THE ROAD TO BECOMING A SUPERTAR

NEXT MORNING

Nurudeen couldn't shake the horrifying memories of the previous night from his mind. Witnessing the atrocities committed against the children, he felt an urgent need to contact the military and rescue them. Sitting in contemplation, he pieced together the information he had gathered, searching for a solution. An idea began to form, and he knew he needed Hamza's help to make it a reality. Determined, he got up and set out to find Hamza.

...

Hamza, tormented by the cruel events of the previous night, had been unable to sleep. He understood that dwelling on these horrors wouldn't change their situation. Instead, he decided to seek out Nurudeen, hoping to find a way out of this nightmare. As he quietly navigated the camp, he noticed Sani emerging from his room.

Sani, the imposing figure who had brought them into this ordeal, extended an unexpected invitation. "Come over here; let's have breakfast together," he said, casting a puzzled glance at Hamza, who hesitated before reluctantly following with his head held low.

Sani couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment, observing Hamza's submissive demeanor. He had expected the captives to adopt a harsher, more resilient outlook to survive this brutal way of life.

The two walked in silence to the meal area, where they were served Tuwo Shinkafa. Hamza found the food rather bland but ate quietly, all the while listening to Sani's conversation with one of his men.

Sanni sat down and asked "Any news of the rat?"

The man stood there answered "Nothing yet, Shekau. He seems smart, but we're focusing on the recently recruited men. We'll narrow down the list and flush him out."

Hamza's ears perked up at this conversation, his forehead drenched in sweat. He couldn't bear the thought of Nurudeen being captured or worse, killed, rendering their rescue mission impossible. He hurriedly finished his meal and thanked Sani before leaving to locate Nurudeen.

Hamza covertly searched for Nurudeen, trying not to arouse suspicion. He moved freely through the camp, under the assumption that others believed he was under Sani's protection. It didn't take long for Hamza to spot Nurudeen walking toward him.

Nurudeen regarded Hamza with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "What are you doing, snooping around, huh?" he asked. Hamza replied, his voice trembling with determination, "I was looking for you. I have something important to tell you."

Nurudeen was stunned by Hamza's bravery in discussing such matters in the heart of a terrorist camp. He quickly assessed the surroundings and, ensuring they weren't being observed, guided Hamza to a more secluded area.

Curiosity piqued, Nurudeen asked, "What's so important that you'd risk meeting me in broad daylight?" Hamza then revealed the information he had overheard Sani discussing with his men, hoping to find a solution and prevent Nurudeen from being discovered.

Nurudeen listened carefully to Hamza's account and couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. However, he masked his emotions to avoid raising suspicions. "Well, with this information in hand, we must devise a plan to contact my commander," he said.

Hamza, still bewildered by Nurudeen's use of "we," asked, "We?"

Nurudeen reassured him with a reassuring look. "Don't worry; it's nothing dangerous," he replied. Hamza nodded in agreement, realizing that they had a shared mission to accomplish. Nurudeen gave him clear instructions, "Meet me tomorrow at the same time, same place."

As they parted ways, both understood the grave risks they faced but were resolute in their determination to act.

---

The camp echoed with the anguished screams of boys subjected to a brutal training regimen. The scene resembled a gruesome battlefield, as young boys endured relentless beatings from their captors, who showed no mercy.

The terrified children huddled together, their faces etched with fear and pain, resembling a cluster of sand grains in the wind. The captors announced that there would be no morning meal for them, a punishment for allowing someone to escape. Among the boys, Shamshudeen wept uncontrollably, his eyes filled with tears.

Soon, the children were ordered to stand and move out to an open space. Rifles were thrust into their hands, and they were ordered to shoot. Failure was met with violent punishment, as the boys were struck with anything within reach. The ordeal felt like an eternity.

After the grueling training, the children were dismissed, their bodies battered, and their souls scarred. Shamshudeen, overwhelmed with pain, couldn't help but worry about his friend Hamza. He wondered where Hamza was and prayed fervently for his safety, hoping that somewhere amid the darkness, a glimmer of hope remained.