The second voice grew lower. "Sergeant Bello? The one wey dem say-?"

"Shhh!" the first one cut in. "No dey talk am loud. But e don talk say na him war spoil she be now."

They stopped talking after a while and focused on their work.

But the words stayed with me.

War spoil.
Sergeant Bello.
Claimed her.

It wasn't just what they said-it was how they said it. So calm. Like it was normal. Like it happened all the time.

My hands shook.

That man from last night.
The way he looked at me.
The way he said, "You'll stay alive... because I want you to."

It was him.

Sergeant Bello.

I covered my mouth and tried to breathe. My eyes burned. I wanted to scream, but nothing came out.

---

Where was Salisu?

Was he coming?

I wasn't even sure if I wanted him to anymore. I had put him in danger. He got punished because of me.

And worse... what if he was part of it too?

I curled into myself, still staring at the untouched food. It felt like poison.

My head was full of thoughts about Chidi.
Was he safe? Did he know I was missing?
What about the others? Were they caught? Killed?

I prayed they weren't here.
I prayed they'd run if they found out I was gone. I didn't want them to come looking.

Still... part of me hoped Chidi would come. That maybe he didn't know yet.
Maybe I could warn him.
Maybe he could save me.
Maybe... he wasn't like them.

---

Then the door creaked open.

I jumped.

It was Salisu.

He didn't sound gentle.

"You," he said, sharp and fast. "Someone came last night. Who was it?"

I opened my mouth. Then closed it.

I wanted to tell him.

But what if it made everything worse?

I wanted to shout the name-Sergeant Bello!
I wanted to scream until everyone heard me.

But I couldn't.

What if Salisu was part of it?
What if it was all just a game-and I was the prize?

I looked at him. He looked back.

I said nothing.

His jaw tightened.

"Let's go," he said.

---

We walked outside. As we did, I saw Chidi. Another soldier was pulling him along.

His eyes were wide. Scared.
"Uju!" he shouted.

"Quiet, boy!" the soldier barked, raising his gun.

I looked at Chidi with pain in my eyes.

---

We crossed the camp. It was hot. Dust rose with every step.
I didn't look up. I couldn't.

At the end of the path was a big tent. It looked darker. More quiet.
Guards stood around it.

Then I saw him.

The Sergeant.

As soon as Salisu let go of me, Sergeant Bello walked forward.

He was smiling. A wide, ugly smile that made my skin crawl.

He grabbed me tight. Like I belonged to him.

And just like the night before, he said:

"I've finally found you."